The election postmortem begins

In today's newsletter: A look at the factors that led Donald Trump to victory and Kamala Harris to an election loss. A fast-growing wildfire spreads in California. And a new NBA arena is designed with fans in mind.

Here's what to know today.

How Trump won and Harris lost the election

The analysis of President-elect Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris began before Election Day had ended. For Trump and Republicans, efforts to galvanize key groups of voters proved fruitful. Harris and Democrats struggled with a late start and failure to break from President Joe Biden.

On Wednesday, Harris conceded in a speech at Howard University. She offered words of empowerment while stressing that Democrats had to accept the results of the election — something Trump never did when he lost to Biden in 2020.

In fact, after the Jan. 6 riot, Trump was cast into the political wilderness by his own party, as Republicans turned to new faces they thought could harness Trump's energy but with less of his baggage. Republican primary voters had other ideas, though, and his ascent back to the top was fueled by multiple indictments that turned him into a "folk hero and icon," a campaign official said. "And then he gets shot, and that only increased the view of him as a folk hero and icon."

Meanwhile, Biden's initial refusal to exit the 2024 presidential race after a disastrous debate performance in June kicked off a whirlwind season that gave rise to Harris. Some argue Biden waited too long to step down. And though Harris rode a wave of summer excitement, some close to her campaign said the team struggled to keep up the momentum into Election Day.

NBC News' politics team spoke to 35 operatives and officials from both parties and campaigns to understand how Trump won and how Harris lost. Read the full story here.

More election coverage:

➡️ Battleground Democratic voters cited several factors that led to the defeat, including the abbreviated Harris campaign, a lack of economic messaging, and a drift too far to the left for social issues. Some cited gender and race as factors in the result, while others were "angry" about the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza.

➡️ Meanwhile, Democratic campaign aides, strategists, elected officials and others said it's time for a reckoning within the Democratic Party that includes changing how it talks about issues such as immigration and clearing out the old guard operatives whose ideas are outdated.

➡️ Strong female support for Harris wasn’t enough to push her to a win. Here’s why.

➡️ All eyes are turning to the battle for control of the House of Representatives. Republicans are feeling optimistic.

➡️ Two battleground Democrats have won Senate races in states lost by Harris, with Rep. Elissa Slotkin defeating former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan, and incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin defeating Republican Eric Hovde in Wisconsin.

➡️ Constitutional amendments to protect or expand abortion rights passed in seven of the 10 states where they were on the ballot.

➡️ Policy experts predict the issue of abortion rights in a second Trump administration could involve new restrictions or the reinstatement of old ones.

➡️ DOJ officials have been evaluating how to wind down two federal criminal cases against Trump, whose victory also likely upends the other criminal cases against him. Here’s where they stand.

➡️ In Israel, the country’s right-wing leadership was thrilled by Trump’s victory, with ultranationalist ministers openly celebrating on social media. Ukrainian officials offered their own praise of Trump, but face an uncertain future given his views on further military support for Kyiv's fight with Russia.

➡️ Tech CEOs, including ones who Trump previously threatened, sent their congratulations.

➡️ Evangelical leaders celebrated Trump’s victory as a fulfillment of God’s divine will.

➡️ The Biden administration is preparing for a possible surge in border crossings ahead of a Trump presidency.

➡️ Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who could take on a role in the Trump administration, said he wouldn't "take away anybody's vaccines" and rejected the claim he’s “anti-vaccine.”

Key interest rate expected to decrease again

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut its key federal interest rate today by 0.25%, the second time it has done so since September. Wall Street traders were nearly unanimous in their prediction that the federal funds rate would fall back to 4.5%. Meanwhile, inflation is back at the Fed's 2% target and the unemployment rate remains at a subdued 4.1%.

But Donald Trump's presidential election victory injects new uncertainty into what happens long-term. Trump has promised to enact a new fiscal and economic regime, including harsh tariffs that some economists fear could have inflationary effects.

Fast-moving wildfire tears through California community

A wildfire in Southern California quickly grew to over 14,000 acres, sending firefighters rushing to get residents out of homes and to safety, officials said. The Mountain Fire in Ventura County was fueled by a significant Santa Ana wind event, fire officials said, after a brush fire broke out yesterday morning between the communities of Moorpark and Somis. "Firefighters were right off the bat engaged in pulling people out of their houses and saving lives," Ventura County Fire Capt. Trevor Johnson said.

Several people have been injured and homes destroyed, Johnson said. The fire was 0% contained as of Wednesday evening. Here's what else we know.

Inside an arena that's trying to change how fans cheer

There has never been an arena to watch a basketball game quite like the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Whereas some stadiums are built to host spectacles, the new $2 billion home of Steve Ballmer's Los Angeles Clippers is a spectacle unto itself, with technology, design and rules not seen elsewhere — from what's playing in the restrooms, to seats with more leg room and an exclusive section where fans must pass a test to prove they're die-hards. We went inside the building that's trying to change what it means to experience live sports.

— Andrew Greif, sports reporter

In need of a little self-care? NBC Select rounded up dozens of wellness and beauty items perfect for a relaxing day, from face masks to a soap that massages your muscles. Or maybe add a little bit of nature to your home. Here's everything you need for a pet fish, according to aquatic veterinarians.

Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson.

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