Cheat Sheet - U.S. Spy Chief: We Should’ve Come Clean

Today: Pussy Riot Detained at Sochi , Why Is Walmart Paying Chris Christie's Pals? , Jimmy Fallon's Brilliant 'Tonight Show' Debut February 18, 2014 REGRETS 1. Nation's Spy Chief Thinks He Was Too Secretive "I probably shouldn't say this, but I will," Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in an exclusive interview with Eli Lake. Clapper admits the government should have told the public years ago about the surveillance Edward Snowden revealed. "Had we been transparent about this from the outset right after 9/11—we wouldn't have had the problem we had." Read it at The Daily Beast Shackled 2. Pussy Riot Detained at Sochi So much for Putin trying to make Russia seem more appealing on the international stage. Two members of the female punk band Pussy Riot, who were recently released from Russian prisons after being jailed for two years for charges of "hooliganism," have once again been detained. Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were meeting with journalists when, according to Tolokonnikova, they were "shoved into a police van." She said police claimed they were being questioned about an alleged purse theft at their hotel and that she and her bandmember were "dragged across the police office face down." She said "Now we are being questioned as witnesses in the case of a stolen purse but initially when we were detained we were told we stole something." Read it at The Wall Street Journal FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES 3. Walmart Pays Chris Christie's Pals When Walmart tried to build a super store on protected land in New Jersey four years ago, Chris Christie's administration rejected the proposal. But then the mega-retailer hired a law firm headed by Christie's pal, David Freelander reports. Soon after, the Christie administration reversed itself and let Walmart break ground. Is this the next Bridgegate? Read it at The Daily Beast ENCORE 4. Fallon Makes Brilliant Debut Legendary TV critic Tom Shales reviews the first night of the new Tonight Show and sees a long future for Jimmy Fallon in Johnny Carson's throne. Fallon's great virtue is a self-effacing humanity rare in show business. A little advice though: Learn to relax. You've got the gig, kid. Read it at The Daily Beast Blocked 5. Oklahoma Pharmacy Denies Execution Drugs Michael Taylor's lawyers may have found one interesting way around his death sentence. They have filed a case against the Apothecary Shoppe in Tulsa, which agreed not to provide or produce pentobarbital for Missouri's execution of Taylor, who was convicted of raping and a killing a 15-year-old girl. In the lawsuit, Taylor claimed the state asked the Apothecary Shoppe to provide the drug, as the only national manufacturer refused to supply it for lethal injections. Taylor's lawyers argued that the recent executions using compounds of pentobarbital were causing "severe, unnecessary, lingering and ultimately inhumane pain." The suit questions whether the Apothecary Shoppe can legally produce and deliver pentobarbital, as it is not registered as a drug manufacturer with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Missouri has said the execution will proceed. Read it at The Kansas City Star NSA DOWN UNDER Aussies Wiretapped Indonesians During trade talks on shrimp. NO WINNERS Indiana Passes Weaker Gay-Marriage Ban Civil unions would be allowed. GETTING WORSE 3 Killed in Bangkok Protests As prime minister faces corruption charges. MAKE IT STOP NYC Gets 14th Snowstorm But warmer weather is coming. get out Venezuela Expels U.S. Diplomats On charges of conspiring with protesters. 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. Out, Proud, and Republican by James Kirchick The Podcast Too Hot for iTunes by Rich Goldstein Is It Time to Legalize Heroin? by Valerie Vande Panne

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