Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
It ain’t over till it’s over. The Associated Press is projecting 264 electoral college votes for Joe Biden, bringing him close to the 270 needed to be the next president, while Donald Trump stands at 214. (Other reputable sources are less sure about Arizona.) The Trump campaign requested a recount in Wisconsin, and launched a string of legal challenges.
There were plenty of other victories down the ballot. As well as a number of notable firsts in the House, users of marijuana and magic mushrooms will be even happier, while a couple of tech-related issues caught our eye: in Massachusetts, it’ll be easier to fix your own car, and in Chicago, 90% of voters agreed the internet should be a public utility.
All eyes are on American media. Despite the popularity of social media, traditional news outlets—and their magic walls—remain the definitive source for election coverage in the US. Quartz’s source for results, the basis of our coverage and many others’, is the Associated Press (AP).
The rest of the world is taking its time to react. The European Commission “will not comment on the results until they have been announced, and on the process unless it is entirely disrupted.” A Chinese spokesperson, when asked what he made of the lack of a result, said merely that China had noticed there wasn’t one yet.
Politics in the workplace
No matter how this or any other major election plays out, some people will experience grief, joy, fatigue, exhilaration, anxiety, skepticism, or flat-out terror. Even among colleagues who share political affiliations, there’s no “right” reaction to an election.
💑 One way through the awkwardness is to lean on the pillars of nonviolent communication, a process for interacting with people that emphasizes mutual respect and navigates the tone of workplace discussions away from potential boiling points.
👼 Another is to come up with metaphors and similes about how it feels to stand by, filled with anxiety about the outcome but powerless to influence it one way or another. For example, it’s like “birthing a baby that you might hate,” says news editor Susan Howson.
🛀 And if you want to just power through the workday instead, that’s fine too. Here are five ways to find focus.
For more dispatches from the front line of the modern workplace, sign up for The Memo newsletter from Quartz at Work.
Charting Wall Street’s reaction
Wall Street is betting on a skinny stimulus and no new taxes. Even if Joe Biden wins the US presidency, Democrats are unlikely to flip the Senate, putting a damper on the chances of a blockbuster aid package or any major tax changes.
Still, there are signs that traders are taking cover in large tech firms—the so-called “stay-at-home stocks” that are able to grow revenues during a pandemic that otherwise threatens spending and mobility. The Nasdaq 100 index of big technology stocks outperformed both large industrial firms and smaller public firms on Wednesday.
Praying to the visa gods
Devotees believe a visit to a 500-year-old temple in India could be their ticket to America.
On any given day, hundreds of tech workers crowd into the Chilkur Balaji Temple in Hyderabad, one of India’s biggest IT hubs, to pray to the “Visa God.” Their wish? The coveted US H-1B visa, which goes to just 30% of applicants each year. Located an hour’s drive away from Hyderabad’s US consulate, hopefuls seek divine intervention for a visa after bagging a job in the US.
The ritual to pray for an H-1B includes pradakshina, the practice of circling around an image, relic, shrine, or other sacred objects. Discover how a 500-year-old Indian temple became a destination for H-1B visa hopefuls in our latest field guide.
✦ Want to learn more about the H-1B visa? You’ll need a Quartz membership, but lucky you, it’s 20% off the first year, with code QZTWENTY.
We’re obsessed with houseplants
Why doomscroll when you can talk to your plant? Across cultures and millennia, houseplants have added a little green to our indoor spaces, while telling our friends we have a little green to throw around. Over the last decade, they’ve grown from a subtle wealth marker—the more plants you have, the more time and money you’ve invested in nurturing them—to a symbol of a different kind of currency: social media status. Hit pause on the news and get to the root of it with the Quartz Weekly Obsession.
Surprising discoveries
A Mexican town named the “world’s best mourner.” The annual competition, which coincides with the Day of the Dead, took on new significance during the pandemic.
A five-eyed shrimp-like fossil was found in China. Dating to 520 million years ago, kylinxia zhangi could provide a missing link in arthropod evolution.
Dead men tell no tales… but can still win office. A man who died from coronavirus last month was elected to North Dakota’s state legislature.
A massive iceberg is headed for a British territory. The 150-km (93 mile) long chunk of Antarctica could upend South Georgia’s ecosystem and cut off shipping routes.
Not all ancient hunters were men. A new discovery has researchers taking a closer look at other women’s graves—and their own sexist assumptions.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, champion criers, and multiple-eyed ancient creatures to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Hasit Shah, Jane Li, Tripti Lahiri, Liz Webber, and Max Lockie.