Trump ‘Rapid Response’ Merch; Promising New COVID-19 Treatment; Biden Names VP Search Committee

Plus, the next-gen coronavirus test raising hopes and concerns. by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up [A worshiper burns incense during a Birthday of Buddha service to pray for overcoming the coronavirus pandemic at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul on Thursday.]( Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images Here's what we're following today. South Korea said on Thursday that it had no new domestic cases for the first time since a surge nearly 10 weeks ago. [The milestone is seen as a victory for the nation]( which has received international praise for its handling of the pandemic, with its heavy reliance on widespread testing, isolation and contact tracing to control COVID-19. Thirty million people have filed for unemployment claims in five weeks. The news comes after yesterday’s report that [the nation’s GDP contracted 4.8%]( in the first quarter of this year. Economists warn that the second quarter’s contraction could be a whopping 30% to 40%. An experimental antiviral drug has shown promise fighting COVID-19. In a clinical trial, patients with the coronavirus given [remdesivir]( recovered faster. Dr. Anthony Fauci hailed the findings, released Wednesday, as "quite good news." Former Vice President Joe Biden kicked off his search for a vice presidential candidate on Thursday, releasing the names of former and current Democratic officials [who will lead the search committee](. New information has emerged about [a sexual assault allegation]( against the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, made by Tara Reade, a former staff assistant in Biden's Senate office. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to order all California beaches and state parks to close, [effective Friday](. The new order would come days after widely circulated photos showed weekend crowds descending upon beaches in Southern California. The Navy has imposed strict rules on a branch of civilian mariners in an effort to prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus — [and they aren’t happy about it](. Members of the Military Sealift Command — the civilian mariners who supply military vessels around the world — are angry that they can't leave to see family or go to previously planned medical appointments, and they say there isn't enough personal protective equipment to go around. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listen [An illustration shows spiky antigens studding the virus's outer coat. Tests under development that look for these antigens might be faster than PCR tests for diagnosing COVID-19, proponents say. But the tests might still need PCR-test confirmation.]( Sergii Iaremenko/Science Photo Library/Getty Images In recent weeks, states have been using two different coronavirus tests: one that confirms active infections and another that identifies people who have been infected with the virus in the past. Now there’s a new test that could offer a much easier and more widely available alternative for COVID-19 diagnosis. But some scientists worry about the accuracy of antigen tests. ([Listening time, 4:17]( or [read the story]( Merchandise is a major part of the Trump campaign's fundraising strategy, and it is relying on it amid the pandemic. When there was a shortage of puzzles, the campaign began selling Trump puzzles. ([Listening time, 3:45]( A judge has unsealed new documents in the case of Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador. The emails and handwritten notes show that in early 2017, FBI officials debated whether to show Flynn their evidence against him or withhold it and get him to lie. ([Listening time, 3:57]( or [read the story]( With big meatpackers hobbled by COVID-19, some farmers have to euthanize their ready-for-market animals. But others are turning to local, small-scale butchers and meat processors. ([Listening time, 3:08]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go [Actress Mindy Kaling.]( Simone Golob/Getty Images - Earlier this month, NPR issued a poetry challenge: Submit lines describing how you've been affected by the global coronavirus pandemic. NPR's poet-in-residence Kwame Alexander pointed to Nancy Cross Dunham's poem, "What I'm Learning About Grief," and asked that submissions begin with those same words. ([Listening time, 7:01]( or [read the story]( - Joy Harjo, the nation's first Native American to serve as Poet Laureate, was [appointed to a second term]( by the Library of Congress. - NPR’s Linda Holmes says [Hulu’s 12-part series]( Normal People is a genuinely beautiful adaptation of Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel. - Former Rep. Kweisi Mfume won a special election in Maryland for the vacant congressional seat [formerly held by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sign Up For The New Normal [The New Normal image]( So much has changed quickly and we're all feeling a little unmoored. We hope our new newsletter, [The New Normal]( can help you work through what's happening now and get through whatever is next. We're all in this together. If you are interested in seeing what it is all about, [please subscribe here](. — Suzette Lohmeyer contributed to this report. --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow [The New Normal]( on Instagram! [Sign up for The New Normal]( NPR's daily coronavirus email. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [dailynewsletter@npr.org](mailto:dailynewsletter@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](