🌊 Shine Bright Like a Quasar

Oh no, The Simpsons does it again.

From predicting the Trump presidency to the NSA spying scandal, The Simpsons has a knack for telling the future. Yesterday we saw a headline that Red Lobster is winding down its all-you-can-eat buffet options because they’re losing millions due to America’s rather capable eaters. Hmm, the story sounded familiar.

We recall a Simpsons episode — written by Conan O’Brien actually — where Homer nearly bankrupted the Frying Dutchman after inhaling its buffet food for hours on end, including "all our shrimp, and two plastic lobsters.” Does nobody in corporate America do their homework anymore? How much plastic crustacean does Homer have to eat to make a point?

In today's edition:

And so much more!

–Max, Max, Jen, and Alex

KEY STORY
Shine Bright Like a Quasar

Astronomers claim to have identified the brightest object ever observed

• Astronomers identified the object, called J0529-4351, as a “quasar,” a type of supermassive black hole that consumes so much energy that it shines brightly. They said it is 17B-19B times more massive than our Sun and 500T times more luminous

• They also predicted it consumes the equivalent of 370 Suns per year, or roughly one Sun per day

• Light from the quasar took 12B years to reach Earth, meaning the quasar is among the Universe’s oldest objects

Dig Deeper

• Astronomers first identified the object in 1980, but initially misclassified it as a star. Using high-powered space telescopes, Australian researchers determined last year that it was a quasar

• Quasars are usually at the center of galaxies and, given their power, are often described as the Universe’s most destructive objects

KEY STORY
China Threatens US Ports

President Biden signed an executive order to boost domestic port crane manufacturing amid fears that Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical US infrastructure

• Port cranes – which haul cargo to and from vessels – are integral to US shipping, which drives the economy. ~80% of US port cranes are manufactured in China, though, fueling fears that China could hack them and bring the economy to a standstill

• The executive order allocates $20B to boost domestic crane manufacturing. It also gives the US Coast Guard more authority to handle cybersecurity risks that target American ports and shipping

Dig Deeper

• The Biden administration said that the order has already led the US subsidiary of a Japanese company to announce plans to onshore its manufacturing of such cranes, making the first time in 30+ years that such cranes will be manufactured in the US

KEY STORY
Milei’s First Month

Argentina registered its first monthly budget surplus in 12 years last month

• Last December, Javier Milei, a libertarian economist, became Argentina’s president. He immediately took aggressive steps to overhaul the economy, including by devaluing Argentina’s currency and slashing government spending. He warned that the economic situation would worsen then begin improving by this spring

• In January – Milei’s first full month in office – annualized inflation hit a 32-year high of 254.2%, although month-over-month inflation decelerated to 20.6% from 25.5% in December. Meanwhile, 57.4% of Argentinians were in poverty in January, a 20-year high, while 15% were in “destitution,” meaning intense poverty. However, the country also recorded its first monthly budget surplus since 2012

Dig Deeper

• Milei’s spokesperson heralded the budget surplus as a sign that “shock therapy” is fixing Argentina’s longstanding debt issue, which for decades has caused repeated economic crises

• A looming threat to Milei’s presidency is labor unrest, which began with a general strike on January 24 – the earliest in a presidential term a strike has ever begun. Labor unrest has continued, with some workers walking off this week and others threatening to do so

KEY STORY
Honduras President on Trial

Former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández (JOH) went to trial in a US court on drug and weapons charges

• JOH, who served as Honduras’ president from 2014 to 2022, claimed to work closely with the US to combat the flow of drugs through his country

• Weeks after leaving office in 2022, though, he was arrested and extradited to the US, where he was charged with accepting millions of dollars worth of bribes, including from drug lord El Chapo, as part of a “corrupt and violent drug-trafficking conspiracy”

• JOH’s trial began on Wednesday. He has pleaded not guilty for conspiring to import cocaine and other gun-related charges

Dig Deeper

• Government figures show that between 150 and 300 tons of cocaine pass through Honduras annually, ~90% of which reach US cities

• The US' indictment of JOH cites one instance around 2013 when JOH allegedly accepted a $1M bribe from El Chapo. He allegedly used that and other drug money to fund his presidential campaign

• Two co-defendants in JOH’s case – his cousin and Honduras’ former national police chief – have pleaded guilty. JOH’s brother is also currently serving a life sentence in the US on drug charges

