| | |  Jess Suttner | IN THIS ISSUE | Collapse of the Bodega Hive | The politics of language in war | Hot weather heartbreak |
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“You’re having a cocktail in the bin.”—one Brit to another during this week’s record-breaking heat wave “Corporate propaganda masquerading as honest self-reflection.”—anti-disinformation activist Jesse Lehrich describing the first “Human Rights Report” from Meta, Facebook’s parent company “Proud husband of Ayesha Curry. Proud son of Dell Curry. Proud daddy of…the Boston Celtics.” —Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry mock-introducing himself as host of this year’s ESPYs | |
 —Interviews conducted by Amanda Hoover | |  Paras Griffin/Getty ImagesOn Monday, July 18, Showtime announced that the late-night show Desus & Mero would not return to the channel as its two hosts pursue “separate creative endeavors.” (A later report suggested the pair fell out over management.) It’s 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—a landmark in the Bodegaverse—flooded 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 “the brand is strong,” which came across as a self-affirming mantra at the beginning of their careers. The statement became a demonstrable fact as “the brand” muscularly hopped from Complex to MTV2 to Viceland, and it eventually became a slogan on official merchandise (still available on the Showtime website). There’s little doubt the pair’s independent “creative endeavors'' will energize the Bodega Hive. It’s the “separate” part of the statement that stings. Longtime fans seem more distraught about the unknown status of the duo’s friendship than their show. Case in point: “I’m more upset at D&M breaking up then [sic] when my parents got a divorce,” 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 “Jimmy” Kimmel later this summer.) But the future of Desus and Mero as a combo package? Less predictable. | |
This week, you should listen to Steve Lacy’s 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 Lacy’s Instagram, fellow fashion icon Naomi Campbell likes it, too. | | |
 | If you’ve ever checked on your checking account after a big night on the town, you know it’s not the most rewarding feeling. But what if that checking account held a massive money reward for you? That’d be a game-changer. This large, national bank (with ATMs literally everywhere) just upped its cash back bonuses (we’re talkin’ up to $2,000) with new, lower minimums to qualify. And it’s 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. |
| |  Illustration: Jess Sutner for Morning BrewAs 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 Putin’s 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 “до свидания,” or goodbye, to Russian. “I first tried to switch completely to Ukrainian in the summer of 2014, when the war with Russia began,” Pavlo, a 26-year-old Ukrainian, told Morning Brew via Telegram. “My mother and sister, who still live in Donetsk, did not accept this, and I gave up under their pressure.” (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 Pavlo’s father knew—and 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 parents’ and grandparents’ generations considered Ukrainian the language of “peasants.” “Until very recently, there were a lot of restrictions on Ukrainian, and there was a horrible...elitist and dismissive attitude towards Ukrainian,” Jade McGlynn, a senior researcher at the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies in Monterey, California, said. The Ukrainian language was perceived as a “redneck language.” She added, “If 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.” Despite this, Pavlo became increasingly attracted to the language. “I studied in Ukrainian, I read books in Ukrainian, and when choosing the dubbed audio for movies and TV series, I chose the Ukrainian language,” he said. “Now, I only speak Ukrainian. I don’t care what others think and what language they speak to me in, but I’m very happy when people try to switch to Ukrainian.” He isn’t the only one who feels it’s 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. “Many 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,” Iuliia Mendel, the former spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said. “For years, this issue was used by politicians in their political campaigns to try to separate the country, divide the country, and get political benefits.” Read the rest of Amanda Florian’s story to find out how Ukrainians are processing the emotions and politics of speaking Russian. | |  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. What’s the best advice you ever received? I’ve 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. I’ve always had a good personal network and a strong safety net. Without that, the next advice wouldn’t really apply. But I’ve always been pushed by friends, bosses, and supports through, “Why not?” Why not take this leap, try this, focus here? It has made a huge difference. What’s the most embarrassing song you’ll admit to liking publicly? There is a lot of great Miley. Especially when you’re driving the PCH. What fictional person do you wish were real? I have to figure out which Fortnite skin Steiner’s Dog would wear in the metaverse. (Or who they are!) What real person do you wish were fictional? I’ll 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? It’s 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. I’m 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! —Interview by Amanda Hoover | | |
 | How do you say…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. |
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Earfquake: In one of Earth’s great ironies, chemical fertilizer—the stuff we use to grow food—is bad for the environment. It’s 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 “Return of the Mack” 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, they’re finding out that it’s easier to promise than deliver—much like your love life. Several banks are under investigation for claiming that their funds are “greener” 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 it’s 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 Mind’s 2-ounce matcha-based energy shot that’s 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. | |
 |  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 → - CFO Brew: your go-to source for global finance insights
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