How the war in Ukraine turned words into weapons...
Together with [GOBankingRates]( [July 24, 2022]( | [View Online]( | [Sign Up]( | [Shop](
[A person putting together a puzzle of Russian and Ukrainian flags] Jess Suttner IN THIS ISSUE Collapse of the Bodega Hive The politics of language in war Hot weather heartbreak  VIBE CHECK  # âYouâre having a cocktail in the bin.ââ[one Brit to another]( during this weekâs record-breaking heat wave âCorporate propaganda masquerading as honest self-reflection.ââanti-disinformation activist Jesse Lehrich [describing the first âHuman Rights Reportâ]( from Meta, Facebookâs parent company âProud husband of Ayesha Curry. Proud son of Dell Curry. Proud daddy ofâ¦the Boston Celtics.â âGolden State Warriors star Stephen Curry [mock-introducing himself as host]( of this yearâs ESPYs  GREAT DEBATE  #
[This or That graphic] âInterviews conducted by Amanda Hoover  SHORT READ  [Desus and Mero break up](
[Desus and Mero break up](Paras Griffin/Getty Images On Monday, July 18, Showtime announced that the late-night show Desus & Mero would not return to the channel as its [two hosts pursue]( âseparate creative endeavors.â ([A later report suggested]( the pair fell out over management.) Itâs a sad and notable moment for the Bodega Hive (as their fans are known) who witnessed two Bronx natives emerge from Black Twitter notoriety to TV screens across the world. The same day as the announcement, a subway station on [Dyckman Street](âa landmark in the Bodegaverseâflooded furiously, as if to acknowledge the news. Desus Nice and The Kid Mero (aka Daniel Baker and Joel Martinez) were a breath of steamy city air in a late-night show climate that too often felt stuffy and hosted by white guys named James. Unlike their counterparts, these two natural talents had a unique style and range that earned them a loyal following and illustrious guests including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Barack Obama, Cardi B, and Denzel Washington. (And maybe the occasional white guy named [James](.) Their comedy provided an unfiltered connection to Black and brown communities of New York that were not often seen on TV, which was also relatable to first-generation Americans, hip-hop fans, and [anyone with a sense of humor](. Through Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, fans across the world became intimately familiar with a broad range of New York-specific lore, as well as terminology particular to the duo. Among their infinite catchphrases is âthe brand is strong,â which came across as a self-affirming mantra at the beginning of their careers. The statement became a demonstrable fact as âthe brandâ muscularly hopped from Complex to MTV2 to Viceland, and it eventually became a slogan on official merchandise (still available on the Showtime [website](). Thereâs little doubt the pairâs independent âcreative endeavors'' will energize the Bodega Hive. Itâs the âseparateâ part of the statement that stings. Longtime fans seem more distraught about the unknown status of the duoâs friendship than their show. Case in point: âIâm more upset at D&M breaking up then [sic] when my parents got a divorce,â reads a post on the r/BodegaBoys [subreddit](. Multiple people on Twitter called on President Biden to [address the situation](, too. A future with Desus and Mero as standalone personalities is all but certain. Both men will remain heavyweights on the comedy scene in one way or another. (For example, Desus is slated to guest host for James âJimmyâ Kimmel later [this summer](.) But the future of Desus and Mero as a combo package? Less predictable. mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Desus%20and%20Mero%20break%20up%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fstories%2F2022%2F07%2F22%2Fdesus-and-mero-break-up%3Futm_campaign%3Dmb%26utm_medium%3Dnewsletter%26utm_source%3Dmorning_brew%0A%0AWant%20more%20great%20content%3F%20Subscribe%20to%20Sunday%20Edition%20%E2%80%94%20Delivering%20the%20latest%20business%20news%20from%20Wall%20St.%20to%20Silicon%20Valley%20daily.%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fr%2F%3Fkid%3D4904f90a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A  REC ROOM  # This week, you should listen to Steve Lacyâs new album Gemini Rights. Lacy is a musician, [fashion icon](, singer, producer, and a member of the band known as The Internet. (We recommend them, too.) Gemini Rights skates across genres, sliding through bossa nova, soul, and funk before its 35 minutes are up. The vibe: heartbreak in a tropical country, or sadness while wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Feels appropriate given the heat waves across the world, and, well, everything else. Based on comments on Lacyâs Instagram, fellow fashion icon Naomi Campbell likes it, too.  TOGETHER WITH GOBANKINGRATES Check out this checking account [GOBankingRates]( If youâve ever checked on your checking account after a big night on the town, you know itâs not the most rewarding feeling. But what if that [checking account]( held a massive money reward for you? Thatâd be a game-changer. This large, national bank (with ATMs literally everywhere) just upped its cash back bonuses (weâre talkinâ up to $2,000) with new, lower minimums to qualify. And itâs no surprise that it checks out with the experts at GOBankingRates too. They selected it as the Best Bonus Checking Account of 2022. [Open an account today](.  LONG READ  [How Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine turned words into weapons](
