The Morning Scoop - The Ecomony's Bad News Deluge

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JUNE 6, 2011

The Economy's Bad News Deluge Stubbornly high unemployment numbers, cratering home prices, stock market plunges—there's only one upside to all these depressing figures, writes The Daily Beast's Gary Rivlin: They may finally force Washington stop obsessing over the deficit and get to work on fixing unemployment. Read it at The Daily Beast Obama Considers More Drastic Afghanistan Pullout Owing to what U.S. officials are calling "strategic considerations"—namely, the rising cost of the war and the death of Osama bin Laden—President Obama's national-security team is contemplating even steeper troop reductions in Afghanistan than those discussed weeks ago. There are still reservations given mixed results in getting Afghan President Hamid Karzai's troops prepared to take the lead in the war, but the National Security Council is convening its monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday, and will debate not only how many troops to get out in July, but also discuss setting a final date by which all U.S. "surge" troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan. Before the recent "strategic considerations," officials were anticipating an initial drawdown of 3,000 to 5,000 troops. Gen. David Petraeus, however, sounded a cautious note, telling The New York Times on Sunday that the Taliban would try to "regain the momentum they had a year ago." Read it at The New York Times Yemeni President is 'Recovering' There was joy in the streets of Yemen Monday as citizens celebrated the flight to Saudi Arabia of President Ali Abdullah Saleh after he was injured in an attack. According to the BBC, Saleh is "recovering" in Saudi Arabia, which will reportedly not allow him to return to Yemen. He underwent two successful operations on his chest and neck on Sunday. Violence, however, quickly returned: With a power vacuum opening up, opposition groups took to the streets with arms and clashed with security forces, leaving at least six people dead. Read it at BBC E. coli Traced to German Farm Authorities believe they have found the source of the European E. coli outbreak that has killed 22 people: a farm in northern Germany that produces bean sprouts. Authorities say the farm is the "likely source" and closed it; however, they are awaiting the results of testing. The farm grows a wide variety of vegetable sprouts including those from adzuki, alfalfa, broccoli, peas, lentils and mung beans. The farm's manager says he "can't understand how the farm would be the source, since the plants aren't fertilized." German authorities originally pointed toward Spain as the source of the outbreak. Read it at BBC Santorum Enters 2012 Race Here comes another one: Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum officially entered the 2012 presidential race on Monday. The conservative icon threw his hat in the ring for the Republican nomination on Good Morning America, announcing, "We are ready to announce that we are going to be in this race and we're in it to win it." The latest Gallup survey of the GOP field shows Santorum polling at just 2 percent, well behind top contenders like Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin. Read it at ABC News Edwards Nixed Prison-Time Deal Would have had to serve six months for campaign violations. Apple Set to Unveil iCloud At event with Steve Jobs Monday. Scientists Trap and Hold Anti-Matter Preserve it for 16 minutes. Katie Couric to Join ABC After being courted by CBS, CNN, and NBC. 1,500 Turn Up for Facebook Party After host forgets to make invite private. Sign up for The Yes List email, our weekly cultural recommendations. For more of The Daily Beast, become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Mormons Rock! by Walter Kirn They've conquered Broadway, talk radio, the U.S. Senate—and they may win the White House. Walter Kirn on why Mitt Romney and 6 million Mormons have the secret to success, in this week's Newsweek. The Arab Spring Six Months Later by Andrew Bast Six months after a food vendor sparked a revolution in Tunisia, uprisings across the Arab world have toppled despots in Egypt and Yemen, still threaten regimes in Libya and Syria, and changed the calculus for regional heavyweights like Israel, the Saudis—and the U.S. Andrew Bast reports. SEE photos from the unrest that has gripped the region. Lady Gaga, Marc Jacobs, and More at 2011 CFDA Awards by Isabel Wilkinson At the CFDA Awards on Monday night, Lady Gaga receives a Fashion Icon Award, Marc Jacobs is honored for lifetime achievement, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen may win big. See exclusive photos.

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