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the zeitgeist checklist: What Washington is talking about.

Zeitgeist Checklist: Rotting Corpse EditionWhat Washington is talking about this week.

By Christopher Beam
Posted Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at 6:36 PM ET

(Continued from page 1)

6. New This Week [UP ARROW]

Revolutionary War, Part II
Religion. The primates of the Anglican Church give the U.S. Episcopal Church eight months to ban the blessing of same-sex unions. (That, or convert all their congregations to heterosexuality with three weeks of rehab.) But many American Episcopal leaders would rather accept a schism than discriminate, especially since breaking ties with England tends to work out so nicely.

7. New This Week [UP ARROW]

Zapruder Thinks the Mise-en-Scène Could Be Better
History. A Dallas museum unveils a newly discovered film showing John F. Kennedy and Jackie in the presidential motorcade moments before his assassination. Conspiracy theorists are dismayed to learn the "magic bullet" theory is probably explained by JFK's bunched-up jacket. Oliver Stone's feature-length retraction can't be far off.

8. Last Week: 8 Weeks on List: 5 [SAME]

Fear and Loathing (but Mostly Loathing) on the Campaign Trail
Congress. Sen. John McCain calls Donald Rumsfeld "one of the worst secretaries of defense in history"—and that's coming from a guy who fought under McNamara. As for his comments in December that Rumsfeld "deserves Americans' respect and gratitude," that was before the Straight Talk Express left the station. Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Lieberman indicates he might switch parties if Democrats try to block war funding. Happy now, Connecticut?

9. New This Week [UP ARROW]

Enemy Combatants Too Hot for Federal Courts
Law. A federal appeals court rules that Guantanamo detainees do not have a right to challenge their detention in federal courts, even though neither the administration nor Congress has suspended habeas corpus. Bush considers it, though—Lincoln comparisons are good for poll numbers. The case will likely go to the Supreme Court, which, after ruling on it twice before, is frankly getting a little bored of the whole civil liberties thing.

10. New This Week [UP ARROW]

What Are They Smoking?
Business. The high court overturns a nearly $80 million award intended to compensate a smoker's widow. It's a major victory for tobacco companies, especially now that Obama's quitting has made smoking uncool again. In other news, XM Radio and Sirius announce plans for a merger. Howard Stern will spend a two-hour show chuckling over the word merge.

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Christopher Beam is a Slate political reporter.
Illustrations by Vivian Selbo.
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