cnbc--2020-07-10--Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen back in prison after he balked at media gag order

Michael Cohen , the former lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump , arrives back at home after being released from prison during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in New York City , New York , U.S. , May 21 , 2020 .
`` That is absolutely not true , '' Levine said .
Levine said Cohen , who planned to release a book in coming months about his work for Trump , never refused to sign the deal .
A copy of the order said the purpose of the gag , which also would require Cohen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post on social media on his behalf , `` is to avoid glamorizing or bringing publicity to your status as a sentenced inmate serving a custodial term in the community . ''
Such a gag would prevent Cohen from speaking out publicly against his former client Trump , as he has done repeatedly in the past , until his criminal sentence expires next year .
The bureau has said Cohen , 53 , was taken into custody after the Manhattan resident refused to sign an agreement that included multiple restrictions , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from speaking to journalists , posting on social media and publishing a book .
As of Friday morning , Levine said , he has been unable to get a response from the bureau in his efforts to contact officials there .
Levine accused the Bureau of Prisons of issuing a `` false narrative '' in justifying that Cohen be abruptly taken into custody Thursday .
Cohen 's lawyer also said he will ask a federal judge to get involved in the situation if he can not resolve it with the agency .
Records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Otisville have Covid-19 .
The attorney said Cohen is at risk of catching the coronavirus there because of preexisting health issues .
Cohen was released from Otisville in late May because of concerns he would become infected with the virus .
Cohen 's lawyer Jeffrey Levine said in an interview that he is trying to speak with Bureau of Prisons officials to discuss what can be done to get him out of the federal prison in Otisville , New York .
Michael Cohen , President Donald Trump 's former lawyer and fixer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from which he was released in May , a day after balking at a requirement that he refrain from speaking to the media or publishing a book while under home confinement .
He said he and Cohen raised concerns that the gag would infringe on Cohen 's First Amendment rights , and asked probation officials to negotiate on that point .
The lawyer said Cohen is now willing to agree to all of those conditions for home confinement that were presented to him Thursday by federal probation officials .
`` It 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's offer to sign that deal .
Levine said the restriction that probation officials sought on Cohen related to the media is more restrictive than one placed on federal prison inmates , who can communicate with reporters and can write a book .
Cohen in fact had worked on his forthcoming book in Otisville , Levine noted .
Lanny Davis , a legal advisor to Cohen , said in an interview it `` raises a question of whether it is a coincidence '' that Cohen 's furlough was summarily revoked on the heels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two other books about him from being published .
In the first case , the Trump administration failed to prevent publication of a revealing memoir by former national security advisor John Bolton .
In the second case , Trump 's brother Robert Trump , who is being represented by a lawyer for the president , unsuccessfully sought to block the publication of a tell-all book about the Trump family by their estranged niece Mary Trump .
This spring , the lawyer who is representing Robert Trump , Charles Harder , sent Cohen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business , the Trump Organization , warning him that he would be at legal risk if he wrote a book about his time working for Trump .
The Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to multiple financial crimes , lying to Congress and to campaign finance violations connected to hush money payments in the months before the 2016 presidential election to two women who claim to have had affairs with Trump .
The president denies having sex with either woman .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison and began serving that term last year in Otisville .
Cohen , who suffers from pulmonary and hypertension issues , was furloughed from the prison under a program that has released nearly 6,800 federal prison inmates into home confinement since the coronavirus pandemic began because of their risk of developing Covid-19 .
On Thursday , Cohen and Levine went to the probation office at the U.S. District Court in Manhattan for Cohen to be fitted for an ankle bracelet that would monitor his compliance with home confinement , as well as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When they expressed concerns about the gag order , probation officials said , `` Let 's put this aside for the moment , '' Levine recalled .
`` We worked everything else out , '' the lawyer said , adding that he expected that they would continue discussing the media-related requirement .
Probation officials then asked Cohen and Levine to wait in a room in the offices , which they ended up doing for about 90 minutes , the lawyer said .
Officials at one point told the men `` they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Levine said .
But later , U.S. marshals came into the room and put Cohen into shackles , citing an order that said he had refused to comply with the terms of a monitoring agreement , Levine said .
Levine said when he and Cohen said Cohen would sign the deal to prevent him from being taken into custody , they were rebuffed and told it was too late .
Cohen then was transported to a federal jail in Brooklyn .
Prison records show he was in the prison at Otisville as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's detention was not connected to the publication by the New York Post of a photo of Cohen dining at a French restaurant on the Upper East Side last week .
The lawyer said Cohen 's visit to that restaurant did not violate terms of his prison furlough because it was in an area he was allowed to visit before transitioning into home confinement , which was supposed to happen Thursday .
According to Bureau of Prison data , more than 2,500 inmates and over 230 BOP staff have tested positive for Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 603 staff have recovered , '' the agency 's website says .
`` There have been 94 federal inmate deaths and 1 BOP staff member death attributed to COVID-19 disease . ''

Michael Cohen, the former lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives back at home after being released from prison during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, New York, U.S., May 21, 2020.
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer and fixer, has been sent back to prison from which he was released in May, a day after balking at a requirement that he refrain from speaking to the media or publishing a book while under home confinement.
Cohen's lawyer Jeffrey Levine said in an interview that he is trying to speak with Bureau of Prisons officials to discuss what can be done to get him out of the federal prison in Otisville, New York.
The attorney said Cohen is at risk of catching the coronavirus there because of preexisting health issues. Cohen was released from Otisville in late May because of concerns he would become infected with the virus.
Records show eight inmates and one staff member at Otisville have Covid-19.
Levine accused the Bureau of Prisons of issuing a "false narrative" in justifying that Cohen be abruptly taken into custody Thursday. Cohen's lawyer also said he will ask a federal judge to get involved in the situation if he cannot resolve it with the agency.
As of Friday morning, Levine said, he has been unable to get a response from the bureau in his efforts to contact officials there.
The bureau has said Cohen, 53, was taken into custody after the Manhattan resident refused to sign an agreement that included multiple restrictions, including the media gag, which would bar him from speaking to journalists, posting on social media and publishing a book.
Such a gag would prevent Cohen from speaking out publicly against his former client Trump, as he has done repeatedly in the past, until his criminal sentence expires next year.
A copy of the order said the purpose of the gag, which also would require Cohen to tell family and friends not to post on social media on his behalf, "is to avoid glamorizing or bringing publicity to your status as a sentenced inmate serving a custodial term in the community."
Levine said Cohen, who planned to release a book in coming months about his work for Trump, never refused to sign the deal.
"That is absolutely not true," Levine said.


cnbc--2020-07-10--Trump's rift with White House health advisor Fauci widens as coronavirus cases continue to hit new r

Trump's rift with White House health advisor Fauci widens as coronavirus cases continue to hit new records

