Daily Briefing: From 'If' to 'How Fast'
•SecondTimemagazine reporter is called to testify in leak investigation. [ NYT , WSJ ]
•Time table for withdrawal from Iraq seems dependent on next month's Iraqi election and next year's midterm election. Former administration aide: "We've moved from 'if' to 'how fast.'" [ NYT ]
•Rep.Tim Murphy(R-PA) and Rep.Ike Skelton(D-MO) are injured when their vehicle overturns in Iraq. [ NYT ]
•Advocacy groups target swing senators in fight overAlito's confirmation. [ WP ]
• Alitohas convinced most senators to support him -- "an unusual political feat." [ USAT ]
•TheWashington Post's special relationship withBob Woodward"has sparked some resentment among the staff," writesHoward Kurtz; criticism of star journalist is spreading. [ WP ]
• Bushvisits Arizona today for speech on illegal immigration that is designed to reassure his conservative base. [ WT , WSJ ]
•Medicaid cuts prove divisive for Democrats. [ WP ]
•Lobbying arms of big business are winning concessions in their fight against the Patriot Act. [ WSJ ]
•Sen.John Warner(R-VA) suggestsBushholds "fireside chats" on the Iraq war. [ WT , LAT ]
•Democrats are running eight veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom in '06. [ Newsweek ]
•Changes to Social Security are likely to affect 55-plus demographic. [ USAT ]
•Rep.Dennis Hastertrejects Sen.John Kerry's characterization of his views on Rep.John Murtha. [ NYT , WT ]
• Valerie Plameis ready to retire next week. [ WP ]
• Steve Schmidthas his hands busy overseeing media relations forCheneyandAlito. [ NYT ]