News of Bill Frist’s ethics troubles — his well-timed dumping of family stock and subsequent probes by both the Justice Department and the SEC — on top of his base-alienating stem-cell position shift has us wondering: At what point do we pull the feeding tube from his presidential ambitions? MORE »

• House will pass $10.5b relief package for the Gulf Coast; officials on the ground complain about the administration’s response. Head of emergency management in New Orleans: “This is a national emergency. This is a national disgrace. . . We can send massive amounts of aid to tsunami victims, but we can’t bail out the city of New Orleans.” [WP, WP, USAT]
• Experts blame “late evacuation order and insufficient emergency shelter.” New Orleans Police Superintendent: “We’re in our fifth day and adequate help to quell the situation has not arrived yet.” [NYT, WP, WT]
• Katrina shows government was unprepared for energy crisis. Bush: “Americans should be prudent in their use of energy. Don’t buy gas if you don’t need it.” [WSJ, WP]
• Democrats say Bush’s decision to underfund levee fortification left New Orleans vulnerable. McClellan: “Flood control has been a priority of this administration from Day One. This is not a time for finger-pointing or playing politics.” [WP, NYT]
• Al Qaeda takes credit for London bombings in video broadcast by Al Jazeera; group vows more attacks will come. Suspected bomber: “We are at war, and I am a soldier and now you too will taste the reality of this situation.” [NYT, WP]
• Gas prices top $6 a gallon in some areas. [USAT]

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