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci , flanked by US President Donald Trump , speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus , which causes COVID-19 , in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 22 , 2020 , in Washington , DC .
President Donald Trump criticized his top infectious disease advisor this week while Dr. Anthony Fauci separately admitted he has n't briefed the president on the coronavirus pandemic in at least two months — revealing an apparent widening in the rift between the two .
`` Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's made a lot of mistakes , '' Trump said in an interview with Fox News ' Sean Hannity on Thursday .
`` They 've been wrong about a lot of things , including face masks .
Maybe they 're wrong , maybe not .
A lot of them said do n't wear a mask , do n't wear a mask .
Now they 're saying wear a mask .
A lot of mistakes were made , a lot of mistakes . ''
It 's not the first time Trump has contradicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus task force , which is led by Vice President Mike Pence .
Earlier this week , Trump said he disagreed with Fauci 's characterization of the outbreak .
Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warned lawmakers at a Senate hearing last week that cases could surpass 100,000 new infections a day if the virus continues to spread at its current pace .
`` I 'm very concerned and I 'm not satisfied with what 's going on because we 're going in the wrong direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new cases , so we really have got to do something about that and we need to do it quickly , '' he testified before the the Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee .
Fauci reiterated his concern in an interview on Facebook Live on Tuesday .
`` We are still knee deep in the first wave '' of Covid-19 infections , he said .
When asked later Tuesday about Fauci 's assessment of the pandemic , Trump replied , `` I disagree with him . ''
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the president said in an interview with the `` Full Court Press '' show .
`` We 've done a good job .
I think we are going to be in two , three , four weeks ...
I think we are going to be in very good shape . ''
Fauci then told The Wall Street Journal Wednesday that states with rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreaks should seriously consider `` shutting down '' like the country did when the virus first hit the U.S. in March .
Trump and Pence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America and spent most of the week pressuring state leaders to reopen schools this fall .
Fauci , who 's become the leading voice in the nation 's response to the Covid-19 outbreak , has consistently warned about the escalating dilemma facing the U.S. as daily new cases continue to top records and infections spike in states such as Florida , Texas , California and Arizona .
But his voice might not be as loud as it once was inside the White House , where he 's advised six presidents over the course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday that he has n't seen Trump at the White House since early June and has n't briefed him on the pandemic in at least two months .
Fauci added that he 's `` sure '' his messages have been passed on to the president .
A White House spokesperson was n't immediately available for comment .
Fauci and Trump also diverged on the coronavirus pandemic early on in the U.S. outbreak .
In April , Fauci told CNN more lives `` obviously '' could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to contain the virus .
He later walked back those comments after Trump retweeted a call to `` # FireFauci . ''
`` I was asked a hypothetical question '' about whether lives could have been saved if mitigation policies were put in place earlier , `` and hypothetical questions sometimes can get you into some difficulty , '' Fauci said at the time .
However , some recent polls suggest the nation disagrees with Trump 's response to the coronavirus pandemic as cases continue to spike in the American West and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 1 shows voters in six key swing states did n't view the president 's response to the coronavirus pandemic favorably .
When asked to select two people or groups most responsible for the recent increase in hospitalizations , 35 % said the president — the largest share among the answers .
Trump was followed by `` people not wearing masks '' at 34 % , `` states reopening their economies too soon '' at 32 % and `` people not social distancing '' at 29 % .
The results were mirrored in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tracking Poll on Tuesday that found Americans have significantly more confidence in their governors than in the president when it comes to handling the coronavirus .
— CNBC 's Kevin Breuninger , Christina Wilkie , Will Feuer and Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report .

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, flanked by US President Donald Trump, speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 22, 2020, in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump criticized his top infectious disease advisor this week while Dr. Anthony Fauci separately admitted he hasn't briefed the president on the coronavirus pandemic in at least two months — revealing an apparent widening in the rift between the two.
"Dr. Fauci's a nice man, but he's made a lot of mistakes," Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Thursday. "They've been wrong about a lot of things, including face masks. Maybe they're wrong, maybe not. A lot of them said don't wear a mask, don't wear a mask. Now they're saying wear a mask. A lot of mistakes were made, a lot of mistakes."
It's not the first time Trump has contradicted or criticized advice from the White House coronavirus task force, which is led by Vice President Mike Pence.
Earlier this week, Trump said he disagreed with Fauci's characterization of the outbreak.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned lawmakers at a Senate hearing last week that cases could surpass 100,000 new infections a day if the virus continues to spread at its current pace.
"I'm very concerned and I'm not satisfied with what's going on because we're going in the wrong direction if you look at the curves of the new cases, so we really have got to do something about that and we need to do it quickly," he testified before the the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Fauci reiterated his concern in an interview on Facebook Live on Tuesday. "We are still knee deep in the first wave" of Covid-19 infections, he said.
When asked later Tuesday about Fauci's assessment of the pandemic, Trump replied, "I disagree with him."
"I think we are in a good place," the president said in an interview with the "Full Court Press" show. "We've done a good job. I think we are going to be in two, three, four weeks ... I think we are going to be in very good shape."
Fauci then told The Wall Street Journal Wednesday that states with rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreaks should seriously consider "shutting down" like the country did when the virus first hit the U.S. in March. Trump and Pence, however, have vowed to keep reopening America and spent most of the week pressuring state leaders to reopen schools this fall.
Fauci, who's become the leading voice in the nation's response to the Covid-19 outbreak, has consistently warned about the escalating dilemma facing the U.S. as daily new cases continue to top records and infections spike in states such as Florida, Texas, California and Arizona.
But his voice might not be as loud as it once was inside the White House, where he's advised six presidents over the course of his career. He admitted in an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday that he hasn't seen Trump at the White House since early June and hasn't briefed him on the pandemic in at least two months.
Fauci added that he's "sure" his messages have been passed on to the president. A White House spokesperson wasn't immediately available for comment.
Fauci and Trump also diverged on the coronavirus pandemic early on in the U.S. outbreak. In April, Fauci told CNN more lives "obviously" could have been saved if the U.S. made earlier efforts to contain the virus. He later walked back those comments after Trump retweeted a call to "#FireFauci."
"I was asked a hypothetical question" about whether lives could have been saved if mitigation policies were put in place earlier, "and hypothetical questions sometimes can get you into some difficulty," Fauci said at the time.
However, some recent polls suggest the nation disagrees with Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic as cases continue to spike in the American West and South. A CNBC/Change Research poll published July 1 shows voters in six key swing states didn't view the president's response to the coronavirus pandemic favorably.
When asked to select two people or groups most responsible for the recent increase in hospitalizations, 35% said the president — the largest share among the answers. Trump was followed by "people not wearing masks" at 34%, "states reopening their economies too soon" at 32% and "people not social distancing" at 29%.
The results were mirrored in new data from an NBC News/SurveyMonkey Weekly Tracking Poll on Tuesday that found Americans have significantly more confidence in their governors than in the president when it comes to handling the coronavirus.
— CNBC's Kevin Breuninger, Christina Wilkie, Will Feuer and Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-07-10--Trump says he will be 'looking at' pardon for Roger Stone as prison date approaches

Roger Stone , longtime political ally of U.S. President Donald Trump , departs following a status hearing in the criminal case against him brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller at U.S. District Court in Washington , March 14 , 2019 .
President Donald Trump said Friday that he will be `` looking at '' a possible pardon for his longtime ally Roger Stone , who is set to report to federal prison in less than a week .
Trump , speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for Florida , said that Stone had been `` very unfairly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump had been asked if he would pardon Stone , according to reporters at the White House .
The president added that other people he 's accused of committing crimes , including presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , are still `` walking around . ''
`` Who would have believed that one ? ''
Trump asked before walking away from the press pool .
Stone , 67 , is fighting in federal appeals court to delay the start of his 40-month prison sentence for lying to Congress , witness tampering and obstruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a federal prison in Jesup , Georgia , on Tuesday .
His lawyers argue that Stone 's health would be put at risk from the coronavirus if he was incarcerated now .
District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson had denied Stone 's prior request to extend his sentence until early September , noting in that decision that there were no confirmed Covid-19 cases at the Jesup facility at the time .
But Stone 's lawyer , David Schoen , pointed out to CNBC on Friday morning that there are now at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that only 43 tests among the hundreds of inmates there have been completed , according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons .
Schoen declined to provide additional comment on the president 's most recent remarks .
Prosecutors on Thursday told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to reject Stone 's bid to postpone his surrender date .
Stone 's attorneys are set to submit a formal reply by noon Friday .
The president has long hinted that he is considering some form of clemency for Stone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an advisor on Trump 's 2016 campaign against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton .
The New York Times and other outlets recently reported hearing from their sources that Trump is expected to pardon Stone or commute his sentence , which could keep him out of prison .

