• Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.

• Comedian Hal Sparks joins us in studio at 8:05am Pacific for another edition of “Humpdays with Hal.”

• Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said yesterday that while he’s “strongly inclined” to vote to move Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-NV) health care plan with an opt-out public option to the Senate floor for debate, he would ultimately oppose the measure and join a GOP filibuster because it includes that option.

• The White House said yesterday that President Obama has nearly finished gathering information and advice on how to proceed in Afghanistan. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that a planned meeting on Friday with the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be among the last events in the decision-making process.

• The FAA has revoked the licenses of the two Northwest Airlines pilots who flew a passenger jet past their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles last week. They had violated numerous regulations, including failing to comply with air traffic control instructions and clearances and operating carelessly and recklessly.

• The Senate has long been seen as opposing the public health care option in health care reform, but now senior Senate Dems and White House officials are strongly considering including such a measure, but would permit individual states to drop out of the system.

• The White House yesterday forcefully rejected criticism from former Vice President Dick Cheney and other GOP-ers that President Obama’s Afghanistan decision is taking too long. “What Cheney calls dithering, President Obama calls his solemn responsibility,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said.

• Physical attacks on people based on their sexual orientation will join the list of federal hate crimes in a major expansion of the civil rights-era law Congress approved yesterday and sent to President Obama. The measure is named for Matthew Shepard. Many GOP-ers voted against the bill, calling it “controversial.”

• Soupy Sales, the rubber-faced comedian whose anything-for-a-chuckle career was built on 20,000 pies to the face and 5,000 live TV appearances across a half-century of laughs, has died at a hospice in the Bronx. He was 83.

• Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners calls in at 7:05am Pacific to discuss the need for more spirituality in the debate on health care reform.

• Eric Boehlert of Media Matters for America calls in at 7:30am Pacific to talk about accusations of racism against President Obama, and Fox News smearing ACORN.

• Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) calls in at 8:30am Pacific to talk about health care reform.

• Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) unveiled the Senate’s version of health care reform yesterday. The plan would require all Americans to have health insurance, but lacks a public plan option or even a trigger for a public option.

• The White House says President Obama doesn’t believe he’s being criticized because of his race. They were asked about the topic following comments on Tuesday by former President Jimmy Carter. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says some people have disagreements with some of Obama’s decisions but that those concerns were not because of his race.

• ACORN, an advocacy group under fire after some employees were caught on camera appearing to advise a couple posing as a prostitute and pimp to lie about the woman’s profession to get housing help, said Wednesday it is ordering an independent investigation and is refusing new admissions into its service programs.

• Mary Travers of 1960’s folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, has died, according to her publicist. She was 72.

• President Obama called the April jobs numbers showing the nation lost another 539,000 jobs last month “encouraging” yet still a “sobering” economic toll. “It underscores the point that we’re still in the midst of a recession that was years in the making and will be months or even years in the unmaking.”

• President Obama this weekend called on Congress to pass a credit card reform bill so he can sign it into law by Memorial Day. The president highlighted abuses in the credit card industry – including Americans getting ripped off by sudden rate hikes, unfair penalties, hidden fees, and fine print that all too often hides the truth.

• President Obama will deliver a key speech in Egypt on June 4th, the White House said Friday. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the speech will give the president the opportunity to “extend the hand to those that in many ways are like us but simply have a different religion.

• President Obama spared nobody, including himself, at his humorous speech in front of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night. He touched on his own gaffes, and harpooned GOPers like Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney.

• Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about the economy.

• Lt. Gen. Russell Honoré calls in at 8:30am Pacific to talk about his new book, “Survival: How A Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family From Disaster.”

• Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave his most optimistic prediction yet yesterday about the end of the recession, saying he expects the economy to start growing again this year – although the comeback could be weak and more jobs will disappear even after a recovery takes hold.

• President Obama wants Pakistan to step up its commitment to fighting Taliban militants who are growing in strength and compromising vital U.S. interests. In meetings at the White House today, Obama will press the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan to better coordinate their efforts to fight the Taliban.

• The White House yesterday put to rest speculation that President Obama may choose his first Supreme Court nominee as early as this week. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said that Sen. Orrin Hatch was (R-UT) was incorrect when he told reporters that he expected a nomination by the end of this week.

• Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) said yesterday that he hoped GOPer Norm Coleman would be declared the winner in Minnesota’s dragged-out senate race. He said that he would like a Jewish Republican in the Senate.

• General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner announced his resignation early today, the latest change for the troubled automaker. White House and GM sources told news outlets yesterday that Wagoner would resign as part of the federal government’s bailout strategy for the company.

• President Obama said yesterday that his administration remains prepared to order strikes against “high-value” targets within Pakistan. Obama reiterated a previous assertion that the U.S. military would pursue extremists within Pakistan’s borders after consulting with the Pakistani government.

• A tightened version of President Obama’s $3.6 trillion budget moved through a key Senate committee Thursday night. The Senate and the House are expected to vote on different versions of the budget next week.

• A North Korean rocket slated for launch sometime early next month can be clearly seen in a satellite photograph taken yesterday. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gibbs said yesterday there is little doubt that the planned launch is designed to bolster that country’s military capability.

• Residents in Fargo braced for an early spring snow storm today, even as they held their breath while record flood waters receded.