AOL News has a chart — in a section called “Where Are We Headed” — that makes it appear that casualties in Iraq are dramatically declining:

Of course, we’re less than three months into 2006. Here is what an intellectually honest chart looks like (click for full size version):

ThinkProgress has learned that NBC anchor Chris Matthews has received tens of thousands of dollars in exchange for delivering speeches to corporate interest groups. Matthews’s speaking engagements appear to be in direct violation of NBC’s policy prohibiting its employees from accepting such fees.

Last week Dave Johnson of Seeing the Forest documented Matthews’s speaking engagements, but was unable to confirm whether he was paid.

In 2002, Howard Kurtz reported in the Washington Post:

I’ve been critical of journalistic buckraking since the mid-1990s, when I wrote about a $30,000 speech that Sam Donaldson had given to an insurance group…The issue began to fade as a number of news organizations, including ABC and NBC, banned the practice.

Three trade associations independently confirmed to ThinkProgress that Matthews spoke for hefty fees on several occasions, as recently as last year:

- The National Venture Capital Assocation (NVCA) confirmed that Matthews spoke at its 2005 Annual Meeting. NVCA told Think Progress that it booked Matthews through the Washington Speakers Bureau and that he received a fee of approximately $35,000. He received speaking fees from NCVA on at least two other occasions.

- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) confirmed that Matthews spoke at its 2001 Annual Meeting. NACDS said it booked Matthews through the Washington Speakers Bureau and that he received a fee for speaking.

- The American Hospital Association (AHA) confirmed that Matthews spoke at its 2005 Annual Meeting. AHA said it booked Matthews through the Washington Speakers Bureau and that he received a fee for speaking.

In an email to ThinkProgress, MSNBC President Rick Kaplan said information that Matthews was paid to speak to outside groups was, “Totally untrue…totally.” He provided no evidence to support his claim.

UPDATE: On Thursday, we were contacted by MSNBC President Rick Kaplan who elaborated the blanket denial (“Totally untrue”¦totally”) he provided to ThinkProgress pre-publication. According to Kaplan, while these groups may have paid fees for Matthews to speak, the fees did not go to Matthews directly, but to a charity of Matthews’s choosing. Kaplan added that NBC policy prohibited anchors from personally accepting speaking fees and anyone who did so “would risk being fired.”

First, Sen. Lincoln Chaffee (R-RI). From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, offered some praise for Feingold, saying the resolution would be “positive” if it fueled debate over the legality of some policies in the war on terrorism.

Also, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), who said he would vote for censure. From the Washington Post:

“The president broke the law and he needs to be held accountable,” [Harkin] said. “Talk about high crimes and misdemeanors!” Harkin said he’ll vote for the Feingold resolution — if it comes up.

Nevertheless, the AP reports “not a single Democrat has embraced” Feingold’s censure resolution.

UPDATE: Sen. Harkin is now the first official co-sponsor of Feingold’s resolution:

In a brief interview, Harkin said, “I think it makes sense. … Quite frankly, I think we ought to have a full-fledged debate on this.” …

Feingold said that even though support for his resolution is low so far, he believes he is already meeting his goal of reopening the debate on the matter.

“I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve,” Feingold said, adding that he still hopes his resolution will pass. “I’m very pleased with what has happened.”