Senate Democrats Deny Specter Committee Seniority  —  The Senate dealt a blow tonight to Sen. Arlen Specter's hold on seniority in several key committees, a week after the Pennsylvanian's party switch placed Democrats on the precipice of a 60-seat majority.  —  In a unanimous voice vote …

College Student Shoots, Kills Home Invader  —  COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — A group of college students said they are lucky to be alive and they're thanking the quick-thinking of one of their own.  Police said a fellow student shot and killed one of two masked me who burst into an apartment.

EXCLUSIVE: Secret U.S.-Israel nuclear accord in jeopardy  —  President Obama's efforts to curb the spread of nuclear weapons threaten to expose and derail a 40-year-old secret U.S. agreement to shield Israel's nuclear weapons from international scrutiny, former and current U.S. and Israeli officials and nuclear specialists say.

Should we be banning this US ‘shock jock’?  —  The Home Office has issued the latest list of people it believes should not come to the country because they hold extremist opinions.  —  It is a state's prerogative to decide who it wants to come to its country.  That is, after all, what a visa system is for.

U.S. Says Bank of America Needs Cushion of $33.9 Billion  —  The government has told Bank of America it needs $33.9 billion in capital to withstand any worsening of the economic downturn, according to an executive at the bank.  —  If the bank is unable to raise the capital cushion …

John Edwards's Wife Speaks About His Affair  —  In often blunt terms, Elizabeth Edwards is going public with her account of how her husband's affair rocked their marriage and left his political career in tatters.  —  In an interview with Oprah Winfrey and in excerpts from a new book …

Chrysler won't repay bailout money  —  An administration official confirms that a $4 billion bridge loan and $3.2 billion in bankruptcy financing won't be paid back by Chrysler following bankruptcy.  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Chrysler LLC will not repay U.S. taxpayers more than $7 billion …

White House puts UAW ahead of property rights  —  Last Friday, the day after Chrysler filed for bankruptcy, I drove past the company's headquarters on Interstate 75 in Auburn Hills, Mich.  —  As I glanced at the pentagram logo I felt myself tearing up a little bit.

Torture Memos: Inquiry Suggests No Prosecutions  —  WASHINGTON — An internal Justice Department inquiry has concluded that Bush administration lawyers committed serious lapses of judgment in writing secret memorandums authorizing brutal interrogations but that they should not be prosecuted …

Inspector at Pentagon Says Report Was Flawed  —  In a highly unusual reversal, the Defense Department's inspector general's office has withdrawn a report it issued in January exonerating a Pentagon public relations program that made extensive use of retired officers who worked as military analysts for television and radio networks.

Skeptical Administration Keeping Karzai at Arm's Length  —  Skepticism of Afghan Leader Shapes Policy  —  Afghan President Hamid Karzai began talking as soon as his luncheon guests had taken their seats in his wood-paneled dining room at the presidential palace in Kabul …

Who Will “Sister Souljah” Them?  —  It's time to reclaim conservatism from Coulter and O'Reilly and Limbaugh and Hannity.  Reihan: … Take yours truly.  I'm not a Democrat and if pushed, I'd have to say right now I'm a libertarian independent.  I'm uneasy about Obama's long-term debt …

Corzine Allies Plan Attack in G.O.P. Primary  —  Allies of New Jersey's Democratic governor, Jon S. Corzine, are so worried about his re-election prospects that they are going to start spending and advertising heavily — in the Republican primary.  —  Mr. Corzine's allies plan to attack …

Obama Relies on Inner Circle in Looking for Souter's Supreme Court Successor  —  President Obama's first selection of a Supreme Court justice is being managed by a small group of senior advisers, and the process will last at least into next week before producing a candidate who the administration hopes …

MSNBC Hides Obama's Dijon Mustard (aka Dijongate)  —  MSNBC, Obama's favorite network, reported on Obama's trip with Joe Biden to get a burger.  Just two wild and crazy guys out for some red meat.  Andrea Mitchell (does she have nothing else to do?) reported that Obama ordered a burger and mustard.

Key Findings  —  The top subprime lenders whose loans are largely blamed for triggering the global economic meltdown were owned or backed by giant banks now collecting billions of dollars in bailout money — including several that have paid huge fines to settle predatory lending charges.

Behind the Judicial Blindfold  —  Should the judge be an umpire or an empathizer?  —  Chief Justice John Roberts memorably likened the judge to a baseball umpire, dispassionately applying existing rules to call balls and strikes.  —  President Obama is more, well, touchy-feely.

Defense budget baloney  —  This week, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is set to roll out the final details of the defense budget for 2010.  Beware the articles and commentary you read; many will be factually inaccurate or misleading — mostly both.  —  This will be the third round of revelations about the 2010 Pentagon budget.

Barry Warns of “Civil War” Over Gay Marriage  —  D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), the only council member to vote against the bill today to legalize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, predicted today there could be a “civil war” in the District if the Council decides …