☕️ Last day

Las Vegas's newest megacasino opens... June 24, 2021 [View Online]( | [Sign Up]( [Daily Brew]( TOGETHER WITH [The Motley Fool]( Good morning. Yesterday, the space tourism company Space Perspective opened up reservations for a “luxury” six-hour flight to the edge of space on giant balloons the size of a football stadium. The cost per ticket: $125,000. It led to a debate among the Brew writers: Would you be willing to pay to travel to space or would you need to get paid to travel to space? MARKETS Nasdaq 14,271.73 +0.13% S&P 4,241.84 -0.11% Dow 33,874.24 -0.21% Bitcoin $33,179.15 +2.35% 10-Year 1.486% +1.9 bps Tesla $656.57 +5.27% *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00pm ET. [Here's what these numbers mean](. - Markets: The S&P broke a two-day win streak, but Tesla [propelled]( the Nasdaq to an all-time high. - Covid: The highly transmissible Delta variant accounts for [20% of recent coronavirus cases]( in the US, CDC head Rochelle Walensky said yesterday, though case numbers are at their lowest point since March 2020. In fact, the past week had the lowest number of Covid cases and deaths globally since this February. - Economy: A bipartisan group of US senators said they [reached a deal]( on the framework for a $1.2 trillion infrastructure proposal, which they'll present to the White House today. LEGAL [Supreme Court Takes on Free Speech, Fannie & Freddie, and Farms]( [Illustration of the Supreme Court ]( A lot of sad desk salads were consumed by clerks yesterday, as the Supreme Court was busy handing down a flood of rulings with implications for the business world. Cheerleaders can cuss When Brandi Levy, a Pennsylvania public high school student, didn’t make the varsity cheer team in 2017, she posted the uncensored version of, “f– school f– softball f– cheer f– everything” to Snapchat. The school banned Levy from cheer for a full year and her (clearly cool) dad got the ACLU involved, claiming that the school violated her First Amendment rights. The decision: The court [ruled]( 8–1 in favor of Levy. A case from 1969, Tinker v. Des Moines, stated that schools can punish on-campus speech that disrupts the “work and discipline of the school,” but the rise of social media has thrown that ruling for a loop. Bottom line: Because Levy didn’t bully anyone or post her frustrations during school, SCOTUS said she had the right to be an angry teen. Mortgage mania Shares in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which back about half of the country’s $11 trillion in mortgages, [tanked yesterday]( after the Supreme Court foreclosed on investors’ dreams of recouping some of their investments. The backstory: The government took over Fannie and Freddie following the 2008 financial crisis, then it collected more than $100 billion from them in exchange for the taxpayer-funded bailout. A group of Fannie and Freddie investors argued that this “profit sweep” was illegal. The Supreme Court didn’t buy that, but did concede that the structure of the agency that oversees Fannie and Freddie is [unconstitutional](. What it means: President Biden gets to [replace]( the agency’s head with someone of his choosing, and Fannie and Freddie will likely stay under the government’s watch for a while longer. Farm workers lose union facetime Union organizers can’t recruit on California farms anymore—at least not without the farm owner’s permission. Yesterday, the Supreme Court [struck down]( a regulation that allowed union organizers to meet with agricultural workers during some periods of the day. Now, that’s a property rights violation. Some history: A 1975 ruling that helped farm workers and union organizers meet was a big win for the Cesar Chavez-led farm workers movement, celebrated for giving largely nomadic and less-educated farmhands the chance to learn about and join unions. Fast forward to 2021, and some argue union organizers could just slide into farmers’ DMs instead of meeting IRL. �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Supreme%20Court%20Hands%20Down%20Major%20Rulings%20on%20Farms%2C%20Free%20Speech%2C%20and%20Fannie%20and%20Freddie%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fstories%2F2021%2F06%2F23%2Fsupreme-court-hands-major-rulings-farms-free-speech-fannie-freddie%0A%0AWant%20more%20great%20content%3F%20Subscribe%20to%20Daily%20Brew%20%E2%80%94%20Delivering%20the%20latest%20business%20news%20from%20Wall%20St.%20to%20Silicon%20Valley%2C%20daily.%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fr%2F%3Fkid%3Da905682a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A INTERNATIONAL [Apple Daily’s Last Day]( [HONG KONG, CHINA - JUNE 24: An employee holds up the latest copies of th...]