☕️ Final frontier

Some states are helping drivers out with gas... March 29, 2022 [View Online]( | [Sign Up]( | [Shop]( [Morning Brew]( TOGETHER WITH [Arculus]( Good morning. How many of you say you’re “proficient at Excel” on your resumes but in reality mean, “I suppose I’ll figure it out if I need to”? Well, in the modern workplace you really do need to know Excel. With that in mind, we’ve brought Excel Dictionary into the Brew’s ecosystem to help you become not just proficient, but an expert in the software. Give her a follow on [Instagram]( or [TikTok]( for some spreadsheet widsom. —Max Knoblauch, Matty Merrit, Neal Freyman MARKETS Nasdaq 14,354.90 +1.31% S&P 4,575.52 +0.71% Dow 34,955.89 +0.27% 10-Year 2.465% -1.4 bps Bitcoin $47,951.83 +4.25% Tesla $1,091.84 +8.03% *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00pm ET. [Here's what these numbers mean.]( - Markets: While the two companies don’t have much in common, both Apple and GameStop stock gained for their 10th straight trading session, reflecting the recent positive vibes on Wall Street. Tesla [added ~$84 billion]( in market cap—more than the entire value of Ford—after it announced a move to split its stock for the second time in two years. - Ukraine: President Biden [defended]( his improvised comment from the weekend declaring that Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power,” which some allies suggested was an alarming escalation of the conflict. Biden argued that he wasn’t actually arguing Russians should replace Putin, but just expressing the “moral outrage” he feels toward the man. ENERGY [States to drivers: Venmo okay?]( [A gas fund jar with a government check in it.](Francis Scialabba As fuel prices hover near record highs across the country, a handful of states are doing what some of your closest friends have never been able to manage: [chipping in]( for gas. - Georgia is suspending its gas tax of 29 cents per gallon until the end of May. - Connecticut is suspending its 25 cents per gallon tax until June 30. - Maryland’s 36.1 cents per gallon tax will be suspended through mid-April. - Florida will suspend its 25 cent tax, but not until October when tourist season has ended. The average price of gas in the US, $4.24 a gallon, is about 48% higher than it was last year—and a decent chunk of that cost comes in the form of state and federal taxes (which are used to pay for infrastructure projects and highway repair). It’s a Band-Aid solution While motorists are likely psyched to pocket the extra cents (or use them on that warm gas station corn dog), some experts warn that a “gas tax holiday” has the potential to cause more harm than good. Given the uncertainty around fuel costs—with the war in Ukraine knocking supply off the market, there’s no indication that they’ll drop particularly soon—temporary tax suspensions could lead to sticker shock when prices suddenly shoot up, say, 30 cents after the holiday ends. Also a possibility: A decrease in gas prices could spur an increase in demand. With the summer coming up and everyone already googling “how far to beach,” adding more incentives to drive when gas supply is tight could prolong the problem of high costs at the pump. Some economists argue that if you really want to help residents feeling the pinch, forget the gas tax holiday—just send them cash directly. California is considering a plan along those lines. Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed sending a $400 debit card for vehicle owners in the state, along with free public transit for three months to incentivize drivers to keep that car in the garage.—MK �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=States%20to%20drivers%3A%20Venmo%20okay%3F%3A%20utm_campaign%3Dmb%26utm_medium%3Dnewsletter%26utm_source%3Dmorning_brew%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%3D4904f90a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A WORLD [Tour de headlines]( [The performance of We Dont Talk About Bruno at the Oscars.](Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images More people watched the Oscars. Viewership [rose 56%]( this year from last, but the telecast is still on track to be the second-least-watched Academy Awards in history, preliminary data shows. About the slap heard around the world: Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock: “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,” the actor wrote on Instagram. The Academy also condemned Smith’s actions and announced it was starting a formal review. Peace negotiators targets of suspected poisoning. Ukrainian peace negotiators and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich suffered symptoms [consistent with poisoning]( after a meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv earlier in March. The group reported peeling skin, red eyes, and constant tearing, per the WSJ. The suspected poisoning “was not intended to kill, it was just a warning,” according to Christo Grozev, an investigator with the open-source collective Bellingcat. President Biden released his 2023 wishlist. The $5.8 trillion budget calls for [increased defense spending]( and an additional $32 billion to fight crime (Biden promised to “fund the police” during last month’s State of the Union). It would also seek to reduce the national deficit by ~$1 trillion over 10 years through higher taxes on billionaires and corporations. The White House’s budget is not a binding document, but a blueprint that signals the administration’s priorities to Congress. �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Tour%20de%20headlines%3A%20utm_campaign%3Dmb%26utm_medium%3Dnewsletter%26utm_source%3Dmorning_brew%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%3D4904f90a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A CULTURE [Disney takes on DeSantis]( [Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ](Joe Raedle/Getty Images Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis [signed a bill]( yesterday that bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in K–third grade classrooms. Opponents have dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” law for erasing the LGBTQ community and opening up schools to lawsuits under its vague language. The legislation could have economic consequences for the state, since corporate CEOs, increasingly under pressure to weigh in on political issues, may reevaluate their business relationships with Florida. - Remember: MLB moved its All-Star Game out of Georgia last year after the state passed a restrictive voting law. The CEO in the spotlight now, of course, is Bob Chapek of Disney—one of the largest employers in the state. Chapek received blowback from employees after initially declining to take an official stance on the bill, but, following public criticism and walkouts, Disney formally opposed the bill and suspended political donations in Florida. After DeSantis signed the bill yesterday, Disney stated, “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed…or struck down in the courts.” DeSantis has dismissed Disney’s opposition. “I don’t care what big corporations say,” he said.