BREW WITH HEADLINES

 

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning. This being peak Christmas music season, we asked our coworkers for their thoughts on the best Christmas music covers.  Gaetane, engagement editor: Celine Dion’s “O Holy Night” McCall, account manager: Kelly Clarkson’s rendition of “Blue Christmas” Dan, senior editor: “Frosty the Snowman” from Cocteau Twins Jackie, senior director, brand partnerships: “Christmas Time Is Here” by Khruangbin Happy listening.

MARKETS NASDAQ 12,440.04 + 0.50% S&P 3,647.49 - 0.44% DOW 29,861.55 - 0.62% GOLD 1,831.50 - 0.66% 10-YR 0.906% + 0.90 bps OIL 46.94 + 0.79% *As of market close Markets: The S&P has dropped for four straight days, its longest losing streak since September. Then again, we could all use some Vitamin D. 2020: The Electoral College formally confirmed Joe Biden’s victory. He’ll be sworn in as the 46th president in just over a month on Jan. 20, 2021. Personnel changes: Bill Barr will step down as attorney general before Christmas, President Trump tweeted last night.

ENERGY Exxon Gets a Trim

Francis Scialabba Between the pandemic, a crash in oil prices, and growing calls to address its role in climate change, Exxon Mobil’s had plenty to reflect on this year. Yesterday, it got a headstart on New Year’s resolutions. By 2025, it's aiming to... Reduce overall emissions intensity by 15%–20% Halve methane emission intensity Emission “intensity”? Exxon’s commitments focus on emissions per unit of output, not absolute emissions. While these efforts should reduce total emissions, it’s not clear by how much, Axios writes. Additionally, Exxon is focusing on emissions linked to its own operations, not what’s known as “scope 3 emissions” released when its products are used (Exxon will begin reporting those next year).  Playing catchup Once the most valuable company in the world, Exxon’s market cap has fallen around 60% in the last decade, and it was booted from the Dow this summer. For years, investors have pressured the company to take action on the environment; last week, an activist investor campaign called for new directors. They might like the example set by Unilever, which this week became the first major company to voluntarily give shareholders advisory voting power on carbon reduction efforts. Big picture: Oil companies, especially in the U.S., have been criticized for lagging behind the clean energy transition. While some are making efforts, including net-zero emissions targets and diversifying into renewables, “there doesn't seem to be an oil major that's got it all figured out between the pandemic, cloudy demand and price outlooks, and the unknown path through a world getting a bit more serious about climate,” Axios writes.  One more bump in their path President-elect Joe Biden. He’s pledged to rejoin the Paris Accord on Day 1, invest $2 trillion in clean energy, and get the U.S. on a path to net-zero carbon emissions “no later than 2050.”  One way to get there: requiring businesses to report climate change risks and opportunities, which Mike Bloomberg pressed Biden to support in an op-ed yesterday.  Looking ahead…while fossil fuel companies struggle, a new guard of clean energy giants is beating them to investor dollars and ushering in energy’s “NextEra.”

HEALTHCARE Bittersweet Day

Mark Lennihan - Pool/Getty Images Yesterday, NYC-area nurse Sandra Lindsay (above) became the first American vaccinated against Covid-19 outside of clinical trials. Three million more doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine will be delivered across the country this week. But just as that light at the end of the Lincoln Tunnel gets brighter, the short-term trajectory of the U.S.’ outbreak has never looked so grim.  More than 300,000 Americans have died from Covid-19.  The U.S. is averaging around 200,000 new cases/day and 3,000+ deaths.  Yesterday, NYC’s mayor told the city to prepare for a potential “full shutdown.” The city halted indoor dining as of yesterday, but will keep schools open.   Across the pond… Things are also getting worse before they get better. London, the Netherlands, and Italy are following Germany and reimposing stricter lockdowns on nonessential businesses, travel, and social life through early January. And while the UK began administering Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine last week, EU countries are still waiting on the bloc’s regulatory body for approval. The longer process has drawn criticism from some European leaders.

CYBERSECURITY The Hackers Are in the Computer

Giphy Fortune 500 companies and government agencies in the U.S. and UK are doing some holiday deep cleaning on their software networks following a major cybersecurity attack.  The backstory: Hackers infiltrated the IT systems of several federal agencies and top corporations via a product made by software company SolarWinds. The hack was first identified last week by FireEye, a cybersecurity company that itself was hacked.  It ain’t good  Over 300,000 customers use SolarWinds, 18,000 of which have been directly impacted, according to the company. It’s a small slice, but what the hackers sacrificed in quantity, they made up for in quality.  Known targets in the U.S. include the Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security Departments, according to the Washington Post.  As for the identity of the hackers, multiple outlets say all signs point to a specific group of Russian state-backed hackers called “APT29” or “Cozy Bear.” Bottom line: This attack has cybersecurity professionals rattled. FireEye believes the operation dates back to March, potentially giving the hackers access to sensitive data from U.S. elections and a vaccine development process that shattered records.

