Who Calls The Election | Big Tech Under Scrutiny | How To Have A Safe Halloween

Plus: Netflix’s Billionaire Cofounder And His Wife Nearly Double Their Giving To California Ballot Measures Vs. 2016

Good morning.

The U.S. has averaged 70,000 daily coronavirus cases in the past week, but the White House declared "ending the Covid-19 pandemic" one of the top accomplishments of the Trump administration's first term.

This was one of numerous false and inaccurate claims pushed by the Trump campaign, including that it would be “totally inappropriate” for the election not to be called by November 3—in fact, most states give officials at least a week after Election Day to “certify” their final state-level results. Indeed, a new poll found most Americans don’t expect to find out who won the presidency on Election Day.

In other news today, Jack Dorsey and Mark Zuckerberg testify before the Senate, hope for a pre-election stimulus package fades, and a new bill would bring big changes to 401(k), 403(b), IRAs and other retirement plans.

And in case you missed it, staff writer Lauren Debter looked at how online wholesaler Faire cashed in on pandemic shopping patterns by helping small businesses stock up on in-demand items.

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What Else To Know Now

It may be too late to post your mail-in ballot. State officials are encouraging voters to use drop boxes or hand-deliver their ballots to ensure they’re counted. 

The Trump campaign website was briefly hacked in what appears to be a crude effort to promote a cryptocurrency scam—the campaign said no sensitive data was exposed.

Top Take-Aways

Donald Trump has reportedly had $287 million worth of loans forgiven related to the construction of a skyscraper in Chicago—he refused to pay his lenders after struggling to sell condos in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and they agreed to forgive part of his debt.

A group of former U.S. attorneys—all of them Republican—have endorsed Biden for president, accusing Trump of “politicizing” the Department of Justice, just as a federal judge blocked the DOJ’s attempt to intervene in a defamation lawsuit against Trump brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.

Twitter’s Jack Dorsey and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg are appearing before the Senate’s Commerce Committee for a hearing titled “Does Section 230’s Sweeping Immunity Enable Big Tech Bad Behavior?” focused on the decades-old law that grants broad immunity to online firms against lawsuits stemming from what appears on their websites.

With the Senate adjourning until November 9, hopes for a stimulus package ahead of the election have all but faded. Here is what that means for struggling Americans.

Biotech firm Novavax is launching a phase 3 trial of its coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. and Mexico next month, as well as expanding its current U.K. trial. Meanwhile, new research indicating that Covid-19 immunity may wear off after infection adds to the case against herd immunity.

A new bipartisan bill introduced in the House is poised to expand retirement savings options for millions of individuals. Here’s a look at the changes it would bring.

With Halloween approaching, parents might be wondering whether their kids should be trick or treating during a pandemic. There are obviously some risks involved, but a number of necessary precautions can help you stay safe while having fun.

Remote working has plenty of pros, but anyone who has to share the same space with multiple remote workers will know that big challenges can arise. To tackle them, consider your mindset, your communication and some basic survival skills.

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