[Two people painting Ukrainian flags on Russian flags](Illustration: Jess Sutner for Morning Brew As the [war in Ukraine]( continues, a war on words and linguistics brews. Ukrainians are grappling with the idea that speaking Russian might translate to support for Russia and, to that end, Vladimir Putinâs recent invasion of their country. Once seen as prestigious and posh, the Russian language is now hush-hush for many in Ukraine. To show solidarity with their nation, many are saying âдо ÑвиданиÑ,â or goodbye, to Russian. âI first tried to switch completely to Ukrainian in the summer of 2014, when the war with Russia began,â Pavlo, a 26-year-old Ukrainian, told Morning Brew via Telegram. âMy mother and sister, who still live in Donetsk, did not accept this, and I gave up under their pressure.â (In order to protect the safety of the Ukrainians who spoke to us, their last names have been omitted. Some of the interviews were conducted in Ukrainian, and their remarks have been translated to English.) Pavlo works as a sociologist in Kremenchuk, which was recently targeted by Russian forces in an [airstrike]( that left 18 dead. Growing up, he spoke Russian with his parents who, he said, were nostalgic for their youth and had pro-Soviet views. Though his mother grew up with Ukrainian-speaking parents, she chose to speak Russian because it was all Pavloâs father knewâand all he wanted to know. At school, Pavlo began to explore Ukrainian, even though his parents were reluctant to embrace the language. He explained that both his parentsâ and grandparentsâ generations considered Ukrainian the language of âpeasants.â âUntil very recently, there were a lot of restrictions on Ukrainian, and there was a horrible...elitist and dismissive attitude towards Ukrainian,â Jade McGlynn, a senior researcher at the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies in Monterey, California, said. The Ukrainian language was perceived as a âredneck language.â She added, âIf you wanted to be sophisticated and educated and get on, you needed to speak Russian, and you needed to deny and suppress your Ukrainian-ness.â Despite this, Pavlo became increasingly attracted to the language. âI studied in Ukrainian, I read books in Ukrainian, and when choosing the dubbed audio for movies and TV series, I chose the Ukrainian language,â he said. âNow, I only speak Ukrainian. I donât care what others think and what language they speak to me in, but Iâm very happy when people try to switch to Ukrainian.â He isnât the only one who feels itâs time for the Ukrainian language to rise in prominence. A [nationwide poll from March 25]( revealed that 83% of Ukrainians are in favor of the Ukrainian language being classified as the only state language. âMany Ukrainians are switching to Ukrainian, not because of any political parties, but because they understand that the Russian language is used as an instrument of aggression for the genocide of Ukrainians,â Iuliia Mendel, the former spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said. âFor years, this issue was used by politicians in their political campaigns to try to separate the country, divide the country, and get political benefits.â [Read the rest of Amanda Florianâs story](to find out how Ukrainians are processing the emotions and politics of speaking Russian.  Q&A  [Brew Questionnaire with Matthew Ball](
[Brew Questionnaire with Matthew Ball]( Matthew Ball is a venture capitalist whose [writing]( has helped define the amorphous and emerging metaverse. His new book, [The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything](, was published earlier this month. Whatâs the best advice you ever received? Iâve been very fortunate in my life. I came out of university with little debt and a great job, my parents were upper middle-class and invested heavily in my upbringing. Iâve always had a good personal network and a strong safety net. Without that, the next advice wouldnât really apply. But Iâve always been pushed by friends, bosses, and supports through, âWhy not?