Think Progress

ENVIRONMENT -- BECK ENCOURAGES LISTENERS TO 'WIPE OUT ANY POTENTIAL ENERGY SAVINGS' AT THE DNC: In April, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) promised that the Democratic National Convention this week will be the "greenest, most sustainable" convention in history. The greening efforts include the use of biodegradable balloons and signage, an army of volunteers for recycling, and a calculation of the convention's carbon footprint. Responding to the Democrats' efforts, conservative global warming denier Glenn Beck mockingly called on his listeners yesterday to participate in a "carbon ONset program" aimed at counteracting progressive efforts to offset the environmental impact of the convention. On his website, Beck is encouraging Americans to "use more energy for mother nature." "We are asking you to make just a few small sacrifices to completely wipe out any potential savings," wrote Beck. On his radio show yesterday, he also offered suggestions for how his listeners could help "raise 70 million pounds of carbon." "How many extra miles can you pledge? Can you drive five extra miles a day," asked Beck while repeatedly claiming that it needed to be done "for the children."

IRAQ -- MALIKI URGES 'SPECIFIC DEADLINE' FOR U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ: Last Thursday, the U.S. endorsed a draft agreement with the Iraqi government that would remove "combat troops from Iraqi cities by next June and from the rest of the country by the end of 2011." Both Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters that the 2011 date was an "aspirational timeline." However, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki explicitly disagreed with their  characterization of the time frame as "aspirational." In a speech to tribal leaders yesterday, Maliki said that the U.S. and Iraq have reached an agreement on "a fixed date" for withdrawal. "No pact or an agreement should be set without being based on full sovereignty, national common interests, and no foreign soldier should remain on Iraqi land, and there should be a specific deadline and it should not be open," Maliki said, adding that "an open time limit is not acceptable in any security deal that governs the presence of the international forces." While Maliki claims the U.S. has agreed to his demand, the White House said "no final deal had been reached."

JUSTICE -- FBI EXPLAINS IMPROPER REQUEST FOR REPORTERS' RECORDS AS 'MISCOMMUNICATION': Earlier this month, the FBI revealed that in 2004, it improperly obtained the phone records of reporters from the New York Times and the Washington Post. "The records were apparently sought as part of a terrorism investigation, but the FBI did not explain what was being investigated or why the reporters' phone records were considered relevant," the Times reported. Further, while the Justice Department "requires the approval of the deputy attorney general" before accessing reporters' records, no such approval was given. Today, the Washington Times reports that the FBI's general counsel, Valerie E. Caproni, said the records were obtained as a result of "miscommunication - not malevolence." Caproni told the Washington Times that "her explanation was based on a preliminary review of e-mails sent among agents at the time." Mike German, who serves as policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington legislative office, said, "It's clear the FBI wants to minimize this as a mistake and not abuse." "The facts are, there was a ridiculous amount of misuse and abuse," he added. A forthcoming Inspector General report is expected to address, in part, the circumstances surrounding the incident and "the case likely will be brought up" on September 17, when FBI Director Robert Mueller who will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

In court documents filed yesterday, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) "accused the Justice Department of trying to smear his character” and "making accusations haphazardly, hoping to damage his reputation at trial." Stevens's attorney called DoJ's alleged smear campaign "obvious" and one that extends to "the senator's family."

"In another large-scaled workplace immigration crackdown," federal officials raided a Laural, Mississippi factory on Monday, "detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally."

The oil industry is holding an "Energy Mid-Day Reception for invited guests only" today at the Democratic convention. "Location: Unannounced," writes the Houston Chronicle. "The event is sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute, the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute."

In Iraq today, three blasts killed at least 34 Iraqis, "most of them in a suicide car bombing that struck a group of police recruits," resulting in "one of the highest daily casualty toll in recent months."

Twelve states and two cities, New York City and Washington, D.C. "are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over greenhouse gas emissions from oil refineries." The lawsuit "accuses the agency of violating the federal Clean Air Act by refusing to issue standards, known as new source performance standards, for controlling the emissions."

Lawyers representing White House counsel Harriet Miers are holding "confidential talks" with the House Judiciary Committee about resolving the legal impasse over her subpoena. There have been "preliminary discussions" between the two sides, although "no concrete progress has been made."

The Pentagon estimates that "as many as 300,000, or 20 percent, of combat veterans who regularly worked outside the wire, away from bases, have suffered at least one concussion." But "some veterans -- it is impossible to know how many -- remain unscreened." "No doubt that there are significant numbers out there," says Dr. Barbara Sigford of the Department of Veteran Affairs.

And finally: Daily Show host Jon Stewart called Fox News' "fair and balanced" slogan an insult "to people with brains." "I'm stunned to see Karl Rove on a news network as an analyst," said Stewart, adding only "Fox News Sunday" moderator Chris Wallace "saves that network from slapping on a bumper sticker...Barack Obama could cure cancer and they'd figure out a way to frame it as an economic disaster."