You've Pinconning the Electorate |
Pinconning, as we all know, is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese named after a place in Michigan where a cheesemaker called Dan Horn first produced it in 1915. You can buy a super-sharp version of the cheese aged more than seven years. Its flavor and texture are rich, creamy and open, just like this newsletter! Meanwhile, both sides of the upcoming election are suggesting that the other side is misleading the electorate, although so far only one side seems intent on breaking federal bribery laws. But there's still two weeks to go and a boy can dream: Let's all move to a swing state and cash in, eh? ––Matt Davis, N2K Chedditor |
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"That's what I've been working for my all my career - moments like these" — Nyara Sabally |
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1. Trump Doles Out Fries at McDonald's, Sows Doubts About Whether Harris Ever Worked There |
Donald Trump slung fries at a Pennsylvania McDonald's this weekend, saying he's now "worked 15 minutes more than Kamala did" for the chain. Meanwhile, Twitter users praised the chain's efforts to provide meaningful job opportunities for people with felony convictions.
Harris's campaign, however, has declined to release more details of her time supposedly spent working at a McDonald's branch in Alameda, California, in 1983, and the company itself says it doesn't keep records going back that far. But there's a chance Harris's McDonald's service could be as genuine as Barack Obama's U.S. birth certificate. In other words, it's real, and if you don't believe it is real, that's probably because your mind is already made up.
But that doesn't mean disputing its reality won't play into your hands, politically. And the election is neck-and-neck! Although what if it's not real? How weird would it be to have claimed to have worked at McDonald's and made it up. I sort of wish that were true. It would be almost as brazen as delivering a political address to the Boy Scouts' National Jamboree and then claiming that the head of the Boy Scouts had called you to say it was "the greatest speech that was ever made to them," in 2017, or something, but making that up: Crazy.
During his McVisit, Trump took on duties as a McFry McCook, served customers, and made numerous remarks targeted at Harris. (He did not, however, discuss Arnold Palmer's genitalia, having already done that during a speech the previous day.) He engaged with customers and staff, discussing a range of topics including his appreciation for McDonald's. Thousands of Trump supporters gathered around the establishment as Trump, adorned with an apron, actively participated in the kitchen tasks. He also used this opportunity to comment on his political ambitions, to describe the state of the nation as terrible, and even to wish Harris a happy birthday in his own unique way. (He offered to get her flowers and fries, although apparently this was an empty promise — the only one either candidate has ever made on the campaign trail.)
A spokesperson for Harris criticized Trump's event as a stunt, saying he does not understand the realities of working people and accusing him of exploiting workers for personal gain. They contrasted this with Harris' record of supporting workers' rights.
Meanwhile Harris's campaign and affiliated groups rasied $1 billion from July to the end of September — more than the Trump campaign's entire haul since the start of last year, January 2023, of $894 million. But she's yet to pull away in the polls. Read More |
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2. Sorry, Mets Fans: It's a Yankees–Dodgers World Series |
Pity the Mets fan in your life even more than you did already. Because their "rivals," the New York Yankees, and the Brooklyn Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face off on Friday in the World Series for the first time in 43 years, reigniting a historic cross-country rivalry that contrasts the spirit of Broadway with the spirit of Hollywood.
The Yankees, with their 41st American League pennant, are eyeing their 28th World Series title and their first since 2009. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, having clinched their 25th National League championship, are in pursuit of their eighth World Series victory and their second in five years.
The Yankees' pinstripes will go up against the Dodgers' Pantone 294 uniforms, and the urban landscape of New York will vie for visual supremacy on television against the sunlit backdrop of Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles. Historically, the Yankees lead the World Series matchups against the Dodgers 8–3. They also always win, apparently. So it's a formality. Right?
I'm more of a cricket man, myself, when I'm not watching squash. And then I'm really more of a squash man. Still, enjoy your game of bat and ball, Americans. Read More |
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| | 🤖🚀 How Boston Dynamics' Spot enhances military safety and operations.
