There was big news in Washington this week.

Sure, there were a bunch of primaries on Tuesday, and the Palestinian President met with President Obama at the White House to talk about Middle East peace, but that's not it.

Stephen Strasburg made his debut for the Washington Nationals.

With that, here are some other stories you may have missed this week:

1. Former IL Governor Rod Blagojevich was ordered to stop tweeting during his corruption trial.... you can see Blago's last tweet HERE (TIME)

2. Disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff was transferred Tuesday from prison to a Maryland halfway house to serve out the remainder of his sentence (CNN)

3. On his 40th birthday, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick moved in to a new home... a level-four state prison in Michigan (Detroit News)

4. AZ Senator John McCain and "Snooki" from the 'Jersey Shore' discussed a very important health issue over twitter this week. (Vanity Fair)

5. What do some White House staffers do in their down-time away from work?  You'll have to click HERE to find out. (Famous DC)

Posted by: LKL Producer Hunter Waters
Filed under: John McCain • Politics is King • Rod Blagojevich

Tonight on Larry King Live former Democratic Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich.  He's been impeached, ousted from office, and now faces trial on federal corruption charges.

Now his wife, Patti, is in Costa Rica on NBC's 'I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here.'  NBC wanted Rod to do the show but a judge barred him from leaving the United States.

Legal analysts note that anything Patti says on the show could potentially be used against them in court.  Is it too big of a risk?
Also, NBC is paying Patti to participate in the show.  She has said she's doing it for the money.  She also is raising money for charity.  The charity now says they can keep the cash!

Do you have questions for Rod Blagojevich, or do you have something you want to say to his wife Patti?  Sound Off ... and tune in tonight to hear their reactions on Larry King Live, 9pm ET.

---------------------------

By James Janega |Tribune staff reporter

The day after former Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich ate a dead tarantula on network television to benefit herself and a charity, the selected charity said today it had declined the offered money. Another charity took its place, said NBC.

The former first lady said last Thursday she would be on "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here" for some undisclosed compensation, as well as to raise money for Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Not so, the foundation said, rejecting the offer last week on principle.

Among the things federal prosecutors allege about former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is that in his last weeks as governor he tried to extort a campaign donation from the charity's partner hospital, Children's Memorial Hospital, in exchange for releasing reimbursement funds to them. A federal judge prohibited the ex-governor from competing on the show, which is filmed in Costa Rica. His wife went on instead.

(Read More)

Filed under: Larry King Live • Rod Blagojevich

Everything's still being tweaked for the first performance tonight of "Rod Blagojevich Superstar!" Dreamed up at a boozy Second City party on Jan. 12, the one-act show was scripted, composed, choreographed, memorized and rehearsed in less than a month.

There was no point dragging out the process, not with the ex-governor's punch-line value now at its peak.

"At worst, we get a ton of PR - which we've gotten," said Kelly Leonard, vice president of Second City. "And at best we have a show that has legs."

"Superstar" tracks Blago's rise from go-getter law school grad to Illinois power broker, with an emphasis on his embrace of greedy Machine politics.

(Read More HERE)

Filed under: Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich tonight!  He says the fix was in.  Rod Blagojevich pleads his case on Larry King Live!  Tonight, 9pm ET.

Filed under: Larry King Live • Rod Blagojevich

On tonight's LKL:  Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich!  It's a primetime, exclusive as Blagojevich sits down with Larry King on the day his impeachment trial begins!  And, he's taking your phone calls!

We want to hear from you! COMMENT HERE and tune in to Larry's live program, 9 p.m., ET.  We just may use your comment on the air!   So sound off!

We'll be live-blogging during the interview and giving you a  behind-the-scenes report on what's happening FROM THE STUDIO with Larry and Blagojevich!  Listen for Larry to use your comment on the air!

Please:
1) Stay on topic.
2) Keep it short
3) No curse words
4) Use a name (no initials or screen names)

Filed under: Larry King Live • Live Blogging • Rod Blagojevich