Newsletter Archive

May 2020

Pelosi Pushes Back on Trump’s Call for New Tax Cuts

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday laid out the broad outlines of the next round of coronavirus stimulus being written by House Democrats and dismissed President Trump’s calls for payroll and capital gains tax cuts, saying those cuts…

Plus: Plus, the failure of our health care system

Trump Pushes More Tax Cuts for Coronavirus Stimulus

President Trump’s renewed push for a payroll tax cut as part of the next round of coronavirus stimulus is being met with bipartisan resistance on Capitol Hill, with even some Republican leaders questioning how effective the policy would be…

Plus: Plus, the cost of painting Trump's border wall

Trump and Cuomo Battle Over State ‘Bailouts’

President Trump said Monday that Republicans don’t want to provide “bailouts” to states that are struggling financially amid the coronavirus pandemic. “I think Congress is inclined to do a lot of things but I don’t think they’re inclined…

Plus: Plus, Pelosi looks for leverage on next coronavirus bill

Is the Recession Already Over?

As the Senate returns to the Capitol this week, the obstacles to the next round of emergency coronavirus relief legislation seem to be mounting.

Plus: Plus, Treasury set to borrow record $3 trillion over three months

The High Cost of Reopening Too Soon

The number of coronavirus-related deaths and the severity of the blow to the economy could vary widely depending on how the U.S. reopens in the coming weeks, according to a new analysis by researchers at the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

Plus: Plus, what's 'worse than telling people to drink bleach’

April 2020

‘Time to Use the Great Fiscal Power of the US’

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that both the central bank and Congress will likely need to do more to support the economy and promote a strong recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

Plus: Plus: GDP takes a plunge

Millions Are Still Waiting for Jobless Benefits

Millions of people who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus are having trouble getting the unemployment benefits they are entitled to receive, according to new erpotrs out this week.

Plus: Plus, another round of stimulus checks? 

Too Soon to Worry About the Deficit?

Congress has authorized an additional $321 billion in emergency funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, which aims to keep workers on the payroll by providing grants and loans to companies with fewer than 500 employees, but the…

Plus: Plus, more trouble for small business rescue program

Pelosi's 'Expensive' Plan for More Coronvirus Aid

President Trump signed the $484 billion pandemic relief package into law on Friday, but even before the ink was dry lawmakers had already shifted their focus to the next phase of stimulus legislation as the U.S. coronavirus death toll…

Plus: Plus: the devastating economic outlook from the CBO

How the Coronavirus Could Damage Social Security

The House just passed the $484 billion pandemic relief package, providing an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses as well as additional money for hospitals and virus testing.

Plus: Plus, another 4.4 million jobs lost

The Next Big Clash: Pelosi vs. McConnell on State Aid

The $484 billion coronavirus aid package passed by the Senate Tuesday won’t provide any more federal money to states facing an increasingly grim fiscal outlook as revenues dry up due to the pandemic and economic shutdown — and comments…

Plus: Plus: McConnell favors letting states declare bankruptcy

$484 Billion in Coronavirus Relief Passes Senate

The Senate passed an additional $484 billion in emergency coronavirus aid on Tuesday, replenishing a loan program for small businesses that ran dry last week and providing more funding for hospitals and testing.

Plus: Plus: dozens of public companies taking small business aid

Another $500 Billion in Coronavirus Relief?

Lawmakers are reportedly closing in on a deal to replenish the $350 billion program designed to assist small businesses reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.

Plus: Plus: The deficit fights ahead

A Glimmer of Hope for Small Business Rescue Plan

As the standoff over providing billions of additional dollars to a crucial small business aid program continued Friday, comments from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy pointed toward a possible deal that would provide lawmakers with a…

Plus: Plus: Your weekend reading list

Trump's WHO Decision Draws Torrent of Criticism

President Trump’s announcement Tuesday that he will suspend congressionally approved funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) drew a torrent of criticism from Democrats, health experts, business groups and global leaders.

Plus: Plus, big problems for small business aid programs

The ‘Worst Recession Since the Great Depression’

The coronavirus pandemic is likely to cause the world economy to sink into “its worst recession since the Great Depression, surpassing that seen during the global financial crisis a decade ago,” the International Monetary Fund said on…

Plus: Plus, where Paycheck Protection Program money is going

A Showdown Over Coronavirus Aid

With small businesses having applied for more than $200 billion worth of loans and grants from the federal government as of Monday morning, some worry that the immensely popular $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program will run dry by the…

Plus: Plus: Trump vs. the Post Office

Another Staggering Week for Job Losses

The Federal Reserve announced Thursday it would take unprecedented emergency steps to pump as much as $2.3 trillion into an economy and job market that Fed Chair Jerome Powell described as deteriorating “with alarming speed.”

Plus: Plus, the Fed’s new $2.3 trillion plan to rescue the economy

Pelosi and Schumer Push for Billions More in Aid

With the Trump administration seeking another $250 billion for small businesses struggling during the coronavirus crisis, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said Wednesday that they would like to include…

Plus: Plus, reopen the country in May?