What a Biden Future Looks Like; Are Psychedelics the New Cannabis?: Friday's First Things First

Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here. What to Expect: How a Biden Administration Would Tackle Tech Policy We’re still awaiting final results from battleground states in the 2020 election, but Joe Biden’s position is strengthening—which means it’s time for industries to start considering the implications of a Biden administration if they haven’t already. To lend a hand, Adweek developed a primer on what to expect from the most intensely debated tech policy issues of the moment. For instance, a Biden presidency likely wouldn't significantly change the trajectory of the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Google—and antitrust efforts against the major players in Big Tech may continue to ramp up. On the social media front, legislative action around Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act may continue to be a factor under Biden. What’s next? Learn how the potential Biden administration would approach net neutrality, privacy laws and Chinese tech. Trump and Biden Double Down on Email Fundraising Strategies The presidential campaigns are over, but the fundraising emails keep on coming—with new language asking people to donate in light of potentially long legal battles and vote recounts. The Trump campaign has maintained its high-frequency, high-aggression strategy with shock-value subject lines, while Biden was requesting donations to the Biden Fight Fund, which seeks to ensure that every vote is counted. Will it work? We asked the experts about the strategies—and whether they think the new messaging will spur more donations. Also in election updates for marketers: Despite the massive impact the election is having on many facets of American life, it may not change brand strategy that much. After all, the marketing world has grown used to uncertainty amid the pandemic. Get the insights and intelligence you need to succeed with an Adweek Pro Subscription, providing access to insider reporting, exclusive events and more. As Advocates Celebrate a ‘Renaissance,’ Could Psychedelics Become the Next Cannabis? Now that Oregon has become the first U.S. state to legalize psychedelics, many are considering whether hallucinogens could follow the same trajectory as cannabis has over the past few years. Shrooms are unlikely to be sold in dispensaries in the foreseeable future, but cannabis has forged a path for legal recreational drug use, and it’s certainly a cultural shift: Americans are more and more open to decriminalization and legalization across the board. How brands and pop culture are leaning in: Dr. Bronner’s has famously supported drug legalization and decriminalization efforts. Adweek Survey Finds 40% of Brands Might Seek New Agencies in 2021 An exclusive survey of 70 brand marketers conducted by Adweek Intelligence sought to get a reading on what brands think of their agencies' performance during the pandemic and discover how that could impact 2021 budgets. Although agencies made extraordinary pivots to help clients overcome their challenges, the survey found that almost 40% of brands may be looking for a new agency in 2021. Of course, it may not be entirely due to agency performance—in fact, brands described agencies in positive terms—but rather due to other factors in the relationship or the broader environment, which was exacerbated by the crisis. More findings: These charts show how brands believe agencies have been performing, what brands want from agencies and more. More of Today’s Top News & Highlights: Advertising’s Most Inventive Leader Is Leaving. Here’s What We Can Learn From HimWhy Digital Storefronts—Not Physical—Matter Most NowDiscovery Inc. Plans December Curtain-Raiser on New Streaming ServiceEntertainment Giants Reevaluate Their Smaller Streaming ServicesThis AI Logo Generator Creates Random Branding Designs for Small BusinessesThe Trade Desk Sets Record Earnings as Marketers Embrace Programmatic AdvertisingWhen Your Accent Is Not on Brief