The Daily Valet. - 11/4/20, Wednesday

✔️ It's Not Over Yet

Wednesday, November 4th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

What a night, huh?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

It’s Not Over Yet

A close shave election will likely stretch into the next few days

We knew it would likely end up here, right? As Jimmy Kimmel put it late Tuesday, “They said every vote counts ... they never said when it gets counted.”

With millions of votes still needing to be counted, 2020’s historic election isn’t over yet. President Trump won some key battleground states (Florida, Ohio and Iowa) and, as expected, prematurely claimed victory before all the ballots were counted. Joe Biden, who flipped Arizona, expressed confidence he would ultimately prevail across key Northern states as the presidential contest turned into a state-by-state slog that could drag deeper into today and tomorrow, reports the New York Times.

So far, the electoral map is in a purple haze. Mail-in votes are still being counted within the deadlines in some pivotal swing states–including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania–whose votes will likely determine which candidate is inaugurated on Jan. 20.

Of course, the presidential race wasn’t the only thing being voted on ... and we've got some important firsts to report. Delaware’s Sarah McBride becomes nation’s first openly transgender state senator, reports NPR. And Democrat Cori Bush, a nurse and political activist, becomes Missouri ’s first Black congresswoman. Ritchie Torres is expected to win in New York’s 15th Congressional District, making him the first openly LGBTQ Afro-Latinx person elected to Congress.

On the other end of the spectrum, Republican and MAGA wunderkind Madison Cawthorn, becomes youngest congressman-elect at 25 in North Carolina. And Georgia's Marjorie Taylor Greene becomes the first QAnon conspiracist congressperson. Rolling Stone says the win is not a surprise, but it’s significant nonetheless.

Speaking of Congress, Democrats are on track for maintaining the majority in the House while Republicans will likely keep control of the Senate.

↦ FYI: In Pennsylvania, a legal battle is quickly ramping up. Republicans filed a number of lawsuits during the day on Tuesday, with two cases scheduled to be heard today.

On the Bright Side ...

Election Day was relatively mellow

Despite fears of disruptions or violence, voters around the U.S. registered just a few complaints of alleged intimidation at polling places by late Tuesday, reports USA Today.

Voting rights advocates are thankful that there were no reports of digital interference by foreign actors and that threats by extremist groups to converge on polling places did not materialize. But without an official victor (or concession), everyone is still on guard for the next few days, and possibly weeks, to come.

The Election Protection Hotline said it received reports of robocalls from 17 states discouraging voting—something that the FBI is looking into. A senior homeland security official told the New York Times that such robocalls were common during elections and intelligence officials said there did not seem to be any early indications that the calls were originating from a foreign government.

It feels a bit like the Y2K bug. The public was afraid but smart people put in the work to prevent any problems. And that's a definite win for the day.

↦ FYI: Retailers and banks from Boston to Washington to Los Angeles continue to beef-up security today.

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Is your place feeling a little dull? Liven it up by bringing the outside in.

Some of the Coolest Cars Right Now ...

Station wagons? Who could’ve predicted that?

After falling out of favor during the SUV boom, the station wagon is back in a big way. Some of the most talked about cars right now are muscular, stylish versions of the classic wagon. Just ask Road Show's Andrew Krok. “The era of crossovers has given these low-slug longroofs new life among a small but vocal subset of automotive fans.”

He reviews the 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, which is treated like a demigod in this circle, and for good reason: “It combines ample storage and enough torque to affect plate tectonics in a package that makes for one of the most compelling daily drivers for sale today.”

Earlier this week, Car and Driver reviewed the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon. “From its 3.0-second 60-mph run to its 35 cubic feet of cargo space, AMG's updated E63 S wagon is a spectacularly versatile luxury hot rod.”

Gear Patrol calls BMW's reworked B5 the automaker's coolest new car. But one thing is clear ... don't mess with the formula. Ars Technica says Volvo ruined a great station wagon with their V60 Cross Country simply by jacking up the ride height.

↦ Dig Deeper: Automotive magazine looks back at 10 of the best historical American station wagons.

You Need a Project

Calm your nerves and organize your wardrobe

There's a lot we don't know at the moment. And there's a lot out of our control. So a project to keep our minds and hands busy is just what we need right now.

Thankfully, the Valet. team has done some intel and pulled together some expert advice on how to organize your closet. It's the quickest way to restore order and calm the chaos around you.

A well organized closet will not only allow you to better know what you have, but it will make getting dressed in the morning easy and efficient. And thankfully, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars having a custom walk-in closet built. A few well-chosen, durable items will put everything in its place.

By the time your shoes, jackets, shirts and pants are all lined up and tidy, hopefully we'll have some answers on the future of our country.

↦ Read: The best closet organizing products and how to put them to good use.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The MLB’s fraught offseason

This photographer’s U.S. road trip

Beer subscription boxes

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Liven Up Your Coffee Table

The best plants and blooms to send yourself

The Dorado, $95

As the seasons change, it’s a good idea to change up your own personal environment as well. Why not rearrange your coffee table? Weed out the magazines and switch out your coffee table books. Light up a new candle, and yes consider treating yourself to a plant or bouquet of flowers.

You could go for something classic, like a jade plant. Or something simple that requires next no maintenance like an air plant in an already stylish geometric pot. Perhaps you want something seasonal and textural like a black calla lily plant—stylish yet spooky. UrbanStems, the modern man's choice of florists, has a range of plants and bouqets to liven up your coffee table or entryway. Their fall collection of rich amber and caramel-colored arrangements, featuring fragrant lavender and eucalyptus stems, make a statement whether for you or as a gift. Remember, Thanksgiving is coming up.

Personally, I think you really get your money's worth with their new dried bouquets. The artfully dried stems are also easy to care for (no water) and a great value, considering that they'll never die. Meaning they'll continue to look good no matter how much you neglect them.

The Catskill, $90

Mimosa, $80

The Louie, $68

The Marcella, $35

↦ Get It: UrbanStems' fall plant collection

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