Good morning and welcome to Monday. On today’s docket:

• The state of Ohio has some big news
• We take a deep dive into the history & public opinion of abortion
• And the average US TikTok user spends… well… a lot of time on the app (guilty as charged)

PS: Due to a technical glitch, Friday’s link to our curated thought leadership on the topic of genetic engineering pulled up a 404 error for the first couple hours after the email was sent. Please accept our apology – and here’s the correct link.

⏰🚀 Ready, Set, Go: Today's news takes 3.88 minutes to read. Then it’s the fun stuff.

"Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy."

–Wayne Gretzky (b. 1961)

🏂❄️ The 2022 Winter Olympics kick off in Beijing 11 days from today. And when they do, many athletes will have gone the route of Jason Bourne – burner phones only, baby.

• Recent guidance from the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee is advising its participating athletes to use burner phones instead of their own devices while in China over surveillance and hacking concerns, the WSJ reports.
• Research group Citizen Lab found that China’s My2022 Olympic app, which all attendees are required to install, is full of security holes that could lead to privacy breaches, surveillance, and hacking.
• China is known to technologically surveil its population, restrict access to sites on the internet, and often censors social media as well. It was also caught two years ago secretly installing spyware on tourists’ phones who entered from the Xinjiang region – the very same region at the center of the US’ diplomatic boycott of the Games.
• But using temporary phones could complicate athletes’ efforts to stay in touch with family and friends, who are barred from attending the Games due to a ban on overseas spectators. Social media promotion is also crucial for landing and maintaining sponsorships.

+More context: It’s not out of the ordinary for national Olympic officials to warn constituents about potential cyber dangers. A large gathering of officials and famous people presents an attractive target for hackers, no matter its location.

+In the know: Some countries, including the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland, will provide disposable devices to their delegations.

+For a preview of the 2022 Winter Games: Just click here.

+A fun fact for the road: The Beijing Olympics will be the first to rely completely on artificial snow, per Bloomberg Green.

💰 On Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that Intel would invest up to $100 billion to build potentially the world's largest semiconductor chip-making complex in Ohio. An initial $20 billion investment – the largest in state history – will go to build a plant in the Greater-Columbus area.

• Intel was surpassed as the world’s No. 1 semiconductor vendor by Samsung last year, according to data from Gartner.
• This move is part of CEO Pat Gelsinger's strategy to restore Intel's dominance in chip making and reduce America's reliance on Asian manufacturing hubs, which have a tight hold on the market.
• 12% of the world's chips are currently made in the US, down from 37% in the 1990s, per industry officials. About 75% are made in Asia.

🏭 Zoom out: Intel previously announced plans to invest $20 billion to expand its operations in Arizona, seeking to essentially build a mini-city of chip fabrication centers – similar to what it’s also planning to do in Ohio. Rivals Samsung and TSMC have also publicized big investment plans in the US.

+On Capitol Hill: The Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act in June that provides $52 billion in federal investments for semiconductor production. The legislation is pending in the House.

+Go deeper: A global semiconductor shortage has been affecting the production of everything from smartphones to cars, and is expected to stretch into 2023. What are semiconductors?

🇺🇸🇷🇺 Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Russian counterpart on Friday to discuss the situation in Ukraine, where Moscow has deployed ~100,000 troops to surround the country on three sides.

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters after the 90-minute meeting that his country has no plans to attack Ukraine, though Blinken said the US is skeptical of that claim.
• On Saturday, the UK government said it exposed a Russian plot to install a friendly leader in Ukraine, supporting an earlier US assessment suggesting Moscow is planning a "false-flag operation" that would give President Vladimir Putin the pretext to invade.
• Germany, the largest buyer of Russian gas in the world, is reportedly blocking NATO ally Estonia from sending weapons to Ukraine, per the WSJ.
• The US is currently seeking a German commitment to block operation of the Russian-built Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline in the event of Russian aggression.

+Breaking: The State Department published a travel advisory Sunday evening instructing the families of diplomats in Ukraine and some embassy staff to leave the country. It also recommended all US citizens consider leaving ASAP.

+Go deeper: From the Left | From the Right | Friday's DONUT

Well… that’s not exactly what we had in mind.👆

What we’re talking about is the robotics and digital apparel company, unspun.

🥇 unspun is more than just a denim brand – its technology has been hailed as one of the "100 Best Inventions of 2021" by TIME.

🌎 That’s because they don’t just guarantee the best fitting jeans you’ll ever own, they also provide a solution to the apparel industry’s unfortunate footprint on our environment.

• Overproduction in the apparel industry is responsible for massive carbon emissions and waste due to unsold/ill-fitting garments and a $150 billion loss annually.

How are they doing this?

🤖 Simple. They don’t have sizes or even gendered products. unspun’s technology allows you to take a 3D body scan, select all your preferred details, and then the algorithm does its thing and churns out the perfect pair of jeans for your body shape.

👖 If these aren’t the best pair of pants you’ve ever owned, unspun will give you a full refund. They cover tweaks and adjustments, too!

DONUT readers who sign up through this link will jump to the front of the unspun waitlist and receive 20% off.

Get the perfect-fitting, sustainable pair of jeans today.

☝️ WeWant new content: WeCrashed, Apple TV+’s upcoming show starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway that depicts the rise and fall of WeWork, now has a trailer and release date: March 18.

🍿 At the box office… Spiderman: No Way Home unseated Scream to reclaim the top spot on domestic box office charts, earning another ~$14 million to bring its North American total to $721 million (4th highest in history).

