Essentials, November 2-3, 2024

A compendium of the best reporting and commentary surrounding the pivotal 2024 elections in the United States. You will rarely find horse race coverage here, or the standard "both sides" BS that passes so often for political journalism. What you will find are links, with brief commentary, to work that I believe advances the conversation we should be having about America's – and the world's – future. Remember: Everything is at stake this year. (Unfortunately, some of the work I point to is behind paywalls.)

I hope you'll watch both of these ads. VP Harris makes the case for herself – and for a better future – while Harrison Ford offers a personal plea.

A liar and promoter of violence, right to the finish line

Trump talks shooting at press, ramps up election fraud claims at Pa. rally

Trump made the comment while speaking about the bulletproof glass he stands behind at rallies following his two assassination attempts.

NBC NewsAlexandra Marquez

Election crime in progress?

James O’Keefe, the conservative influencer who founded and formerly led Project Veritas, has assembled a corps of election workers and poll monitors planning to secretly film voting and ballot counting in states across the country.

This story shows the New York Times in standard operating mode: publishing a hugely important story but couching it in the tamest possible language to give the impression that flagrantly illegal extremist operations are just another tactic by "conservative" Republicans. O'Keefe is almost cartoonishly vile. Elections workers who are just doing their jobs, honorably, are going to be put in real jeopardy here, but trust in the election is the real target. Perhaps O'Keefe insulated himself from the consequences of this stuff, this time, but his volunteers may be in for a world of trouble. I have to ask, meanwhile, whether the Justice Department and state attorneys general plan to do anything about it. So far, silence from law enforcement.

Kudos: Ken Bensinger

If you encounter problems at your polling place

Voter fraud, voter suppression, and other election crimes | USAGov

Learn where to report voter fraud, campaign finance crime, and voting rights violations such as voter intimidation and suppression.

USAGov Logo

States - Election Protection

866 Our Vote

Election Protection

Know Your Rights | Voting Rights | ACLU

Learn more about how to exercise your voting rights, resist voter intimidation efforts, and access disability-related accommodations and language assistance at the polls. For help at the polls, call the non-partisan Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

American Civil Liberties Union

How you can still help get out the vote

One Last Thing to Win: Let’s Go Relational!

Connecting to your own personal network to urge them to vote could tip the 2024 election where it matters most. Read on to learn how.

The ConnectorMicah L. Sifry

Take your personal contact list, compare it to the national voter file, and find out which of your actual friends, family, co-workers and past acquaintances live in swing states and districts where a call or text from you could be hugely influential.

Please read Micah Sifry's advice – and heed it! You still have time to make a huge difference.

Please send your suggestions

I spend a lot of time looking for essential coverage, and hope you'll help me by letting me know about the good stuff you find. Let me know.

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