Think Progress

HUMAN RIGHTS -- ADVOCACY GROUPS BLAST BUSH'S TORTURE-APPROVING CIA NOMINEE: In a letter to the members of the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday, human rights and advocacy groups, including the Center for American Progress Action Fund, urged the Senate to reject President Bush's nominee for General Counsel of the CIA, John Rizzo, objecting to Rizzo's record of sanctioning the use of torture in the interrogation of detainees. In 2002, Rizzo approved a memo written by then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee that argued physical pain must be "equivalent in intensity to the pain accompanying serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death" in order to be considered torture. During Rizzo's confirmation hearing in June, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) asked if he "should have objected at the time" to the Bybee definition. "I honestly -- I can't say I should have objected at the time," replied Rizzo. Subsequently, Wyden has put a hold on Rizzo's nomination "until the detention and interrogation program is on firm footing, both in terms of effectiveness and legality." Confirming Rizzo would "send an extraordinarily negative message" to the world about America's attitude toward the use of torture.

ADMINISTRATION -- IMMIGRATION CHIEF JULIE MYERS' CONFIRMATION HEARING TO BE HELD TODAY: Julie Myers, who was placed in charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by recess appointment in Jan. 2006, will appear before the Senate Homeland Security Committee today for her confirmation hearing. Myers's initial confirmation was held up when a bipartisan group of Senate leaders expressed doubts about her ability to head the second-largest investigative agency in the federal government. Under her direction, ICE has faced charges that "U.S. authorities have mistreated illegal immigrants in prisons and jails nationwide, and suffered reports of low job satisfaction among her subordinates." Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) told Myers that he wanted to hear Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who endorsed her appointment, explain "why he thinks you're qualified for the job, because based on the resume, I don't think you are." Prior to directing ICE, which has 15,000 employees, Myers's largest management job was overseeing 170 employees as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement. Myers also had charges of nepotism and cronyism leveled at her. She is the niece of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers and is married to John Wood, Chertoff's chief of staff.

MEDIA -- STUDY INDICATES 'CONSERVATIVE COLUMNISTS GET MORE SPACE' IN NEWSPAPERS: A new study by Media Matters found that "in paper after paper, state after state, and region after region, conservative syndicated columnists get more space than their progressive counterparts." Sixty percent of daily newspapers print more conservative than progressive syndicated columnists every week; only 20 percent of the nation's daily newspapers maintain a balance between the two. In a given week, conservative columnists reach a circulation of 152 million, versus progressives' 125 million. "In three out of four broad regions of the country -- the West, the South, and the Midwest -- conservative syndicated columnists reach more readers than progressive syndicated columnists." This study serves as a conclusive counter to the claims of conservatives voices like Bill O'Reilly, who asserted that "there's no question the media in America is heavily liberal -- every study shows that," and Michelle Malkin, who wrote off the "liberal media" when some newscasters refused to wear Iraq ribbons on their lapels.

"Six years after the 9/11 terror attacks on the U.S., it seems the media still have some educational work to do. A new CBS/New York Times poll reveals that even today, 1 in 3 Americans believe that 'Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.'"

The Bush administration's top intelligence officials have notified a federal appeals court that "a July ruling requiring the government to disclose virtually all its information on Guantanamo detainees could cause 'exceptionally grave damage to the national security.'" The ruling was a victory for detainee lawyers, piercing the government's shield of secrecy.

57: Percentage New Orleans's black population dropped after Hurricane Katrina, while the city's white population declined by 36 percent, according to a new analysis of U.S. census data.

An economic forecast by UCLA predicts "the nation's economy will be so sluggish well into next year that any major hiccup could tip it into recession. ... The forecast presents a gloomier outlook for jobs and the housing market."

A U.S. military official reported that Israel conducted an airstrike "deep into Syria" yesterday. Military officials said Israel is "keeping troops along the Syrian border on high alert. The officials said there have been no signs that Syria is preparing for war after the alleged incident," though Syria did complain to the U.N. about Israeli "aggression and violation of sovereignty."

ABC's Brian Ross reports that wealthy Saudi Arabians are "filling al Qaeda's coffers." "If I could somehow snap my fingers and cut off the funding from one country, it would be Saudi Arabia," said Stuart Levey, the under secretary of the Treasury in charge of tracking terror financing.

According to a poll of Pakistanis, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is more popular in Pakistan than President Pervez Musharraf, a key U.S. ally." According to poll results, "bin Laden has a 46 percent approval rating. Musharraf's support is 38 percent. U.S. President George W. Bush's approval: 9 percent."

And finally: Happy Day of Conception! Gov. Sergei Morozov, head of the central Russian region Ulyanovsk, has given couples the day off to procreate. "Couples who give birth nine months later on Russia's national day - June 12 - receive money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes."