Happy Friday, Roca Readers. We are now at the “Sell Mugshot Merch” chapter in the American story. “Never Surrender” coozies, “Lock him up” coffee mugs, and “Wanted for second term” shirts flooded social media feeds after Fulton County dropped the pic of the year.

It’s been a wild week of news, so we hope you all get the chance to relax, have some fun, and — of course — answer 20 Questions over the next couple days.

In today's edition:

• “BRICS” adding new members

• Power Wheels DUI

• 20 Questions

 🔑 Key Stories

Trump Arrested

Donald Trump turned himself in to Georgia authorities on Thursday

• His court description read:

  • “White”

  • “Male”

  • “6’3””

  • “215 lbs”

  • “Blond or Strawberry [Hair]”

• The charges relate to actions Trump and others allegedly took to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. He was indicted on 13 charges. 18 other people, including former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani, also face charges related to the alleged conspiracy

• He posted his mugshot on Instagram with the words, “ELECTION INTERFERENCE NEVER SURRENDER! DONALDJTRUMP.COM”

Dig Deeper

• 18 other people, including former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani, face charges related to the alleged conspiracy. At least ten of them have already turned themselves in and been released on bail

Prigozhin Fallout

US officials said they believe Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed by an on-board explosion that downed his jet

• On Wednesday, a jet carrying Prigozhin and 9 others crashed, killing all passengers. Several sources claimed Russian air defenses shot the plane down

• US officials said Thursday that Prigozhin was killed but that evidence doesn’t suggest his jet was shot down. They suggested a bomb was on board

• Putin’s office called rumors that he planned it “lies”

• The attack was “too rough, unprofessional” to have been Putin, Belarus’ leader said. “I know Putin. He is a prudent, very calm and even slow-paced person”

Dig Deeper

• On Thursday, an account linked to Wagner, a private military group that Prigozhin founded, posted a video showing three purported Wagner fighters: “We’ll say one thing – we’re already starting off. Expect us,” one of them said

• It is unclear if the video is authentic or if Wagner groups are actually planning to take revenge

BRICS Adding New Members

“BRICS” invited Iran, Saudi Arabia, and four other countries to join

• In 2001, a Goldman Sachs economist predicted that 4 countries – Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) – would lead global economic growth. South Africa later joined that list, making it “BRICS.” It accounts for 32% of global GDP and 42% of global population

• BRICS became a group that sought to counter the dominance of rich, Western countries

• This week, BRICS invited 6 new countries to join: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates

Dig Deeper

• Russian President Vladimir Putin called on BRICS countries to create a new common currency they can use to trade without the US dollar

• Putin could not join in person because South Africa would be obligated to arrest him under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court related to his alleged war crimes in Ukraine

$9.5B Footlong

Subway agreed to sell itself to a private equity group for up to $9.5B

• In 1965, a physicist gave a 17-year-old entrepreneur $1,000 to open a sandwich shop in Bridgeport, Connecticut. That restaurant became Subway, which now has 37,000+ stores

• The company’s profits have declined from its peak a decade ago. In February, its founders’ families, who still own the company, announced they would consider s selling it

• On Thursday, they announced a private equity group that also oversees Arby’s, Auntie Anne’s, and other chains, will buy it for up to $9.5B

🍿 Popcorn

ICYMI

• Barbie > Mario: Barbie surpassed The Super Mario Bros. Movie as North America’s highest-grossing movie this year. Barbie has now made $575.4M at the domestic box office

• KissGate: After reports that he planned to resign, Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales refused to do so. He kissed a player during Spain’s Women’s World Cup trophy ceremony

• “Dumbest man alive”: Kevin Hart is in a wheelchair after tearing muscles while racing former NFL running back Stevan Ridley. He called himself the “dumbest man alive”

Wildcard

• #FreeGershkovich: Russia extended Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich’s pre-trial detention by at least three months. The US has accused Russia of “hostage diplomacy” 

• Blueleg: A random man allegedly stabbed the leg of “Thotiana” rapper Blueface at a Los Angeles boxing gym. Police said the suspect fled in his car and they haven’t yet caught him

• Power Wheels DUI: Police arrested a 51-year-old Indiana man for driving a Power Wheels Jeep while impaired. Power Wheels are battery-powered vehicles meant for children aged 3-7

👇🏻 What do you think?

