cnbc--2020-07-20--Democratic leaders say Congress appears to be the target of foreign interference campaign

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) addresses her weekly news conference with Capitol Hill reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington , U.S. , June 18 , 2020 .
Democratic leaders are warning that Congress is being targeted by a foreign interference campaign geared toward disrupting November 's presidential election .
The top two Democrats in Congress and the leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees released a letter on Monday to FBI Director Christopher Wray saying they are `` gravely concerned '' that Congress `` appears to be the target of a concerted foreign interference campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` seeks to launder and amplify disinformation in order to influence congressional activity , public debate , and the presidential election in November . ''
The brief letter , which is marked as unclassified , was sent on July 13 but was not available to the public before Monday .
Markings on the letter suggest that it was accompanied by a classified attachment .
A congressional official , who declined to be named because the attachment was not public , said the document is based in large part on reporting and analysis from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , and Sen. Mark Warner , vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee .
The Democrats cited the `` seriousness and specificity '' of the threats and called for a defensive briefing to be provided to all members of Congress as quickly as possible .
They asked Wray to outline a plan for the briefing by Monday .
Carol Cratty , a spokesperson for the FBI , declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received the letter .
Investigations by the U.S. intelligence community and Congress have determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the intention of benefiting President Donald Trump .
Former special counsel Robert Mueller , who was tasked with investigating Russian interference , found no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia but did find that the Trump campaign expected to benefit from the country 's actions .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said earlier this month that he had begun receiving intelligence briefings and warned that Russia and China were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier this year , Sen. Bernie Sanders was reportedly warned by U.S. officials that Russia was seeking to bolster his bid for the Democratic nomination .

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) addresses her weekly news conference with Capitol Hill reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 18, 2020.
Democratic leaders are warning that Congress is being targeted by a foreign interference campaign geared toward disrupting November's presidential election.
The top two Democrats in Congress and the leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees released a letter on Monday to FBI Director Christopher Wray saying they are "gravely concerned" that Congress "appears to be the target of a concerted foreign interference campaign."
They wrote that the campaign "seeks to launder and amplify disinformation in order to influence congressional activity, public debate, and the presidential election in November."
The brief letter, which is marked as unclassified, was sent on July 13 but was not available to the public before Monday. Markings on the letter suggest that it was accompanied by a classified attachment.
A congressional official, who declined to be named because the attachment was not public, said the document is based in large part on reporting and analysis from the executive branch.
The letter was signed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Sen. Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The Democrats cited the "seriousness and specificity" of the threats and called for a defensive briefing to be provided to all members of Congress as quickly as possible. They asked Wray to outline a plan for the briefing by Monday.
Carol Cratty, a spokesperson for the FBI, declined to comment beyond confirming that the bureau received the letter.
Investigations by the U.S. intelligence community and Congress have determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the intention of benefiting President Donald Trump.
Former special counsel Robert Mueller, who was tasked with investigating Russian interference, found no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia but did find that the Trump campaign expected to benefit from the country's actions.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said earlier this month that he had begun receiving intelligence briefings and warned that Russia and China were both seeking to meddle in the race.
Earlier this year, Sen. Bernie Sanders was reportedly warned by U.S. officials that Russia was seeking to bolster his bid for the Democratic nomination.


cnbc--2020-07-21--'U.S. is pressing the accelerator to trash' relations, China says

WASHINGTON — As Trump administration officials take fresh aim at China for a list of grievances ranging from intellectual property theft to the coronavirus pandemic , Beijing fired back by saying the U.S. is `` possessed by such evil '' and is , therefore , to blame for deteriorating relations .
`` Some in the U.S. , driven by ideological bias , have been sparing no effort to paint China as a rival or even adversary , smear and attack China and encircle and contain its development , '' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Friday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trash China-U.S. relations , while China is putting the brakes on , '' she said .
`` Certain U.S. politicians are so irresponsible that they will say whatever needs to be said to make China a target , '' she said .
`` The world has already seen through the U.S. playbook of fabricating narratives to deflect attention .
Possessed by such evil , they are on the brink of losing their mind , '' she added .
Her comments were triggered by a blistering speech U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr gave Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government of human rights abuses , espionage and economic blitzkrieg .
`` The American people are more attuned than ever to the threat that the Chinese Communist Party poses not only to our way of life , but to our very lives and livelihoods , '' Barr said , highlighting recent addresses made by Trump administration officials .
Last month , national security advisor Robert O'Brien slammed China for a laundry list of offenses before saying that `` the days of American passivity and naivety regarding the People 's Republic of China are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Wray said the Trump administration would not allow the Chinese to carry on with espionage and cyberattacks against the United States which has amounted to what he called `` one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history . ''
The crumbling relationship between Washington and Beijing has intensified following an attempt from the world 's two largest economies to mend trade relations .
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs .
They have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , Beijing maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , who has previously described Huawei and other Chinese state-backed businesses as `` Trojan horses for Chinese intelligence , '' said earlier this month that the U.S. was looking at banning TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps , citing national security concerns .
The Trump administration has also squarely placed blame on China for the recent health crisis caused by the coronavirus .
Last week , President Donald Trump signed legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to its interference with Hong Kong 's autonomy .
He also signed an executive order ending the preferential treatment that Hong Kong has long enjoyed .
`` Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China , '' Trump said Tuesday during a lengthy speech in the White House Rose Garden that quickly drifted away from that legislation to touch on a variety of campaign issues .
`` No special privileges , no special economic treatment and no export of sensitive technologies , '' he said .
`` In addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are placing massive tariffs and have placed very large tariffs on China . ''
China 's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Beijing will impose retaliatory sanctions against U.S. individuals and entities in response to the law that also targets banks , though the statement released through state media did not refer to the executive order .

WASHINGTON — As Trump administration officials take fresh aim at China for a list of grievances ranging from intellectual property theft to the coronavirus pandemic, Beijing fired back by saying the U.S. is "possessed by such evil" and is, therefore, to blame for deteriorating relations.
"Some in the U.S., driven by ideological bias, have been sparing no effort to paint China as a rival or even adversary, smear and attack China and encircle and contain its development," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Friday. "The U.S. is pressing the accelerator to trash China-U.S. relations, while China is putting the brakes on," she said.
"Certain U.S. politicians are so irresponsible that they will say whatever needs to be said to make China a target," she said. "The world has already seen through the U.S. playbook of fabricating narratives to deflect attention. Possessed by such evil, they are on the brink of losing their mind," she added.
Her comments were triggered by a blistering speech U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr gave Thursday, in which he accused the Chinese government of human rights abuses, espionage and economic blitzkrieg.
"The American people are more attuned than ever to the threat that the Chinese Communist Party poses not only to our way of life, but to our very lives and livelihoods," Barr said, highlighting recent addresses made by Trump administration officials.
Last month, national security advisor Robert O'Brien slammed China for a laundry list of offenses before saying that "the days of American passivity and naivety regarding the People's Republic of China are over." Similarly, FBI Director Chris Wray said the Trump administration would not allow the Chinese to carry on with espionage and cyberattacks against the United States which has amounted to what he called "one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history."
The crumbling relationship between Washington and Beijing has intensified following an attempt from the world's two largest economies to mend trade relations.
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs. They have also said that it threatens national security. Meanwhile, Beijing maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft.


cnbc--2020-07-20--Trump says he will resume holding White House coronavirus press briefings as cases rise