RUNDOWN
Some Quick Stories for the Office

🍚 Apple recommended against drying wet iPhones in rice, warning rice particles could get stuck inside phones. Apple instead suggests gently shaking phones with the charging port down and leaving them in dry spaces

🇷🇺 The US said it will impose “major sanctions” on Russia over the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny

🎤 Sam Mendes will direct four Beatles movies with Sony Pictures, set to be released in 2027. Backed by the band’s surviving members and their families, each film will explore the perspective of a different band member

🍎 Apple launched "Apple Sports," a free app offering real-time scores, betting odds, and more. It is designed for quick updates and integration with Apple News

✈️ Boeing fired the vice president of its 737 MAX passenger jet program as part of its bid to ensure that “every airplane we deliver meets or exceeds all quality and safety requirements,” the company said

🇩🇪 The German Football League (DFL) canceled a $1B deal to sell 8% of its TV and marketing rights due to a fan revolt. Fans – angered by what they call the over-commercialization of soccer – protested by throwing objects onto fields to disrupt games

🐄 What’s the body’s most abundant protein? Answer: Collagen. NativePath's Certified Grass-Fed Collagen Powder is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows and contains 18 grams of protein per serving. Start incorporating it daily to support skin elasticity, joint health, bone strength, and muscle growth and maintenance*

*sponsored content

COMMUNITY
Weekly Debate

Unlike most news outlets that suppress dissenting opinions, our platform encourages free and open debate. We introduce a topic every Monday and publish responses throughout the week to continue the discussion.

This week’s Roca Votes asks: Should the president have to undergo an annual cognitive exam?

Have additional thoughts or responses to Geoff or Zach? Let us know what you think by replying to this email!

COMMUNITY
Treasure Hunt

Welcome to the weekly Roca treasure hunt! The rules are simple:

• Every day we give a hint. You get one guess, which you submit by emailing [email protected] with a Google street view screenshot

• Unlock an extra hint each Thursday once you refer five friends

• The first person to guess the answer wins this week’s prize: A free year of Roca premium!

Clue 1: Distillery’s yield but not a peak

Clue 2: The legacy of my mentor at sea

Clue 3: Ha-ha separations

Know the answer? Send a street view screenshot to [email protected]!

POPCORN
Some Quick Stories for Happy Hour

🥳 “Who do you know here?” “Ryan”: Thousands of Ryans are set to get together at a “Ryan Rodeo” in Austin, TX, hosted by the Brooklyn-based group “Ryan Meetup”

🦌 Oh, deer! Police reported that a deer crashed into an entry door of a New Jersey elementary school, causing a spider web-like crack and prompting students and staff to shelter in place

💊 Viagra City: Spanish police arrested a priest and his partner, accusing them of illegally selling Viagra and other aphrodisiacs. The priest’s diocese expressed regret over his actions

☕️ Cup o’pork: Starbucks Reserve locations in China launched a pork-flavored latte for the Lunar New Year, blending Dongpo Braised Pork Flavor Sauce with espresso and steamed milk

👨‍⚖️ In a dark desert courtroom: New York collectibles dealers are in court over their alleged plot to prevent Eagles co-founder Don Henley from recovering handwritten lyrics to songs from “Hotel California”

🚛 What the truck…: Ohio police arrested a Pennsylvania truck driver with 649 arrest warrants, including 322 felonies. She is now returning to Pennsylvania to face the charges

ROCA WRAP
Indonesia, Part 2: The New Order

Every day we take a deep dive into an interesting story, place, or person. Subscribers get full access.

On May 21, 1998, Suharto went on Indonesian television.

"I express my deepest gratitude,” he said, “And I express my deepest sorrow if there were mistakes, failures, and shortcomings.” And with that, Asia's longest-serving leader gave up his throne.

One of Indonesia’s most important cultural traditions is a puppet show.

The so-called “wayang” is a spectacle in which puppeteers play out scenes from national mythology, history, and religious tradition. Accompanying festivals, celebrations, and other events, the wayang often features a wise and powerful figure known as a “Semar”

To seize power, Suharto had to become the Semar.

In 1965, a coup nearly toppled the country’s post-independence leader, Sukarno. Sukarno responded by signing the “Supersemar” – a document that gave a general, Suharto, whatever power he “deemed necessary” to restore order to Indonesia. Suharto used that power to portray himself as the wise leader – the Semar – Indonesia needed.

