The classification state: The Tipline for 14 October 2020

The Eagles probably weren’t thinking about the never-ending US political campaign cycle with their 1977 hit single “Hotel California”, but they might as well have been: “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”. California normally avoids the inundation of ads afforded to presidential swing states, but this year it has hardly escaped unscathed. Next month, Proposition 22 will ask Californian voters if ride-hailing applications like Uber and Lyft should be exempt from a state labour law that requires workers generally be considered employees. According to the state, more than $185 million has been spent on promoting the platforms’ preferred “yes” vote.