David Lidsky's Blog, page 330

Massachusetts could raise minimum wage for tipped workers. Here’s what to know

If Massachusetts voters approve a ballot initiative, the state will gradually raise minimum wage for tipped workers until it matches the state minimum wage—or from $6.75 to $15 per hour by 2029.

The federal minimum wage for tipped workers has stood at US$2.13 an hour since 1991. Back then, it amounted to half the $4.25 regular minimum wage. But Congress has failed to increase the tipped minimum while periodically raising the regular wage floor. Today, the tipped rate is less than one-third of the $7.25 federal full minimum wage.

Roll up your sleeves. NBC’s updated ‘Big Board’ just made election results a whole lot easier to understand

Steve Kornacki’s election night data viz tool just got more nimble.

Election night is like the Super Bowl for political reporters, but also for data visualizations—the charts, maps, and graphics that track the road to 270 electoral votes and contextualize how counties, congressional districts, and states have historically voted.

Wells Fargo has flooded local elections with donations. Who were the recipients?

In the 2024 election cycle, Wells Fargo gave a total of $704,300 to three Democratic and three Republican organizations known as 527s.

Over the past decade, Wells Fargo has tripled donations to groups focused on influencing state elections as the retail banking giant tries to sway local level policymaking, according to public data and a bank spokesperson.

How climate tech startups are planning for life under Trump vs. Harris

The winner of the presidential election will impact their businesses—but these founders are making plans to grow no matter what happens.

When the results of today’s election start to come in, climate tech founders will be thinking about the two scenarios that face their startups. One, a president who believes in climate change and is likely to support solutions. Two, a president who has called climate change a hoax and said he wants to “terminate” green spending.

‘It’s okay to not be okay’: A Harvard psychiatrist talks about why anxiety around this election feels different

With policy issues at stake that have real impacts on people’s lives, Tuesday’s election is an understandable source of worry. Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni emphasizes focusing on what’s still within our control.

The 2024 election is upon us and anxiety levels are running high. The polls seem to swing back and forth, while campaign pleas from both candidates are increasingly fraught. Yet, despite the anxiety, most of us have to carry on with life as usual—showing up at our jobs, showing up for our families, all the while knowing that some of our friends and neighbors don’t share our political views. Not helping, we don’t even know when we’ll get the results. (In 2020, it took five days to have a clear outcome.) What’s a person to do?

You can still register to vote on Election Day in almost half the U.S., including swing states Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin

There are 24 states that allow same-day voter registration, where you can still cast a ballot last-minute.

If you haven’t had time to register to vote or you’re unsure of your voting status but you still want to cast your ballot on Election Day, don’t lose hope! It may not be too late, depending on where you live.

Here’s why Trump’s allies are talking about a squirrel right now

Peanut the squirrel was famous on social media before New York authorities euthanized him. Now, many Trump allies want his death to be infamous.

The final few nauseating days before a deadlocked election are critical. They mark the moment when many undecided voters finally put the proverbial licked finger in the wind to assess the vibes—if not necessarily all the policy positions—and break one way or the other. Anyone doing so at the moment, however, may be surprised to discover that the atmosphere on one side has gotten a little, well, nutty. That’s right: Donald Trump’s campaign, and its biggest supporters, are going all in on . . . Peanut the squirrel.

Pennsylvania judge rules that Elon Musk’s daily $1 million voter giveaway can proceed

Judge Angelo Foglietta denied Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s request to stop the controversial program.

A Pennsylvania judge ruled that Elon Musk can continue his daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters in swing states through Tuesday’s presidential election.

Thousands of London protesters demand water companies clean up polluted rivers

The March for Clean Water was organized by groups ranging from Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth to British Rowing.

Holding signs with slogans including “Stop the Plop” and “Species Not Feces,” thousands of people marched in London on Sunday to demand a cleanup of Britain’s sewage-clogged waterways.

Economic stability depends on democracy

Why business leaders must lead the fight for free and fair elections.

In 2020, leaders from across the business sector defended the electoral process against unprecedented threats, condemning the violence on Capitol Hill, and calling for a peaceful transfer of power. The rise in anti-democratic rhetoric, threats of political violence and intimidation, and election administration challenges in the ramp-up to this year’s election require business leaders to once again stand up for our democratic processes and institutions.