A busy Friday on several fronts: Washington and Beijing edge forward on a TikTok agreement as Minnesota protest flashpoints persist, revised U.S. growth data look sturdy, and a deadly Facebook Marketplace meetup rattles Missouri.

TikTok and the protest beat in Minnesota

• The New York Times’ daily headlines podcast spotlights three takeaways from the emerging U.S.–China TikTok deal and notes a new protest tactic surfacing in Minnesota—signs of how tech policy and street politics are converging in this moment [1].
• On the ground, Minneapolis-area tensions remained raw: NBC News reported three arrests tied to a protest at a Minnesota church, underscoring how demonstrations continue to radiate beyond downtown corridors [4].

Economy: Growth holds firm

• Updated figures confirm the U.S. economy posted strong third-quarter growth, a reminder that consumers and businesses carried momentum into year-end even as markets parse what’s next for rates and inflation [2].

Crime and public safety

• In Independence, Missouri, a 42-year-old veteran, Michael Ryan Burke, was fatally shot after a Facebook Marketplace meetup turned into a robbery; police later arrested three teenagers. It’s the latest case raising alarms over the risks of online buy-and-sell encounters and the need for safe-exchange locations [3].

Workplace shift watch

• Deloitte plans to change job titles for thousands of U.S. employees beginning in June, according to a Times of India tech report—another signal that large firms are rethinking ladders, labels, and career paths in an era of skills-based hiring [5].

The takeaway

• Policy and protest are moving in tandem: an impending TikTok framework with global stakes, and evolving tactics on Minnesota streets. The macro picture remains resilient, even as local headlines—tragic and sobering—remind us how national trends land in real life.

References

1. 3 Things to Know About the TikTok Deal, and a New Protest Tactic in Minnesota – The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/podcasts/the-headlines/tiktok-deal-new-protest-tactic-in-minnesota.html
2. Updated GDP Numbers Confirm Strong 3Q Growth – The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/economy/updated-gdp-numbers-confirm-strong-3q-growth-59e27f6c?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqeOopDwCw8yfM1IrykXynlYflWbvW-p7Id9L-4MHR-GrYJr9mRjkBnT&gaa_ts=69723072&gaa_sig=zB58OD4DwRT7XIu1ugotnwe1p7nYu8X9glGTT8KjNQRO3yPfGYKjDOGxhcmGs9mU4S3HafKRN_5YNis9zbw4HA%3D%3D
3. Veteran fatally shot after Facebook marketplace meetup – NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/video/veteran-fatally-shot-after-facebook-marketplace-meetup-256433733664
4. Three people arrested over Minnesota church protest – NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/video/shorts/three-people-arrested-over-minnesota-church-protest-256434757932
5. Deloitte is changing job titles for thousands of its employees in the US; says: Starting in June… – Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/deloitte-is-changing-job-titles-for-thousands-of-its-employees-in-the-us-says-starting-in-june-roles-titled-/articleshow/127117647.cms