What’s being called the most credible, specific and alarming terrorist threat in years made understandably big news this week. Flipping around the dials on Monday, I saw how extensive the coverage was on network television as well as the PBS News Hour: updates on all the embassies that were closing, all the Western travelers who were being warned. But if the al–Qaida alerts were in order of priority, they were apparently less newsworthy than breaking news of Major League Baseball drug suspensions and Alex Rodriguez’s appeal–and countdown to his first game back against the Chicago White Sox. A-Rod’s return and season debut was the lead story across the board. First things first.