Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, November 3, 2020:

N2K PSA: Today is Election Day. Haven’t voted yet? Here’s when the polls close in your state. Here’s how to see what your ballot will look like. And here’s how to stay calm tonight.  

ELECTION DAY IN AMERICA

On Inauguration Day 2017, President Trump officially filed the paperwork to run for a second term, far earlier than any of his predecessors. Now, some 47 months later and in the middle of a resurgent pandemic that has killed a quarter-million Americans, voters have their say in whether he gets that chance. The presidency, both chambers of Congress and 80 percent of state legislative seats are up for grabs. Nearly 100 million have already voted. Tensions are running high across the country, with business districts in major cities like NYC and D.C. boarded up ahead of potential unrest. Cheddar’s final pre-election poll shows Joe Biden’s national lead has tightened a bit to 8 points. He remains all but assured to win the popular vote. As for the vote that matters... the first polls close at 7 p.m. ET. 538, REALCLEAR, CHEDDAR

PENNSYLVANIA, PENNSYLVANIA, PENNSYLVANIA

The clearest electoral path for Joe Biden runs right through Pennsylvania. But if President Trump wins the Keystone State and its 20 electoral votes, all bets are off. That’s why both candidates spent the waning hours of the campaign in the state; President Trump said that “cheating” in Pennsylvania would lead to violence in the streets, an unsubstantiated claim that was flagged by Twitter, and promised to go to court over absentee ballots. Joe Biden stumped alongside Lady Gaga outside Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, asking voters to “put an end” to the Trump presidency. Pennsylvania is unlikely to be called tonight because the state has to count 2.4 million mailed-in ballots. PENNLIVE.

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House coronavirus task force wrote an internal memo on the eve of the election that the U.S. is entering “the most concerning and most deadly phase” of the pandemic, pleading for “much more aggressive action” from the federal government. Massachusetts will institute a new stay-home order starting Friday: residents are ordered to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., non-essential businesses must close by 9:30 p.m. and masks are now mandatory in public. A fourth mobile morgue has arrived in El Paso, Tex., where area hospitals are at capacity. The country’s 7-day average of cases has jumped nearly 100 percent over the last month. WASH POST

VIENNA TERROR

At least four people have been killed in a terrorist attack in central Vienna. One gunman was killed by police; he was wearing a fake explosive vest and was described by officials as an ISIS “sympathizer.” A massive manhunt is underway across the Austrian capital as police look for possible accomplices. The area where shots were first reported was a bustling neighborhood near the city’s main synagogue. SKY

HURRICANE ETA

One of the strongest November hurricanes ever is about to make a catastrophic landfall along the northern coast of Nicaragua. Over the last 24 hours, Hurricane Eta has exploded into a Cat 4 storm, nearing Cat 5 status as it approaches Central America. Eta has strengthened faster than any storm on record this late in the season. Eta will track slowly over Central America this week, bringing potentially life-threatening flooding, storm surge and landslides to Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. TRACK

WALMART SCRAPS ROBOTS

For the last few years, one of the biggest innovations in retail was supposed to be the advent of robots that constantly rove the aisles of stores, keeping track of inventory and ensuring shelves remained stocked. Given that the retail sector employs some 29 million Americans, the push to automate inventory had a lot of workers worried for their jobs. They may not have to be. Walmart is ending its partnership with a leading robotics firm, reportedly after realizing during the pandemic that humans tend to be better -- and faster -- at doing the tasks than the robots. WSJ

'ONE MORE THING'

Apple’s not done yet. The company has sent out an invite for a “One More Thing” special event on Nov. 10. There’s no details on what’s being announced, but the word on the street is that Apple will debut its first MacBooks that run on Apple’s own chips, rather than Intel processors. APPLE INSIDER

'BABY SHARK' ON TOP

Baby Shark, the earworm of a nursery rhyme that’s the bane of any parent’s life, is now the most-viewed video ever on YouTube. The catchy kid’s tune hit 7.04 billion views, eclipsing Despacito, the former reigning champion. ALLKPOP

SPOTTED...

… a metro train in Rotterdam, Netherlands, dangling precariously from a sculpture of a whale’s tail. The train derailed and crashed through a barrier on a bridge before it was somehow caught by the sculpture. No one was injured: SEE PICS

LEFTOVERS: WHAT COMES AFTER?