Then, with British and American support, he had hundreds of thousands of alleged communists killed in what the CIA called “one of the worst mass murders of the 20th century.”

When the dust settled, Suharto was the country’s undisputed leader.

He declared that Indonesia would exist under a “New Order” characterized by anti-communist and secular ideas, which many interpreted as anti-Islamist. A group of military officers combined with a small number of civilians governed the country, promising above all economic development.

Suharto aligned the country with the West, opened it to foreign capital, turned it into a major oil producer, and opposed communism.

Those policies worked to combat inflation and quickly grow the economy, but corruption became rampant as Suharto and his family and friends took control of key sectors of the economy.

At the same time, Suharto tried to keep the country together.

Indonesia is spread over 17,000+ islands where people speak 800+ languages. Suharto worked to elevate one language – Bahasa Indonesia – across the nation, all while centralizing power.

He also used the military to brutally crush nationalist rebellions on various islands, although one such effort failed and led to the creation of a new country, East Timor.

Indonesia spent 32 years quickly growing under Suharto’s authoritarian military leadership. By 1998, though, he couldn’t hold on: A financial crisis had struck Southeast Asia, wiping out the value of Indonesia’s currency and causing inflation to soar. People wanted Suharto – then 76 and one of only two world leaders to have been in power for over 30 years – to go.

That May, millions of people joined mass protests in what some feared could become a replay of Tiananmen Square, where the Chinese military massacred protesting students in 1989.

Simultaneously, riots broke out, claiming hundreds of lives. As the chaos spread, Suharto’s support evaporated and he resigned, enabling Indonesia’s transformation.

What would the new Indonesia look like? 

Suharto’s resignation left the country in chaos, facing rebellions, riots, and an economic crisis. Many predicted the country would fall back into the military’s hands.

Yet that’s not what happened.

In a period known as “reformasi” – “reform era” – the country’s politics became increasingly open, with political parties allowed and elections scheduled throughout the country.

Various elites passed power around until 2014, when a man born in the slums was elected president. That man, Joko Widodo, promised to unleash Indonesia’s potential at last.

Would he succeed?

We will publish Part 3 of this 3-part series in tomorrow’s newsletter!

Reply to this email to let us know what you think!

ROCA WRAP
Indonesia, Part 2: The New Order

Every day we take a deep dive into an interesting story, place, or person. Subscribers get full access.

On May 21, 1998, Suharto went on Indonesian television.

 "I express my deepest gratitude,” he said, “And I express my deepest sorrow if there were mistakes, failures, and shortcomings.” And with that, Asia's longest-serving leader gave up his throne. 

One of Indonesia’s most important cultural traditions is a puppet show.

The so-called “wayang” is a spectacle in which puppeteers play out scenes from national mythology, history, and religious tradition. Accompanying festivals, celebrations, and other events, the wayang often features a wise and powerful figure known as a “Semar.” To seize power, Suharto had to become the Semar.

In 1965, a coup nearly toppled the country’s post-independence leader, Sukarno 

Sukarno responded by signing the “Supersemar” – a document that gave a general, Suharto, whatever power he “deemed necessary” to restore order to Indonesia. Suharto used that power to portray himself as the wise leader – the Semar – Indonesia needed.

Then, with British and American support, he had hundreds of thousands of alleged communists killed in what the CIA called “one of the worst mass murders of the 20th century.”

When the dust settled, Suharto was the country’s undisputed leader.

He declared that Indonesia would exist under a “New Order,” characterized by anti-communist and secular ideas which many interpreted as anti-Islamist. A group of military officers combined with a small number of civilians governed the country, promising above all economic development and stability.

Suharto aligned the country with the West, opened it to foreign capital, turned it into a major oil producer, and opposed communism.

The policies worked to combat inflation and quickly grow the economy, but corruption became rampant as Suharto and his family and friends took control of key sectors of the economy.

At the same time, Suharto tried to keep the country together.

…

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ON-THE-GROUND
Roca in Serbia

We send our co-founder Max Frost to investigate topics around the world and he writes about them here. He’s currently writing from Serbia. Subscribers receive the full stories.

The night before I arrived in Serbia, I went through our Instagram post that asked for contacts there. One guy, Aleksandar, had offered to meet us in Novi Sad, my first Serbian destination, so I texted him. 

