Statement on TAL  —  “This American Life” has raised questions about the adaptation of AGONY/ECSTASY we created for their program.  Here is my response:  —  I stand by my work.  My show is a theatrical piece whose goal is to create a human connection between our gorgeous devices and the brutal circumstances from which they emerge.

Marketplace from American Public Media  —  An acclaimed Apple critic made up the details  —  Cathy Lee (Chinese name: Li Guifen) was Mike Daisey's translator during his trip to China to investigate factory conditions for his monolog “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs.”

RETRACTION  —  Regrettably, we have discovered that one of our most popular episodes was partially fabricated.  This week, we devote the entire hour to detailing the errors in “Mr. Daisey Goes to the Apple Factory,” Mike Daisey's story about visiting Foxconn, an Apple supplier factory in China.

Puerto Rico gov: Santorum fumbled  —  Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño said Friday that Rick Santorum went the wrong way in suggesting that the territory needed to make English “main language” as a pre-condition for statehood.  —  “I would have handled the question differently …

For the Republicans, Romney  —  This year, as rarely before, the presidential primary campaign lands in Illinois as a work very much in progress.  The Democrats?  They've settled on a candidate.  But Republicans in the Land of, yes, Lincoln have urgent work to do — for their debt-besotted nation …