The Daily Valet. - 10/16/20, Friday

✔️ American Troubles

Friday, October 16th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Well, that was some week, huh?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

↦ We're giving away a $1,000 Shinola watch (which is good because you can't buy it. It's sold out). Enter now to win.

Today’s Big Story

American Poverty Is On the Rise

8 million have slipped into poverty since May, as federal aid has dried up

This week, many of us took advantage of Amazon's return of Prime Day to buy stuff—things we did or maybe didn't need. But others were looking to hang onto as much money as possible.

Unfortunately, after an expansion of the safety net in the spring saved millions of people from financial ruin, the aid is now largely exhausted and poverty has returned to levels higher than before the coronavirus crisis, two new studies have found.

According to the New York Times, the number of poor people has grown by eight million since May, according to researchers at Columbia University, after falling by four million at the pandemic’s start as a result of a $2 trillion emergency package known as the Cares Act.

Using a different definition of poverty, researchers from the University of Chicago and Notre Dame found that poverty has grown by six million people in the past three months, with circumstances worsening most for Black people and children.

What's more, the recent rise in poverty has occurred despite an improving job market—an indiction that the economy has been rebounding too slowly to offset the lost benefits. The House has twice passed multitrillion-dollar packages to stimulate the economy, but the Senate, questioning the cost and necessity, proposed smaller plans.

President Trump said Thursday that he is “ready to sign” a fourth coronavirus stimulus package, and if he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi strike a deal, Senate Republicans will get on board. According to Mother Jones, it would be the obvious solution. There’s not much downside and there’s a ton of upside.

↦ Dig Deeper: As this New Republic story examines, our poverty numbers leave out far too many who are struggling economically.

Dueling Town Halls Show a Clear Divide

The two events made for an indirect debate

Separated by five states, two TV networks and plenty of animosity, President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden held dueling town halls Thursday that offered a jarring contrast of their opposing political styles and approaches to major campaign issues like the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Washington Post, the split-screen showdown appeared to be broadcast from entirely different dimensions. Biden leaned back in a white chair, relaxed and conversational as he went over his plans for rebuilding and unity. He was blunt about the prospects of increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthiest Americans but said he'd be a president for all. “That’s what presidents do. We’ve got to heal this nation.” A Trump campaign advisor likened it to watching Mister Rogers (which I think was supposed to be an insult).

Trump’s appearance was more heated, as he defended his record and challenged moderator Savannah Guthrie. The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump doubted the effectiveness of wearing of masks to prevent viral spread, refused to denounce the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory, repeatedly declined to say whether he was tested for the coronavirus before the last debate and didn't dispute a report that he is liable for more than $400 million in debt.

The two will come together for a a final debate, scheduled for next week on Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.

↦ Fact Check Politfact fact-checked both Trump and Biden town hall events to find out which claims were true and false.

Gun Sales to First-Time Buyers Skyrocket

Fears of social unrest and the election fuel sales

Surges in U.S. firearm sales have in recent decades been predictably driven by events sparking fears of impending gun-control legislation—usually the election of a Democratic president or a spate of mass shootings.

And it was usually among the gun-industry’s core base of white, male and politically conservative customers who often already owned one or multiple guns. But according to Reuters, that market is widening this year to include a new rush of first-time buyers, including women, minorities and politically liberal buyers who aren't typically known for gun ownership.

Gun dealers across the country said the pandemic kicked off the rash of sales. Of course, arming yourself to deal with the run on toilet paper isn’t necessarily sound advice, but the uncertainty coupled with economic trouble and social unrest fits nicely into gun-friendly doomsday fears.

According to the Los Angeles Times, background checks increased by 48% from March through July compared to last year. In fact, so many guns were being sold, it created a backlog in the background check system that required the Department of Justice to ask Congress for extra staffing just to deal with the demand.

↦ FYI: A recent survey estimates that American civilians own 393 million guns, ranking the U.S. number one in firearms per capita.

In the Market for Affordable Art?

Photographers are selling prints for a good cause

Prints from over 150 leading artists and photographers are spotlighted in States of Change's online fundraiser that aims to raise awareness for local voting organizations that are encouraging people to submit ballots in five crucial swing states this year: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Launched in collaboration with the Movement Voter Project, the campaign features pieces by the likes of Cindy Sherman, Gordon Parks, Kim Gordon, Sally Mann, Robert Frank, Nan Goldin, Steve McCurry and on my personal favorite, Ed Ruscha.

According to Hypebeast, States of Change was created by a collective of artists who aim to fight voter suppression. Apart from getting out the vote, the initiatve also empowers underprivileged communities to create lasting change.

The prints measure ten by twelve inches and are priced at $150—a pretty great deal for this caliber of art. And it's way cooler than your standard campaign merch, right?

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Dressing for outdoor fall dates

This disturbing Twinkie

The laidback cool of Timothée Chalamet

Your Weekend Pairing

The West Wing Reunion Special + a Cider Bourbon Cocktail

Recently, many people started watching old episodes of The West Wing for the same reason they did when the show originally aired—taking solace in its counterfactual fantasy of a White House run by level-headed, honorable politicians. Aaron Sorkin has long considered revisiting the series, which ran from 1999 to 2006. Last year he told Vanity Fair he was willing only if there was a way to do it “that wouldn’t feel like A Very Brady Reunion.”

The current high-stakes election finally spurred him to find the right vehicle to bring the show back: a live theatrical performance of a classic episode, involving much of the original cast, and with proceeds going to When We All Vote. Streaming on HBO Max now, there are also guest appearances by Michelle Obama, “Hamilton” mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elisabeth Moss, Samuel L. Jackson and Sterling K. Brown, who will fill in for the late John Spencer as Chief of Staff Leo McGarry. The Hollywood Reporter calls it “a solid recreation of a solid episode for a solid cause.”

↦ Your Pairing:What does cider have to do with a show about high-minded politics? I’m not sure. But it’s fall and there’s something all-American about an apple-based cocktail. This one, from Serendipity by Sara Lynn, blends equal parts apple cider and ginger beer with a slug of bourbon and a dash of bitters for a spicy, just-sweet-enough drink that goes down smooth with Sorkin’s sharp, biting dialogue.

What We’re Buying

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