Today's Question:

Just 20 Questions!

See yesterday's results below! 

🗣 20 Questions

Happy Friday, Roca Nation.

Last week, we brought back the old tradition of open-ended 20 Questions. A lot of you responded by writing, “ONE MORE TIME!” so we are bringing it back this week.

These questions cover everything from your favorite shoe brand to your favorite romcom. Depending on your preferences, we’ll adjust our personalities accordingly. Here’s the link!

We hope you enjoy. Have a great weekend.

If you have thoughts, let us know at [email protected]!

 🌊 Roca Clubhouse

Yesterday's Poll:

Should the US government be allowed to buy US citizens’ data?

Yes: 4.3%
No: 95.7%

Yesterday's Question:

Who would have the funniest mugshot?

Chris from OKC: “Paul Rudd, mainly because it would be the least guilty looking mugshot you could ever have“

Spencer from Tampa, FL: “Hasbulla would and does have the funniest mugshot. If you don't believe me, go look it up for yourself! Can't be topped!“

And LOTS of people from all over the world who wrote Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, or Ron DeSantis…

Last Week's 20 Qs Responses:

1. Favorite shoe brand?

   “Crocs”

   “Nike”
   “New Balance”
   

2. A song you love, but too few people know?
   “The Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys”
   “Dark Nights by Tokyo Rose'“

   “DMX- Slippin'“
   

3. A place you love, but want to keep a secret?
   “Grand Cayman”
   “It’s a secret”
   “Granville State Forest in MA”
   

4. Would you reconsider having kids because of climate change?
   “No. There are a million other things that would stop me, but climate change isn’t one of them”
   “Definitely a factor”
   “Not only no, but hell no”
   

5. Favorite social media platform?
   “They all suck but I’m on Instagram way too much”
   “Twitter I mean Twitter I mean Twitter I mean”

   “The RocaNews app!”
   

6. A topic you’d like to see us do a Roca Wrap on?
   “The movie and TV show M*A*S*H”
   “The influence of slack in the workplace”

   “The Iron Ring in Canada”
   

7. Best movie for a date?
   “Sleepless in Seattle”

   “When Harry Met Sally”

   “Pulp Fiction”
   

8. Best toilet paper brand?
   “Quilted Northern”
   “Angel Soft”
   “Kirkland”
   

9. A country you’d be curious to see a Roca report from?
   “North Korea”
   “Turkey”
   “Ireland”

10. Would you like to be famous?
    “Absolutely not. Would love to have money, but want to live in total secrecy”
    “No, but I’d like to be close friends with someone famous”
    “Yes so I can sell my art better”
    

11. Music genre that goes best with summer?
    “70s rock”
    “Country”
    “House music”
    

12. Favorite sports movie?
    “Moneyball”
    “Rudy”
    “Semi-Pro”
    

13. Favorite rom-com?
    “You’ve Got Mail”

    “Notting Hill”
    “When Harry Met Sally”
    

14. Who’s the most quintessential mid-2000s artist?
    “Lil Wayne”
    “Green Day”

    “50 Cent”
    

15. Best stadium food?
    “Nachos”
    “Funnel cake”
    “The beer I snuck in (not a food, but I just love beer”
    

16. The dish you cook better than anyone?
    “Mac n’ cheese”
    “Fried peanut butter and jelly”
    “Chicken normandy”
    

17. What brand was your first cell phone?
    “Motorola bag phone 1992”
    “Brick”
    “Panasonic with a terrible battery life”
    

18. Greatest boy band since 1990?
    “NSYNC”
    “Jonas Brothers”
    “Big Time Rush”
    

19. A fascinating documentary you’ve seen?

    “Blackfish”
    “Anything by Ken Burns”
    “The Price of Gold (on Max currently)”
    

20. Are you loyal to any toothpaste brand?
    “Sensodyne”
    “Used to be Crest no CVS Sensitive”
    “Wife likes Crest so we do that”

🧠 Final Thoughts

Thanks all, for another week of reading RocaNews. We’ll be back here on Monday. In the meantime, we hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy those 20 Questions.

See you Monday.

–Max and Max