The Cheat Sheet

Frontpage: Tuesday, Feb 28th

1. Ohio Shooting Victim Brain Dead: A 17-year-old student has been pronounced brain dead one day after the high-school shooting that killed another 16-year-old and left three others wounded.
2. Santorum Leads in Michigan Poll: Rick Santorum may have gained some momentum in Michigan over the last week, but will it last? The latest data from Public Policy Polling indicates that Santorum holds a small lead over Mitt Romney—38 percent of Michigan residents polled favor Santorum and 37 percent say they like Mitt.
3. U.N. Council Denounces Syria: The United Nations Human Rights Council is meeting Tuesday to issue its fourth condemnation of Syria and the regime of Bashar al-Assad. 
4. Casino Mogul Gives More to Gingrich: Sheldon Adelson, the casino billionaire who already gave the former House speaker’s super PAC two $5 million donations, has anted up again, according to the Associated Press. 
5. Stalled Cruise Ship Towed to Safety: Another cruise nightmare: an Italian ship with more than 1,000 passengers and crew is being towed to safety by a French fishing vessel after a generator fire caused the luxury cruiser to lose power. 

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Photo: A Japanese Quince flower at the Central Park Conservatory Garden in New York City, shows the effect of the Northeast’s mild winter. (Stan Honda, AFP / Getty Images)

Frontpage: Friday, Feb. 24th

1. 12 Killed in Quran Protests: At least 12 more people were killed on Friday in Afghanistan as the the outrage over the burning of Qurans by American troops continues.
2. Maryland Senate Passes Gay Marriage: Gay-marriage proponents celebrated another win in Maryland on Thursday after the state Senate approved a measure that would legalize same-sex unions. Gov. Martin O’Malley has vowed to sign the bill, which will make Maryland the eighth state to adopt gay marriage. 
3. ‘Friends of Syria’ Demand Action: Foreign ministers from more than 50 countries, calling themselves the Friends of Syria, are holding their first meeting Friday to demand Syria allow international aid be delivered to civilians as the government continue brutal assaults on the city of Homs.
4. Santorum Picks Up Women’s Support: Despite fervent anti-contraception rhetoric and a steadfast opposition to abortion, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum appears to be doing better with the fairer sex. A new poll has put his popularity among women up 13 points since January. 
5. Edwards Sex Tape to Be Destroyed: All copies of a sex tape involving former presidential candidate John Edwards and his mistress Rielle Hunter will be destroyed within 30 days, after Hunter won ownership of the video in a court settlement Thursday. 

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Photo: Palle-Jooseppi, a male brown bear, wakes up after winter hibernation at the Ranua Zoo in Ranua, Finland. (Lehtikuva / Reuters) More photos of the day

Frontpage: Thursday, Feb. 23rd

1. Obama Apologizes for Quran Burning: The fallout from the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of two U.S. troops. An Afghan official tells CBS that an Afghan soldier shot the soldiers out of anger over the burning of the holy books.  President Obama has issued a foromal apology for the handling of the Quran: “We will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, including holding accountable those responsible.”
2. Santorum on the Defensive in Debate: Rick Santorum got the frontrunner treatment at last night’s Republican debate in Arizona, struggling to defend himself against attacks from Mitt Romney and Ron Paul.
3. U.N. May Charge Syrian Officials: The United Nations may be stymied by Russia and China, but it’s drawn up a list of Syrian officials who could be charged with crimes against humanity, according to a U.N. panel.  
4. 7 Marines Dead in Helicopter Crash: A helicopter collision has tragically claimed the lives of seven Marines. The crash occurred Wednesday night near Yuma, Ariz., NBC News reported. 
5. Christie Gets Testy on Gay Marriage: The New Jersey governor, who recently vetoed a bill that would have allowed gay marriage in his state, appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and argued that his position on the issue is no different from President Obama’s. 