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington , DC , on July 20 , 2020 .
She said the point of the briefings is to `` give reassurance to the American people that we are in a place , where we see these cases rising as we increase testing , notably -- but we are in a place where we are treating people in a better fashion because of the therapeutics developed under this president . ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared to confirm to Fox News later Monday that the next such briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday .
The decision to restart the briefings followed internal polling showing the White House that the Trump administration 's response to the pandemic and its messaging were not breaking through , NBC News reported , citing a senior administration official .
`` And so I think what we 're going to do is , I 'll get involved and we 'll start doing briefings , whether it 's this afternoon or tomorrow , probably tomorrow , and I 'll do briefings , '' Trump said .
Trump , speaking in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` we have had this big flare-up in Florida , Texas , a couple of other places , '' while maintaining that `` a lot of the country is doing well '' in its fight against the pandemic .
President Donald Trump said that he will resume holding coronavirus press briefings at the White House , likely starting Tuesday , as a sharp rise in cases across the nation coincides with his declining poll numbers .
The briefings from the coronavirus task force , once a near-daily occurrence , had been largely scrapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task force is led by Vice President Mike Pence , the briefings were dominated by Trump , who frequently engaged in lengthy and combative exchanges with reporters .
In one of his last appearances in the briefing room , Trump speculated about whether ingesting disinfectants could work as a treatment for Covid-19 — a moment that generated ferocious criticism from public health experts .
In June , members of the task force held their first public briefing since late April .
Trump was not present .
Trump 's overall approval ratings had gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , when the task force briefings were regularly taking place , according to FiveThirtyEight 's polling tracker .
But by April , the president 's approval had started to slide , the tracker shows .
It has continued to trend downward in subsequent months , as multiple states grapple with record-breaking spikes in cases .
With less than four months until the 2020 election , presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden holds a sizable and steady lead over Trump , RealClearPolitics ' polling average shows .
As the election draws near , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tapping Bill Stepien to replace Brad Parscale as campaign manager .
The move came weeks after the Trump campaign 's kickoff rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , which was mired in controversy and yielded underwhelming turnout .
Cases in the city were rising before Trump arrived , and health experts said afterward that a spike in cases there was likely linked to the rally .
The rallies , a defining feature of Trump 's winning 2016 presidential bid , had not been held for months amid the health crisis , depriving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his campaign arsenal .
Absent those large-scale in-person events , Trump has used his platforms in the Rose Garden and elsewhere to launch attacks against Biden and his other political opponents .
Members of the task force — especially Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert — have faced criticism from within the White House itself as they continue to speak publicly about the virus .
Trump , in a Fox News interview that aired Sunday , said Fauci is a `` a little bit of an alarmist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a great relationship with him . ''
In that interview Trump also pushed back on remarks from Dr. Robert Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and another member of the task force , who said that if `` everybody '' wore masks , the virus could be under control in a matter of weeks .
`` I do n't agree with the statement that if everybody wears a mask everything disappears , '' Trump told Fox .
Trump said Monday that the U.S. is now in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than it was at the time the briefings halted , when `` we were nowhere . ''
`` I think it 's a great way to get information out to the public as to where with the vaccines , with the therapeutics , and generally speaking where we are , '' he said .
Trump added that regular White House press briefings , led by the press secretary , would continue .

President Donald Trump said that he will resume holding coronavirus press briefings at the White House, likely starting Tuesday, as a sharp rise in cases across the nation coincides with his declining poll numbers.
Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, told reporters Monday that "we have had this big flare-up in Florida, Texas, a couple of other places," while maintaining that "a lot of the country is doing well" in its fight against the pandemic.
"And so I think what we're going to do is, I'll get involved and we'll start doing briefings, whether it's this afternoon or tomorrow, probably tomorrow, and I'll do briefings," Trump said.
The decision to restart the briefings followed internal polling showing the White House that the Trump administration's response to the pandemic and its messaging were not breaking through, NBC News reported, citing a senior administration official.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared to confirm to Fox News later Monday that the next such briefing was set for 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
She said the point of the briefings is to "give reassurance to the American people that we are in a place, where we see these cases rising as we increase testing, notably -- but we are in a place where we are treating people in a better fashion because of the therapeutics developed under this president."


cnbc--2020-07-20--Pelosi vows that Trump 'will be leaving' White House 'whether he knows it yet or not'

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) speaks to reporters during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington , U.S. , July 16 , 2020 .
Pelosi 's comments came a day after the broadcast of a Fox News interview with Trump , during which journalist Chris Wallace asked the Republican president if he would accept the results of the election .
Trump would not commit to that .
`` It has nothing to do with a certain occupant of the White House does n't feel like moving and has to be fumigated out of there , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a process , '' Pelosi , D-Calif. , said on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe , '' referring to presidential elections and the Constitutional mechanism for putting their winners into the White House .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that President Donald Trump , `` Whether he knows it yet or not , he will be leaving '' the White House , despite Trump 's refusal to commit to respecting the 2020 presidential election results .
`` I have to see .
Look , you — I have to see , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm not going to just say yes .
I 'm not going to say no . ''
In the same interview , Trump claimed , without any evidence , that mail-in voting will `` rig the election . ''
Trump previously has made that claim in opposing efforts in a number of states to expand mail-in voting to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
Trump told Wallace that Fox 's public opinion poll and other polls showing him trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden by a significant margin are `` fake .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , suggested that voters , as well as the Constitution , would lead to Trump departing the office in January , regardless of whether he accepts it in his mind or whether he refuses to physically move out of the White House .
`` Whether he knows it yet or not , he will be leaving , '' Pelosi said .
`` Just because he might not want to move out of the White House does n't mean we wo n't have an inauguration ceremony to inaugurate a duly elected president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is `` second in line to the presidency '' and that last week she had her `` regular continuation of government briefing '' detailing the process by which she would become president if both the president and vice president were incapacitated or died . '
I say to them [ the briefers ] , 'This is never going to happen . '
God willing , it never will .
But there is a process , '' she said .
`` The presidency is the presidency .
It 's not geography or location @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview said that Trump `` is going to try to steal this election . ''

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks to reporters during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 16, 2020.
Pelosi's comments came a day after the broadcast of a Fox News interview with Trump, during which journalist Chris Wallace asked the Republican president if he would accept the results of the election . Trump would not commit to that.
"It has nothing to do with a certain occupant of the White House doesn't feel like moving and has to be fumigated out of there," she said.
"There is a process," Pelosi, D-Calif., said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe ," referring to presidential elections and the Constitutional mechanism for putting their winners into the White House.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that President Donald Trump , "Whether he knows it yet or not, he will be leaving" the White House, despite Trump's refusal to commit to respecting the 2020 presidential election results.
"I have to see. Look, you — I have to see," Trump said. "No, I'm not going to just say yes. I'm not going to say no."
In the same interview, Trump claimed, without any evidence, that mail-in voting will "rig the election." Trump previously has made that claim in opposing efforts in a number of states to expand mail-in voting to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Trump told Wallace that Fox's public opinion poll and other polls showing him trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden by a significant margin are "fake."
DworkinTweet
Pelosi, in her interview Monday, suggested that voters, as well as the Constitution, would lead to Trump departing the office in January, regardless of whether he accepts it in his mind or whether he refuses to physically move out of the White House.
"Whether he knows it yet or not, he will be leaving," Pelosi said.
"Just because he might not want to move out of the White House doesn't mean we won't have an inauguration ceremony to inaugurate a duly elected president of the United States."
Pelosi noted that she is "second in line to the presidency" and that last week she had her "regular continuation of government briefing" detailing the process by which she would become president if both the president and vice president were incapacitated or died.
'I say to them [the briefers], 'This is never going to happen.' God willing, it never will. But there is a process," she said.
"The presidency is the presidency. It's not geography or location."
Biden last month in an interview said that Trump "is going to try to steal this election."


cnbc--2020-07-20--Supreme Court refuses House Democrats' request to speed up Trump tax case litigation in lower courts

