☕ Beaver suit

Buc-ee’s ramps up trademark protection efforts… August 10, 2026 View Online | Sign Up | Shop Presented By Yo. Did you hear about the guy who hooked up his hamster’s wheel to Strava? That little critter has been clearing up to 6 miles per night since he started on July 29. We’re concerned that he’s running on the wheel of time, though, because it’s definitely been getting darker earlier since then… —Holly Van Leuven, Brendan Cosgrove, Neal Freyman In today’s newsletter, we’ll look at: Buc-ee’s launching a lot of trademark lawsuits The US “low-keying it” with Iran Berkshire Hathaway spending Warren Buffett’s cash horde Markets: Year-to-Date Nasdaq 26,690.62 +14.84% S&P 7,757.64 +13.32% Dow 54,036.93 +12.43% 10-Year 4.660% +49.7 bps Bitcoin $65,003.77 -25.72% Hims & Hers $31.59 -2.71% Data is provided by *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 11:00pm ET. Here's what these numbers mean. Markets: All three major indexes are coming off their best week in months, thanks to a strong showing led by tech stocks on Friday. This week, it’s all about prices and the US consumer, the backbone of the country’s economy (more on that later). Stock spotlight: Over the past six months, Hims & Hers Health is up more than 63%, but still down year to date. The telehealth company will report earnings today after the closing bell. Three chains in a beaver suit Buc-ee’s goes beast mode on trademark protection Brandon Bell/Getty Images We thought the only Angry Beavers were Norbert and Daggett, but it might be time to add Buc-ee to the list. Buc-ee’s has garnered a lot of attention for a series of lawsuits it’s filed regarding alleged trademark infringement on its beloved buck-toothed boi. Beaver says ‘leave it’ The convenience mart-slash-gas station chain based in Texas recently thrilled international World Cup fans, but public sentiment has since shifted. On July 26, John Oliver dedicated a segment of Last Week Tonight to the barrage of lawsuits Buc-ee’s has lodged against smaller businesses. These include: Suing the clothing brand Born United for an apparel line featuring a beaver strikingly similar to the Buc-ee’s mascot carrying an automatic weapon. The brand pulled the offending products from its site. A dog park in Missouri called Barc-ee’s, which shut down as a result of the lawsuit. Choke Canyon Bar-B-Q, a San Antonio, TX-based restaurant chain with a circular logo featuring a cartoon alligator. A jury in Houston, TX, ruled it was too similar to Buc-ee’s. The suit that may have garnered the most negative PR, though, is the one it lodged against the Mickey’s convenience store chain in Ohio with 42 locations: Mickey’s has been operating since 1982, the same year the first Buc-ee’s opened in Clute, TX. The Ohio chain’s logo boasts a cartoon moose, which has apparently coexisted with the Buc-ee’s beaver in the convenience-mart-sphere for 35 years without a prior dust-up. But in February of this year, two months before Buc-ee’s opened its first Ohio location, Team Beaver sued Mickey’s, saying that its moose was too similar because it also featured a “cartoon animal facing right with wide eyes and a smile.” When asked about the case by the Wall Street Journal, a Buc-ee’s representative said the company doesn’t comment on ongoing litigation. Zoom out: The governor of Ohio wants Buc-ee’s to let it be…aver, and thinks it should drop the suit. Mickey’s CEO said in a statement, “We intend to move forward as the Mickey’s you’ve always known…we aren’t going anywhere.” However, the case is still pending, and a settlement conference is scheduled for Sept. 9.—HVL        Reader Poll Do you think Buc-ee’s is being overly aggressive with its trademark lawsuits? Yes, do less, Buc-ee’s. No, protecting the brand is everything. Maybe, but I’d like more court verdicts to decide. Sponsored By FinanceBuzz Is your car insurance getting…expensive? When was the last time you reviewed your auto insurance coverage? Auto insurance needs change over time, as do vehicle values, driving habits, and carrier policy options. If you’ve had the same policy for a while, taking a few minutes to explore what else is available in your area could reveal significant opportunities to adjust your monthly budget. In fact, drivers who take the time to compare top options could save up to $600 per year when they switch to a policy that better fits their current situation. You don't need to spend hours navigating complicated paperwork to check your options. Using a quick online tool, you can easily compare top insurance choices side by side. Simply enter your zip code and basic vehicle information to start shopping for a policy that suits your budget. Try it out. World Tour de headlines Atta Kenare/Getty Images 🇮🇷 Trump told Axios, “We are low-keying it” with Iran. The status update came in a brief phone call with Trump yesterday, the outlet said, where he elaborated that “we are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money.” Last week, an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz negotiated with Oman’s help was expected imminently, but it hasn’t materialized. On Saturday, Iran issued a statement with demands for reopening the strait, which largely matched the terms laid out in the now-defunct June memo of understanding. Some experts say the mixed messages signal division within the Iranian leadership. 