World News: 75 years ago the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima

Thursday, August 6

A man plays his guitar in front of in front of ruins of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, now commonly known as the atomic bomb dome, during sunset in Hiroshima on August 5, 2020. Japan on August 6, 2020 marks 75 years since the world's first atomic bomb attack, with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic forcing a scaling back of annual ceremonies to commemorate the victims.

Thursday's Daily Briefing: Hiroshima bombing turns 75, jobless claims

The U.S. became the only country to detonate a nuclear weapon against an enemy when it bombed Hiroshima on this day in 1945, the latest weekly jobs report will be released and more news to start your Thursday.

Happy Thursday, Daily Briefing readers. Decades ago, academics, futurists and government agencies cast their predictions of what would happen by the year 2020. Today, we're still trying to figure out what's going to happen next in this unprecedented year, particularly in the November election.

American University Professor Allan Lichtman, a political historian who has correctly predicted the outcomes of all presidential elections since 1984, says former Vice President Joe Biden will beat President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, a team of experts who gamed out the presidential election found an "alarming" risk of a contested outcome, legal battles, violent street clashes and even a constitutional crisis.

It's N'dea and I predict we're going to talk about today's biggest news. 🔮

75 years ago, the US ushered in the nuclear weapons era

At 8:15 a.m. local time on Aug. 6, 1945, an American B-29 aircraft named Enola Gay dropped a 9,700-pound uranium bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" over Hiroshima, Japan, in the closing days of World War II . About 70,000 people were killed instantly. By 1950, the death toll reached an estimated 200,000 as survivors succumbed to burns, radiation sickness and cancer. Three days after Hiroshima was bombed, a second atomic bomb was unleashed over Nagasaki, with 40,000 people killed and 140,000 dead within five years. Three-quarters of a century later, tensions and uncertainties over nuclear weapons are among the most serious problems facing the U.S. Meanwhile, the stories of atomic bomb survivors have shaped the way we think about the consequences of using nuclear weapons.

•	Unforgettable images: This is what it looked like after the Hiroshima bombing
•	Opinion: I grew up near the plutonium source for the Nagasaki bomb. Let's end the nuclear nightmare.
•	📸 Photo gallery: The atomic bombing of Hiroshima

COVID-19 cases are at an 'unacceptable level'

The nation's testing for COVID-19 is dropping even as infections remain high and the death toll rises by more than 1,000 a day, a worrisome trend that officials attribute largely to Americans getting discouraged over having to wait hours to get a test and days or weeks to learn the results. Nevertheless, the country's response has allowed the daily COVID-19 case count to plateau at an "unacceptable level," the nation's top health official, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said Wednesday, warning that the U.S. will continue to "smolder" without a unified effort to stop the virus.

•	Dems, White House inch closer on coronavirus relief deal, hoping for agreement by end of week
•	As COVID-19 spread, the feds relaxed rules, and hospitals tried to contain the outbreak. Other infections may have risen
•	Facebook, Twitter remove Trump coronavirus posts of Fox interview about kids being 'almost immune'
•	Kids less likely to die from coronavirus, but schools could become hot spots for spread
•	Novavax becomes fifth COVID-19 vaccine developer to release promising early results
•	No NBA players test positive for COVID-19 for third consecutive week
•	Exclusive: Cruise industry extends sailing suspension past CDC 'no-sail' order, until Oct. 31

Did 1.4M more workers file jobless claims?

As states pull back on reopenings amid the coronavirus pandemic, economists will be watching closely when the Labor Department releases its latest jobless claims figures Thursday . A broad measure of layoffs likely continued to hover just below 1.5 million last week, economists say, highlighting a labor market recovery that has lost steam as many states pause or reverse reopenings amid COVID-19 spikes. Economists estimate that Americans filed 1.42 million initial applications for unemployment benefits – a rough measure of layoffs – during the week ending Aug. 1. Such a tally would push total initial claims past a mind-blowing 55 million since pandemic-induced business shutdowns and layoffs began in mid-March.

