Your Friday Evening Briefing

May 15, 2020

Your Friday Evening Briefing

By Remy Tumin, Penn Bullock and Marcus Payadue

Good evening. Here’s the latest.

Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times

1. A number of states lifted restrictions on businesses and public life on Friday as the country attempted to re-emerge from coronavirus-related shutdowns.

See which states are reopening. Above, the Rusty Spur Saloon in Scottsdale, Ariz.

But a coronavirus vaccine remains many months away, at a minimum. Moncef Slaoui, a former pharmaceutical executive who was picked this week to lead a crash vaccine development program, insisted a successful vaccine by January 2021 was a “credible objective.”

But Mr. Slaoui conceded an even longer timeline of 12 to 18 months — cited by Dr. Anthony Fauci and rejected by President Trump — would still outpace what many scientists believe is possible.

During an event in the Rose Garden, Mr. Trump said, “Vaccine or no vaccine, we’re back, and we’re starting the process.”

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Carter Johnston for The New York Times

2. Retail sales in the U.S. fell 16.4 percent in April, the biggest two-month decline on record.

Restaurants and bars lost half of their business. Sales at clothing stores dropped 89 percent. Last month’s decline may signal the bottom for retailers, but now the question is whether companies can weather it. Above, an open but empty mall in Austin, Texas.

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As more parts of the country reopen businesses, retail workers have reluctantly turned into de facto enforcers of public health guidelines.

Separately, the House is expected to vote on a $3 trillion relief package. It’s unlikely to be taken up by the Senate, but may amount to an opening offer in future negotiations.

Roman Pilipey/EPA, via Shutterstock

3. The Trump administration escalated its conflict with Huawei by barring the Chinese telecom giant from using American technology and software.

The new rule will have sweeping global repercussions: Any foreign company that uses American technology to produce microchips will need a license to sell to Huawei, which the Trump administration has singled out as a threat to national security. Above, a Huawei store in Wuhan, China.

It’s the latest plunge in relations between China and the U.S., fueled in part by broader tensions over the pandemic. That could intensify as President Trump makes his contest with Beijing a theme of his re-election campaign.

David Kasnic for The New York Times

4. Prolonged confinement has led to a spike in domestic violence.

Chicago has reported a steep rise in calls and texts about domestic violence. So has the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. While cities like Los Angeles and New York have seen a decline in such calls, authorities believe that many victims are unable to safely reach out to the police.

Chicago is partnering with Airbnb to provide hotel rooms to people who need to flee. But many victims, who fear that leaving home during a pandemic would be too risky, are instead seeking advice on how to manage moment to moment. Above, an advocate at the Illinois Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline.

Jonathan Nackstrand/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

5. Sweden stayed open in the pandemic while much of Europe was shut. New numbers show the toll.

While Sweden has avoided the devastating tolls of outbreaks in Italy, Spain and Britain, 27 percent more people died during the epidemic than is normal during this time of year. The increase is similar to that of the U.S. and far higher than the small increases seen in neighboring countries. Above, Stockholm earlier this week.

And while the British government claimed victory in reaching 100,000 daily tests, the frantic push to hit a political goal left its supply chain in turmoil and labs without the supplies they need.

Leon Bennett/Getty Images

6. No pomp and circumstance? No problem.

As high school and college come to an end for the Class of 2020, the coronavirus has upended the traditional celebrations that accompany those milestones. Enter former President Barack Obama, LeBron James, Megan Rapinoe, Cardi B and more celebrities offering virtual celebrations.

“I know you may not feel like it, but you are indeed the chosen class for such a time as this, the class of 2020,” said Oprah Winfrey, above in 2018, who kicked off the weekend’s festivities. Watch her speech.

About 3.7 million high school students and almost four million college and graduate students are expected to get degrees this year. Without formal graduation ceremonies, some families are getting creative.

Andrew Testa for The New York Times

7. Role models in our elders.

In six weeks, 100-year-old Tom Moore, above, a World War II veteran better known as Captain Tom, raised $40 million for the British health service by walking 100 82-foot laps. Now he’s a bona fide celebrity and national hero, exemplifying British pluck in distressing times.

For Cornelia Vertenstein, a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor in Denver, the pandemic is no excuse to miss your piano lesson. Her students set up their phone cameras so she can see them play, because the Chopin must go on.

And a rare bright spot in New Jersey: Sylvia Goldsholl, 108, who lives in a nursing home, is one of the oldest survivors of the coronavirus in the U.S.

Sherman Grinberg Library Via Getty Images

8. You know them as Frida Kahlo, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Coretta Scott King. But for years in print, they were better known as Mrs. Diego Rivera, Mrs. John F. Kennedy and Mrs. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Times, like much of society, almost reflexively referred to women using the construction “Mrs. Husband’s Name.”

In a new special project, “The Mrs. Files” aims to look back at Times archives with a contemporary lens to explore what names and marriage mean to women and their identity. Above, Grace Kelly at her wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956.

Enda Bowe/Hulu

9. Do screen adaptations owe any loyalty to books?

Fans of Sally Rooney’s novel “Normal People” are devoted types, so adapting the book for a Hulu series came with risks. Four of our critics — one who writes about TV, and three who cover books — discussed the show, the novel and the art of adaptation.

And while the life of the fashion fixture and former Vogue editor at large André Leon Talley may appear to be made-for-TV, his new memoir goes much deeper than dishing on his former boss, Anna Wintour: “It’s a pointed commentary on how whiteness works,” writes our reviewer.

Claire Weiss and Jeremy Weiss for The New York Times

10. And finally, pitching a tent close to home.

Whether your summer travel plans were canceled or you’re just simply sick of being in the house, consider camping in your backyard if you can. Downside: You’ll likely miss the joys of piney cathedral woods. Upside: The logistics are much easier, and it’s pretty much free.

Here’s what you’ll need, from tents to games and coffee.

“Time together, on purpose and unordinary, is what matters,” our writer suggests. “The details of how and where? Not so much.”

Hope you get outside this weekend (safely).

Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern.

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