Crowds line up outside the Supreme Court as it resumes oral arguments at the start of its new term in Washington , October 7 , 2019 .
The Supreme Court on Monday rebuffed an effort by House Democrats to speed up the process by which they can continue to fight for President Donald Trump 's financial records in lower courts .
The justices denied a request from attorneys for several Democratic-led congressional committees to finalize the court 's ruling from earlier in the month that blocked the enforcement of their subpoenas .
The committees had issued them to obtain financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm and banks .
The court rejected the Democrats ' request in an unsigned order , with only Justice Sonia Sotomayor noting that she would have granted it .
The top court ruled July 9 that the federal appeals courts in Washington and New York that upheld the Democrats ' subpoenas did not properly address issues related to the Constitution 's separation of powers .
The Supreme Court permitted the committees to try again under a stricter standard , which they have said they intend to do .
The July 9 ruling effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's financial records ahead of the November election .
Monday 's action served to make such a possibility even less likely .
Trump , who is facing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , is the first president in decades not to make his tax returns publicly available .
Also July 9 , the justices ruled in favor of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. in a separate case over access to the president 's records , rejecting Trump 's claims of immunity from the subpoenas but allowing him to raise new objections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's office has said it is investigating potential violations of state law but has provided few details .
Typically , Supreme Court judgments go into effect 25 days after rulings are issued , which is Aug. 3 in the tax records cases .
Douglas Letter , the general counsel to the House of Representatives , asked the court to put the judgment into effect immediately , noting that the current Congress ' term expires in January .
Letter wrote in court papers that the committees ' opportunity to seek the president 's records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The House oversight , intelligence and financial services committees have said they are seeking the president 's financial records to inform potential legislation and as part of investigations into foreign money laundering and foreign interference in U.S. elections .
In a filing asking the top court to rule immediately , Letter wrote that doing so would allow the House to obtain records needed `` to address , among other issues , conflicts of interest that threaten to undermine the Presidency , money-laundering and unsafe lending practices , and foreign interference in U.S. elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security arising from President Trump 's foreign financial entanglements . ''
William Consovoy , an attorney for Trump , urged the justices to reject the effort by House Democrats .
`` The Committees voluntarily stayed enforcement of the subpoenas for more than six months as these cases made their way through the lower courts , '' Consovoy wrote in a filing .
`` They should not be heard to complain that the proceedings are moving too slowly . ''
Trump 's personal attorneys , a representative for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately respond to requests for comment .

Crowds line up outside the Supreme Court as it resumes oral arguments at the start of its new term in Washington, October 7, 2019.
The Supreme Court on Monday rebuffed an effort by House Democrats to speed up the process by which they can continue to fight for President Donald Trump's financial records in lower courts.
The justices denied a request from attorneys for several Democratic-led congressional committees to finalize the court's ruling from earlier in the month that blocked the enforcement of their subpoenas. The committees had issued them to obtain financial information from the president's longtime accounting firm and banks.
The court rejected the Democrats' request in an unsigned order, with only Justice Sonia Sotomayor noting that she would have granted it.
The top court ruled July 9 that the federal appeals courts in Washington and New York that upheld the Democrats' subpoenas did not properly address issues related to the Constitution's separation of powers. The Supreme Court permitted the committees to try again under a stricter standard, which they have said they intend to do.
The July 9 ruling effectively ensured that the public would not see Trump's financial records ahead of the November election. Monday's action served to make such a possibility even less likely. Trump, who is facing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, is the first president in decades not to make his tax returns publicly available.
Also July 9, the justices ruled in favor of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. in a separate case over access to the president's records, rejecting Trump's claims of immunity from the subpoenas but allowing him to raise new objections. Both decisions were 7-2. Vance's office has said it is investigating potential violations of state law but has provided few details.
Typically, Supreme Court judgments go into effect 25 days after rulings are issued, which is Aug. 3 in the tax records cases.
Douglas Letter, the general counsel to the House of Representatives, asked the court to put the judgment into effect immediately, noting that the current Congress' term expires in January. Letter wrote in court papers that the committees' opportunity to seek the president's records "diminishes by the day."
The House oversight, intelligence and financial services committees have said they are seeking the president's financial records to inform potential legislation and as part of investigations into foreign money laundering and foreign interference in U.S. elections.
In a filing asking the top court to rule immediately, Letter wrote that doing so would allow the House to obtain records needed "to address, among other issues, conflicts of interest that threaten to undermine the Presidency, money-laundering and unsafe lending practices, and foreign interference in U.S. elections and any other ongoing threats to national security arising from President Trump's foreign financial entanglements."
William Consovoy, an attorney for Trump, urged the justices to reject the effort by House Democrats.
"The Committees voluntarily stayed enforcement of the subpoenas for more than six months as these cases made their way through the lower courts," Consovoy wrote in a filing. "They should not be heard to complain that the proceedings are moving too slowly."
Trump's personal attorneys, a representative for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.


cnbc--2020-07-20--Congress returns with only days to pass new coronavirus relief as pandemic rages

Congress returns to Washington this week facing a critical deadline to pass another coronavirus aid bill as the pandemic tears through the United States .
Lawmakers in the divided Congress will need to quickly decide how to resolve broad differences on the best tools to both blunt an outbreak spreading unabated and lift an economy battered by the health crisis .
They will also have to contend with a president who has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic 's severity as it jeopardizes his chances of winning another term in the White House .
As negotiations kick off in what could become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , millions of Americans left jobless by the pandemic wait to see whether their incomes will suddenly plunge at the end of the month .
After July , people receiving unemployment insurance will no longer get an extra $ 600 per week from the government — even as the U.S. unemployment rate stands higher than it did at any point during and after the 2008 financial crisis .
At the same time , the U.S. struggles to contain a disease that has infected and killed more people nationwide than in any other country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins University .
As the pandemic rages in Florida , Texas and other states , the country has now reported nearly 3.8 million Covid-19 cases and more than 140,000 deaths .
The surge in cases has forced states such as California , the country 's largest , to roll back or pause their economic reopening plans .
Along with the enhanced jobless benefit — which is credited with boosting consumer spending while businesses are shut down — Congress will need to decide how to iron out differences on policies including liability protections for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments , direct payments to individuals and rent and mortgage assistance .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , aims to release an opening offer this week .
He and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , met with President Donald Trump about the developing relief plan on Monday .
The president , who has pushed for both businesses and schools to swiftly reopen , can shape the views of GOP lawmakers in what he supports or opposes .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , the lead White House negotiator on previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , said he will start reaching out to Democrats to start bipartisan talks .
Mnuchin , who reiterated the Republican desire to start with a roughly $ 1 trillion bill , said he and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows will attend the Senate GOP policy lunch Tuesday .
Both Mnuchin and Meadows will meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , in Pelosi 's office on Tuesday afternoon , a source familiar with the meeting said As details of McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news reports , Schumer criticized key provisions on Monday .
He particularly took issue with a GOP proposal that would reportedly limit coronavirus-related lawsuits to `` gross negligence or intentional misconduct , '' along with a Republican push to cut or revise the boosted unemployment benefit .
`` Unfortunately , by all accounts the Senate Republicans are drafting legislation that comes up short in a number of vital areas , such as extending unemployment benefits or funding for rental assistance , hazard premium pay for frontline workers , or investments in communities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many other necessary provisions , '' Schumer wrote in a letter to colleagues .
`` Democrats will need to fight hard for these important provisions . ''
McConnell argued for the legal shield Monday , saying , `` We do n't need an epidemic of lawsuits on the heels of the pandemic . ''
He also acknowledged the need to earn Democratic support , even in the Senate , where a bill will need at least some votes from the minority party to reach the necessary 60 .
Any bill will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Democratic-controlled House .
As lawmakers work on a tight timeline , efforts to appease House Democrats could dampen support among Republican senators and vice versa .
Along with the critical deadline to craft financial support for unemployed Americans , a planned recess for all of August adds to the pressure Congress faces .
Pelosi has said she would delay her chamber 's month at home to pass an aid bill , though it is unclear whether McConnell would take the same step in the Senate .
The House passed a sweeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Republicans dismissed it as unrealistic .
Both GOP leaders and Pelosi have pegged the cost of the Republican plan at roughly $ 1 trillion , though the speaker has said it is `` not enough '' money to address the crisis .

Congress returns to Washington this week facing a critical deadline to pass another coronavirus aid bill as the pandemic tears through the United States.
Lawmakers in the divided Congress will need to quickly decide how to resolve broad differences on the best tools to both blunt an outbreak spreading unabated and lift an economy battered by the health crisis. They will also have to contend with a president who has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic's severity as it jeopardizes his chances of winning another term in the White House.
As negotiations kick off in what could become a bitter process during an election year, millions of Americans left jobless by the pandemic wait to see whether their incomes will suddenly plunge at the end of the month. After July, people receiving unemployment insurance will no longer get an extra $600 per week from the government — even as the U.S. unemployment rate stands higher than it did at any point during and after the 2008 financial crisis.
At the same time, the U.S. struggles to contain a disease that has infected and killed more people nationwide than in any other country, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. As the pandemic rages in Florida, Texas and other states, the country has now reported nearly 3.8 million Covid-19 cases and more than 140,000 deaths. The surge in cases has forced states such as California, the country's largest, to roll back or pause their economic reopening plans.
Along with the enhanced jobless benefit — which is credited with boosting consumer spending while businesses are shut down — Congress will need to decide how to iron out differences on policies including liability protections for businesses, aid for state and local governments, direct payments to individuals and rent and mortgage assistance. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., aims to release an opening offer this week.
He and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., met with President Donald Trump about the developing relief plan on Monday. The president, who has pushed for both businesses and schools to swiftly reopen, can shape the views of GOP lawmakers in what he supports or opposes.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the lead White House negotiator on previous coronavirus bills who also attended the meeting Monday, said he will start reaching out to Democrats to start bipartisan talks. Mnuchin, who reiterated the Republican desire to start with a roughly $1 trillion bill, said he and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows will attend the Senate GOP policy lunch Tuesday.
Both Mnuchin and Meadows will meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in Pelosi's office on Tuesday afternoon, a source familiar with the meeting said
As details of McConnell's legislation started to trickle out in news reports, Schumer criticized key provisions on Monday. He particularly took issue with a GOP proposal that would reportedly limit coronavirus-related lawsuits to "gross negligence or intentional misconduct," along with a Republican push to cut or revise the boosted unemployment benefit.
"Unfortunately, by all accounts the Senate Republicans are drafting legislation that comes up short in a number of vital areas, such as extending unemployment benefits or funding for rental assistance, hazard premium pay for frontline workers, or investments in communities of color being ravaged by the virus, and many other necessary provisions," Schumer wrote in a letter to colleagues. "Democrats will need to fight hard for these important provisions."
McConnell argued for the legal shield Monday, saying, "We don't need an epidemic of lawsuits on the heels of the pandemic." He also acknowledged the need to earn Democratic support, even in the Senate, where a bill will need at least some votes from the minority party to reach the necessary 60.
Any bill will have to get through both the Republican-held Senate and the Democratic-controlled House. As lawmakers work on a tight timeline, efforts to appease House Democrats could dampen support among Republican senators and vice versa.
Along with the critical deadline to craft financial support for unemployed Americans, a planned recess for all of August adds to the pressure Congress faces. Pelosi has said she would delay her chamber's month at home to pass an aid bill, though it is unclear whether McConnell would take the same step in the Senate.
The House passed a sweeping $3 trillion rescue package in May, but Republicans dismissed it as unrealistic. Both GOP leaders and Pelosi have pegged the cost of the Republican plan at roughly $1 trillion, though the speaker has said it is "not enough" money to address the crisis.


cnbc--2020-07-20--U.K. suspends Hong Kong extradition treaty and extends arms embargo in rebuke to China

The U.K. has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong amid rising tensions with China over its new national security law in the former British colony .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced in a speech to the House of Commons on Monday that the treaty would be suspended indefinitely , accusing China of a `` clear and serious violation of the U.K.-China joint declaration , and with it a violation of China 's freely assumed international obligations . ''
He also vowed to extend the arms embargo that has been applied to mainland China since 1989 to Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Hong Kong of potentially lethal weaponry , its components and ammunition , along with any equipment that might be used for `` repression . ''
Beijing has denied violating international law and has accused the U.S. and U.K. of trying to destabilize the region by meddling in Chinese affairs .
The U.K. 's move comes amid widespread condemnation of Beijing 's security law , which stipulates that acts of secession , subversion , terrorism and collusion are punishable by life sentences , following a prolonged period of pro-democracy protests in the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Articles 55 to 59 of the law , which give mainland Chinese authorities the ability to assume jurisdiction over certain cases and to try those cases in mainland Chinese courts , '' Raab told the House .
`` The national security law does not provide legal or judicial safeguards in such cases , and I am also concerned about the potential reach of the extra-territorial provisions . ''

The U.K. has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong amid rising tensions with China over its new national security law in the former British colony.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced in a speech to the House of Commons on Monday that the treaty would be suspended indefinitely, accusing China of a "clear and serious violation of the U.K.-China joint declaration, and with it a violation of China's freely assumed international obligations."
He also vowed to extend the arms embargo that has been applied to mainland China since 1989 to Hong Kong, suspending all exports from the U.K. to Hong Kong of potentially lethal weaponry, its components and ammunition, along with any equipment that might be used for "repression."
Beijing has denied violating international law and has accused the U.S. and U.K. of trying to destabilize the region by meddling in Chinese affairs.
The U.K.'s move comes amid widespread condemnation of Beijing's security law, which stipulates that acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion are punishable by life sentences, following a prolonged period of pro-democracy protests in the city.
"I am particularly concerned about Articles 55 to 59 of the law, which give mainland Chinese authorities the ability to assume jurisdiction over certain cases and to try those cases in mainland Chinese courts," Raab told the House.
"The national security law does not provide legal or judicial safeguards in such cases, and I am also concerned about the potential reach of the extra-territorial provisions."


cnbc--2020-07-20--President Trump won't agree to accept 2020 election results as Biden leads in polls — 'I have to see

President Trump won't agree to accept 2020 election results as Biden leads in polls — 'I have to see'

President Donald Trump declined in an interview that aired Sunday to say he would accept the results of the 2020 election , adding that he will `` have to see '' and claiming without evidence that mail-in voting will `` rig the election . ''
Trump 's comments came during a wide-ranging interview with `` Fox News Sunday '' host Chris Wallace in which he criticized so-called cancel culture and repeatedly downplayed the coronavirus , which has infected more than 3.7 million people in the U.S. and killed at least 140,131 , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted earlier in the week , Wallace debuted the results of Fox News ' latest national poll , which showed Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden leading Trump by 8 % .
The poll showed Biden leading on specific issues as well , including a 1 % lead over Trump on the economy .
When presented with the results , Trump downplayed the findings as `` fake polls . ''
`` First of all , I 'm not losing because those are fake polls , '' he said .
`` They were fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more fake . ''
Later in the interview , when Wallace asked whether Trump is a `` gracious '' loser , the president responded that `` it depends '' and repeated claims he has made in the past that mail-in voting could lead to widespread voter fraud .
With the coronavirus spreading rapidly across large swaths of the U.S. , some states have made efforts to more readily accommodate mail-in voting to reduce the risk of infection at in-person voting locations come November .
Trump has previously attacked efforts made by officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , repeatedly saying that they will lead to voter fraud , though he has n't presented evidence to back up that claim .
`` I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election , '' he said in the interview .
`` I really do . ''
Wallace pressed Trump on whether he will accept the results of the 2020 election , but Trump declined to answer the question directly .
`` I have to see .
Look , you—I have to see , '' he said .
`` No , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 'm not going to say no . ''
Asked for comment on Trump 's remarks , Tim Murtaugh , communications director for Trump 's reelection campaign , said in a statement to CNBC on Monday that mail-in voting is just one way Democrats are trying `` to eliminate protections for election integrity . ''
Earlier in the interview , Trump downplayed the coronavirus pandemic , attributing the recent surge in cases to increased testing and saying that many infected people `` automatically '' recover from the virus .
Health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outpaced the increase in testing , which indicates that the virus is spreading rapidly in communities across the country .
When Wallace pointed to the European Union , which he said is reporting about 6,000 new cases per day , Trump said it 's because `` they do n't test '' and declined to acknowledge differences in policy responses between Europe and the U.S .
The U.S. has reported on average 66,498 new cases of the coronavirus per day over the past seven days , up more than 15 % compared with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis of data from Hopkins .
Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia have reported growth in cases by at least 5 % , on average over the past week .
And Covid-19 deaths , which lag the diagnosis of cases , have begun to tick up nationally , driven by a number of states with expanding outbreaks .
`` No country has ever done what we 've done in terms of testing .
We are the envy of the world , '' Trump said .
`` You look at other countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They do tests if somebody walks into the hospital . ''
When asked about his relationship with White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci , one of the nation 's top infectious disease experts , Trump said he had spoken with Fauci the day before the interview , but added that `` he 's a little bit of an alarmist . ''
Trump also said that he does n't agree with Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield , who said earlier this week that if everyone wore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus under control in one to two months .
The president continued to tout the strength of the economy before the virus arrived in the U.S. in January , adding that Democratic officials are `` purposefully '' keeping the economy shutdown to hurt his reelection effort .
Many states have implemented costly public health measures to curb the spread of the virus such as shutting down bars and other businesses , closing schools and banning large gatherings .
Trump specifically bemoaned his campaign 's inability to host campaign rallies in Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are purposely keeping their schools closed , keeping their states closed , '' he said .
`` We 're not allowed to have rallies in these Democrat-run states . ''
Correction : An earlier version incorrectly reported when Trump made his remarks in the interview .
The interview aired Sunday but was recorded last week .

