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Here’s what you need to know
It’s still not over. Assuming Joe Biden wins Arizona, which the Associated Press has called but others haven’t, a victory in any of the currently undecided battleground states—with a narrow Biden lead in Georgia and lawsuits to deal with—will put him in the White House. Meanwhile, Donald Trump repeated baseless allegations of fraud.
The markets appear to be pricing in a Biden victory. Stocks in prison companies are way down, with the Democrat promising to change the US’s policies on immigration and asylum, “end prolonged detention, and reinvest in a case management program.” Meanwhile, the Chinese yuan is at its strongest versus the US dollar in more than 10 years.
Cable news dominated election night TV ratings, thanks to older viewers. While regular broadcast TV suffered a drop-off from 2016, cable offers popular anchors and expensive graphics that attract more concerned—and partisan—viewers, and also has advantages over the internet.
Social media companies are failing to stop election misinformation in Spanish. While they appear to have done a decent job moderating content in English, a language in which their policies and processes are more robust, Spanish-language Facebook and Twitter accounts with large followings continue to make false claims.
Charting global remittances
The dip in remittances won’t be as bad as initially feared. In April, the World Bank had predicted a 23.1% drop in remittances to sub-Saharan African countries this year, but updated estimates now foresee smaller declines of 9% in 2020 and 6% in 2021.
Much of the expected shrinkage is connected to slower rates of migration because of international travel restrictions. But just as important are job losses and pay cuts among African migrants in wealthier countries.
Kelp, we need somebody
On days when it feels that uncertainty is too much to bear, we’d be wise to take notes from a humble, giant algae: kelp. It stays firmly rooted amid tumultuous forces beyond its control, and in doing so, inadvertently creates a nurturing environment for others. Health and science reporter Katherine Ellen Foley explains how we can thrive amid the uncertainty of the US election and beyond by being more like kelp.
What India stands to gain
Highly skilled young workers from India—the biggest group of H-1B recipients—are abandoning the American dream and moving home. The tech jobs they held in the US may follow them.
With more restrictive policies in place, the jobs H-1B holders now have will travel to where the talent is. In the event of such a migratory reversal, India can only stand to gain. But the magnitude of these gains will depend on how well it can accommodate the influx of returning professionals.
Read more in our field guide on the status of the H-1B visa.
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Surprising discoveries
Anti-maskers accidentally joined a mask-wearing rally. Activists protesting lockdowns were confused when organizers an anti-government march invited participants to wear Guy Fawkes masks.
Wolf robots ward off animal invaders in Japan. The country has at least 60 “monster” animatronics to scare away deer, wild boars, and bears.
Maybe use Google Translate before changing your company name. The Adani mining group’s new moniker Bravus is Latin for “crooked” or “mercenary,” not brave.
A Kentucky town only elects dog mayors. A French bulldog named Wilbur won the 2020 contest.
This planet rocks. More specifically, it’s made only of rocks, so it rains vaporized minerals into oceans of lava.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, robotic scarecrows, and a puppy president 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, Liz Webber, and Max Lockie.