On hour ??? of Election “Day,” I fell asleep watching workers sort ballots in rural Nevada and Pennsylvania. I’ve started to think that CNN’s bright red and MSNBC’s more burnt orangey-red deserve further analysis. (Pantone, can you weigh in?) Also, I am pretty sure Jake Tapper is flirting with me through the TV. Oh, wait: KEY RACE ALERT. Oh, never mind: These are just more projections. Is this what purgatory feels like?

Probably this purgatory was inevitable. How else could the 2020 election end? Or, not end? And yet the sense of impending doom we’ve had for four years, didn’t leave us any more prepared the endless parade of Trumpers rejecting democracy and pundits arguing over whether or not the country “deserves” this level of uncertainty. But perhaps the silver lining to our absolute dumpster fire of a Democratic process as that we might not spend another four years subjected to the insane tweets of a man who once had a cameo in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

As I idly watched numbers inch forward — with surprising heroes like Michigan and Wisconsin pulling through for Biden — not all hope seemed lost. My hourly mantra for the past 48 hours has been: If he loses Pennsylvania, this is all going to be over soon. And now it looks like Pennsylvania is going blue. And like there’s an end in sight to our purgatorial existence. Is it heaven up ahead? Hardly. But at least it’s not the hell we’ve been in for almost four years.

As a very wise colleague told me, “I look forward to having a president that I can hate a normal amount.”

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There’s no official start date to cuffing season, but I think Daylight Savings Time is a pretty good kickoff. Once it starts getting dark before 5 p.m., all we want to do is stay inside and snuggle with someone. And while experts are saying COVID-19 is making cuffing season more intense than ever, we believe it should be a fun, sexy time of year — not a draining scramble to find a match. Luckily, the planets can offer some clues about how to navigate the next few weeks in the least stressful way possible.

That’s right: Taking a peek at the planetary movements can help us see how cuffing season will play out this year, says Eva White, a licensed psychic practitioner, tarot card reader, and astrologer at Psychics1on1.com.

She says the first thing we should be aware of is Mercury retroshade, the post-retrograde confusion we’re in now, that will drag on until November 19. White says that the retroshade can create emotional turmoil and miscommunications. And let’s face it: This week has been plenty tense and confusing anyway, as we await the results of the November 3 election. Not many of us are thinking all that much about finding love at the moment — we’ve got bigger fish to fry.

But according to White, the second week of November may offer a better opportunity for anyone looking for a romantic connection. On November 12, Jupiter will conjunct with Pluto (the third and final time this happens this year), she notes. During the time around this transit — from about November 10 to 20 — people may be pickier about their matches. That sounds negative, but it can be a good thing; everyone is looking for exactly what they want. “Jupiter is the planet of aspiration, accomplished goals, and truth. It pushes to us analyze where we are in our dating lives and accept the need to take action toward love and relationships,” White explains.

On November 17, Mercury will approach Uranus for the final time this year. Leading up to this alignment, White says that single folks will experience a “reality check,” and may be especially compelled to swipe right on people they think will be a good long-term match. 

Another good day for love is November 21, when Venus moves into Scorpio. This transit lets us connect with others. “Venus, the goddess of love, helps us to accept our emotional needs and as she moves into Scorpio, we will feel a sense comfort in communication,” White explains. “We’ll feel less judgment from one another, and more authenticity from romantic partners.”

Three signs will benefit significantly from this particular transit: Aries, Taurus, and Pisces. “With an Aries, it’s as if there’s this loving and nurturing emotion and connection that pops up,” White says. Tauruses, on the other hand, will be more focused on cementing their relationships — possibly taking the situationships they already have and make them more serious. “A Taurus doesn’t really want to go from one person to another,” she says. “They kind of want to take what they have and build on it.”

Pisces, on the other hand, will still be reaping the rewards of Venus’s transit through Libra, where it spent time before its move into Scorpio. This period gave the water sign a boost of confidence, which may ultimately help them heal any emotional disconnect or hurt they were feeling earlier this year.

