Good morning. This newsletter is bursting with random bits of Super Bowl trivia, so why don't we just kick off the proceedings now? Country star Mickey Guyton will be singing the national anthem before the game, and the big question is how long she'll take to sing it: The over/under is set at 1:38. - Since Whitney Houston's memorable anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl, anthems have averaged 1:56.
- Some performers who have really drawn it out are Lady Gaga in 2016 (2:22) and Alicia Keys in 2013 (2:36).
- In Guyton's last two public performances of the anthem, she's breezed through it at 1:23 and 1:30.
We'll take the o'er on 1:38. —Neal Freyman, Jamie Wilde, Matty Merritt | | | |  | Nasdaq | 13,791.15 | | | | | S&P | 4,418.64 | | | | | Dow | 34,738.06 | | | | | 10-Year | 1.943% | | | | | Bitcoin | $42,408.67 | | |  | Oil | $94.10 | | | | *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 7:00pm ET. Here's what these numbers mean. | - Markets: Stocks fell and oil spiked over fears that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent. Speaking of...
- Geopolitics: The White House ramped up the urgency over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying such a move could come within days. A number of countries, including the US, have told their citizens to leave Ukraine as Russia conducts war games in neighboring Belarus and has amassed enough military firepower along the Ukraine border to move in.
| | Photo Illustration: Dianna "Mick" McDougall; Sources: Rob Carr and MariuszBlach via Getty Images
The Super Bowl between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals will kick off tomorrow at Los Angeles's SoFi Stadium. After no Super Bowl team in history had played the game at their home stadium, it's now happened two seasons in a row. Unprecedented times indeed. To make sure you're the person at the party everyone asks to please stop talking by halftime, here are the major storylines and stats to get you prepared for the big game. Overview: The Super Bowl will begin at 6:30pm ET on NBC and Peacock. A record 117 million people are expected to watch it, equivalent to 35% of the US population. Gambling: This year's Super Bowl is shaping up to be a betting bacchanal. Thanks to a wave of states legalizing sports betting over the past year, more than 100 million people in the US are able to place wagers on the game. With $7.6 billion expected to be bet legally on the Super Bowl (up 78% from last year), some observers argue that newly legalized gambling could forever reshape fans' relationships with their teams and sports more broadly. Of course The Simpsons predicted it. Commercials: Speaking of sports betting, expect a flurry of commercials from gambling companies hoping to snag new customers, along with ads promoting crypto, electric vehicles, and upcoming movies. If you can't handle the suspense, a bunch of TV spots have already been released. Halftime show: For the first time in Super Bowl history, the halftime show is going full hip-hop and featuring SoCal natives Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar along with Eminem and Mary J. Blige. "California Love" is the betting favorite to be the first song played. Grub: Food prices in the US increased 7% annually this January—their steepest jump since 1981—so it's not a surprise that the Super Bowl's holy trinity of wings, guac, and beer will all cost more this year. But don't expect too much pain at checkout: The spike boils down to pennies on the dollar for the average consumer. Plus, thighs > wings.—NF, JW, MM | | Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images  Canadian officials are fed up with the Freedom Convoy. A judge allowed police to begin removing protesters who have been disrupting traffic between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario—a vital trade link between the US and Canada. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also declared a state of emergency in the province, announcing that protesters blocking the Ambassador Bridge could be fined up to $78,500 and serve up to a year in jail. (Note: Yesterday we inaccurately referred to the protests as "anti-vaccine." The protests are concerned with lifting Covid restrictions broadly, including vaccine mandates.)
 CIA accused of spying on Americans. In a newly declassified letter, two Democratic senators asked the agency to spill the beans on a secret mass surveillance program that allegedly collected some records on Americans. The CIA responded by saying that the program was focused on the "activities of foreign governments and foreign nationals," but the letter has revived the decadeslong debate over US intelligence agencies' surveillance of its own citizens.
 Vaccine for kids delayed: FDA advisers were supposed to meet next Tuesday to begin the process of authorizing Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for kids under five, but they're delaying that discussion to gather more data on what impact a third dose has on this age group. The postponement means a vaccine for young kids likely won't arrive until the spring.—NF
| | Anadolu Agency/Getty Images One of the thornier issues surrounding the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan is what to do with the $7 billion pile of frozen assets the former Afghan government's central bank had been storing in New York. Yesterday, President Biden announced a plan for those funds: - $3.5 billion will go to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
- The other half will support the Afghan people, who are currently suffering from a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis.
