THE BIG STORY

There are several swing states that could determine the next president. Here’s the state of play in each.

As of this morning, the presidential race remains too close to call. The reason for this: the result hinges on the outcomes in several closely-fought states — states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona — where election officials are still tabulating votes.

Remember: Final results could take days and may come down to absentee and mail-in ballots that are still being counted. If recounts are launched — as has already been threatened in Wisconsin — results could take even longer.

👉 Pennsylvania: Donald Trump leads in Pennsylvania by about 153,000 votes as of early Thursday morning. Hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots remain to be tallied. So far, the majority of mail-in ballots cast have been in favor of Joe Biden. Still, both campaigns say they can win the state.

👉 Nevada: As of Wednesday morning, Biden had around 7,600 more votes than Trump. The election commission says the final results will be in by noon ET on Thursday.

👉 Arizona: Biden leads Trump as of early Thursday morning. Some outlets have called the state for Biden, but Decision Desk HQ has not.

Get more details about the race in all the states still in play.

Election workers count Fulton County ballots at State Farm Arena on Nov. 4 in Atlanta. Jessica Mcgowan / Getty Images

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Three election stories you need to know

👉 Trump can’t just “go to the Supreme Court.” It took a month for Bush v. Gore to make its way through lower courts and reach the justices in 2000. Zoe Tillman explains what would need to happen to end up there.

👉 What happens if there is a recount in Wisconsin? Wisconsin has been called for Joe Biden, but it went down to the wire. Here are the rules for how a recount scenario could unfold.

👉 Republicans in Michigan tried to storm a Detroit ballot counting room to challenge the process. Prompted by misinformation about hidden and fake ballots, Michigan residents sent callouts on Facebook for help to challenge the vote counting process.

An election worker tires to explain to election challengers that the Detroit Department of Elections Central Counting Board Voting at TCF Center is at capacity for challengers. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

THE OTHER BIG STORY

The US just hit 100,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time

According to data collected by the COVID Tracking Project, the US just hit 100,000 new cases of COVID-19 in one day.

It’s a worrying milestone. On June 30, Anthony Fauci, the nation’s most prominent infectious disease specialist, warned that the US would reach this level if it didn’t get the virus under control. Now he’s warning we’ll see more deaths.

Fauci repeated this dire prediction in an interview with the Washington Post last week, warning that the US would see COVID-19 deaths rise in the next few weeks. “We’re in for a whole lot of hurt,” he said.

SNAPSHOTS

Despite demonstrations in some cities, there was no widespread unrest election unrest. Pro-Trump demonstrators chanted to “Stop The Count” in Michigan, while in Arizona, armed supporters of the president yelled “Count the Votes.” The streets remained mostly free of the widespread unrest some had feared.

The US Postal Service said it can’t track 300,000 ballots sent in the mail, but that doesn’t mean they’re lost. During an ongoing trial, Postal Service officials said the ballots weren't being tracked so that they could be delivered more quickly.

Philadelphia police released bodycam video of an officer fatally shooting Walter Wallace Jr. This is the first time the Philadelphia Police Department has publicly released video of a police shooting. The 27-year-old Black man was shot by officers late last month.

European officials are criticizing Trump for prematurely claiming victory and spreading misinformation. German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer called the US election “a very explosive situation” and warned of the possibility of a “constitutional crisis.”

Here’s how celebrities are coping with the long, anxious wait for a final election result. You’re anxious! Celebrities are anxious! Everyone’s anxious! Celebrities are anxious and have a lot of money, and so their anxiety looks different, but only a little different.

Hilary Duff's husband posted a photo of her anxiously watching coverage of the results. Instagram: @matthewkoma

THE REALITY IN THE RESULTS

The backlash against Trump never came

All year, the polls showed a large gap between Trump and Biden. Many interpreted that gap as a repudiation of Trump’s policies — whether it’s handling of the coronavirus, or his approach to America’s conversation on race.

On election day, the repudiation never came. Trump may end up losing, but the results were much closer than the polls expected.

Scaachi Koul reflects on the results: “Even if Trump does lose this election — which he still might — there was no sharp rebuke of Trump, his policies, or his associates. There was no blue wave, blue crush, blue anything.”

Or, distilled even more, Koul writes: “Half of American voters have a message for politicians: Cage as many kids as you want. Ignore the pandemic. There will be no consequences.”

NEVADA ON MY MIND

People are making jokes about the pace of the Nevada count

There are multiple states where the vote counting is not complete, but folks on the internet have picked Nevada to focus their ire and impatience on.

The internet filled with memes about Nevada’s count, and honestly, all of them make me feel better. Here’s my favorite one:

Make time for the things that make you feel like yourself today,

Elamin