President Donald Trump declined in an interview that aired Sunday to say he would accept the results of the 2020 election, adding that he will "have to see" and claiming without evidence that mail-in voting will "rig the election."
Trump's comments came during a wide-ranging interview with "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace in which he criticized so-called cancel culture and repeatedly downplayed the coronavirus, which has infected more than 3.7 million people in the U.S. and killed at least 140,131, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
During the interview, which was conducted earlier in the week, Wallace debuted the results of Fox News' latest national poll, which showed Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden leading Trump by 8%. The poll showed Biden leading on specific issues as well, including a 1% lead over Trump on the economy.
When presented with the results, Trump downplayed the findings as "fake polls."
"First of all, I'm not losing because those are fake polls," he said. "They were fake in 2016 and now they're even more fake."
Later in the interview, when Wallace asked whether Trump is a "gracious" loser, the president responded that "it depends" and repeated claims he has made in the past that mail-in voting could lead to widespread voter fraud.
With the coronavirus spreading rapidly across large swaths of the U.S., some states have made efforts to more readily accommodate mail-in voting to reduce the risk of infection at in-person voting locations come November. Trump has previously attacked efforts made by officials in Michigan and Nevada to expand vote-by-mail access, repeatedly saying that they will lead to voter fraud, though he hasn't presented evidence to back up that claim.
"I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election," he said in the interview. "I really do."
Wallace pressed Trump on whether he will accept the results of the 2020 election, but Trump declined to answer the question directly.
"I have to see. Look, you—I have to see," he said. "No, I'm not going to just say yes. I'm not going to say no."
Asked for comment on Trump's remarks, Tim Murtaugh, communications director for Trump's reelection campaign, said in a statement to CNBC on Monday that mail-in voting is just one way Democrats are trying "to eliminate protections for election integrity."
Earlier in the interview, Trump downplayed the coronavirus pandemic, attributing the recent surge in cases to increased testing and saying that many infected people "automatically" recover from the virus. Health officials have repeatedly pointed out that new cases have outpaced the increase in testing, which indicates that the virus is spreading rapidly in communities across the country.
When Wallace pointed to the European Union, which he said is reporting about 6,000 new cases per day, Trump said it's because "they don't test" and declined to acknowledge differences in policy responses between Europe and the U.S.
The U.S. has reported on average 66,498 new cases of the coronavirus per day over the past seven days, up more than 15% compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of data from Hopkins. Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia have reported growth in cases by at least 5%, on average over the past week. And Covid-19 deaths, which lag the diagnosis of cases, have begun to tick up nationally, driven by a number of states with expanding outbreaks.
"No country has ever done what we've done in terms of testing. We are the envy of the world," Trump said. "You look at other countries, they don't even do tests. They do tests if somebody walks into the hospital."
When asked about his relationship with White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation's top infectious disease experts, Trump said he had spoken with Fauci the day before the interview, but added that "he's a little bit of an alarmist." Trump also said that he doesn't agree with Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield, who said earlier this week that if everyone wore a mask, the U.S. could bring the virus under control in one to two months.
The president continued to tout the strength of the economy before the virus arrived in the U.S. in January, adding that Democratic officials are "purposefully" keeping the economy shutdown to hurt his reelection effort. Many states have implemented costly public health measures to curb the spread of the virus such as shutting down bars and other businesses, closing schools and banning large gatherings. Trump specifically bemoaned his campaign's inability to host campaign rallies in Michigan, Minnesota and Nevada.
"The Democrats are purposely keeping their schools closed, keeping their states closed," he said. "We're not allowed to have rallies in these Democrat-run states."
Correction: An earlier version incorrectly reported when Trump made his remarks in the interview. The interview aired Sunday but was recorded last week.


cnbc--2020-07-20--White House seeks to block funds for coronavirus testing and tracing in relief bill

US President Donald Trump holds up swabs as he speaks during a Coronavirus Task Force press briefing at the White House in Washington , DC , on April 19 , 2020 .
The White House is trying to block billions of dollars for coronavirus testing and contact tracing in the upcoming stimulus relief bill , two Republican sources told NBC News , even as infections surge across the country and Americans face long wait times to receive test results amid high demand .
Senate GOP lawmakers , in a break with the administration , are pushing back and trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the bill , the sources told NBC News .
Some White House officials reportedly believe new money should n't be allocated for testing because previous funds remain unspent .
The White House declined CNBC 's request for comment .
The Washington Post first reported the news .
The Trump administration also wants to block billions of dollars that would go toward bolstering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the Pentagon and the State Department to combat the pandemic , The Post reported Saturday , citing people familiar with the deliberations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Trump administration is trying to use the legislation to fund priorities unrelated to the pandemic such as a new FBI building , according to the Post .
The White House effort to block funding for testing comes after the administration relied on overly optimistic models which suggested the U.S. moved past the peak of the outbreak in the spring , according to a report in The New York Times .
As a result , the administration pushed to reopen the economy and shifted responsibility for responding to the pandemic from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results , according to the Times .
President Trump has called coronavirus testing a `` double-edged sword '' and suggested at a campaign rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma that officials should slow testing down .
White House officials later said Trump was joking .
The Times ' report portrayed a president who feels trapped politically because cases counts inevitably increase as more people are tested , jeopardizing the reopening of the economy and damaging his re-election chances .
Trump , when confronted with a chart showing surging infections , dismissed the data in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Wallace that if the nation tested less there would be fewer cases .
The U.S. hit a record 77,225 new cases on July 16 , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
`` Chris , that 's because we have great testing , because we have the best testing in the world , '' Trump told Wallace .
`` If we did n't test , you would n't be able to show that chart .
If we tested half as much , those numbers would be down . ''
`` Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those cases should n't even be cases , '' the president said .
`` Cases are up because we have the best testing in the world and we have the most testing . ''
Trump said many infected people `` automatically '' recover from the virus .
Health officials have repeatedly pointed out that new cases have outpaced the increase in testing , which indicates that the virus is spreading rapidly in communities across the country .
When Wallace pointed to the European Union , which he said is reporting about 6,000 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's because `` they do n't test '' and declined to acknowledge differences in policy responses between Europe and the U.S .
The U.S. has reported on average 66,498 new cases of the coronavirus per day over the past seven days , up more than 15 % compared with a week ago , according to a CNBC analysis of data from Hopkins .
Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia have reported growth in cases by at least 5 % , on average over the past week .
And Covid-19 deaths , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun to tick up nationally , driven by a number of states with expanding outbreaks .
`` No country has ever done what we 've done in terms of testing .
We are the envy of the world , '' Trump said .
`` You look at other countries , they do n't even do tests .
They do tests if somebody walks into the hospital . ''
When asked about his relationship with White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci , one of the nation 's top infectious disease experts , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but added that `` he 's a little bit of an alarmist . ''
Trump also said that he does n't agree with Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield , who said earlier this week that if everyone wore a mask , the U.S. could bring the virus under control in one to two months .
The president continued to tout the strength of the economy before the virus arrived in the U.S. in January , adding that Democratic officials are `` purposefully '' keeping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many states have implemented costly public health measures to curb the spread of the virus such as shutting down bars and other businesses , closing schools and banning large gatherings .
Trump specifically bemoaned his campaign 's inability to host campaign rallies in Michigan , Minnesota and Nevada .
`` The Democrats are purposely keeping their schools closed , keeping their states closed , '' he said .
`` We 're not allowed to have rallies in these Democrat-run states . ''
Sen .
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to unveil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the Senate returns from its two-week Fourth of July recess .
The Republican last week said that `` kids in school , jobs and health care are likely to be the focus of the bill . ''
Leaders in the Democratic-held House and GOP-controlled Senate acknowledged earlier this month that they need to approve more aid to combat the disease 's spread while supporting the economy and schools .
The White House deliberations come as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to spike nationally .
Dozens of states encountered resurgences after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states have the virus under control and just three are on track to contain Covid-19 , according to the tracking project Covid Act Now .
On Saturday , the United States reported 71,558 new cases , according to data from Johns Hopkins University , marking the second consecutive day that the country has seen at least 70,000 new cases .
Average daily new cases have increased 18.34 % nationwide compared to one week ago as of Saturday , according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins ' data .
The coronavirus outbreak has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million confirmed cases and over 600,000 deaths , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The U.S. has had more than 3.7 million cases and at least 140,131 deaths , according to the latest tallies , more than any other country .
—CNBC 's Jacob Pramuk and Will Feuer contributed to this report .

US President Donald Trump holds up swabs as he speaks during a Coronavirus Task Force press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 19, 2020.
The White House is trying to block billions of dollars for coronavirus testing and contact tracing in the upcoming stimulus relief bill, two Republican sources told NBC News, even as infections surge across the country and Americans face long wait times to receive test results amid high demand.
Senate GOP lawmakers, in a break with the administration, are pushing back and trying to keep the money for testing and tracing in the bill, the sources told NBC News. Some White House officials reportedly believe new money shouldn't be allocated for testing because previous funds remain unspent.
The White House declined CNBC's request for comment. The Washington Post first reported the news.
The Trump administration also wants to block billions of dollars that would go toward bolstering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pentagon and the State Department to combat the pandemic, The Post reported Saturday, citing people familiar with the deliberations.
While moving to block testing assistance, the Trump administration is trying to use the legislation to fund priorities unrelated to the pandemic such as a new FBI building, according to the Post.
The White House effort to block funding for testing comes after the administration relied on overly optimistic models which suggested the U.S. moved past the peak of the outbreak in the spring, according to a report in The New York Times. As a result, the administration pushed to reopen the economy and shifted responsibility for responding to the pandemic from the federal government to the states with disastrous results, according to the Times.
President Trump has called coronavirus testing a "double-edged sword" and suggested at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma that officials should slow testing down. White House officials later said Trump was joking.
The Times' report portrayed a president who feels trapped politically because cases counts inevitably increase as more people are tested, jeopardizing the reopening of the economy and damaging his re-election chances.
Trump, when confronted with a chart showing surging infections, dismissed the data in a Fox News interview, telling anchor Chris Wallace that if the nation tested less there would be fewer cases. The U.S. hit a record 77,225 new cases on July 16, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
"Chris, that's because we have great testing, because we have the best testing in the world," Trump told Wallace. "If we didn't test, you wouldn't be able to show that chart. If we tested half as much, those numbers would be down."
"Well, cases are up -- many of those cases shouldn't even be cases," the president said. "Cases are up because we have the best testing in the world and we have the most testing."
Trump said many infected people "automatically" recover from the virus. Health officials have repeatedly pointed out that new cases have outpaced the increase in testing, which indicates that the virus is spreading rapidly in communities across the country.
When Wallace pointed to the European Union, which he said is reporting about 6,000 new cases per day, Trump said it's because "they don't test" and declined to acknowledge differences in policy responses between Europe and the U.S.
The U.S. has reported on average 66,498 new cases of the coronavirus per day over the past seven days, up more than 15% compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of data from Hopkins. Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia have reported growth in cases by at least 5%, on average over the past week. And Covid-19 deaths, which lag the diagnosis of cases, have begun to tick up nationally, driven by a number of states with expanding outbreaks.
"No country has ever done what we've done in terms of testing. We are the envy of the world," Trump said. "You look at other countries, they don't even do tests. They do tests if somebody walks into the hospital."
When asked about his relationship with White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation's top infectious disease experts, Trump said he spoke with him on Saturday, but added that "he's a little bit of an alarmist." Trump also said that he doesn't agree with Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield, who said earlier this week that if everyone wore a mask, the U.S. could bring the virus under control in one to two months.
The president continued to tout the strength of the economy before the virus arrived in the U.S. in January, adding that Democratic officials are "purposefully" keeping the economy shutdown to hurt his reelection effort. Many states have implemented costly public health measures to curb the spread of the virus such as shutting down bars and other businesses, closing schools and banning large gatherings. Trump specifically bemoaned his campaign's inability to host campaign rallies in Michigan, Minnesota and Nevada.
"The Democrats are purposely keeping their schools closed, keeping their states closed," he said. "We're not allowed to have rallies in these Democrat-run states."
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to unveil a coronavirus relief plan this coming week when the Senate returns from its two-week Fourth of July recess. The Republican last week said that "kids in school, jobs and health care are likely to be the focus of the bill."
Leaders in the Democratic-held House and GOP-controlled Senate acknowledged earlier this month that they need to approve more aid to combat the disease's spread while supporting the economy and schools.
The White House deliberations come as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to spike nationally. Dozens of states encountered resurgences after reopening their economies. Only nine U.S. states have the virus under control and just three are on track to contain Covid-19, according to the tracking project Covid Act Now.
On Friday, the United States reported 71,558 new cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, marking the second consecutive day that the country has seen at least 70,000 new cases. Average daily new cases have increased 18.34% nationwide compared to one week ago as of Friday, according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins' data.
The coronavirus outbreak has spread worldwide, with more than 14.3 million confirmed cases and over 600,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has had more than 3.7 million cases and at least 140,131 deaths, according to the latest tallies, more than any other country.
— CNBC's Jacob Pramuk and Will Feuer contributed to this report.
Correction: The U.S. reported new 71,558 cases Friday and average daily new cases increased 18.34% as of Friday compared with one week prior. A previous version misstated the day.


cnbc--2020-07-21--Biden to unveil $775 billion plan to fund universal child care and in-home elder care

Former Vice President Joe Biden , 2020 Democratic presidential candidate , smiles during an primary night rally in the Baldwin Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles , California , U.S. , on Tuesday , March 3 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden will unveil a sweeping new plan Tuesday that aims to fundamentally shift the way American families care for each other , both at the beginning of life and at the end .
Dubbed the `` 21st Century Caregiving and Education Workforce '' plan , Biden 's proposal would invest $ 775 billion over 10 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caregiving economy , focusing on daycare in early childhood , in-home elder care and long-term care for the disabled .
While the campaign provided few specifics Monday as to where all this money would come from , the initial outline said it `` will be paid for by rolling back unproductive and unequal tax breaks for real estate investors with incomes over $ 400,000 and taking steps to increase tax compliance for high-income earners . ''
Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , is scheduled to announce the plan at an event Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the campaign provided an outline of the proposal to reporters late Monday .
The first thing Biden pledges to do is provide emergency funding to state , local and tribal governments , enabling them to keep struggling child-care centers and home-care workers afloat throughout the coronavirus pandemic .
Both child-care and elder-care providers have been especially hard hit by the deadly virus , as millions of families have opted not to send their children to daycare for fear of infection , and older Americans have chosen to isolate themselves to reduce risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's longer-term plan is comprised of three main planks : • Expanding child care for kids up to five years old , including universal preschool • Expanding care options for elderly and disabled people , particularly community- and home-based care • Improving pay and prospects for people who work in the caregiving industry The first part of the plan is aimed at expanding care for children between birth and five years old .
It includes sliding-scale subsidies and tax credits to help working families afford child care , funds universal preschool for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build child-care centers in the workplace .
Earlier in the campaign , Biden also pledged to provide up to 12 weeks of guaranteed paid family and medical leave , which is similar to what governments in other developed nations do .
The second part of Biden 's plan is designed to expand care options for the elderly and disabled , especially community-based and in-home care .
Here , Biden would allocate a total of $ 450 billion , which would be used in part to increase Medicaid funding to states , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list for community based and in-home care .
The plan would also fund programs to create 150,000 new jobs for community health workers , invest in innovative new models of long-term care outside of traditional institutions and nursing homes , and establish a nationwide Public Health Jobs Corps capable of immediately mobilizing to combat the coronavirus pandemic .
The third piece of the plan addresses working conditions and pay for those who provide both early child care and elder care in much of the nation — workers who are disproportionately women and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden plan would raise wages , enhance and protect their right to form labor unions and bargain collectively , and would expand opportunities for caregiving workers to get professional training and advance their careers .
Biden also pledges to sign into law the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act , a bill introduced in the Senate last year by Sen. Kamala Harris of California , who is one of several senators on the short list to become Biden 's vice presidential running mate .
President Donald Trump has yet to unveil a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family leave , although the issue has drawn attention in the past from Trump 's daughter and senior White House aide , Ivanka Trump .
In December of last year , the White House even held a summit on child care and paid leave , at which Trump promised to `` really help '' working parents .
`` We 're going to help them , and we 're going to help them a lot , '' Trump added .
But like so much else about Trump 's presidency , the coronavirus pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sidelined any White House plans to address the high cost of child care .