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Photo: A family passes through a market in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. (Ali Ali / EPA-Landov) More Photos of the Day

Frontpage: Wednesday, Feb 22nd

1. Super PACs Give Rise to Super-Donors: Super PACs, which can take unlimited donations, have given rise to a new type of political donor that is dominating the GOP primary race. Both The New York Times and The Washington Post lead with the example of Harold C. Simmons, a Texas businessman who has given more than $14 million to Republican super PACs this election. 
2. Quran Burning Protest Continues: The protests over Qurans burned at Bagram air base in Afghanistan show no signs of abating. At least four people have been killed and 20 injured in the second day of demonstrations. 
3. Angelina Jolie Joins NewsBeast Summit: Next month, inspiring women leaders and activists from around the globe—including Nobel winner Leymah Gbowee, Angelina Jolie, Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, Meryl Streep, Madeleine Albright, and many more—will convene in New York City for Newsweek and The Daily Beast’s third annual Women in the World Summit.
4. Obama to Unveil Corporate Tax Cut: President Obama is preparing to unveil a corporate-tax plan that would cut the rate businesses pay from 35 percent to 28 percent, senior administration officials tell The New York Times.   
5. Santorum ‘Satan’ Comment Resurfaces: A comment Rick Santorum made four years ago may come back to haunt him during tomorrow night’s GOP debate in Arizona. A headline reading “Santorum’s Satan Warning” posted on the Drudge Report Tuesday morning is making the rounds in the media. “This is the spiritual war. And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you think [he] would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country—the United States of America.” 

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Photo: The Other Havana: Cuba Libre Photography by Michael Dweck (Michael Dweck Studios)

Frontpage: Thursday, Feb 16th

1. Congress Reaches Deal on Payroll Tax: Congressional negotiators reached a deal on a $150 billion plan that will extend a payroll tax holiday for 10 months and unemployment benefits through the end of the year. 
2. Karzai: Talks With Taliban Have Begun: “There have been contacts between the U.S. government and the Taliban, there have been contacts between the Afghan government and the Taliban,” Afghan President Hamid Karzai said.
3. U.N. to Hold Symbolic Syria Vote: A day after the Syrian president promised reform, his troops launched an attack on the cities of Deraa, Hama, injuring an estimated 50 people. The U.N. General Assembly will vote Thursday on the symbolic resolution condeming Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal crackdown. 
4. Santorum Releases Tax Documents: He’s no Mitt Romney when it comes to income, but presidential candidate Rick Santorum has been doing OK lately. The former senator from Pennsylvania released four years—more than any other candidate—of tax returns, covering 2007 to 2010. 
5. OK Senate Passes Personhood Act: Oklahoma legislators moved a step closer to in their attempted to outlaw abortion on Wednesday as the state Senate passed the Personhood Act, 34-8. The bill now moves to the House where pro-life Republicans outnumber democrats two-to-one. 

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Photo: Backstage at Marchesa Fall/Winter 2012 by Kevin Tachman. Our article and more photos from the show.

Frontpage: Tuesday, Feb 14th

1. Poll: Romney and Santorum Tied: Mitt Romney’s lead in the Republican primary race has been erased. According to a new poll by The New York Times, he and Rick Santorum are effectively tied.
2. Syria Forces ‘Shelling Randomly’: Nine people were reportedly killed Tuesday in Syria as opposition activists said that government snipers were randomly shelling civilians in Homs. 
3. China’s VP Visits White House: China’s Vice President Xi Jinping is visiting the Oval Office today in a closely watched diplomatic mission. It’s Xi’s first major step onto the international stage, a test run for when he takes over the presidency in March 2013.
4. Apple Factories to Get Outside Audit: Following recent reports and protests over inhumane working conditions at its Chinese suppliers, Apple has asked an outside organization to audit its plants. Until recently the company has strongly resisted divulging information about its suppliers.
5. Bombing Rocks Thai Capital: Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered police and the National Intelligence Agency to probe three explosions that occurred Tuesday in Bangkok’s Klongton district, with the Foreign Ministry assigned to talk to Iran because a suspect seriously injured in the blasts was believed to be Iranian. 

Photo: Standard Poodle Sophie gets groomed for the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. (Craig Ruttle)

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Just checking. (via Slate)

Frontpage: Wednesday, Feb. 8th

1. Santorum Sweeps Three Primaries: Do GOP voters have a new favorite non-Romney? Rick Santorum won a stunning three-state victory last night, beating his rivals in the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and in a nonbinding primary in Missouri.
2. Homs Shelling Redoubles: So much for the Russian envoy. Bashar al-Assad’s forces redoubled their shelling of the Syrian city of Homs, killing at least 40 people, according to activists. Residents say it’s the heaviest bombardment yet. EXTRA: Shocking Photos & Video From Syria. 
3. Ron Paul Takes Second in Minnesota: Last night was a good one for Rick Santorum, but Ron Paul also got a bump, beating out Mitt Romney to come in second place in Minnesota. Paul got 27 percent of the vote in Minnesota, 10 points more than Romney.
4. Earmarks Linked to Family Ties: More than a dozen members of Congress send earmarks to organizations affiliated with members of their immediate family, according to a Washington Post investigation.
5. Greece Meets to Avoid Default: After yesterday’s “crunch meeting” was postponed because of missing paperwork, Greece is meeting again in an attempt to agree on reform that would save the country from default. 

