✍️ Signature makeovers

Plus: Ukraine's plea | Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Open in app View in browser     Axios Closer By Hope King and Nathan Bomey · Feb 28, 2023 Tuesday ✅. Today's newsletter is 676 words, a 2½-minute read. 🔔 The dashboard: The S&P 500 closed up 0.3%. Biggest gainer? Dentsply Sirona (+10.2%), the dental equipment supplier, delivered favorable sales guidance for 2023. Biggest decliner? Norwegian Cruise Line (-10.2%), after delivering a wider-than-expected loss in Q4.     1 big thing: Calling on U.S. manufacturers Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the National Association of Manufacturers board. Photo: David Bohrer, NAM   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky exhorted American businesses to begin investing in the country's reconstruction, even before its war with Russia is over, Nathan writes. Why it matters: In addition to the tremendous loss of life, the devastation in Ukraine has wreaked havoc on the country's economy. The World Bank estimated in September that Ukraine's reconstruction needs had already reached $349 billion. Driving the news: "We are calling on all businesses to come to Ukraine and to leave the Russian market," Zelensky said this morning in a live speech to the National Association of Manufacturers board. "American business has every opportunity to take a leadership position both in the reconstruction of the Ukraine economy and infrastructure." Details: The country faces the challenge of restoring hundreds of thousands of sites damaged during the war, including infrastructure, social facilities and residential properties, Zelensky said. A New York Times report earlier this month detailed how thousands of businesses around the world are gearing up for the possible multibillion-dollar market of rebuilding the country. What they're saying: "Manufacturers in America will continue to stand with Ukraine," NAM CEO Jay Timmons told Zelensky today. "We will be there." Zoom in: Zelensky urged American companies not to wait for the war to end to begin investing in Ukraine. "So that by the time we restore peace, your hard work has already yielded results," he said. The bottom line: Zelensky reiterated his belief that "democracy will defeat tyranny," saying Ukraine will repel Russia and "restore the full power of international law." Share this story.     2. Charted: No shelter from the storm Data: First Street Foundation; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals Wind damage from hurricanes could become a new reality for many in the coming decades. Hurricane risk will grow along the East and Gulf coasts over the next 30 years and expand into inland areas previously thought to be out of reach for most of these storms, according to new research from the nonprofit First Street Foundation. Why it matters: How hurricane-related wind damage risks are priced into insurance policies and whether they are disclosed to prospective home buyers has major implications for the real estate and insurance industries, Axios Generate co-author Andrew Freedman writes. Go deeper.     3. What's happening 🏛 Julie Su, a longtime advocate for workers' rights, was nominated to lead the Labor Department. (Axios) 🚙 Tesla plans to build an EV plant in northern Mexico. (Bloomberg) 📉 Rivian shares slid after-market following its Q4 results and underwhelming production outlook. (CNBC)     A message from Axios The latest dealmaking trends     Hear exclusive insights from top dealmaking professionals and better understand the current market landscape to get ahead of the competition in 2023. Download whitepaper now.     4. Student debt relief plan in jeopardy Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a rally in support of the Biden administration's student debt relief plan in front of the Supreme Court today. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images   The Supreme Court seems inclined to kill President Biden's plan to forgive billions of dollars of student debt, Axios' Erin Doherty writes. During oral arguments on Tuesday, conservative justices — with a 6-3 majority in the court — questioned Biden's legal authority to offer the debt relief. Zoom in: They invoked the "major questions doctrine," which holds that the executive branch needs explicit congressional approval to act on the biggest issues. The court has used that doctrine lately to strike down several Democratic priorities, including environmental regulations and COVID vaccine mandates. The court's liberal justices appeared to back the Biden administration's arguments for the plan and expressed skepticism over whether the challengers have the legal standing to block it. Go deeper.   Share Axios and earn rewards If you like this newsletter, your friends may, too! Refer your friends and get free Axios swag when they sign up. Be a good friend and share   5. A flashy new X Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   Having a signature signature will cost you, Nathan writes. State of play: Sure, it's the digital age, but some people still want a good-looking, old-fashioned signature — so much so that they're willing to pay for one. It's called a "signature makeover," and people tend to get one because "they're tired of the way they sign their names," AP reports. How it works: A calligrapher provides an array of new signature options, and you commit to practicing your preferred version — sometimes using a stencil for muscle memory. AP quoted signature designers selling their services for anywhere from $10 to $600. "It's a way for people to reinvent themselves," St. Louis calligrapher Sonia Palamand says. 💭 Nathan's thought bubble: I wonder if John Hancock was satisfied with his signature.     6. What they're saying "A good coach will correct your moves, and a great coach will correct your thinking." — New York City chess coach and national master Jerald Times, interviewed by Chess.com to mark Black History Month.     A message from Axios The latest dealmaking trends     Hear exclusive insights from top dealmaking professionals and better understand the current market landscape to get ahead of the competition in 2023. Download whitepaper now.   Today's newsletter was edited by Pete Gannon and copy edited by Sheryl Miller. ✏️ Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here to get Axios Closer in your inbox. Why stop here? Let's go Pro. Join the thousands of professionals using Axios Pro to keep up with the companies, deals and trends changing their industries.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: