Gun Control Groups Eclipse NRA in Election Spending for First Time (New York Times)
One of the biggest factors in the financial turnabout in the gun debate has been the involvement of Mike Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York who recently became a Democrat and is mulling a 2020 presidential bid. In addition to providing about a third of Everytown for Gun Safety’s budget, he is the sole funder of Independence USA, a political action committee that spent about $110 million in the cycle.

Bloomberg created Everytown four years ago as an umbrella organization for gun safety causes, and his spending initially focused on ballot initiatives and state elections, according to tax documents. Now both Everytown and Giffords are challenging the N.R.A. at the federal level as the N.R.A.’s spending has declined compared with the last midterms, filings show. John Feinblatt, Everytown’s president: “There’s no question in our mind 2018 will be remembered as the year of gun safety and will be a reset moment.”

Women Are Breaking Records for U.S. Statehouse Elections (Axios)
More than 2,000 women will serve in statehouses across the U.S., further extending this year’s reach of women in legislature positions.

Hot on the Bloomberg:
Theresa May Vows to Carry On as Brexit Hardliners Try to Topple Her (Bloomberg)

Singapore Prime Minister Says ASEAN May Need to Choose Between U.S. and China (Bloomberg)

California Wildfire Death Toll Hits 63; Sheriff Says 631 Still Missing (Associated Press)

Preview: 50 Companies to Watch 2019 (Bloomberg Businessweek)
The analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence — who track more than 1,900 companies in industries including energy, technology, retail, and finance — identified those that face unusual challenges in the coming year or are poised to release products or services with blockbuster potential.

Weekend reads.

Google Plans High-Flying Balloons to Provide Internet in Africa to Connect Millions (Bloomberg)

Trump Isn’t the Global Economy’s Only Challenge (Bloomberg Opinion – Dan Moss)

Why Airlines Don’t Want You to Fly Basic Economy and Make Bargain-Basement Travel As Inconvenient as Possible (Bloomberg)

Best of late night.

On President Trump’s recent proposals on criminal justice reform:

“That’s good news! President Trump is supporting bipartisan criminal justice reform, just in time for his entire administration to be indicted by Robert Mueller. He’s up there like, ‘These criminals deserve a second term — I mean, a second chance!’ ”
— Trevor Noah

“What is people’s obsession with having their dog at work? I don’t get it. Unless it’s a service animal, if you bring your dog to work, you better be a fire-fighter, a police officer or a member of the scooby-doo gang. That’s it.”
— James Corden

“A woman in Texas was recently arrested after robbing a convenience store while wearing an unusual disguise. She was wearing an over-sized dog’s head costume to rob the store. The woman can face up to 7 years in jail, which is 49 years in dog years.”
— James Corden

For more best of late night from the New York Times, click here.