The month ends with a major eclipse — the last of the year — on November 30, White says. The lunar event will bring with it a feeling of it’s-now-or-never in our relationships, she says. This is when you and your cuff will either settle into a proper winter relationship, or call things quits entirely.

That sink-or-swim energy will continue into December. Saturn moves into independent Aquarius on the first of the month, and Jupiter follows on December 19. “This is very similar to what we’re going to feel about the eclipse on November 30,” White says. In this case, we might feel frustrated by something we’re not getting from our partner, and how they react could make or break the match. Something to consider around this time: Are you expecting your new boo to read your mind, or can you voice your desires more directly?

Setting aside zodiac signs for a moment, the fact remains that right now, many of us are craving positive, fulfilling connections more than ever before, after months of isolation and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. But things are looking up. “I expect that many people, regardless of the restrictions we’ve had, will find love and will adapt to different methods of communication,” White says. Just remember to be safe: If you do meet someone you want to turn into a snuggle buddy, make sure to discuss a what it means for each of your respective social pods before meeting up for the first time.

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Typically, when we think of the holidays, we picture a sepia-toned scene of three generations sat around a polished oak table, passing the tofurkey and pointedly asking about your love life (“I said it’s complicated, Aunt Peggy”). But this year, that cozy, familiar picture is going to look a bit different. That’s not to say, however, that the love, tradition, and togetherness of the season have gone the way of the handshake — they’re just taking a new form.

To remind us of the happiness and community that can still be found all around us, Campbell’s® is hosting two panels inspired by Hallmark Channel movies. In the first, the conversation will center on “Unexpected Holiday Romance,” or finding friendship, love, and companionship in the most never-saw-that-coming places and situations. And in the second panel, an entertaining lineup of guests will discuss how they’re going “Home For The Holidays” by creating a sense of safety and nostalgia, even at a time when traveling to a physical destination might be a no-go.

From funny to poignant, remarkable to highly relatable, the stories shared in both panels are sure to bring comfort and joy. RSVP here, then tune in to our YouTube channel Monday, November 11 to remember what this time of year, no matter how it might feel this time, is really all about.

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After just three and a half episodes, Clare Crawley, the now-former star of the 16th season of The Bachelorette, waved goodbye to the ABC show to pursue an offscreen relationship with contestant Dale Moss. And as the show’s host Chris Harrison put it during the November 5 episode, the only possible way to end her stint on the show was with a proposal. At the end of Crawley’s half of the last episode, Moss got down on one knee and presented Crawley with a massive, glittering rock. “I’m gonna do it,” he said before kneeling. “You’re doing it,” she responded. As every viewer knew she would, she said yes.

Neil Lane, the official jewelry designer of the Bachelor Nation, provided Moss with a radiant cut diamond engagement ring. The center diamond is framed with two shield-cut diamonds and, according to E!, 145 smaller, round-cut diamonds, bringing the total weight of Crawley’s engagement ring to about 4.5 carats — all set on a platinum band. Of designing the ring for her, Lane told E! that it was “an absolute joy.” He added, “To create a ring that really embodies her spirit and their relationship — so big and full of love — was a really enjoyable experience. I wish these two many years of love and adventure and I am so honored to be a small part of this big love story for Clare and Dale.”

View this post on Instagram

It’s official!! Love wins!!!! 💍❤️!!! I love you @dalemoss13 !!!!

A post shared by Clare Crawley (@clarecrawley) on Nov 5, 2020 at 7:01pm PST

As soon as the proposal aired, Crawley made the news Instagram official, posting a slideshow of three images of her and Dale together, including two from the big night. Alongside the slideshow, she wrote, “It’s official!! Love wins!!!! 💍❤️!!! I love you Dale Moss!” Moss, too, posted photos from the engagement, with the caption, “Never a point I won’t show up for you 💍 🌹.” Crawley then posted an Instagram Story showing her and Moss embracing alongside the caption, “My love.” 

After several attempts to find love on different Bachelor Nation shows, Crawley finally met her match. And now we get to two seasons for the price of one. Next up: Tayshia Adams.

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Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

Today: a teaching assistant who makes $13.50 an hour and spends some of her money this week on apples.

