And, just like that, NYC is flooding. Here's a video we posted on Instagram this morning showing scenes from the City that Never Properly Drains During Rainstorms. Getting to work was not easy this morning; in fact, only two of us made it. The rest of us were stranded on flooded subway platforms watching "No Service" trains drift away like Rose's raft in Titanic. Now most of the subway is shut down, and thank you for letting us use this intro to vent.

So, to sum up, Happy Friday! 🥳

In today's edition:

• New Senate dress code

• City of Brotherly Looting!

• 20 Questions!

 🔑 Key Stories

Barça Paid the Refs?

Spanish prosecutors charged FC Barcelona (Barça) with bribery over $7.3M sent to a former top referee

• In February, allegations emerged that Barça had sent $7.3M to José María Enríquez Negreira, who at the time was the VP of Spain’s refereeing body. The money went to Negreira’s company btw 2001 and 2018

• This March, Spanish prosecutors filed corruption charges against Barça, two of the club’s former presidents, and Negreira and his son. On Thursday, they also charged them with bribery

• The club and Negreira claim the payments were for “technical advice” and did not violate league rules

Dig Deeper

• Speculation has also mounted that the UEFA, which hosts the prestigious Champions League, could ban Barça from competing if it is found guilty of bribery

New Senate Dress Code

The US Senate unanimously approved a dress code requiring all senators to wear “business attire”

• Earlier this month, the Senate ended a decades-old informal dress code. That was reportedly motivated in part by Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), who often wore baggy, casual clothing during official business

• 46 Republican senators wrote a letter to the top-ranking Senate Democrat requesting a new dress code; numerous Democrats also called for the same

• On Wednesday, the Senate unanimously approved a new dress code requiring men to wear “a coat, tie, and slacks or other longs pants.” It didn’t specify proper attire for women

Dig Deeper

• “Though we’ve never had an official dress code, the events over the past week have made us all feel as though formalizing one is the right path forward,” the Senate majority leader said following the vote. “I deeply appreciate Senator Fetterman working with me to come to an agreement,” he added

SAFER Act Passes Hurdle

A bill seeking to give the marijuana industry access to financial institutions passed a key Senate vote

• Most financial institutions don’t work with marijuana companies because the business remains federally illegal. Most weed businesses therefore can’t get loans and have to operate in cash, which is riskier

• An early version of a bill to give marijuana companies access to financial institutions failed seven times. A new version of that, the Safer Act, passed the Senate Banking Committee in a 14-9 vote on Wednesday

• The bill now has to pass a full Senate vote and then make it through the Republican-controlled House

Dig Deeper

• The bill’s Republican co-sponsor, who doesn’t support legalizing marijuana, said it would reduce the risk of “theft, for tax evasion and for organized crime” associated with the marijuana industry. A collection of trade groups, unions, financial institutions, and state officials also support the bill

• Other federal lawmakers oppose the bill, arguing it either doesn’t go far enough or sets a dangerous precedent. One Democratic senator argued it doesn’t address inequalities created by the decades-long “War on Drugs”; a Republican senator said it would encourage federal legalization of the drug

Biden Inquiry Begins

Republicans began their impeachment inquiry into President Biden on Thursday

• An inquiry is an investigation that precedes a potential impeachment

• During opening statements, Republicans claimed to have uncovered “a mountain of evidence” showing Biden assisted and benefited from his son’s business deals. They claim Hunter made $20M with his father’s help

• Republicans called three witnesses who suggested possible wrongdoing but said there is currently insufficient evidence to justify an impeachment. Democrats called the inquiry political theater

Dig Deeper

• None of the three witnesses were “fact witnesses,” meaning none had directly observed wrongdoing, and all were introduced as experts within their respective fields. One was a lawyer who had testified in the 2019 impeachment of Donald Trump

• “If the Republicans had a smoking gun or even a dripping water pistol, they would be presenting it today, but they’ve got nothing on Joe Biden,” the inquiry’s ranking Democrat said

Feinstein Dead at 90

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) died Thursday at age 90 

• Feinstein, a San Francisco native, rose her way up through city politics and ultimately became mayor. In 1990, she lost a gubernatorial bid; two years later, she became California’s first-ever woman in the US Senate

• In recent months, Feinstein suffered from a range of medical conditions, including shingles. That caused encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Her illness and prolonged absence from the Senate spurred calls for her resignation, which she refused

• Her cause of death is unknown. California's governor will now appoint somebody to fill her empty seat

Dig Deeper

• “Her passing is a great loss for so many, from those who loved and cared for her to the people of California that she dedicated her life to serving,” Feinstein’s chief of staff said in a statement.