Watch: John Avlon asks, Can Santorum Upset Romney? in the latest installment of Campaign Chronicles.

Photo: Jyoti Amge, 18, the world’s ‘shortest woman living (mobile),’ sits in a car while campaigning for a local right-wing political party. (Punit Paranjpe / AFP / Getty Images)

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Frontpage: Tuesday, Feb 7th

1. Santorum Poised for Primary Wins: Mitt Romney may be the GOP frontrunner, but Rick Santorum is all set to have a great night in Tuesday’s primaries. Santorum leads in polls in Missouri and Minnesota. 
2. Arab League Pulls Monitors: The Arab League announced Tuesday that it will pull its monitors from Syria.
3. Komen VP Resigns Over Funding Flap: Karen Handel, an executive at the Susan G. Komen Foundation, resigned on Tuesday. Handel, a former Republican candidate for governor, had been suspected as being the root of the breast cancer charity’s controversial decision last week to pull funding from Planned Parenthood.
4. Greeks Go on Strike: After failing to meet yet another EU deadline yesterday, Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is continuing to negotiate the terms of an austerity package—and now he has a strike on his hands, too.
5. Earmarks Flow Near Lawmakers’ Property: More than $300 million in taxpayer money has gone to projects within two miles of property owned by 33 members of Congress, according to a Washington Post investigation.

Photo: Giants quarterback Eli Manning celebrates his victory with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. (Gene Duncan / Gene Duncan)

Watch: On Newsbeast, our writers discuss whether Keith Olbermann can save Current TV.

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Frontpage: Thursday, Feb. 2nd

1. Washington Senate Passes Gay Marriage: CORRECTION: If it also passes the House, Washington would become the 7th state to legalize same-sex marriage. [Earlier we implied that the law had already passed both state houses.]
2. Sharron Angle to Endorse Santorum: The Tea Party favorite likes Santorum, saying, “He is a strong fiscal and social conservative who stands on principles above politics.”
3. Pakistan Charges PM With Contempt: Things getting more turbulent in the Pakistani government— the supreme court says it will charge Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani with contempt of court. 
4. Facebook Founders Strike Rich: Going public is great news for Facebook’s early investors—some well known, and some not so well known. The graffiti artist who painted the walls of Facebook’s first office stands to make $200 million. Good call not taking the cash. 
5. Snow Traps 11,000 in Serbia: Europe’s deep freeze has trapped 11,000 Serbian villagers in the mountains with 16 feet of snow. Emergency crews are trying to clear the snow and deliver supplies, but more snow is expected soon.

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Watch: John Avlon asks whether Mitt Romney cares about poor people. 

Photo: A man smokes in sub-zero temperatures near a subway station in Kiev. (Gleb Garanich / Reuters-Landov)

Frontpage: Thursday, Jan 19th

1. Perry to Drop Out Today: Womp womp. In a speech he has endorsed Newt Gingrich. 
2. Murdoch Co. Settles 36 Hack Cases: Rupert’s British newspaper company has agreed to pay damages to 36 people whose phones were hacked by the now-defunct tabloid News of the World, and in the process admits guilt. 
3. Newt’s Ex-Wife Slams His Morals: Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife told ABC News that the Republican presidential candidate lacked the proper moral character to be president and sought an “open marriage” when he admitted to a six-year affair with Callista. 
4. Kodak Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Seeing its revenue halved since 2005, the 131-year-old company has filed. Kodak will have 18-months and a $950 mil credit line to sell off what it can. 
5. Santorum Up 34 Votes in Iowa: Did Rick Santorum win Iowa? Did anyone? Republican Party officials say we’ll never know. 

Photo: Great Britain’s Andy Murray in action against France’s Edouard Roger-Vasselin during day four of the 2012 Australian Open. (PA Photos / Landov)

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newsweek:

It is apparent that Governor Perry cannot win and has no viable strategy in moving forward.

State Sen. Larry Grooms from South Carolina has withdrawn his support for Rick Perry and switching to Santorum. Sad face. 

UPDATE: It sounds like Perry will be announcing that he’s quitting and endorsing Gingrich at 11 am.

And another falls.