promoearn: Buckle up for Black Friday 🛍

Friday, November 27

A shop window with discount signs posted is seen in New York on Thanksgiving ahead of Black Friday on November 26, 2020.

Black Friday will look pretty different this year, and more news to start your day.

Happy Friday, Daily Briefing readers! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Are you turkey-ed out? Well, it's time to make a swift recovery because Black Friday is here. It's Jane, bringing you today's news.

It's the beginning of the holiday shopping season and, not surprisingly, most buying will likely be online this year. Reviewed, the USA TODAY Network's authority on all things sales and shopping, is offering free live texting of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, so don't sleep on that.

President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time Thursday that he would leave the White House if the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden. Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning that Thanksgiving could be the start of a dark holiday season amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. And the (arguably) best dog in the land is ... you'll have to scroll to the bottom to find out.

Here's today's news:

Black Friday shopping: Less frenzy, more curbside pickup

This is just not the year for Black Friday campouts (and maybe we could say goodbye to them forever?). As numbers of new COVID-19 cases mount exponentially, gone are the days of bleary-eyed shoppers exploding through the doors of a big-box store, all jockeying for the same TV, laptop or vacuum cleaner. They've been replaced by online shopping, curbside pickup and socially distanced lines to enter stores. With so many people shopping online at once, websites could be slow and hot items will sell out quickly, so those who are taking advantage of deals online should get comfy and get ready to hit 'add to cart' as quick as they can. Shoppers who are venturing out the door to shop should bring face masks, hand sanitizer, a smartphone for coupons or contactless payment – and lots of patience. One bright spot: Some stores are offering curbside pickup to customers who order online, touting the option as a way to avoid shipping delays while maintaining social distancing.

•	Black Friday: It has begun! Here are the best deals you can get right now
•	In-person shopping: Here's when stores open
•	Will gifts arrive in time for Christmas? Some stores offer same-day delivery

Trump says he would 'certainly' leave White House once Electoral College votes for Biden

President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time Thursday that he would leave the White House if the Electoral College votes – as it will – to make President-elect Joe Biden the next president but said it would be "very hard" to concede the contest. "Certainly I will, and you know that," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday. Taking questions from reporters for the first time since he lost the election to Biden, Trump used his Thanksgiving appearance to level a new round of baseless claims about voting fraud, arguing without evidence that Republicans were "robbed." Though he indicated he would continue to fight the outcome in such states as Pennsylvania and Michigan, Trump's remarks were the first time he recognized the need for a peaceful handover of power. States must certify their votes before the Electoral College meets on Dec. 14 – many already have – and resolve all challenges to the outcome by Dec. 8.

Fauci: Thanksgiving may be the start of a dark holiday season

Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested Thanksgiving may be the beginning of a dark holiday season as the surge in coronavirus cases is likely to persist, or even get worse, through December, January and February. "If the surge takes a turn of continuing to go up and you have the sustained greater than 100,000 infections a day and 1,300 deaths per day and the count keeps going up and up ... I don't see it being any different during the Christmas and New Year's holidays than during Thanksgiving," he said in an interview with USA TODAY. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director said the country is in a vulnerable position heading into the holiday season because infections are too high to control surges when they arise, and he is confident they will in the winter months. Fauci said he's most likely scrapping Christmas plans this year as he did for Thanksgiving, when he opted to send his love to his daughters over Zoom and enjoy a quiet dinner with his wife.

•	Coronavirus updates: Hospitalizations hit record for 17th straight day
•	Cold weather, holiday visitors and pandemic fatigue: Experts say COVID-19 will get worse this winter
•	Make some new meals w ith these creative ways to repurpose your Turkey Day leftovers
•	Thanksgiving leftovers: Do it right with the ultimate reheating guide

More news you need to know:

•	On 88 acres of self-governed land in Tennessee, a dream deferred for Choctaw people comes true
•	Protesting America's past: Statues of former presidents, other historical monuments vandalized in 4 states over Thanksgiving
•	South Korea agency says North Korea leader Kim Jong Un ordered executions, locked down capital
•	Macy's criticized for calling Black sorority a 'diverse dance group' during Thanksgiving Day Parade
•	'Keep the faith': Alex Trebek shares inspiring posthumous Thanksgiving message
•	Zoom nightmare come true: New Jersey school board member resigns after streaming bathroom break during meeting

College football weekend starts early and heats up quick

College football the week of Thanksgiving traditionally starts early with big rivalry games and pivotal matchups kicking off on Friday, and despite the rash of cancellations, this week is no exception. Most notably, No. 2 Notre Dame attempts to keep its spot in the College Football Playoff with its matchup against at No. 23 North Carolina in what is the Irish's toughest challenge before a likely appearance in the ACC championship game. Another game matching ranked opponents has big ramifications in the Big 12: No. 15 Iowa State can all but secure a spot in its first conference title game with a win at No. 21 Texas. Finally, in the Pac-12, two major rivalry games are on the schedule as No. 11 Oregon will play at Oregon State and Cal will host Stanford. Washington was supposed to play at Washington State, but the host Cougars have been dealing with a series of positive COVID-19 tests.

•	Bowl projections: Alabama and Notre Dame are still out in front
•	Winners and losers from the first College Football Playoff ranking: Ohio State is in a tough spot
•	College QB rankings: Florida's Kyle Trask leads Ohio State's Justin Fields

US stock markets will reopen Friday for shorter sessions

After closing in observance of Thanksgiving , U.S. stock markets will reopen on Black Friday but shutter early for the weekend. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close at 1 p.m. ET and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that bond markets halt trading at 2 p.m. Foreign and currency markets are scheduled to be open, as are U.S. commodity markets. The Dow Jones industrial average has a chance to close above 30,000 again after doing so for the first time Tuesday. The index dipped below that benchmark Wednesday, and trading is typically far below normal levels on the Friday of Thanksgiving week.

•	Video: Trump congratulates country on historic Dow rally
•	'I think she'll bring a little calm': As Treasury chief, Yellen may be a calming influence in a Washington
•	Biden's economic plan: What the new president means for the economy, your finances and another COVID-19 stimulus package

National Dog Show 2020: And the winner is ...

The National Dog Show looked a bit different this year, with no spectators, and social distancing and mask-wearing for those taking part. Except for the dogs, of course. The Best In Show title at the Philadelphia showcase yesterday went to Claire, a 3-year-old Scottish Deerhound. Congratulations, Claire, you're a very good girl, yes you are.