Cheat Sheet - Spies’ Secret Revolt Against Obama

May 21, 2014 Explosive 1. Spies' Secret Revolt Against Obama In 2012, the Obama administration reached a secret, surprising conclusion: Al Qaeda was no longer a direct threat to America. That assessment was in keeping with the message coming from the White House as President Obama rode to reelection in 2012. However, reports Eli Lake, the effort to scale back the war on al Qaeda has come over rising objections from intel officials. Read it at The Daily Beast PARTY FOUL 2. The Tea Party Gets Shut Out With Senator Mitch McConnell holding on to his party's nomination in Kentucky, Idaho Representative Mike Simpson beating off his Club for Growth-backed primary opponent, and establishment candidates winning all over, the Tea Party got shut out Tuesday night. But those defeats, writes Ben Jacobs, only tell half the story. The Tea Party's real success has been to change the very DNA of the GOP. Read it at The Daily Beast CLOSE CALL 3. Alito Halts Execution at Last Minute The execution of a Missouri prisoner scheduled for Tuesday night was halted by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. The justice didn't explain why he suspended the planned execution of Russell Bucklew, but it came after the full Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a stay that was issued hours earlier by a three-judge panel within the same court. Bucklew's attorney argued that tumors in the convicted murderer's head may complicate the administration of lethal drugs, leading to an "excruciating, even torturous pain." This week, Bucklew said: "I'm sick about it not working on me. I'm afraid that it's going to turn me into a vegetable, that I'd be brain-dead. You saw what happened down in Oklahoma." Read it at The New York Times secret's out 4. Obama to Disclose Drone Justification The Pentagon probably just ran out of redaction tape. The Obama administration will reveal a much-speculated-about secret memo that explains the legal justification for using drones to target and kill American citizens abroad. Such strikes have been used to kill suspected terrorists like Anwar Al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born al Qaeda leader. The Justice Department will not appeal a court order that requires disclosure of the memo's redacted version after the ACLU and New York Times filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act. Read it at The Washington Post ON A ROLL 5. Is Gay Marriage Unstoppable? The cascade of same-sex marriage rulings is now a torrent, with judges in Oregon and Pennsylvania both tossing out bans this week. With those two rulings, same-sex marriage supporters are now 12-0 in federal courts across the country. But, asks Jay Michaelson, what about when one of these cases ends up in Supreme Court? Read it at The Daily Beast HE SAID WHAT?! Berlusconi: Merkel Isn't a 'Lard-arse' Claims she got along with him. ROYAL PREROGATIVE? Prince Charles Compares Putin to Hitler According to woman at museum he visited. JAILED Mubarak Sentenced to 3 Years Former dictator found guilty of corruption. LUCKY Cleveland Cavaliers Get No. 1 Pick Third time in four years. DOUBLE BOGEY Rory McIlroy Cancels Wedding After wedding invitations are sent out. 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. Viral Video of the Day: The Evolution of Visual Effects Three minutes of video. 136 years of our wildest dreams. More Videos Why I'll Never Let My Kids Play Football by Russell Saunders Hey Jude, Cover Up That 'He-Vage' by Tim Teeman Matt Bomer Breaks Your 'Normal Heart' by Kevin Fallon

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