🍿 Popcorn

ICYMI

• RIP, Dumbledore: Actor Michael Gambon – known for playing Albus Dumbledore in six “Harry Potter” films – died at 82 following a “bout of pneumonia”

• City of brotherly looting: Philadelphia police arrested six more people amid ongoing looting. On Tuesday night, police made 52 arrests following widespread store break-ins

• Oops! I played with the knives: Authorities reportedly performed a wellness check on singer Britney Spears following fan concern over an Instagram video showing her dancing with knives

Wildcard

• The tree has been felled: Police arrested a 16-year-old boy for “deliberately felling,” or cutting down, the iconic tree at Sycamore Gap along Hadrian’s Wall

• Money like jagger: The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger said his kids “don’t need” his $500M fortune and hinted that the money should go to charity instead

• WallyGator shall not pass: MLB’s Philadelphia Phillies denied a fan and his emotional support animal, an alligator named WallyGator, from entering the stadium

👇🏻 What do you think?

Today's Question:

Just 20 Questions!

🗣 20 Questions

Every Friday, we ask the Roca readers 20 questions, then feature our favorite answers the following week.

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, and today's 20 Questions theme is Comedy. We will ask a range of movie, sitcom, and standup related comedy questions. We can't wait to read your answers and hope that the Roca community can settle some of the hottest comedy debate questions.

Here's the link!

 🌊 Roca Clubhouse

Yesterday's Poll:

Would you live in space for one year if you had the chance?

Yes: 20%
No: 80%

Yesterday's Question:

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Linda from Pulteney: "When I was a senior in high school, there was a well known local scholarship available but it was for “preferably males”. I didn’t think I had a chance so I hadn’t applied. My English teacher advised me to apply anyway. I ended up winning and it paid for my entire undergraduate degree and part of my graduate degree."

Mike from Carbondale, Illinois: “Pay yourself first”

Victoria from Saratoga Springs, New York: "Never count the other person's money. Never spend it for them and always have a sign over the door, you never know who will walk in."

Rebecca from Syracuse, New York: “You’re not responsible for other people’s emotions”

Wrap Replies:

This was in response to Wednesday’s Wrap about Khalistan.

Rajat: “I am an Indian and have recently started monitoring the Khalistan Movement closely. I am very glad that you have given a very objective picture of the Khalistan Movement, without giving any un-deserving sympathy to these Khalistanis. Keep up the good work.

These Khalistanis spew hatred towards India and it's majority population (Hindus) day in and day out. Also, they carry out many illegal activities to fund these movements, such as human trafficking and drug dealing. Infact, this is a common practice in Punjab (the state with Sikh majority population in India) that they pretend to be Khalistani, to somehow show that they are oppressed (thanks to the propaganda) and thus, their immigration to Canada becomes cakewalk. Going to Canada is a rage in Punjab (although for weird social reason, such as guarantee of good match, dowry, better lifestyle, reputation enhancement etc.) I wish next time, you can also throw some light on ISI's hand in Khalistan Project, since Khalistan falls under the Project K2 of ISI - Kashmir & Khalistan. Also, both these states border Pakistan, and have non-Hindu majority population, making it easier for ISI to fund and support the movement and thus break India (and eventually take revenge of Bangladesh creation).”

Last Week's 20 Qs Responses:

Last week we asked you to settle some of the most enduring debates about fast food. “These questions could start a war,” one reader told us. Apologies for any controversies stirred by us! We know fast feed is a sensitive subject. Below is the top choice from each prompt:

1. Better fries?
   McDonald's: 55%

2. Better chicken sandwich?

   Chick-fil-A:75%

3. Better pizza?

   Pizza Hut: 36%

4. Better non-Chipotle Mexican place?

   Moe's: 57%

5. Bigger ripoff?

   Starbucks: 80%

6. Better soda?

   McDonald's Sprite: 57%

7. Better regional chain?

   In N Out: 45%

8. Where are you ordering?

   Drive-thru: 62%

9. Better name?

10. Long John Silver's

    Whataburger: 59%

11. Better fried chicken?

    Bojangles: 42%

12. Better smoothie chain?

    Smoothie King: 80%

13. Better ice cream?

    Cold Stone: 38%

14. Better coffee?

    Dunkin: 42%

15. Better convenience store?

    Buc-ee's: 50%

16. Do you get gas or food first at an exit?

    Gas: 86%

17. Do you order a meal by its number or name? (E.g., I'll get the number 4 meal vs. I'll get the quarter pounder meal)

    Name: 60%

18. Have you eaten at a Cracker Barrel?

    Yes: 82%

19. Better non-McDonald's burger chain?

    Wendy's: 69%

20. Your answer above or McDonald's?

    McDonald's: 60%

21. Bonus! Better 1 am spot?

    Taco Bell: 80%

🧠 Final Thoughts

While we are writing this newsletter to you while half-soaked, we’re still grateful for another week of nonpartisan and informative news.

Stay dry this weekend and see you Monday!