Cheat Sheet - What If We Fall Off the Fiscal Cliff?

Today: The NRA Flubs the Facts About Sandy Hook , Pope Pardons VatiLeaks Butler , Malala: Don’t Name School After Me December 22, 2012 HOLIDAY POLITICS 1. Four Fiscal-Cliff Outcomes Just hours after the president urged Congress to compromise to avoid the ever-looming fiscal cliff, the Obamas landed in Hawaii. David Freedlander on what’s in store for us in the new year. Plus, Andrew Sullivan on how it’s time to break the GOP’s back. Read it at The Daily Beast REALLY? 2. The NRA Fumbles the Facts The gun lobby’s front man couldn’t even get the number of children murdered at Sandy Hook right. But what are facts when your whole premise is a lie, writes Michael Daly. Read it at The Daily Beast HOLY IT'S OK 3. Pope Pardons VatiLeaks Butler It's a Christmas miracle. Pope Benedict XVI pardoned his former butler, Paolo Gabriele, on Saturday, wishing to "offer him the possibility of returning to a serene family life." Gabirele was sentenced in October to 18 months in prison over the "Vatileaks" scandal after he divulged the pope's private papers to the press. After the pope visited on Saturday to pardon him in person, he was sent immediately home. But home is no longer the Vatican: in addition to being prevented from working for the pope, he can no longer live in the Holy See. Read it at CNN HERO GIRL 4. Malala: Don’t Name School After Me Malala Yousafzai, who survived after being shot in the head by the Taliban in October for advocating girls' education, has already run into problems with her fans. In November, a Pakistani provincial government changed the name of its Government Girls Degree College to Government Malala Yousafzai Girls Degree College. But students soon began protesting, fearing that being linked with such a controversial figure put their lives in danger. Yousafzai called the government on Monday to request that students' wishes for another name change be heeded and was told that those in charge would "consider" her wishes. In the meantime, the school has been closed in the wake of student protests. Read it at CNN VENGEANCE 5. Mob Kills Man Who Burned Koran Concerns around Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws were intensified Saturday morning when a man being held in a police station for burning a copy of the Koran was himself burned by an angry mob. The man, described as "mentally unstable," was arrested Friday night after burning the holy book in a mosque where he was staying. As he was being held at the police station for questioning, a mob of about 200 people stormed the station, beat the man to death, and burned his body. This is not unheard of in Pakistan: the country's laws against nebulously defined blasphemy call for a death sentence or life in prison, although citizens often take the law into their own hands after an accusation. Read it at Reuters 'DIRECT CONFLICT' Judge Blocks Missouri Birth-Control Law Would deny contraceptives under some insurance plans. HERE WE GO Second Weekend of Egypt Voting On constitutional referendum. DELAYED RESPONSE 52-Year-Old Convicted as Juvenile Case was cold for 34 years. UNBANNED Court Halts Gay Therapy Ban A federal appeals court has put it on hold. FINALLY Ashton, Demi Head to Divorce Court After breaking up a year ago. 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. Flick Picks: 'This is 40' Potentially the worst movie of the year?? 'This is bad,' is what it should be called according to Ramin Setoodeh. In this edition of Flick Picks, Setoodeh and Rolling Stone's Peter Travers disagree on the quality of this kind-of sequel to Knocked Up. More Videos An Olympian's Shady Escort Service by Eliza Shapiro Beantown Brawl for Senate Seat by Ben Jacobs Ultimate Last-Minute Gift Guide by Lizzie Crocker

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