Inflation Comes for Barbecue in Texas

Plus: abortion bans mean higher health-care costs; the James Webb Telescope; and a new artists’ collective in Africa. View in browser | Update your preferences Tuesday, July 19, 2022 In today’s newsletter: • Abortion bans mean higher health-care costs • What we’ll learn from the James Webb Telescope • Inside an artists’ collective in the D.R.C. Inflation Comes for Barbecue in Texas When R-BBQ had to cut its hours and reduce its portions, the effects rippled through the community. Photograph by Sarah Karlan for The New Yorker In many small Texas towns, the local barbecue restaurant is a social and economic hub. Sabinal, a town with one stoplight, two gas stations, and one taxidermist, is no different. On many days of the week, R-BBQ—which has blue booths, red bandana-print curtains, and a daily lunch special written on a whiteboard—is one of only two lunch options that are not fast-food chains. The owner Robert Rodriguez’s regulars are so regular that they have a table that’s unofficially reserved for them; some know his prices so well that they come in with exact change for their meal already portioned out. “You raise the prices ten cents, and they know it,” Rodriguez said. —Rachel Monroe, from “The True Costs of Inflation in Small-Town Texas” Read the story Support The New Yorker’s award-winning journalism. Subscribe today » From the News Desk Currency ​​Another Likely Effect of the Roe Reversal: Higher Health-Care Costs Abortion bans could lead to more high-risk pregnancies, which could raise the price of providing health care to women. By Sheelah Kolhatkar Elements The First Images from the James Webb Telescope Are Breathtaking—and Significant Reminiscent of Vermeer, but carrying news of the origins of the universe, the photos are just the beginning. By Rivka Galchen Editor’s Pick Letter from Lusanga Can an Artists’ Collective in Africa Repair a Colonial Legacy? Its founders believe that they can use the tools of the Western art world to help heal the effects of more than a century of plunder. By Alice Gregory Culture Dept. Dancing Passion, Abstraction, and Pam Tanowitz The choreographer’s “Song of Songs” takes ideas about love, Judaism, and community and distills them in movement. By Jennifer Homans Culture Desk How Hate5six Captures the Hardcore Universe In a subculture that thrives on spontaneity and obscurity, Sunny Singh’s video library stands out as a lovingly curated record. By Adlan Jackson The New Yorker Interview Jay Duplass Doesn’t Want to Be a Coen Brother Anymore The director-actor-writer-producer talks about uncoupling with his brother and creative partner, his role in Season 2 of the HBO drama “Industry,” and his most ambitious project yet. By Naomi Fry Fun & Games Dept. Blitt’s Kvetchbook Jan. 6 and Chill The televised hearings return to prime time. By Barry Blitt Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Liz Maynes-Aminzade Daily Shouts God’s Grant Proposal I’m writing to request a one-time grant of fifty thousand dollars to aid in the creation of a new bipedal, mostly hairless, fairly bad-smelling mammal. By River Clegg Crossword A Moderately Challenging Puzzle Indigenous people of Hispaniola: five letters. By Aimee Lucido Daily Cartoon Tuesday, July 19th By David Sipress P.S. The comedy duo Desus & Mero (real names Daniel Baker and Joel Martinez) are ending their talk show on Showtime, and “will be pursuing separate creative endeavors moving forward,” according to an official announcement. Since the late two-thousands, they have conquered successive forms of media together, including Twitter, podcasts, and, later, TV. In 2020, Carrie Battan spoke to the pair about how their style had changed as they got older and attracted a wider audience. “Every now and again, we’ll get people who’ll say we’ve sold out,” Desus said. “But it’s, like, Fam, we’ve grown. Sorry if you don’t like it. We’re becoming better people. And we’re still funny.” Today’s newsletter was written by Ian Crouch. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up for The Daily. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2022. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.