Occupation: Teaching Assistant
Industry: Early Childhood Education
Age: 22
Location: Vermont
Salary: $13.50/hour and my parents send me $400/month
Net Worth: -$17,400 (I have $2,600 saved and $20,000 in debt)
Debt: Debt: 20,000 (student loans)
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): Varies, I’m usually scheduled for 32 hours a week, but typically end up working more
Pronouns: She/they

Monthly Expenses
Rent: $400 (my half, my partner pays the other half)
Loans: Delayed to 2021 due to COVID
Spotify: $4.99
Savings: $100 to savings automatically from checking every Friday
Health Insurance: $0 (on Vermont Medicaid)

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
My parents always wanted me to do whatever I wanted, but I wanted to go to college. I went to a pretty bougie college in the midwest and got considerable financial aid and scholarships. My parents paid what was always described to me as an affordable price. My mom also promised to pay back my loans, but I’m hoping in a few years to pay those back myself.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
My parents have had their own moderately successful businesses and are homeowners, but we’re still pretty broke. As a kid, I learned about lines of equity, savings, investments, and the value of property. I was always worried about money, and my mom (from the age of 5) has always taken the time to calm me down using terms I didn’t understand but always interpreted as “we’re broke, but we’ll always be okay.”

What was your first job and why did you get it?
Cashier at a health food store in Brooklyn. I think I got it because I was a cute girl. I worked hard there, I skipped my prom to work there.

Did you worry about money growing up?
Always!

Do you worry about money now?
Always. But I need to not be so hard on myself.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
22ish. My parents give me a $400 allowance every month (!!!), which is my safety net and will eventually have to be applied to my loans. I’m so appreciative of the money and I put it into my savings pretty much every month. I know if I ever have an emergency I have a good line of credit and my parents to call on.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
Lol no. My abuelito in South America has some absurd amount of mystery money, so maybe I’ll get that.

Day One

6:30 a.m. — Wake up and get ready for work. I am covering for a coworker today so I get to work a full day (I usually do a split shift), though I did work the whole day yesterday. I am very excited for the extra hours and the extra responsibility. I prepped my meal last night and throw it in my bag and zoom out the door. For breakfast, I have eggs and some berries on the side.

7:30 a.m. — Work starts. I am a preschool teaching assistant. The day starts out well and ends well. My supervisor is my classroom lead teacher and we had kind of a rough patch last week, but we’re doing better this week. I am currently working in person. I live in Vermont which has extraordinarily low COVID-19 numbers. I feel as safe as possible, considering. My colleagues and I all wear masks, but the children don’t. I work with kids ages 1-6.

1:30 p.m. — Rest time. I try to do some finance/budgeting on my iPad while the kids sleep. Unfortunately, I have lots of kids waking up early today. Sigh. Maybe it’s for the best, I’m frustrated with my budget lately! I am realizing I truly live paycheck to paycheck, even with the extra income from my parents. I am actively trying to save more and be conscious with my money and blah blah blah, but it’s hard when you make so little! Sometimes it feels impossible.

4:30 p.m. — Work ends. I head over to a local brewery to meet my significant other, R., to grab drinks and bar food to celebrate him getting a poem published. I treat him to drinks and bar food. We order one stout, one “Oktoberfest” beer, one big pretzel with cheese sauce, and one order of onion rings. This is a good chunk of my eating out budget for October, which is supposed to be $80 per month. But it’s a treat! You aren’t published everyday. $35.66

6 p.m. — I hop onto a Zoom call for professional development. It’s our last book club meeting for this book we have been reading with local childcare providers. I studied history and sociology in college and just kind of wound up being a preschool teacher when we moved to Vermont, so I acknowledge the need for continued education. I sometimes worry I made a mistake with this job, but I love working in the field and with my kids. I want to work with families in some form in the future. I’m from NYC so I hope to move back next year with my s/o and figure out a job there. I’m mostly saving for that move, which is super far away but I’m sure will be pricey. My saving goal is $5,000 by the end of this job.

7:30 p.m. — Meeting ends, didn’t engage much. R. makes us a dinner of ravioli and brown butter sage sauce. It’s not very good, but it can’t be helped sometimes!

10 p.m. — We clean up our cooking stuff/organize for tomorrow. We snuggle up and catch up with Lovecraft Country.

Daily Total: $35.66

Day Two

6:30 a.m. — Wake up and get ready for work, I’m in a bad mood this morning for no reason. I have cereal and some berries for breakfast.

7:30 a.m. — I head into work, start my day. Good start! Everyone is in a good mood, except me! Watch out.

9:30 a.m. — My split shift starts and I head home. I live walking distance from work, which is great, because I am from NYC and never learned how to drive. But first, I read in the park for a bit. I’m currently reading 1Q84 because I love Murakami and am a freak.

11:30 a.m. — R. works remotely, so after his conference we go out for lunch. We grab a bite downtown since we’re tired of leftovers and want to hang out. I buy myself a wrap and a smoothie. I cheat and add it to my coffee budget for the month. $18

12:30 a.m. — Back to work for the second half of my shift. I cover my coworker’s room while he takes a break. He works with the older kids and is feeling very drained.

4:30 p.m. — I walk downtown to pick up some photos I got developed at a local store. It starts to pour and the store is closed. I have a few tragic moments in the rain and then call R. to get me. I’ve started taking film photos here. I think it’s a good way to document my time here. I’m hoping it won’t wind up being an expensive hobby. Let’s see!

5 p.m. — R. heads out to do laundry and I reschedule a phone call with my mom because I have dance in an hour.

5:15 p.m. — Dance class gets canceled. I was looking forward to the class this week, but at least I get to save $25. I don’t call mom, too tired. I marinate in front of the TV till I start making dinner.

6:30 p.m. — Dinner is ready, R. is still out doing laundry. I’m not a very good at cooking, I cook chicken and kale in apples. I take a few bites of undercooked chicken but survive.

8 p.m. — Go to bed early because I want to get up at 5:30 and run.

Daily Total: $18

Day Three

6:30 a.m. — I said I was going to go for a run today but I have lots of errands later and I’m usually pretty pooped from work so I wind up not going. I miss the availability of a gym in college and the ability to workout whenever. During the past six months I’ve had phases of taking care of my body and working out. Living with R. is great because he works out a lot and it motivates me to also be active. I have cereal for breakfast.

7:30 a.m. — Work, poopy diapers, books, songs, “twucks.”

9:30 a.m. — I go home for my split shift and put away laundry while R. works in the living room.

11 a.m. — I have a lunch of leftover pasta. Boring, but can’t eat out every day (or can you?).

11:30 a.m. — I head out to pick up my photos and a volunteer application at a local rehabilitation center. I’m eager to see what the field looks like and if I can fit into it! Plus, I’m excited to help out my new community. They don’t have any physical applications but I leave my info to set up a time to call or email. I hope it all works out!

11:58 a.m. — The photo center opens at 12, so I stop at a local thrift store to kill some time. I see an ugly-cute shirt-sweater combo — it has jewels and zebra print. Hideous. I love it. $6

12 p.m. — I stop by the photo center and the photos aren’t ready yet. I realize I need to get on the chill Vermonter vibes and wavelengths. I’m so uppity, I need to take a breath sometimes.

12:15 p.m. — I grab a coffee before heading back to work and finishing my work day. $2

4:30 p.m. — Home! R. and I go grocery shopping. We split the cost. Grocery shopping while hungry is dangerous territory, but I still keep it within my budget. R. and I split the cost of groceries (the total was $114, so I Venmo him $57). $57

5:30 p.m. — I call my mom while R. makes dinner. Mom is going to visit soon, hopefully! With COVID-19 and Vermont quarantine guidelines, it’s hard for me to schedule a visit to her without breaking the rules. During this call and looking at the calendar I realize that October has five Fridays, which is when my automatic transfer is to my savings. I budget (and try) to save $400 dollars every month, so I skip this week’s $100 transfer.

6 p.m. — Dinner and chatting with R. about our days. Best part of my day is being with him.