Roger Stone, longtime political ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, departs following a status hearing in the criminal case against him brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller at U.S. District Court in Washington, March 14, 2019.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he will be "looking at" a possible pardon for his longtime ally Roger Stone, who is set to report to federal prison in less than a week.
Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for Florida, said that Stone had been "very unfairly treated, as were many people." Trump had been asked if he would pardon Stone, according to reporters at the White House.
The president added that other people he's accused of committing crimes, including presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, are still "walking around."
"Who would have believed that one?" Trump asked before walking away from the press pool.
Stone, 67, is fighting in federal appeals court to delay the start of his 40-month prison sentence for lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction. He is currently set to report to a federal prison in Jesup, Georgia, on Tuesday.
His lawyers argue that Stone's health would be put at risk from the coronavirus if he was incarcerated now.
District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson had denied Stone's prior request to extend his sentence until early September, noting in that decision that there were no confirmed Covid-19 cases at the Jesup facility at the time.
But Stone's lawyer, David Schoen, pointed out to CNBC on Friday morning that there are now at least 20 cases of the virus confirmed, and that only 43 tests among the hundreds of inmates there have been completed, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Schoen declined to provide additional comment on the president's most recent remarks.
Prosecutors on Thursday told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to reject Stone's bid to postpone his surrender date. Stone's attorneys are set to submit a formal reply by noon Friday.
The president has long hinted that he is considering some form of clemency for Stone, a Republican operative who had served as an advisor on Trump's 2016 campaign against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
The New York Times and other outlets recently reported hearing from their sources that Trump is expected to pardon Stone or commute his sentence, which could keep him out of prison.


cnbc--2020-07-09--Financial advisory firm tells clients Biden won't be moving too far left if he becomes president

Financial advisory firm Signum Global Advisors told clients Thursday that it is n't convinced Joe Biden is going to be as progressive as some may hope if he beats President Donald Trump in November .
The firm told its corporate clients in a note that it believes the policy recommendations put together by task forces filled with allies of Biden 's and the more progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders show that the presumptive Democratic nominee does n't plan to side too often with those on the left side of the political spectrum if he becomes president .
`` The report is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to some of the party 's more progressive ideas , though has few specifics about how ideas will be achieved , and generally repeats most of the moderate ideas from the Biden campaign 's website , '' the note said .
Signum has previously told clients that it expects Biden to defeat Trump and for Democrats to flip the Senate .
The note — co-authored by Charles Myers , the founder of Signum and previously the vice chairman of Evercore , and the group 's senior partner , Lew Lukens — said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be following a progressive policy platform is due to what 's missing in the proposed outline , along with a lack of specifics for ideas that could impact the economy .
Myers is an active fundraiser for Biden 's campaign for president , and his company has offices in New York , Washington and London .
The positive take on Biden by the Wall Street firm comes as finance executives brace for a change to their business models under a potential new administration .
Myers told CNBC that his clients , even after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern about the possibility of seeing their taxes go up .
Biden , in a speech just outside his hometown of Scranton , Pennsylvania , on Thursday warned business leaders that their corporate taxes are going up from 21 % to 28 % if he becomes president .
Biden also said he plans to put an end to the `` era of shareholder capitalism '' if he gets into the White House .
Biden is ahead of Trump in most national polls , with a Real Clear Politics polling average showing the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current commander in chief .
Signum said some of the most notable progressive ideas that are not included in Biden 's policy recommendations are the Green New Deal , `` Medicare for All '' and the legalization of marijuana .
`` The result represents a very successful effort by Biden and his team to control the narrative and policy direction , while making just enough concessions to the progressive wing to avoid an open rift in the party , '' the note said .
Sanders would clearly disagree with that stance , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are implemented it would make Biden `` the most progressive president since [ Franklin Delano Roosevelt ] . ''
The firm also said that the minimal details in the recommended economic policies show that Biden is on track to stay away from any major progressive overhauls .
The firm takes aim at the suggested tax policy , saying it 's `` light on details '' and adds that the idea of reviewing mergers that took place under the Trump administration is missing a key mention of focusing on tech conglomerates .
The big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been under scrutiny by Trump and Republican lawmakers for what they see as having too much power and having a bias against their party .
Many Democrats in Congress have also been critical of the tech giants .
Biden earlier in the day rolled out an over $ 700 billion `` Buy American '' campaign that would give a boost to U.S. manufacturing and technology firms .
He said in his speech that Amazon needs to start paying federal income tax .
`` The days of Amazon paying nothing in federal income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

Financial advisory firm Signum Global Advisors told clients Thursday that it isn't convinced Joe Biden is going to be as progressive as some may hope if he beats President Donald Trump in November.
The firm told its corporate clients in a note that it believes the policy recommendations put together by task forces filled with allies of Biden's and the more progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders show that the presumptive Democratic nominee doesn't plan to side too often with those on the left side of the political spectrum if he becomes president.
"The report is very aspirational; it pays lip service to some of the party's more progressive ideas, though has few specifics about how ideas will be achieved, and generally repeats most of the moderate ideas from the Biden campaign's website," the note said.
Signum has previously told clients that it expects Biden to defeat Trump and for Democrats to flip the Senate.
The note — co-authored by Charles Myers, the founder of Signum and previously the vice chairman of Evercore, and the group's senior partner, Lew Lukens — said the reason the firm believes Biden won't be following a progressive policy platform is due to what's missing in the proposed outline, along with a lack of specifics for ideas that could impact the economy. Myers is an active fundraiser for Biden's campaign for president, and his company has offices in New York, Washington and London.
The positive take on Biden by the Wall Street firm comes as finance executives brace for a change to their business models under a potential new administration. Myers told CNBC that his clients, even after he sent out the note, expressed concern about the possibility of seeing their taxes go up. Biden, in a speech just outside his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Thursday warned business leaders that their corporate taxes are going up from 21% to 28% if he becomes president. Biden also said he plans to put an end to the "era of shareholder capitalism" if he gets into the White House.
Biden is ahead of Trump in most national polls, with a Real Clear Politics polling average showing the former vice president up nine points over the current commander in chief.
Signum said some of the most notable progressive ideas that are not included in Biden's policy recommendations are the Green New Deal, "Medicare for All" and the legalization of marijuana.
"The result represents a very successful effort by Biden and his team to control the narrative and policy direction, while making just enough concessions to the progressive wing to avoid an open rift in the party," the note said. Sanders would clearly disagree with that stance, as he recently said that if those policies are implemented it would make Biden "the most progressive president since [Franklin Delano Roosevelt]."
The firm also said that the minimal details in the recommended economic policies show that Biden is on track to stay away from any major progressive overhauls. The firm takes aim at the suggested tax policy, saying it's "light on details" and adds that the idea of reviewing mergers that took place under the Trump administration is missing a key mention of focusing on tech conglomerates. The big tech companies Facebook, Amazon and Google have been under scrutiny by Trump and Republican lawmakers for what they see as having too much power and having a bias against their party. Many Democrats in Congress have also been critical of the tech giants.
Biden earlier in the day rolled out an over $700 billion "Buy American" campaign that would give a boost to U.S. manufacturing and technology firms. He said in his speech that Amazon needs to start paying federal income tax.
"The days of Amazon paying nothing in federal income tax will be over," Biden said.


