Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A record-setting five rocket launches in a single day. After technical glitches and weather caused several delays, launches are now on tap from ULA, GSLV, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Arianespace.
SoftBank’s telecoms group begins trading after its IPO. High demand for the $23.5 billion offering is expected to push prices well above the 1,500 yen starting price. The cash-generating business has 34 million mobile subscribers (subscription).
China kicks off a big economic policy meeting. With growth slowing and a trade war with the US simmering, president Xi Jinping and his advisors will set the country’s economic goals (subscription) for the coming year—though we may not hear about the results until May.
Will the Fed hike rates or heed Donald Trump? Most investors expect the US central bank to continue with its steady increase in its benchmark rate, despite the US president’s warning not to “make yet another mistake.”
While you were sleeping
Big Cannabis struck a deal with Big Pharma. Canadian weed startup Tilray sealed a partnership with Novartis to distribute medical marijuana in legal jurisdictions (subscription) around the world. The companies will also develop “non-smokable” marijuana products and educate pharmacists and physicians about cannabis.
The White House flinched in its budget standoff with Congress. The Trump administration said it would find another way to pay for its long-promised border wall (subscription), in the face of a Friday deadline to extend US government borrowing. But there’s no still no deal in place, after congressional Democrats rejected a proposal from the Republican-led Senate that would give Trump $1 billion to spend on his immigration policies.
Trump shut down his charitable foundation. New York state attorney general Barbara Underwood said her office had evidence of “a shocking pattern of illegality,” (subscription) including illicit payments for corporate lawsuits, purchases for Trump’s club, and banned campaign contributions. Its remaining funds will be disbursed to other charities.
SpaceX is raising $500 million to pay for internet satellites. The funding round, which values Elon Musk’s company at about $30.5 billion, is coming from existing investors and Scottish money management firm Baillie Gifford. Starlink, the company’s nascent internet service, will require more than 4,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit.
A Trump advisor’s sentencing was delayed so he could continue cooperating with prosecutors. “Arguably, you sold your country out,” a judge told former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who previously pled guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.
Obsession interlude
Love Actually: Netflix and the Hallmark Channel have made the holiday rom-com bigger than ever. But before there was a flood of formulaic flicks, there was an imperfect, complicated insta-classic. Find out why it’s still worth watching in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Membership
The cannabis industry needs to slow its roll. When companies sing the praises of marijuana or bemoan the injustices of prohibition, they’re not necessarily wrong—but they’re definitely self-interested. Most of them have so far played nice, at least partly because they are obsessed with reducing the stigma around the drug and attracting more users. That could change as their wealth and influence grows. Read more here.
Matters of debate
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Blockchain has changed the art world. Auction houses are starting to embrace the technology, but it will never replace specialized dealers.
Pregnant women devalue their own mental health. The pressure to feel joy keeps many from realizing they’re suffering from depression.
Africa needs clean water more than electricity. Despite heavy spending on rural electrification, sanitation infrastructure could improve many more lives.
Surprising discoveries
Carlton called, he wants his dance back. Alfonso Ribeiro is suing the video game Fortnite for appropriating his signature moves from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
A gassy, glittery package caught thieves unaware. A former NASA engineer got his revenge on porch pirates and caught them purple-handed.
It’s the most heart attack-y time of the year. Cardiac events are 37% more likely to happen to Swedes on Christmas Eve, when big family get-togethers are usually held.
Diaper gel plus lasers equal nanosize technology. MIT researchers can shrink a simple structure to 1/1000th of its original size.
Instagrammers are posting fake sponsored content. It convinces followers—and brands who might want to sponsor real posts—that the poster is legit.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, stolen dance moves, and glitter bombs to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson and Adam Pasick.