Trent Lott is resigning from the Senate

The Republican's Assistant Minority Leader in the Senate, Trent Lott from Mississippi, is planning to resign by the end of the year, NBC's David Gregory just reported. He apparently wants to get out before new stricter lobbying rules take effect. Plus, it's probably no fun in the Senate without his good pal, Strom Thurmond.

Here's the Associated Press article on this breaking news.