( Anthony Kwan/Getty Images Today, Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy tabloid, Apple Daily, [printed its last issue](. But it wasn't a case of a newspaper failing in its pivot to digital: Chinese authorities raided its offices last Thursday, froze its assets, and arrested five executives, including the editor-in-chief. - Founder Jimmy Lai has been in jail since last year for participating in a political protest, among other charges. The publication covered everything from celebrity [gossip to politics]( and was known for being anti-government, irreverent, and a strong supporter of pro-democracy protests. Free speech is getting more costly in Hong Kong The region has historically been a media hub because of its press freedoms, but the government’s crackdown on pro-democracy activism has spread to journalism. - Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) was forced to swap its station head with a career politician with no journalism experience. - Following difficulties obtaining necessary work permits, the New York Times [moved]( part of its Hong Kong office to Seoul. Looking ahead...the former chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association said, “Police did not rule out the possibility of more arrests, and the next [target] could be other media.” �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Hong%20Kong%E2%80%99s%20Largest%20Pro-Democracy%20Paper%20Shuts%20Down%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fstories%2F2021%2F06%2F23%2Fhong-kongs-largest-prodemocracy-paper-shuts%0A%0AWant%20more%20great%20content%3F%20Subscribe%20to%20Daily%20Brew%20%E2%80%94%20Delivering%20the%20latest%20business%20news%20from%20Wall%20St.%20to%20Silicon%20Valley%2C%20daily.%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fr%2F%3Fkid%3Da905682a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A ENTERTAINMENT [Britney Opens Up]( [LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: #FreeBritney activists protest]( Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images In her most public statement to date about her personal affairs, Britney Spears [told]( an LA probate judge that she wants to end the conservatorship she's been under for 13 years. "I’ve been in denial; I’ve been in shock; I am traumatized. I just want my life back," she said during a remote hearing. #FreeBritney crash course: The pop star’s father, Jamie Spears, has had complete control over her finances, career, and personal life since 2008, when she entered into a court-ordered conservatorship after an apparent mental health crisis. During her time in the conservatorship, Spears... - Released four albums - Grew her net worth to $60 million - Held a four-year contract with Planet Hollywood that brought in ~$138 million and was the fourth highest-grossing Las Vegas residency, per Billboard. Big picture: Spears’s story gained traction after her fans started the #FreeBritney movement in 2019. And this year the NYT documentary, Framing Britney Spears, introduced many viewers to the complex conservatorship arrangement and what can happen when it goes wrong. �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Britney%20Spears%20Asks%20Judge%20to%20End%20Her%20Conservatorship%20in%20Public%20Testimony%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fstories%2F2021%2F06%2F23%2Fbritney-spears-asks-judge-end-conservatorship-public-testimony%0A%0AWant%20more%20great%20content%3F%20Subscribe%20to%20Daily%20Brew%20%E2%80%94%20Delivering%20the%20latest%20business%20news%20from%20Wall%20St.%20to%20Silicon%20Valley%2C%20daily.%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fr%2F%3Fkid%3Da905682a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A SPONSORED BY THE MOTLEY FOOL [5G Is Something We Understand Very Well](#) [The Motley Fool]( First, before you ask, no we did not need to google “What is 5G” to write this ad. We are a cutting edge company (some of us even have tattoos), who are hardwired to understand all things tech. So, yes, we know what 5G is. And because we know what it is, we can tell you that [The Motley Fool has a free list of five 5G stocks]( that you might want to know about. This list is not just a tech investor’s dream, it’s also free. And, let’s face it, we know how much you love free things—thanks for reading the Brew, btw. Whether you’re like us and could give a world-renowned lecture on 5G’s revolutionary principles—or not—you’re probably gonna want to read this [free list of five 5G stocks]( from The Motley Fool. [Get the free list here](. GRAB BAG [Key Performance Indicators]( [A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-73V jet departs Midway International Air...] Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images Stat: Southwest Airlines has never had a [single layoff]( or furlough in its 50-year history, even during the pandemic. Gary Kelly, who’s been the airline’s CEO since 2004, announced yesterday he would step down to become executive chairman. Quote: "I still relish being on the field and carrying the ball. But I'm clearly playing in a game that, for me, has moved past the fourth quarter into overtime." The football metaphors are strong with Warren Buffett, who said yesterday he’s [resigning]( as a trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and donating $4.1+ billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway shares to the nonprofit. Buffett has pledged to give away about 99% of his net worth. Read: Why didn’t bullet journaling work for me? ([Medium]() �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Key%20Performance%20Indicators%3A%20June%2024%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fstories%2F2021%2F06%2F23%2Fkey-performance-indicators-june-24%0A%0AWant%20more%20great%20content%3F%20Subscribe%20to%20Daily%20Brew%20%E2%80%94%20Delivering%20the%20latest%20business%20news%20from%20Wall%20St.