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Good morning. It’s finally here. No, not Donda, something way better: Morning Brew’s personal finance newsletter, Money Scoop. If you’re someone who wants to a) learn more about investing b) get smarter about taxes and c) budget more effectively, this email is a must-read. Sign up here to get the first edition of Money Scoop later today.

MARKETS Nasdaq 14,793.76 -0.20% S&P 4,479.71 +0.26% Dow 35,625.40 +0.31% Bitcoin $46,048.67 -2.23% 10-Year 1.276% -1.0 bps Wish $6.87 -9.01% *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 6:00pm ET. Here's what these numbers mean. Markets: Achievement unlocked—the S&P has officially doubled from its pandemic closing low on March 23, 2020. Historically, it’s taken more than 1,000 trading days for the S&P to double during a bull market, but this surge took just 354. More markets: Wish, the discount e-commerce platform that IPO’d eight months ago, has lost more than 75% of its value since hitting a peak in February. Why? It’s hemorrhaging users.

GEOPOLITICS Afghanistan’s Women Fear a Return to a Dark Past Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images “Today, as I was on my way home, I glanced at the beauty salon where I used to go for manicures. The shop front, which had been decorated with beautiful pictures of girls, had been whitewashed overnight,” one Afghan female university student wrote for The Guardian this Sunday. Now that the Taliban has returned to power in Afghanistan, the country’s women fear their civil rights are about to be pulled out from under them as the regime reimposes its radical Islamic fundamentalist policies.  When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan, from 1996–2001, Afghan women were not allowed to... Work outside of the home Attend school Leave home without a male escort and their faces and bodies covered Since the US ousted the Taliban from power in 2001, Afghan women made gains in education and the workforce. Girls’ enrollment in primary school nearly doubled, and literacy rates among women rose from 20% in 2005 to 39% in 2017. An estimated 1.6 million more Afghan women are employed now over 20 years ago. But signs are cropping up throughout the country that all of the progress could be reversed. For instance, female employees at some banks are reportedly being told to stay home and that male relatives could take over their duties. The Taliban said this spring that it would allow women to participate in public life when it assumed power. Experts are skeptical they'll follow through.  More updates from Afghanistan President Biden, facing loads of criticism over his handling of the situation, said in a video address that events in Afghanistan “did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated,” but he doesn’t regret his decision to withdraw US troops from the country. Hundreds of Afghan civilians clung to the sides of a US military aircraft as it was taking off in hopes of fleeing the country. At least seven people at Kabul’s airport have been confirmed dead. United, Emirates, and several other major airlines rerouted their flights to avoid Afghan airspace as Kabul’s airport closed to commercial flights.  Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan pleaded with the White House to protect more than 200 journalists, staffers, and family members from the WaPo, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal who were in danger at the airport. Afghanistan’s neighboring countries are bracing for a flood of refugees. Five Mediterranean nations have requested EU-level talks about how to respond.

AUTO Tesla's Autopilot Runs Into Turbulence US auto regulators have launched an investigation into Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system, Autopilot, ramping up scrutiny of Elon Musk’s self-driving efforts. The investigation stems from 11 incidents in which drivers using Tesla’s Autopilot feature struck stationary first-responder vehicles. 17 people were injured in these crashes, and one died. What is Autopilot? It’s Tesla’s limited self-driving system that can center cars in lanes and have them maintain certain speeds.  What isn’t Autopilot? Autopilot. The company’s marketing of the technology (including the name) has been criticized for making drivers feel like the car can steer itself when the driver should be engaged at the wheel. Out of 5 “levels” used to rank self-driving capabilities, with 5 being fully autonomous, Autopilot hits just Level 2. Why it matters: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency leading the investigation, has the power to make regulations or even force Tesla to recall vehicles. Investors are not not worried—Tesla shares sank more than 4% on the news.  Zoom out: Interestingly, many automated driving systems are designed to only detect moving objects, because it would render them useless (and potentially make cars even more dangerous) if they were to respond to stationary objects on the road.

