I'm offline today, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

The media uproar over the subpoena of AP telephone records continues. The reason for seizing the records that is being put forth is that it was part of an investigation into intelligence leaks about a new explosive device being made by AQAP in Yemen that would evade detection by U.S. airline security and allow an Undie Bomber II to succeed.

It seems to be a bit more than that. After reading close to 300 news articles on Lexis (and skimming another 600) from May, 2012, here is more of the story from multiple news sources, here and abroad. (This is a summary from various news sources, and I am not suggesting it is accurate, only that this is what was reported at the time. I’ve listed several of the news articles at the end)[More...]

The federal courts are in a state of financial crisis due to sequester. Here is the letter the Federal Judicial Conference sent to the White House yesterday seeking emergency funding.

"The judiciary is confronting an unprecedented financial crisis that could seriously compromise the Constitutional mission of the United States courts," the letter states. "We believe our supplemental request meets the threshold for receiving an emergency designation."

Interesting inclusion on the cost of defending Dzokhar Tsarnaev and other threat cases in New York: [More....]

Despite it being a boring season, I thought Candace Glover knocked it out of the park tonight with "I (Who Have Nothing)."

On a related note, Shakira and Usher are probably leaving the Voice. Christina Aguillera is returning, and probably Cee Lo Green too. I like the show better with Shakira and Usher.

President Obama tonight announced that Acting IRS Director Steven Miller has resigned, at the request of Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.

A transcript of Obama's remarks at his press conference tonight is here.

Attorney General Eric Holder is testifying before the House Judiciary Committee. You can watch live here.

O.J. Simpson is on the witness stand in Las Vegas. You can watch live here. He's very composed.

Right now he is going through the events at the hotel room. He sounds very credible to me.

Attorney General Eric Holder says he recused himself from the investigation into the leak of Undiebomber Wannabe II that resulted in the Justice Department subpoenas of telephone toll records of Associated Press Reporters. Apparently, the subpoenas were authorized by Deputy AG James Cole.

Deputy AG James Cole wrote this letter today to the Associated Press. He says each of the phone numbers for which records were sought were associated with AP personnel involved in the reporting of classified information. The investigation is ongoing.

The Associated Press has issued this statement in response.

Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell agreed today to two life sentences and waive his appeal rights in exchange for the state taking the death penalty off the table.

Gosnell was convicted of first degree murder on Monday in the deaths of three babies who were born live and then killed by severing their spinal chords with scissors. As part of the deal, Gosnell, 72, will serve two life sentences without the possibility of parole or the opportunity to appeal.

Sentencing is set for tomorrow. [More...]

There are new expert reports from the State in the George Zimmerman case on who was screaming in the 911 call to police made by Witness 11. You can read them here. Shorter version:

I scream,
You scream,
We all scream for ice cream

In the first report, despite the cries on the 911 call being deemed "minimum-to-marginal material for identification purposes", the authors picked 6 "screams" to analyze. It concludes Martin likely made the first two screams and Zimmerman the last two screams. [More...]

Washington Post: The real scandal in the AP phone logs matter: That it's legal. (and reporters already get more protection than the rest of us.)

Angelina Jolie explains her decision to have a preventive double mastectomy.

Caroline Kennedy has been selected as a juror in a NYC crack cocaine case.

Eric Holder will testify tomorrow at a congressional hearing. Added to the agenda: The AP telephone toll records and IRS targeting of conservative groups. Already on the agenda:

Intelligence coordination issues related to the Boston bombings, DOJ spending that Republicans deem wasteful, and conservative allegations of politicization under Holder.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Jason Leopold has obtained the March 5, 2013 revised protocol for force-feeding prisoners at Guantanamo. You can read it here .

The policy went into effect about a month after the most recent hunger strikes began. On Friday, the strike will be in its 100th day.

Jason, who recently left Truthout and is now free-lancing, wrote the account for al-Jazeera. He is visiting Gitmo this week to report on the hunger strikes. Not surprisingly, after his arrival today, he received a request from officials to discuss his article.