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Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, November 2, 2021:
ELECTION DAY IN AMERICA
It’s an off-year election, but voters will still go to the polls in several high-profile contests today. Chief among them is Virginia’s gubernatorial race, where Democrat Terry McAuliffe had been running ahead of Republican Glenn Youngkin -- though the latest polls have them either tied or with Youngkin slightly ahead. The GOP is also hoping for the off-chance of an upset in the New Jersey governor’s race. In NYC, voters will choose their next mayor, though Democrat Eric Adams has that one in the bag. Boston will elect its first woman and first person of color as mayor, regardless of who wins. And in Buffalo, N.Y., a race between an avowed socialist and incumbent Dem running as a write-in will provide a test of the strength of the progressive wing of the party. KEY RACES
COP26
President Biden vowed that the U.S. would “lead by example” on climate change, but stopped short of announcing any concrete new pledges on the first day of the COP26 summit. Today is expected to bring more in terms of specifics. More than 100 world leaders are announcing a deal to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, with Brazil among the signatories on the pledge. Biden is also planning to announce major new regulations on methane, the greenhouse gas that’s far more potent than CO2. That announcement will restore and strengthen regulations that were cancelled by the Trump administration. BBC
SUPREME COURT DOCKET
The Supreme Court hinted that it would allow a challenge to the restrictive Texas abortion law, a change from how the justices ruled in September to let that law go into effect. During oral arguments in the Texas case, Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett appeared skeptical of Texas’ defense of the law, particularly the way it is designed to only be enforceable through lawsuits by private parties. Both those conservative justices were in the majority when the Court let the abortion law take effect, so their skepticism is notable. The justices are due to hear arguments tomorrow in another major case related to gun rights. SCOTUSBLOG
'ZERO COVID'
While countries like the U.S. are learning to live with the coronavirus as it morphs into an endemic virus, China is continuing with a “zero Covid” eradication policy. The lengths of that stringent approach were put into stark relief when the government locked down Shanghai Disneyland on Sunday night when a single guest was found to be Covid positive. More than 30,000 visitors to the theme park were locked inside and unable to leave until they each tested negative. Videos on social media showed a surreal scene of guests lining up to get tested as fireworks lit up the Enchanted Storybook Castle: SEE IT
JEFFREY EPSTEIN TIES
Jeffrey Epstein is still causing CEOs to lose their jobs, more than two years after his death. Jes Staley has resigned as chief executive of Barclays amid an investigation by British regulators into Staley’s ties to the disgraced financier and convincted sex offender. Staley’s exit from one of the world’s biggest banks follows that of the billionaire Leon Black, who left the private equity firm Apollo earlier this year amid a review of his relationship with Epstein. Black’s exit followed that of Les Wexner, who resigned as CEO of Victoria’s Secret parent L Brands last year after his long-time friendship with Epstein became publicized. REUTERS
CRASH DETECTION
Apple is reportedly testing a new feature that would detect a car accident as it happens. “Crash detection” for iPhones and Apple Watches would use sensors built into those devices that would be able to tell if you’re traveling in a car that’s been hit. The feature would then dial 911 automatically on your behalf. Google’s Pixel already has a way to detect crashes as they occur, and GM’s OnStar product uses built-in vehicle sensors to provide a similar service. WSJ
ZILLOW FLIPPING FLOP
Zillow managed to do what no one else could in 2021: lose money flipping houses. The online listing company is now trying to unload about $2.8 billion worth of homes that it bought up this year, many of which are now listed for less than the company paid for them. Zillow appears to have gone big on its algorithm-based house-flipping strategy just as home prices started to cool, and has since paused its iBuying business as it tries to sell off remaining inventory to investors. BLOOMBERG
CAUTIONARY TALE FOR CABLE
If a show is on cable, and no one's talking about it, does it make a sound? The penultimate episode of Impeachment: American Crime Story airs tonight on FX. Ryan Murphy’s dramatized re-telling of the Monica Lewinsky scandal came in with a lot of buzz, but the ratings have been a disaster compared with previous installments of the anthology series (last week’s episode was tied with MTV’s Teen Mom). The reason for that is a cautionary tale for TV networks. Because of a deal FX struck with Netflix back in 2016, the series won’t get a streaming run for another year. That might have made sense five years ago, but Netflix has nearly tripled its subscriber base since then, while millions of people have cut the cord. NY TIMES
SPOTTED...
...Queen Elizabeth, tooling around Windsor estate in her green Jaguar after a recent health scare: SEE PICS
…Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You, moving into the Apple Music Top 50 right on schedule: SEE CHART
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