Cheat Sheet - Big Brother Invades Your Genes

Today: Chinese Pork Takeover Faces Congressional Scrutiny , Christie Calls Special Election , France: Sarin Gas in Syria June 04, 2013 DNA 1. Big Brother Invades Your Genes Get ready to swab. Liberals warn that giving cops the power to take your DNA undermines civil liberties. Is a dangerous era of genetic testing upon us? It's closer than you think, writes Walter Olson. Read it at The Daily Beast HOLD THE PORK! 2. Chinese Takeover of U.S. Pork Giant? Not So Fast In the largest Chinese acquisition of an American company, the Shuanghui Group says it wants to buy the nation's largest pork producer for $4.7 billion. But some in Congress worry it could be a national-security issue. Josh Rogin reports on the congressional scrutiny. Read it at The Daily Beast SENATE 3. Christie Calls Special Election New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has called for a special election to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died of pneumonia Monday. The primary will be August 13, and the general election, October 16. In the meantime, Christie, a Republican, will name a placeholder to the seat, but he says he hasn't decided whom yet. "I do have a preference for one party over another, so that may color my judgment a little," Christie said when asked about the temporary appointment. Christie is up for reelection in November. Read it at The New York Times U.N. REPORT 4. France: Sarin Gas in Syria The Syrian crisis got a whole lot murkier today. French scientists say that soil samples from Syria tested positive for sarin gas. Meanwhile, the United Nations said in a report that it appears that both sides in the country's bloody civil war had used chemical weapons. Human-rights investigators examined four reported toxic attacks in March and April, and could not determine exactly what chemicals had been used—or which side had used them. Investigators conducted 430 interviews with witnesses, which included victims, those who fled the violence, and medical staff. "The conflict in Syria has reached new levels of brutality," said the 29-page report. "War crimes, crimes against humanity, and gross human-rights violations continue apace." Read it at Reuters Showdown 5. Obama Names Three Key Appeals Judges Congress may be focused on scandal mania, but President Obama is going to try to get them to approve three judges to the D.C. Court of Appeals, the second-most important court in the country. In a Rose Garden speech this morning, Obama called out Republicans, who have already accused Obama of trying to pack the court, of playing politics by blocking his judicial nominations. "This is not about principled opposition—this is about political obstruction," Obama said. By nominating three judges at once, Obama is trying to draw attention to Republican obstruction, possibly forcing a showdown over filibuster rules this summer. Read it at The New York Times CONVICTED Egypt Sentences Foreign NGO Workers Sixteen Americans among those found guilty. CRISIS American Woman Gang-Raped in India No arrests made yet. Disturbing Growing Racial Bias in Pot Busts Blacks four times more likely to be arrested. TORNADO Oklahoma Twister Was Widest Ever Had nearly 300mph winds. PRIMARY CHALLENGE Former Miss America Running for Congress In Illinois. 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. Spoiled On The Vine Maisie Williams, the 'Game of Thrones' star who plays Arya Stark, reacts to the show's latest shocking developments. Spoilers abound. More Videos Former Child Stars on Amanda Bynes by Kevin Fallon Ray Kelly Has to Run by Michael Daly Operation: Stop the Kochs by David Freedlander

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