Good morning. It's Wednesday, Aug. 11, and we're covering the end to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's reign in New York, the passage of the Senate infrastructure deal, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at hello@join1440.com.

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NEED TO KNOW

Cuomo Resigns

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced he would resign yesterday, one week after an internal probe concluded he sexually harassed a number of women in recent years. The announcement comes ahead of expected impeachment hearings led by the state's Democratic-controlled legislature. Lawmakers had given Cuomo until Friday to provide evidence in his defense. Cuomo's resignation will take effect in two weeks.

The three-term governor has faced allegations from at least 11 women, both inside and outside his administration (previous write-up). The report detailed incidents ranging from inappropriate comments to groping and unwanted sexual contact. The independent probe lasted five months, spoke to nearly 180 witnesses, and concluded Cuomo's actions broke state and federal law. Read the full report here.

In his place, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is set to become the state's first female governor. Cuomo's resignation also leaves the 2022 race to lead the state wide open.

Infrastructure Deal Passes

The $1T bipartisan infrastructure deal passed the Senate yesterday by a final vote of 69-30. All 50 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the package, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY); see the vote breakdown here.

The deal would provide roughly $550B in new spending for physical infrastructure (see our previous write-up), with the remainder drawing on previous authority or reallocated funds. The bulk of new spending will be directed toward roads and bridges ($110B), the power grid ($73B), water projects ($55B), and similar items. 

See how the bill—projected to add $256B to the deficit over 10 years—differs from the White House's initial proposal here. The package now heads to the House for consideration.

In swift succession, the Senate passed a $3.5T budget resolution containing many White House priorities via a party-line reconciliation vote early this morning. Committees will spend the following months crafting the requisite spending bills. 

Bienvenue Messi

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi arrived in Paris yesterday after agreeing to a deal with Paris Saint-Germain, ending his 21-year career in Barcelona. PSG and the 34-year-old, six-time Ballon d’Or winner—awarded to soccer's best player each year—have reached a reported two-year contract worth $41M net annually, with a potential for a third year.

The news comes after the Argentine star’s emotional farewell Sunday where he confirmed that the club’s immense debt made it impossible to re-sign with the club at the end of his contract. Messi maintained he offered to take a 50% pay cut—reducing his salary from $1.4M per week to $700K per week—but the club was unable to keep him (some reports suggest his total Barcelona pay was much higher). Under Spanish league regulations, a team can only spend 25% of the money it receives from player sales on new contracts and Messi was considered a free agent.

Read about all the factors at play here.

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

Brought to you by The Ascent

> Christina Applegate, Emmy-winning star of "Dead to Me," announces multiple sclerosis diagnosis (More) | Robin comes out as bisexual in latest Batman comic (More)

> In-person attendance by nominees at 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards (Sept. 19, CBS) to be scaled back due to COVID-19 (More) 

> Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Fame goalie Tony Esposito dies at 78 of pancreatic cancer (More) | Pat Hitchcock, actress and daughter of director Alfred Hitchcock, dies at 93 (More)

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Science & Technology

> Engineers demonstrate a chameleon robot capable of changing colors instantly to blend in with its surroundings (More)

> Scientists create glass-like structure harder than diamond; both materials are made of carbon atoms arranged in different formations (More)

> AI system helps drones learn how to tightly navigate around obstacles at high speeds without crashing; the advance enables more nimble drone usage in areas like search and rescue operations (More)

Business & Markets

> Sports merchandise e-commerce giant Fanatics raises $325M at an $18B valuation from investors including Jay-Z (More)

> Dominion Voting Systems sues media outlets OANN and Newsmax for $1.6B apiece for defamation over claims their machines fraudulently shifted votes during 2020 election (More)

> Japanese tech giant SoftBank sees quarterly net profits drop 40%, is holding back on Chinese investments following Beijing uncertainty on foreign investment (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> China sentences Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison for alleged espionage; move is viewed as retaliation for the Canadian detention of Chinese business executive Meng Wanzhou (More)

> National Security Agency inspector general to investigate claims by Fox News personality Tucker Carlson that the agency spied on him earlier this year (More)

> Taliban fighters take their seventh and eighth provincial capitals in the past five days (More) | US vows to isolate the country from world functions if the group ultimately seizes control (More)

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ETCETERA

Visualizing 4,000 years of global power. 

TikTok overtakes Facebook as the world's most downloaded app.

Mapping where America's cities are growing. (paywall, WashPo)

Stunning footage captures moths taking off in slow motion.

Technical fault leaves the London Bridge stuck open.

Australia's (extinct) dragons.

Ocean-swimming cat thinks he's a dog. (w/video)

What's up with anti-showering celebrities?

Clickbait: When bears go shopping.

Historybook: Author and historian Alex Haley born (1921); HBD Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak (1950); HBD actress Viola Davis (1965); Final US ground combat troops leave South Vietnam during Vietnam War (1972); RIP Robin Williams (2014).

"There’s no shame in failing. The only shame is not giving things your best shot."

- Robin Williams

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