cnbc--2020-07-10--Trump threatens tax-exempt status of colleges, says many are about 'Radical Left Indoctrination'

US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during the Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone , South Dakota , July 3 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump said Friday he is asking the Treasury Department to review the tax-exempt status of universities and school systems , suggesting in a tweet that too many were about `` Radical Left Indoctrination , not Education . ''
Trump also said he would have their funding revoked `` if this Propaganda or Act Against Public Policy continues . ''
`` Our children must be Educated , not Indoctrinated !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of colleges and school systems follows the president 's aggressive push this week to have schools fully reopen for in-person classes this fall despite the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump threatened to withhold federal funding for schools that do not open .
The White House declined CNBC 's request for further comment on Trump 's tweets .
It is not clear whether Trump was specifically referring to private colleges and K-12 schools , or if his directive would also apply to public institutions .
Most colleges and universities — private and public — are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Association of American Universities .

US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during the Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, July 3, 2020.
President Donald Trump said Friday he is asking the Treasury Department to review the tax-exempt status of universities and school systems, suggesting in a tweet that too many were about "Radical Left Indoctrination, not Education."
Trump also said he would have their funding revoked "if this Propaganda or Act Against Public Policy continues."
"Our children must be Educated, not Indoctrinated!" he wrote.
TWEET
TWEET
Trump's criticism of colleges and school systems follows the president's aggressive push this week to have schools fully reopen for in-person classes this fall despite the coronavirus pandemic. Trump threatened to withhold federal funding for schools that do not open.
The White House declined CNBC's request for further comment on Trump's tweets. It is not clear whether Trump was specifically referring to private colleges and K-12 schools, or if his directive would also apply to public institutions.
Most colleges and universities — private and public — are registered as tax exempt, according to the Association of American Universities.


cnbc--2020-07-10--Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen taken into custody after he balks at media gag

Michael Cohen , President Donald Trumps former personal attorney , arrives at his Park Avenue apartment on May 21 , 2020 , in New York City .
Michael Cohen , former personal lawyer for President Donald Trump , was taken into custody Thursday by U.S .
Marshals in New York and sent to jail after balking at a demand that he not talk to the media or write a book while serving the rest of his criminal sentence in home confinement , his attorney said .
`` It 's totally unnecessary , it 's totally outrageous , '' Cohen 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after his client was detained in federal court in Manhattan , where they had been meeting with probation officials to discuss Cohen 's home confinement .
He said that Cohen was `` so shaken '' by being taken into custody .
Cohen , who is writing a book about his time working for Trump , was taken by marshals to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn , New York , a federal jail .
Levine said that Cohen , who is `` not well , '' is at risk of Covid-19 from being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was in the midst of serving a three-year criminal sentence , was furloughed May 21 from federal prison in Orange County , New York , due to concerns about him catching the coronavirus .
He had pleaded guilty in 2018 in federal court in Manhattan to multiple financial crimes , lying to Congress , and to campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments to two women who claim they had affairs with Trump .
The president has denied the allegations .
Cohen , who entered prison in May 2019 , has become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of ardently defending him .
A week ago , he was photographed by a New York newspaper eating at a Manhattan restaurant , raising questions about whether he was complying with his furlough from prison .
The federal Bureau of Prisons in a statement said that , `` Michael Cohen refused the conditions of his home confinement and as a result , has been returned to a BOP facility . ''
Levine said that he and the 53-year-old Cohen met with probation officials expecting that Cohen would be fitted with an ankle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confinement .
During the meeting , Levine said , they were presented with an agreement that would require Cohen to not speak with any reporters , refrain from participating in any film or book project , and avoid posting on social media while serving out the remainder of his three-year criminal sentence .
The agreement also would require Cohen to tell relatives and friends not to post on social media on his behalf .
`` I 've never seen any language like this in my life that would strip a person of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media , '' Levine told reporters waiting outside the courthouse .
He noted that federal prison inmates can communicate with journalists while locked up , as Cohen himself had done .
When Levine objected to the language in the agreement , and asked if it could be modified , he and Cohen were asked to wait in the probation office , the attorney said .
`` They never came out to reengage , '' Levine said .
Instead , U.S .
Marshals returned with shackles , and took Cohen into custody at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an order for failing to agree to a location monitoring agreement , Levine said .
The lawyer said that claim was `` false . ''
Levine also said he told officials he was willing to agree to the terms presented by probation officials in order to get Cohen released , but was told it was too late .
`` He did n't actually refuse to do anything , we were just in the course of trying to resolve this , and BOP just did n't have anything to do with working anything out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reporters , Levine displayed Cohen 's jacket and belt , which were removed from him when he was taken into custody .

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trumps former personal attorney, arrives at his Park Avenue apartment on May 21, 2020, in New York City.
Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, was taken into custody Thursday by U.S. Marshals in New York and sent to jail after balking at a demand that he not talk to the media or write a book while serving the rest of his criminal sentence in home confinement, his attorney said.
"It's totally unnecessary, it's totally outrageous," Cohen's lawyer, Jeffrey Levine, told reporters after his client was detained in federal court in Manhattan, where they had been meeting with probation officials to discuss Cohen's home confinement.
He said that Cohen was "so shaken" by being taken into custody.
Cohen, who is writing a book about his time working for Trump, was taken by marshals to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, a federal jail.
Levine said that Cohen, who is "not well," is at risk of Covid-19 from being held in that facility.
Cohen, who was in the midst of serving a three-year criminal sentence, was furloughed May 21 from federal prison in Orange County, New York, due to concerns about him catching the coronavirus.
He had pleaded guilty in 2018 in federal court in Manhattan to multiple financial crimes, lying to Congress, and to campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments to two women who claim they had affairs with Trump. The president has denied the allegations. Cohen, who entered prison in May 2019, has become a fierce critic of Trump, after years of ardently defending him.
A week ago, he was photographed by a New York newspaper eating at a Manhattan restaurant, raising questions about whether he was complying with his furlough from prison.
The federal Bureau of Prisons in a statement said that, "Michael Cohen refused the conditions of his home confinement and as a result, has been returned to a BOP facility."
Levine said that he and the 53-year-old Cohen met with probation officials expecting that Cohen would be fitted with an ankle monitoring device as part of his home confinement.
During the meeting, Levine said, they were presented with an agreement that would require Cohen to not speak with any reporters, refrain from participating in any film or book project, and avoid posting on social media while serving out the remainder of his three-year criminal sentence.
The agreement also would require Cohen to tell relatives and friends not to post on social media on his behalf.
"I've never seen any language like this in my life that would strip a person of their First Amendment rights to communicate with the media," Levine told reporters waiting outside the courthouse. He noted that federal prison inmates can communicate with journalists while locked up, as Cohen himself had done.
When Levine objected to the language in the agreement, and asked if it could be modified, he and Cohen were asked to wait in the probation office, the attorney said.
"They never came out to reengage," Levine said.
Instead, U.S. Marshals returned with shackles, and took Cohen into custody at the direction of the Bureau of Prisons under an order for failing to agree to a location monitoring agreement, Levine said.
The lawyer said that claim was "false."
Levine also said he told officials he was willing to agree to the terms presented by probation officials in order to get Cohen released, but was told it was too late.
"He didn't actually refuse to do anything, we were just in the course of trying to resolve this, and BOP just didn't have anything to do with working anything out," Levine said.
While speaking to reporters, Levine displayed Cohen's jacket and belt, which were removed from him when he was taken into custody.


