thursday morning briefs

Josh Marshall - "The Bush administration spent $1.4 billion in taxpayer dollars on 137 contracts with advertising agencies over the past two-and-a-half years, according to a Government Accountability Office report released by House Democrats Monday."

Guardian (UK) - "Bush administration requests $75m to mount biggest ever propaganda campaign against Tehran government."

Congressman John Conyers - "Republicans Block Investigation of Domestic Spying Program"