Jobs report headlines today’s news after a volatile week for Wall Street and Washington. Rising prices and flat wage growth fueled voter frustration in the midterms, and stocks slumped yesterday as investors worried a Democratic-led Congress could tighten oversight of artificial intelligence and data centers. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell more than 5 percent, erasing over $2 trillion in value, reversing a brief rally after the election clarified the balance of power. The Labor Department is set to release the latest snapshot of hiring and unemployment this morning.
Today’s top stories and jobs report
Markets brace as hiring cools according to analysts who expect employers added about 60,000 positions last month. While not strong growth, that pace would help keep unemployment low, economists say. If the labor market holds steady, the Federal Reserve can keep its attention on stubborn inflation, which likely shaped voter sentiment this week.
- Key context: A stable labor backdrop gives policymakers room to focus on price pressures without risking a sharp rise in joblessness.
Judge pauses construction of Trump’s 250-foot arch in the nation’s capital for 14 days. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the late-night order at the request of D.C. and Virginia officials, questioning the administration’s national security rationale and agreeing the local governments could be harmed by the project. The structure is planned for Memorial Circle, on the bridge linking the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery.
- What happened before the ruling: The National Capital Planning Commission, stocked with Trump allies, approved the arch after a contentious nine-hour meeting despite extensive public opposition. Some Democratic lawmakers signaled they will seek to block the project, and Rep. Jared Huffman of California warned commissioners that advancing projects not authorized by Congress could carry legal risks.
Public school enrollment projected to fall by 2 million by 2030, with experts warning deportations of families with school-age children will deepen the decline. Even before policy shifts, shrinking family sizes had been reducing the student population. Census data show the U.S. has about 2.1 million fewer children under 18 than in 2010. A Migration Policy Institute analysis indicates about 1.9 million people left the country during Trump’s second term, compounding a rare moment when both birth rates and immigration are low.
DOJ civil rights chief Harmeet Dhillon resigns after 18 months. During her tenure, she reshaped the Civil Rights Division, oversaw significant departures among career staff and aggressively pursued Trump administration priorities. She is the first senior official to step down since Democrats won control of Congress. Dhillon called the job “the honor of a lifetime.”
Healthy or hype?
More people are swapping fluoride toothpaste and rinses for products with hydroxyapatite, a mineral touted for cavity protection, whitening and enamel support. While most health experts maintain fluoride’s benefits, interest in fluoride-free options has grown, spurred in part by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims linking water fluoridation to various health issues. Dentists weigh in on what the early science shows.
- Fluoride has decades of robust research behind it, while hydroxyapatite studies are still early but promising.
- University of Texas at San Antonio dentistry professor Bennett Amaechi advises patients to stick with fluoride for now because the evidence base is stronger.
- A 2021 Scientific Reports study of 177 children over one year found similar tooth decay outcomes using hydroxyapatite or fluoride toothpaste.
- The American Dental Association says hydroxyapatite may aid remineralization, but clinical effectiveness data remain limited.
- The ADA recommends brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes, flossing daily and seeing a dentist regularly.
Weekend picks
Movies: John Turturro plays Harry, a veteran pickpocket caring for his wife, in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York. His world shifts after he nabs a college kid’s backpack and discovers a link to a crime boss.
TV: VisionQuest closes the trilogy that began with WandaVision and continued with Agatha All Along, offering a timely parable about artificial intelligence alongside family themes.
Books: Six notable November releases span star-crossed love, redemption arcs and high-stakes struggles for your fall reading list.
Music: As the year winds down, All Songs Considered revisits standout tracks you may have missed, from Iowa pop act Kinji to Mexican singer Silvana Estrada.
Gaming: Nintendo’s remake of Ocarina of Time cements the classic’s legacy on Switch 2, though the polished update leaves some players wanting more.
Quiz: From politics to pop culture, test your knowledge with a quick recap of the week’s biggest moments.
3 things to know before you go
- New global data suggest only a small share of children and teens hit the World Health Organization’s target of at least an hour of sweat-inducing exercise daily.
- Generational wealth is powering a record share of first-time homebuyers to pay all cash, widening the affordability gap. The median age of first-time buyers holds at a record 40.
- Herbert Blomstedt, the Swedish maestro who led many of the world’s top orchestras over a storied career, died at home this week at 99.
