#the basic brief

THE BASIC BRIEF – NOVEMBER 5TH, 2021

In this Basic Brief, we highlight the results from election day 2021, FEC allowing foreign donations for referendum campaigns, and more. Also linked is all the content from The People’s Basics this week.

Skyline Richmond Virginia by RVA PhotoDude

YOUNGKIN DEFEATS MCAULIFFE IN VIRGINIA GOVERNOR’S RACE

By Kathryn Watson, Caroline Linton, and Melissa Quinn – CBS November 4th, 2021

“Republicans in Washington exulted in Republican Glenn Youngkin’s victory in the Virginia governor’s race Tuesday over former Governor Terry McAuliffe and the surprisingly close race in New Jersey, which CBS News projected late Wednesday as a win for incumbent Governor Phil Murphy.”

EXIT POLLS FROM VIRGINIA RACE

By Ariel Edwards-Levy – CNN November 3rd, 2021

“Republican and Democratic voters overwhelmingly supported their parties’ candidates in the gubernatorial race between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin, according to the results of CNN’s Virginia exit poll, with independents breaking in favor of Youngkin, who CNN projected would clinch the win.”

Atlantic Boardwalk by Dougtone

PHIL MURPHY SCRAPS BY IN NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR’S RACE

By Nancy Solomon – NPR November 3rd, 2021

“The extremely tight race was perhaps the biggest surprise out of Tuesday’s elections. For months, polls have shown that Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy had a comfortable lead — as much as 11 points according to a Monmouth University poll released last week — over Ciattarelli.”

“Piggy Bank” by 401(K) 2013 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

FEC ALLOWS FOREIGN MONEY IN U.S. REFERENDUM CAMPAIGNS

By Lachlan Markay – Axios November 2nd, 2021

“The Federal Election Commission has ruled foreign donors can finance U.S. referendum campaigns, opening the door to foreign spending on fights over high-profile policy issues, Axios has learned.”

Buffalo NY by Daquella Manera

BYRON BROWN WINS BUFFALO MAYORAL RACE OVER INDIA WALTON

By Gregory Krieg – CNN November 3rd, 2021

“Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown declared victory Tuesday night in his write-in campaign for a fifth term. Brown lost the Democratic primary earlier this year to Democratic Socialist India Walton.”

Terminal Tower- Cleveland OH – by Lisa C Chamberlain

JUSTIN BIBB WINS CLEVELAND MAYORAL ELECTION IN DOMINATING FASHION

By Seth A Richardson, Kaylee Remington, and Olivia Mitchell – Cleveland.com November 2nd, 2021

“After stunning the Cleveland political establishment in the primary, nonprofit executive Justin Bibb will be the city’s next mayor following a successful general election Tuesday night.”

ETHIOPIA-TIGRAY CONFLICT: U.N. CITES POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES

By Scott Neuman – NPR November 3rd, 2021

“All sides in the conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region have committed atrocities that may amount to war crimes – including summary executions, torture and rape, according to a new report released by the United Nations.”

Image by memyselfaneye from Pixabay

FACEBOOK WHISTLEBLOWER: MARK ZUCKERBERG SHOULD STEP DOWN AS CEO

By Clare Duffy – CNN November 1st, 2021

“Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen said Monday she believes the company would be ‘stronger’ if founder Mark Zuckerberg stepped down as chief executive.”

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA BARS FACULTY FROM TESTIFYING AGAINST LAW SIGNED BY DESANTIS

By Andrew Jeong – The Washington Post October 30th, 2021

“The University of Florida barred three faculty members from testifying for plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging a voting-restrictions law enthusiastically embraced by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), which activists say makes it harder for racial minorities to vote. The school’s move raises sharp concerns about academic freedom and free speech in the state.

Image by ELG21 from Pixabay

WHAT THE U.S. CAN LEARN FROM THE U.K. ABOUT WIND POWER

By Petra Cahill – NBC News November 4th, 2021

“As President Joe Biden’s administration puts its muscle behind wind power with plans to develop large-scale wind farms along the entire United States coastline, the administration can look at how the windiest nation in Europe is transforming its energy grid for an example of how to proceed.”