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden announced a sweeping new plan Tuesday that aims to fundamentally shift the way American families care for each other, both at the beginning of life and at the end.
Dubbed the "21st Century Caregiving and Education Workforce" plan, Biden's proposal would invest $775 billion over 10 years to rebuild and fortify the nation's caregiving economy, focusing on daycare in early childhood, in-home elder care and long-term care for the disabled.
Speaking in New Castle, Del., Biden said he knew firsthand what it was like to struggle to afford child care, as well as what it was like to care for aging parents at home in the last months of their lives.
"I was a single parent for five years after my wife and daughter were killed and my two boys were badly injured," said Biden, recalling the deadly 1972 car crash in which he lost his wife and daughter. "Even though I had a lot more support than a lot of people going through tough times today, it was hard. It was hard," he said.
"We cared for our parents at the end. My dad was months in hospice in our home, same with my mom," Biden said, adding that his whole family had cared for his eldest son, Beau Biden, before he died of brain cancer in 2015.
"If we truly want to reward work in this country, we have to ease the financial burden of care that families are carrying," Biden said, adding that to do that "for more families going forward, we have to make long-term federal investments."
The first thing Biden pledged to do was provide emergency funding to state, local and tribal governments, enabling them to keep struggling child-care centers and home-care workers afloat throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Both child-care and elder-care providers have been especially hard hit by the deadly virus, as millions of families have opted not to send their children to daycare for fear of infection, and older Americans have chosen to isolate themselves to reduce risk.
Beyond the emergency coronavirus funding, Biden's longer-term plan is comprised of three main planks:
Expanding child care for kids up to five years old, including universal preschool
Expanding care options for elderly and disabled people, particularly community- and home-based care
Improving pay and prospects for people who work in the caregiving industry
The Biden campaign has so far provided few specifics as to where all this money would come from. But a senior campaign official told reporters a Biden administration would take aim at so-called like-kind exchanges, which allow investors to defer paying taxes on the sale of commercial real estate if the capital gains are reinvested in another property. The official also said they would prevent investors with incomes over $400,000 from using real estate losses to lower their income tax bills.


cnbc--2020-07-21--New coronavirus relief bill is likely coming in August

On a call with House Democrats on Tuesday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hopes the parties `` can resolve our differences and have a bill by the end of next week , '' according to a source on the call .
The end of next week is July 31 , and Congress would still need to vote on the legislation even if it can write the bill by the end of the month .
Lawmakers are working to iron out a range of differences on how best to structure the bill as the pandemic spreads unabated in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for discussions on the legislation this week as Covid-19 cases and deaths climb across the country , leading states including McCarthy 's own to either pause or roll back their economic reopening plans .
If lawmakers can not pass a plan by the end of the month , a $ 600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit buoying millions of Americans will at least temporarily expire .
The GOP wants to change the policy or reduce the sum , while Democrats hope to extend the assistance as the unemployment rate stands above 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill does n't get done by the end of July , '' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , told CNBC 's `` Squawk Box . ''
He said he expects Congress to approve legislation `` probably in the first week of August . ''
The top Democrat and Republican in the House cast doubt Tuesday on whether Congress can pass a coronavirus relief bill in time to avoid disrupting a key financial lifeline .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offsite because of the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday , May 7 , 2020 .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin separately told reporters on Tuesday that he hopes to strike a deal on legislation by the end of next week .
Democrats have called for a sprawling package to offer additional aid to jobless workers , send another direct payment to individuals , offer hazard pay to essential workers , give aid to state and local governments facing budget crunches and offer assistance to renters and homeowners as moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previewed a proposal heavy on tax incentives or bonuses that aim to encourage people to return to work and school , along with broad liability protections for businesses and doctors during the pandemic .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , told reporters Tuesday that he plans to `` introduce a bill in the next few days that is a starting place '' for talks with Democrats , and has support from most of the GOP caucus .
Here are some provisions of the Republican proposal McConnell outlined during public appearances Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to encourage companies to hire and retain workers ( he did not address how the GOP would specifically handle the unemployment benefit expiration ) • `` A targeted second round '' of the Paycheck Protection Program `` with a special eye toward hard-hit businesses '' • `` Another round of direct payments '' ( he did not specify how widely Republicans want to send checks ) • Tax incentives to help companies afford personal protective equipment and other measures need to safely operate McCarthy and McConnell met with President Donald Trump , Mnuchin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meadows on Monday , and talks will continue on Tuesday .
Mnuchin and Meadows attended the Senate GOP policy lunch , then metwith Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer later in the afternoon .
Trump , during a press briefing Tuesday , expressed optimism that a deal would be finished .
Before Republicans strike an agreement with Democrats , they need to find a consensus within their own party .
Trump has insisted on a payroll tax holiday — a proposal usually met with skepticism on Capitol Hill — and opposed new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP congressional leaders support .
Asked Tuesday whether a payroll tax break will make it into the final bill , McCarthy said , `` I believe it will stay in as one of the elements of what we need to do . ''
McConnell later noted that `` there are some differences of opinion on the question of the payroll tax cut and whether that 's the best way to go . ''
Previewing a process that could become especially bitter during an election year , McCarthy argued the bill would not pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay it as she seeks to include her priorities in it .
In response , Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said , `` The House acted on the Heroes Act nine weeks ago — a robust package to address both the health and economic crises we face .
We do n't need any lectures from Republicans who are struggling among themselves to agree on a partisan package with their own White House . ''
The chamber passed a $ 3 trillion rescue package in May .
Senate Republicans dismissed it as unrealistic .
Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price tag of the developing bill around $ 1 trillion .
Pelosi has contended it would not be enough spending to mitigate a simmering health and economic crisis .
The enhanced $ 600 unemployment benefit , which many economists credit with boosting household spending while businesses are shut down , is perhaps the biggest issue left to resolve .
Republicans argue it deters people from returning to work because many individuals make more at home than they would at their jobs .
Senate Democrats have proposed tying the assistance to state unemployment rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as states recover but does not phase out while the economy is struggling .
The measures to support households passed in March as part of a $ 2 trillion rescue package are broadly popular .
A CNBC/Change Research poll this month found 81 % of likely voters in six 2020 swing states support a second $ 1,200 direct payment to qualifying individuals .
In addition , a Morning Consult poll last month found 75 % of voters support either keeping or increasing the amount of money workers who lost their jobs due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation , Congress has to work with a president who has seemed intent on denying the severity of the pandemic as his struggle to contain the outbreak harms his chances of winning reelection this year .
He has repeatedly downplayed the ever rising Covid-19 cases in the U.S. , insisting the increase is due only to testing capacity .
Despite the president 's stance , McConnell stressed Tuesday that he does not expect the virus to go away soon .
`` Cases are increasing in the country because the coronavirus is not gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , '' he said .

