Daily Briefing: ‘Hidden Traps’

• Bush, “in an unusual admission,” says he regrets using the phrases “bring it on” and “dead or alive”; joint press conference with Blair has “contrite tone” because “both leaders have reached the lowest point of their careers.” [WP, WP, NYT, NYT]
• Bush orders documents seized in raid of Rep. William Jefferson’s office to be sealed for 45 days. [WP, NYT, W$J, LAT, USAT]
• Senate approves immigration legislation by vote of 62 to 36 but the next steps are “enormously difficult.” [WP, NYT, W$J, LAT, USAT]
• John Snow has told the White House he is resigning; Don Evans and Carlos Gutierrez are among those mentioned as replacements. [WP, NYT, W$J]
• Military investigation reportedly concludes that a group of marines “carried out extensive, unprovoked killings of civilians” in Iraq. [NYT]
• ABC News stands by its story about Speaker Hastert. Reporter Brian Ross: “There may be a semantics issue here as to what constitutes being under investigation.” [WP]

READ MORE: Carlos Gutierrez, anwr, brian ross, daily briefing, dennis hastert, don evans, george w. bush, house, immigration, john snow, military, senate, tony blair, william jefferson

Gossip Roundup: ‘Hit Back Hard’

• Washington Whispers: Sen. Lindsey Graham jokes, “I’m fulfilling the seat that was held by Strom Thurmond, which means my wife will be born next year.”… House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Carlos Gutierrez are hitting the malls to “cheer up shoppers”… GOP team warns Democrats that “questioning Alito’s credibility and character will be hit back hard”… Sen. Kerry hires former Boston Celtics assistant coach for his Massachusetts operation. [USN&WR]
• Page Six: Clinton family appears uncomfortable during run-in with Denise Rich. [NYP]

READ MORE: Carlos Gutierrez, Personalities, bill clinton, denise rich, dennis hastert, hillary clinton, john kerry, lindsey graham, samuel alito, strom thurmond

Gossip Roundup: Our ‘Seedy Underbelly’

• Reliable Source Top guns Karl Rove, John Negroponte, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Michael Chertoff, Carlos Gutierrez, John Warner, Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Myers celebrate the Marines’ 230th birthday… Bodyguard reportedly followed Dr. Phil to the bathroon of the Capital Grille. [WP]
• Under the Dome: The WB is developing a D.C.-based soap opera that will show “the town’s seedy underbelly”… Volunteers and Hill staffers are building house frames on the National Mall that will be shipped to the Gulf Coast… Rep. Don Sherwood (R-Pa.) settles a lawsuit from woman he had a five-year affair with… Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) pleads no contest to drunk driving and apologizes… Bill Bennett is writing a two-volume history of the United States. [The Hill]
• Inside the Beltway: Actor Jack Klugman hosted bipartisan election night gathering attended by Frank Luntz and John Kerry. [WT]
• Page Six: Maureen Dowd - Botoxed? [NYP]
• Rush & Molloy: Talk of impeachment picks up in Hollywood. [NYDN]

READ MORE: Anthony Kennedy, Carlos Gutierrez, Personalities, antonin scalia, bill bennett, botox, don sherwood, dr. phil, frank luntz, hollywood, jack krugman, john f. kerry, john negroponte, john warner, karl rove, kevin brady, marines, maureen dowd, michael chertoff, paul wolfowitz, richard myers, the wb