Three-in-One from Axios (today)

Monday, November 21, 2022

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

An influential railroad worker union rejected a Biden-brokered labor deal Monday morning, raising the prospect of a strike before the holidays.

Why it matters: The deal's failure is a setback for the White House, which brokered and sold it as a big win in September. . .

Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios

Forget traditional burial or cremation — "human composting" is the hot new thing in death care.

Why it matters: Deciding what should be done with your remains is a deeply personal matter, and new options don't arise all that often.. .

All that empty space on the map above tells a vivid story about polarized America:

For all the national turmoil, America's midterms were played on a remarkably narrow terrain, with only 26 House seats (6% of the races) flipping from one party to the other.

Why it matters: We’re a closely divided country, and neither party was able to move the needle much despite the external turmoil.

With hundreds of millions spent in dozens of battlegrounds, voters have largely stuck with the status quo.

Axios' Josh Kraushaar narrates the flips:

Nearly half (7 of 18) of GOP pickups were almost automatic because of redistricting.
Four of the 18 seats Republicans flipped were in New York.
Four of the 8 seats Dems flipped were almost entirely because Republicans nominated MAGA, Trump-aligned candidates.

🧮 By the numbers: 96% of U.S. House races were won by the biggest spender, according to Open Secrets.

MesaZona > Table of Contents : Here's The Menu. Enjoy