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Friday's Daily Briefing: Jobs report, stimulus talks, 'Gaga Radio'

Editors  |  Paste BN

It's finally Friday, Daily Briefing readers! Got any fun weekend plans?

Before we get into today's top stories let's get caught up on some late-breaking news: President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Thursday to block all U.S. transactions with TikTok’s Chinese parent corporation, Bytedance, a potential bummer for the app's 100 million U.S. consumers including me and my colleagues who run the Paste BN TikTok account. 

Today, the Labor Department will release its July jobs report, congressional leaders are trying to make a deal with the White House on another coronavirus relief package, and Lady Gaga is dropping new weekly series called "Gaga Radio."

It's N'dea. Let's talk news.

Economists expect 1.5 million job gains in July labor report 📈

After two months of record job gains, the July employment tally has become something of a wild card. Out Friday, economists surveyed by Bloomberg estimate the nation added 1.5 million jobs last month. While some economists foresee the possibility of hundreds of thousands of payroll losses, others predict that total employment will be unchanged. The wide disparity reflects a labor market at a crossroads as some states continue to allow businesses to reopen in phases while others, particularly in the South and West, pause or reverse reopening plans amid coronavirus spikes. 

Coronavirus updates: Ohio governor tests negative, 'do not travel' advisory lifted🛫

State Department no longer says Americans should avoid all international travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the list of countries welcoming people from the U.S. is still slim. Meanwhile, a widely cited model predicts U.S. deaths from COVID-19 will reach nearly 300,000 by Dec. 1, even with the assumption that many states will impose new stay-at-home orders as deaths climb. Also Thursday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who had been set to meet with President Trump, ultimately tested negative for COVID-19. Earlier in the day, a rapid test gave him a positive reading.

Dems, White House seek agreement by end of week on COVID-19 package 🤝

Congressional leaders (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.,) and lead White House negotiators (Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows) have pushed for a compromise on another coronavirus relief package by the end of the week and still hope to reach a deal. But negotiations tumbled into uncertainty Thursday evening with both sides painting a grim picture, even as millions of anxious Americans wait for vital financial relief. After the 10th meeting, both sides reported progress but also described a bleak portrait of the discussions that may stunt future meetings. Republicans and Democrats remain far apart on many issues, most notably the weekly $600 boost to people on unemployment. Democrats want to extend it until at least January, but Republicans argue it is too high and disincentives Americans from going back to work.

Another 'I can't breathe' video and more on race in America

Los Angeles to shut off power, water to party houses not social distancing

The city of Los Angeles will cut off power and water to homes and businesses starting Friday night where recurring parties take place without social distancing, Mayor Eric Garcetti said. Earlier this week the county health department banned large gatherings following a much-publicized house party where people crowded together without masks. Violating the order is "punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both," the department warned. "If LAPD responds and verifies that a large gathering is occurring at a property, and we see these properties offending time and time again, they will provide notice and initiate the process to request that DWP shut off service within the next 48 hours," Garcetti said. 

More news to know

9 states participate in sales tax holidays beginning Friday 💰

Nine states will hold sales tax holidays starting Friday — Florida, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Iowa's two-day holiday ends Saturday and the other states holidays continue through Sunday. On Sunday, Maryland kicks off its tax-free week. However, not every town and county will participate in the sales tax holidays, nor will every item be tax-free. Due to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, spending during the back-to-school shopping season is expected to total $33.9 billion. This is up from $26.2 billion last year, breaking the record of $30.3 billion set in 2012. Experts predict college students and their families will spend a total of $67.7 billion, up from $54.5 billion last year.

Fact or fiction? ✅

Misinformation, distortions and outright lies are a significant problem for our country. See the latest work from our fact checking team with our newest newsletter, Checking The Facts.

Lady Gaga, talk-show host? 'Gaga Radio' debuts 🎙️

Lady Gaga will chat with folks involved in creating her "Chromatica" album in a new weekly series debuting Friday on Apple Music called "Gaga Radio." Each episode will have an exclusive DJ mix from one of Gaga’s guests, who include DJs, producers and other luminaries in the dance-music space. "The last few weeks I've been figuring out different ways at home that I can be of service... " Gaga said in a statement. "I'm super thrilled, excited to have this show and this opportunity to play an incredible mix of music every week." The first episode Friday features "Chromatica" executive producer BloodPop, and Gaga tweeted that in future weeks, show guests will include mixes from Burns, Vitaclub and Tchami.

In better news: In search of his lost love, 90-year-old man comes out as gay 🏳️‍🌈 

Kenneth Felts didn’t plan on coming out to the world. In fact, he didn’t plan on coming out to anyone until the coronavirus pandemic struck. The 90-year-old Colorado man's decades-long search for a former partner named Phillip ended in him coming out online – and gaining national attention – nearly 60 years after his brief relationship with the love of his life. The way Felts tells it, he planned on sending a message to his close friends and family – and, by accident or fate, shared it as a public Facebook post. With the help of a kind stranger on Facebook by the name of Tina Wood, he was able to track down Phillip Allen Jones – who died just a few years ago. Felts spoke to Paste BN from his home in Arvada, Colorado, about his first Pride celebration in quarantine, the search for his first love and his advice for people who are struggling to come out.

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