The Morning Quickie Edition.

Wider Briefing for Lawmakers on Spy Efforts; there's even a quote from Trent Lott who says he's "never been comfortable with this administrations reluctance to give proper briefings"...will wonders never cease?

Transcript from last night's Larry King Live with Robert Redford where he talks about alternative energy and the government.

Gallup Finds Sudden Upsurge in Number of Americans Who Think Congress is Corrupt; "The percentage of Americans who say that most members of Congress are corrupt has increased significantly from the beginning of this year, and is now at the point at which slightly fewer than half of Americans believe most members are corrupt."

A new study finds that Wal-Mart contributes to poverty; "Although Wal-Mart employs many people living in its communities, for most, the hours worked and the wages paid do not help these families transition out of poverty, the study said." Obviously.

From Thinkprogress: CEI's founder, Fred Smith, was on Crossfire years ago talking about how "global warming was actually a good thing because of all the cool new crops we could grow." This is a response to CEI's attack on Al Gore's new movie.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi calls the war in Iraq "a grave mistake"; insists he will continue the war on terrorism, but with the UN's approval only, in the future.

The man who gave the Nixons their famous puppy, Checkers, has died; Lou Carrol passes away at 83.

Legal loophole emerges in NSA spy program; "An AT&T attorney indicated in federal court on Wednesday that the Bush administration may have provided legal authorization for the telecommunications company to open its network to the National Security Agency."

Rumsfeld Reveals Split Over Interrogations; "The debate hinges on whether suspected terrorists or other insurgents can be treated more severely than captured members of an enemy army."

Michael Hayden laments the politics of intelligence; oh no! The public doesn't like us spying on them, too, so let's find a way to make all of this look better so they'll accept it!!

Dems say "no rush to impeach Bush"; what in the hell will it take, Washington??

Tags: [Wider Briefing for Lawmakers on Spy Efforts], [Trent Lott], [never been comfortable with this administrations reluctance to give proper briefings], [Larry King Live], [Robert Redford], [alternative energy], [Bush administration], [Gallup Finds Sudden Upsurge in Number of Americans Who Think Congress is Corrupt], [slightly fewer than half of Americans believe most members are corrupt], [Wal-Mart contributes to poverty], [Wal-Mart employs many people living in its communities, for most, the hours worked and the wages paid do not help these families transition out of poverty], [CEI], [Fred Smith], [Crossfire], [CEI founder on Crossfire years ago talking about how global warming was actually a good thing because of all the cool new crops we could grow], [CEI's attack on Al Gore's new movie], [Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi], [Romano Prodi calls the war in Iraq a grave mistake], [Lou Carrol], [Lou Carrol dead at 83], [Lou Carrol gave the Nixons their famous puppy, Checkers], [Legal loophole emerges in NSA spy program], [NSA], [NSA spy program], [AT&T], [AT&T attorney indicated in federal court on Wednesday that the Bush administration may have provided legal authorization for the telecommunications company to open its network to the National Security Agency], [Rumsfeld Reveals Split Over Interrogations], [Donald Rumsfeld], [Hayden Laments Politics of Intelligence], [Michael Hayden], [No Rush To Impeach Bush]