The Politico’s Mike Allen spots an interesting nugget today:

Any conservative who wants to criticize The New York Times should hold their horses and read Mark Mazzetti’s two-col. lead story, “C.I.A. Destroyed 2 Tapes Showing Interrogations: Videos Weren’t Provided to 9/11 Panel or Court During Terrorism Trial”:

“The New York Times informed the intelligence agency on Wednesday evening that it was preparing to publish an article about the destruction of the tapes.”

So the CIA tried to cover itself by sending a written message to employees from Director Michael Hayden, allowing the AP to move a story at 4:20 p.m. with no credit to The Times. Thanks for the heads-up. The AP later added: “Hayden’s message was an attempt to get ahead of a New York Times story about the videotapes.”