Daily Briefing: 'We Are Better'
FEC decides to permit 527s to continue as is, meaning "even larger sums to be spent influencing races this year and in 2008." [ WP , NYT ]
Bushessentially had no choice but to join talks on Iran. [ NYT , WP , W$J ]
Bushsays he's "troubled" by news of civilian killings in Haditha, Iraq: "If, in fact, the laws were broken, there will be punishment." [ NYT ]
Homeland Security Department cuts funding for Washington and New York while boosting support for mid-size cities. [ WP , NYT ]
Sen.Hillary Clintonlaunches Senate campaign with broad swipes at the administration: "I believe that we need a fundamentally new direction. . . We are better than what is happening in America today." [ NYT ]
Justice Department has requested that Internet companies retain data on users' activities for terrorism and porn inquiries. [ USAT ]
Gen.Michael Haydensworn in as new CIA director;Bushcalls the agency "vital." [ NYT ]
Stolen data from the Veterans Affairs Department included addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and birthdates. [ USAT ]
Coin dealer pleads guilty to illegally directing $45,000 toBush-Cheney'04. [ WP ]
Ashcroftdescribes subpoenas of reporters for The San Francisco Chronicle as a "reckless abuse of power." [ NYT ]