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: Frist’s Teddy Bear

• Washington Whispers: RNC distributed daily talking points to about 80 pundits and hosts to ensure message discipline about Roberts… Rumsfeld signed a “severe weather execution order” two weeks before Katrina that authorized the quick deployment of military personnel… Frist gets folksy, brags about practicing surgery on his teddy bear… Campbell Brown’s reports from the Gulf Coast have raised her chances of replacing Katie, Peter, or Dan… Don Evans broke his collarbone while biking with Bush… Michael Brown is looking for a job in public relations. [USN&WR]
• Inside the Beltway: Friedman, McCullough top lawmakers’ reading lists. [WT]
• Page Six: Michael Moore, Sean Penn helping Katrina relief. [NYP]

READ MORE: Media, Personalities, bill frist, campbell brown, david mccullough, don evans, donald rumsfeld, george w. bush, john g. roberts, katrina, michael brown, michael moore, rnc, sean penn, thomas friedman