On a call with House Democrats on Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hopes the parties "can resolve our differences and have a bill by the end of next week," according to a source on the call. The end of next week is July 31, and Congress would still need to vote on the legislation even if it can write the bill by the end of the month.
Lawmakers are working to iron out a range of differences on how best to structure the bill as the pandemic spreads unabated in the United States. Congress returned to Washington for discussions on the legislation this week as Covid-19 cases and deaths climb across the country , leading states including McCarthy's own to either pause or roll back their economic reopening plans.
If lawmakers cannot pass a plan by the end of the month, a $600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit buoying millions of Americans will at least temporarily expire. The GOP wants to change the policy or reduce the sum, while Democrats hope to extend the assistance as the unemployment rate stands above 11%.
"I envision that this bill doesn't get done by the end of July," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif., told CNBC's " Squawk Box ." He said he expects Congress to approve legislation "probably in the first week of August."
The top Democrat and Republican in the House cast doubt Tuesday on whether Congress can pass a coronavirus relief bill in time to avoid disrupting a key financial lifeline.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center where he took questions from reporters working offsite because of the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday, May 7, 2020.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin separately told reporters on Tuesday that he hopes to strike a deal on legislation by the end of next week.
Democrats have called for a sprawling package to offer additional aid to jobless workers, send another direct payment to individuals, offer hazard pay to essential workers, give aid to state and local governments facing budget crunches and offer assistance to renters and homeowners as moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures start to expire.
Republicans, meanwhile, have previewed a proposal heavy on tax incentives or bonuses that aim to encourage people to return to work and school, along with broad liability protections for businesses and doctors during the pandemic. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters Tuesday that he plans to "introduce a bill in the next few days that is a starting place" for talks with Democrats, and has support from most of the GOP caucus.
Here are some provisions of the Republican proposal McConnell outlined during public appearances Tuesday:
"Several specific incentives" to encourage companies to hire and retain workers (he did not address how the GOP would specifically handle the unemployment benefit expiration)
$105 billion to reopen schools
"A targeted second round" of the Paycheck Protection Program "with a special eye toward hard-hit businesses"
"Another round of direct payments" (he did not specify how widely Republicans want to send checks)
Funding for vaccine development, testing and hospitals
Tax incentives to help companies afford personal protective equipment and other measures need to safely operate
McCarthy and McConnell met with President Donald Trump, Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Monday, and talks will continue on Tuesday. Mnuchin and Meadows attended the Senate GOP policy lunch, then metwith Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer later in the afternoon. Trump, during a press briefing Tuesday, expressed optimism that a deal would be finished.
Before Republicans strike an agreement with Democrats, they need to find a consensus within their own party. Trump has insisted on a payroll tax holiday — a proposal usually met with skepticism on Capitol Hill — and opposed new federal funding for coronavirus testing, which GOP congressional leaders support.
Asked Tuesday whether a payroll tax break will make it into the final bill, McCarthy said, "I believe it will stay in as one of the elements of what we need to do." McConnell later noted that "there are some differences of opinion on the question of the payroll tax cut and whether that's the best way to go."
Previewing a process that could become especially bitter during an election year, McCarthy argued the bill would not pass before August because he expects Pelosi to delay it as she seeks to include her priorities in it.
In response, Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said, "The House acted on the Heroes Act nine weeks ago — a robust package to address both the health and economic crises we face. We don't need any lectures from Republicans who are struggling among themselves to agree on a partisan package with their own White House."
The chamber passed a $3 trillion rescue package in May. Senate Republicans dismissed it as unrealistic.
Republicans have said they want to keep the price tag of the developing bill around $1 trillion. Pelosi has contended it would not be enough spending to mitigate a simmering health and economic crisis.
The enhanced $600 unemployment benefit, which many economists credit with boosting household spending while businesses are shut down, is perhaps the biggest issue left to resolve. Republicans argue it deters people from returning to work because many individuals make more at home than they would at their jobs. Senate Democrats have proposed tying the assistance to state unemployment rates, so that it automatically gets reduced as states recover but does not phase out while the economy is struggling.
The measures to support households passed in March as part of a $2 trillion rescue package are broadly popular. A CNBC/Change Research poll this month found 81% of likely voters in six 2020 swing states support a second $1,200 direct payment to qualifying individuals.
In addition, a Morning Consult poll last month found 75% of voters support either keeping or increasing the amount of money workers who lost their jobs due to the pandemic receive.
In crafting coronavirus legislation, Congress has to work with a president who has seemed intent on denying the severity of the pandemic as his struggle to contain the outbreak harms his chances of winning reelection this year. He has repeatedly downplayed the ever rising Covid-19 cases in the U.S., insisting the increase is due only to testing capacity.
Despite the president's stance, McConnell stressed Tuesday that he does not expect the virus to go away soon.
"Cases are increasing in the country because the coronavirus is not gone. … Clearly this is still with us," he said.
— CNBC's Ylan Mui contributed to this report
Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


cnbc--2020-07-21--Trump on accused Epstein sex crimes accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell: 'I wish her well'

President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered kind words to Ghislaine Maxwell , the British socialite criminally charged with procuring underage girls to be sexually abused by the late investor Jeffrey Epstein .
`` I just wish her well , frankly , '' Trump said of Maxwell , during a White House press conference on the coronavirus pandemic .
Maxwell , 58 , last week was ordered held without bail in the case , where she is also charged with perjury .
One of her accusers was just 14 years old at the time that Epstein allegedly sexually abused her in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well wishes to Maxwell came after a reporter asked him if `` you feel that she 's going to turn in powerful men ? ''
Maxwell and Epstein had socialized with many well-known people , including Trump and Britain 's Prince Andrew , as well as former President Bill Clinton .
When Epstein was arrested last July on child sex-trafficking charges , there was speculation that he would inform authorities about possible sexual misconduct by others .
He died from what was ruled a jailhouse suicide a month later .
`` I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially since I lived in Palm Beach , [ Florida , ] and I guess they lived in Palm Beach , '' Trump said of Maxwell and Epstein , who was a former friend of Trump 's .

President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered kind words to Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite criminally charged with procuring underage girls to be sexually abused by the late investor Jeffrey Epstein.
"I just wish her well, frankly," Trump said of Maxwell, during a White House press conference on the coronavirus pandemic.
Maxwell, 58, last week was ordered held without bail in the case, where she is also charged with perjury.
One of her accusers was just 14 years old at the time that Epstein allegedly sexually abused her in the mid-1990s.
Trump's offer of well wishes to Maxwell came after a reporter asked him if "you feel that she's going to turn in powerful men?"
Maxwell and Epstein had socialized with many well-known people, including Trump and Britain's Prince Andrew, as well as former President Bill Clinton.
When Epstein was arrested last July on child sex-trafficking charges, there was speculation that he would inform authorities about possible sexual misconduct by others. He died from what was ruled a jailhouse suicide a month later.
"I've met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach, [Florida,] and I guess they lived in Palm Beach," Trump said of Maxwell and Epstein, who was a former friend of Trump's.


cnbc--2020-07-21--Biden announces $775 billion plan to fund universal child care and in-home elder care

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden announced a sweeping new plan Tuesday that aims to fundamentally shift the way American families care for each other , both at the beginning of life and at the end .
Dubbed the `` 21st Century Caregiving and Education Workforce '' plan , Biden 's proposal would invest $ 775 billion over 10 years to rebuild and fortify the nation 's caregiving economy , focusing on daycare in early childhood , in-home elder care and long-term care for the disabled .
Speaking in New Castle , Del.
, Biden said he knew firsthand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford child care , as well as what it was like to care for aging parents at home in the last months of their lives .
`` I was a single parent for five years after my wife and daughter were killed and my two boys were badly injured , '' said Biden , recalling the deadly 1972 car crash in which he lost his wife and daughter .
`` Even though I had a lot more support than a lot of people going through tough times today , it was hard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We cared for our parents at the end .
My dad was months in hospice in our home , same with my mom , '' Biden said , adding that his whole family had cared for his eldest son , Beau Biden , before he died of brain cancer in 2015 .
`` If we truly want to reward work in this country , we have to ease the financial burden of care that families are carrying , '' Biden said , adding that to do that `` for more families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term federal investments . ''
The first thing Biden pledged to do was provide emergency funding to state , local and tribal governments , enabling them to keep struggling child-care centers and home-care workers afloat throughout the coronavirus pandemic .
Both child-care and elder-care providers have been especially hard hit by the deadly virus , as millions of families have opted not to send their children to daycare for fear of infection , and older Americans have chosen to isolate themselves to reduce risk .
Beyond the emergency coronavirus funding , Biden 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planks : • Expanding child care for kids up to five years old , including universal preschool • Expanding care options for elderly and disabled people , particularly community- and home-based care • Improving pay and prospects for people who work in the caregiving industry The Biden campaign has so far provided few specifics as to where all this money would come from .
But a senior campaign official told reporters a Biden administration would take aim at so-called like-kind exchanges , which allow investors to defer paying taxes on the sale of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reinvested in another property .
The official also said they would prevent investors with incomes over $ 400,000 from using real estate losses to lower their income tax bills .