Today's headlines: Voting for the 2022 midterm elections officially ends tomorrow, and almost 40 million votes have already been cast. Elon Musk laid off half of Twitter’s employees over email on Friday, followed by those employees filing a lawsuit against him. Twitter is said to delay changes to the new check mark badges until after Midterms. Researchers have identified a series of Russian disinformation operations with the goals of stoking anger among conservative voters, undermining trust in the election system, and denouncing the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine. Republican candidate Joel Koskan was charged on Thursday for multiple sexual acts against his adopted daughter. Donald Trump missed the Friday deadline to turn over documents to the House January 6th committee. Finally for today, CDC officials say that the US is now officially in a flu epidemic.
Resources/Articles mentioned this episode:

Washington Post: Number of early votes cast surpasses early-vote total in 2018 midterm election

Bloomberg: Spending on US Midterm Elections to Exceed $16.7 Billion, Setting New Record

Washington Post: Twitter layoffs gutted election information teams days before midterms

Reuters: Twitter asks some laid off workers to come back, Bloomberg reports

Bloomberg: Musk’s Plan to Downsize Twitter to Run Into European Employment Law

The Verge: Elon Musk’s Twitter layoffs leave whole teams gutted

USA Today: Considering joining the Twitter migration? Check out these platform alternatives.

NY Times: Twitter Is Said to Delay Changes to Check Mark Badges Until After Midterms

Yahoo News: South Dakota Senate Candidate Charged with Multiple Sexual Acts Against Adopted Child

NY Times: Jan. 6 Committee Gives Trump More Time to Comply With Subpoena

CNN: Exclusive: DOJ mulling potential special counsel if Trump runs in 2024

Fortune Well: The U.S. is officially in a flu epidemic, federal health officials say. They’re preparing to deploy troops and ventilators if necessary

 
Host: Sami Sage
Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Amanda Duberman and Bridget Schwartz
Original Music and Editing by Brandon Lee Bjornson