FOOD Food Stamps Get Historic Boost

Unsplash The Biden administration permanently boosted food stamp benefits by over 25% to an average of $157 per month—the largest jump in the program’s history.  Big picture: While officials said the increase wasn’t related to the pandemic, Covid-19 led to heightened food insecurity in the US. More than 42 million people were collecting SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits in May, up from nearly 37 million in February 2020. During the pandemic, all food stamp recipients got a 15% supplement, but the temporary aid expires at the end of September.  Advocates for expanding the aid argued that the existing plan was based on unrealistic assumptions. For example, the USDA set a $22/day food budget for a family of four and assumed an adult woman would spend less than 50 cents on cheese each month.  “We need to modernize those assumptions based on what’s actually happening in kitchens and in homes across America,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.   Zoom out: The food stamp bump, which is expected to cost an extra $20 billion a year, is one slice of the Biden administration's broader efforts to expand the country’s social safety net.

SPONSORED BY THE MOTLEY FOOL So That’s How They Make Money? Wow, ya learn something new everyday—money is made with cute lil tiny cranes. You knew you read this newsletter for a reason.  Speaking of reading this for good reason (yes, perfect), The Motley Fool has some info you need if you have $1,000 that was recently constructed out of small blocks.  Sure you could think about the big players TMF has recommended before like Amazon (up 21,635%) or Booking Holdings (up 9,087%). But there’s likely a coming 5G boom, and that’s where TMF are recommending you consider putting some casheesh. An under-the-radar company out of PA makes a part that’s so essential to Apple’s iPhone that this little doohickey is in every single one of those smartphones. And since it’s small, your $1k can go further. So give your portfolio the chance to grow—with or without cranes—by learning about this stock once you join The Motley Fool Stock Advisor. Sign up here. [Returns as of July 30, 2021]

GRAB BAG Key Performance Indicators Stat: What’s more embarrassing—a drunk text or a drunk trade? Nearly one-third of investors, and 59% of Gen Z investors, have traded while inebriated, according to a survey from consumer finance site MagnifyMoney.  Quote: “Are you passionate about Digital Currencies and driven by opportunities to scale new products and businesses?” Walmart wants to know. The retailer posted a job opening for a Digital Currency and Cryptocurrency Product Lead to develop a digital currency strategy. 10+ years of experience in product management and laser eyes in Twitter profile pic required. Btw, crypto and blockchain jobs were up 118% in mid-July over last year’s low, according to Indeed.  Read: The dirty secret of what happens to many of the clothes we donate to charity. (ABC News)

SOCIAL MEDIA The Digital Burn Book Returns Back by unpopular demand: the anonymous chat app Yik Yak, which returned to the App Store yesterday four years after shutting down.  Yik Yak is the id unleashed. It allows people to post anonymously to other Yik Yak users within a 5-mile radius, providing a forum for steamy gossip like, “To the hot guy in British Lit, I love the way you chew on your pencil.”  In 2014, one year after the original version launched, Yik Yak exploded in popularity among a certain demographic (high schoolers and college students), and even attained a $400 million valuation. But all the things that you imagine could go wrong with a purely anonymous app—bullying, harassment, bomb threats—did, and it shut down in 2017 after its star faded. The revived Yik Yak said it’s trying to clean up the toxicity by instituting a one-strike no bullying policy and providing links to mental health resources—though most of the functionality appears similar to V1. Bottom line: “​​We’ll probably know if Yik Yak catches on with Gen Z if it starts causing TikTok drama. That’s sort of how you know something’s a hit these days,” internet trends writer Ryan Broderick said.

WHAT ELSE IS BREWING Blue Origin sued the US government over a $2.9 billion lunar lander contract that NASA awarded to SpaceX, arguing the process was flawed. More than 1,400 people are now confirmed dead from the earthquake in Haiti as a storm bears down.  The US government formally declared a water shortage at Lake Mead for the first time since it was built in the 1930s. Lake Mead is the country’s largest reservoir by volume. State Street, one of the biggest asset managers in the world, is ditching two Midtown NYC offices and pivoting to a hybrid model. The DJ and producer Steve Aoki talked to Emerging Tech Brew about the future of NFTs in the music industry.