THE PEOPLE’S PERSPECTIVE

We asked The People’s Basics Community what their thoughts were after election night.  Here’s what they had to say:

The Democrats need to actually govern well in order to win. In the fallout of failure, Republicans will usually win. Moderate Dems especially need to look long and hard at the mix of compromises and focuses they choose to make. – @chadbenz

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Somebody needs to explain to the Democratic Party that a bad candidate is a weight we all can’t carry. Next, explain that the Democratic Party is left. Been left since the post-depression era. Acting Republican gets Republicans elected. Finally, if you campaign on something, PASS IT. – @UrsaMajor2820

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Given the ineffectiveness of the Democrats, this isn’t a surprising result. We can’t keep banking on “business as usual” to move us forward and the Democrats must have a strategy and plan that isn’t an opposition stance. Opposing the GOP will not win consistently going forward. – @gowimachine

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When both parties have failed to deliver on working-class economic policy even when polls indicate it is the top desire for voters, politics becomes perpetually partisan based on constantly co-opted culture wars and social movements that we have consistently seen since the 70s. – @CalvinCullen18

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“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.” -Mark Twain Falling into a rabbit hole of a petty talking point will yield petty results. This has been shown time and time again, yet little adjustment is attempted – @WaluigiWright

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I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again, my reaction can be summed up as “disappointed but not surprised”  – @kokorozek666

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Tonight says a lot about the current political landscape in our nation and the priorities. – @TrippyPingo

THE BASIC BRIEF – NOVEMBER 12TH, 2021

In this week’s Basic Brief, we highlight new social media bills being discussed, Maine becoming a Right to Food state, Elon Musk selling Tesla stock, and more. Also linked is all the content from The People’s Basics this week.

Algorithm Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

​​TEXAS’ NEW SOCIAL MEDIA LAW FACES UPHILL BATTLE IN COURT

By John Villasenor – Brookings November 9th, 2021

“In early September, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law House Bill 20, a new social media law targeting what Gov. Abbott called ‘a dangerous movement by social media companies to silence conservative viewpoints and ideas.’”

Matrix Image by Ashutosh Goyal from Pixabay

ARE PEOPLE LYING MORE SINCE THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND SMARTPHONES

By David Markowitz – NiemanLab November 10th, 2021

“Social psychologists and communication scholars have long wondered not just who lies the most, but where people tend to lie the most — that is, in person or through some other communication medium.”

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS COULD DISABLE ALGORITHMS IN NEW US PROPOSAL

By Diane Bartz – Reuters November 9th, 2021

“A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced a bill that would require internet platforms like Meta’s (FB.O) Facebook and Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) Google to allow users to see content not chosen by algorithms.”

Backyard Farm by Jackie Sawicky

MAINE VOTERS APPROVE NEW AMENDMENT FOR RIGHT TO FOOD MEASURE

By National Law Review – November 5th, 2021

“Earlier this week Maine voters approved an amendment to the state’s constitution. ‘Right to Food’ is a statewide measure that was placed on the ballot by the Maine Legislature and gives Maine residents an unalienable right to grow, raise, produce, and consume food of their choice. Under this amendment, Maine residents may create their own food supply, whether statewide or in silos. However, it does not impact food assistance programs, and references to food processing and preparation that would have conflicted with state and federal laws regarding the licensing and inspection of food were removed from the measure.”

Image by Leo2014 from Pixabay

JUDGE RULES AGAINST TEXAS BAN ON MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS

By Associated Press – WSJ November 10th, 2021

“A federal judge ordered a halt to the enforcement of Texas’ ban on mask mandates in the state’s schools.”

Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pixabay

IS COVID’S WINTER SURGE ALREADY HERE?

By Denise Chow and Corky Siemaszko – NBC News November 10th, 2021

“A new surge of Covid-19 cases is expected to start hitting the United States around Thanksgiving just as the holiday season begins, public health experts are warning.”

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

ELON MUSK SELLS $5 BILLION WORTH OF TESLA SHARES

By Chris Isidore and Jill Disis – CNN November 11th, 2021

“Elon Musk sold roughly $5 billion worth of Tesla shares this week — his first such sale since 2016 — just days after conducting a Twitter poll asking his fans if he should dispose of 10% of his stake in the electric carmaker.”

THE CIA IS TRYING TO RECRUIT GEN Z

By Jessica M Goldstein – Washingtonian November 9th, 2021

“When you pull up to the CIA headquarters in Langley, you have to shout your Social Security number out the window into a speaker, like when you’re ordering fries at a drive-through. Much like the Union that the Agency was formed to protect, the system, it seems, could be more perfect. But I am willing to do what it takes to get the inside story of how the CIA is recruiting and working with the next generation of spies.”

INFLATION IS GOOD FOR YOU

By Jon Schwarz – The Intercept November 10th, 2021

“THE TOP STORY on the New York Times website this morning is about inflation, and it’s scary: ‘Inflation spiked in October, sinking Washington’s hopes that price gains would slow down.’”

WALMART IS USING FULLY DRIVERLESS TRUCKS TO RAMP UP ITS ONLINE GROCERY BUSINESS

By Frank Holland – November 8th, 2021

“Walmart and Silicon Valley start-up Gatik said that, since August, they’ve operated two autonomous box trucks, without a safety driver, on a 7-mile loop daily for 12 hours.”