POLKED! In 2007 Nation contributors Joshua Kors and Jeremy Scahill exposed different facets of the corrupt and tragic US occupation of Iraq. February 19 Kors and Scahill were honored for their work with George Polk Awards--one of America's most prestigious journalism prizes. Kors was awarded the magazine prize for uncovering a stunning pattern of benefit denials by the Department of Veteran Affairs (see "Thanks for Nothing" and "Specialist Town Takes His Case to Washington"). Cataloging scores of incidents where the VA had refused care to soldiers by misdiagnosing them with "personality disorder," Kors's reporting led to Congressional hearings, an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act and back benefits for many of the affected veterans.

Scahill was awarded the book prize for Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, published by Nation Books. Scahill's investigation of Blackwater's role in Iraq appeared more than two years ago in our pages in a series of muckraking articles--culminating in his April cover story, "Bush's Shadow Army."

PROGRESSIVES FOR... Barack Obama narrowly leads Hillary Clinton in endorsements from members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Obama has twenty-seven endorsements compared to Clinton's twenty-five; nineteen are still uncommitted. Obama backers include CPC co-chair Barbara Lee; House Judiciary Committee chair John Conyers; Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress; and George Miller, Nancy Pelosi's confidant. Clinton boosters include CPC co-chair Lynn Woolsey; Out of Iraq Caucus chair Maxine Waters; and Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank, the only openly gay members of Congress. Prominent undecideds include Bernie Sanders, Dennis Kucinich and Henry Waxman.

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