BREW'S BETS You can do anything in these shorts. Partly ‘cause you’re awesome, but also because Vuori’s Banks Shorts are the ultimate in versatility. These athletic shorts with a scalloped leg are a universal performance item. 20% off your first purchase here.* Alcohol so good that grandma wants a sip. Who can blame her for sipping JuneShine’s refreshing, better-for-you hard kombucha? It’s low-carb, gluten-free, 100% organic, full of probiotics, and only has 3 grams of sugar. Get your booch buzz on today.* Tech Tip Tuesday: A very low-tech hack for accurately measuring inside corners with a tape measure. For your second screen: A rainy day simulator that comes with everything but that sweet smell.  *This is sponsored advertising content

GAMES The Puzzle Section Brew Mini: Got 31 seconds for the second Mini in a row. Can you beat it?  Guess the Logo We did not catch this rebrand when it happened. Do you know whose logo this is?

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August 17

FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Born On This Day Sir V.S. Naipaul Trinidadian-British writer READ MORE

FEATURED EVENT 1945 Indonesia's declaration of independence

READ MORE

MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY

2008: At the Olympics in Beijing, American swimmer Michael Phelps helped his team win the 4 × 100-metre medley relay, becoming the first athlete to win eight medals at a single Games. [Sort fact from fiction in our swimming quiz.]

1999: A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near İzmit, Turkey, killing more than 17,000 people and leaving some 500,000 homeless. [Take our quiz about natural disasters.]

1945: English author George Orwell published Animal Farm, an anti-utopian satire that became a classic. [Test your knowledge of famous novels.]

1943: Robert De Niro, an American actor known for his uncompromising portrayals of violent and abrasive characters, was born. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about A-list actors.]

1906: American chemist and businesswoman Hazel Bishop, who founded a makeup company and created the first kiss-proof lipstick, was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. [Why did we start wearing makeup?]

1887: Marcus Garvey—a charismatic Black leader who helped found the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which sought, among other things, to build in Africa a Black-governed nation—was born in Jamaica.

SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY

ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY

1960 Sean Penn American actor

1943 Robert De Niro American actor

1929 Francis Gary Powers United States military officer

1977 Thierry Henry French football player and manager

1944 Larry Ellison American business executive

1920 Maureen O'Hara American actress

SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY

 

1 big thing: Defining image
Photo verified by AP
Above, you see hundreds of desperate Afghans running alongside a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport plane as it took off from Kabul yesterday. The amateur video played around the world, and this photo is atop front pages across America, making it a defining image of the exit debacle — and, many Democrats fear, Joe Biden's presidency. A legendary Democratic operative, and strong Biden supporter, told me: "Americans also wanted the Vietnam War to end. But its ending was traumatic and scarring, and definitely contributed to the impression that [President] Ford was bumbling and not in control of events." Leon Panetta, SecDef and CIA director under President Obama, told CNN's John King: "I think of John Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs [botched Cuba invasion in 1961]. It unfolded quickly and the president thought that everything would be fine. And that was not the case."  David Axelrod tweeted after Biden's speech yesterday that the president "made a compelling case for WHY we are leaving Afghanistan ... He didn’t do as well taking responsibility for HOW we got out, and the obvious failure to anticipate events."
People try to climb onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 as it taxis down the runway in Kabul yesterday. Photo verified by AP A senior national security official expressed deep frustration to Axios' Hans Nichols about withdrawal plans left behind by President Trump. "There was no [Trump] plan to evacuate our diplomats to the airport," the official said. "When we got in, on Jan. 20, we saw that the cupboard was bare." Keep reading. Some House and Senate Democrats want part of their $3.5 trillion budget plan to go to refugee resettlement for those fleeing Afghanistan, Axios' Sarah Mucha, Alexi McCammond and Hans Nichols report. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) called for the U.S. to "marshal an international coalition to evacuate every Afghan citizen who is fleeing for their lives." Keep reading. Coming attractions: President Biden sits down tomorrow with ABC's George Stephanopoulos. Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, Fox News' Sean Hannity interviews former President Trump on Afghanistan and other topics. Catch up quick: Biden's speech yesterday, which led Axios PM.
2. Breaking: Your third shot
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The Biden administration is expected to recommend as soon as this week that most Americans get a booster shot eight months after their second Pfizer or Moderna dose, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports. Officials also expect to recommend an additional dose of the single-shot J&J, but are still waiting for more data. The first boosters would likely be prioritized for those vaccinated early in the initial rollout, including nursing home residents, people 65 and older, and health care workers.
3. Charted: America's mask divide
Data: Axios/Ipsos Poll. Chart: Connor Rothschild/Axios Most Americans support mandating masks in schools, and vaccinations to return to the workplace — and oppose state bans on either, managing editor Margaret Talev writes from the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index. But Republicans go against that grain so disproportionately that it helps explain the defiant postures of many red-state governors. 57% of Republicans support state prohibitions against local mask mandates, like those in Florida and Texas, compared to 16% of Democrats. Midwesterners are most critical of mandates. Keep reading.
A message from Facebook
Internet regulations are as outdated as dial-up
Facebook supports updated regulations, including four areas where lawmakers can make quick progress: Reforming Section 230. Preventing foreign interference in our elections. Passing federal privacy law. Setting rules that allow people to safely transfer data between services.
4. Pic du jour: 640 aboard
Photo via Defense One This stunning photo shows 640 passengers crammed into a U.S. Air Force C-17 that safely evacuated them from Kabul on Sunday, after the panicked Afghans rushed the massive cargo plane's half-open ramp. Instead of trying to force the refugees off, "the crew made the decision to go," a defense official told Defense One. God bless that crew — and these Afghans abroad!
5. George W. Bush: Afghans are resilient
During a surprise visit to Afghanistan in 2006, President George W. Bush holds a news conference with President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace. Photo: Jim Young/Reuters Former President George W. Bush, who began the 20-year war in Afghanistan, said in an overnight statement with Laura Bush: "Our hearts are heavy for both the Afghan people who have suffered so much and for the Americans and NATO allies who have sacrificed so much." "The Afghans now at greatest risk are the same ones who have been on the forefront of progress inside their nation," they continued. "The United States government has the legal authority to cut the red tape for refugees during urgent humanitarian crises. And we have the responsibility and the resources to secure safe passage for them now, without bureaucratic delay. " Speaking to the military and veterans, the Bushes said: Many of you deal with wounds of war, both visible and invisible. ... You kept America safe from further terror attacks, provided two decades of security and opportunity for millions, and made America proud. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Read the statement.