—NF �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Disney%20pledges%20to%20repeal%20Florida%20gender%20discussion%20law%3A%20utm_campaign%3Dmb%26utm_medium%3Dnewsletter%26utm_source%3Dmorning_brew%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%3D4904f90a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A TOGETHER WITH ARCULUS [This crypto cold-storage solution is hot](#) [Arculus]( In an industry full of complexity and scammers, the Arculus cryptocurrency [cold-storage wallet]( is an oasis of ease, allowing you to store and manage your crypto safely and intuitively 24/7. The people behind Arculus have 20+ years of experience developing leading-edge, secure payment technologies, so when they turned their eyes to cryptocurrency, you know they were gonna throw down the gauntlet. And throw down they did: Arculus’s [storage solution]( relies on intuitive three-factor authentication, with the Arculus WalletTM App and Arculus KeyTM Card working together seamlessly. All you have to do is scan your face or finger, type in your PIN, and tap your card—and you’re in your wallet. [Get started with Arculus](, the easy way to make sure the only person accessing your crypto is you. SPACE [Meet the business professor going to space]( [Jim Kitchen floating](Jim Kitchen UNC business professor Jim Kitchen is scheduled to blast off on Blue Origin’s fourth crewed mission to space on Thursday, which might only be the second most exciting part of his week if his beloved Tar Heels beat Duke on Saturday. Kitchen isn’t some bored business mogul who’s seeking thrills. Going to space has been a dream of his since childhood; he even began raising money for a low-earth orbit trip back in the ’80s. When Kitchen’s early dreams of going to space didn’t work out, he decided traveling the Earth would have to do. As of 2019, Kitchen has visited all 193 countries recognized by the UN. This journey around the world has taken him 30 years and serves as the foundation of most of his lectures for the entrepreneurship class he teaches at UNC. Students’ journeys “may not be one of traveling the world [or] going to space. But everyone has a journey, everyone has something that they want to do and accomplish,” Kitchen said. [Read our full story about Kitchen here.]( GRAB BAG [Key performance indicators]( [Bills stadium](Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Stat: We’re beginning to understand why they’re called the Bills Mafia. The State of NY and the Buffalo Bills [reached a deal]( for a new stadium that would receive $850 billion in public funds—the biggest taxpayer contribution to an NFL stadium in history, per the NYT. Tax revenue would cover about 60% of the construction cost, which is actually lower than comparable stadium projects. Quote: “We believe a requirement is more equitable and transparent than a test-optional policy.” At a time when many US universities are making standardized tests optional, MIT has reinstated its SAT/ACT requirement after suspending it during the Covid pandemic. [Here’s their reasoning](. Read: The Lakers’ social media team has some explaining to do. ([Kenny Beacham]() �  �  �  mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Key%20performance%20indicators%3A%20utm_campaign%3Dmb%26utm_medium%3Dnewsletter%26utm_source%3Dmorning_brew%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%3D4904f90a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A WHAT ELSE IS BREWING - [FedEx founder Fred Smith]( is stepping down as CEO more than 50 years after starting the company. - [European beer giants]( Heineken and Carlsberg said they’re leaving the Russian market. - [Walmart]( has begun removing cigarettes from some US stores. - [Oil prices]( fell after China began its two-stage lockdown of Shanghai. FROM THE CREW [The crypto crash course is back]( [Crypto crash course](Mark Wang The Brew’s series on [all things crypto]( is back—and packed with new guides, explainers, and features that’ll help you learn more about this rapidly growing space. Here are a few of our recent faves: - [Why business school students are trading Wall Street for Web3](. - [Everything you need to know about crypto taxes](. - [Is crypto a solution for America’s unbanked](? This editorial content is supported by eToro. BREW'S BETS Amazing photojournalism: Get to know the [citizens of Kyiv.]( Freak out: This YouTube channel has [free horror movies](, uploaded weekly. Go green: Emerging Tech Brew is demystifying climate tech on Twitter Spaces tomorrow at 3pm ET. Fill your afternoon lull with a convo featuring Jason Green, CEO of Upward Farms. [Set a reminder](. Spring for a fresh silhouette. Come for the minimalist design and free 45-day trial, stay for the lifetime guarantee. See why more than 2 million people have refreshed their pockets with a wallet from The Ridge. Browse 30+ colors and styles and [get 10% off your order](.* Investors: Did you hear what just went down? The Motley Fool announced three new [“Double Down” recommendations](. These picks are a chance for investors who missed the boat on a great stock (read: Netflix, Amazon, Apple) to get in on the action. [Get access to the latest picks today](.* *This is sponsored advertising content. GAMES [The puzzle section](#) Brew Mini: The Academy Awards, Guy Fieri, and tapenade all star in today’s Mini. [Play it here](. Tickle the ivories Today is Piano Day. Why is today, of all days, Piano Day? (There is a reason.) 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. Your referral count: 0 [Click to Share]( Or copy & paste your referral link to others: [morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=4904f90a]( ANSWER It’s the 88th day of the year, and there are 88 keys on a piano. � � � � � Written by [Neal Freyman](, [Max Knoblauch](, and [Matty Merritt]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. WANT MORE BREW? 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