Cheat Sheet - Spanking Goes Mainstream

Today: Afghan Forces Fight Off Taliban , Breivik Claims Self-Defense , Congress Preps for Tax Battle April 16, 2012 RETRO FANTASY 1. Spanking Goes Mainstream She works crazy hours. She takes care of the kids. At the end of the day, she wants to be ... spanked? From the steamy book Fifty Shades of Grey to HBO's Girls, sexual domination is in vogue. In Newsweek, Katie Roiphe on why women's power at work may be fueling the craze. Read it at Newsweek Assault 2. Afghan Forces Fight Off Taliban After 18 hours of gunfire in Kabul, Afghan-led forces and U.S. helicopters finally defeated a massive, coordinated Taliban assault. Authorities say at least 17 militants were killed in the attacks on embassies, government buildings, and NATO bases that began Sunday afternoon. Like the attack last September by the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, the militants took over half-built buildings and fired on nearby embassies and bases. Read it at The Associated Press Unrepentant 3. Breivik Claims Self-Defense Anders Behring Breivik, the man accused of killing 77 people in Norway last summer, claimed he did so in self-defense. “I acknowledge the acts but do not plead guilty, and I claim I was doing it in self-defense.” Breivik’s trial moved forward after an expert found him sane, overruling an earlier diagnosis. Breivik was defiant and unrepentant in court, raising a closed fist in salute and saying he doesn’t recognize the court’s authority. Read it at CNN On The Hill 4. Congress Preps for Tax Battle Congress is back from recess and ready to start fighting. The Senate is expected to vote on the “Buffett Rule”—the proposal that people who make more than $1 million a year will be required to pay 30 percent in federal taxes. The bill is expected to fail under Republican filibuster. Over in the House, Republicans are preparing to vote on a bill that raises deductions for businesses with fewer than 500 employees. It, too, is expected to fail. Read it at Talking Points Memo WASHINGTON WHISPERS 5. The Next Hillary Hillary Clinton will be a tough act to follow. In Newsweek, Leslie H. Gelb handicaps the next secretary of state—from Obama's shortlist of insiders to Romney's wild cards. Unfortunately, he writes, all of the potential candidates lack the “stage presence of their immediate predecessors.” Read it Newsweek OBSERVING U.N. Monitors Arrive in Syria Unarmed peacekeepers to begin monitoring Monday. 2012 Obama Tentatively Woos Arizona Analysts say it might be in play. LONGREADS The NRA’s Apolitical Roots “Gun rights” a recent development. UNPLUGGED Study: 1 in 5 Americans Aren’t Online Pew study focused solely on adults. Snap Judgment Pippa Caught in Gun-Pointing Scandal Could face arrest after friend directs gun at photographer. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET The Yes List Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. Taliban Commanders Say Kabul Attacks Show New Strategy by Sami Yousafzai , Ron Moreau The Perpetual Outrage Industry by Howard Kurtz Pippa's Gungate Moment Could Be a Disaster for the Entire Royal Family by Tom Sykes

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