Why the AP Is Standing Behind Its Arizona Call

In a statement to Esquire, the AP stood by its decision, despite being one of the few places to make the call. If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.       The AP Is Standing By Its Early Call of Arizona for Biden. Here's Why.   In the early hours of Wednesday morning, when the Associated Press confirmed Fox News' race call that Joe Biden had won Arizona, the mood of the election shifted. Biden flipping the traditionally red state which President Donald Trump had won by 4 percentage points in 2016, seemed to set Biden on a much more confident path to the presidency. But, unlike the race calls for most other states, the other TV networks never followed suit. Hours passed and Arizona remained in the "too early to call" column for NBC and ABC. The AP has been early in race calls before, most notably when it called the presidency for Donald Trump at 2:29 a.m. EST on November 9, 2016. In the 20 minutes following that momentous call, The AP stood alone in their declaration. But fast forward to 2020, and days have passed and Fox News and The AP remain the only media outlets with Arizona colored blue. As votes continue to be counted, the margin between the two candidates has only narrowed. Kate Storey reports on why the AP is standing by its call, according to executive editor Sally Buzbee. Read More           Mitch McConnell Has Let It Be Known He Will Continue to Be an Obstructive Jackass If Joe Biden Wins   This, of course, surprises nobody, but there's a subtext to the strategy that's worthy of examination. For a couple of weeks now, based on the reading of god-knows-what political entrails, McConnell has been distancing himself publicly from the administration* and nudging the members of his Senate majority to do the same, if they felt it necessary to do so. Now, emboldened by somewhat surprising results in the 2020 Senate races, McConnell has let it be known that he's moved on to preparing to be an obstructive jackass to another Democratic president. He's done with this administration*, and he'd like everyone to know that. Read More           This Is the Kind of Chaos Trump Was Hoping For All Along   In the days leading up to the 2020 election, storefronts in major coastal cities like New York and Washington, D.C. were boarded up in anticipation of social unrest. Maybe the buildings in swing states where ballots are counted should have gotten the same treatment. In Detroit, Michigan, and Maricopa County, Arizona, groups of the president's loyalists gathered outside counting locations on Wednesday. In Detroit, where he was ahead at the time, they chanted "STOP THE COUNT!" and started rhythmically banging on the windows. In Maricopa County, where he was behind, they chanted "COUNT THE VOTE!" (Arizona is also one of many of these United States in which you can open carry a firearm. Some members of the group were armed.) In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, members of the president's campaign have been rallying outside, demanding entry. To be clear: there already are observers in the counting rooms, both Democrats and Republicans, and you can watch online. Local authorities have just been enforcing limits on how many people can be inside at once. But there is precedent for what this could soon become. Politics Editor Jack Holmes explains. Read More           Drawstring Pants Are the WFH Essential You'll Be Able to Wear Back to the Office, Too   Frankly, the drawstring trouser should sell itself. It's got all the glorious elasticated comfort of your favorite sweatpants combined with all the sex appeal of your sharpest dress pants. It's exactly like wearing sweatpants, sans any of the stigma and with the added veneer—and let's be clear: it's a thin veneer, indeed—of professionalism automatically afforded to you by choosing to wear trousers that aren't made entirely out of fleece. What's not to get? Here are 16 pairs we recommend right now. Read More           The Dutch Oven You'll Use All Winter Long—and then Every Winter Thereafter   In the 45 years that Staub has been making cast iron Dutch ovens—or cocottes, as the French company calls them—it's established itself as one of the best brands in the game. The enamel bottom heats fully and the cast iron disperses that heat evenly through the pot and lid, ensuring a slow, all-encompassing cook for every last carrot, beef tip, and potato. On the underside of the lid, you'll find little nobs of cast iron, which are designed to collect condensation from cooking and release it back into the food. You know—and I don't use this word to be gross—for optimal moistness. Throw the Dutch oven in the oven for a few hours or heat it on the stove. Either way, it's just about impossible to screw up a meal, no matter how hesitant you are to call yourself a cook. Read More           50+ Sure-Fire Gifts for Any Guy   Men are notoriously difficult to shop for. There's the husband who already bought himself everything he wants. The boyfriend with mercurial tastes. The son who completely blanked and forgot to send you his wish list. The dad who insists that believe him, he's quite happy with nothing at all, as if that's a viable option. However, all is not lost. Here we've collected a master list of the 50 best gift ideas for men—men who like sneakers and watches, men who like tinkering with smart tech, men who like roughing it outdoors or lounging around the house. Finding that gift, especially if it's a holiday gift meant to brighten the end of an otherwise crap year, suddenly feels a lot less daunting. 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