Mitch Albom, the renowned best-selling author, delivers a harsh -- but probably necessary -- scolding of the American people in his latest newspaper column, an unsparing critique of our political and media landscape. Albom writes: “We have all been behaving badly...and it must change, no matter what happens” in the election. “The truth is, our future won’t be determined by who we choose to lead us this week. It will be determined by how we act after we do.” READ IT

Listen to the N2K Podcast! Looking for more context and analysis on the big stories of the day? Check out our podcast! Hosts Jill and Carlo break down the headlines, every weekday morning Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Culture
W. Kamau Bell on Key Takeaway From 'We Need to Talk About Cosby' Docuseries
After premiering at the 2022 Sundance Festival, Showtime is slated to drop the four-part docuseries "We Need to Talk About Bill Cosby" this Sunday. Director W. Kamau Bell joined Cheddar to discuss the sensitive project and about coming to grips with the reality of who Bill Cosby is following the numerous allegations of sexual assault. Bell said the biggest takeaway from the project is that survivors are not only looking for the 84-year-old comedian to be held accountable, they also want to prevent future assaults. "Maybe the key thing to learn is how do we create a society that is more supportive and accepting particularly women in this case who are survivors of sexual assault," Bell said.
What To Know About 2022 Tax Season
Tax season is now underway, and it's going to be a bit different than in years past. For starters, the deadline is April 18, instead of the typical April 15th, and many Americans will need to account for advance child tax credit payments, the return of the recovery rebate credit, and a special break for charitable contributions, among other things. Brent Weiss, Co-Founder and certified financial planner at Facet Wealth, tells us what we need to know about filing our taxes this year, and when we can expect to receive our returns.
College Enrollment Down Nearly 7% Since The Pandemic
College enrollment has been on a steady decline for years, and the pandemic hasn't helped. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a 6.6% — more than 1 million students — drop in undergraduate enrollment, according to a recent report. Douglas Belkin, higher education reporter at the Wall Street Journal, joined Cheddar to discuss the long-term implications of students sitting out of college, and what institutions can do about it.
As Midterm Elections Loom, Biden's Approval Rating Continues Decline
As the midterm election looms, things aren't looking too promising for President Joe Biden. One year into his term as president, Biden is facing one of the lowest approval ratings of any modern-day president, threatening his party's control of the House in 2022. Brian Bennett, Senior White House Correspondent for TIME, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
The Biden Administration: One Year Down, Three to Go
A full one year into his term as President of The United States, President Biden addressed the nation on Wednesday, facing questions on everything from inflation to chip shortages and covid-19. As Biden enters his second year in office, he is facing one of the lowest approval ratings of any modern-day president. Kate Davidson, Reporter, POLITICO joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
New San Diego Law Funnels Grocery Waste To Food Banks
San Diego has just implemented a new law that could set the stage for how the country deals with food waste. This new law hopes to make a dent in that. Businesses and groceries stores out in San Diego will need to put a plan in place to *donate edible food rather than toss it straight to the trash. Food Rescue Manager at Feeding San Diego, Kate Garret
Bronx Twin Parks Apartment Fire Leaves 17 People Dead
Earlier this month, New York City experienced one of the deadliest fires it has seen in decades. 17 people lost their lives in the Fordham section of the Bronx. This was due to a faulty space heater which reportedly began on the lower floor of the 120 unit building. Thanks to the F. D. N. Y. And heroic neighbors, many were able to get out in time. Unfortunately, the toxic smoke surged upwards through a safety door. Now, many advocates say negligence by policymakers and landlords has led to the deaths in black and brown communities from fires that honestly could have been preventable. Legislative Director of Citizen Action of New York, Rebecca Garrard, and the Chair of Journalism and New Media Studies at St. Joseph's College Theodore Hamm, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Clari Raises $225 Million to Deliver Predictable Revenue for Every Business
Revenue operations platform Clari recently raised $225 million in a Series F financing round led by Blackstone, bringing the company's valuation to more than $2.6 billion. Calri says more than 450 companies from around the world use its A.I.-powered platform to make their revenue operations more connected, efficient, and predictable. Clari CEO Andy Byrne joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Load More