Daily Total: $65

Day Four

6:30 a.m. — Wake up and have a big breakfast of eggs and spinach. R. usually makes breakfast when he gets up with me.

7:30 a.m. — Work! Chill day at work, minimal injuries. Email my boss my time card since Monday is a holiday and that’s when they are usually due.

4:30 p.m. — Meet R. at home and we walk downtown to pick up my photos. HAR HAR on me, the place only provides negatives because they don’t have the facilities to create 4x6s from a whole roll of film. I’m bummed, but the guy is nice and offers to make me a contact sheet and email it and then will let me make prints of a few photos for a fair price.

5 p.m. — We get some beers nearby. R.’s treat! I think he saw how anxious I was about the photos and asking the guy questions. Sometimes things like that shake me up. I appreciate the gesture.

7 p.m. — We get home and our ground turkey for dinner isn’t defrosted yet. Rats! We drive uptown for takeout and get burritos. It’s frustrating to have to get takeout when we have food at home, but you can’t eat frozen turkey… or can you? $9.59

9 p.m. — Watch some TV, smooch, go to bed.

Daily Total: $9.59

Day Five

8 a.m. — The days I get to sleep in past 6:30 feel like such a blessing. We have a big breakfast of eggs, bread, and spinach.

11 a.m. — We meet up with some of R.’s acquaintances for a hike.

4 p.m. — Five hours later and we are home. It was a steep, rocky, treacherous three miles up. Holy shit. But it was nice meeting new people and new young people around our age! It’s been weird entering the “real world” and making new friends. Thankfully, Vermonters are friendly, helpful folx.

5 p.m. — I shower and unpack from the hike. Neither of us wants to cook tonight after that doozy of a hike. And we are out of some shower stuff.

6 p.m. — We order sushi and run to Walgreens to pick up some stuff before the food is ready. We get toothpaste, body wash, and body scrub. I sign up for a Walgreens card while we’re there and we get a dollar off our purchase. Noice. $20.68

7 p.m. — Food arrives. Sushi in a landlocked state is as good as it sounds, but it hits the spot after our day. He knocks ten off what I owe him for the food from the “home” stuff I bought us at Walgreens. I Venmo him or dinner. I’m slowly reaching my eating out cap! $10

9 p.m. — We hang out, have some drinks at home to unwind, and tune into a friend’s livestream.

Daily Total: $30.68

Day Six

9 a.m. — Whew, slept in! What a treat.

10 a.m. — I have a light breakfast of some berries and cereal. Text with my mom for a minute.

12 p.m. — R. and I go to a local orchard and farm. We are planning on making an apple pie tonight and want to get some pumpkins for carving. We opt for the reusable bag option which is $5 more than the typical medium apple bag option. I pay. $20

1 p.m. — We finish apple picking and wander around the farm in the sun. We keep joking that “it’s the last nice day.” We go into the store and pick out a pumpkin each, some seasoning for burgers tonight (we’re finally going to make our turkey burgers), and a half dozen apple cider donuts. R. pays for this, it’s ~$20 so we call it even!

2 p.m. — We stop by Aldi and pick up some stuff for dinner and the next few days. We break a pickle jar while there, brine goes everywhere. No injuries though! We get feta cheese, artichoke hearts, cabbage, ravioli, butter, eggs, and some other things. R. pays and Venmos me half. $25

2:30 p.m. — R.’s cousin stops by for a sudden visit. We walk around downtown with them and do lots of window shopping. R. and I get on line for a local place for lunch and we wait, wait, and wait. My mood fades, my energy melts. I’m exhausted and slowly things are becoming overwhelming. I can recognize when my anxiety attacks are starting now. Noises and lights become overstimulating, I start story-making, and my own skin becomes constricting. I chuck my wallet at R. so he can get food for him and his cousin.

3 p.m. — I make it home and cry for a moment. I cry over spending money this week, feeling infinitely guilty for eating out, for enjoying my day when I should have been saving and doing my homework. I cry while I make myself ravioli (extra salty) that we bought with the intention of having for lunch. R. pays me back right away for his lunch and reminds me his leftovers from yesterday are in the fridge.

4 p.m. — R. and his cousin stop by the house and hang out for a while. I’m feeling better after some food and time alone and in my house. I think about how I can save if I can budget right. R.’s cousin leaves.

6 p.m. — R. and I make dinner of the godforsaken turkey burgers and an apple pie from the apples we picked. We enjoy our dinner and chat. He agrees we spent a lot of money on takeout this week and that we can do better in the future. I slip into my own mind again, thinking about money, crunching numbers to see how much I spent this week. I’m honestly nervous to add my total from this week and see where the money went. We talk about this and about our goals for next week. We both agree we want to eat out less and I have a personal goal for myself to not eat out all next week.

Daily Total: $45

Day Seven

8:30 a.m. — No work today because it’s a holiday. I get dressed and go for a run. I stop by a farm stand that’s “pay what you can,” I take a small thing of kale and three very tiny peppers. Reflecting on this I feel awful. I should have paid, I didn’t plan to grab anything so I didn’t bring my wallet. I should go back later this week to donate.

9:30 a.m. — Shower and find R. reading a book. We agree to make pancakes this morning. R. doesn’t have the holiday off, but is working from home so hangs with me throughout the day.

10 a.m. — The pancakes are a big success — we use some leftover brown rice flour from an experiment and they turn out pretty flat but good! We discuss what we want to do today in regards to chores.

11 a.m. — Dishes done and chores started! Cleaning has always felt really good for me to clear my mind and reset my space. It’s a tangible accomplishment for me that validates the hard work I have put into creating and maintaining my space.

1 p.m. — Cleaning done and we both sit down and do some work. I make some calls and even schedule a dentist appointment. I just joined Vermont Medicaid and the receptionist I speak to is really nice and as a clinic they are used to it. My mom, whose insurance I was on, was furloughed due to COVID-19 so I recently lost my insurance. A few weeks ago I saw my old dentist (outside of Vermont) who had to fix some work they did and when she offered a cleaning I told her I had lost my insurance and couldn’t afford it. Her response was “I hope you have a good toothbrush.” So, I’m thankful to have found a dentist who is more empathetic to my situation.

2 p.m. — Our neighbor invites me over to look at some clothes she wants to get rid of. I take a dress, beret, a new pair of Uggs (!!!), and a pair of running shorts. Thanks, girl! She doesn’t have a car so I offer to drive over some of the stuff she wants to donate later this week.

3 p.m. — R. and I go to a hardware store to get some goods! We pick up a cleaning solution, a compostable sponge, steel wool, and trash bags. H venmos me immediately for half. After our conversation about money, I think he saw how my anxiety really spiked. $15

4 p.m. — I sit down with a beer and binge the Haunting of Bly Manor. Happy day off, ya’ll!

6:30 p.m. — I log onto my Zoom class for some professional development, sit back with my beer in a mug, and enjoy my class. Cheers to the week!

Daily Total: $15

Money Diaries are meant to reflect an individual’s experience and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29’s point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.

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As Joe Biden has now taken the lead in Pennsylvania, Trump and his supporters have only become more enraged and determined to cause a scene, claiming the election is rigged and baselessly declaring victory. But at the forefront of all this is John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor, who has been tweeting amid the chaos in his state and offering words of hope to constituents. 

Through the purgatory of this week, Fetterman has tweeted memes about himself, championed legalizing marijuana, and more. He also live-tweeted a thread waiting for Georgia and Pennsylvania to turn blue. And the internet seems hooked on his candor and spirit, appearing on multiple major news networks to provide updates on ballot couting.

But Fetterman also boasts an impressive résumé, and is half of what might just be America’s most fascinating couple. A democratic socialist who formerly served as mayor of Braddock from 2005 to 2019, he gained international attention for working to revitalize the economy in Braddock, with articles in The New York Times and The Guardian dubbing him the “coolest mayor,” and appearances on The Colbert Report. Though he vied for a U.S. Senate seat in 2016, he ultimately lost. Fetterman is also known for his tattoos, like his Braddock ZIP code on his left arm, and his burly beard — appearing more like a champion wrestler, and defying stereotypes of what a politician is “supposed” to look like.

