Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The US Congress votes on immigration. The bills address a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, funding for the border wall, and migrant family separation, which Trump has promised to end (see below). Both bills face skepticism from conservatives and liberals alike.
Moon Jae-in heads to Russia. The South Korean president will meet with diplomats in Moscow, and while the agenda is unclear, Moon’s recent comments on restoring inter-Korea railroads and linking them to trans-Siberian railways suggest economic development will be up for discussion.
A check-in with the UK’s economy. The Bank of England will meet to decide whether to raise borrowing costs, while chancellor Philip Hammond and Bank of England governor Mark Carney check in with grandees on the state of the economy, financial regulations, and Brexit at the annual Mansion House dinner (paywall).
While you were sleeping
Fox accepted Disney’s improved offer. After a late-night board meeting, Rupert Murdoch and his fellow directors decided that Disney’s sweetened bid (paywall)—which would bring The Simpsons, X-Men, Pixar, and Marvel under one roof—was “superior” to Comcast’s. There is still time for Comcast to up its ante, although its debt-heavy balance sheet doesn’t provide much room to maneuver.
Trump said he’ll keep migrant families together. As reports of forced medication and new “tender age” detention facilities for toddlers at the US-Mexico border fanned the flames of public outcry, Trump signed an executive order (paywall) to keep families detained together, indefinitely, where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources.
Atul Gawande will head the Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan healthcare startup. The surgeon, author, and New Yorker staff writer is famously outspoken against the problems with the US healthcare system. The as-yet-unnamed new company promises to provide an alternative to the country’s broken healthcare system.
Hungary made it illegal to help migrants. The right-wing parliament voted in favor of the “Stop Soros” law, which allows activists and lawyers that work for NGOs helping asylum-seekers to face one year in prison for their efforts.
Ford and Volkswagen are considering an alliance. The automotive giants may partner up (paywall) to keep up with an industry increasingly driven by young companies, electric vehicles, and driverless cars. The duo has made no financial commitments, but could team up on projects like van development.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Katherine Ellen Foley on the obscure biological trait that seems to predict how long mammals can live: “The size of a mammal species’ pancreatic cells at adulthood seems to be negatively correlated with longevity. In other words, the bigger a species’ pancreas cells, the fewer years it lives.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Interaction design could fix the internet. More intentionally planned media platforms could reduce hate speech and fake news online.
Home prices are bound to increase. A strengthened US job market and an unchanging housing supply means rates will soon rise (paywall).
The way offices treat pregnancy is dangerous. The demands of workaholic culture put expectant mothers and their children at risk.
Surprising discoveries
A German toy company pulled a Nazi UFO off the market. The company apologized for implying that Nazis invented space travel.
Belgians sell more of their beer than they drink. Domestic consumption is down to half of what they export.
Burger King Russia pulled an ad offering free food and cash to women impregnated by footballers. The public found the promotion “insulting” and the chain has since apologized.
Yoga students are learning from cadavers. They explore human anatomy and physiology by handling parts of dead bodies.
Drug-polluted rivers are getting eels high. Cocaine in aquatic groundwater doesn’t just make eels hyper, it alters their physiology of eels.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Belgian brews, and eel drug tests 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 Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz and David Wexner and edited by Susan Howson.