Newsletter Archive

July 2020

Over the Cliff

Negotiations on another coronavirus relief package continue to involve more finger-pointing than progress, with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday each accusing the other side of being unwilling to…

Plus: Plus, House Democrats pass a spending package

Plan B, as in Bust

Plus: Plus, an unprecedented collapse for the U.S. economy

Plan B, as in Bust

Plan A went nowhere fast. Plan B isn’t looking much better. With congressional negotiations on a coronavirus aid package at an impasse, lawmakers scrambled Thursday to try to address the scheduled expiration Friday of enhanced unemployment…

Plus: Plus, an unprecedented collapse for the U.S. economy

Fiscal Hawks Returning to Roost in Washington?

Talks on the next coronavirus relief package are not going well. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday said the two sides are “very far apart,” and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Politico he didn’t see any way a deal…

Plus: Plus, Trump pushes a short-term fix for jobless benefits

'It's a Mess'

Plus: Plus, fight the coronavirus with F-35s?

'It's a Mess'

The coronavirus relief bill released by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) yesterday received plenty of criticism Tuesday — with much of it coming from fellow Republicans.

Plus: Plus, fight the coronavirus with F-35s?

Republicans Roll Out $1 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Plan

After struggling for days to coalesce around a plan, Senate Republicans on Monday released a $1 trillion coronavirus relief package, dubbed the HEALS Act, an acronym for Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools.

Plus: Plus, why negotiations will be so much harder this time

The Brawl Over Unemployment Benefits

Unable to agree on a variety of important details, Republicans have pushed the release of their still-developing coronavirus relief package to next week, and the delay all but guarantees that the bill won’t be ready for President Trump’s…

Plus: Plus - Layoffs looms at small businesses

Trump Dumps Bid for Payroll Tax Cut

The White House and Senate Republicans failed to reach final agreement Thursday on their proposal for a coronavirus relief package, forcing them to delay a planned rollout of the legislation even after administration officials dropped…

Plus: Plus, Senate passes $740 billion Defense bill

GOP Infighting Over Coronavirus Aid Bill

The White House and Senate Republicans are still trying to resolve internal differences over their opening offer on the next coronavirus relief bill. Negotiations with Democrats, likely to be even more difficult, are still ahead.

Plus: Plus, $52 million to treat 79 patients

Republicans in Disarray on Coronavirus Relief Bill

Republican efforts to develop a coherent plan for the next coronavirus relief bill got off to a rough start Tuesday, with lawmakers and the White House unable to agree on even basic elements of the GOP proposal.

Plus: Plus, Biden unveils a $775 billion plan for caregivers

The GOP's New Coronavirus Relief Plan

Congress is back in Washington this week and getting down to the difficult task of negotiating the next, and potentially final, coronavirus relief package. The parties are far apart, with House Democrats having passed a $3 trillion package…

Plus: Plus, food stamp enrollment soars