Americans are overworked and over work

The way we talk about our jobs is changing, the Virginia "curse" is about to be put to the test, and Alex Murdaugh will remain in jail for now

OCTOBER 20, 2021 Hey there! I wanted to drop in and let you know that this week's Incoming is going to be a bit shorter than usual. For the next few days, my team at BuzzFeed News is getting together to focus on how to keep the newsroom glowing and growing. Because of that, I'll be away from my keyboard more than usual. Starting Oct. 25, we'll be back with our regularly scheduled newsletter programming! Thank you as always, Alexa THE BIG STORY   Americans are overworked and over work Liam Eisenberg for BuzzFeed News Are we on the precipice of a fundamental attitude shift about work? Mounting evidence points to yes.   In a mass exit dubbed the "Great Resignation" by psychologist Anthony Klotz, nearly 4 million people left jobs this past June, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. Another 4 million left in July, the fourth consecutive month of such high departure rates. There's been an influx of conversation reframing how we talk about "laziness," and a collective push for the four-day workweek. As a culture, we've gone from readily adopting the phrase "Beyoncé also has 24 hours in a day" to "I don't dream of labor."   Karin Kimbrough, chief economist at LinkedIn, told BuzzFeed News she sees an "unprecedented" shift of people leaving their jobs in favor of something better. The "social contract [of] work is being rewritten," Kimbrough says, and the balance of power that exists between employer and employee "is shifting towards the worker." From working-class individuals who refuse to burn out on the 9-to-5 to white-collar workers deciding it's time to unplug for a while, millions of people are reevaluating who they are outside of their skills as employees. As one worker told BuzzFeed News, "I think we're kind of remixing the American Dream." STAYING ON TOP OF THIS   Virginia Democrats want to give Trump another loss, even if they're "eh" on their own candidate Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor running again as this year's Democratic candidate Win Mcnamee / Getty Images Virginia's state governor election, which will take place Nov. 2, is one of two gubernatorial races held in the off year that follows a presidential election.   It's often seen as a referendum on how the current presidency is going and as a potential bellwether for what may come in the next year's midterms. Historically, whichever party wins the White House typically loses the governor's mansion in Virginia — so much so that within politics, this pattern is known as the Virginia "curse." But with the specter of Trump's presidency hanging over the country, will Virginia vote differently this year? BuzzFeed News spoke to voters in Richmond, whose suburbs are ripe for competition; Charlottesville, a Democratic bubble and the scene of the 2017 white nationalist rally; and Culpeper, a town in a county that voted for Trump over Biden by nearly 20 points. Their responses hint at a possible exception to the Virginia curse rule. SNAPSHOTS   Alex Murdaugh will remain in jail after a judge denied him bail. Since the murders of his wife and youngest son, Murdaugh has drawn international attention for his ties to a staggering web of deaths and crimes.   Facebook's new Portal Go is nearly perfect for kids, except it's horrible for kids. "I was elated," says tech reporter Katie Notopoulos. "The Portal Go seemed to be a total game changer. ... Then, everything changed." Travis Barker's ex wiped all recent photos of her kids from Instagram following their public celebration of his engagement. The apparent divide between Shanna Moakler and her kids comes just a few months after two of her children openly denounced their mother's parenting skills.   A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY   Dune and Star Wars similarities are surprising new fans and making sci-fi nerds feel smug Brooding in space Chiabella James / Warner Bros. Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune is set to hit theaters, and critics are already hailing it as the next Star Wars.   It's a comparison that makes sense, given how much the 1965 Dune novel influenced George Lucas's space opera. But for people encountering the story for the first time, some of these connections may catch you off-guard.   We found 17 key parallels between the two cinematic universes: Read through them all, and let us know if we missed any major similarities. This article contains spoilers so, you know, be careful. (I goofed and didn't share a new signoff yesterday. You're getting two today because life is too short to settle for less.) Ask for help if you need it, and check in on someone you care about today, Alexa 📝  This letter was edited and brought to you by Alexa Lee and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.     👉 Your support of BuzzFeed's journalism does not constitute a charitable donation, and your contribution is not eligible for a tax-deduction. This is part of an effort to explore a deeper relationship with our most active supporters. 🔔  Want to be notified as soon as news breaks? Download the BuzzFeed News app for iOS and Android (available in Canadian, UK, Australian, and US app stores). 💌  Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to get BuzzFeed News in your inbox!     Show privacy notice and cookie policy. BuzzFeed, Inc. 111 E. 18th St. New York, NY 10003 Unsubscribe