🌏 Netanyahu rejected Trump-backed 15-point Gaza peace plan. In a statement yesterday, the Israeli prime minister said Israel rejected the plan put forth by President Trump’s Board of Peace, marking a rare public break between Netanyahu and the president. Netanyahu said, “The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed.” Trump said the plan, released in July, would be implemented in stages, but Sunday’s statement amounted to a rejection of that idea. Following Netanyahu’s statement, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, insisted the US-backed peace plan was “the only way forward.” 💔 A boat capsized in New York Harbor, killing mother and infant. The incident took place Saturday night near Liberty Island, the home of the Statue of Liberty, according to the US Coast Guard. Twelve people were rescued before police arrived, and were in stable condition when they arrived at the scene. Police divers discovered the 27-year-old mother and her five-month-old daughter in the water, and both were pronounced dead at a hospital. The boat’s captain was arrested and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. The Coast Guard said yesterday that an investigation is underway to determine if the boat was an illegal charter.—HVL Willing and Abel Berkshire is finally dipping into its mountain of cash Berkshire CEO Greg Abel posed for pictures before this year’s shareholder meeting in May. Omaha World-Herald/Getty Images When Greg Abel took over as Berkshire Hathaway CEO this year, he inherited two things: oracle-sized shoes to fill and a massive pile of cash. This past quarter, he took both in a new direction by going on a multibillion-dollar spending spree: At the end of Q1, Berkshire had $397 billion in cash on hand. By the end of Q2, that had shrunk to $365.5 billion, the company announced as it reported earnings on Saturday. Bye, bye, buy: During his last few years as CEO, Warren Buffett held onto cash like a broken vending machine. From October 2022 to December 2025, Berkshire was a net seller of stocks, and its cash pile more than tripled. But Abel uncorked the piggy bank last quarter, investing $10 billion in Alphabet and buying back about $4.5 billion worth of Berkshire shares—something the company traditionally only does when it believes it’s being undervalued. (Berkshire also dropped $6.8 billion on homebuilder Taylor Morrison last month, but that didn’t close until after the quarter ended.) Other ’shire things: Berkshire’s operating earnings also jumped 16% last quarter, as its energy, manufacturing, service, and retail businesses helped make up for its sagging insurance sector. You’re on thin ice, Geico gecko.—BC        Sponsored By Starbucks Industry-leading benefits, meaningful careers. Full- and part-time Starbucks partners who work just 20 hours a week can access industry-leading benefits. But at Starbucks, great benefits are just the start. Their focus is on filling 90% of retail leadership roles from within so partners like Mickey have opportunities to grow their careers. Learn more. calendar The week ahead Riccardo Milani/Getty Images Double dose of inflation data: The July consumer price index report will be released on Wednesday, then the producer price index data will be out on Thursday. The latest retail sales data will also be released on Friday, as will the preliminary results of the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey. Back to school: It’s time to pick out a new Trapper Keeper and hope you still remember how fractions work. For many, class is either back in session or just around the corner, which means discounts and sales tax holidays for several states. Families with students in elementary through high school are expected to spend a record $43.3 billion going back to school, which comes close to $864 per family, according to a National Retail Federation survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Don’t forget the sun block: There’s a solar eclipse on Wednesday and, depending on where you live, you could be in for a treat. If you’re in Canada, Alaska, or parts of the Northern and Eastern US, you’ll get to see a partial eclipse that will make the sun look like a crescent. But Iceland, Greenland, northern Russia, Spain, and northwestern Portugal will get the full package and see the moon block