we’ve always felt that celebrity endorsements are lame. from Ronaldo hawking weird japanese face strengtheners to Muhammad Ali putting his face on cockroach traps, it feels like celebrities are just selling out. don’t worry, TWR will never have celebrity endorsers - but we do need subscriber referrals! refer a friend today, and get cookies and swag mailed straight to your door. 

big idea: murderer found guilty of...murder

1. Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. 71% of americans support the verdict, including majorities of both parties. 
2. will this be a milestone in the new civil rights era or a moment quickly forgotten? we’ll come to know soon with the trials of three other officers involved in Floyd’s death, the inquest into the killing of a columbus girl, and if the senate passes a police reform bill.
3. notably, even fellow cops blew the whistle and testified against Chauvin, which likely would not have happened even a year ago. whistleblower cops (who arguably are the “good” ones) are typically punished and pushed out of forces as retribution.
4. so, are hearts & minds changing? maybe, but don’t forget that policy sometimes forces culture to change rather than vice versa. americans were by and large not ready for the civil, voting, or housing rights acts in the ‘60s, but LBJ pushed them through anyways as a way to shift societal norms.
5. finally, lost in much of the coverage was the role of Keith Ellison, the state AG who led the prosecution. we can’t help but point out he is a proud Wayne State alum (as is yours truly), and broke barriers by being the first muslim elected to congress. we hope Keith’s win will encourage other prosecutors to go after killer cops.

story to watch: change is afoot in soccer

1. we literally cannot believe we’re talking about the business of sports two weeks in a row, but here we go: the foreign kind of football was up in arms this week when the richest dozen european soccer teams decided to form their own league. fans, players, and coaches revolted, with the teams backtracking and apologizing within 48 hours. the super league idea is dead - for now. 
2. as always, we just have to follow the money. the billionaire owners of these soccer clubs realized they could make a ton more money with a ‘murican style league. advertising revenues would skyrocket because games would be more popular, and player salaries would plummet because competitive pressures would decrease.
3. we predict the americanization of soccer will continue, as it has since the ‘90s. the owners will eventually come up with a more open super league idea, with better marketing & lobbying efforts beforehand, and finally get their wish.

this week’s image: slap fight

(The Atlantic) white boys slap each other, competitively, in a russian tournament

this week’s number: americans emit 17.6 tons of CO2 per capita

1. in 2019, americans emitted 17.6 tons of CO2 per person, the highest in the world. at a climate summit this week, Joe committed to the US cutting that number to 9.80 by 2030. that’s double the goal Barack set in 2015, but far from the goal of net 0 by 2050.
2. while this goal isn’t enshrined into law and a detailed plan has yet to be laid out, it would involve drastic measures like closing virtually all coal power plants, developing carbon capture tech, reworking agriculture to absorb more carbon, and shifting 67% of new car sales to EVs (from 2% today), all by 2030. this would still not be enough to stave off the worst effects of climate change.
3. it’s unlikely funding for all that will actually pass the senate, but one potential workaround is focusing efforts at the city, state, and corporate levels, and ensuring federal tax credits for EVs and cleaner power plants are maintained and expanded (which is feasible)
4. also at the climate summit, brazil, canada, south korea, and japan agreed to reductions in their carbon footprints, while china pretended to have internet issues. we’ll see if they change their tune by another climate summit in november.

what we’re cooking: chocolate chip cookies

• based on a heavily modified serious eats recipe these cookies are a labor of love. made with browned butter, toasted sugar, sea salt, and three kinds of chocolate, eating one is downright sinful.
• don’t worry, you don’t need to spend the 48 hours it takes to make these - just refer three subscribers and we’ll deliver some as a thank you :drool:

and, in case you missed it:

• canada has higher per-capita covid rates than the US, and amid oxygen shortages, india has the highest ever daily infection rates globally
• the supreme court unanimously crippled the FTC in a ruling this week, making it easier for companies to scam consumers
• a texas cop car was finally put to good use - as a dove nested on its front hood

the weekly rundown is produced by Yunus, Faisal (@faisalc93), and Ahmed (@ahmedhcheema). learn more about us and email us your comments and feedback!