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ADULT Pornhub Bows to Pressure, Deletes Unverified Videos Late Sunday night, Pornhub said it would remove all videos on its site not created by its content partners or its Model Program members, then set out on a massive content purge that eliminated most of its library. As of Monday afternoon, the site had 2.9 million videos, compared to 13.5 million on Sunday.  The backstory: Earlier this month, Nicholas Kristof wrote in a column for the NYT that the platform was “infested with rape videos” and that it monetizes other types of sexual violence toward childen.  That piece set off a chain of events that have “left the porn industry shaken,” according to Motherboard.  Mastercard and Visa, which process payments on the site, launched an investigation. Pornhub enacted policy changes, including banning unverified accounts from uploading new content.  But that wasn’t enough. Last Thursday, Mastercard and Visa cut ties with Pornhub. Pornhub says that it’s being unfairly targeted because it’s an adult content site and that its efforts to remove illegal content have been largely effective. But it failed to convince the powerful payment processors, whose decisions could lead to major changes in the porn industry.

AUTO The Ultimate Riding Machine

Zoox Yesterday, Amazon-owned Zoox unveiled its first electric robotaxi in its push to eliminate awkward small talk in Ubers forever. Here’s what’s under the hood. It’s driverless: In fact, the vehicle doesn’t even have a steering wheel or pedals. It’s safe: In the event of a crash, airbags envelop individual passengers to prevent any painful knee-knocking in the four-person cabin. It’s fast(ish): Topping out at 75 mph, it’s the speediest robotaxi in the industry. Zoox’s ties with Amazon mean it will likely be called into action to help optimize that last mile of delivery that keeps Bezos up at night. But for now, Zoox is 100% focused on people, not packages. “In a nutshell, we want to eventually move people around a city,” CEO Aicha Evans told journalist Kara Swisher in an interview. “It’s purpose built.” Bottom line: Zoox is not yet ready for commercial use, but the ultimate goal is to launch a ride-sharing app in a few major cities.

WHAT ELSE IS BREWING Google’s services, including YouTube and Docs, suffered a widespread outage yesterday morning for about an hour.  Google also pushed back its employees’ return to the office until September 2021 and said it would experiment with a “flexible workweek.”  Apple will now show nutrition-like “privacy labels” that provide more info on the user data that’s collected by apps.  The FTC is asking nine tech companies to share information on their methods for collecting user data. Adidas is exploring a sale of Reebok. Meghan Markle...venture capitalist? The Duchess of Sussex is investing in oat milk latte startup Clevr Blends.

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GIFT GUIDE Time Is Running Out... You told yourself you wouldn’t put off your gifting this year...but you did. And that’s okay. Because Sidekick, our lifestyle newsletter giving you trusted recs from all over the internet, is here to help you with your last-minute scramble. In Sidekick’s Holiday Gift Guide, you’ll find the perfect holiday present for everyone in your life, including: Your friend who subscribes to Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Peacock, and even CBS All Access The yogi who has both a morning AND evening skincare routine The recent NYT Cooking subscriber who won’t shut up about their focaccia bread art Bottom line: In choosing these products, we abided by the Gift Guide Golden Rule: If we wouldn’t give it as a gift, we didn’t include it on the list.  Start browsing.

GAMES Reader Submission: Fun With M&A Today’s game is the brainchild of Brew reader Mark Bissell. Which reminds us—if you have an idea for a trivia question or a puzzle, definitely drop a line. Okay, onto Mark’s puzzle. Picture a world in which M&As are only approved for companies whose names can be merged by blending one into another via shared letters. In this world, we’ll give you a clue about the combined company and you have to determine the two companies that merged. Ex. Furniture for the Oracle of Omaha = Berkshire Hathawayfair  It has Normal People...and leggings A $1.6 trillion colossus with a Vision Fund An electric automaker, but make it bubbly A defense contractor for singles  Vegan house rentals

SHARE THE BREW Enjoying the Brew? Consider sharing it with a friend. When you do, we don’t just give you a pat on the back and say, “Well done old sport.” You earn rewards like our classic coffee mug or T-shirt. Hit the button below to start sharing the Brew. Click to Share Or copy & paste your referral link to others: morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=a17a7110

ANSWER It has Normal People...and leggings = Hululemon  A $1.6 trillion colossus with a Vision Fund = MicrosoftBank An electric automaker, but make it bubbly = Tesla Croix  A defense contractor for singles = Lockheed Martinder  Vegan house rentals = Airbnbeyond Meat

** A Note From eToro

December 15

FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Harold Abrahams READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1939 Premiere of Gone with the Wind READ MORE

SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 37 Nero Roman emperor 1923 Freeman Dyson American physicist 1832 Gustave Eiffel French engineer 1907 Oscar Niemeyer Brazilian architect 1892 J. Paul Getty American industrialist 1852 Henri Becquerel French physicist MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2011: The Iraq War officially ended as the United States formally declared that its mission in the country was over. [ Read about the eight deadliest wars of the 21st century.] 2001: The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened in Pisa, Italy, after more than 10 years of work to stabilize the structure. [Take our quiz about architecture.] 1997: The U.S. Department of Defense ordered that all 1.4 million Americans in its service be inoculated against anthrax, a potential weapon of biological warfare. [Test your knowledge of weapons and warfare.] 1997: Janet Rosenberg Jagan was elected president of Guyana, becoming the first elected female president in South America and the first white president of Guyana. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about South America.] 1989: Antigovernment demonstrations erupted in Timișoara, Romania, beginning the revolution that toppled the communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu from power a few days afterward. [Test your knowledge of plots and revolutions.] 1948: Former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss was indicted on two charges of perjury for lying about his dealings with Whittaker Chambers, who accused him of membership in a communist espionage ring. [Read about 10 famous names in the espionage game.] SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY

Jan. 20,2021: Major Changes to Your IRA/401k are Coming... If you have money in an IRA or 401k, what's coming next could put your wealth in jeopardy. Here's how to prepare now... Click now to read more

Yale Economist's Urgent Warning: A Crash in the Dollar is Coming He's warning any American who will listen: A dollar collapse is imminent. Here's how to prepare... Click here now to read more

2021 Gold Bull Market? Analysts Predict Major Boom Ahead While stocks tanked early in 2020, this "safe haven" soared. But experts predict it could hit new highs soon. What happens next... Click here now for the details

This Secret Plan Could Destroy the US Dollar Congress just tried to sneak THIS inside Bill H.R. 6321. Here's what that could mean for your wealth… Click here now to learn more

Columnists I Got COVID. And Yes, Liberals Are Still Being Idiots About It. Matt Vespa Words Have to Matter Derek Hunter Eulogy for Dad Walter E. Williams When 2-Year-Olds Are Thrown Off Airplanes, You Know America Has Changed Dennis Prager Our Bender of Political Instability Shows No Signs of Stopping Salena Zito Potential 900 Percent Tariffs on Mattresses Could Wallop Consumers Stephen Moore Has America's Suez Moment Come? Pat Buchanan When National Health Takes a Back Seat to Political Gain Loyd Pettegrew Hunting for Hunter Biden Cal Thomas ADVERTISEMENT America's Commitment to Human Space Exploration Is Unifying Grant Anderson Coronavirus Relief Package Should Stress Direct Payments to American Families Erica Rogers The Toxic Elitism of America’s Journalist Class Frank Cannon What Does Joe Biden’s HHS Nominee Have to Do with the Senate Run-Offs in Georgia? Joseph Backholm Silent No Longer: A New Voice for Conservatives Michelle Easton LinkedIn Shuts Out Diverse Views Gregory Wrightstone Living Well Within the Politics of Crisis: Lessons from the Sages of our Past Jack Kerwick As a Black Woman with a Voice, I Must Fight to Save My Race Toni McFadden Video Gov. Evers: Saying Abortionists 'Execute Babies' Is 'Blasphemy' Trump blasts Schiff as 'political hack' Pelosi's condescension offers some laughs Pelosi open to border infrastructure INVESTING Biochemical Engineer Ivor Cummins Discussing "The Rosetta Stone Of Modern Chronic Disease” Should Foreign Countries Dollarize? Family Law Firm Gloria James-Civetta & Co Named in 2021 Best Law Firms by Straits Times | Personal F 2020 Sets New Records For Corrupt Bureacracy Capital Abounds, And It Needs A Place To Go

Tipsheet The Electoral College Officially Went to Joe Biden Beth Baumann NYC Mayor de Blasio's Latest COVID Moves Are Nothing Shy of Ironic Beth Baumann Here's What Warnock Said When He Praised Farrakhan Back in 2013 Beth Baumann Wait... How Many Americans Want State-Mandated Coronavirus Vaccines? Beth Baumann Ossoff Pushes Debunked Lies About Loeffler and Perdue on First Day of Early Voting in Georgia Reagan McCarthy BREAKING: President Trump Announces When AG Barr Will Leave Office Katie Pavlich Hollywood Actress: I Hope Trump Gets Raped in Prison Matt Vespa City of Portland Bends the Knee to Occupiers of Red House Autonomous Zone Julio Rosas Republican Electors Cast Their Votes for President Trump Katie Pavlich Why the NRA Called Santa Claus to Make a Special Delivery to One Sad Kid Matt Vespa ADVERTISEMENT Political Cartoons Bearing Arms BA Gift Guide- Five Fantastic Concealed Carry Purses | BA Staff Protesters Disrupt Church Pastored By Deputy In Goodson Shooting | Cam Edwards San Francisco Buyback An Absolute Joke | Tom Knighton SCOTUS Turns Away Felon Gun Possession Case | Cam Edwards This Is How Media Tries To Shape Gun Narrative | Tom Knighton

Judge Releases Dominion Audit Report; Report Claims System ‘Designed’ To ‘Create Systemic Fraud’ Read now » Georgia Announces Signature Audit In Cobb County, May Expand Statewide After Trump Pressure Read now » Gates On CNN: ‘Appropriate’ To Close Bars And Restaurants. Cruz: Halt CNN, Microsoft, Dems’ Salaries. Then Let’s Hear You On Lockdowns. Read now » Joe Biden Secures Electoral College Vote Read now » Exposed For Illegal Content, Pornhub Scrubs Millions Of Videos After Credit Card Companies Drop Them Read now »