Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The Saudi crown prince meets Theresa May. Mohammed bin Salman arrives in London to meet UK prime minister Theresa May (and have dinner with the Queen) after a tumultuous year of societal changes in Saudi Arabia and geopolitical ruptures in the region.
The EU lays out Brexit trade demands. European Council president Donald Tusk is expected to push back (paywall) on May’s plans to retain the City of London’s status as a financial hub by preserving its access to the single market.
The northeast of the US prepares for a snowstorm. More than 1,600 flights have been canceled (paywall), while Amtrak also said some rail services between New York and Washington DC would be affected. Winter storm warnings have been issued for areas from Philadelphia to the Canadian border.
While you were sleeping
Donald Trump’s chief economic advisor quit. Gary Cohn, a former Goldman Sachs banker, was considered a moderating influence on the White House’s trade and financial policies. He fought bitterly with Trump about the recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Markets plunged on the news.
The US justice department is suing California over its sanctuary policies… A lawsuit filed Tuesday night in federal court said that California’s status as a sanctuary state endangers federal agents. The state forbids police from asking questions about someone’s immigration status during routine interactions.
…While porn star Stormy Daniels sued Trump. She alleged that the US president had never signed the non-disclosure agreement requiring the adult star not to reveal details of her relationship with Trump, making the agreement void.
A deal to sell Harvey Weinstein’s company fell through, again. A female-led consortium pulled the deal after discovering that The Weinstein Company’s liabilities were larger than thought, Reuters reported. The Hollywood studio said it would continue to pursue options outside of bankruptcy.
Quartz obsession interlude
Annalisa Merelli on how Steve Bannon’s populist dream came true in Italy. “Anti-establishmentarianism, isolationism, xenophobia and populism won the country’s general elections on March 4… As Bannon, former Trump advisor and longtime admirer of proto-fascist thinker Julius Evola, knows, Italy is an excellent incubator for conservative trends that eventually spread throughout the world.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Stay better informed by reading less news. Go outside your bubble, stay off social media, and cultivate curious friends.
Fast fashion is an environmental disaster. The industry sucks up resources and spits out pollution to create disposable clothing.
Trump’s trade war will be an economic calamity. Everyday Americans will lose out, and the entire world could eventually suffer.
Surprising discoveries
Brazilian thieves stole $5 million in six minutes. A five-person team held up a Lufthansa cargo plane, grabbed the cash, and made their escape in virtually no time.
A Hong Kong couple thought they spotted a tiger on a hike. Authorities conducted a search for the animal and determined it was more likely the couple spotted a leopard cat.
The world’s oldest message in a bottle was unearthed on an Australian beach. It was tossed from a German ship into the Indian Ocean in 1886.
A giant robot wolf protects Japanese crops from wild boars. “Super Monster Wolf” features huge teeth and flashing eyes, and is entering mass production after a successful trial run.
The Bachelor reportedly tracked contestants’ menstrual cycles. Producers of the US reality show tried to interview women when they were most emotional.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, leopard cats, and messages in bottles to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Isabella Steger and edited by Alice Truong.