* Nationwide boycott and simultaneous rallies are planned for today by pro-immigrant groups; Senate leaders are near a compromise, “but the White House may be underestimating the degree of opposition from within his party.” [USAT, WP]
* Thousands rally on the mall to call for action on Darfur. Sen. Obama: “Paralysis in the face of genocide is wrong.” [WP, NYT, USAT]
* Conservatives inundated with complaints about plan to rebate $100 to taxpayers for high gas prices. Rush Limbaugh: “What kind of insult is this? Instead of buying us off and treating us like we’re a bunch of whores, just solve the problem.” [NYT]
* Official report admits “shortfalls and deficiencies” in Iraq reconstruction as well as “substantial progress.” [WP]
* Josh Bolten, making his television debut on Fox News, says the West Wing is trying “to get our mojo back.” [WP]
* Bringing impersonator to Correspondents’ Dinner was Bush’s idea, officials say. [NYT]
* Democrats want to use minimum wage as a “wedge issue.” [W$J]
* Alito will likely cast the deciding vote in three upcoming cases. [WP]

Jim McGovern (D-MA) becomes the first congressman arrested this year for reasons other than corruption. (AP) MORE »

An exclusive report on George Clooney’s National Press Club visit from our embedded operative: MORE »

George Clooney — who has such love in his heart for our Gotham-based sibling and its Gawker Stalker feature — is coming to Washington. His visit to D.C. is wreaking havoc with the National Press Club’s schedule. Inside Higher Ed reports:

The president of George Mason University and the presidents of Virginia Tech and the University of Delaware were supposed to speak at the National Press Club in Washington at lunchtime tomorrow about the role of academic research in America’s future competitiveness. But some guy named George Clooney is scheduled to talk at the press club about his recent trip to Darfur, Sudan at just about the same time.

A spokesman for George Mason, Dan Walsch, said that [Alan] Merten and the other presidents had concluded that the Clooney speech might draw a few reporters away from the higher ed event, and so they’ve canceled it for the time being. “What are the odds that two internationally known sex symbols would be in the same building at the same time?” said Walsch….

Yeah, we agree, that Sam Brownback is pretty dreamy…

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Jeffrey Hinzman is a U.S. soldier applying for political asylum in Canada based on his refusal to fight in the Iraq war. The Wall Street Journal reports: MORE »