Cheat Sheet

Seventeen senators voted against today’s seismic bill empowering the FDA to further regulate the tobacco industry, and several of them were Big Tobacco’s biggest beneficiaries, reports McClatchy, to the tune of multiple millions over several campaign cycles. The worst offender? Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Over the course of nearly 25 years in the senate, the senator from Kentucky—a tobacco-rich state&mdashreceived $419,025 from the tobacco industry, more than any other member of Congress. North Carolina Republican Richard Burr led the bill’s opposition. Burr is Congress’ second most tobacco-dependent, with $359,100 in tobacco industry-related donations, including $196,850 from R.J. Reynold’s, America’s second largest tobacco manufacturer. Meanwhile, Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss, the Senate Agriculture Committee’s ranking Republican, netted $228,700 in tobacco money. Not every tobacco-supported senators voted for the bill, however. Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb (both Democrats) voted in favor of the bill despite significant tobacco donations.

Rihanna may have been personally subpoenaed to testify in the court hearing of Chris Brown, but that didn't stop her from cozying up to him at Thursday’s Game four of the NBA Finals in Orlando. “They requested to sit together,” said a source before the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic game. On Feb. 8, Brown allegedly—and famously—attacked his then-girlfriend Rihanna the night before the Grammy Awards. He has pleaded innocent to two felony charges. Rihanna’s testimony “can make or break the case,” according to one defense attorney.

During the height of the controversy over President Obama's budget proposal, he returned to campaign mode and took his message to the people. Now, with national health care in his crosshairs, he is doing the same thing. Speaking today in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Obama emphasized the urgent need for a health care overhaul, saying the economy would benefit as a result. Obama also vaguely addressed his critics, saying "there are some who believe that reform is too expensive, but I can assure you that doing nothing will cost us far more in the coming years." Many protesters voiced their disapproval for Obama's plan for "socialized" medicine, but he remained steadfast in his demand for the health care overhaul to be underway by August.

After a nine-month hiatus from swimming and two losses last month at the Charlotte Grand Prix, Michael Phelps is back in the game and gearing up for his latest challenge. The Olympian spent the last three weeks at high altitude and is in the process of perfecting a new freestyle stroke technique for the Santa Clara Invitational Grand Prix this weekend. There, he’ll face off with rival Ryan Lochte in the 100 free and 100 back—the two events Phelps lost at Charlotte. That meet was the first since Phelps’s gold medal sweep at the Summer Olympics in Bejing, where he set seven world records. Afterwards, photo emerged of him smoking marijuana and USA Swimming suspended Phelps from competition for three months, making his recent time away from the sport the longest in his career.

If pulling out one gray hair means three more will grow in its place, maybe it’s time to yank out a fistful: Japanese researchers have discovered that hair follicles turned gray could be a natural cancer-preventing mechanism. According to the study published today in the journal Cell, hair turns gray when stem cells in mature hair follicles stop producing themselves. This could be the body’s way of preventing cells with damaged DNA from becoming cancerous, said David Fisher, chief of the dermatology department at Massachusetts General Hospital. “They’ve shown that this mechanism is actually removing damaged stem cells,” Fisher said. “The good news is if you do find yourself graying, you’re probably better off not having those cells persist.”

One porn star in Los Angeles has tested positive for HIV, and the rest of the porn industry is quaking in their boots (if they're wearing them). The name of the actress has not been revealed, but the rest of the industry is downplaying the potentially devastating news, saying that she worked "very infrequently." The news highlights the contentious relationship between job safety regulators and the porn industry, as the latter is opposed to safety measures such as always wearing condoms. Currently, porn stars are required to take HIV tests every 30 days. One official told the Los Angeles Times, "You wouldn't send someone to work on a high-rise building without a hard-hat, so why are we allowing these performers to perform without condoms?"

In less dire economic times, Sens. Chuck Schumer and John Cornyn's travel expenses would still look bad, but now, they look positively outrageous. The two senators have already spent more money on air travel than most people make in a year: Over $140,000 each. Cornyn, Republican from Texas, comes in first place, having spent $38,000 alone on a retreat in Maryland for 59 staffers, Politico reports. Schumer, New York's Democratic senator, comes in second with a hefty bill stemming from his games of aerial hopscotch all over New York state. Schumer prefers using charter planes when flying--even if his destination has regular commercial airline service. Both senators' spokesmen attributed their travel bills to the size of their states, as well as the need to keep in touch with all their constituents.

