Obama's Sister Soulja Moment?  —  President Obama's decision this week to reconsider release of inflammatory Pentagon interrogation photos may mark a shift in his administration's handling of politically charged national security issues — upsetting his allies on the left but making some new friends among conservatives in the military.

Shanna Moakler Resigns as Miss California Pageant Director  —  The day after Carrie Prejean was told she could keep her Miss California crown, Shanna Moakler has resigned, she confirms to Usmagazine.com exclusively.  —  “Since the press conference yesterday, I had a chance …

PREDICTION: PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL NOMINATE JUDGE DIANE WOOD OF SEVENTH CIRCUIT  —  With all the talk about whom the President should nominate, there's been less focus on whom the president will nominate.  You can look at the Intrade predictions market here, which reflects Judge Sotomayor in the lead …

GOP will use spiking gas prices against climate bill  —  Republicans believe that rising gas prices are their trump card against a Democratic-sponsored climate change bill.  —  The GOP is struggling to regain footing after two successive electoral blowouts, but party leaders are relishing …

Senate Rejects Limit on Credit-Card Interest Rates  —  Despite complaints that banks and credit card companies are gouging customers by charging outrageous interest rates, the Senate on Wednesday easily turned back an effort to cap interest rates at 15 percent.

Bill Clinton: Cheney should stick to target practice  —  HERNDON, Virginia (CNN) - Bill Clinton jokingly laughed off a question Wednesday about former Vice President Dick Cheney and his recent claims that the country is less safe under the Obama administration.

Audio: Schumer in 2004 on enhanced interrogation techniques; Update: Hypocrisy confirmed  —  In fairness, I don't know that I've heard Senator Chuck Schumer among the voices looking to round up a lynch mob for those in the Bush administration who approved, conducted, or advised …

Obama warns Netanyahu: Don't surprise me with Iran strike  —  U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding that Israel not surprise the U.S. with an Israeli military operation against Iran.  The message was conveyed by a senior American official …

Vets expose advocate as impostor  —  The leader of a statewide veterans group who fought for homeless veterans in Colorado Springs was in the Denver County jail on Wednesday, unmasked as a former psychiatric patient who posed as a wounded Marine officer and 9/11 survivor.

Full-Figured Statuette, 35,000 Years Old, Provides New Clues to How Art Evolved  —  No one would mistake the Stone Age ivory carving for a Venus de Milo.  The voluptuous woman depicted is, to say the least, earthier, with huge, projecting breasts and sexually explicit genitals.

Democrats to Develop Plan to Sell Health Care  —  WASHINGTON — Alarmed at Republican attacks on President Obama's health care proposals, Senate Democrats huddled Wednesday with White House officials to formulate a response.  —  Democrats said they felt an urgent need to devise a “message” …

FACT CHECK: Data belie Biden stimulus anecdotes  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — In his first quarterly report on the nation's stimulus package, Vice President Joe Biden uses anecdotes to paint a glowing picture of an economy on the rebound.  In reality, the picture is incomplete and the colors far more muted.

White House Czar Calls for End to ‘War on Drugs’  —  Kerlikowske Says Analogy Is Counterproductive; Shift Aligns With Administration Preference for Treatment Over Incarceration  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration's new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting …

Cheney's Role Deepens  —  Blogs and Stories  —  Former NBC Investigative Producer Robert Windrem reports that the Vice President's office suggested waterboarding an Iraqi prisoner who was suspected of knowing about a relationship between Al Qaeda and Saddam.

CBS Pro-Drone Propaganda  —  60 Minutes slights critics of controversial weapons  —  On May 10, CBS's 60 Minutes presented a remarkably one-sided report on unmanned Air Force drones firing missiles into Afghanistan and Iraq.  Though the drones have been criticized for killing civilians in both countries …

Papers prove British firm's ship dumped toxic waste in Ivory Coast  —  Documents have emerged which detail for the first time the potentially lethal nature of toxic waste dumped by British-based oil traders in one of west Africa's poorest countries.  —  More than 30,000 people from Ivory Coast claim …

Unease Grows for Democrats Over Security  —  WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats are voicing growing unease over the Obama administration's national security policies, including the seemingly open-ended commitment in Afghanistan and the nettlesome question of what to do with prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

The Almighty Renminbi?  —  THE 19th century was dominated by the British Empire, the 20th century by the United States.  We may now be entering the Asian century, dominated by a rising China and its currency.  While the dollar's status as the major reserve currency will not vanish overnight, we can no longer take it for granted.

Bruce Springsteen D.C. show overbooked by TicketsNow  —  Fans eager for premium seats at the Verizon Center show lose their spot  —  It seems Ticketmaster just can't do right by Bruce Springsteen fans.  —  According to the Associated Press, the ticketing giant's resale website TicketsNow oversold …

Police Pursuit Ends in Crash, Arrests  —  A driver who fled from an attempted traffic stop in El Monte led police on a high-speed pursuit on freeways and surface streets that ended with a collision in Pico Rivera, followed by a foot pursuit that prompted questions about whether officers used excessive force while arresting the man.

At ASU, Obama promotes service  —  TEMPE, Ariz. - President Obama used his first commencement speech since taking office to implore the graduates of Arizona State University to resist the temptations of materialism and status and instead choose a life of service and commitment to help rebuild the country.