cnbc--2020-07-10--Biden says investors 'don't need me,' calls for end of 'era of shareholder capitalism'

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , laying out his plans for an economic recovery Thursday , said President Donald Trump is too focused on the stock market during the coronavirus pandemic .
The former vice president , speaking at an event in Pennsylvania , said he wanted to end the `` era of shareholder capitalism . ''
`` Throughout this crisis , Donald Trump has been almost singularly focused on the stock market , the Dow and Nasdaq .
Not you .
Not your families , '' Biden said .
`` If I am fortunate enough to be elected president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families , the middle-class families I came from here in Scranton .
Not the wealthy investor class .
They do n't need me . ''
Among the policies Biden described Thursday is a tax hike for corporations .
His plans call for a 28 % corporate tax rate , well above the 21 % set by Trump 's 2017 tax cuts but still below where the top rate was previously .
Jack Lew , who served as Treasury secretary when Biden was vice president , said Thursday on `` Closing Bell '' that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 21 % rate was lower than even what business leaders were asking for and that the economy could withstand higher taxes .

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, laying out his plans for an economic recovery Thursday, said President Donald Trump is too focused on the stock market during the coronavirus pandemic.
The former vice president, speaking at an event in Pennsylvania, said he wanted to end the "era of shareholder capitalism."
"Throughout this crisis, Donald Trump has been almost singularly focused on the stock market, the Dow and Nasdaq. Not you. Not your families," Biden said. "If I am fortunate enough to be elected president, I'll be laser-focused on working families, the middle-class families I came from here in Scranton. Not the wealthy investor class. They don't need me."
Among the policies Biden described Thursday is a tax hike for corporations. His plans call for a 28% corporate tax rate, well above the 21% set by Trump's 2017 tax cuts but still below where the top rate was previously.
Jack Lew, who served as Treasury secretary when Biden was vice president, said Thursday on "Closing Bell" that when the Obama administration discussed tax reform, a 21% rate was lower than even what business leaders were asking for and that the economy could withstand higher taxes.


cnbc--2020-07-11--U.S. foreign aid agency hit with low morale as White House works to appoint Trump loyalists

U.S. President Donald Trump pauses as he speaks prior to signing an Executive Order on the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington , July 9 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump 's former body man entered the White House after he was chosen to lead the Presidential Personnel Office earlier this year with a message to a team of liaisons : sweep out anyone disloyal to the commander in chief .
John McEntee , Trump 's new personnel head , reportedly called on the group in that meeting in February to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political appointees and bring their names back to him .
McEntee later pushed out many of those liaisons he called upon to help with his purge .
They were then replaced by a group of younger , more loyal representatives in positions that historically act as a go-between the White House and various agencies , according to people familiar with the matter who declined to be named .
Liaisons have often assisted both their assigned department and the White House with hiring political appointees .
As a result of several controversial hires , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's agency for foreign aid , according to these people .
The people who spoke to CNBC for this story declined to be named as these details had yet to be made public .
One of the loyal Trump White House liaisons backed by McEntee , these people said , is William Maloney , who now works with the U.S. Agency for International Development , or USAID .
The department that focuses on providing foreign aid to countries around the world and boasts a budget of nearly $ 40 billion .
Maloney has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years .
Beyond his recent stint as a paralegal at the Department of Housing and Urban Development , he was an assistant for the pro-Trump nonprofit America First Policies and was an assistant at the Department of Justice .
He was an intern on Trump 's 2016 campaign .
USAID acting spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala did not deny Maloney 's involvement with the controversial appointments and referred questions about their hiring practices to the White House , which did not respond for comment .
`` On your questions regarding specific personnel decisions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House .
USAID is honored to continue to work with the White House in carrying out the administration 's important work , '' Jhunjhunwala told CNBC on Friday .
`` William Maloney is the White House Liaison for the agency , and his role is just that – working as a liaison between the White House and USAID on political appointments .
This is always the role of that position for any administration , regardless of party , '' he said .
Maloney declined to comment for this story when reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maloney has supported and has been involved with pushing through multiple controversial political hires that work at or with the agency , including some who have a history of anti-Islamic and LGBT remarks , these people said .
That has led to an extreme drop in morale and a rush of requests both within and outside the agency to acting USAID administrator John Barsa to either investigate or address a wide range of social issues linked to the new recruits .
Merritt Corrigan , the new USAID deputy White House liaison , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one on Twitter , that said `` our homo-empire could n't tolerate even one commercial enterprise not in full submission to the tyrannical LGBT agenda , '' according to ProPublica .
The Washington Post reported that Mark Kevin Lloyd , the agency 's new religious freedom advisor , and another USAID hire backed by Maloney , the sources said , has a track record of promoting anti-Islamic comments .
`` Political appointees are appointed at the discretion of the White House to carry out the President 's foreign policy agenda at USAID , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early June .
`` I have full confidence that each political appointee at USAID has and will continue to implement the President 's policies and agenda to the best of his or her ability , '' he added .
Jhunjhunwala noted that USAID officials were not aware of any allegations of discrimination filed against anyone at the agency .
`` While at USAID , we are not aware of any allegations of discrimination or other actions by the appointees in question that are less than professional or not up to the highest legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has always held , '' the spokesperson told CNBC .
`` USAID leadership remains committed to creating a diverse , inclusive environment , free from discrimination and intolerance .
We have long ensured that USAID employees , regardless of hiring category , are held to the highest legal , moral and ethical standards and will continue to do so . ''
Maloney helped Joseph Guy land a spot at USAID , as well , according to one of the people .
According to his LinkedIn profile , he started working in May as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the agency .
He was previously a Trump White House intern .
Rick Guy , who is Joseph Guy 's father , became a senior advisor at the USAID Office of General Counsel a month after his son joined the agency , his LinkedIn profile says .
Prior to his role at USAID , Rick Guy was a personal injury lawyer and ran in 2018 for a New York State Senate seat .
During the Republican primary for that seat , he faced hurdles from the state Board of Elections after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get his father 's name on a Republican ballot , only for it to be later discovered that the younger Guy was not a member of the Republican Party .
Joseph Guy had previously signed a waiver saying he was , in fact , a member of the party , according to a report by The Citizen newspaper .
The Board of Elections later removed Rick Guy from the ballot and he did not appeal , the paper later reported .
People familiar with the matter say that Maloney has signaled to allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hires that would be Trump loyalists .
Employees at the agency have started pushing Barsa to take a stand against the hires .
CNBC reviewed an email that was sent to Barsa in late June , which appeared to be in reaction to the recent string of hires .
Co-signed by close to a dozen USAID employee resource groups , including Gender and Sexual Minorities at USAID and the Young Professionals at USAID , the email directly calls out Barsa for his earlier statement that month that backed Corrigan and Lloyd .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not demonstrate concern for the well-being of USAID employees who have been targeted by the language in question , nor address accountability measures to prevent language like this from occurring within the Agency , '' the email said .
`` We request a meeting with you to discuss how we can collaborate on ensuring that USAID 's workforce is valued in its full diversity and can experience a supportive and inclusive working environment . ''
The Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network , a bipartisan coalition that `` promotes more effective and accountable U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' wrote a letter to Barsa dated June 26 voicing their concerns about the group of hires .
`` We write to you today to express our concerns that , at this critical time , the philosophical beliefs of some employees may be hindering effective delivery of U.S. foreign assistance , '' the group said .
`` As leader of the world 's premier bilateral aid agency , we urge you to ensure that USAID 's career and political staff are empowered to continue their focus on delivering U.S. foreign aid based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was signed by co-chairs of the coalition .
Some of whom had previously worked for USAID .
Then there 's a group of seven Democratic lawmakers who wrote to Barsa on June 17 .
They specifically targeted the hiring of Lloyd and Corrigan , while demanding an investigation of their past statements .
`` The appointment of Lloyd and Corrigan risks alienating the hardworking staff at USAID – not only women , Muslims and members of the LGBT community – but any employee that is justifiably dismayed that people who hold these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's premier international development agency , '' the letter said .

