• Washington Whispers: Santorum turns moderate ahead of reelection fight; closely monitored by Mehlman. . . Cheney wanted low profile during second term. Oh well. . . North Korea could test nuclear bomb this year. . . Dean bypasses national media, goes local. . . Anti-globalism protesters to target army recruitment drives. [USN&WR]

• Inside the Beltway: Dean's brother takes helm of Democracy for America. [WT]

• Ben Widdicombe's Gatecrasher: R. Gregory Stevens and Carrie Fisher story was kept on the down-low. [NYDN]