•	Crisis upends young adults' finances: Millennials, Gen Zers say pandemic has derailed their financial independence
•	Employment issues: Worried about another slump, many firms hire temporary workers instead of permanent staffers
•	How much do you need? $100,000 is not enough for retirement, a sum many seniors can't reach

A case of stolen hedge clippers, Biden's VP pick and more on race in America

•	Black man's life sentence in stolen hedge clippers case is 'cruel and unusual,' Louisiana judge says
•	'Blatant disrespect of Black women': Women leaders criticize treatment of Black women being considered as Biden VP pick
•	The Voting Rights Act was signed 55 years ago. Black women led the movement behind it
•	Returning to our roots: Black Americans are redefining relationship to the land with gardening, farming
•	Who left a 4-mile-wide 'Black Lives Matter' mural in Nevada's Black Rock Desert?
•	⏯️ Watch: How COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting people of color

French president visits Lebanon following Beirut blast

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Beirut Thursday to meet the country's political figures, after an explosion Tuesday displaced thousands and killed at least 135 in the Lebanese capital . The search is currently on for survivors after the blast, which was powerful enough to be felt more than 150 miles away, and register as a 3.3 magnitude earthquake. In the aftermath, Lebanon's government declared a two-week state of emergency, effectively giving the military full powers during this time, and announced it was launching an investigation into ammonium nitrate stored at the port where the blast originated.

•	⏯️ Watch: These 7 videos show the massive explosion across Beirut
•	Looking back: Reporter reflects on Beirut explosion, burying a dog who made 'dystopia more bearable'
•	Contributing and helping: How to aid the victims in Lebanon
•	Sending love: Salma Hayek, Ariana Grande and more stars speak out on Beirut

More news everyone is talking about

•	'This is Nampa ... not Tampa': Idaho police got a call about an alligator and couldn't believe it. Then they got there.
•	Jake Paul: FBI, SWAT team raid house of YouTuber; Scottsdale drops looting charges – for now
•	Salads sold at Walmart, Kroger, H-E-B with recalled onions included in new USDA public health alert
•	On the heels of Isaias, forecasters say 10 more hurricanes are likely this season
•	The amount of Arctic sea ice melted away to a record low for the month of July
•	Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' is smaller than usual. But there 'isn't much to celebrate,' expert says

Tennessee holds primary election, early voting turnout up 75% 🗳️

Voters in Tennessee will have their final chance to cast a ballot in this year's state and federal primaries Thursday . More than 578,000 people cast early votes in person or by absentee ballot, a substantial increase from August primaries in recent presidential election years. This year's early voting turnout more than doubled that in 2012, and was up more than 75% compared to 2016. The opening of polls also means election officials can begin tabulating the absentee ballots cast in the primary, an undertaking the Secretary of State's office has warned could delay results much longer than usual Thursday night.

•	Ruling announced: Fear of COVID-19 will not be reason to vote absentee in November, Tennessee Supreme Court rules
•	Takeaways from Tuesday's primaries: Cori Bush upsets Rep. William Lacy Clay; Tlaib wins
•	Get ready: Register to vote or check your status here

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.

•	Fact check: Obama did not sign a law authorizing federal agents to arrest protesters
•	Fact check: Dr Pepper shortage? No. But aluminum can shortage may be behind lack of supply

NFL players face a dilemma: Stay and play, or opt out of the season 🏈

NFL players must decide whether to opt out of the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns by Thursday at 4 p.m. ET . The NFL owners and the NFL Players Association agreed to the terms Monday night. Originally, the NFLPA and owners agreed to set the opt out deadline for seven days after the finalization of the modified Collective Bargaining Agreement. But with final details of the economic aspects of the deal still unresolved, and as more than 40 players have opted out already, NFL owners wanted to solidify the deadline. The owners ultimately got their way, but it is expected that provisions will be made for players to opt out after the deadline in the event that they or a family member encounter extenuating circumstances related to the coronavirus.

•	NFL opt-out tracker: Full list of players sitting out 2020 season amid coronavirus concerns
•	Column from Jarrett Bell: Diversity is critical for NFL in devising COVID-19 strategies
•	False positive: Kelly Stafford describes 'nightmare' COVID-19 scare involving husband QB Matthew, rips NFL

In better news: Drive-in theaters are here to save our summer movie nights 📽️🍿🚘

Tired of simply staying home and watching movies on your couch? Although theater chains like AMC are gearing up to return in August, taking in a drive-in movie may sound appealing, especially for families.

Drive-in movie theaters have the advantages of in-person viewing while staying in the comfort, privacy and safety of your own vehicle. Social distancing is built-in, as cars are often parked six or more feet away from each other, and proper COVID-19 protocols make it easier to have fun yet stay safe.

From Aug. 14 through Oct. 21, Walmart parking lots across the country will be transformed into drive-in theaters with 320 movie showings at 160 stores.

We've put together a list of old and newly converted drive-ins across the country for you to check out. Click here to see if there's one near you.