A historic week that revealed a deeply divided America
Well over 70 million people cast a vote for Trump this year. 70 million.
Sree’s newsletter is produced w/ Zach Peterson (@zachprague). This Wednesday headline says it all. And, yet, our nightmare continues.
Scroll down for Read Something; Watch Something; and a weekly tech tip from Robert S. Anthony (@newyorkbob).
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This is normally more of an essay, but this was a long, emotional week. So, a few tidbits from me:
There is no evidence of fraud in the election. It’s so interesting, and so predictable, that Trump would do what he’s doing — although there is some poetic justice to the whole thing given the Rudy Guliani press conference in front of a landscaping company. Trump and the Republicans are trying to steal this election and everyone, including journalists, need to cover it that way.
Conservative social media has been a veritable cesspool of bogus fraud claims, and it’s worth noting that only a handful of Republicans elected are publicly saying that Joe Biden won the election. Trump isn’t gone until he’s gone — and it seems like the same is true for his stranglehold over the GOP.
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An Indian American is going to the White House. The first woman VP, the first black woman VP, the first Asian-American woman VP — all of these belong to VP-elect Kamala Harris. What can I say? She’s ground-breaking in so many ways, but seeing someone that looks like me and my family, and shares an Indian name, in the White House is extra-special. It’s a testament to America’s potential, and a symbol of just far we have to go. There are now zero black women in the Senate, and just one black man. Our government is very white, and I’m hoping the Biden-Harris administration starts there, as it’s the root of so many other evils.
At the same time, Deepa Iyer (@dviyer) offers us a word of caution (read this thread!):
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The U.S. may finally respond to the Covid19 pandemic on a national scale. The Biden-Harris team has been holding Covid19 briefings throughout the campaign, and its task force is already at work. 10 million cases and nearly 240,000 deaths later, it’s about time. Presumably, this starts with economic stimulus, more federal support for businesses, local and state governments, and the arts and, and, and… But…
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The next four years will not be a cakewalk. Republicans did surprisingly well in the House, and have a good shot at keeping control of the Senate (more on that in the Watch Something section below). That (potentially) gives Mitch McConnell a lot of influence over Joe Biden’s legislative agenda, cabinet appointments, judicial appointments, and more.
It also means that Republicans are, like clockwork, going to re-imagine themselves as deficit hawks concerned with the national debt. The national debt increased by 36% (or, $8.3 trillion) during the Trump presidency and under a GOP-controlled Senate. Expect any proposed relief for everyday Americans to be met with resistance from the right under the guise of its being “too expensive.” Just remember who these people really are.
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Don’t get lazy! That goes for me too, trust me. Trump may have lost, but he received more than 71 million votes. After the last four years (or four decades, for many New Yorkers) of Donald Trump, a lot of people voted for him. The Biden-Harris victory is a great thing for the country, but this is a country divided and any attempt at healing will have to be society-wide — and that starts with you and me.
- Sree
Read Something
First, Fareed Zakaria (@fareedzakaria) reads A LOT of books. Second, if he says a book is worth reading, it probably is. This is a great interview with Fareed, full of excellent suggestions. His own new book, “10 Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World” (I love the refreshingly colon-free title, too), is just out and a must-read (Lesson one: “Buckle up”).
Tech Tips from @NewYorkBob: Oral-B iO Smart Toothbrush — A High-Tech Mouthful
While one expects to see glitzy gadgets at the annual CES consumer electronics showcase in Las Vegas, it’s not often that one of the show’s stars turns out to be something you put in your mouth: The app-enabled, artificial intelligence-powered Oral-B iO electric toothbrush series.
In pre-pandemic January, when large conventions were still possible, a huge mockup of the Oral-B iO greeted guests at the Sands Convention Center. The toothbrush series, available in packages ranging from $200 to $300, collected a handful of innovation awards at CES 2020, but didn’t arrive in stores until August.
The Oral-B iO incorporates a colorful display, lights and artificial intelligence to provide feedback to users as they brush. The display can show an illuminated face that smiles or frowns depending on how well the user manages his brushing technique or it can show a battery meter, a “good morning” message or some other feedback.
A light near the neck of the unit glows red or green to provide additional feedback while a free mobile app links to the unit via a wireless Bluetooth connection and tracks its 3D motion and pressure sensors.
The rotating brush head combines with oscillations and micro vibrations to improve cleaning, according to Oral-B, while its “bimodal smart pressure sensor” detects what the user is doing and can slow the brush down if necessary if too much pressure is applied in the wrong places. The unit charges upright when placed on its magnetic stand.
While the Green Giant-size toothbrush might have made an interesting attraction at CES 2020, one thing is for sure: It won’t be in Las Vegas for CES 2021. The show’s gone virtual.
Data Points
The red/blue map from <choose a news station here> is likely burned into your TV screen at this point. But, that map is deeply deceptive in terms of the popular vote in America. Sigh…It’s the Electoral College’s world and we’re just living in it.
Watch Something
Stacey Abrams’ organizing efforts in Georgia are as inspiring as they are consequential. After having the gubernatorial race stolen from her in 2018, she directed her energy to enfranchising voters across the state. The results speak for themselves. Watch this, and get out and help her flip the Senate in the two runoff elections in January!
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