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An effort to restart stalled coronavirus negotiations between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the White House went nowhere Thursday, with the top House Democrat saying the talks are fruitless until GOP negotiators agree to a massive $1 trillion concession. Pelosi had little new to say after a 25-minute phone conversation with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Thursday afternoon, the first communication between the two since the coronavirus relief talks collapsed in early August. (Caygle, 8/27)

“This conversation made clear that the White House continues to disregard the needs of the American people as the coronavirus crisis devastates lives and livelihoods,” Mrs. Pelosi (D., Calif.) said after the call. “Democrats are willing to resume negotiations once Republicans start to take this process seriously.’’ The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. (Peterson, 8/27)

Thursday’s conversation was the first time the speaker and the White House had talked since earlier this month when President Donald Trump signed executive actions to extend enhanced unemployment benefits, defer payroll taxes and student loan payments, and discourage evictions. Democrats say they’ll file a legal challenge to what they see as circumventing Congress, which has the constitutional authority to determine federal spending. (Caldwell, 8/27)

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell slightly last week, but layoffs remained historically high as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the labor market. Some 1 million people applied for state unemployment benefits in the week ended August 22, the Labor Department said Thursday. That figure, which accounts for seasonal adjustments, showed a drop of about 100,000 from the week before. (Ivanova, 8/27)