After three weeks of being told how cold and nationalistic Serbs are, I didn’t know what to expect. It certainly wasn’t Aleksandar’s response: “Great…do you need a place to stay?”

He first offered his spare apartment, and when he realized that was booked, his couch. He relented only after I insisted my Airbnb was fine. 

We met at a restaurant on a busy avenue in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city. Given all I had heard, I imagined Serbia being Russia-esque: Quiet, dark, gray, uninviting. But it was nothing like that. The city was vibrant and its restaurants were packed; people seemed happy, sophisticated, and warm. Aleksandar was no different. 

A fluent English speaker who owns his own marketing company, he told me that I was right about Novi Sad but cautioned about generalizing. 

“In the big cities, it’s less about politics. People here are more about business.”

And for many people, business was booming. 

Near where we sat, there were brand-new all-glass office buildings identical to what you’d see in Washington, DC or London. He said many of the people around us were software engineers, a booming industry in Serbia. Others were Russian emigrés who had fled their country and moved their businesses or set up new ones in Serbia. 

“We are living better now than we did 10 years ago,” Aleksandar said. “We have much better lives.”

“15 years ago. I didn’t know if I’d find a job right out of high school or what. I accepted a job that was financed by the government so I worked for a company and the government paid me and then I paid the employer,” Aleksandar said. “But now, talking as an employer, it’s really hard to find employees because there’s so much opportunity.”

But Serbia is not a rich country: Its per-capita GDP is $9,230, a fifth that of Germany and an eighth that of the US. Like the other Balkan countries, it faces an exodus of young people who are moving for better pay and easier lives in the EU. 

“When I tell my American friends what the average salary here is they look at this place totally differently,” Aleksandar said. ”For this state, the median salary is 600 euros per month. A lot of people here work in software development. For them, starting salary is 6 or 700 euros per month. For senior developers, it’s up to 5,000 euros.”

Developers in the US may make 10 times those figures. 

The state we were in was Vojvodina, which covers the northern part of Serbia and is the country’s most prosperous region. Long a part of Austria-Hungary, it didn’t unify with Serbia until after World War 1, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. At that point, Vojvodina was a hub for rail transport and industry which left it far more developed than the rest of Serbia. 

But even here, Aleksandar said, wealth was limited to the cities. 

“If you go to smaller towns and villages, you’ll see it’s really bad. People there live off 200, 300 euros a month. They inherited houses and they have their own animals so they can live off that.”

“It’s in smaller places where the income is less that you can really hear a lot of nationalist stories and meet people that are like hardcore Serbians, hard core local Serbian Progressive Party.” That’s the nationalist party that has been ruling Serbia since 2012. 

“People in the rural areas aren’t necessarily more nationalistic,” Aleksandar said. “But they are, how you say, ‘Cheaper votes.’ So the government goes to them and increases the minimum wage and pays 30 euros for a vote and says, ‘Serbia is strong!’”

“You can’t really get that in the city because people are more educated and they understand how the world works in general.”

He continued: “Politics here is like really bullshit. It’s all tied in with the mafia. And the majority of the votes are coming from retired people and the working class.” He said the irony is that the working class can’t make enough to survive because of the government. 

“There’s a fiction of an opposition. So people like me don’t really vote, because we know the opposition isn’t strong. And the ruling party knows they can divide the opposition.” 

After the conversation, Aleksandar insisted on paying the bill. Before we left, I asked one more question: Given the poverty and corruption, would he rather be living in Yugoslavia? 

“If you ask me as an entrepreneur, I’d say no because you couldn’t do anything if you weren’t a communist.”

“But if you ask me as a citizen, I’d say yes because there was more prosperity.”

Reply to this email to let us know what you think!

EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts

Staff writer – and astronomy connoisseur – Alex here with a few black hole facts!

• Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, published in 1916, was the first to predict in the context of modern physics that black holes must exist. Yet Einstein himself believed that black holes could not be real – and even wrote an article arguing against his own theory

• Astronomers released the first picture of a black hole in 2019 (shown below). The bright ring is superheated gas on the verge of being eaten; the dark circle in the middle is the black hole

  

  First picture of a black hole

  We hope you enjoyed the black hole content today… and don’t fixate on the fact that star-eating, endless pits exist.
  
  — Max, Max, Jen and Alex