Biden infrastructure negotiations, May jobs report, Don McGahn's testimony: 5 things to know Friday
After Biden offers to keep Trump tax cuts, more infrastructure debate
Talks have dragged on over what began as Joe Biden’s $2.25 trillion American Jobs Plan, with Republicans rejecting what they see as liberal social programs that don’t belong to an infrastructure package. Biden made a major concession Wednesday: In lieu of scrapping the previous administration’s corporate tax cuts — a no-go for the GOP — the plan will instead beef up tax enforcement for the wealthiest and ensure the largest corporations (some of which have avoided paying any taxes due to loopholes) pay at least a minimum of 15%. Biden plans to keep the conversation going Friday with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the lead negotiator for a group of six Republicans working to seal the infrastructure deal with the White House.
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U.S. economy added 559K jobs in May and unemployment fell to 5.8% as COVID cases fell
Hiring picked up in May as employers added 559,000 jobs amid falling COVID-19 cases, a loosening of business constraints and stepped-up vaccinations, more than offsetting persistent worker shortages. The unemployment rate fell from 6.1% to 5.8%, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had estimated that 674,000 jobs were added last month. In April, even as more states lifted restraints and COVID vaccinations accelerated, a disconnect between companies rushing to add workers immediately and the unemployed, many of whom were either seeking better jobs than they had before the pandemic, still lacked affordable child care, worried about contracting COVID-19 or decided to retire early, resulted in a sharp slowdown in hiring – employers added far fewer jobs (266,000) than economists had forecast (995,000, according to one survey).
- Biden's infrastructure plan would create many jobs: However, labor shortages may mean few workers will take them
- Need a job? Have no experience? That’s OK!Companies are relaxing job requirements to cope with worker shortages
- A transformed workplace:As offices reopen after COVID-19, more companies will let employees work from home or hire workers who live far away
After a long battle, House Judiciary Committee will finally question Don McGahn
The House Judiciary Committee is poised to question former White House counsel Don McGahn behind closed doors Friday, two years after House Democrats wanted his testimony as part of investigations into former President Donald Trump. The committee sought McGahn's testimony in May 2019 because he was a key figure in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. But McGahn defied the subpoena. The committee sued to enforce its subpoena and the case has bounced around federal courts ever since. While the House panel eventually won its fight for McGahn's testimony, the court agreement almost guarantees they won't learn anything new as the two sides agreed that McGahn will only be questioned about information attributed to him in publicly available portions of Mueller's report.
- Previous coverage: McGahn defies House subpoena and skips hearing on Russia probe
- 'Slow-motion constitutional car crash': 2019 story details battle between Trump, Congress over investigations
Upcoming CDC report to focus on getting adolescents vaccinated
While President Joe Biden is pushing to meet his goal of having 70% of American adults at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 by July 4, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has set her eyes on a different age group: adolescents. Walensky said a CDC report coming out Friday will prompt a redoubling of efforts to have eligible youngsters get vaccinated. She also said those who aren't fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks and observe social distancing to protect themselves and those around them. Adolescents ages 12 to 15 should get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and they can get their other routine vaccinations along with it, a CDC advisory committee said in mid-May. "I strongly encourage parents to get their teens vaccinated, as I did mine," Walensky said.
- Percolating issue: Is it legal for a business to even ask for proof that you're vaccinated?
- First in line, still no shot: Surprising number of hospital workers refuse vaccines
- Sprint to COVID-19 vaccine goal: Biden administration to team up with Black barbershops
Disneyland's Avengers Campus is assembled and ready to open
Sling a web like Spider-Man and help the superhero defeat replicating spider bots attempting to take over Avengers Campus. Train to be a member of the Warriors of Wakanda, or help Dr. Strange as he tries to protect a gold ring from villains.These are just a few of the things guests of Disney California Adventure Park will be able to do when they enter Avengers Campus, which opens in Anaheim on Friday. The fantasy land offers guests the chance to not just meet their superheroes but to be superheroes. Avengers Campus was built on 70-plus years of Marvel superhero characters and stories and 23 movies and was a collaboration among many disciplines within Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative force that designs and builds Disney theme parks.
- Opening for everyone: Disneyland to reopen to out-of-state visitors June 15
- 'We're home!':Engagements, excitement abound as Disneyland reopens
Contributing: The Associated Press