‘Love is Blind’ nightmare

Plus, we’re also covering:

• Why Reddit and TikTok are hating on MLM salespeople.
• How Amazon is preparing its managers for pay-related questions from staffers.
• The updated list of EVs eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits is out.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

Ralph Yarl, credit crunch, & more

• Ralph Yarl shooting: Andrew Lester, 85, charged with armed assault. Yarl was shot twice after he mistakenly rang the wrong doorbell in Kansas City, Missouri. Read more.
• A credit crunch has started, Morgan Stanley CIO says. Mike Wilson said data shows a clear tightening of lending standards by banks. More here.
• Ron DeSantis threatens to build a state prison next to Disney World. But Disney is not expected to give up its power without a fight.

‘Love is Blind’ reality

The series premiered on Netflix in February 2020. It had all the hallmarks of a cultural phenomenon, including an “SNL” sketch and contestant appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

On the show, 30 people spend 10 days going on dates in custom-built pods — then decide whether to get engaged to another cast member sight unseen.

Some contestants told us they were so exhausted they’d fall asleep during dates. Many were rarely spotted without alcohol. They said their phones and passports were confiscated. And they only saw sunlight when they used a bathroom in a trailer outside.

“You thrust us into this situation without any support, and everything’s amplified,” Nick Thompson, who appeared on season two, told Insider. “It literally ruins lives.”

MLM vitriol, VC star, & more

• Social media is hating on people who shill for multi-level marketing schemes. The MLM model — made famous by brands like Tupperware, Mary Kay, and Amway — has been around for decades. But a lot of the online vitriol toward MLMs is targeted at participants, rather than the twisted corporate manipulation that lures them. Read more here.
• Mark Suster is the star of LA’s startup scene — and not everyone is a fan. The managing partner of Upfront Ventures hosts a glitzy annual summit with attendees like Gwyneth Paltrow and Serena Williams. But his abrasive approach has alienated some founders and investors, who say they will never work with him again. Our full story here.
• Amazon shares guidelines with managers to prepare them for pay-related questions. This year’s pay-review cycle comes at a particularly contentious time for the company. The guidelines cover questions about pay equity, stock fluctuations, and inflation problems. See them here.
• A professor was murdered after a Facebook post branded him a traitor. Before the 2021 murder of an Ethiopian professor, his son and one of Facebook’s trusted partners say they warned Facebook about posts threatening his life. Now, six Ethiopian partners told Insider that Facebook routinely ignored their pleas to take down hateful content. Read the story.
• Women breadwinners filing taxes notice a strange pattern: Their husband’s name is always first. This may be a firm policy or habit that carries over from previous years, or echoes of sexism. One woman told us that even though she earns more than her husband, their accountant listed him as the primary taxpayer. More on that here.
• The updated list of EVs eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits is out. Only 10 electric vehicles can get the full credit amount starting from today, while six others qualify for partial credits. From the Cadillac Lyriq to the Ford F-150 Lightning, see the full list.
• “My 28-year marriage ended in a UPS store.” A woman shared how after a 24-month-long process to get a divorce, her marriage ended at a UPS store with a stamp from a notary – and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Read her story.

Maybach’s first EV

So Expensive

Keep up with Insider

• Get Insider’s app and notifications to be the first to find out about the stories you want to know — from tech to business. Download it here.
• Become an Insider subscriber to get actionable, high-value news and insights to improve your career, company, and community. Subscribe here.
• Want more of Insider in your inbox? Sign up for our newsletters here.