U.S. President Donald Trump pauses as he speaks prior to signing an Executive Order on the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, July 9, 2020.
President Donald Trump's former body man entered the White House after he was chosen to lead the Presidential Personnel Office earlier this year with a message to a team of liaisons: sweep out anyone disloyal to the commander in chief.
John McEntee, Trump's new personnel head, reportedly called on the group in that meeting in February to find any so-called "Never Trump" political appointees and bring their names back to him.
McEntee later pushed out many of those liaisons he called upon to help with his purge. They were then replaced by a group of younger, more loyal representatives in positions that historically act as a go-between the White House and various agencies, according to people familiar with the matter who declined to be named. Liaisons have often assisted both their assigned department and the White House with hiring political appointees.
As a result of several controversial hires, morale has plummeted at the federal government's agency for foreign aid, according to these people.
The people who spoke to CNBC for this story declined to be named as these details had yet to be made public.
One of the loyal Trump White House liaisons backed by McEntee, these people said, is William Maloney, who now works with the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. The department that focuses on providing foreign aid to countries around the world and boasts a budget of nearly $40 billion.
Maloney has been close to Trump and his allies for years. Beyond his recent stint as a paralegal at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, he was an assistant for the pro-Trump nonprofit America First Policies and was an assistant at the Department of Justice. He was an intern on Trump's 2016 campaign.
USAID acting spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala did not deny Maloney's involvement with the controversial appointments and referred questions about their hiring practices to the White House, which did not respond for comment.
"On your questions regarding specific personnel decisions, we will have to refer you to the White House. USAID is honored to continue to work with the White House in carrying out the administration's important work," Jhunjhunwala told CNBC on Friday. "William Maloney is the White House Liaison for the agency, and his role is just that – working as a liaison between the White House and USAID on political appointments. This is always the role of that position for any administration, regardless of party," he said.
Maloney declined to comment for this story when reached.
Since becoming the USAID liaison, Maloney has supported and has been involved with pushing through multiple controversial political hires that work at or with the agency, including some who have a history of anti-Islamic and LGBT remarks, these people said. That has led to an extreme drop in morale and a rush of requests both within and outside the agency to acting USAID administrator John Barsa to either investigate or address a wide range of social issues linked to the new recruits.
Merritt Corrigan, the new USAID deputy White House liaison, has previously published online posts, such as one on Twitter, that said "our homo-empire couldn't tolerate even one commercial enterprise not in full submission to the tyrannical LGBT agenda," according to ProPublica.
The Washington Post reported that Mark Kevin Lloyd, the agency's new religious freedom advisor, and another USAID hire backed by Maloney, the sources said, has a track record of promoting anti-Islamic comments.
Barsa has publicly defended these hires.
"Political appointees are appointed at the discretion of the White House to carry out the President's foreign policy agenda at USAID," Barsa said in a statement in early June. "I have full confidence that each political appointee at USAID has and will continue to implement the President's policies and agenda to the best of his or her ability," he added.
Jhunjhunwala noted that USAID officials were not aware of any allegations of discrimination filed against anyone at the agency.
"While at USAID, we are not aware of any allegations of discrimination or other actions by the appointees in question that are less than professional or not up to the highest legal, moral and ethical standards that USAID has always held," the spokesperson told CNBC. "USAID leadership remains committed to creating a diverse, inclusive environment, free from discrimination and intolerance. We have long ensured that USAID employees, regardless of hiring category, are held to the highest legal, moral and ethical standards and will continue to do so."
Maloney helped Joseph Guy land a spot at USAID, as well, according to one of the people. According to his LinkedIn profile, he started working in May as the special assistant to the assistant administrator at the agency. He was previously a Trump White House intern. Rick Guy, who is Joseph Guy's father, became a senior advisor at the USAID Office of General Counsel a month after his son joined the agency, his LinkedIn profile says.
Prior to his role at USAID, Rick Guy was a personal injury lawyer and ran in 2018 for a New York State Senate seat. During the Republican primary for that seat, he faced hurdles from the state Board of Elections after his son Joseph picked up signatures needed to get his father's name on a Republican ballot, only for it to be later discovered that the younger Guy was not a member of the Republican Party. Joseph Guy had previously signed a waiver saying he was, in fact, a member of the party, according to a report by The Citizen newspaper. The Board of Elections later removed Rick Guy from the ballot and he did not appeal, the paper later reported.
People familiar with the matter say that Maloney has signaled to allies that he plans to recommend more political hires that would be Trump loyalists.
Employees at the agency have started pushing Barsa to take a stand against the hires.
CNBC reviewed an email that was sent to Barsa in late June, which appeared to be in reaction to the recent string of hires.
Co-signed by close to a dozen USAID employee resource groups, including Gender and Sexual Minorities at USAID and the Young Professionals at USAID, the email directly calls out Barsa for his earlier statement that month that backed Corrigan and Lloyd.
"We are concerned that your press statement did not demonstrate concern for the well-being of USAID employees who have been targeted by the language in question, nor address accountability measures to prevent language like this from occurring within the Agency," the email said. "We request a meeting with you to discuss how we can collaborate on ensuring that USAID's workforce is valued in its full diversity and can experience a supportive and inclusive working environment."
The Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network, a bipartisan coalition that "promotes more effective and accountable U.S. foreign assistance that advances American interests," wrote a letter to Barsa dated June 26 voicing their concerns about the group of hires.
"We write to you today to express our concerns that, at this critical time, the philosophical beliefs of some employees may be hindering effective delivery of U.S. foreign assistance," the group said. "As leader of the world's premier bilateral aid agency, we urge you to ensure that USAID's career and political staff are empowered to continue their focus on delivering U.S. foreign aid based on development outcomes and data-driven programming."
It was signed by co-chairs of the coalition. Some of whom had previously worked for USAID.
Then there's a group of seven Democratic lawmakers who wrote to Barsa on June 17. They specifically targeted the hiring of Lloyd and Corrigan, while demanding an investigation of their past statements.
"The appointment of Lloyd and Corrigan risks alienating the hardworking staff at USAID – not only women, Muslims and members of the LGBT community – but any employee that is justifiably dismayed that people who hold these views were appointed to represent the world's premier international development agency," the letter said.


