This must have been a very awkward conversation. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called President Obama on Wednesday to address reports in a German paper that the U.S. had tapped her cell phone. According to the White House, Obama strongly denied any such thing. The National Security Agency "is not monitoring and will not monitor the communications of the chancellor," press secretary Jay Carney said. But you can't blame Merkel for worrying—recent reports raised questions about U.S. spying activities in Brazil, France, and Mexico, and Brazil's president cancelled a planned state visit over the allegations.