The die-hard smokers still puffing as the U.S. becoming less and less accommodating to them have a new setback coming to them: cigarettes with graphic warnings and no flavoring. A landmark bill passed overwhelmingly by the Senate on Thursday gives the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate what Ted Kennedy called "the most deadly of all consumer products." The new authority will seriously limit the chemicals in cigarettes as well as advertising. The FDA is also expected to study menthol and consider banning it altogether. The recent movement to crack down on smoking has produced results, according to The New York Times. In 1995 about 25 percent of adults smoked, in 2005 the number had gone down to 21 percent.>

Chastity Bono is a civil rights advocate, writer, and musician -- and he'll also be medically male soon. Bono, who goes by Chaz, began the process after his 40th birthday this year. Bono's publicist, Howard Bragman, told TMZ that "Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity. He is proud of the decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones." Bragman also said that Bono requests privacy and won't be doing interviews for the time being.>

Mohammed El Gharani was arrested and sent to Guantanamo Bay when he was 14-years-old. On Thursday, seven years later, his lawyers announced that he had been released and has returned to his home country of Chad. The government had accused Gharani of staying in an al Qaeda-affiliated guest house in Afghanistan, fighting in the battle of Tora Bora, working as a courier for senior al Qaeda operatives, and working in a London-based terror cell, but a judge ordered Gharani’s release five months ago, saying that the government lacked the evidence to prove that he was an “enemy combatant.” Gharani’s lawyer said, “It is great news that Mohammed has at last been released, but he will never get back the teenage years that were spent in Guantanamo based on shamefully shoddy intelligence.”>

What, you’d thought it went away? Due to rising swine flu infections across the globe, The World Health Organization has declared pandemic—the first global flu pandemic in 41 years. The organization’s decision to raise the pandemic alert level from phase five to six means, according to the Associated Press, “a global outbreak of swine flu has begun.” Countries should immediately activate their “pandemic plans,” whatever they may be. Lest you’re panicked: "A move to level 6 is not a verdict on the severity of the virus," Scotland’s health secretary said. "It simply means that the extent of global spread now fulfills the definition of a pandemic."

Finally, after months of speculation and drama, the world will hear Rihanna recount the horrific events on the eve of the Grammy Awards that led to the arrest of her then-boyfriend, singer Chris Brown. People magazine reports Rihanna was personally subpoenaed with papers to testify in court. Her answers will establish whether the case will go to trial. On February 8, Brown allegedly attacked Rihanna, and he has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts. Brown's attorney will be able to cross-examine Rihanna, whose testimony "can make or break the case," according to one defense attorney. The hearing is far from certain, though, as a plea deal could end the case at any time.

During his trials for the murder of B-movie actress Lana Clarkson, we thought we'd seen famed "Wall of Sound" music producer Phil Spector in everything—a greying afro, a blond bowl cut, and a brown layered mullet—but recent prison mugshots of the convicted murderer show him au naturale, his bald pate shining, surrounded by long straggly hair. The Times of London reports that the mugshots of Spector have been distributed to the media and social networking sites including Twitter as part of a Department of Corrections policy of transparency of public information. The released photographs angered Spector's wife Rachelle. "They took my husband's freedom and dignity. So why not his hair?" she said. "This is a personal matter. But in case you don't know, they don't allow for much accessorizing while in prison."

A double dose of Lou Dobbs just wasn't working the magic. In a bid to jump-start sinking ratings, HLN (CNN's sister channel formerly known as Headline News) is replacing its 9 p.m. repeat of Lou Dobbs' program with sassy liberal comedian Joy Behar, the New York Times reports. Behar, who co-hosts The View on ABC every morning, said her new program would be a "topical and fun talk show... It's not going to be dry, I hope, because I'm crazy." The tentatively-titled The Joy Behar Show will go head-to-head with CNN's Larry King, whom Behar has filled in for with some regularity in recent months. Behar will continue to host The View in addition to her new gig.

Finding a solution may be harder than the problem. David Piling's smart Financial Times piece on the America's fraught relationship with Pakistan pokes holes in America's current anti-terrorism strategy. Piling writes that the U.S. is currently pursuing a strategy toward Afpak that treats the fight against terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan as if they are the same war, based on the way that militants cross over the countries' borders, essentially at will. The tidy strategy has four core problems: U.S. troops are not allowed in Pakistan, which means they cannot follow militants over the border; Pakistan's new civilian government has shaky control over a military and intelligence service which may maintain a relationship with militant groups; the courts have proven that they cannot be relied upon to fight militancy; and the nearby Indian region Kashmir is "a crucible of jihad" that India does not want the U.S. meddling in.

Just a few years ago, Kyrgyzstan was considered a potential model for Western democracy in the ex-Soviet Union. Now, with Russian increasing its hold on the former Cold War satellite, a series of brutal killings and anti-American policy decisions have observers worrying about a backslide into Putin-influenced autocracy. The country is currently clashing with the U.S. by forcing America to give up a military base considered crucial to resupplying troops in Afghanistan. And after top critics of the Kyrgyz government began to suffer unfortunate ends in prison or the morgue, a journalist investigating the cases and their ties to Russia, Syrgak Abdyldayev, was beaten and stabbed 26 times. One former Kyrgyz official who talked with the Wall Street Journal about the increasing Russian domination of the government was found dead in a burning car days later.