6. "How It Happened," Season 2
Axios Visuals
In season two of our hit investigative podcast, "How it Happened," Axios space reporter Miriam Kramer will take listeners inside the story of the Inspiration4 mission — the first space flight to orbit without professional astronauts. The podcast will chronicle the selection of four civilians and their training at SpaceX headquarters, ahead of a planned launch date of Sept. 15. Kramer brings listeners into conversations with the crew as they grapple with the risks of space travel and prepare their families for a mission that will shape the future of private space travel. Listen now to the prologue, and subscribe to hear the new season when it launches on Aug. 31. Sign up to receive an email alert when the first episode drops.
7. Pictured: 1 year of drought
Photos: Maxar Technologies
These are satellite images of Boulder Harbor Launch Ramp at Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nev., on May 18, 2020, and on July 17 this year. See more pics.
8. Chris Cuomo: "I'm a brother"
Via CNN
CNN's Chris Cuomo told viewers in his first show back from vacation that "when the time came," he urged his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to resign over his sexual harassment scandal. Why it matters: Cuomo took part in a series of calls with the governor's team strategizing how to respond. Cuomo said during last night's close: "I'm not an adviser. I'm a brother. I wasn't in control of anything." "[M]y advice to my brother was simple and consistent: Own what you did, tell people what you'll do to be better, be contrite, and finally, accept that it doesn't matter what you intended."
9. Coming attractions
Cover: Simon & Schuster
For "Peril," coming Sept. 21, Bob Woodward and Washington Post colleague Robert Costa interviewed 200+ people at the center of the transition from President Trump to President Biden, which the authors call "one of the most dangerous periods in American history." "'Peril' is supplemented throughout with never-before-seen material from secret orders, transcripts of confidential phone calls, diaries, emails, meeting notes and other personal and government records," Simon & Schuster says in its announcement. The title comes from Biden's inaugural address, which referred to "this winter of peril and possibility."
10. Why you should order holiday gifts now
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
High Christmas demand is expected to clog already backed-up shipping channels, Linh Ta of Axios Des Moines reports. Why it matters: This year, procrastination could leave you giftless. Companies will suffer bottleneck supply and demand through 2021 as they scrounge for raw materials, shipping containers and labor, says Jennifer Blackhurst, University of Iowa professor of business analytics. Nintendo Switch is among the "at risk" items.
Columnists The Kabul Calamity Harkens Back to What Obama Warned Us About Joe Biden Matt Vespa Biden's Incredibly Shrunken Presidency Larry O'Connor Biden Couldn’t Have Screwed Up The Afghanistan Exit More If he’d Tried Derek Hunter NBC News Only Sees GOP Pouncing on Biden's Afghanistan Failure Brad Slager "This Is Manifestly Not Saigon" and Our Society of Lies Dennis Prager Trevor Donovan's Approach to Hollywood and Celebrity Is a Much-Needed Throwback Salena Zito Taxpayers Are Getting Ripped Off and Congress Does Nothing Stephen Moore Twitter Still Blocking Information on Crimes by Leftists John R. Lott, Jr. US Embraces a Diversity China Fears Pat Buchanan Tipsheet Army Veteran, Biden Supporter Eviscerates President For Lying to American People in Afghanistan Speech Leah Barkoukis Joe Biden Says Afghanistan Had an Air Force. He Didn't Mention That He Helped Paralyze It. Matt Vespa 'Squad' Member Who Wanted to 'Cancel Rent' Received Thousands in Rental Income in 2020 Landon Mion MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace: '95 percent of Americans Will Agree' with Biden's Afghanistan Remarks Landon Mion White House Limited Number of Journalists Allowed for Biden's Afghanistan Speech Landon Mion Not 'a Failure': Pentagon Refuses Responsibility for Kabul Chaos Spencer Brown State Department Reiterates Call for 'Inclusive' Taliban Government Spencer Brown ADVERTISEMENT Afghanistan: Biden's Biggest Blunder! Now What? Oliver North Afghanistan: What Next? Mark Nuckols Seeking the Decline of People Based on Their Skin Color Jeff Davidson WaPo Fact-Checker Kessler Strikes Out With His False Health Care Analysis Rick Manning 10 Reflections on the Afghan Disaster Michael Brown After the Fall: Biden Deflects on Questions Big and Small Jason Killmeyer Biden’s Politically Motivated Legal Attack on Georgia is a Shameful Misuse of Taxpayer Resources Stewart Whitson Why Do Our Border Policies Discriminate When It Comes to COVID? Carrie Lukas Weakness Patrick Bobko Joe Biden and Raphael Warnock’s Saigon Gary Black Wait…The Taliban Just Bought Off Afghan Army Commanders…And Nobody Did Anything? Matt Vespa MSNBC to Taliban: Please Come on Out Network So You Can Peddle Your Propaganda Talking Points Matt Vespa Biden Admits to Being Blinded by Rapid Taliban Takeover Landon Mion Political Cartoons Bearing Arms Change: Cleveland Democrats Downplay Gun Control As Solution To Violent Crime | Cam Edwards New Poll Suggests Support For Mental Health Checks For Gun Buyers | Cam Edwards Taliban Now Confiscating Guns From Civilians In Kabul | Cam Edwards Biden Not Cutting And Running From His Gun Ban Plans | Cam Edwards Oral Arguments Set In SCOTUS Showdown Over Right To Carry | Cam Edwards ADVERTISEMENT