Newsletter Apr 16, 2021

U.S.-Russian relations are at their rockiest point in four decades, and Biden and Putin are adding fuel to a fire that feels like a Cold War flashback.

3 Things

Russian roulette: The U.S. and Russia have never been what you would call friends -- aside from a brief period of Glasnost in the post-Soviet era and a bizarre four-year bromance between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But suddenly the two superpowers are engaging in brinkmanship unseen since the Cold War days, when unnerving events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and U-2 spy plane incident brought the two nations -- and the entire planet -- dangerously close to nuclear war.
Things aren't quite that bad, but they're trending that direction. President Joe Biden announced serious sanctions against Russia for a series of transgressions -- election-meddling, cyber-attacks, the occupation of Crimea, and a troop build-up on the Ukrainian border.
The U.S. expelled 10 Russian diplomats, widened restrictions on banks trading in Russian government debt, and sanctioned 32 individuals accused of meddling in the 2020 presidential election.
Despite the strong actions, Biden tried to be diplomatic by calling his executive order "proportionate" and saying it's "time to deescalate." Predictably, Putin wasn't buying it and vowed Russian retaliation.
WHAT IS BIDEN DOING TO DETER RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

Fourth stimulus check?:If you Google it, it will come. That seems to be the thought process for Americans hoping for another round of stimulus checks, but they may be living in a real "Field of Dreams."
Google found that searches for "4th stimulus check confirmedâ€ increased by 2,750% this week, a little over a month after Congress approved the $1,400 payments to qualifying citizens. And some overly optimistic Americans have searched for a fifth check at a rate 900% higher than last week. So free money is popular? Who knew?
However, Congress seems pretty content with the recently signed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan,. which extended unemployment benefits, boosted vaccination programs and sent out those sweet stimulus checks to those who need it the most.While some Dems are calling for recurring payments, experts say a fourth check is unlikely.
That means many Americans will have to stretch out the latest check for as long as possible. A recent survey showed more than six in 10 stimulus check recipients say it will last them three months or less.
SEE YOUR ODDS OF RECEIVING A 4TH STIMULUS CHECK

MTG vs. AOC?: Welcome to House of Reps Wrestling's main event. In the red corner, CrossFit fan and Georgia firecracker Marjorie Taylor Greene. And in the blue corner, "The Mob" leader from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Let's get ready to rumble!
OK, so things might not get that interesting if and when the two polar political opposites meet in the arena. But a proposed debate by Greene over AOC's pet project, the Green New Deal, could see lots of low blows and evasive maneuvers over the climate change issue.
Greene, the ultra-conservative freshman who just missed the Trump train, challenged her Democratic counterpart to a debate over the Green New Deal, a progressive environmental policy co-sponsored by AOC. So far she has not responded to Greene's repeated taunts.
."@AOC people are excited about our debate about the Green New Deal economic policy!" Greene tweeted. "People are saying they would pay money to see it. We could debate pay per view style?"
SEE IF AOC WILL ACCEPT GREENE'S DEBATE CHALLENGE

Markets

DJIA	34,035.99	0.90%
S&P 500	4,170.42	1.11%
Nasdaq Composite	14,038.76	1.31%
Japan: Nikkei 225	29,683.37	0.14%
UK: FTSE 100	7,017.27	0.48%
Crude Oil Futures	63.64	0.28%
Gold Futures	1,767.10	0.02%
Yen	108.86	0.09%
Euro	1.20	0.06%
* As of market close

Crypto craziness

The jury is still out on the long-term growth and stability of cryptocurrency, but at least for now the blockchain technology is good for entertainment.

Confirming that at least some cryptocurrencies are in it for the long haul, Bitcoin announced a new crypto-friendly IRA that allows investors to use Bitcoin for their retirement savings. Investors can even receive tax breaks for earmarking their retirement savings accounts for Bitcoin deposits.

But also demonstrating the current volatility of many cryptocurrencies, Dogecoin experienced an 85% surge on Wednesday, sending the price to a record of 13 cents. That's a 2,000% increase just since the start of 2021 due in part to celebrity endorsements from Elon Musk and Mark Cuban.

But perhaps the most offbeat crypto news came from an unlikely source, the long-running animated TV series "The Simpsons," which predicted Bitcoin's growth to continue to infinity. It wouldn't be the first time the cartoon correctly predicted reality, including the election of Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris wearing purple to her inauguration.

FIND OUT WHAT'S FUELING BITCOIN'S RUN TO RECORD LEVELS

Parting shot

Well, he waited until he was almost out the door and after he became the world's wealthiest individual, but Amazon founder Jeff Bezos finally gets it.

In his final letter to stockholders as CEO, Bezos spoke up for the workers of the world's largest online retailer, calling for improved workplace conditions, pay, and other problems that surfaced during the pandemic.

â€œDespite what weâ€™ve accomplished, itâ€™s clear to me that we need a better vision for our employeesâ€™ success," Bezos wrote. "We have always wanted to be earthâ€™s most customer-centric company. We wonâ€™t change that. Itâ€™s what got us here. But I am committing us to an addition. We are going to be earthâ€™s best employer and earthâ€™s safest place to work.â€

That's great news for Amazon's more than 798,000 employees, but the timing of Bezos' epiphany struck many as odd since many of the employee complaints date back nearly a decade. But the farewell letter might have more to do Amazon's hopes of avoiding unionization by making things right on their own. Bezos plans to stay on to see it happen.

FIND OUT WHAT ACTIONS BEZOS IS ASKING AMAZON TO TAKE

President Rock?

For a country divided almost down the middle over politics, a surprising number of Americans can smell what "The Rock" is cooking up for 2024.

Actor/wrestler and all-around good guy Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is being courted by millions of fans to run for president, with 46% of poll respondents saying they're ready to see The Rock rock the White House. That's more than the percentage garnered by former President Donald Trump and only slightly less support for current President Joe Biden.

Johnson has been playing it close to the vest, saying politics is not one of his many specialties. But if called upon by the American people, he would be willing to hang up his acting career in favor of a three-piece suit.

"Not sure our Founding Fathers ever envisioned a six-four, bald, tattooed, half-Black, half-Samoan, tequila drinking, pick up truck driving, fanny pack wearing guy joining their club," Johnson jokingly responded on Twitter, "but if it ever happens itâ€™d be my honor to serve the people."

SEE STEPHEN COLBERT'S HILARIOUS TAKE ON PRESIDENT ROCK