| This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, a Senate parliamentarian's ruling of Bloomberg Opinion's opinions. Sign up here. Today's AgendaThe Max For the MinimumThis newsletter continues to regret mocking the parliamentary procedure of the United Kingdom just for involving various maces, caps and royal family members. The American version is hardly a paragon of clarity or democracy after all. Take the minimum wage. Two-thirds of Americans want it to be $15 nationally. President Joe Biden says he wants the same thing and put it in his $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill. Done deal, right? But then last night the Senate parliamentarian — an unelected functionary in a job the Senate conjured out of thin air back in 1935 — decreed the Senate couldn't pass a $15 minimum wage by a simple majority vote. Democrats, who control both houses of Congress and the White House and could overrule the parliamentarian if they wanted to, just said, "Too bad so sad." And you can't even blame the parliamentarian, because the dirty secret is there aren't enough Democratic votes to pass this overwhelmingly popular measure by a simple majority anyway, much less enough to break a filibuster, another straitjacket the Senate just up and decided to start wearing around one day. Maybe it's all for the best. Not all popular things are good. Michael R. Strain and others have warned a $15 national minimum wage would hurt the recovery. And yet! Noah Smith has written some small tweaks could address such concerns. And Matt Winkler points out the 29 U.S. states that have raised their minimum wages above the abysmal $7.25 federal level enjoyed better job, income and spending growth between 2012 and 2020 than the states that didn't. The low-wage states had relatively better job performance during the pandemic, but the higher-wage states outpaced them in every other economic measure. No wonder this idea is so popular. And maybe someday, when the planets are in harmony, the moon is full, the ambient temperature is just right, and the Senate majority leader can answer the magical Senate Elf's three riddles, it can even become reality. The Kids Are Alright, on EtsyWe've written about how Generation Z could be in for a much brighter post-recession future than what millennials suffered after the financial crisis. Some of this is the avalanche of government cash about to bury the economy, but some could be a character trait of the generation itself. Lara Williams writes that many Kids These Days are turning to side hustles to replace or supplement their income, from selling stuff on the internet to offering services in real life. This entrepreneurialism could carry them not only through the recovery but also the rest of their lives. Who knows how this Gig Generation could reshape the economy, but one early winner is Etsy, a place where people of all generations sell stuff they make, even more so in the pandemic. First it was homemade masks, but Sarah Halzack says the company's latest earnings report suggests it's got staying power. Americans Reaching Murderous Rage LevelsPolitical instability is not just bad for business and your mental health. It also makes you slightly more likely to be murdered, apparently. Murders jumped all over the U.S. last year and are on a similarly grim path this year. You might be tempted to chalk this up to the pandemic and the recession stressing everybody out. But Stephen Mihm writes studies have shown that, throughout history, people are more likely to kill each other when they feel less confident in their governments. For almost half the country at any given time, depending on who's in the White House, this is at a dangerously low ebb. A Message to Tehran, Via SyriaIn the first military action of his administration (that we know of, anyway), Biden ordered the bombing of Iranian-backed militias in Syria yesterday. This was ostensibly retaliation for Iranian proxy attacks in Iraq, but it also sent a message to Tehran that Biden is much more willing to use force even as he tries to negotiate a new nuclear deal, writes Bobby Ghosh. And unlike his predecessor, Biden was careful to get the backing of allies before the attack, further solidifying the unified front that will be necessary to cut a better deal with Iran and make it stick, writes James Stavridis. Further Foreign-Relations Reading: China's African influence is growing, but Biden can still counter with the right approach. — Hal Brands Telltale ChartsTexas is all about rugged individualism, which too often means forcing individuals to bear the brunt of its negligence, climate change and other disasters, writes Liam Denning. In the freeze, this partly meant buying generators. A little more collectivism would make for a more lasting, effective response.  AT&T is right to clear the decks of DirecTV and focus on strengthening its wireless business and keeping its streaming business in the game against healthier rivals, writes Tara Lachapelle.  Further ReadingBiden must ensure America has a reliable semiconductor supply, including making more at home. — Bloomberg's editorial board It's been two months since we learned of the SolarWinds hack, yet we're still in the dark about how bad it really is. — Tim O'Brien Benjamin Netanyahu's vaccine diplomacy might win him yet another term despite sagging popularity. — Zev Chafets This week's market moves don't yet amount to a full tantrum. — John Authers "ESG" means different things to different manufacturers, which isn't quite how it should work. — Brooke Sutherland Don't assume you know how your wages will be taxed if you're working from home. — Alexis Leondis ICYMIU.S. intelligence said MBS approved Jamal Khashoggi's murder. Biden is reluctant to penalize companies that don't raise their minimum wage. Google's video-game unit wasn't Googley enough. Kickers"Deep Nostalgia" can turn old photos into moving videos. Covid Zooming is changing sign language. How to read more efficiently and effectively. The original "Real World" cast is getting back together. Note: Please send old photos and complaints to Mark Gongloff at mgongloff1@bloomberg.net. Sign up here and follow us on Twitter and Facebook. | 
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