☕ Awkward

Hip-hop’s biggest mystery may be solved... September 30, 2023 [View Online]( | [Sign Up]( | [Shop]( [Morning Brew]( PRESENTED BY [Motivosity]( Good morning. Not to put a damper on your Saturday (the relentless rain is already doing that here in NYC), but the government appears headed for a shutdown at midnight tonight. Among the immediate impacts: Many federal employees will be furloughed, the IRS will stop picking up your calls, you won’t be able to get married in DC courts, and most national parks—and their social media handles—will go dark. That means the cherished tradition of Fat Bear Week run by Katmai National Park in Alaska could be canceled. We’ll have more in Monday’s newsletter, but all you can do for now is enjoy the weekend and brace yourself for more TSwift mania at the Jets game tomorrow night. —Molly Liebergall, Sam Klebanov, Cassandra Cassidy, Abby Rubenstein, Adam Epstein, Neal Freyman MARKETS Nasdaq 13,219.32 +0.14% S&P 4,288.05 -0.27% Dow 33,507.50 -0.47% 10-Year 4.579% +0.2 bps Bitcoin $26,866.66 -0.58% Blue Apron $12.88 +134.52% *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 2:00am ET. [Here's what these numbers mean.]( - Markets: Stocks [ended Q3]( yesterday with a whimper despite new data showing that the Fed’s favorite inflation measure cooled in August. September was the worst month of the year for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. But Blue Apron soared on the news that it’s being bought by Wonder Group, a food delivery startup helmed by a former Walmart exec.  MUSIC [Suspect arrested for Tupac’s murder]( [Tupac Shakur wearing red]( Bob Berg/Getty Images A longtime suspect was [charged]( with the murder of Tupac Shakur yesterday—the first arrest made in the case since the rap icon was gunned down 27 years ago in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip. Duane “Keffe D” Davis—a former gang member and one of the last living witnesses to Shakur’s death—is being held without bail. Davis’s nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson (now deceased), has long been suspected of firing the shots that killed Shakur, something Davis has admitted along with his own involvement—which is why he’s been on authorities’ radars for years. - In his 2019 memoir, Davis wrote that he rode in the passenger seat of the white Cadillac that pulled up alongside Shakur’s car at a red light and that he slipped a gun into the backseat that Anderson and potentially another man fired at Shakur’s car. (Anderson always denied any involvement.) - Regarding the arrest, Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo said he believes Davis “ordered the death” of Shakur to get revenge for his nephew, who was a longtime rival of the rapper’s and had brawled with him at a casino earlier that night. For years, the public saw law enforcement’s failure to arrest a suspect following the 1996 shooting as a sign of a broken legal system. But the investigation into Shakur’s death got new momentum in July, when police [searched Davis’s home]( in Henderson, Nevada, for evidence. Legacy of a hip-hop legend During his short career, Shakur sold 75 million records worldwide, got six Grammy nominations, and acted. He starred opposite Janet Jackson in the 1993 romantic drama Poetic Justice. Shakur remains one of the most famous rappers in the world and a figure of fascination. His murder inspired documentaries, books, TV shows, and movies. His three posthumous album releases all went No. 1, a [hologram]( of his likeness performed at Coachella in 2012, and in 2017, Snoop Dogg inducted him into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.—ML   PRESENTED BY MOTIVOSITY [Take employee morale to the moon]( [Motivosity]( Improving employee morale begins with giving your team its well-deserved praise. And if your team struggles with retaining top talent, your workplace might be missing that vital community feel. Create and cultivate a winning culture with [Motivosity, the employee recognition software]( focused on building people-centric rewards while fostering employee engagement tracking, coaching, performance management, and more. Motivosity users range from company sizes of 10 to 10k, and they see [33% lower turnover rates]( than the industry average. Companies also saw a 134% (!!!) increase in employees saying they’d stay with their company even if offered a raise elsewhere. One thing about numbers? They don’t lie. Want your culture (and company) to thrive like this? [Start connecting](. WORLD [Tour de headlines](#) [Dianne Feinstein]Tom Williams/Getty Images Sen. Dianne Feinstein dead at 90. The