🤖⚾ Base Runner 2049... Pro baseball is expanding its robot ump experiment to Triple-A, the highest level of the minor leagues.

• In other MLB news: Players and owners are in the midst of an ongoing lockout, with the two sides likely needing to reach a deal by February 1 to avoid delaying spring training.

🎤 Notable deaths: Rock and roll singer Meat Loaf (Michael Lee Aday) passed away at the age of 74, comedian and Emmy-winning actor Louie Anderson died at 68, and Brazilian samba legend Elza Soares died at 91.

🏈 The road to the Super Bowl… All four NFL playoff games this weekend came down to the wire. The results? The No. 1 seeds in each conference were both upset (Titans & Packers) and the defending champs are going home (Tampa).

This upcoming Sunday’s NFC Championship game will feature the 49ers vs. the Rams, and the Bengals will face the Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

• Read a recap of this weekend.

PS: Our condolences to Bills' fans. 👇

💬 Quoted… "While a CBDC [central bank digital currency] could provide a safe, digital payment option for households and businesses as the payments system continues to evolve, and may result in faster payment options between countries, there may also be downsides."

• Context: The Federal Reserve published a paper on the pros and cons of developing its own digital currency, but didn't come to a firm conclusion either way.

📊 Stat of the day… US TikTok users spend an average of 25.6 hours on the app each month, according to a new report from App Annie. That's ~50 minutes every single day.

🤯 Did you know?… Robert Hanssen is considered the most damaging spy in FBI history. There's even been a movie made about him.

• The story: In 1987, he was tasked with finding a mole within the FBI after several of its KGB informants were exposed. There was just one catch – Hanssen was looking for himself.

📖 Worth a read… Crime Lord Caught Trying To Arrange Movie-Style Jailbreak → (Vice) 

• 👆 Satellite images showing the Tongan island of Nomuka (pop. 500) before and after the massive underwater eruption in the South Pacific earlier this month.
• 🌎 A new study argues that a sixth mass extinction event is currently underway.
• 📉 Bitcoin has fallen ~50% since its all-time high in November.
• 🚲 Peloton CEO John Foley denied the company is pausing production in a company-wide email late Thursday; its stock closed up 12% on Friday after falling 24% the day before. | Activist investor Blackwells Capital has taken a significant stake in Peloton and will urge the company to fire Foley and explore a sale, per the the WSJ.
• 📸 Instagram launched a test version of creator subscriptions.

Monday: Sarah Palin’s defamation case against the NY Times begins in Manhattan; the civil rights trial of three ex-officers involved in George Floyd’s death starts in Minneapolis

Tuesday: Microsoft, AmEx, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, and more report earnings

Wednesday: The Fed concludes its two-day meeting; it’s expected to begin raising interest rates in March

Thursday: Apple, Blackstone, Comcast, McDonald's, Visa, and more report earnings.

Friday: Australian Open women's singles finals; men's finals on Saturday

Tens of thousands of anti-abortion supporters gathered in DC on Friday for the annual “March for Life” rally, which occurred one day before the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade – the SCOTUS decision making abortion legal nationwide.

Today we’re taking a look at the history of abortion, how the process – and its public perception – has changed over time, and what the future might hold.

📜 Let’s start at the beginning: The first recorded evidence of induced abortion is from Egypt around 1500 BCE. Many of the methods employed by early cultures were non-invasive, such as strenuous physical exercise, fasting, or the use of certain herbs.

• Some ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome considered abortion to be lawful. Others, including Assyria and Persia, valued fetuses on par with living people and imposed harsh anti-abortion laws.

🇺🇸 Coming to America… During the US colonial period, the legality of abortion depended on which European nation controlled the colony in question. Most states fell under English common law, which prevented abortions after ‘quickening’ (when a mother first feels her baby move).

• From 1776 until the mid-1800s, abortion was viewed as a socially unacceptable practice but still mostly legal. It wasn’t until the 1860s that many states began to outlaw abortion outright, which historians attribute to both moral and practical reasons. By 1900, abortion was considered a felony in nearly every state.

✋ Yes, but: That didn’t stop Americans from still having the procedure. Abortion clinics operated openly during the 1930s despite the ban, leading to an estimated 800,000 abortions per year.

• During that era, many juries reportedly refused to convict abortionists altogether, signaling growing public acceptance of the practice. In 1970, Hawaii became the first state to officially legalize abortion, and a handful of others soon followed.
• In 1973, the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision invalidated nearly all existing state laws prohibiting abortion and established the first ‘trimester’ (~13 weeks) of pregnancy, during which states aren’t allowed to regulate the procedure.

⚖️ That brings us to the present… Last month, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case seeking to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow state laws restricting early abortions. A decision is expected by late June.

When nineteen-year-old Zara Rutherford landed her small plane at home in Belgium last week – escorted by four jets from the Belgian Red Devils aerobatic display team – she held a new title: The youngest woman ever to fly solo around the world.

✈️ The little engine that could... Her 32,000-mile journey took six months to complete. That was actually two months longer than anticipated, since Zara became stranded for weeks in Alaska and Russia due to extreme weather. 

• When asked about her incredible journey, Zara shared, "I'm looking forward to telling people about my experiences and encouraging people to do something crazy with your life!" 

The ‘E’ in Chuck E. Cheese stands for what?

A) Edward

B) Entertainment

C) Emmet

D) Eating

(keep scrolling for the answer)

Check out our referral prizes you can get just for introducing people you know to this newsletter. 👇

Here’s your unique link to copy & send to anyone you think would like the DONUT:

B) Entertainment

His full name is Charles Entertainment Cheese.