Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year. Merriam-Webster's annual Words of the Year dating to 2003, when the publisher started making the selection:

Judge orders FBI to release much of its interview with Cheney during CIA leak investigation. A federal judge ruled Thursday that the FBI must publicly reveal much of its interview with former Vice President Dick Cheney during the investigation into who leaked the identity of a CIA operative.

Judge orders FBI to release much of its interview with Cheney during CIA leak investigation. A federal judge ruled Thursday that the FBI must publicly reveal much of its notes from an interview with former Vice President Dick Cheney during the investigation into who leaked the identity of a CIA operative.

Cheney told FBI he had no idea who leaked the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame. Citing faulty memory, former Vice President Dick Cheney told federal investigators in a 2004 interview he had no idea who revealed to reporters that Valerie Plame, the wife of a Bush administration critic, worked for the CIA.

Cheney's FBI interview featured 72 instances in which he said he could not recall. Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald famously declared in the Valerie Plame affair that "there is a cloud over the vice president." Last week's release of an FBI interview summary of Dick Cheney's answers in the criminal investigation underscores why Fitzgerald felt that way.

Cheney's FBI interview featured 72 times in which he said he could not recall. Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald famously declared in the Valerie Plame affair that "there is a cloud over the vice president." Last week's release of an FBI interview summary of Dick Cheney's answers in the criminal investigation underscores why Fitzgerald felt that way.

Cheney cites multiple memory lapses during FBI interview. A newly released transcript of a 2004 FBI interview of former Vice President Dick Cheney shows that he ? according to his own words, anyway ? had only fuzzy memories of a major incident that was then less than a year old.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former CIA agent whose unmasking led to the conviction of former Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide lost an appeal on Thursday to declassify parts of her memoir.

Appeals court backs decision barring Valerie Plame from disclosing length of CIA career. A federal appeals court in New York says the CIA did not violate Valerie Plame's free speech rights.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Robert Novak, a conservative political columnist known as the "Prince of Darkness" and who unleashed a political firestorm by publishing the name of an undercover CIA operative, died on Tuesday. He was 78.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Robert Novak, a conservative political columnist known as the "Prince of Darkness" and who unleashed a political firestorm by publishing the name of an undercover CIA operative, died on Tuesday. He was 78.

Political columnist Robert Novak, a diehard conservative, pugilistic debater and proud owner of the "Prince of Darkness" moniker, died Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer that was diagnosed in July 2008. He was 78.

Political columnist Robert Novak, a diehard conservative, pugilistic debater and proud owner of the "Prince of Darkness" moniker, died Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer that was diagnosed in July 2008. He was 78.

Political columnist Robert Novak, a conservative, pugilistic debater and proud owner of the "Prince of Darkness" moniker, died Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer that was diagnosed in July 2008. He was 78.

Political columnist Robert Novak, a conservative, pugilistic debater and proud owner of the "Prince of Darkness" moniker, died Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer that was diagnosed in July 2008. He was 78.

Political columnist Robert Novak, a diehard conservative, pugilistic debater and proud owner of the "Prince of Darkness" moniker, died Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer that was diagnosed in July 2008. He was 78.

Conservative columnist and CNN talk show host Robert Novak, whose unmasking of a covert CIA agent sparked a political and legal firestorm, died on Tuesday, US media reported. He was 78.

Political columnist Robert Novak dies at 78; was central figure in Valerie Plame CIA leak case. Political columnist Robert Novak, a diehard conservative, pugilistic debater and proud owner of the "Prince of Darkness" moniker, has died after a battle with brain cancer.

WASHINGTON - President Obama delivered an impassioned defense last night of his plan to overhaul the US health care system, accusing his critics of distorting his views while setting a tougher and more determined tone for the debate as it enters a crucial phase on Capitol Hill. Excerpts and fact-check of Obama's address, A12. In a rare primetime speech to a joint session of Congress, Obama grew animated as he sought to rally Democrats around a policy initiative that has attracted heavy criticism, saying failure was not an option. He poignantly invoked the memory of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who worked for nearly four decades to pass universal health care. And he warned the gathered lawmakers that he would no longer tolerate what he described as misrepresentations about his goals, which he attempted to explain in greater detail last night. ``I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it,'' he said. ``

WASHINGTON - President Obama delivered an impassioned defense last night of his plan to overhaul the US health care system, accusing his critics of distorting his views while setting a tougher and more determined tone for the debate as it enters a crucial phase on Capitol Hill. Excerpts and fact-check of Obama's address, A12. In a rare primetime speech to a joint session of Congress, Obama grew animated as he sought to rally Democrats around a policy initiative that has attracted heavy criticism, saying failure was not an option. He poignantly invoked the memory of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who worked for nearly four decades to pass universal health care. And he warned the gathered lawmakers that he would no longer tolerate what he described as misrepresentations about his goals, which he attempted to explain in greater detail last night. ``I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it,'' he said. ``