While in office, racial equity, environmental protection, gay rights, and immigration were major cornerstones for him. Fetterman created a community center, as well as youth and art programs, worked to fix the town’s ruined buildings, and paid special attention to the impacts that policing has on Black people in the community. He was even arrested for protesting in 2010.

Fetterman isn’t the only outspoken member of his household, though — his wife is the other half of this fascinating Power Duo. Gisele Barreto Fetterman is a Brazilian-American activist and philanthropist who has focused on eliminating food insecurity in America and used her voice and platform for immigration rights. Together, the couple lives in a former car dealership building with their three kids, refusing to move to the official house the Lt. Governor is meant to live in. 

But social justice isn’t a brand or an afterthought for either of them: the Fettermans are obviously dedicated to a life of organizing and re-working the system for good from within. And it’s clear from this week that Fetterman has never stopped going hard for his state. In an interview with Rachel Maddow on Thursday night, right before Biden took the lead, Fetterman offered encouragement, saying he’s not worried about Pennsylvania. “We just had the largest election in our state’s history. We rolled out vote by mail for the first time in our state’s history. The only irregularity we had was the president’s campaign rolling up in a clown car in downtown Philadelphia,” he told Maddow. 

In Pennsylvania, mass protests and counter-protests have broken out over the last few days. Philadelphia police are even investigating a plot by Trump supporters to attack Pennsylvania Convention Center where ballots are being counted. But even in light of this clearly fascist grab for power, people like Fetterman are standing up for the integrity of the election results.

At the time of publication, Biden is leading in Pennsylvania by nearly 7,000 votes with approximately 95% of the ballots tallied, and there’s a very good chance he’ll be able to win it.

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As of Friday morning, it looks like American voters have successfully taken out President Donald Trump after four years, which would make him one of just a handful of U.S. presidents who failed to (legally) secure a second term. And that’s probably why Team Trump is reverting back to what they know best: spreading lies on Twitter and badgering Republican leaders to stand up for the president, who has already launched a number of flimsy lawsuits in key states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia. 

Trump’s large adult sons — Donald Jr. and Eric (who are not quite as large as Barron, it should be noted) — are taking their fight over control of the White House directly to top Republicans, who they’ve accused of “cower[ing] to the media mob.” In a series of tweets on Thursday, Donald Jr. directed his anger at Republicans who are expected to run in 2024. He questioned the “total lack of action from virtually all of the ‘2024 GOP hopefuls,’” and added that, with the exception of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, most other Republican leaders haven’t stepped up “to show that they’re willing & able to fight” for Trump. 

The same day, Don Jr. riled up a crowd of Trump supporters outside the GOP’s Georgia headquarters, stating, “The Republican Party without a backbone is gone, and anyone that doesn’t fight should go with it.” Trump’s other son Eric made similar comments on Twitter, with demands to know why Republicans weren’t standing up for the president. “Have some backbone,” he warned. “Our voters will never forget you if your (sic) sheep!” 

And it appears the Trump sons’ public condemnations worked. Several Republicans who were previously silent about Trump’s claims of election fraud — including Sens. Tom Cotton (Ar.) and Rick Scott (Fl.), and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley — spoke up in his favor soon after Don Jr.’s comments.

Don Jr. and Eric’s public shaming came just a few hours before the president held a press conference at the White House where he made a number of false statements in his continued attempts to cast doubt on the electoral process. 

“If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us,” Trump said, referring to ballots that were still being counted after November 3. The coronavirus pandemic led to a surge in mail-in ballots this year that are still being counted across the country, and there is no evidence of widespread election fraud. “If you count the votes that came in late — we‘re looking at them very strongly, but a lot of votes came in late.” 

But people are watching the president, as he tries to take yet another page from the authoritarian handbook. And they’re not going to let him get away with it so easily. Millions of people nationwide are expected to take the streets on Saturday to show Trump that if his office won’t enforce the election results, they will.

Mr. President: It’s become increasingly clear that you’re fired, and you can go now. 

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