Supreme Court Justice Souter To Retire  —  · NPR has learned that Supreme Court Justice David Souter is planning to retire at the end of the court's current term.  —  The court has completed hearing oral arguments for the year and will be issuing rulings and opinions until the end of June.

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Taxpayers to get rude surprise  —  INSIDE WASHINGTON: Millions of couples, retirees may have to repay some of Obama tax credit  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans enjoying their small windfall from President Barack Obama's “Making Work Pay” tax credit are in for an unpleasant surprise next spring.

The Lenders Obama Decided to Blame  —  Peter A. Weinberg and Joseph R. Perella are part of a band of Wall Street renegades — “a small group of speculators,” President Obama called them Thursday — who helped bankrupt Chrysler.  —  That, anyway, is the Washington line.

An Affordable Salvation  —  The 2008 election ended the reign of junk science in our nation's capital, and the chances of meaningful action on climate change, probably through a cap-and-trade system on emissions, have risen sharply.  —  But the opponents of action claim that limiting emissions …

Survey: Churchgoers more likely to back torture  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists, according to a new survey.  —  More than half of people who attend services at least once a week …

Case against ex-AIPAC staffers dropped  —  WASHINGTON (JTA) — A source with intimate knowledge of the case against two ex-AIPAC staffers accused of passing along classified information says the case has been dropped.  —  Keith Weissman, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's former Iran analyst …

First Lady Michelle Obama steps out in Lanvin sneakers and they're only $540!  —  Michelle Obama has taken casual to a haute new level.  —  While volunteering Wednesday at a D.C. food bank, the First Lady sported her usual J.Crew cardigan, a pair of utilitarian capri pants and, on her feet, a sneaky splurge: trainers that go for $540.

The CIA's $1,000 a Day Specialists on Waterboarding, Interrogations  —  The New Focus on Two Retired Military Psychologists Called the ‘Architects’ of the CIA's Techniques  —  As the secrets about the CIA's interrogation techniques continue to come out, there's new information about the frequency …

Plea Deal Reached With Agent for Al Qaeda  —  During the nearly six years that Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri spent in isolation in a Navy brig as the last enemy combatant held on United States soil, he denied the government's charges that he was a sleeper agent for Al Qaeda, his lawyers said.

Senate Defeats Measure to Allow Bankruptcy Judges to Change Mortgage Terms  —  For the second time in two years, a provision to allow bankruptcy judges to modify mortgages died in the Senate today, handing the Obama administration a significant defeat in its plans for arresting the foreclosure crisis.

Gingrich insult rankles RNC members  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Several members of the Republican National Committee are miffed at Newt Gingrich for claiming that they're a small bunch of egomaniacs who need to be coddled by the party chairman.  —  “Newt needs to take a breath,” New Jersey committeeman David Norcross told CNN.

Casey backs Specter  —  At the top, at least, the Pennsylvania Democrats are closing ranks around their newest member.  —  Sen. Bob Casey on “The Bill Press Show” this morning:  —  Bill Press: If you believe that Arlen Specter is the strongest candidate, will you support him in the Democratic primary?

Company warned officials of flu 18 days before alert was issued  —  WASHINGTON — A Washington state biosurveillance firm raised the first warning about a possible outbreak of swine flu in Mexico more than two weeks before the World Health Organization offered its initial alert about a public health emergency of international concern.

Hispanic Dems furious over GOP video  —  Hispanic Democrats are furious and demanding an apology over an image wedged in a new GOP web video on terrorism that shows members of the Hispanic Caucus sitting at a table with President Obama.  —  “On behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus …