Cheat Sheet - Senators Go to War Over CIA Torture

Today: Senate Clears Way for Budget Deal , The Real Problem With the American Studies Association's Boycott of Israel , Six American Troops Die in Crash December 17, 2013 HOT SEAT 1. Senators Go to War Over CIA Torture When Carolyn Krass steps up to the this afternoon for her Senate confirmation as CIA general counsel, most of the tension will center on the agency's alleged use of torture and enhanced interrogation techniques more than a decade ago. Some of the toughest questioning of Krass will come from Democrats on the panel, The Daily Beast's Daniel Klaidman reports, as her nomination becomes a proxy battle between the intelligence committee and the CIA over a 6,000-page report on the CIA's interrogation program. Read it at The Daily Beast WHEW 2. Senate Clears Way for Budget Deal The budget plan compiled by Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington and Republican Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has cleared one more hurdle on its way to passage. The Senate voted 67-33 on Teusday to end debate on the bill, easily passing the required 60 votes to break a filibuster. The new deal will restore funding to defense and domestic programs that saw cuts from the automatic, across-the-board cuts in the sequestration deal. In its place, the plan will trim military and federal pensions, enact cuts to Medicare providers as well as smaller items like ending federal research for fossil-fuel discovery efforts. Read it at the New York Times MISGUIDED 3. The Academics Boycotting Israel's Existence On Monday, the American Studies Association voted to boycott Israeli universities. The problem, says The Daily Beast's Peter Beinart, is not that the ASA is practicing double standards and not even that it's boycotting academics, but that it's denying the legitimacy of a democratic Jewish state, even alongside a Palestinian one. Read it at The Daily Beast TRAGEDY 4. Six American Troops Die in Crash Six NATO troops, all American, died in an aircraft crash in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, according to officials. The crash is the single deadliest incident of the year as the U.S. continues its drawdown of forces in the region. While the U.S.-led ISAF says that while the crash is still being investigated, "initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash." The Taliban, never accused of being Johnny-come-lately's when it comes to human tragedy, is claiming responsibility on Twitter, saying its fighters shot down a helicopter over Zabul province. Read it at Washington Post BONDAGE 5. Russia Offers Ukraine a Deal Talk about an offer you can't refuse. As political unrest continues to rage in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin went all in, offering the strapped country $15 billion in loans and a hefty discount on natural gas prices. The thinly-veiled carrot comes as thousands of protesters continue to fight against a government seen as too close to Russia that has spurned closer economic ties with Europe and the U.S. While it is unknown what Russia will receive in return, the offer, which was announced at the Kremlin at a meeting with Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich, is seen as giving the embattled leader an economic lifeline.  Read it at New York Times ABOUT TIME Drug Company Ends Doctor Payments Also will stop tying pay to prescriptions written. End of His World Doomsday Preacher Dies Harold Camping predicted Judgment Day would come in 2011. SATURATED Sweeteners Found in Rivers As well as drinking water. Revolving Door CBS's Miller Leaves for NYPD Crack reporter will be chief's right-hand man again. Please Please Us Unreleased Beatles Music Drops Sessions from 1963 produce 59 tracks. 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. Can the MegaMillions Kill You? by Kent Sepkowitz Meet Russia's Glenn Beck by James Kirchick 6 Apps to Get You Through the Day by Ari Meisel

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