THE MCPHERSON MEMO

And the award for the biggest threat to our democracy goes to…
By all accounts, our democracy may be headed for crisis town — and business leaders are sounding the alarm. “We’re 100 percent in for democracy” and affirm “that election outcomes are determined by the will of voters,” reads the Civic Alliance statement, signed by over 500 CEOs. Client Leadership Now Project’s business statement calling for civility and patience has gained more than 200 signatures since its October 14 launch. The Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable encouraged Americans to “remain confident in our country’s long tradition of peaceful and fair elections.” These are all things that should go without saying, and yet… here we are, saying them. Meanwhile, a new letter signed by 800 (and counting) business school professors calls on CEOs to go further and name the real threat to our democracy: Donald Trump. Even further: Expensify’s CEO emailed 10 million customers urging them to vote for Biden. 

Line dancing with a side of pizza
Early voters waiting for hours in Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere had a few good reasons to stay in line. Joy to the Polls — which brings celebratory song and dance to voting lines — is the best thing to come out of 2020. So is Pizza to the Polls; if you spot a long line at a local election site, simply report the incident to quickly deploy “delicious reinforcements” for voters. And then there’s trusty Paul Rudd, who was spotted yesterday handing out cookies to voters in line in Brooklyn. Of course, none of this should distract us from the very real problem that people are waiting hours to vote, and that voter suppression remains rampant, especially for people of color. 
 
This is getting loaded   
Yesterday's episode of The Daily scared me. Eight of the 10 biggest weeks for gun sales since the late 1990s took place since March this year. The number of background checks associated with firearm sales from January to July increased 72% compared to 2019. People from the political left and right are buying guns for the first time, motivated by growing instability and fear of impending political violence. Citing civil unrest, Walmart yesterday pulled gun floor displays from its stores. As we brace for next week (and the aftermath), business leaders may well be faced with practical decisions and questions about how to promote civility and limit harm. To be continued...

ON OUR RADAR

Monitor: 

• It’s official: Amy Coney Barrett is a Supreme Court Justice. What will happen to Roe v. Wade? 
• “There’s a lot of stigma around women’s health because, like every other sector of our country, it’s still a male-dominated profession.” Padma Lakshmi talks about her political activism and the future of reproductive rights in Glamour.   
• The 19th has a comprehensive explanation of the abortion restrictions on the ballot in Louisiana and Colorado. 
• Dave Holmes, Esquire editor-at-large, explains how a “6-3 Supreme Court hits different if you’re about to lose the rights that make your life possible.”

Watch: 

• Do a happy dance! Jon Stewart is returning to (Apple) TV. 
• Do another happy dance! The Resistance Revival Chorus, a collective of more than 70 women and non-binary singers, recently released their debut album This Joy. Watch the music video for the title track here.  
• The viral Get Your Booty to The Poll PSA has a sequel, this one specific to Atlanta. Says Director Angela Barnes: “From the beginning, my hope was to remind southern voters of the importance of down ballot candidates and using their voice to affect change in their communities.”

Learn: 

• Thousands of young Nigerians are demanding that their government #EndSARS, and put an end to police brutality. Vox breaks down the conflict and explains why this is a fight “for the future of the country.”
• Pantsuit, move over. Do you know about the feminist history of the cardigan? 
• Important messaging note from @TheValorieClark: we need to stop asking candidates if they believe in climate change, and start asking if they understand it. Framing matters! 
• How do we create belonging at work? Download the free workbook here. 
• This timeline includes key moments in the history of cause marketing.  

Read:

• PayPal’s $50 million investment in Black and Latinx-led venture capital funds is a powerful example of a company going beyond PR statements to meaningfully address systemic racism. 
• Ashley Spinks is a local news warrior. Find out why she got fired — and what she’s doing now.  
• Client Linda Davis Taylor’s latest article for Worth is about financial resilience, a topic we can all relate to in this moment.   
• The October issue of Green Money is full of rich content about socially responsible investing. 

Celebrate: 

• The Care 100 highlights extraordinary people who are shaping the future of how we parent, heal and age. 
• From drive-in haunted houses to slingshot candy delivery, Halloween in 2020 is a master class in adaptability. 
• Congratulations to newlyweds Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost! We love their wedding wish, as shared by McP client Meals on Wheels.
• Client Float announced a partnership with Yellow Cab to help San Franciscans safely get around town. 
• Happy 40th birthday, Kim K. We hope you enjoyed your private island as much as we enjoyed these memes. 

Go: 

• Vote! Offer expires November 3. 
• Client Reimagine Gender is leading a webinar on November 4 to help HR professionals navigate changing understandings of gender.