The Daily Valet. - 9/16/20, Wednesday

✔️ We Found Some Common Ground

September 16, 2020

Wednesday, September 16th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Starting out with some good news? I could get used to this.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Common Ground Has Been Found

A new poll finds Americans are united on many issues, despite our politics

There are just 48 days until the election and while it seems like the country has sunk even deeper into political polarization, new polling out on Tuesday revealed some good, if a tad surprising, news. A majority of us are on the same page when it comes to what they consider to be important American rights and values.

The survey, conducted for Harvard University’s Carr Center for Human Rights and Institute of Politics and obtained by Politico ahead of its release, found that more than 7 in 10 Americans believe they have more in common with one another than many people think.

When you break it down, the numbers are reassuring: 74% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans and 66% of Independents.

According to the poll results, over three-quarters of Americans consider the right to clean air and water, a quality education, protection of personal data, affordable healthcare, and a job to be essential rights important to being an American.

As a whole, we express surprisingly strong support for rights no matter where our allegiances lie. Bipartisan majorities support rights that are facing political opposition today. For example, 57% agree that “racial diversity makes us stronger” (67% Dem, 52% Rep, 54% Ind). 66% believe that “new immigrants are good for the U.S.”

“Division is not what most Americans are seeking,” John Shattuck, director of the Carr Center, told Politico. It's a refreshing reminder that while our differences are serious, our commonalities outnumber the differences.

↦ A Telling Stat: The poll found that recent events had made 85% of Americans think differently about the role and responsibility of the government.

Breonna Taylor’s Family Wins Historic Settlement

The deal includes $12 million for the family and also several police reforms

After months of protests that turned Breonna Taylor's name into a national slogan against police violence, her family and the City of Louisville, Kentucky have reached a $12 million settlement, Mayor Greg Fischer announced Tuesday.

According to Louisville's NBC3, the settlement is the largest ever paid by the city in an officer-involved shooting case and includes police reforms aimed at preventing future deaths by officers.

The policy changes require commanders to approve all search warrants before they go to a judge. There's also a provision for offering housing credits to officers who agree to live within city limits, and a commitment to seek the authority to test any officers involved in a shooting for drugs and alcohol.

The family's lawyer said they would not negotiate a civil settlement unless it came with police reforms. The city is not admitting wrongdoing in this settlement, and Taylor's family said Tuesday that they still plan on pursuing criminal charges.

↦ Dig Deeper: The Cut has rounded up the facts of the case and the timeline of what happened that night.

Special Promotion

Words matter. This shoe brand is taking a stand and making a statement.

Did You Catch Apple’s Announcements?

Here’s everything worth knowing ...

Undeterred by the wild times, Apple held its annual September product event Tuesday. Because of the pandemic, they swapped the live presentation for a pre-recorded virtual extravaganza—available to be streamed by anyone looking for something shiny to break up their doomscrolling.

According to WIRED, while there was no news on upcoming iPhones or next-gen headphones yet, there were some lovely new gadgets shown off. But also, and more importantly, there were plenty of new options for Apple subscription services.

The Apple Watch got the biggest boost, reports CNET. The new Series 6 has new colors and finishes, an always-on display and expanded health measurements, including blood oxygen saturation, or Sp02. It incorporates a new, customized A13-based processor that's faster. There's also a new band design that's just a single, stretchy loop. And it'll be available to buy Friday.

And according to The Verge, you can put all that new functionality to good use with a new premium subscription service called Fitness Plus (look out, Peloton).

↦ FYI: Wondering when the iPhone 12 is coming? CNN uncovers some answers.

It’s Tough to Be a Winemaker in 2020

But smart wineries embrace online sales and budget pricing to woo pandemic drinkers

The 2020 wine harvest looks different these days around the world, much of it exasperated by climate change: scorching wildfires in California and Oregon; drought and heat waves in France; tornadoes in Italy.

Add in worry over a global pandemic and economic troubles—winemakers are dealing with a lot. COVID-19 closed tasting rooms and restaurants. The 25% tariffs the U.S. imposed on English, French, Spanish and German wines caused exports to drop dramatically, and the tariffs, sadly, will remain in place for the foreseeable future, reports Bloomberg.

In California's Sonoma Valley—home to 60,000 acres of grapes and 400 wineries—the pandemic has crushed the local business model and disrupted an centuries-old supply chain.

The Washington Post's fascinating interactive piece illustrates how smart vineyards and wineries are embracing technology, hosting virtual tastings to educate customers and lowering prices to make online buying a bit more palatable. And thankfully, it's working. (I know I'm buying more bottles than ever before.)

↦ FYI: Do you have a discerning palate? Wine Enthusiast explains how to taste booze for a living.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Nostalgic logos

Barefoot training

The new ‘Mandalorian’ trailer

Special Promotion

Easygoing, With a Side of Strength

SeaVees makes a stand for truth with a standout print

I gotta say, I’m into this. SeaVees was already a go-to sneaker brand for me, because they’re classically cool and really comfortable. But now I respect them for taking a stand and making a statement about the importance of integrity. The brand has partnered with Committee to Protect Journalists—an organization that promotes free press around the world and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and accurately—for a limited edition shoe.

The Words Matter print features original artwork inspired by redacted government documents. Along the edge of the outsole is a repeated scroll of “words matter.” The shoes are subtle, but they’re sure to start a conversation or two. The brand says the design highlights “the importance of saying what we mean and meaning what we say.” What’s more, SeaVees will be donating 5% of all proceeds to the CPJ.

↦ Get It: $95 at SeaVees

What We’re Buying

The Ohio-based menswear brand, Relwen, has produced a top-notch rain jacket, in my opinion. It's high-tech, lightweight and 100% waterproof—ideal for the cool, drizzly fall weather ahead. It features raglan sleeves for a better range of motion and is built from a highly durable nylon that can take a hell of a beating. And you're getting all of this for almost $100 off the original price. Whatever storm you encounter, this jacket definitely has your back.

↦ Get It $228 / $136.98 at Huckberry