cnbc--2020-07-11--Election officials fear voting changes will confuse voters in November

Voting officials are concerned that drastic changes to election procedures in response to the coronavirus will confuse voters in November .
Dozens of states have expanded vote-by-mail access to give people an alternative way to safely cast a ballot in November .
Multiple states have also set up more polling locations , and some are considering expanding the polling period to spread out people opting for in-person voting .
While election officials have ramped up communication efforts nationwide to inform voters of all changes , worries remain that voters will find it difficult to keep up .
Already , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during primary elections .
Voters told local news outlets in New Jersey that they were confused about where to cast their ballot during the state 's presidential primary last Tuesday .
Others said they never received a ballot , despite an executive order from Gov .
Phil Murphy ensuring that all voters would receive either a ballot or an application for one in the mail .
Voters in Pennsylvania , which held its presidential primary June 2 , noted that longtime polling locations had moved elsewhere the day of the vote , resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its primary on June 9 chose to unveil a new voting system , leading to confusion among poll workers , who were n't properly trained on using the machines .
Voters suffered long lines and delays , as well as technical and logistical issues .
Critics said the state 's primary was poorly executed and was tantamount to voter suppression .
Many states fear that this kind of confusion — where voters are either unaware of or misinformed about how to cast a ballot — will also occur during the Nov. 3 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of polling places , poll managers , Covid-19 supplies , and processing absentee ballots , our ability to educate voters on changes ( or lack thereof ) will play a key role in a successful November election , '' said Chris Whitmire , director of public information at South Carolina 's Election Commission .
The most obvious potential source of voter confusion for South Carolina is the lack of new rules in place for the presidential election , Whitmire said .
Gov .
Henry McMaster signed a law that authorized any voter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the primary and runoff elections .
And a federal court ruling said that those requesting an absentee ballot did not require a witness .
These rules have expired , leaving `` no changes to election procedures '' at the moment , according to Whitmire .
`` If there are changes , we 'll work to educate voters on those .
If there are no changes , we will have to work to ensure voters understand that the rules in place for the primary no longer apply , '' Whitmire added .
South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot spot in recent weeks , with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecasting an acceleration in Covid-19 deaths in the state in the next couple weeks .
`` We know that the number of Covid cases are expanding in the state at record levels and are more concerned today than ever about the impact on November , '' Whitmire said .
`` We do n't know if the General Assembly will again expand reasons or make any other changes , and if any of the several pending court cases will result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said he plans to mobilize his team in the next couple weeks to `` explain what has changed and what people 's options are for voting . ''
The state legislature expanded vote-by-mail provisions , adding mail-in voting options , Ashcroft said .
These options look similar to no-excuse absentee voting , but are slightly different , according to Ashcroft .
Anyone in the state can request an absentee ballot this year , the state legislature determined .
But the ballot envelope must be notarized unless the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older or has another condition that might put their health at risk .
The notary requirement is what concerns Ashcroft , who suggested to CNBC that voters may not be aware of this distinction .
`` It is against Missouri law for a notary to charge to notarize an absentee ballot , '' Ashcroft said .
`` It is not against the law for a notary to charge to notarize a mail-in ballot . ''
His office has put together a list of organizations that have agreed to provide free notary services for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials told CNBC they are preparing to overcommunicate with voters to decrease potential for confusion ahead of Election Day .
`` Our office has been actively working to keep Alabamians informed in a timely and efficient manner , '' said Grace Newcombe , press secretary to Alabama 's secretary of state 's office .
In the weeks leading up to the state 's primary runoffs , `` our office launched a multimedia campaign notifying Alabamians of the opportunity to vote absentee as well as important election dates to be aware of .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabamians about how many days are left to apply for an absentee ballot and even introduced a video that walks voters through the process of applying for and casting an absentee ballot . ''
Officials in Idaho have sought out new ways to reach voters , said Chad Houck , chief deputy secretary of state .
The office , as well as various Idaho counties , have been working on expanding their social media presence , particularly on Facebook , to reach audiences that may not be as aware of changes .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing audience there , which will now give them a better voice as we move into making changes or as things evolve going forward , '' Houck said , adding that his office is looking at Election Day communications tools that we will probably try to test in November . ''
In an effort to make the voting process easier , Michigan election officials are piloting a ballot-tracking service that allows voters to keep tabs on their individual ballots , according to Jake Rollow , director of communications and external affairs at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It looks like many of the mail tracking services provided by companies that ship orders to individuals , '' Rollow said .
`` Through the use of smart bar codes on the envelopes , the voter can see ballot 's status as it goes from the clerk to them and then back to the clerk . ''
The state will employ this tracking program during its August primary , `` with the expectation of expanding statewide for November , '' Rollow added .
For its presidential primary , Indiana spent a portion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter outreach campaign `` that informed voters of changes to the election and advised them to request an absentee ballot , '' said Ian Hauer , acting communications director at the secretary of state 's office .
`` If changes are made to the general election , we will likely use a similar outreach campaign ( in additional to our usual outreach campaign ) , '' Hauer added .
In March , Congress allocated $ 400 million to the Election Assistance Commission to provide states with grants `` to prevent , prepare for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or internationally , for the 2020 Federal election cycle . ''
But state and local officials have been urging Congress to appropriate more money , arguing funds are rapidly depleting .
`` It 's looking like I spent close to 60 % of my CARES Act funding on the primary election , '' Jared Dearing , executive director of the Kentucky State Board of Elections , said Wednesday .
`` To put that in context , we are expecting turnout to go from 30 % , which was a record high for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 % . ''

