Good morning. Tomorrow is Veterans Day in the United States. Much of the world celebrates the holiday as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day. The date, November 11, marks the end of hostilities in World War 1. If you know a veteran, be sure to thank them.

We’ve got a lot in store today:

• Joe Manchin retiring

• A humanitarian pause in Gaza

• A very important mine

• Killer whales leaning into their name

• And much more!

Here’s today’s edition of The Elective:

 SENATE 

Sen. Joe Manchin will not seek reelection

In a political shocker, Sen. Joe Manchin announced he would not seek reelection next year. One of the Senate’s most moderate members, Manchin’s served there since 2010. He previously spent six years as governor.

Political consequences

Manchin’s long-rumored retirement brings tears of joy to Republican eyes. They will consider this seat a near-automatic pickup. Confirming this, Sen. Steve Daines, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said plainly, “We like our chances in West Virginia.”

• West Virginia was once one of the nation’s most Democratic states. Now it’s the second-most Republican state in the country.

Democrats hold the Senate majority 51-49. But they’re defending three seats in states Trump won in 2020 (WV, MT, OH) while Republicans defend zero seats in Biden-won states.

• Democrats are also defending four seats in states Trump won in 2016 (but lost in 2020).

• The map of Senate seats up for election next year is extremely unfavorable to Democrats. The near-guaranteed loss of this seat makes it difficult for Democrats to hold the chamber.

The race to succeed him

Popular two-term Gov. Jim Justice and Rep. Alex Mooney are already running in next year's Republican primary for the seat.

• The more moderate (and populist) Justice has been the strong favorite thus far.

• Mooney's campaign could see a boost from primary voters previously afraid he was too conservative to beat Manchin (who won reelection in 2018 against a similarly conservative Republican).

What’s next: Manchin said he would travel the country to gauge interest “in creating a movement to mobilize the middle.” He’s flirted with an independent bid for president as recently as last month with the backing of a group called No Labels. Some are interpreting that comment as a sign he’s moving in that direction.

 NEWS 

🇮🇱 Israel: The White House said Israel agreed, beginning yesterday, to pause their siege of Gaza for four hours per day to allow humanitarian aid to enter and civilians to flee. They said there will be no ceasefire, only “tactical” pauses for humanitarian reasons. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the pauses could help with the release of the 239 hostages held by Hamas. Fewer than 10 are American. Palestinian officials said nearly 11,000 Gazans have been killed in the fighting. Israel disputes those numbers.

🎥 Hollywood: The actors returned to work yesterday, ending their longest ever strike against the studios. The new union contract reportedly raises their minimum pay and gives a big cash bonus to actors who work on the most successful streaming shows. But it does not give them a share of total streaming platform revenue. Details surrounding the use of AI are still unclear. And union members still need to sign off on the deal. But Hollywood is officially reopened. So what's their next move? Trying to save next summer’s movie season. As Disney CEO Bog Iger said, “We don’t have much time.”

⛏️ Rare Earths: An old mine in Wyoming bought for $2 million may be worth $37 billion. Researchers discovered 1.1 million metric tons of rare earth minerals in just a quarter of the plot. The company that owns it typically sells metallurgical coal for $184 per metric ton. One of the minerals recently discovered here sells for more than $1 million per metric ton. A group of 17 elements, rare earths are used in semiconductors, nuclear reactors, solar panels, wind farms, hard drives, and more. This discovery could have dramatic geopolitical consequences. China currently controls 95% of the world’s rare-earth mineral production — and they’re limiting supply. If this Wyoming mine opens as intended, it would be the first new American rare earth mine since 1952.

 POLITICS 

🔵 Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips (D), President Biden’s only elected primary challenger, apologized to Sen. Bernie Sanders. Phillips said he had “long dismissed” Sanders’ complaints that the Democratic primary process was “rigged” but Sanders “was right.” Sanders, who ran in 2016 and 2020, denounced Democratic Party rules on who can vote in primaries, the schedule, the lack of debates, and more. Phillips says if he’s not “viable” by March 5, he’ll drop out. A recent poll showed Biden pummeling him 77% to 6%. Author Marianne Williamson got 8%.

🔴 Former President Trump sat down with Univision for an hour-long interview that aired last night. He notably did not rule out revenge against his political opponents if elected, saying the “genie” is “out of the box.” On immigration, he defended his administration’s policy of separating families at the border, saying it worked. Trump also suggested he would have negotiated with Iran to prevent the Oct. 7 attack in Israel.

🔴 In other Trump news, his campaign won a legal victory in Minnesota. The Minnesota Supreme Court refused to kick him off the Republican primary ballot using a clause of the 14th Amendment that prevents those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding high office. The court said nothing prevents a political party from placing a hypothetically ineligible candidate on the primary ballot. They did not address the general election.

🟢 Dr. Jill Stein announced her campaign for the Green Party’s 2024 presidential nomination. The left-wing, environmentalist Greens are usually on the ballot in about 37 states. Stein was previously their nominee in 2012 and 2016, in which she respectively nabbed a cool 0.4% and 1.1% of the vote. She joins Dr. Cornel West and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as left-wing independent or third-party candidates in the race.

 TRIVIA 

 BRIEFS 

✈️ The National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB) told the Senate America’s aviation system is “showing clear signs of strain” due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.

🍿 Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” just dropped its first teaser trailer. The long-awaited sequel hits theaters June 14, 2024. And it comes with a new emotion: anxiety.

🐬 A herd of angry orcas rammed a small yacht until it sank. The incident took place in the small Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco. Thankfully the crew was able to escape unharmed.

📝 Looking for a job? Use AI. Various services offer bots that will fill out anywhere from dozens to thousands of job applications for you.

⚖️ Get all the details on the ongoing civil trial between Google and the maker of Fortnite. Depending on how things go, this lawsuit could end Google’s app store.

💬 Google wants European Union regulators to end the dreaded green texts on iPhones. Last year, a similar case forced Apple to ditch its Lightning connectors in favor of USB-C.

🇺🇸 Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced a $150 million recovery fund for victims of the fires that destroyed Lahaina in August. Those taking part in the program must waive their right to bring related legal action.

 QUOTE 

 ANSWER 

There are multiple acceptable answers to this one. We’ll give you (meaningless) credit for getting any of them.

1926 - Congress requested President Coolidge issue annual proclamations observing Armistice Day.

1938 - Congress first made it a federal holiday.

1954 - Congress changed the name to Veterans Day.