Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Donald Trump unveils a new immigration plan. The president’s proposal will move the US from a family-based immigration system to what officials describe as an employment- and skills-based system. The proposal also includes plans to build more “physical barriers” along the border with Mexico.
Democrats hold a marathon reading of the entire Mueller report. The 448-page oration, which organizers hope will spur more Americans to read the special counsel’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, will begin at noon and is expected to continue into the early hours of Friday.
Congress gets briefed on Iran. Top lawmakers from both parties will receive a classified briefing on the White House’s claim about a new military threat from Iran. Tehran has called the Trump administration’s escalation “unacceptable,” and Democrats have urged the president to avoid going to war.
A day of weaker earnings. Walmart, a traditional bellwether of the US economy, is expected to post first-quarter earnings down from a year earlier. Investors will also be watching how investments in e-commerce are playing out after Walmart announced one-day delivery this week to rival Amazon. Meanwhile, Pinterest is expected to swing back into the red a month after its IPO, and analysts predict a big decline for US chipmaker Nvidia.
While you were sleeping
China and Huawei hit back at Trump. Beijing said Trump’s executive order barring US companies from installing foreign-made telecom equipment would lead to worse trade relations, with Huawei calling them “unreasonable restrictions” (paywall). The executive order effectively blocks sales of Huawei equipment in the US.
Venezuela’s leaders traveled to Norway for peace talks. Representatives of president Nicolás Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaidó are set to begin discussions after a failed bid to oust the strongman. Norwegian officials have carried out past mediation efforts in the region, including a 2016 peace deal in Colombia between the government and FARC rebels.
Tens of thousands protested against Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil’s far-right president faced his first mass demonstrations since taking office in January, which continued into the night. Students and teachers across the country are protesting against the sharp cuts to the education budget.
Trump pardoned former media mogul Conrad Black. The Canadian-born conservative advocate, who once ran a newspaper empire, was convicted of fraud and obstruction of justice in 2007. He also wrote a book, published last year, praising the president, titled Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other.
Fashion icon Burberry looked flat. The British luxury maker posted a dip in revenue, driven by weaker sales in China. Runway fashion sales growth is up by double digits, good news for new designer Riccardo Tisci’s first collection.
Quartz Obsession
Helium: US party supply retailer Party City is closing 45 stores, due in part to a worldwide helium shortage. There’s plenty of the universe’s second-most prevalent element left on Earth—but its real importance to the economy is high-tech gizmos like MRI machines and particle colliders. So why can’t supply meet demand? Find out in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Membership
Today, Rosie Spinks and Tripti Lahiri detail the five lessons to learn from the Boeing crisis over the safety of the 737 Max 8 aircraft. Over in Private Key, Matthew De Silva looks into the irrational optimism at Consensus, crypto’s biggest gathering, now that bitcoin is surging again.
Matters of debate
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Restrictive abortion laws also come at a cost to men. Paternity is expensive, and, in many places, mandatory.
“Healthy” food products are missing the point. Many plant-based alternatives hailed as miracles contain GMOs that could prove dangerous.
Snakebites are the world’s biggest hidden health crisis. Most victims don’t have access to treatment, and one person dies from a bite every four minutes.
Surprising discoveries
Uber will let you mute your driver. A new “Quiet Mode” lets riders send a clear signal that now is not the time for idle chatter.
Archeologists are horrified by plans for an international Machu Picchu airport. Critics say the multibillion-dollar construction would destroy the already fragile Inca citadel.
Driverless trucks hit Sweden’s roads. Swedish transport startup Einride says that autonomous trucks save it 60% on operating costs.
Notre Dame architecture proposals have gone off the deep end. One involves a rooftop swimming pool guarded by statues of the 12 apostles.
A stolen van was returned for beer. A North Carolina brewery promised a keg party to whoever gave back the vehicle—and saw results in 42 minutes.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, free kegs, and divine pools 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 Eshe Nelson.