🌍 Spotify addresses misinformation

Plus: The US economy is beating omicron [Quartz]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! Was this newsletter forwarded to you? [Sign up here](. Forward to a friend who [always orders takeout](. Here’s what you need to know Spotify and Joe Rogan promised to rein in vaccine misinformation. But it remains to be seen [what they’ll do]( about an issue that’s seen major music artists walk away from the platform in protest. (See more below.) The UN Security Council meets to discuss the Ukraine crisis. While Russia [increased troop levels]( at the border, [NATO warned Europe]( about its dependence on Russian oil and gas. T-Mobile will fire unvaccinated staff by April. The company is moving forward with [its strict mandate](, and has given employees a deadline of Feb. 21 to get their first doses.. Thousands protested in Ottawa against covid-19 restrictions. There were [swastikas and confederate flags](. Beijing’s covid-19 cases hit an 18-month high. The Winter Olympics [begin this week](, with 34 infections detected among athletes and officials, and our [Need to Know: Beijing Olympics]( newsletter will keep you posted. Sponsor content by BOFA SECURITIES 2022 Year Ahead Outlook From inflation to rising rates, BofA Global Research shares its latest views. [Watch the videos]([Advertisement] What to watch for Who else will walk away from Spotify? [Star podcaster Joe Rogan]( has been in critics’ crosshairs, but he [apologized for covid misinformation](, saying his show is “out of control.” [CEO Daniel Ek said]( the company, which has 381 million users and a market cap of $33 billion, is “working to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about covid-19,” among other things, but won’t “take on the position of being content censor.” Musicians [Neil Young and Joni Mitchell]( have already asked to remove their music from Spotify over the Rogan issue. Others are unhappy with [royalty payments](. Here’s a quick recap: [2015:]( Spotify expands its platform to include podcasts [2020:]( Rogan signs an exclusive deal with Spotify [Dec. 31:]( Rogan hosts Robert Malone, a scientist who spreads anti-vaccine conspiracy theories [Jan. 10:]( 270 medical professionals sign an open letter calling for Spotify to regulate misinformation on its platform [Jan. 24:]( Young demands Spotify remove Rogan’s podcast or he will exit the platform [Jan. 30:]( Rogan apologizes, and Spotify promises to add content warnings The US economy is beating omicron Omicron hasn’t been a match for the rebounding US economy—at least when compared with the delta variant. Even though the rapid spread of omicron has led to a record amount of Americans being out sick, there are already signs that the labor market is recovering. One example: Though initial jobless claims climbed along with omicron cases, they are now dropping—much more quickly than after delta’s peak. [A line graph showing the change in US jobless claims during the pandemic's delta and omicron peaks. Jobless claims were above 300,000 at the delta peak, and below 300,000 at the omicron peak.] [In four charts](, Quartz reporter Nate DiCamillo mapped out how US workers and companies are faring as the omicron wave wanes. The after (online) life With so much of our lives happening on the internet, it’s not just the extremely online who need to consider what virtual stuff they leave behind. That’s why more people are making digital wills. But [what are they]( and what should they include? ✦ Try a [seven-day free trial of Quartz membership]( to read how to make one and for access to all of our member-exclusive emails. Handpicked Quartz 🏢 [Corporate landlords like Blackstone are riding this inflationary wave all the way to the bank]( 🍔 [Can plant-based fast food burgers ever be more than a gimmick?]( 🍼 [Google’s parental leave just got a lot more generous]( 🏠[The cost to build new homes in the US rose 15% in 2021]( 💻 [India’s best covid data are coming from open-source collaboration]( 😧 [The biggest corporate holder of bitcoin is not Square or Tesla]( Sponsor content by BOFA SECURITIES 2022 Year Ahead Outlook From inflation to rising rates, BofA Global Research shares its latest views. [Watch the videos]([Advertisement] Surprising discoveries A new insect species was found. Phlogis kibalensis is an [incredibly rare metallic leafhopper](. OpenSea has a massive fraud problem. More than 80% of NFTs made with its free minting tool [are fake or plagiarized](. Tab superfans want to revive the soft drink. Coca-Cola killed it off in 2020, but the [SaveTabSoda Committee]( won’t back down. Europe’s energy crisis came for Venetian glassmaking. High natural gas prices are forcing makers of the [colorful creations]( to close. The slope of Earth’s magnetic field helps birds touch down. It’s like [an invisible stop sign](. 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, Tab rations, and ornate glass art 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, Nate DiCamillo, 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](. 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