Cheat Sheet - Taliban Bargains With America's Only P.O.W.

Today: Derek Jeter Will Retire After 2014 , Only the GOP's 'Short Straw' Caucus Can Raise the Debt Ceiling , Ex-NOLA Mayor Guilty of Corruption February 12, 2014 LET'S MAKE A DEAL 1. Taliban Bargains With America's Only P.O.W. There's a reason America's only prisoner of war, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, was shown alive in a video released last month: The U.S. asked the Taliban to prove he was alive as a condition for reopening negotiations, Josh Rogin exclusively reports. The Taliban wants prisoners released from Guantanamo in exchange for Bergdahl. Missing since June 2009, Bergdahl is now a bargaining chip in a larger U.S. effort to lay the groundwork for a potential reconciliation between the Afghan government led by Hamid Karzai and the Taliban. Read it at The Daily Beast O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN 2. Derek Jeter Will Retire After 2014 2014 will be the last season for Number 2. Derek Jeter, who has played for the New York Yankees since 1995, announced on his Facebook page today that he will retire after this upcoming season. "I know it in my heart. The 2014 season will be my last playing professional baseball. I want to finally stop and take in the world." Read it at Facebook Stuck in the Middle 3. Debt Ceiling Rests on the GOP's 'Short Straw' Caucus Just enough House Republicans held their noses last night to raise the nation's borrowing limit, now five Republicans must do the same in the Senate today. Ben Jacobs analyzes the GOP's "draw the short straw caucus," which will determine the fate of the critical bill. Read it at The Daily Beast GUILTY AS CHARGED 4. Ex-NOLA Mayor Guilty of Corruption After nine days of trial, former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been found guilty of 20 of the 21 counts against him. He was convicted on charges of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and filing false tax returns following the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. Among other acts, he allegedly sought $60,000 in Janury 2008 from a contractor that had been denied business by the city. Read it at New Orleans Times-Picayune LOCKER ROOM JOKES? 5. CFL Fines for Michael Sam Remarks Apparently, two Canadian Football League players fall into the same homophobic camp as Michael Sam's dad. Arland Bruce III and Bryant Turner, two CFL players, posted comments that included urging Sam to "submit fully to God" and that the "Michael Sam locker room gonna come with complimentary robes," respectively. "The comments made by these players are extremely disappointing," CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon said after announcing the two players would be fined an undisclosed amount. "We commend the courage shown by Michael Sam." Read it at NFL.com ANOTHER ONE KY Court Rejects Same-Sex Ban On other states' same-sex marriages. GRUESOME 'Satanic Ritual' Murder in Texas Two teens charged in brutal killing of friend. NATIONAL CRISIS Sinkhole Swallows Corvette Museum Taking eight cars. HER ROYAL DRYNESS Floods Swamp England Queen stays dry however. FRIENDLY FIRE Queer Nation Rips Bi Athlete For 'cuddling' with Putin. CNBC Why Hedge Funds Lack Women in Charge The Wrap Woody Allen May Not Be Talking, But His PR Offensive Is Heating Up Rolling Stone John Travolta Says He's Probably the Next Bond Villain 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. Give Leo a Damn Oscar Already! by Marlow Stern Michael Sam Is Not a 'Distraction' by Dave Cullen You Can't Unsee Billy Ray Cyrus' Doing 'Achy Breaky 2' by Amy Zimmerman

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