Cheat Sheet - The 20 Best Movies of the Year

Today: State: Benghazi 'Unacceptable' , NYSE's Sale to ICE: Sign of the Times , Cory Booker Eyes 2014 Senate Run December 20, 2012 TOP 20 1. The Best Movies of the Year The year got off to a pretty dreadful start—John Carter, anyone? But as Oscar season heats up and studios prepare for an epic Christmas release schedule, 2012 has morphed into an impressive time at the multiplex. From Les Miserables to The Dark Knight Rises, The Daily Beast's Marlow Stern ranks the best flicks of the year. Read it at The Daily Beast HEARINGS 2. State: Benghazi 'Unacceptable' In the first Senate Benghazi hearings, the State Department said the weaknesses in security that lead to the 9/11 attack were "unacceptable." Deputy of Secretary William J. Burns said that "we have to do better." Senator John Kerry opened the hearing calling for some "responsibility" from Congress—they need to meet the financial demands of diplomatic security. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton was blasted by Allen West, who said she had caught the "Benghazi flu." Read it at The New York Times SIGN OF THE TIMES 3. Bye, Bye, Big Board A 12-year-old upstart based out of Atlanta—gasp!—has bought the 220-year-old icon of capitalism, the New York Stock Exchange. The Daily Beast's Daniel Gross on how much trading has changed—and why traders couldn't keep up. Read it at The Daily Beast NATIONAL STAGE 4. Cory Booker Eyes 2014 Senate Run Chris Christie can rest a bit easier now. Popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker--perhaps best known for running into burning buildings, shoveling snow, delivering Sandy supplies, and getting Mark Zuckerberg to shell out over $100 million--has decided not to challenge Christie for the governorship of New Jersey in 2013. Instead, Booker is exploring a candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2014. Booker, a Democrat, was considered the best option to take down the popular Republican governor. Now, thanks to the influence of the White House, he's instead set his sights on the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Frank Lautenberg—who, at 88, is the chamber's oldest sitting senator. A Senior New Jersey Official told Buzzfeed, "The White House weighed and convinced him to run for Senate. They viewed him as an asset they didn't want to tarnish, and they wanted him in the Senate." Booker is expected to announce his decision on Thursday via Twitter. Read it at NBC New York SHOOT 5. Guns to Be More Deadly than Cars Usually when people describe slim odds, they say it's more likely you'll die in a traffic accident. So listen up, gun-lovers: By 2015, gun deaths will exceed traffic fatalities in America, according to a Bloomberg News study. While car-related deaths have dropped 22 percent from 2005 to 2010, gun deaths have spiked. The study estimates that in 2015 there will be about 33,000 shooting deaths, while only 32,000 traffic deaths. What's been making it safer to drive? Public policy. Read it at Bloomberg News RAWR Putin: U.S. Screwed Up Libya Defends stance on Syria. DEVIANTS REJOICE New Yorkers Seek Doomsday Sex Want to cuddle as world ends. LOST AND FOUND Surgeons Still Leave Items in Patients According to traumatizing new study. CAPSIZED Somalia Shipwreck Kills 55 At least five people survived. GLASS CASE OF EMOTION 'Anchorman 2' Gets Release Date Will Ferrell sequel hits theaters Dec. 2013. 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 Culture Beast Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. Dan Gross: 'House Republicans Have to Actually Vote for Something' As the House GOP tries to gather its caucus to vote today on Speaker Boehner's Plan B, Business Editor Dan Gross joins MSNBC's The Cycle to argue that part of the challenge in the fiscal cliff talks is that the House GOP cannot seem to get it together. More Videos Boehner's Selfish Gambit by Michael Tomasky Vets Are Dying for Care by Aaron Glantz The Year's Best Young Actor by Kevin Fallon

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