Cheat Sheet - Deal or No Deal, America Is Screwed

December 31, 2012 SORRY 1. America Is Still Screwed Smoke signals from the Capitol suggest that a fiscal-cliff deal is finally forming. The emerging consensus, according to Reuters, is to raise tax rates only on incomes above $400,000 a year—a jump from the $250,000 level that President Obama sought from the beginning. Is the White House caving too soon? And what about the stimulus spending Obama wanted? The Daily Beast's Andrew Sullivan keeps score—and writes that whatever happens, we're screwed as usual by politicians incapable of long-term thinking. Plus, the follow the latest on the negotiations here. Read it at The Daily Beast FISCAL SCRAMBLE 2. 'Major Progress' in Cliff Talks Deal or no deal? While the rest of Congress went to bed last night, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden were reportedly negotiating the impending fiscal cliff into the wee hours of the morning--and allegedly made significant progress. The deal in question would involve Senate Republicans agreeing to extend tax cuts for families who earn more than $450,000 and individuals who make more than $400,000—a significant concession for a party that has staunchly opposed hiking taxes at all. If they don't pull through on this one, every income group will be hit with a tax hike starting Tuesday. Read it at The Daily Beast DEDICATED 3. Lieberman: Clinton Will Testify Blood clot or not, Hillary Clinton will testify on the Benghazi attacks. Sen. Joe Lieberman confirmed on Monday that the secretary of state will uphold her commitment to speak on the Sept. 11 terror attacks as soon as she feels healthy. The independent senator from Connecticut also insisted that Clinton bears no evident responsibility for denied requests for increased security at the U.S. facility in Benghazi. Read it at Talking Points Memo CRYSTAL BALL 4. Your Driverless Car Is Waiting Mini iPhones. Robotic caretakers. Implantable pedometers?! The Daily Beast presents the tech innovations you're most likely to see (and, OK, might not) in 2013. Read it at The Daily Beast NEWTOWN SHOOTING 5. Lanza's Dad Claimed Remains A family spokesman confirmed Monday that Newtown, Conn., shooter Adam Lanza's father, Peter Lanza, claimed his son's body. The spokesman did not say when the remains were claimed or mention any plans for a funeral service. Earlier this month a private funeral was held in New Hampshire for his Lanza's mother, Nancy, whom Lanza, 20, killed Dec. 14 before he went to Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 20 children and six adults. Read it at The Associated Press TRAGIC 23 Killed in Iraq Explosions Including seven members of one family. BLACK MONDAY Eagles Fire Andy Reid After 14 years. The Pony Psy Retiring Gangnam Style Says it's become "too popular." SCARY Maine Man Shoots Tenants After fight about parking during a snowstorm. DEVELOPING Kim Kardashian Is Pregnant She confirms after Kanye announces at show. 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. Kanye's Going to Be a Baby Daddy Kim Kardashian is 'my baby mama,' Kanye West told fans at his Atlantic City concert Sunday night. Name suggestions? Outfits to look forward to? The Internet is exploding. More Videos What 'Argo' Gets Wrong by Kambiz Atabai Confessions of an Extreme Yogi by Benjamin Lorr 2012's Best Onscreen Kisses by Melissa Leon

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