August 3, 2020 News Brief

The Trump administration’s coronavirus coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, stated the United States has entered a new phase of the outbreak. The virus is now widespread in both urban and rural areas and Dr. Birx warned no area of the country is immune and that it imperative that every one wear masks and social distance. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/02/health/dr-birx-coronavirus-phase.html

On Friday, President Trump threatened to ban the social media platform TikTok used by over 100 million users in the US. The threat was based on national security concerns since the platform is owned by a Chinese company and has been accused of data mining. The ban was temporarily put on hold after Microsoft announced it was in the process of acquiring TikTok from the Chinese company ByteDance. The Trump administration gave Microsoft 45 days to complete the deal and suspended any action until then. 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tiktok-trump-exclusive/exclusive-trump-gives-microsoft-45-days-to-clinch-tiktok-deal-idUSKBN24Y0UD?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top

NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after a historic flight to and from the International Space Station, powered by SpaceX.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/02/science/spacex-astronauts-splashdown.html

Howard Schultz organized a letter to Congress signed by more than 100 CEOs, including the heads of Salesforce, Alphabet, Facebook, Microsoft, Walmart, McDonald's, Disney, Quibi, IBM, Merck, Marriott, the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more. The message was get relief to small businesses and do it quickly or the economic fallout will impact everyone. 

https://www.howardschultz.com/lettertocongress/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top

I read a ton at the beach and have been added my favorites to Bookshop!

https://bookshop.org/a/10844/9781984806734

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