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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Fires destroyed three and damaged two rural Baptist churches last night just
south of Birmingham, Alabama. Authorities suspect arson, but no charges had
been filed as of the publishing of this briefing. Unlike the string of blazes
attacking black churches in 1996, these fires struck both predominantly white
and predominantly black congregations.
Tonight on Hardball, Chris will talk with Pastor David Hand and his wife Robin
Hand, whose Old Union Baptist Church caught fire last night, but was saved
before being destroyed. James Cavanaugh, the ATF special agent who runs the
field division in Nashville, and James Johnson, the former co-chair of the
National Church Arson Task Force, will also join Chris to discuss the latest on
the investigation into the burnings.
Chris will also talk about it with Jon Meacham, managing editor of Newsweek
magazine and the author of an upcoming book on religion and American history.
Here's NBC's latest report on what has happened:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11160244/.
In other news, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's indicted
former chief of staff, was in court today to hear the schedule for his trial.
The judge decided that it won't start until January 2007. Hardball's David
Shuster will report on what developed today and tell us why Libby's own
handwriting is proving to be an obstacle for both the defense and the
prosecution. Shuster also will tell us about the White House emails proving
elusive for Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. Here's more from the AP:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11160549/.
The Hardball HotShots will be here to break down the biggest stories of the
week. MSNBC's Rita Cosby, host of "Live and Direct," Tucker Carlson, host of
"The Situation," and Craig Crawford, MSNBC political analyst and Hardblogger
All-Star, who is pinch hitting for the voice-challenged Joe Scarborough, will
all be here to chew on this week's news and the headlines made by the 2008
Presidential Prospects.
Plus, Con Coughlin, defense and security editor for the Daily Telegraph, will
discuss his new book, "American Ally," which takes an in-depth look at British
Prime Minister Tony Blair's leadership and his relationship with President Bush
since 9/11.
Here are some things you might not have read yet today:
--NBC's Seidman and O'Donnell have more on the missing West Wing emails
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11150000/
--NFL reports on Sunday's pigskin action http://www.superbowl.com/
--Hardblogger (!) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5445086/
--NBC's First Read http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3626796/
--Doonesbury http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/index.html
Brooke Brower compiled the "Hardball Briefing" in Washington, D.C.
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