we’ve always felt that celebrity endorsements are lame. from Ronaldo hawking weird japanese face strengtheners to Muhammad Ali putting his face on cockroach traps, it feels like celebrities are just selling out. don’t worry, TWR will never have celebrity endorsers - but we do need subscriber referrals! refer a friend today, and get cookies and swag mailed straight to your door. 

big idea: murderer found guilty of...murder

1. Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. 71% of americans support the verdict, including majorities of both parties. 
2. will this be a milestone in the new civil rights era or a moment quickly forgotten? we’ll come to know soon with the trials of three other officers involved in Floyd’s death, the inquest into the killing of a columbus girl, and if the senate passes a police reform bill.
3. notably, even fellow cops blew the whistle and testified against Chauvin, which likely would not have happened even a year ago. whistleblower cops (who arguably are the “good” ones) are typically punished and pushed out of forces as retribution.
4. so, are hearts & minds changing? maybe, but don’t forget that policy sometimes forces culture to change rather than vice versa. americans were by and large not ready for the civil, voting, or housing rights acts in the ‘60s, but LBJ pushed them through anyways as a way to shift societal norms.
5. finally, lost in much of the coverage was the role of Keith Ellison, the state AG who led the prosecution. we can’t help but point out he is a proud Wayne State alum (as is yours truly), and broke barriers by being the first muslim elected to congress. we hope Keith’s win will encourage other prosecutors to go after killer cops.

story to watch: change is afoot in soccer

1. we literally cannot believe we’re talking about the business of sports two weeks in a row, but here we go: the foreign kind of football was up in arms this week when the richest dozen european soccer teams decided to form their own league. fans, players, and coaches revolted, with the teams backtracking and apologizing within 48 hours. the super league idea is dead - for now. 
2. as always, we just have to follow the money. the billionaire owners of these soccer clubs realized they could make a ton more money with a ‘murican style league. advertising revenues would skyrocket because games would be more popular, and player salaries would plummet because competitive pressures...