Top Stories this AM: Giuliani's election fraud hotline backfired spectacularly; Singapore settles in as a crypto hotspot; the National Spelling Bee winner is cooler than we'll ever be
Good morning and welcome to your weekday morning roundup of the top stories you need to know.
For more daily and weekly briefings, sign up for our newsletters here.
What's going on today:
- Who could have guessed it would end this way? Rudy Giuliani's election fraud hotline drew in "thousands of dick pics" and animal porn, new Michael Wolff book says. The photos, videos, and other "virulent screeds" forced those monitoring the hotline to beg for other duties, Wolff wrote.
- Singapore and crypto: A love story. Crypto executives and companies are flocking to Singapore to take advantage of its crypto-friendly regulations and growth potential. The city-state offers a simpler regulatory process and a grace period that lets crypto firms operate while waiting for their licenses.
- Do you even know what a fewtrils is? 14-year-old Zaila Avant-garde becomes the first African-American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 8th grader is the first champion from Louisiana and also holds three Guinness world records. She sailed to victory by spelling "murraya" correctly. Can you believe?
- Da Vinci's not-so-big bear. A Da Vinci sketch the size of a Post-It Note just sold at a Christie's auction for $12 million. The tiny drawing is 2.75 by 2.75 inches in size and is one of the Italian Renaissance master's rare studies of animals.
- Floridians get their own Capitol riots indictment. The DOJ unveiled a massive indictment accusing five Floridians of attacking seven police officers during the Capitol riot. The defendants used riot shields and flagpoles to hit officers in the head, and later punched, kicked, and elbowed officers, prosecutors allege.
- Coins for crap, literally. This South Korean toilet powers a university building and lets you buy food and books after you poop. Using this special toilet can get you books, fruit, and even freshly brewed coffee through a digital currency that poopers are rewarded with.
That's all for now. See you Monday.