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Morning Briefing: Denise speaks: In an interview with TMZ, Denise Richards speaks out on the whole Charlie Sheen/Heather Locklear/Richie Sambora/David Spade mess, and she's really got her talking points down. Caught randomly by a camera crew somewhere (see the video here), Richards emphasizes that her focus is on her children, that it's all quite unfortunate and that Locklear "knows why we aren't friends." On the other side, it looks as if Locklear and Sheen may be teaming up. The pair share the same divorce lawyer, and In Touch thinks Locklear may prove to be a key character witness for him -- one source tells the magazine, "Heather could easily destroy Denise's case against Charlie." (TMZ, In Touch via the Scoop)...

Following a Salon report, top Democrats say Bush nominee Terrence Boyle's record is "outrageous" and that he has "no place on the federal bench."

"House of War" author James Carroll says the Pentagon is out of control, the Cold War was unnecessary -- and it's good that we're failing in Iraq.

Rep. Richard Pombo, the environmentalists' scourge, was feted by the industries he so loyally serves. I'd tell you more, but they kicked me out.

Spare us the self-involved moaning over the agonies of your art. Writing is no harder than anything else, and the complainers should can it.

Convinced of our superiority, Americans keep trying to impose freedom on the rest of the world. It's arrogant, immoral -- and it hasn't worked.

Now that I've told her I'm gay, I don't suppose I can stay. But I want to be a father to our 3-year-old son.

Hey kids! Guess who just got his ass a job?

The undocumented and their allies who took to the streets come from a group rarely seen at protests: The working poor. Is this the sound of a new labor movement?

Morning Briefing: Paris is pious and single: They've been off and on as a couple for some time, but Paris Hilton and Stavros Niarchos are now reportedly stuck in off. Hilton's rep, Elliot Mintz, told People, "It is not my policy to comment on my client's private life. But I would not offer a denial." Hilton also wants people to know that she's actually very religious. "I'm Catholic," she told Out magazine for an upcoming cover story. "Of course, they're not going to run pictures of me in church." (People, Out via Page Six) Tom Cruise, journalist: Providing a great example for why he's an actor and not a writer, Tom Cruise has a byline in Time's new "Time 100" issue for a profile of "Mission: Impossible III" director J.J. Abrams. "First of all, is there anything in a name -- J.J.?" Cruise writes. "Look at the Jays we have now -- Jay Leno, J. Lo, Jay-Z -- but he's got two Js. He was born to impinge and invade pop culture." (Time) ...

With enough work for all, including illegal immigrants, the booming Texas city is the future face of the American workforce.

A disillusioned ex-boho argues that consumer culture has turned "rebellion" and "individuality" into meaningless poses, about as transgressive as a turtleneck.

I wrote a memoir about life with the world's worst dog. But before my masterpiece hit the shelves, a pooch named Marley stole my thunder.

I have an offer to study in the Arctic, but I'd have to leave my boyfriend behind.

Lefty bloggers are livid over green groups' endorsement of Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee. But who says only Democrats can save the planet?

From the tufted phalopian kromfapper to the id lid, welcome to the Museum of Hats.

His biographer recalls how the late economist warned JFK about Vietnam -- and faulted conservative policies for worsening inequality in America.

Stephen Colbert's brilliant performance unplugged the Bush myth machine -- and left the clueless D.C. press corps gaping.

All the alleged hipness and glamour of the Tribeca Film Festival were in full effect on a busy weekend of premieres and showcases, but neither glorious weather nor the celebrity-sightings that New Yorkers must pretend they don't notice or care about has been able to dispel the funereal mood emanating from the films themselves. Around the Tribeca Grand Hotel, festival ground zero, the atmosphere feels the same as ever: Doormen give you an imperceptible nod behind their Erik Estrada aviator shades; random semi-famous people (Jeff Goldblum, Mos Def, John Malkovich) drift through the lobby bar; and sooner or later you end up in one of the extraordinary bathrooms, trying to pee into a tiny steel vitrine while standing in a mirrored alcove lined with turquoise tile (the effect is part Spanish-colonial church, part '70s coke flashback). Then you see a movie and the good times pretty much evaporate....

Morning Briefing: Lohan love spat? Lindsay Lohan apparently got a big surprise last week when she decided to drop by director Brett Ratner's Hollywood house. Ratner and Lohan have been rumored to be somewhat of an item, and he'd told her she was welcome to come by anytime, but forgot to mention he might already have company in the form of longtime girlfriend and model Alina Puscau. "Brett never told Lindsay he had a girlfriend. She had no idea," a source told Page Six. "He is constantly e-mailing, texting and calling her." Another source said things turned nasty when Lohan just showed up on the doorstep: "Alina jumped out of bed and went ballistic. They started screaming at each other and took the fight first into the living room and then out to the driveway while Brett hid in the bedroom. Lindsay said she could get Alina deported and left." (Page Six)...