The numbers for November 5, 2014
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The numbers for November 5, 2014
Midterm elections aren’t quite over yet, thanks to a runoff in Louisiana, but the Republican victory was decisive nonetheless. The GOP gained at least seven seats to take control of the Senate, and further cemented its control of the House. Even in some races that were supposed to be close, NPR called the night “a derecho” — an intense, destructive storm — for Democrats.
For his part, President Barack Obama said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that he won’t be “mopey,” and will compromise with the legislature on some issues, without backing down on others.
In an exhaustive report, the Washington Post detailed exactly how we got here. As the Democrats were preoccupied by in-fighting and discontent with the White House, Republicans were shrewdly picking candidates, avoiding gaffes and working to tie opponents to Obama.
Stocks and oil are both on the rise after the Republican victory. Here are some other numbers we’re watching Tuesday:
One more election note: that’s the new minimum wage in Alaska at 2016, approved overwhelmingly by voters Tuesday. They also legalized marijuana, as did Oregon and Washington DC. South Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska voters OK’d minimum wage hikes too, Forbes reported. Several ballot measures not typically associated with the GOP were surprises in an election that otherwise represented a rightward shift.
That’s how much Uber is saying it will save its drivers on car payments with car loans facilitated by the car service, but financed through third parties. Uber says the arrangement is mutually beneficial, adding drivers to its network and connecting people with cars who might have bad credit or no credit. But others aren’t so sure. Gawker’s Valleywag blog has poked holes in Uber’s claims and recent press coverage, citing drivers’ reports of unpredictable wages and pointing to the recent surge in sub-prime auto loans.
The very first Guy Fawkes Day, when a plot to blow up Parliament was exposed over 400 years ago. The BBC has a fun explainer about the history of the holiday and its continued notoriety, thanks in no small part to “V for Vendetta.”
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