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By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

I'm typing this from our NBC News Washington Bureau. I'm in town to fulfill an obligation that was on Tim Russert's calendar -- as we all scramble to fulfill obligations and plug the many holes that his passing leaves behind in our lives and work. One good sign: our colleagues here in this bureau who work so hard to pump out so much television week in and week out -- are starting to take a little time off, sporadically -- letting up a bit from the non-stop tempo of recent days and weeks. We have plenty of folks to cover every story and guarantee that not a beat gets missed -- it's just cheering to see healing and the return of a few smiles to this great place. Besides, I got to see David Brooks in the hallway, talked about this past Supreme Court term with the great Pete Williams (no relation -- in family name or greatness) and watched just now as Pat Buchanan walked in from the parking lot. I take my excitement where I can get it.

Tonight we have a tale of Democratic Unity, a story on climate change, Tom Brokaw's interview with Bill Gates, an extraordinary woman to introduce you to (we discovered her in Afghanistan) and then I'm off for a battery-recharging day on my beloved home turf, the Jersey Shore. Please join us tonight and again on Monday. Have a good and safe weekend.