Strategically timing the news release for the end of the day on Friday, the USDA has confirmed the second official case of mad cow in the United States. More information and background:

• Executive summary and full report by the scholars of the Center for Progressive Reform on our flimsy firewalls against mad cow
• Mad about mad cow (6/20/05)
• GAO Finds Weaknesses in Mad Cow Regulation Oversight (3/16/05)
• New Cases of Mad Cow Disease Highlight Need to Close Loopholes in Protection (11/19/04)
• Mad Cow Disease Regulation Fails to Protect U.S. Food Supply (7/26/04)
• Lawmakers Accuse USDA of Misleading Public on Mad Cow (2/23/04)