It's not exactly an Iraqi shoe throwing, but some Israelis are complaining that a picture of President Obama on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is disrespectful. In the photo, the president has his feet up on a table, which some interpret as a deliberate slight, since showing the soles of one shoe is an insult in the Middle East, CBS News reports. While the theory may be far fetched, the flap is an example of heightened tensions between Israel and the White House in recent days over issues like West Bank settlements and Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place. The Obama administration's serious-sounding pursuit of a two-state solution and his own party's right-wing tendencies have left little from for Netanyahu to maneuver during the major policy speech he is expected to deliver in the coming days, the Associated Press reports. The outcome of the Iranian election may help him choose a path--if a moderate wins the Iranian presidency, the Iranian nuclear threat to Israel may appear diminished and Netanyahu's refusal to endorse a Palestinian state or call for a settlement freeze could become bigger news. Senior officials suggested that the prime minister would say the words "Palestinian state" during the speech. Netanyahu could also attempt to outflank Obama's demands by opening negotiations with Syria, or endorsing a two-state solution, but quietly continuing to expand settlements opposed by the White House.

As if Bush administration's legacy weren't enough under fire. Now D.C. Republicans are investigating whether Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch last year, at the end of Bush's final term, was tangled up in "improper behavior" by former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke. Politico acquired a colorfully worded GOP briefing document that alleged "In December 2008, Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke put a gun to the head of Bank of America's CEO and Board of Directors in order to force through a merger with Merrill Lynch, even though Bank of America's CEO felt it was his duty to his shareholders to try his luck in the legal system and back out of the deal. They did so in the name of the financial system as a whole, without any transparency or consultation with the American people or Congress." E-mails between Bernanke and Lewis are under scrutiny; Lewis will partake in a hearing before the House COmmittee on Oversight and Government Reform on Thursday.

Quick, re-write the science textbooks--news out of Germany is elemental. A German team led by Sigurd Hofmann at the Center for Heavy Ion Research has been credited with the discovery of "super-heavy" element 112, the BBC reports. Hoffman's team first observed a single molecule of the element more then a decade ago, but now that the find has been independently verified, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has finally recognized it. Only four molecules of the element, made by firing zinc ions at lead atoms to create fusion, have ever been observed, and its heavy nucleus is extremely unstable, decaying within a few milliseconds of formation. Although IUPAC has temporarily named the element ununbium, the Latin meaning roughly "one one two", Hoffmann's team must propose an official name.

Best known for its cheese and football, Green Bay, Wisconsin can add its low-cost health care to the list, as President Obama visits the city Thursday to tout his reform plan. The White House is looking to gain momentum in its quest to reduce health-care costs and hopes to use Green Bay as a model example of high-quality treatment despite lower spending than other municipalities. "If we could make the rest of the nation practice medicine the way that Green Bay does, we would have higher quality and significantly lower costs," Peter Orszag, Obama's budget chief, told the Washington Post. Obama will hold a town hall-style meeting there today, part of the White House's P.R. push on the issue ahead of upcoming legislation in Congress.

Two new clues have reinforced the theory that Air France Flight 447 came apart in midair, though much mystery still surrounds the tragedy that claimed the lives of all 228 people on board. The first clue is that two bodies have been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean more than 50 miles apart, suggesting an airborne catastrophe. The second is that investigators, examining the last transmissions from the Air France plane, have determined that the "air speed indicator" may have malfunctioned prior to the failure of numerous other devices. If the indicator returned improper readings, the pilots could have flown "faster than the aircraft could withstand, or faster than it should (have) flown into turbulence," the New York Times reports. Meanwhile, a French nuclear submarine is on the prowl for the black box, though the odds do not look good for its discovery. The sub, along with two other vessels, are listening for the "ping" of the box, which can only be heard within three miles under "ideal conditions."

Is Rupert Murdoch not conservative enough for you? The Los Angeles Times reports that “News Corp. is near a deal to sell its conservative political magazine the Weekly Standard to media mogul Philip Anschutz.” Murdoch started the Standard, which is edited by William Kristol and Fred Barnes, in 1995, but he has perhaps lost interest since he took over The Wall Street Journal, whose editorial page makes similar arguments but to a much larger audience. Anschutz, whose net worth is estimated be close to $8 billion, has long been a champion of conservative Christian causes, and perhaps wants a vanity project to add to his collection of sports arenas and production studios.

The dark days of the depression aren't over yet, although there are signs that a renewal is coming. The Associated Press reports that claims for unemployment benefits fell "by 24,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 601,000," below analysts' estimates that 615,000 people would file for benefits. Although department stores didn't do great business in May, a rise in demand at auto dealerships and gas stations helped balance things out, leading to an overall sales increase of .5 percent, the first increase in three months, and the largest increase since January. It's a start.