🌍 Biden signs $1 trillion infrastructure deal

Plus: How Walmart calmed its critics. [Quartz]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! Was this newsletter forwarded to you? [Sign up here](. Forward to a friend who [actually likes networking events](. Here’s what you need to know Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill into law. US states and cities are already [making big plans](, and [teenage truckers]( could be hitting the roads soon. Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping had a three-hour video call. But it was more of a catch-up than anything else—[they didn’t make any announcements]( or issue a joint statement. Xi’s job-for-life is pretty much confirmed. The Chinese Communist Party today [published the full text]( of a document that underlines his “historical” status. Deadly explosions hit Uganda’s main business district. One was near the parliament building in the capital, Kampala, while another went off close to the main police HQ—[multiple deaths are feared](. WeWork lost money again. But the office-leasing company’s shares [were up more than 3%]( following its [first financial report since going public](. Oatly soured. Shares of the Swedish non-dairy milk company [were down more than 21%]( Monday. It’s a supply rather than a demand problem for oat milk, the star of our [latest Quartz Obsession podcast](. 🎧 Listen to all this season’s episodes on [Apple Podcasts]( | [Spotify]( | [Google]( | [Stitcher]( Sponsor content by JobsOhio Bring your business to Ohio and join the 7th largest economy in the nation. By Q2 of 2021, Venture Capitalists made $1.2B in investments in the Buckeye State, and over 126,000 new businesses were created in the first seven months of 2021 alone. [Ohio is better for business.]( What to watch for Walmart, the world’s biggest company by revenue, reports its quarterly earnings today. The pandemic has been good for the retailer, and while rising costs and supply chain issues may weigh on profits, its enormous size means it can ride out disruptions that could upend smaller companies. Walmart was once reviled for how it treated workers, communities, and suppliers—but [that’s largely in its past](. Here’s why: 👂 ​​It listened to critics. After years of ignoring its critics or trying to rebut them, Walmart conceded they may have had a point, particularly around environmental issues. 💸 It raised wages. Years of rock-bottom wages left Walmart with high turnover, unhappy workers, and unkempt stores. The company invested in higher pay and better training, resulting in improved retention and better customer service. 👺 It’s no longer the bogeyman. While Walmart still has its critics, Amazon’s labor practices can make Walmart look benign by comparison. Your metaverse dictionary Facebook—[excuse us, Meta](—is having its own image crisis, though its metaverse-oriented rebrand has helpfully provided a distraction. The metaverse doesn’t actually exist yet, but so many companies are talking about it, we compiled a list of terms so you can follow along: Skeuomorphic design: The wonky term essentially means that virtual objects will be made to closely resemble real-world ones. Augmented reality (AR): A digital overlay projected on the real world—think of Niantic’s Pokémon Go. Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG): Interactive games that form the basis of what many feel will be the metaverse, like [Roblox](, Fortnite, or Minecraft. There are [more key concepts to add to your lexicon]( before the metaverse becomes at least part of our reality—and a lot of companies are banking on it doing just that. There’s more Quartz waiting for you I’m an avid Quartz reader and member because it provides me a unique blend of economic and business news, analysis, and insight that I have not found with other publications. As a bonus, the design of the newsletters, platforms, and graphics make the information easy and enjoyable to process. If I’m limited to how many publications I can read during a specific day, Quartz always makes the cut. —Zach D. A Quartz membership goes beyond just a paywall-free experience—it unlocks bonus member content, like Jasmine Teng’s analysis of what [Facebook’s VR acquisitions tell us about its future](, or emails like the Weekend Brief (in our last one, Walter Frick broke down [why GE is breaking up](.) ✦ It’s Member Week at Quartz, and we’re celebrating by offering a chance to get in on the full email experience for 50% off. Use code MEMBERSWEEK21 [at checkout](. Quartz announcement Before the pandemic, Envoy was streamlining IRL office processes like package delivery, guest reception, and conference room bookings. Fast forward 2 years, and Envoy has officially stuck the landing of their pandemic pivot, offering new features like a proof of vaccination tool and hotdesk reservations. Hear from Envoy CEO Larry Gadea, in conversation with Quartz CEO Zach Seward, on how tech can #makebusinessbetter by improving the very real human experience of hybrid work. [Tune in at 11am ET today](, Tuesday, November 16, via Quartz's YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn channels. Handpicked Quartz ✋ [Who still thinks inflation is transitory?]( 🩺 [After COP26, climate goals are on life support…]( 🤐 […China said and didn’t say key things…]( 🤔 […And can Africa call COP26 a success?]( 🏢 [Most trans people feel unsafe at work]( 🍸 [Gen Z and the death of the networking mixer]( Sponsor content by JobsOhio Bring your business to Ohio and join the 7th largest economy in the nation. By Q2 of 2021, Venture Capitalists made $1.2B in investments in the Buckeye State, and over 126,000 new businesses were created in the first seven months of 2021 alone. [Ohio is better for business.]( Surprising discoveries Cambodia makes up half of Facebook Messenger’s voice traffic. Khmer and keyboards [don’t jibe](. France’s flag has a new blue. Its transition from [bright to navy]( came with little fanfare. An Egyptian city was swarmed by scorpions. [Nightmares do come true](. Further proof: An opossum held a New Zealand woman hostage. The marsupial would [charge every time]( she left her house to get into her car. E. coli bacteria solved a computer maze. But they [still can’t surf]( the internet. SPREAD THE WORD Over 500k readers and counting. You already know why half a million people read the Daily Brief, so why not spread the word? [Share the Daily Brief today]( and get rewarded. Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, reimagined flags, and nice furry critters to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by [downloading our iOS app]( and [becoming a member](. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Hasit Shah, Oliver Staley, Scott Nover, Susan Howson, and Morgan Haefner. [facebook]( [twitter]( [external-link]( Enjoying Quartz Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here]( to sign up. If you’re looking to unsubscribe, [click here](. Quartz | 675 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Fl | New York, NY 10010 | United States Copyright © 2021 Quartz, All rights reserved.