Cheat Sheet - Web Goes Dark to Protest Piracy Bills

Today: Rivals Attack Romney on Tax Rate, World Bank Cuts Global Forecast, Shipwreck Search Put on Hold Again January 18, 2012 LIGHTS OUT 1. Websites Go Dark to Protest Piracy Bills Hope you didn't have any research to do today. Wikipedia and several other popular websites have gone dark in protest of two Internet piracy bills—the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act. Internet protests today range from Wikipedia's total shutdown to Google's blacked-out logo. Tech Meetup, a trade organization, has organized a real-world rally in Manhattan. Media companies have spent millions in support of the bills, but tech outlets say the laws will effectively censor the Internet by making companies liable for linking to pirated material. The Daily Beast's Brian Ries talks to organizers from Reddit and Cheezburger about their battle plan for the Internet's soul. Read it at The Daily Beast WEALTHY 2. Rivals Attack Romney on Tax Rate Mitt Romney may wait till April to release his tax returns, but his comment that his tax rate is "probably closer to the 15 percent rate than anything" is enough for critics to start with. Newt Gingrich joked that he should rename his plan for a single 15 percent tax rate the "Mitt Romney flat tax," while Rick Perry redoubled his calls for Romney to release his full records so voters can see "if he's as good a businessman as he says he is." The White House got in on the action, pointing out that Romney's low rate is an example of the inequality of a system that taxes investments at a much lower rate than income. When a reporter pointed out that Romney, who says most of his income comes from investments, is following the law, spokesman Jay Carney said, "The president believes we ought to change the law, for that reason." Read it at CNN WARNING 3. World Bank Cuts Global Forecast It's never a good sign when someone says to "prepare for the worst." The World Bank cut its global growth outlook to 2.5 percent Tuesday. In June, the Washington bank estimated 3.6 percent growth, but is now pulling back on its forecast because of the euro crisis, which will slow developing markets like India and Mexico. The bank specifically tells these emerging markets to "prepare for the worst" like in 2008. The cut in growth outlook is the biggest in three years. Read it at Bloomberg ROUGH SEAS 4. Shipwreck Search Put on Hold Again Search-and-rescue operations at the Costa Concordia cruise ship have been suspended again as the capsized liner shifted. With 24 people still missing—and 11 confirmed dead—hopes of finding more survivors are fading, and the rescue operation is shifting into salvage mode. Officials hope to begin pumping oil out of the wreck soon. Meanwhile Capt. Francesco Schettino is under house arrest, accused of abandoning his ship before passengers had evacuated. But all the blame may not rest on Schettino, however cowardly he behaved: the shipping journal Lloyd's List Intelligence says that the Costa Concordia sailed closer to the island during a cruise last August than it did on Friday, and that that route—a near miss—had been authorized by the cruise company. Read it at BBC BIG MONEY 5. Obama Campaigners Want Super PAC President Obama's super PAC is far from super, and that has some of his aides worried. Priorities USA Action has raised only about $5 million through the first half of last year, far less than the $12 million raised by Romney's super PAC. But after watching the devastating effectiveness of Romney's super PACs against Newt Gingrich, some of Obama's top campaign officials tell Politico they're worried. "I don't think the president is just ambivalent about his super PAC," says South Carolina Democratic chairman Dick Harpootlian, a member of the Obama campaign's national finance committee. "He's flat-out opposed to it." But, pointing to Romney's organization, he says that opposition is "dangerous." "We can't unilaterally disarm." Read it at Politico GOODBYE Yahoo Cofounder Resigns Jerry Yang severs ties with company. REWRITE Santorum May Have Won Iowa Eight-vote margin in doubt at tonight's certification. WHITEOUT Double Snowstorm Threatens Northwest Schools closed, flights cancelled. ROGUE Palin: I'd Vote for Gingrich in S.C. "In order to keep things going." GRUESOME Human Head Found Near Hollywood Sign In a bag. 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 The Yes List Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. Newt Gingrich Exudes New Confidence as He Storms South Carolina by Patricia Murphy No Proof Paula Deen's High-Fat Southern Cooking Caused Her Diabetes by Paul Campos The Transgender Revolution, From Albert Nobbs to 'Work It' by Tricia Romano

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