This innovative tech improves soldier safety by handling dangerous objects from a distance, navigating tough terrains, and using advanced sensors to detect hazardous environments, like low oxygen levels. Spot also sets up radio networks for seamless communication in the field. |
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3. Chick-Fil-A Launching a Totally Inclusive Entertainment App, Honest |
Chick-fil-A is set to launch a new app named Chick-fil-A Play, focused on providing "free digital fun" and "kid-friendly content" for families to enjoy together.
The app, which will roll out on November 18, will not compete with streaming giants like Netflix or Hulu. Instead, it is crafted as a digital extension of the family experience Chick-fil-A promotes in its restaurants and through its Kids Meals.
The app will feature a wide range of content, including original animated shows, scripted podcasts, games, video-based recipes, kid-friendly crafts, e-books, and interactive stories. Designed for parents and children to use together, because there's nothing that unites parents and children like smartphones, the app aims to foster family connections and encourage spending quality time together, almost as much as eating a bunch of food high in saturated fats, or gathering together around the hospital bed of a loved one who recently had heart surgery.
Chick-fil-A says the app will be available for free and has no current plans to charge for its use. Dustin Britt, executive director of brand strategy at Chick-fil-A, emphasized the app as a new way for the company to reimagine 'Play' for its guests, emphasizing hospitality and fun. Read More |
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4. New York Liberty Are WNBA Champions, But Their Mascot Is the Real Winner |
The New York Liberty have claimed their first ever WNBA title by triumphing over the Minnesota Lynx with a 67–62 victory in Game 5 of the Finals, which went into overtime. The historic win took place at the Barclays Center in front of an enthusiastic Brooklyn audience, ending the franchise's 28-year title drought.
Despite having averaged only 2.8 points per game in the Finals, German player Nyara Sabally emerged as the unexpected hero for New York, scoring 13 points in the decisive Game 5.
"That's what I've been working for my all my career — moments like these," Sabally said, after the game.
Breanna Stewart, a two-time WNBA Finals MVP, also played a pivotal role by sinking two crucial free throws with less than six seconds left in regulation to tie the game and force overtime, where Sabally also delivered a significant block.
Star guard Sabrina Ionescu had a challenging night for the Liberty, managing just five points on a 1-of-19 shooting performance. Nonetheless, the team's overall effort secured the Liberty their long-awaited championship, finally bringing a championship ring to the sole original WNBA franchise that had yet to win one.
On Twitter, fans joked that Liberty mascot Ellie the Elephant should win the championship MVP. And seriously, if you've not been to a Liberty game already, go next year. The mascotting is world-class, just like the basketball and the atmosphere. But mostly the mascotting. That elephant has serious Cardi B energy. Read More |
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5. Musk's Plan to Give Millions to Registered Voters Might Break Federal Law, But Whatever! |
While stumping for former President Donald Trump on Saturday, tech billionaire Elon "Elon Musk" Musk announced that he will give away $1 million each day to registered voters in battleground states who sign his petition. But the move could cross election laws that prohibit paying people to…register to vote.
Not that he'll ever get charged with a crime, should Trump win elected office or otherwise. This is Amerrrrrca. But federal law makes it a crime for anyone who "pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting." And it's punishable by up to five years in prison. Anyone know anyone going to prison?
"We want to try to get over a million, maybe two million voters in the battleground states to sign the petition in support of the First and Second Amendment," Musk said. "We are going to be awarding $1 million randomly to people who have signed the petition, every day, from now until the election."
"The only thing we ask for the million dollars is that you be a spokesperson for the petition, and that's it, really," he said.
But you must be a registered voter to sign the petition. And there's the rub!
"This isn't a particularly close case — this is exactly what the statute was designed to criminalize," David Becker, a former Justice Department official handling voting rights cases told CNN.
"When you start limiting prizes or giveaways to only registered voters or only people who have voted, that's where bribery concerns arise," Derek Muller, an election law expert who teaches at Notre Dame Law School, also told CNN. "By limiting a giveaway only to registered voters, it looks like you're giving cash for voter registration."
I'm sure it's all totally fine. Read More |
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