Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss Jack Abramoff's legal troubles, the winners and losers of 2005 and the year's most significant events, including Hurricane Katrina and the rise of political Islam.

Former Enron chief accounting officer Richard Causey pleaded guilty Wednesday to a security fraud charge. A reporter discusses the plea deal and how this development will affect the upcoming Enron trial.

Dec 23

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As a Justice Department lawyer in the 1980s, Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito argued that executive branch officials should not be held liable if they ordered wiretaps without obtaining warrants, according to documents.

Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss Congress' last-minute action on the Patriot Act, the domestic surveillance controversy and other political developments of the week.

A report examines the tensions of hiring day laborers that may be illegal immigrants with a focus on Herndon, a city in Northern Virginia that just opened a city-funded day laborer site.

A government request to transfer terrorism suspect Jose Padilla from military to civilian custody was rejected yesterday by an appeals court. A reporter discusses the latest developments.