â Why not take this leap, try this, focus here? It has made a huge difference. Whatâs the most embarrassing song youâll admit to liking publicly? There is a lot of great Miley. Especially when youâre driving the PCH. What fictional person do you wish were real? I have to figure out which Fortnite skin [Steinerâs Dog]( would wear in the metaverse. (Or who they are!) What real person do you wish were fictional? Iâll give you a clue: He was in the fictional film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and I wish he stayed there. How would you explain TikTok to your great-grandparents? Itâs a diary, but for video, which also turns you into a newsperson broadcast worldwide, and allows you to remake, modify, or comment on any other entry, wherever you are, in seconds, and for whatever reason. What always makes you laugh? One of our dogs, Rosie, is quite the vocalizer. She also loves to haunt rooms. Iâm fortunate she does both often, because they always make me laugh. If you were given a billboard in Times Square, what would you put on it? Today? An ad for my book on the metaverse, which launched nationwide July 19! âInterview by Amanda Hoover mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Morning%20Brew%21&body=Brew%20Questionnaire%20with%20Matthew%20Ball%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fstories%2F2022%2F07%2F22%2Fbrew-questionnaire-with-matthew-ball%3Futm_campaign%3Dmb%26utm_medium%3Dnewsletter%26utm_source%3Dmorning_brew%0A%0AWant%20more%20great%20content%3F%20Subscribe%20to%20Sunday%20Edition%20%E2%80%94%20Delivering%20the%20latest%20business%20news%20from%20Wall%20St.%20to%20Silicon%20Valley%20daily.%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fr%2F%3Fkid%3D4904f90a%26utm_source%3Demail_share%0A  TOGETHER WITH BABBEL [Babbel]( How do you sayâ¦sweet deal! You could be speaking a new language in just 21 days with your Babbel subscription (now up to 60% off for a limited time). With bite-sized, 10-minute language lessons from Babbel, users report being able to have a basic conversation after just 3 weeks of daily practice. [Save up to 60% on your subscription here](.*  BREW'S BEST  # Earfquake: In one of Earthâs great ironies, chemical fertilizerâthe stuff we use to grow foodâis bad for the environment. Itâs also pricey af. Synthetic biology startups want to shake things up. [[Emerging Tech Brew](] JACK WILL U MARRY ME? Plane-pulled advertising is as much a part of the summer beach experience as âReturn of the Mackâ on the radio. Despite an increasingly techy ad future, some brands are looking to the sky to stand out. [[Marketing Brew](] Turns, tabled: The USPS is finally replacing its ancient mail delivery trucks, but only a fraction of them will be electrified. The decision defies the Biden administration and could send carbon-conscious retailers, um, packing. [[Retail Brew](] Talk is cheap: As companies flaunt new ESG initiatives, theyâre finding out that itâs easier to promise than deliverâmuch like your love life. Several banks are under investigation for claiming that their funds are âgreenerâ than they actually are. [[CFO Brew](] All tea, all shade: Angie Nwandu started The Shade Room in 2014 with an Instagram account and a love of celebrity gossip. Today itâs a media empire covering culture, politics, and more. She tells the Brew how she bootstrapped her business. [[Business Casual](] The best thing we read this week: Emmanuel the TikTok-interrupting emu opens up about his newfound fame. [[Washington Post](] *Revamp your AM routine: Start your day with Magic Mindâs 2-ounce matcha-based energy shot thatâs designed to enhance focus, reduce stress, and take your productivity to another level. [Try it today and save up to 45%](.* *This is sponsored advertising content.  THE END  #
[Parting shot graphic] Written by [Amanda Hoover](, [Rohan Anthony](, [Ashwin Rodrigues](, [Stassa Edwards](, [Andrew Nusca](, and [Amanda Florian]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here]( WANT MORE BREW? Industry news, with a sense of humor â - [CFO Brew](: your go-to source for global finance insights
- [Emerging Tech Brew](: AI, crypto, space, autonomous vehicles, and more
- [Future Social](: the Brew's take on the world of social media
- [HR Brew](: analysis of the employee-employer relationship
- [IT Brew](: moving business forward; innovation analysis for the CTO, CIO & every IT pro in-between
- [Marketing Brew](: the buzziest happenings in marketing and advertising
- [Retail Brew](: retail trends from DTC to "buy now, pay later" Tips for smarter living â - [Money Scoop](: your personal finance upgrade
- [Money With Katie](: manifest your financial freedom
- [Sidekick](: lifestyle recs from every corner of the internet Podcasts â [Business Casual](, [Founder's Journal](, [Imposters](, and [The Money with Katie Show]( [YouTube]( Accelerate Your Career with our Courses â - [Business Essentials Accelerator](: Become a better communicator, operator, and innovator.
- [Leadership Accelerator](: Grow your team, grow yourself, grow your impact.
- [Business Analytics Accelerator](: Understand the business of numbers and make better decisions with data. [ADVERTISE]( // [CAREERS]( // [SHOP]( // [FAQ]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here](.
View our privacy policy [here](. Copyright © 2022 Morning Brew. All rights reserved.
22 W 19th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011