Why is this day different from all other days?
מדוע היום הזה שונה מכל שאר הימים?
Because today is the day you should become a paying subscriber to Wide World of News.
Or perhaps today you will make a smaller, one-time voluntary contribution (any amount welcome!) to support my work.
To find out how to make a smaller donation, please reply to this email and ask for instructions.
You can of course read Wide World of News in full without subscribing or contributing.
But please join the many others who have kicked in to support my work during this election year.
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Oh, Democracy.
Let's be careful out there.
Happy Election Day, America.
Overtime is not guaranteed.
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Biden wins landslide…in Dixville Notch, NH (5-0).
“In Millsfield, which is 12 miles south of Dixville Notch, Trump prevailed early Tuesday, with 16 votes to Biden’s five.”
#chooseyourownportent
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HOW TO WATCH ELECTION DAY LIKE AN ACTUAL PRO
1. If you want to know how a network will characterize turnout on Election Day before any actual data comes in, figure out how crowded the polling place of the cousin of the dentist of the executive producer of special events coverage is:
2. Until well until the evening, do not ask your friends in the media, including ones who write newsletters, what the exit polls say. Even if you are cool enough to refer to them as “the exits.”
3. Know that the Election Day exit polls (or “the exits”) are being supplemented with other polls to incorporate the preferences of early/by-mail voters. This, however, does not necessarily mean these surveys will be accurate, so if you hear some “exit” poll numbers (“the exits”), or read them on Drudge, don’t treat them like they are the Rosetta Stone, the Bible, or the Sporting News.
4. During the day, find time to exercise, and throughout the day and into the evening eat lean proteins, vegetables, and white chocolate-covered gummy bears.
5. To pass the time while you wait for something to happen, take these Rorschach tests:
a. Listen to this podcast on which Hillary Clinton hosts Kamala Harris.
b. Watch this video with Joni Ernst and Kim Reynolds.
Regardless of your political affiliation, try your darndest to like all four ladies and appreciate their commitments to public service. (Seriously, listen to the podcast; it is really interesting, and not just for the Nick Merrill cameo.)
6. When “the exits” start to be reported on, with crosstabs about how, say, older Americans cast their votes in a particular battleground state, and the on-air folks, with an exaggerated verbal wink, say something like, “In Ohio, seniors made up 67% of the electorate and a full 85% of them voted for Donald Trump. That’s going to make it VERY tough for Joe Biden to win the Buckeye State,” what they really mean is “Biden is toast in Ohio.”
7. Similarly, if a network projects, say, North Carolina for Biden and then the on-air folks say something like, “Donald Trump’s narrow path to 270 electoral votes just got even narrower,” what they really mean is “Trump can’t win now, but because we can’t project California until the polls close there, we can’t tell you that Joe Biden will be the 46th president of the United States” while they electronically unfurl a fireworks-infused coronation graphic.
8. Remember: there are human and machine errors made by voters, Postal Service workers, and election officials in EVERY election.
9. Often, take two or three deep breaths. Hold them in a bit and exhale very slowly through your nose. (Or maybe it’s through your mouth?)
10. Just because a presidential candidate acidly labels a governor or other state or local elected official as “crooked” or “corrupt” doesn’t mean that they (necessarily) are.
11. If you start to think that the nation is headed towards a negative outcome all because Barack Obama was born in Kenya (not that there’s anything wrong with that) or that Joe Biden is a pedophile, take some deep breaths and ask yourself WHY you think that.
12. If you are inclined to chant “Lock him up!” or “Lock her up!” as you watch the returns come in, just stop.
13. Remind yourself throughout the proceedings that if your candidate wins, 45%+ of your fellow Americans will be bitterly disappointed.
14. Remember that it is the television networks that determine who wins, not the people. (Just kidding.)
15. Remember that it is the television networks that determine who wins, not government officials.
16. Don’t let the comical bias of the media members who manifestly oppose the candidate of your choice shape your entire view of whether your will be open over the next four years to loving thy neighbor.