The decision notably cuts out the Taliban, who had laid claim to the funds shortly after seizing power. Without the money or any of the Western aid Afghanistan has relied on, the Taliban is struggling to prop up a collapsing economy. That, coupled with a historically severe drought, has caused a hunger crisis for more than 23 million Afghans. Looking ahead…paying out the $7 billion will be a lot more complicated than sending a giant Venmo. 9/11 victims will need to claim their share through litigation. Meanwhile, the Afghan people will receive funds through a trust with "appropriate controls" to ensure the Taliban doesn't get any. But time is of the essence with the UN estimating 97% of the population will "plunge" into poverty by the middle of this year.—JW | | TOGETHER WITH STELLA ARTOIS | | The brewers of Stella Artois have been perfecting their craft for almost as long as the mechanical clock has been around—we're talkin' 600+ years. A lot has changed since they got their start in the 1300s. What's stayed the same? Stella is and always has been crafted with the highest-quality ingredients. And that ain't changin'. Stella invites you to savor The Life Artois, aka the good life. A simple sip is a reminder to carpe the heck outta that diem. Cherish the time you have with the important people in your life. Enjoy a delicious meal with great company. Laugh until your face muscles hurt. Do a little dance. A toast to the moment. Raise your Chalice and savor life with Stella. | | NASA After traveling almost 1 million miles since its launch on Christmas Day, NASA's $10 billion James Webb telescope finally turned in its first outer space photo. And it is…certainly a photo. Before we roast it too hard for looking like something your dad sent to the family group chat, we have to note that this photo was taken as the telescope's 18 gold-plated mirrors were still getting aligned. We have a hard time getting our angles right too, Webb. Big picture: The three-story tall, 21-foot wide telescope is the largest and most powerful telescope to ever leave Earth. While its predecessor, Hubble, snapped photos in mostly visible light, the Webb can capture images in infrared light, allowing it to cut through space dust and gas to potentially see back to the big bang. Astronomers are expecting its first clear images to drop this summer.—MM | | Gregory Rec/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images Stat: Cage-free eggs are taking over, the AP reports. The share of hens in cage-free housing surged to 28% in 2020 from 4% in 2010, and it's expected to hit ~70% by 2026. The dramatic change is a victory for animal welfare groups that pushed corporations to source their eggs from cage-free hens. McDonald's, which buys 2 billion eggs each year, shifted to cage free after "concluding it was desired by customers." Quote: "No War in Ukraine." Vladyslav Heraskevych, a Ukrainian skeleton athlete, flashed a sign with those words after a run at the Beijing Olympics. While Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter bans political propaganda, the IOC said it wouldn't take action. "This was a general call for peace. For the IOC the matter is closed," the organization said. Read: How your buy now, pay later pandemic purchases could end up on your credit report. (Morning Brew) | | - Netflix will start removing its Marvel-branded shows, including Daredevil, on March 1 after its licensing deal with Disney expires.
- Sentiment around the US economy is at its lowest level since the Great Recession days of October 2011.
- Girl Scout cookies are suffering from the same supply chain and inflation pressures as every other item.
- Kanye West said he wouldn't perform at Coachella unless Billie Eilish apologized to Travis Scott. West accused Eilish of referencing Scott's Astroworld tragedy when she paused her show to help out a fan who was struggling to breathe.
| | | Fur-tunately, telehealth for pets exists. Say farewell to spending late nights googling the weird sound your pet just made, and say hello to Fuzzy, a telehealth service for pet parents. Fuzzy offers 24/7 access to veterinary professionals with virtual vet consults, live chats, and more. You'll even get handpicked product recs, perfect for your lil bestie. Start here. | | | This ain't your grandpa's crossword. Today's puzzle features audio clues from past Super Bowl commercials for what the pros call a "multimedia" experience. Check it out. | | | ✢ A Note From Stella Artois Always Enjoy Responsibly. © 2022 Stella Artois® Beer, Brewed in the U.S.A., Stella Artois, St. Louis, MO. | | | Written by Neal Freyman, Jamie Wilde, and Matty Merritt Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here. WANT MORE BREW? Industry news, with a sense of humor → - Marketing Brew: the buzziest happenings in marketing and advertising
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