Choose your own adventure: The Election Day edition
Whether you need a dose of hopium or are looking for a digital election-free zone, Once Upon a Hill has a recommendation to help you survive the day.
First Things First
👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Welcome back to Once Upon a Hill. It’s Election Day! And if your texts, tweets, DMs and emails are any indication, your morning is probably filled with all sorts of emotions as we strap in for what could be days of uncertainty while elections officials count the votes across the country. Since your mileage may vary when it comes to political news today, I’ve compiled a guide to help you survive the day.
If you need a dose of hopium: I dialed up Bryan Bennett, one of the best pollsters in the biz, to offer the bull case for Kamala Harris heading into today’s coin-flip election. In short, the vice president dissolved the trust gap between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on the economy and inflation. The fallout of the repeal of Roe v. Wade two years ago is as salient now as it was then. And honestly, fewer people dislike Harris than Trump. Read the full post where Bennett unpacked each of these elements in detail.
If you’re wondering how she did it: In my latest column for COURIER, I wrote about how Harris has given Democrats a chance to hold the White House, protect President Biden’s legacy and prevent congressional Republicans from enacting harmful policies.
If you’re curious about the overlap between political reporting and influencer culture: I was featured in this deeply reported article by Chris Erik Thomas for Study Hall, a website and community for freelancers in media workers. Thomas provides an inside look at how traditional reporting is jutting up against and adapting to a world where nontraditional news sources are becoming more important to the media landscape. In the feature, I share some of the values and experiences that informed my decision to launch an independent newsletter and my thoughts on the blurred lines between content creators and journalists.
If you’re looking for an election-free zone: I don’t blame you. The Cut has a fantastic live blog populated with all sorts of non-election content, including “strange playlists, delightful videos, soothing new hobby ideas, and engrossing things to read.”
However you plan to spend Election Night, make sure you stay safe and take care of yourself. Whatever happens over the next few days, Once Upon a Hill will be here to help you navigate the election’s impact on Congress, national politics and your life going forward.
Here’s what’s happening today:
The House and Senate are out.
President Biden will receive his daily intelligence briefing this morning.
Vice President Harris will receive briefings and hold staff meetings. She will also participate in radio interviews. The Harris campaign will host Election Night at Howard University, the vice president’s alma mater, in Washington, DC.
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Mrs. Gwen Walz be in Harrisburg, PA this morning to energize voters ahead of election night. They will attend the Election Night event at Howard this evening.
In the Know
Workers at aircraft manufacturer Boeing voted to end its strike, the costliest work stoppage in the US and over a quarter century. The 33,000 union members have been on strike since Sep. 13 and will return to work tomorrow with an immediate 13-percent pay increase. The four-year agreement includes nine-percent for each of the next two years and an additional seven-percent raise in the final year of the contract. The agreement does not restore the traditional pension plan they lost in 2014 from their previous labor deal, but workers will receive a ratification bonus of $12,000, part of which they can contribute to 401(k) retirement accounts. President Joe Biden congratulated the union in a statement last night and said the agreement improves workers’ ability to retire with dignity, and supports fairness at the workplace while securing Boeing’s future as a critical part of America’s aerospace sector.
Read All About It
“How much should kids know about politics?” by Allie Volpe: “Even kids can’t avoid election chatter. Here’s how to talk to them at any age.”
“How women's phones became a tool for abortion surveillance” by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): “Americans shouldn’t accept a reality where their phones are sleeper agents for stalkers and fundamentalist politicians.”
“Security, legal insurance, disguises: Democrats are preparing for the worst after the election:” by Riley Rogerson and Matt Fuller: “One lawmaker has stashed an ‘insurrectionist getaway costume’ in their office in case things get dodgy at the Capitol again.”
“No one wants to admin what will really decide this election. Fortunately, I saw it for myself” by Alexander Sammon: “In Montana, it’s the end of an American era. You might miss it when it’s gone.”
“The evolution of the Trump rally” by Ben Jacobs: “Rarely boring, always changing, and essential to his appeal.”
“The SALT deduction is coming back—whoever wins the election” by Richard Rubin: “Unlike most tax-policy disputes, the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions breaks along regional lines, not just partisan ones.”
“‘I didn’t do an about-face on Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg did an about-face on me.’”by Nancy Scola: “The onetime McKinsey consultant was mocked for his friendliness to corporations. Then he became Transportation secretary.”
“Connect with one old colleague or boss” by Ray A. Smith: “A quick guide to rekindling a business relationship gone dormant—and why it’s important to do it.”
“The broken promise of USB-C” by Ian Bogost: “We’ll never get a universal cable.”
“The former NFL punchline that could laugh all the way to the Super Bowl” by Jason Gay: “‘Dome team’ Detroit gives Green Bay a lesson in the cold Lambeau rain—and charges to the top of the NFC.”