🥁 Axios PM: The Crypto Bowl

📷 Memorable Putin pic | Monday, February 07, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Morgan Stanley   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Feb 07, 2022 Good afternoon: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 495 words, a 2-minute read. 🚨Breaking: Peter Thiel plans to step down from Meta's board, Axios Pro Rata author Dan Primack reports. Thiel has been the board's only representative in former President Trump's orbit and has served since shortly after the company's founding. 📲 Join Axios' Ina Fried and Sara Fischer tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET for a virtual event on internet safety in the modern digital era. Register here.     1 big thing: Blue states chase normalcy New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in Trenton today. Photo: Tanya Breen/The Record via USA Today Network   Blue America's mask wall is cracking. The big picture: "We are not going to manage COVID to zero," tweeted New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D). Murphy announced today that his state is unwinding school mask mandates that have been in place for the entire pandemic. "We have to learn how to live with COVID as we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase of this virus." What we're hearing: Murphy knows he has to sell this plan to a lot of nervous parents. I'm told he plans to watch the data from schools every day and is banking on his past willingness to react to data. But his top goal is to restore a sense of normalcy. Delaware also announced today it will start to lift mask mandates in schools. The governors of New York and Connecticut are prepared to reevaluate masks mandates, reports Axios' Jacob Knutson.     2. The Crypto Bowl Screenshot of Matt Damon's Crypto.com Super Bowl ad.   Cryptocurrency exchanges are spending big to join the beer, seltzer and electric car ads during Sunday's Super Bowl. Why it matters: The Super Bowl is a classic destination for industries with cash to burn, The Wall Street Journal notes. "IEG expects spending by crypto companies on sports sponsorships in North America to total more than $160 million this year," The Journal reports. Crypto exchange FTX will give away bitcoin in an amount that depends on the time FTX's spot airs, AdAge reports. An 8:55 p.m. airtime would mean 8.55 bitcoin each for four separate winners. 🥊 "South Park" spoofed the Crypto.com ad in which Matt Damon proclaims: "Fortune favors the brave."     A message from Morgan Stanley Seven ideas that could add alpha in 2022     Will Fed tightening put the squeeze on markets? What is the next frontier for electric vehicle adoption? What should investors make of the metaverse? Morgan Stanley Research identifies debates that are likely to shape industries and drive stocks in 2022. Learn more.     3. Catch up quick Via Twitter Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) expressed regret today (above) after his campaign Twitter account lashed out over the weekend at a 17-year-old high school student who is a vocal Democrat. The tweet was deleted. Go deeper. The IRS is ending its plan to require facial ID for filing taxes online. During a press conference just now with the chancellor of Germany, President Biden warned Russia that invading Ukraine would be the end of its plans for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Go deeper. Team USA men's figure skater Vincent Zhou will withdraw from the Winter Olympics after testing positive for COVID. Go deeper. Amazon will raise its maximum base pay for corporate and tech workers to $350,000 from $160,000, GeekWire reports.     4. 📷 Parting shot: Something come between ya? Photo: Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP Now that's a big table. French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Moscow today to hold talks at the Kremlin with Vladimir Putin, in an effort to forestall a Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Go deeper.)     A message from Morgan Stanley Seven ideas that could add alpha in 2022     Will Fed tightening put the squeeze on markets? What is the next frontier for electric vehicle adoption? What should investors make of the metaverse? Morgan Stanley Research identifies debates that are likely to shape industries and drive stocks in 2022. Learn more.   Like this email style and format? Bring the strength of Smart Brevity® to your team — more effective communications, powered by Axios HQ.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: