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Democrats take home victories in several states after Election Day 2023: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 8, 2023


The results are in, we have the big winners from Election Day across America. And the House votes to censure Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Election Day 2023 results

The results are in for Election Day 2023, and Democrats scored victories in several states.

Voters in Ohio approved a ballot measure amending the state constitution to include protections for abortion access, which protects medical providers who perform abortions and the right to an abortion up through viability. Voters in Ohio also voted to legalize marijuana for adults over 21, becoming the 24th to do so.

Democratic incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear won his re-election in Kentucky, defeating Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

“It was a victory that sends a loud, clear message. A message that candidates should run for something and not against someone,” Beshear told supporters Tuesday night. “That a candidate should show vision and not sow division.”

In Virginia, Democrats took control of the state’s House of Delegates while retaining their majority in the state’s Senate, which will prevent Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin from enacting his proposals on abortion and other policies.

Republicans won in Mississippi, where incumbent Gov. Tate Reeves (R) won re-election over Democrat Brandon Presley.

“I want to thank every single one of you, and I got to tell you this victory sure is sweet,” Reeves told supporters after the results came in. “Not too bad for what the Democrat SuperPac Mississippi Today called one of the most unpopular governors in America.”

In Uvalde, Texas, Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose 10-year-old daughter was killed in the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, lost her bid for mayor to former mayor Cody Smith.

Democrat Cherelle Parker will become the 100th mayor of Philadelphia and the city’s first woman mayor.

Third GOP presidential primary debate Wednesday, Nov. 8, in Miami

Five Republican presidential candidates will take the stage on Wednesday, Nov. 8, for the third GOP primary debate in Miami. The debate is at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.

Those who qualified for the debate are former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not qualify.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has dropped out of the race since the last debate. While former President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, said he would not attend the debate. Instead, he’ll be holding a rally just a half hour away. The debate airs tonight on NBC.

House votes to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.

On Tuesday night, Nov. 8, the House of Representatives voted to censure Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the only Palestinian American in Congress, over her comments and actions in response to the war between Israel and Hamas.

The censure resolution, which Congressman Rich McCormick, R-Ga, authored, passed by a vote of 234 to 188. Twenty-two Democrats voted along with most of their Republican colleagues. Four Republicans opposed the measure.

The resolution claimed Tlaib had been “promoting false narratives regarding the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.”

Those backing the resolution pointed to Tlaib posting a social media video of protesters chanting “from the river to the sea,” a phrase that has been used by Hamas and considered by the Anti-Defamation League and other Jewish groups as an antisemitic call for the elimination of Israel.

Tlaib has defended using the slogan, calling it “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence.”

Before the vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7, the congresswoman said she would not be “silenced” and accused members of the House of distorting her words.

Man armed with rifle arrested near US Capitol

A man armed with a rifle was arrested in a park near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 7. According to Capitol Police, just after 12:30 p.m., the 21-year-old man, Ahmir Lavon Merrell, was seen with a gun, described as possibly an AR-15, near Senate office buildings.

When officers responded and demanded that he drop his weapon, police say he refused, and officers used a Taser to subdue him. The park and surrounding roads were closed for a couple of hours following the incident as officers investigated.

“See something, say something’ is not just an empty slogan. We are grateful for the individual who alerted our officer to the man with a gun in the park,” said USCP Chief Tom Manger. “These cops immediately ran toward the man with the loaded gun. As always — I am proud of our cops.”

Police say there is no reason to believe there is a further threat to the public. Merrell, who had a warrant out for his arrest in Georgia for a probation violation, now faces gun charges.

It is illegal to possess a firearm on U.S. Capitol grounds, the Associated Press reporting that Capitol police have confiscated more than 30 guns this year.

Talks between actors and studios focus on AI

With the SAG-AFTRA actor’s strike nearing 120 days, Hollywood studios have agreed to adjust language in their offer concerning artificial intelligence, one of the critical issues that sent actors to the picket lines in July.

Over the past two weeks, AI has been the focus of talks between the SAG-AFTRA union and the alliance of motion picture and television producers.

Late Tuesday, Nov. 7, the negotiating team for SAG-AFTRA informed members that after meeting for 10 hours, it would continue to have discussions today about the studio’s latest changes.

Last week, the studios issued their “last, best and final” offer to the actors’ union, with SAG-AFTRA delivering its latest formal proposal on Monday, Nov. 6.

The studios have warned that to save a portion of this season’s television schedule – a deal needs to be made soon.

Titanic menu up for auction

We are getting a glimpse at what the first-class passengers of the ill-fated Titanic ate just three days before the massive ship struck an iceberg. A rare menu from a restaurant on the Titanic is going up for auction this week.

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According to the auction house, the menu was discovered earlier this year by the family of a Canadian historian, but how he got a hold of it is unknown.

The now water-stained menu shows the dining choices for wealthy passengers included oysters, salmon, mallard duck, and spring lamb with mint sauce.

The auction house says while a handful of menus have been found from the night the ocean liner sank, this is the only one known to exist from April 11, 1912.

The menu is estimated to sell for around $73,800. In addition to the menu, a pocket watch from one of the passengers will also be sold at the auction.

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THE RESULTS ARE IN. WE HAVE THE BIG WINNERS FROM ELECTION DAY ACROSS AMERICA.

AND — THE HOUSE VOTES TO CENSURE RASHIDA TLAIB — THE ONLY PALESTINIAN AMERICAN IN CONGRESS

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

THE RESULTS ARE IN FOR ELECTION DAY 2023 —  AND DEMOCRATS SCORED VICTORIES IN SEVERAL STATES.

VOTERS IN OHIO APPROVED A BALLOT MEASURE — AMENDING THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCLUDE PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTION ACCESS – WHICH PROTECTS MEDICAL PROVIDERS WHO PERFORM ABORTIONS AND THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION UP THROUGH VIABILITY.

DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WON HIS RE-ELECTION IN KENTUCKY, DEFEATING REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON.

HE SPOKE WITH SUPPORTERS TUESDAY NIGHT.

Gov. Andy Beshear: “It was a victory that sends a loud, clear message. A message that candidates should run for something and not against someone. That a candidate should show vision and not sow division.”

IN VIRGINIA, DEMOCRATS TOOK CONTROL OF THE STATE’S HOUSE OF DELEGATES WHILE RETAINING THEIR MAJORITY IN THE STATE’S SENATE –

WHICH WILL PREVENT REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN FROM ENACTING HIS PROPOSALS ON ABORTION AND OTHER POLICIES.

REPUBLICANS DID GET A WIN IN MISSISSIPPI, WHERE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR TATE REEVES WON RE-ELECTION OVER DEMOCRAT BRANDON PRESLEY.

Gov. Tate Reeves: “I want to thank every single one of you and I got to tell you this is victory sure is sweet” (splice) “Not too bad for what the Democrat Super PAC Mississippi today called one of the most unpopular governors in America.”

IN UVALDE, TEXAS — KIMBERLY MATA-RUBIO (MAH-TA-RUBIO), WHOSE 10-YEAR-old DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN THE 2022 MASS SHOOTING AT ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOST HER BID FOR MAYOR  — TO FORMER MAYOR CODY SMITH.

DEMOCRAT CHERELLE (SURE-RELL) PARKER WILL BECOME THE 100TH MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA AND THE CITY’S FIRST FEMALE MAYOR.

AND VOTERS IN OHIO ALSO VOTED TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR ADULTS OVER 21 – BECOMING THE 24TH STATE TO DO SO.

FIVE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT WILL TAKE THE STAGE TONIGHT FOR THE THIRD GOP PRIMARY DEBATE IN MIAMI.

THOSE WHO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE DEBATE ARE: FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE, FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS, FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR NIKKI HALEY, TECH ENTREPRENEUR VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR TIM SCOTT.

NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR DOUG BURGUM AND FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON FAILED TO QUALIFY.

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE HAS DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE SINCE THE LAST DEBATE.

AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP – WHO IS THE FRONTRUNNER – SAID HE WILL NOT ATTEND THE DEBATE – INSTEAD HE’LL BE HOLDING A RALLY JUST A HALF HOUR AWAY AT THE SAME TIME.

THE DEBATE AIRS TONIGHT ON NBC.

ON TUESDAY NIGHT – THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO CENSURE CONGRESSWOMAN RASHIDA TLAIB (TA-LEEB) – THE ONLY PALESTINIAN AMERICAN IN CONGRESS – OVER HER COMMENTS AND ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS.

THE CENSURE RESOLUTION – WHICH WAS AUTHORED BY REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN RICH MCCORMICK – PASSED BY A VOTE OF 234 TO 188 – WITH TWENTY-TWO DEMOCRATS JOINING MOST OF THEIR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.

FOUR REPUBLICANS OPPOSED THE MEASURE.

THE RESOLUTION CLAIMED TLAIB HAD BEEN “PROMOTING FALSE NARRATIVES REGARDING THE OCTOBER 7TH 2023, HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL AND FOR CALLING FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL.”

THOSE BACKING THE RESOLUTION POINTED TO TLAIB POSTING A SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO OF PROTESTERS CHANTING “FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA” – A PHRASE THAT HAS BEEN USED BY HAMAS – AND CONSIDERED BY THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE AND OTHER JEWISH GROUPS AS AN ANTI-SEMITIC CALL FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ISRAEL.

TLAIB HAS DEFENDED USING THE SLOGAN – CALLING IT “AN ASPIRATIONAL CALL FOR FREEDOM, HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE.”

BEFORE THE VOTE TUESDAY, THE CONGRESSWOMAN SAID SHE WOULD NOT BE “SILENCED” AND ACCUSED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF DISTORTING HER WORDS.

A MAN ARMED WITH A RIFLE WAS ARRESTED IN A PARK NEAR THE US CAPITOL ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO CAPITOL POLICE — JUST AFTER 12-THIRTY  — THE 21-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SEEN WITH A GUN – DESCRIBED AS POSSIBLY AN AR-15 —  NEAR SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS… WHEN OFFICERS RESPONDED AND DEMANDED THAT HE DROP HIS WEAPON.

POLICE SAY HE REFUSED… AND  OFFICERS USED A TASER.

THE PARK AND SURROUNDING ROADS WERE CLOSED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT AS OFFICERS INVESTIGATED.

POLICE SAY THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THERE IS A FURTHER THREAT TO THE PUBLIC.

THE SUSPECT — WHO HAD A WARRANT OUT FOR HIS ARREST IN GEORGIA FOR A PROBATION VIOLATION — NOW FACES GUN CHARGES.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO POSSESS A FIREARM ON U-S CAPITOL GROUNDS… THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTING THAT CAPITOL POLICE HAVE CONFISCATED MORE THAN THIRTY GUNS THIS YEAR.

WITH THE ACTORS STRIKE NEARING 120 DAYS –  THE STUDIOS HAVE AGREED TO ADJUST LANGUAGE IN THEIR LATEST OFFER CONCERNING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT SENT ACTORS TO THE PICKET LINES IN JULY.

OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS — AI HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF TALKS BETWEEN THE SAG-AFTRA UNION AND THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS.

LATE TUESDAY – THE NEGOTIATING TEAM FOR SAG-AFTRA INFORMED MEMBERS – AFTER MEETING FOR 10 HOURS – IT WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS TODAY ABOUT THE STUDIO’S LATEST CHANGES.

LAST WEEK – THE STUDIOS ISSUED THEIR “LAST, BEST AND FINAL” OFFER TO THE ACTORS UNION –

WITH SAG-AFTRA DELIVERING ITS LATEST FORMAL PROPOSAL ON MONDAY.

THE STUDIOS HAVE WARNED THAT IN ORDER TO SAVE A PORTION OF THIS SEASON’S TELEVISION SCHEDULE – A DEAL NEEDS TO BE MADE SOON.

FINALLY THIS MORNING — WE ARE GETTING A GLIMPSE AT WHAT THE FIRST-CLASS PASSENGERS OF THE ILL-FATED TITANIC ATE JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE THE MASSIVE SHIP STRUCK AN ICEBERG.

A RARE MENU FROM A RESTAURANT ON THE TITANIC IS GOING UP FOR AUCTION THIS WEEK.

ACCORDING TO THE AUCTION HOUSE– THE MENU WAS DISCOVERED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE FAMILY OF A CANADIAN HISTORIAN – BUT HOW HE GOT A HOLD OF IT IS UNKNOWN.

THE NOW WATER-STAINED MENU SHOWS DINING CHOICES FOR WEALTHY PASSENGERS INCLUDED OYSTERS, SALMON, MALLARD DUCK AND SPRING LAMB WITH MINT SAUCE.

THE AUCTION HOUSE SAYS – WHILE A HANDFUL OF MENUS FROM APRIL 14TH — THE NIGHT THE OCEAN LINER SANK — HAVE BEEN FOUND — THIS IS THE ONLY ONE KNOWN TO EXIST FROM APRIL 11.

THE MENU IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR AROUND SEVENTY-THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

IN ADDITION TO THE MENU — A POCKETWATCH FROM ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WILL ALSO BE SOLD AT THE AUCTION.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS WEDNESDAY.

AND MANY OF YOU ARE NOW GETTING THE MORNING RUNDOWN NEWSLETTER IN YOUR INBOX EACH WEEKDAY —

IF YOU AREN’T YET — JUST GO TO  SAN DOT COM SLASH RUNDOWN TO SIGN UP.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!