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Alec MacGillis is a senior editor for The New Republic.

I don't usually wade into global economic policy here on the Stump, but as Mitt Romney reminded us in his speech last night, the 2012 presidential race is "still about the economy — and we're not stupid." So after coming across a particular pet peeve of mine just now, I'm going to wade on in.

Irwin M. Stelzer writes for The Weekly Standard.

There were 388,000 first-time claims for jobless benefits last week, down just 1,000 from the week before, the Employment and Training Administration just reported.

And in another sign that the labor market's recovery remains sluggish, the agency said "the 4-week moving average was 381,750, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 375,500." That measure is said by economists to be a better gauge of the underlying trend in claims.

Good morning, here are today's headlines:

Liberia's Charles Taylor Aided And Abetted War Crimes, Court Finds.

After Conviction, Pakistani Prime Minister 'Imprisoned' For Just A Few Minutes.