Cancer breakthrough
Thursday, Aug. 20 — The national debt topped $40 trillion for the first time, more than doubling in a decade, with interest payments this year totaling nearly $1.2 trillion, the government’s largest expense outside Social Security and Medicare. Former U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux, now executive director at Concord Action, said it “should be a wake-up call.”
🌤️ Partly sunny with a high of 93° today.
🦠 Public health officials confirmed measles in an Atlanta-area resident, the state’s seventh case this year. Last year, Georgia had 10 measles cases and remains one of the states with a childhood vaccination rate below 95%, the target level for herd immunity.
🚌 The Atlanta Beltline announced that it is expanding the ATL Spoke autonomous transit shuttle service to include the Atlanta University Center.
⚖️ Clayton County settled a lawsuit with entertainers Eric André and Clayton English, ending an airport drug interdiction program they said racially profiled Black travelers.
📍 The Buckhead Coalition named Tommy Holder as its next chair, effective January 2027. He succeeds Jonathan Rodbell.
🏠 The Dunwoody Planning Commission gave the green light to two rezoning projects aimed at expanding housing options in the city.
🧑🌾 Responding to residents’ calls for more city programming, Sandy Springs officials scheduled three evening farmers markets at River Springs Shopping Center.
🤝 The Saving Ourselves Symposium (SOS), presented by the Southern AIDS Coalition, will bring together the Black LGBTQ+ community for a four-day conference in Atlanta starting today and running through Aug. 23.
⚽️ Atlanta United beat Minnesota United 2-1 last night, its second straight win.
⚾ The Braves have lost five of their last six after falling to the Twins 6-4 yesterday. Atlanta plays the White Sox in Chicago today for a make-up game ahead of a three-game set against the Brewers.
ELSEWHERE
⚕️ A personalized mRNA vaccine from Moderna and Merck succeeded in preventing melanoma from returning or spreading in a late-stage trial, marking the first successful late-stage study for an mRNA cancer therapy.
🇺🇸🇮🇷 President Donald Trump threatened an “Economic D-Day” against Iran and steep penalties for nations helping it evade sanctions.
🇮🇱 The Israeli military ordered criminal investigations into the 2024 killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and the 2025 deaths of 15 Gazans, including rescue workers.
🇬🇧 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to move back to the United Kingdom with their children, although they will remain private, non-working royals.
⚽The English Premier League season starts tomorrow with defending champion Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City at 3 p.m. (USA Network).
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Artist Dana Lieberman
• Upcoming Events
• Startups to watch
• Waffle House tacos
AND
• Quick Bites
🏆 Southern Company proudly presents the Payne Stewart Award annually honoring character, charity, and sportsmanship. This year’s recipient, Notah Begay III, will direct his $500,000 grant to Native American youth programs, proof that golf’s greatest wins often happen off the course. Learn more. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Atlanta artist Dana Lieberman on painting for the Kennedys
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT ART | SUBSCRIBE
🐚 Dana Lieberman has spent the past three years working in abstract art. Layered, texture-heavy paintings made from acrylic, charcoal, plaster, and found materials. She’s also a yoga and meditation instructor, practices that shape how Lieberman works, leaning into feeling as much as technique.
Before that, she spent years painting commissioned pet portraits in oil, and before that, she earned a photography degree, studied art abroad, and put art aside altogether to raise a family in Atlanta. Her return to art started with a few online courses, some kitchen-table sketching, and then selling pieces at a holiday art show or two. She never imagined those moments would culminate in a call that considerably changed the reach of her work.
Lieberman was recently commissioned by the Kennedy family to fill their historic Hyannis Port home with art – a commission she readily accepted. Sherri Daye Scott recently spoke with Lieberman about her process.
🖌️ Check out that conversation here.
A private retreat in Argonne Forest
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Inside, Parisian Chequer marble, grasscloth walls, steel windows, automated window treatments and a hotel-inspired bar add distinction. A wellness suite features a steam room, a custom sauna and a fitness studio.
Beyond the heated saltwater pool, wooded trails lead to a private park.
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👉🏼 Explore our current listings.
2. Upcoming Events
🪡 LUAR fashion designerRaul Lopez will discuss his career at the High Museum tonight at 7 p.m.
🏈 The College Football Hall of Fame is kicking off the start of the season with its annual Football Fest & Free Day on Aug. 22.
🎸Toro y Moi at Variety Playhouse; Fri., Aug. 21.
🗣️ Chuck Leavell of the Allman Brothers and Rolling Stones will share stories and songs at Buckhead Theatre on Aug. 22 at 8 p.m.
💗Olivia Dean at State Farm Arena on Sat., Aug. 22 at 8 p.m.
🍻 Grant Park’sSummer Shade Festival returns Aug. 22-23.
🏈 Grill master, gear hauler, or family QB: there’s a tailgate vehicle for every Atlanta football fan. From the Ford Bronco to the Toyota Sienna, Flexcar’s month-to-month lease lets you pick the ride that fits your game day and everyday life. SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. Atlanta fintech startups to watch
🤖 We know the established players. Companies like Equifax, First Data, Global Payments, Corpay, InComm Payments, and more recently Greenlight, Kabbage, BitPay, and Cardlytics, are some of the companies that proved Atlanta could be a hub for venture-backed fintech breakouts.
The more interesting question is: What are the Atlanta fintech startups to watch right now?
A new crop of local fintech companies is emerging across AI, payments, lending, wealth, stablecoins, and financial infrastructure. Some are fresh out of stealth. Some are catching the attention of national VCs.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
4. Waffle House is testing out tacos on the menu at locations around Metro Atlanta
🌮 Waffle House is testing out a new dish at a few of its Georgia restaurants.
The Avondale Estates-based, all-day breakfast chain is adding tacos to the menu at 45 locations across North Georgia, including more than two dozen of its restaurants around Metro Atlanta, WSB Radio reported.
The test run features seven tacos: bacon, egg, and cheese; sausage, egg, and cheese; chicken sausage, egg, and cheese; and ham, egg, and cheese for breakfast; and patty melt, chicken melt, and cheesesteak melt for lunch and dinner.
5. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE HERE
🌭 In this week’s Quick Bites, get updates on a highly anticipated restaurant opening in Midtown, a Midwest restaurant chain’s upcoming locations around Metro Atlanta, and a local bakery’s expansion to Athens. We also have details on dining events, including the Wienermobile’s stop at Red’s Beer Garden.
🍽️ Catch up on the latest Atlanta dining news.
MONDAY NIGHT DINNER PLANS
😋 Check out Beth’s guide to Monday night supper clubs.
📍 Celebrate Little Five Points at People Make the Place Sun., Aug. 23 at 7 Stages. Hear the stories of those supporting health & wellness in L5P and be entertained by Dad’s Garage improv. Light bites and food with ticket purchase! SPONSOR MESSAGE
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