Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
US-China trade talks are extended for a third day. The negotiations in Beijing, which follow a temporary trade-war truce after the G20 summit last month, are going “very well,” Donald Trump said on Twitter.
A billionaire Democrat activist could throw his hat in the 2020 ring. Tom Steyer, a former hedge-fund manager who has spent millions on political campaigns, including one pushing for Trump’s impeachment, could announce his plans to run for president at a press conference in Iowa.
A final lifeline for Sears. The chairman of the US retailer faces a deadline to pay the $120 million deposit to keep his bid to save the company alive. Sears would then consider it at an auction on Monday, along with competing offers from liquidators. Eddie Lampert is fighting to keep just a few hundred Sears and Kmart stores open after the company filed for bankruptcy in October.
A last stretch of Brexit debates in parliament… In the week before prime minister Theresa May puts her Brexit deal to a vote in the House of Commons on Jan. 15, lawmakers will debate the UK’s departure from the European Union for five days starting today. It comes after senior Conservatives backed a bill that would limit the ability to raise taxes without permission from parliament in the case of a no-deal exit, signaling their growing resolve to prevent the UK from crashing out of the bloc.
…And Japan talks Brexit in Europe. Prime minister Shinzo Abe begins a short European trip in the Netherlands, where he’ll meet with his Dutch counterpart to discuss issues including a free-trade agreement between Japan and the EU. He visits the UK tomorrow.
While you were sleeping
Trump delivered a speech about his wall. In a prime-time broadcast (subscription) from the Oval Office, the president rallied support for his proposed border wall, as anger over the government shutdown deepens. He justified his demands for $5.7 billion in congressional funding for the wall by calling it “a choice between right and wrong,” citing the huge flow of illegal immigrants and drugs over the southern border.
Vietnam accused Facebook of breaking its new cybersecurity law. It said Facebook had refused to shut down fanpages that allegedly promote anti-government activities. The new legislation, in effect from Jan. 1, includes requirements for technology firms to set up local offices and store data locally, which could make it easier for the government to access user data and arrest employees.
Joshua Tree National Park will shut down because of the shutdown. The California park said it would be closed indefinitely starting Thursday morning, as the partial government shutdown means that federal employees haven’t been paid to maintain sanitary and safety conditions—a situation seen across parks in the US.
A drone sighting halted flights at Heathrow for roughly an hour. It’s the second time in weeks that a suspected drone has disrupted operations at a London airport, after Gatwick flights were grounded for nearly three days last month. UK police were recently given permission to land, seize, and search drones.
Quartz obsession interlude
The internet loves to freak out about Nutella. Though the classic Italian chocolate-hazelnut spread can be a great unifier, it can also be divisive—including a new hubbub about the seven-pound tubs on sale at Costco. Read the complete chocolatey history in the Quartz Obsession, then spread the word.
Matters of debate
Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!
The simple act of taking a bus can reveal class disparities. A ride to school shows many US kids how the other half lives.
Errands never end. The key to managing the eternal onslaught of menial tasks is to connect with your future self.
Democracy is in serious crisis in Latin America. The continent’s already fragile democratic institutions are being threatened further by the leaders of Brazil and Venezuela.
Quartz Membership
Goldman Sachs’ CEO David Solomon is the Big Kahuna: A savvy, street-smart former high-yield bond underwriter, and one of the very few outsiders to make it to the top of Goldman. But if his experiences at Bear Stearns, Salomon Brothers, and Drexel Burnham Lambert have taught him anything, it’s that Wall Street can indeed be a dangerous place.
Read more of the new Quartz membership report on what’s next for Goldman, which marks its 150th anniversary this year. You can sign up here for a 30-day free trial.
Surprising discoveries
Even fatbergs need a holiday. A 209-foot (64-meter) mass of congealed fat, oil, and wet wipes was discovered beneath an English seaside resort town.
Baby Shark is a top 40 hit. The super addictive song for kids entered the Billboard Hot 100 at no. 32.
Some Samsung users can’t delete Facebook. The pre-installed smartphone app can only be disabled (subscription).
A fake nude pic of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was debunked by foot fetishists. Users cross-referenced the image with other photos of the congresswoman’s feet.
Kenya will start teaching Chinese to elementary school students. The move further deepens China’s influence in the country, where it has invested billions in infrastructure and cultural projects.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, annoying songs for kids, and seaside fatbergs to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Isabella Steger and edited by Tripti Lahiri.