%20to%20Silicon%20Valley%2C%20daily.%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fr%2F%3Fkid%3Da905682a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A HOSPITALITY [Las Vegas's Newest Golden Knight]( [Resorts World Las Vegas]( Ethan Miller/Getty Images The latest addition to the Las Vegas strip, Resorts World, [opens today](. And just like everything else in Vegas, it will be extremely...large: - With a price tag of $4.3 billion, Resorts World is the most expensive property ever developed in the city. - It features 3,500 guest rooms and suites, a 117,000 square-foot casino, a 5,000-seat theater, and seven swimming pools. - If you’re looking for a size comparison, think the Venetian or the Bellagio. Big picture: Las Vegas is firmly in a post-Covid mentality right now, bringing visitors back to its business conventions and entertainment options. About 2.6 million people visited the city in April, 73% of pre-pandemic levels, per the WSJ. Looking ahead...Miley Cyrus is taking the Resorts World stage on July 4th, but if you can’t find tickets, you can still catch the show: It’ll be broadcast live on the 100,000 square-foot LED screen on the hotel’s exterior. �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Resorts%20World%20Opens%20in%20Las%20Vegas%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fstories%2F2021%2F06%2F23%2Fresorts-world-opens-las-vegas%0A%0AWant%20more%20great%20content%3F%20Subscribe%20to%20Daily%20Brew%20%E2%80%94%20Delivering%20the%20latest%20business%20news%20from%20Wall%20St.%20to%20Silicon%20Valley%2C%20daily.%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fr%2F%3Fkid%3Da905682a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A WHAT ELSE IS BREWING - [John McAfee](, the antivirus software entrepreneur, died by suicide in his jail cell in Spain hours after his extradition to the US was approved. - [Morgan Stanley]( is barring unvaccinated employees and clients from entering its NYC offices starting July 12, per an internal memo seen by the FT. - [US single-family home sales]( fell to a one-year low in May as prices soared 18.1% from a year earlier. - [BuzzFeed]( is close to a deal to go public via SPAC, per the WSJ. BREW'S BETS Do you even have passive income? Sorry, that was passive aggressive. But the point remains: Investing in alternative asset classes with [Yieldstreet]( is an innovative way to generate income for your portfolio—heck, they’ve returned $850+ million in principal and interest to date. [Get started today](.* What’s 2% of 10,000? That’s the percentage of wines that make it through [Firstleaf’s]( rigorous tasting process. Their world-renowned winemakers then send that fruity, oaky, black currant-y top 2% to your door based on your individual tastes. [Get $100 off your first three boxes here](.* Grab an exclusive cookbook: For the next two weeks, donate any amount to our fundraiser with World Central Kitchen and you'll receive our exclusive cookbook, Brunch with the Brew, featuring delectable recipes from celebrity chefs and food personalities. [Donate now to get your copy](.  Sexy beasts: No, not how Morning Brew writers refer to themselves, just a new [dating show on Netflix]( with a “what did I just watch” kind of trailer. *This is sponsored advertising content GAMES [The Puzzle Section](#) Brew Mini: We completed today’s Mini in 42 seconds; can you beat that? [Try it here](. Three Headlines and a Lie Disney is making a live-action Snow White, which is fine, but we can all agree that a live-action movie about all of this week’s bizarre news headlines would be much better. Try to identify which headline is like Phony, the lesser-known of the seven dwarfs. - Lab analysis of Subway tuna sandwiches [fails]( to identify tuna DNA - Man [purchases]( his own toe with Prime Day deal - 42,000 pounds of [missing]( pistachios leads to possible illegal pistachio operation - “Redneck Rave” [descends]( into throat slashing, impalements, and mass arrests SHARE THE BREW We think you should [share the Brew.]( Not only is it a smart thing to do for your friends, it’s also the smartest way to get showered in free Brew swag and exclusive content. Your referral count: 0 [Click to Share]( Or copy & paste your referral link to others: [morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=a905682a]( ANSWER A man did not purchase his own toe on Prime Day             Written by [Jamie Wilde](, [Matty Merritt](, and [Neal Freyman]( Illustrations & graphics by [Francis Scialabba]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. 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