🎤 Who won the Republican debate?

Happy Thursday! It’s August 24 — people are talking about the first Republican presidential debate, the merits of matcha vs. coffee, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly.

🎤 In the news: Who won the GOP debate?

8 Republican (GOP) presidential candidates debated on Wednesday night, with the noted absence of Donald Trump. Who made the best impression?

🎤 The Atlantic says Vivek Ramaswamy stood above the rest. He was the "main character" — many candidates attacked him, but he defended well. Nikki Haley also had a good night.

🎤 Vox isn’t sure who won, but says Ron DeSantis definitely lost. He's the most popular contender, but fizzled last night — most candidates ignored him entirely.

🎤 But the NYT thinks there can’t really be a winner, because Trump didn't debate — he's the frontrunner by a massive margin. The debate likely didn't change the tide of the election.

🎤 New Republic agrees: Trump didn't debate, but still won. 7 out of the 8 candidates said they'd support him if he was convicted — including Chris Christie, an outspoken Trump critic! He's too powerful to criticize.

☕ Cultural trend: Coffee vs. matcha

Coffee and matcha both have their own health benefits, as well as side effects. Which one should you drink?

☕ US News says both are great options, but coffee has been researched extensively, giving it the edge. We know a lot about it — there’s comfort in that.

☕ The Teamakers of London says matcha is superior. It's full of antioxidants, it regulates your energy, and it's not addictive like coffee.

☕ But HealthNews points out that matcha is more expensive, and can cause liver toxicity. Coffee doesn’t run that risk, and it’s more accessible.

☕ Heathline likes both drinks: They each contribute to weight loss, higher brain function, heart health, improved mood, and cancer prevention.

Quick hits

⚾ Two-way MLB star Shohei Ohtani has a torn UCL, and will not pitch for the rest of the season. (NY Post)

🎣 After Japan started releasing nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, China banned Japanese seafood imports. (Fox News)

🏛️ Rudy Giuliani turned himself in for the racketeering case against Donald Trump. Other than Trump, he faces the most charges in the case. (NYT)

⚫ Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mercenary leader in the Russia-Ukraine war, is presumed dead after a plane crash. (NYT)

That’s it for today. Reply at [email protected] to let me know what you think of our newsletter, or to suggest a topic for next time.

Here at Shades we’re trying something new – quick summaries from different points of view. We think it’s a better way to stay informed and see the big picture. Please reach out if you’re curious to learn more!

- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)