California Democrat [died]( at her home in Washington, DC, on Thursday night, just hours after casting a vote on the Senate floor. Feinstein, the longest-tenured female senator in US history and California’s longest-serving senator, was known as a trailblazer for women in politics. After her election in 1992, she became the first woman to chair the Senate Rules and Senate Intelligence Committees. Feinstein authored several landmark bills, including the 1994 assault weapons ban. Her declining health in recent years led some to call for her removal and for age limits in Congress. Gov. Gavin Newsom will now appoint a [temporary replacement]( ahead of what’s expected to be a heated race to fill the seat in 2024. The UAW strike got bigger. The United Auto Workers [expanded]( its strike again yesterday, adding another 7,000 workers to the picket lines as it continues negotiating new contracts with Ford, GM, and Stellantis. The latest strike targets are a Ford assembly plant in Chicago and a GM assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan, as the union continues to shut down select locations to maximize pain to the carmakers while allowing many of its members to receive paychecks. Stellantis was spared from yesterday’s escalation because of progress in its talks with the union, while Ford’s CEO claimed the union was holding their deal “hostage over battery plants.” SCOTUS to weigh in on social media moderation. The Supreme Court will decide whether Florida and Texas [state laws]( that bar social media companies from taking down posts or banning users based on their viewpoints run afoul of the First Amendment. The laws, and others like them, are generally supported by Republican lawmakers who claim the companies favor a liberal outlook, while the tech companies insist that they interfere with their ability to combat misinformation and hate speech. A ruling is expected by June…so possibly right in the middle of election season. TECH [The vibes are off in this interview with X’s CEO]( [Yaccarino interviewed at Vox's Code Conference]( Jerod Harris/Getty Images X CEO Linda Yaccarino joined CNBC correspondent Julia Boorstin onstage at Vox’s Code Conference this week for a in which Yaccarino seemed not to know key details about the company she’s been heading since June. It didn’t help that former Twitter exec Yoel Roth had sat on the same stage an hour before and harshly criticized Elon Musk. Yaccarino did not hide her agitation at “unexpectedly” having to follow Roth, pointedly noting, “I work at X. He worked at Twitter.” Yaccarino said X is on track to become profitable by early 2024 and touted the return of 90% of the largest advertisers that ditched the platform following Musk’s takeover. But she seemed flustered when Boorstin pressed for specifics… - She initially struggled to state the exact daily active user count after being confronted with the fact that downloads and usage were down. - And she deflected a question about Musk’s plans to charge X users a monthly fee, appearing unsure whether it was a final decision. Despite bristling at the suggestion that she’s CEO in name only since Musk still calls the shots on key product decisions, she asked, “Who wouldn’t want Elon Musk sitting by their side?” It wasn’t meant to get laughs, but it did.—SK   TOGETHER WITH XERO [Xero]( Get paid, not delayed. If cash flow feels like a no-go, check out Xero. It’s the accounting platform simplifying $$$ processes for small businesses by automating invoicing, expanding payment options, and forecasting income. Sign up for a [Xero Business Edition subscription]( from now until Oct. 31 for 60% off of 3 months. Use [code MORNINGBREW60 to start](. Are you currently: [Researching cash-flow info and payment solutions?]( for the latest news on economic conditions?]( the impact of economic conditions on your small biz?]( your fist at the sky?]( ENTERTAINMENT [Naked and well lit]( [Still from ’Naked Attraction’ ]( Max That’s how The View co-host Ana Navarro described Naked Attraction, a nude dating show from the UK that arrived on Max last week and is already [the No. 1 show]( on the streaming platform. Subscribers don’t seem put off by the graphic conversation and close-up shots of pubic hair illuminated by bright stage lights. Nudity sells. The success of the series in the US follows its fame in the UK, where the [beloved show]( is airing its seventh season. Stateside, talk shows like The View and Live with Kelly and Mark are now discussing the show, with some calling attention to its potential [merits]( like body positivity and inclusivity. For some, it’s a little too much foreskin. The Parents Television Council called for Max to remove the show, calling it a “new low.” But it’s nothing new for the company that aired Real Sex and Cathouse. CEO of HBO and Max Content Casey Bloys argued that it adds to the service’s [range]( of content. Come for The Sopranos, stay for the repeated use of the phrase “squishy butt.”—CC   GRAB BAG [Key performance indicators](#) [People dressed as Barbie]Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images Stat: Just when you thought the Barbenheimer hype had finally died down, Halloween is going Barbiecore. The doll is on track to be the [third-most-popular]( Halloween costume for adults this year—behind only witches and vampires—and No. 7 for kids, according to the National Retail Federation. And Mattel likely has Greta Gerwig to thank for the share it’ll get of the $4.1 billion people plan to spend on dressing up for the holiday—it’s the first time the costume has cracked the top 10 for either group since the NRF started counting in 2004. Quote: “I cannot believe it got done.” A Tennessee judge said she was [dumbfounded]( that Michael Oher was bound to a conservatorship agreement with Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the couple who took in the former NFL player when he was in high school, inspiring The Blind Side. The judge said she would end the conservatorship, but the broader financial dispute between the Tuohys and Oher remains pending. Read: Inside scientists’ mission to save America’s wine industry from climate change. ([Associated Press]( NEWS [What else is brewing](#) - [New York City]( was hit with its heaviest rain in decades, which flooded roads and subway stations and delayed air travel. Both the mayor and New York’s governor declared states of emergency as [images]( of the waterlogged city filled social media. - [Bernard Arnault]( the LVMH CEO who frequently trades the world’s richest person title with Elon Musk, is reportedly being investigated by French authorities for his business dealings with a Russian oligarch. - [Scott Hall]( a bail bondsman, became the only defendant to plead guilty so far in the government’s racketeering case against Donald Trump and 18 others over alleged interference with the 2020 election in Georgia. - [Toys R Us]( is planning a comeback with 24 new brick-and-mortar stores, plus outposts in airports and on cruise ships. RECS [Saturday To-Do List graphic] Learn: How [rain works]( in video games. Meet: A pup named Ryder who’s got his [own credentials]( for the Ryder Cup. See: The stunning winners of a [bird photography contest](. Cook: [Soup]( because the air is finally chilly. Superfan status: If it’s happening in sports, it’s on [SiriusXM](. Enjoy expert analysis, up-to-the-minute news, and play-by-play announcing for every NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL game. [Get 3 months free](. See Offer Details.* *A message from our sponsor. GAMES [The puzzle section](#) Brew crossword: Slice and dice your way through [this culinary-themed puzzle](. Advanced knife skills are not required. Open House Welcome to Open House, the only newsletter section that knows a whole bunch of mini sets of stairs is better than one grand staircase. We’ll give you a few facts about a listing and you try to guess the price. [1979 home in Dayton, Ohio with rock wall in front and giant rock pillar inside.]Zillow Today’s [home]( is in Dayton, Ohio, and if you’re OK with a nonfunctional rock climbing wall in the center of your living space, you’ll love it. The ceilings in each room of this 3,440-square-foot house are all a little different, and that’s what keeps it interesting. Amenities include: - 3 beds, 3 baths - Three-car garage (a triple triple) - In-deck hot tub How much to live under the wildest Ohio roof? SHARE THE BREW [Share Morning Brew]( with your friends, acquire free Brew swag, and then acquire more friends as a result of your fresh Brew swag. We’re saying we’ll give you free stuff and more friends if you share a link. One link. Your referral count: 0 [Click to Share]( Or copy & paste your referral link to others: [morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=4904f90a]( ANSWER $448,500 Word of the Day Today’s Word of the Day is: culinary, meaning “of or related to cooking.” Thanks to Julia from Massachusetts for the tasty suggestion. Submit another [Word of the Day here](. Written by [Neal Freyman]( [Abigail Rubenstein]( [Molly Liebergall]( Sam Klebanov, [Cassandra Cassidy]( and [Adam Epstein]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. 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