Cheat Sheet - Can Chris Christie Save the GOP?

Today: French Troops Enter Malian Holdout , More Heads to Roll at CNN , Boeing Knew of Battery Problems January 30, 2013 PLEASE HELP THIS PARTY 1. GOP Needs Northeast Republicans Split over immigration, the GOP's own stalwarts are attacking it as lost, dying, even "stupid." The Daily Beast's John Avlon argues that the party can solve its existential crisis by nurturing more politicians like Chris Christie, who have moderate records and wide appeal—including among Democrats. Read it at The Daily Beast PATROL 2. French Troops Enter Malian Holdout French troops on Tuesday night entered the town of Kidal, one of the last holdouts of the al Qaeda–linked militants who had controlled vast parts of the country. By Wednesday morning—just 24 hours after securing Timbuktu—French forces had already taken control of the town's airport and there was no combat fight. But taking control of Kidal is just the end of the first phase of the French intervention—there are still large numbers of militants who have fled into the desert in the north. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb seized control in the northern region of Mali after a coup, and France led a United Nations–backed intervention as the militants showed signs of moving to the southern region. Read it at BBC News GOODBYE, JEFF ZUCKER 3. More Heads to Roll at CNN Jeff Zucker blew up CNN on Tuesday, rattling nerves throughout the network. Insiders tell The Daily Beast's Lloyd Grove this is just the beginning. Read it at The Daily Beast oversight 4. Boeing Knew of Battery Problems Secrets don't make friends, Boeing. Earlier this month all Boeing 787 jets were grounded after battery failures led to unsafe conditions--and apparently Boeing was made aware of issues months earlier. All Nippon Airways, the biggest operator, told The New York Times that it had replaced 10 batteries already before the fires, and reported the issues to Boeing. They were not reported to safety regulators because no flights had been cancelled. The Transportation Safety Board says it will now include battery replacements in inquiries. Boeing officials said the battery issues suggested safeguards may have kicked in, and acknowledged the batteries weren't lasting. The incidents are being investigated. Read it at The New York Times BRAZILIAN TRAGEDY 5. Nightclub Fire Blamed on Flares Flares lit by a band playing at a Brazilian nightclub could have been the cause of the deadly fire that killed 234 people and injured at least 122 on Sunday, the chief police inspector said on Tuesday. What's more, it may not be a simple tragic accident: Police Inspector Marcelo Arigony said that the flares were for outdoor use only and "the band knew that." Arigony, whose cousin died in the fire, alleged that the outdoor flares were chosen because they cost $1.25 apiece—and the band did not want to pony up the $35 apiece for the flares approved for indoor use. "These guys even wore gloves on stage so they wouldn't burn their hands," Arigony said. Read it at CBS News FINALLY Obama Signs Sandy Relief Bill Moments after returning from Nevada. JOE'S THE MAN Bloomberg: Biden's Got 'Balls' "He should be the hero of the pro-gay marriage community." STANDOFF Ala. Man Takes Child Hostage After allegedly killing bus driver. splitsville Ashley Judd to Divorce After 11 years. UM WHAT? Jason London Arrested Allegedly defecates in police car. 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. Totally Awesome Waves Surf's up ... 100 feet up! Garrett McNamara rode a 100-foot wave in Portugal on Monday, shattering his 90-foot record from 2012. Here is a look at some other awesome waves, literally and figuratively. Marco Rubio's Big Moment by David Freedlander The NFL Loves Ray Lewis by Allen Barra Best Bits From Cissy Houston's 'Remembering Whitney' by Melissa Leon

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