17. Just because your favorite tweeter or cable TV host jumps to conclusions doesn’t mean you should.
18. Think about what you can do to contribute to addressing the pandemic, policing reform, and the other challenges we face as a nation in a way that puts country over party, country over cable network preference.
19. Read my Twitter thread explaining the simple-but-difficult remaining paths Donald Trump has if he wants to defy data, expectations, and (some of) history by winning a shocker of a reelection.
20. The Senate races you should watch most closely (not counting the two in Georgia, which are most likely headed to January runoffs): North Carolina, Iowa, Maine, and Michigan.
21. Size matters -- but it’s the size of the vote that matters, not the size of the rallies.
22. Watch me analyze what’s going on and report my heart out as part of Newsmax TV’s coverage starting at 7pm Eastern Time.
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ESSENTIAL READING
* The Wall Street Journal on the House races to watch to determine if there is a wave.
* The Washington Post with an exclusive: Dr. Birx’s fictionally timed report suggesting the Trump administration is not doing the right things to control an explosion of the pandemic.
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THE STATES THAT WILL PICK THE PRESIDENT - by Brian P. Nadeau
Arizona
* Senior Customs & Border Protection, Dept. Homeland Security officials visit Tucson touting Trump’s policies, deriding Twitter for blocking accounts. (Arizona Daily Star)
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Georgia
* Obama delivers energized speech supporting Biden-Harris campaign at Atlanta 'Flip Georgia Blue' drive-in rally for U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff, Rev. Raphael Warnock. (WAOK 1380)
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Florida
* 8.9M Floridians have cast ballots, only 450K shy of 2016 total, with registered Dems. maintaining a 108K edge over GOP voters. (WJXT 4)
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Iowa
* With Iowan convicted felons’ voting rights restored by governor in August, only around 8.5% of 35K eligible have registered. (KWWL NBC7)
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Maine
* Pinetree State in national spotlight with 4 electoral votes split between its 2 congressional districts, first in U.S. history forced rank voting. (WCSH NBC6)
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Michigan
* Wolverine State Supreme Court punts on decision concerning SOS Benson’s polling place open carry ban leaving it suspended for Election Day. (The Detroit News)
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Nebraska
* Gov. Ricketts issuing exec. order allowing poll workers to cross county lines on Election Day, cover for shortages. (NTV ABC)
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New Hampshire
* Granite State college towns absentee voting spikes well above 2016 levels. (Concord Monitor)
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Nevada
* State judge rejects Trump campaign suit attempting to stop Clark County ballot counting until canvassing observer law litigated. (KSNV NBC4)
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North Carolina
* Little known Tarheel State law gives state gen. assy. authority to choose electors, yet with GOP controlled House, Senate lacking required three-fifths vote selection falls to Dem. Gov. Roy Cooper. (WRAL NBC5)
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Ohio
* With 13 hours of Election Day voting Tuesday, officials don’t expect long lines as record early ballots already cast. (WFMJ NBC21)
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Pennsylvania
* Keystone State voters returning mail-in, absentee ballots Election Day due to security concerns will increase polling place wait times, final results process. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
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Texas
* Dem. heavy Harris County, nations 3rd largest, can count 127K drive-thru ballots, U.S. Dist. Judge Andrew Hanen rules. (The Texas Tribune)
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Wisconsin
* Voters in 5 of Badger State’s most populated counties return 90%+ mail-in ballots. (Wisconsin State Journal)
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TOP STORIES – by Brian P. Nadeau
Sports: Brady, Gronkowski, Jones lift Bucs to 6-2 record defeating Giants 25-23 in instant MNF classic.
Business: Facebook, Twitter mark Trump’s posts about Pennsylvania ballot counting process 'resulting in rampant and unchecked cheating' and would 'induce violence in the streets.'
Entertainment: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill join forces with Lincoln Project sending anti-Trump ads into a galaxy close, close by.
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If you would like to participate in a focus group I will conduct this Thursday early evening, please send an email to focusgroup@walkingduck.com