Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The British parliament begins its last full day of debate on Theresa May’s Brexit plan. Her deal is widely expected to be voted down on Tuesday, after which the prime minister will have three days to come up with an alternate plan. In a speech today, May will warn that some in parliament are trying to block Brexit altogether.
Citigroup kicks off earnings season. The bank is expected to announce decent quarterly results, setting the tone for its Wall Street rivals, which report later in the week. Investors are worried, however, about the effects of a slowing global economy and have been cutting forecasts for earnings in 2019 and beyond.
US airport-traffic controllers protest their lack of pay. After 14,000 employees missed their first paychecks due to the longest-ever US government shutdown, their union filed a lawsuit and said nationwide protests will begin this week.
The Detroit motor show opens. The media preview of the North American International Auto Show today and tomorrow is expected to draw 5,000 journalists. More than 750 new cars will be at the show, which officially opens to the public on Saturday.
A cost-cutting media group may bid for USA Today. Digital First Media will reportedly offer to take over USA Today publisher Gannett, according to the Wall Street Journal (paywall). The group, which has a reputation for taking over newspapers and slashing costs, has already quietly purchased a 7.5% stake in Gannett, which owns dozens of local dailies across the US.
Over the weekend
China’s exports recorded a record drop. December’s exports fell 4.4% from a year earlier, the largest decline in two years. Signs of a slowdown in China—car sales in 2018 fell for the first time in decades—have sent jitters through the global economy.
The Lion Air cockpit-voice recorder was found. A team will be sent to clear the mud around the recorder, which had stopped transmitting a location signal after its battery died, before retrieving it. The data from the recordings could help reveal what happened during flight JT610’s final moments on Oct. 29 before it crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board.
Donald Trump did not directly deny working with Russia. Asked on Sunday about a New York Times report (paywall) that the FBI had opened an inquiry into whether he was working on behalf of Moscow, the president responded with 351 words—none of which was “no.”
Winter Storm Gia struck the US Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. More than 1,400 flights were cancelled from Friday to Sunday, exacerbating travel woes amid the government shutdown. The storm stranded hundreds of motorists in Missouri, which reported nearly 500 crashes, with at least 12 people killed.
An 18-year-old Saudi woman arrived in Canada after being granted asylum. On Saturday, Canada’s foreign minister Chrystia Freeland welcomed Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who drew attention on social media for barricading herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room after she was denied entry to Thailand. She accused her family of abuse and said her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia.
Another Huawei exec landed in legal trouble abroad. The Chinese telecom group said on Saturday it fired sales director and former diplomat Wang Weijing, who was arrested and charged with spying in Poland. On Monday, a state-run Chinese newspaper said Poland “must pay” for Wang’s arrest. Last month, Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada.
Quartz obsession interlude
The vampire squid has a bad rap for being a mascot for rapacious capitalism. In fact, it’s not a vampire, not a squid, and not a very good metaphor. This humble cephalopod from the ocean’s deepest depths is actually a bottom feeder that squirts a bioluminescent substance in place of ink. Read more in the Quartz Obsession.
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Everything you need to know to keep knowing about Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs isn’t just a name, it’s a shorthand—a quick way of describing the pinnacle of Wall Street. The firm is probably the most-written-about bank on all of Wall Street (and the world). If you want to know more about Goldman’s history, this list—available exclusively with a Quartz membership—will make you an expert. Sign up here for a 30-day free trial.
Matters of debate
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We’ve entered the post-smartphone era. Now that just about every phone—even the cheap ones—is really good, it’s difficult for manufacturers to differentiate their offerings.
Who needs venture capital anyway? Startups increasingly see VC money as a “dangerous” path to an accelerated demise, so they’re seeking alternate methods of funding.
America’s electric grid has a vulnerability Russian hackers are exploiting. Instead of attacking utility companies head on, hackers are hitting less-protected contractors and subcontractors.
Surprising discoveries
El Chapo’s traffickers brought drugs into the US through legal ports of entry. Cartel associates testified they used fishing boats, trains, tractors, and cars after the US cracked down on their tunnels.
You can build your own Bandersnatch-style web game. Inspired by Netflix’s choose-your-own-adventure film, a developer created a way to make your own version starting with a Reddit thread.
A German submarine from WWI is emerging on a French beach. The vessel, which was stranded near Calais in 1917, is resurfacing for the first time after in decades after being buried in sand.
@world_record_egg lived up to its name. The Instagram account posted its first and only photo, of a brown egg, and (so far) racked up 25.3 million likes, besting the previous record held by Kylie Jenner.
China’s “anger rooms” are all the rage. The facilities allow Beijing residents to spend 30 minutes trashing the place, which is pitched as a remedy for stress.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, submarine sightings, and unbridled rage 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 Adam Rasmi and edited by Jason Karaian.