200420062008CIAfecgeorge w. bushhillary clintonhomeland securityiraniraqjohn ashcroftjustice departmentmichael haydenveterans affairs
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]
- Bush essentially had no choice but to join talks on Iran. [NYT, WP, W$J]
- Bush says 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 Clinton launches 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 Hayden sworn in as new CIA director; Bush calls 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 to Bush-Cheney '04. [WP]
- Ashcroft describes subpoenas of reporters for The San Francisco Chronicle as a "reckless abuse of power." [NYT]
