DML Morning Briefing, Nov. 8

Today is November 8. Below are some of the stories grabbing headlines this morning. I hope you share this briefing as doing so will make you the smartest person in the room.

1.Karine Jean-Pierre blasted for warning it may take ‘a few days’ to count votes: ‘This insanity has to stop’
FoxNews–White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was blasted Monday for saying that waiting a couple of days for results is how elections are “supposed to work.”

“We may not know all the winners of elections for a few days. It takes time to count all legitimate ballots in a legal and orderly manner,” Jean-Pierre told reporters at the White House press briefing. “That’s how this is supposed to work.”

Twitter exploded as commentators on the platform expressed their dismay that many states can no longer tally all the ballots they receive by the end of election day itself.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton warned, “Counting ballots after Election Day undermines voter confidence.”

Ryan Lynch: Why is it that our country now needs days to be able to count votes? Shouldn’t the United States be able to run organized, efficient, and fast elections.

2.Control of Congress – and Biden’s power – on the ballot in U.S. midterms
Reuters–More than 42 million Americans voted ahead of Election Day, either by mail or in-person, according to data from the U.S. Election Project. State election officials caution that full results may not be known for days afterward as they count ballots in close races – with control of the Senate perhaps not known until a potential Dec. 6 runoff in Georgia.

A Republican-controlled House would be able to block bills addressing Democratic priorities such as abortion rights and climate change. Republicans could also initiate a showdown over the nation’s debt ceiling, which could shake financial markets, and launch potentially politically damaging investigations into Biden’s administration and family.

Republicans would look to use their leverage to make the 2017 individual tax cuts passed under Trump permanent, and protect corporate tax cuts that Democrats have unsuccessfully tried to reverse over the past two years.

Ryan Lynch: Get out and vote today! We can’t take another two years of our current administrations policies.

3.The drawing for the record $1.9 billion Powerball jackpot has been delayed over security protocols
CNN–The California Lottery announced late Monday night that it’s delaying the Powerball drawing because officials need more time to complete security protocols.

The delay is caused by one participating lottery that needs more time to process its sales, the Multi-State Lottery Commission told CNN in a statement. The drawing is still planned to occur after that procedure is completed.

Earlier, the California Lottery said, “Powerball has strict security requirements that must be met by all 48 lotteries before a drawing can occur,” adding that a participating lottery needs extra time to meet those requirements before the drawing can be conducted.

“When the required security protocols are complete, the drawing will be performed under the supervision of lottery security officials and independent auditors. Winning numbers will be posted as soon as they are available,” the California Lottery said.

Ryan Lynch: Saturday all security protocols were obviously met. I wonder what protocol was breached.

4.Tesla recalls 40,000 U.S. vehicles – including 2017-2021 Model S and Model X – over potential loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads
DailyMail–Tesla Inc is recalling just over 40,000 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles that may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.

Elon Musk’s Texas-based electric vehicle manufacturer has released an over-the-air software update to recalibrate the system after it began rolling out an update on October 11 to better detect unexpected steering assist torque.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said a loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the crash risks.

Ryan Lynch: I will always own a gas powered car.

5.An apple a day really might keep the doctor away! The fruit contains a potent compound that can keep your heart healthy, say experts
DailyMail–Scientists now advise people consume the equivalent of an apple, some berries and two cups of tea per day.

This combination contains roughly 500mg of flavan-3-ols — a ‘bioactive’ compound said to be good for your heart.

A review of more than 150 studies concluded that the chemical, also found in red wine and dark chocolate, can improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Ryan Lynch: The little things over time can have an enormous impact on your health. Im going to start incorporating these foods into my diet.