out the sun. As for the rest of us, we can just imagine how terrifying that experience must have been for primitive humans to witness. But wait, there’s more: CoreWeave, Lumentum, Smithfield Foods, and Cava will report earnings tomorrow, followed by Cisco and Cerebras on Wednesday. The End of Oak Street, starring Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway, and PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie roar into theaters on Friday. Brendan’s Got Good News Soccer team shows sponsors can really ad(d) up Club Deportivo Municipal/Facebook Mondays are bad enough, so the Brew’s own Brendan Cosgrove scoured the internet for a positive news story to help you start the week off right. If the Peruvian soccer team Deportivo Municipal needs an anthem, they might want to consider Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors.” The Lima-based club has struggled financially, but things went to a new level when its main uniform sponsor walked away, meaning the club literally lost its shirt. So, it had to get creative, redesigning its kit to feature 1,000 black-and-white squares, then selling each square as an ad spot for about $60 each. Small businesses from around Lima jumped at the opportunity, and some even threw in extra money, helping the club raise about $75,000, according to The Athletic. While some teams are playing checkers, Deportivo Municipal is making their jerseys look like chess.—BC Sponsored By Montauk Brewing Co. There’s a brew for everyone. Whether you love a classic ale or you’re in your N.A. era, Montauk Brewing Co. has options for you. N.A. IPA is the non-alc sibling to their highly approachable Wave Chaser IPA. Meanwhile, Surf Beer and N.A.Golden are the epitome of light, easy drinking. Try ’em. News What else is brewing Former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread further, his son Hunter told the BBC in an interview. Auto insurers didn’t pay out on 45% of auto liability and medical claims they resolved last year, according to a new analysis by the Wall Street Journal. The Odyssey became Christopher Nolan’s highest-grossing movie ever, with $1.104 billion worldwide, beating his previous high of $1.085 billion for 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. Demi Vollering of the Netherlands won her second Tour de France Femmes, becoming the first woman to do so. The inaugural Los Angeles Jazz Festival was canceled at the last minute, drawing comparisons to Fyre Festival. recs The pros and cons of using wired versus wireless Apple CarPlay. These advanced stretching techniques might make you more flexible. The legend of how the Kennedy Center got palomino mice. A novel about female friendship that lives up to its hype.** Your workspace should look as good as it performs. Eureka Ergonomic’s Ark Series desks and Royal Series chairs blend sculptural design with genuine comfort for home and executive offices alike. Find your Eureka moment.* *A message from our sponsor. **This is a product recommendation from our writers. When you buy through this link, Morning Brew may earn a commission. Play Turntable: Your central letter for the week is B, surrounded by L, M, D, E, U, and J. Can you make 34 words from those? Give it a spin and play Turntable here. Homegrown fun Today’s puzzle was invented by our very own puzzle creator, Jack Murtagh. Guess the secret password from the following clues: 1. The password has to do with one of the five senses. 2. The password begins with a chemical symbol. 3. The password has three syllables. 4. The password begins with a car brand. 5. The password is 80% vowels. Share the Brew Share the Brew, watch your referral count climb, and unlock brag-worthy swag. Your friends get smarter. You get rewarded. Win-win. Your referral count: 0 Click to Share Or copy & paste your referral link to others: morningbrew.com/r/?kid=eaab23a8 Answer Audio (We played this last week on the Morning Brew Daily podcast, which you should definitely check out.) Word of the Day Today’s Word of the Day is: kit, meaning “clothing for a particular sport.” Thanks to Peggy A. from Yorba Linda, CA, for the uniformly good suggestion. Submit another Word of the Day here. Written by Holly Van Leuven , Brendan Cosgrove, and Neal Freyman Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here. Get smarter in just 5 minutes Tech & AI News: Tech Brew Markets News: Brew Markets Real Estate News: The Playbook Money & Career: Bossy Take The Brew to work Marketing Brew CFO Brew HR Brew Revenue Brew IT Brew Retail Brew Healthcare Brew Founder Brew Interested in podcasts? Check out ours here. ADVERTISE//CAREERS//SHOP//FAQ Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here. View our privacy policy here. Copyright © 2026 Morning Brew Inc. All rights reserved. 22 W 19th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011