A woman drops off her main in ballot outside the Denver Elections Division polling center as she votes in the primary election on June 30, 2020. Michael Ciaglo | Getty Images
Voting officials are concerned that drastic changes to election procedures in response to the coronavirus will confuse voters in November. Dozens of states have expanded vote-by-mail access to give people an alternative way to safely cast a ballot in November. Multiple states have also set up more polling locations, and some are considering expanding the polling period to spread out people opting for in-person voting. While election officials have ramped up communication efforts nationwide to inform voters of all changes, worries remain that voters will find it difficult to keep up. Already, there have been multiple reports of voter confusion during primary elections. Voters told local news outlets in New Jersey that they were confused about where to cast their ballot during the state's presidential primary last Tuesday. Others said they never received a ballot, despite an executive order from Gov. Phil Murphy ensuring that all voters would receive either a ballot or an application for one in the mail. Voters in Pennsylvania, which held its presidential primary June 2, noted that longtime polling locations had moved elsewhere the day of the vote, resulting in confusion and frustration. Georgia during its primary on June 9 chose to unveil a new voting system, leading to confusion among poll workers, who weren't properly trained on using the machines. Voters suffered long lines and delays, as well as technical and logistical issues. Critics said the state's primary was poorly executed and was tantamount to voter suppression.
Anticipating confusion in November
Many states fear that this kind of confusion — where voters are either unaware of or misinformed about how to cast a ballot — will also occur during the Nov. 3 election. "Aside from the administrative issues of polling places, poll managers, Covid-19 supplies, and processing absentee ballots, our ability to educate voters on changes (or lack thereof) will play a key role in a successful November election," said Chris Whitmire, director of public information at South Carolina's Election Commission. The most obvious potential source of voter confusion for South Carolina is the lack of new rules in place for the presidential election, Whitmire said. Gov. Henry McMaster signed a law that authorized any voter in South Carolina to request an absentee ballot for the primary and runoff elections. And a federal court ruling said that those requesting an absentee ballot did not require a witness. These rules have expired, leaving "no changes to election procedures" at the moment, according to Whitmire. "If there are changes, we'll work to educate voters on those. If there are no changes, we will have to work to ensure voters understand that the rules in place for the primary no longer apply," Whitmire added. South Carolina has been emerging as a coronavirus hot spot in recent weeks, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecasting an acceleration in Covid-19 deaths in the state in the next couple weeks.
A sign reminds voters in Baltimore to practice social distancing. Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
"We know that the number of Covid cases are expanding in the state at record levels and are more concerned today than ever about the impact on November," Whitmire said. "We don't know if the General Assembly will again expand reasons or make any other changes, and if any of the several pending court cases will result in any changes." In Missouri, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said he plans to mobilize his team in the next couple weeks to "explain what has changed and what people's options are for voting." The state legislature expanded vote-by-mail provisions, adding mail-in voting options, Ashcroft said. These options look similar to no-excuse absentee voting, but are slightly different, according to Ashcroft. Anyone in the state can request an absentee ballot this year, the state legislature determined. But the ballot envelope must be notarized unless the voter is immunocompromised or age 65 or older or has another condition that might put their health at risk. The notary requirement is what concerns Ashcroft, who suggested to CNBC that voters may not be aware of this distinction. "It is against Missouri law for a notary to charge to notarize an absentee ballot," Ashcroft said. "It is not against the law for a notary to charge to notarize a mail-in ballot." His office has put together a list of organizations that have agreed to provide free notary services for mail-in and absentee ballots.
Getting ahead
Several state officials told CNBC they are preparing to overcommunicate with voters to decrease potential for confusion ahead of Election Day. "Our office has been actively working to keep Alabamians informed in a timely and efficient manner," said Grace Newcombe, press secretary to Alabama's secretary of state's office. In the weeks leading up to the state's primary runoffs, "our office launched a multimedia campaign notifying Alabamians of the opportunity to vote absentee as well as important election dates to be aware of. We have sent out weekly press releases reminding Alabamians about how many days are left to apply for an absentee ballot and even introduced a video that walks voters through the process of applying for and casting an absentee ballot."
An election official wears a mask and sits behind a plastic barrier as he checks in voters at McKinley Technology High School on primary Election Day on June 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer | Getty Images


cnbc--2020-07-11--Trump wears coronavirus mask publicly for first time during visit to Walter Reed military hospital

President Donald Trump wears a mask as he walks down the hallway during his visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda , Md.
, Saturday , July 11 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump wore a mask during a public visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Saturday , after long resisting bipartisan prodding to lead by example and demonstrate to Americans the importance of wearing a face covering to prevent the transmission of coronavirus .
Trump was visiting wounded service members and their families as well as health-care staff who have been caring for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House said .
The president was accompanied by military leaders and followed by staff who were also wearing masks .
Trump donned the mask as the country continued to experience record increases in infections .
Overall , more than 3.2 million Americans have been infected by the coronavirus , while more than 134,000 have died .
Before departing for Walter Reed , Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn that he would `` probably have a mask '' while visiting the hospital .
Walter Reed requires visitors to wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't possible .

President Donald Trump wears a mask as he walks down the hallway during his visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Saturday, July 11, 2020.
President Donald Trump wore a mask during a public visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Saturday, after long resisting bipartisan prodding to lead by example and demonstrate to Americans the importance of wearing a face covering to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.
Trump was visiting wounded service members and their families as well as health-care staff who have been caring for Covid-19 patients during the pandemic, the White House said. The president was accompanied by military leaders and followed by staff who were also wearing masks.
Trump donned the mask as the country continued to experience record increases in infections. Overall, more than 3.2 million Americans have been infected by the coronavirus, while more than 134,000 have died.
Before departing for Walter Reed, Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn that he would "probably have a mask" while visiting the hospital. Walter Reed requires visitors to wear masks when maintaining a safe social distance isn't possible.


cnbc--2020-07-11--Attorney General Barr told Trump he shouldn't grant Roger Stone clemency

Attorney General William Barr listens as United States President Donald J. Trump , unseen , speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Tuesday , June 16 , 2020 .
Attorney General William Barr spoke with President Donald Trump about Roger Stone and recommended against granting him clemency , an administration official told NBC News .
Other White House officials were also opposed to Trump 's decision due to fears of political blowback , including Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , according to a person familiar with the matter .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that advisors told the president that granting Stone clemency `` was a big mistake . ''
The official also said that the Department of Justice had nothing to do with the president 's decision to commute Stone 's sentence on seven felony crimes , which occurred only four days before the 67-year-old Republican operative was set to start his 40 months in federal prison .
Barr had previously said that Stone 's prosecution was `` righteous '' and the sentence was fair , and defended his decision to oppose a stricter sentence for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
Stone , a former campaign aide , was convicted of lying to Congress and obstruction and witness tampering after being indicted by a grand jury as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into Russia 's 2016 presidential election meddling .
Mueller himself broke his trademark silence to condemn the president 's rationale for granting Stone clemency , and to defend the special counsel 's investigation .
`` The work of the special counsel 's office — its report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — should speak for itself , '' Mueller wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post .
`` But I feel compelled to respond both to broad claims that our investigation was illegitimate and our motives were improper , and to specific claims that Roger Stone was a victim of our office . ''
He added : `` We made every decision in Stone 's case , as in all our cases , based solely on the facts and the law and in accordance with the rule of law .
The women and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acted with the highest integrity .
Claims to the contrary are false . ''
Democrats quickly criticized Trump 's decision and called it an abuse of the rule of law .
`` With this commutation , Trump makes clear that there are two systems of justice in America : one for his criminal friends , and one for everyone else , '' said Rep. Adam Schiff of California .
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the first Republican to openly criticize the president 's decision , calling it `` unprecedented , historic corruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president , '' Romney wrote in a tweet on Saturday .
GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said on Saturday that although Trump has the legal constitutional authority to grant clemency for federal crimes , commuting Stone 's sentence was a mistake .
`` While I understand the frustration with the badly flawed Russia-collusion investigation , in my view , commuting Roger Stone 's sentence is a mistake , '' Toomey said in a statement .
`` Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial should be resolved through the appeals process . ''
Other Republicans praised Trump 's move , arguing that the president has a constitutional right to commute sentences .
Ranking House member Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio tweeted that `` Like every president , President Trump has the constitutional right to commute sentences where he believes it serves the interest of fairness and justice . ''

Attorney General William Barr listens as United States President Donald J. Trump, unseen, speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.
Attorney General William Barr spoke with President Donald Trump about Roger Stone and recommended against granting him clemency, an administration official told NBC News.
Other White House officials were also opposed to Trump's decision due to fears of political blowback, including Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, according to a person familiar with the matter. Another person familiar with the matter told NBC that advisors told the president that granting Stone clemency "was a big mistake."
The official also said that the Department of Justice had nothing to do with the president's decision to commute Stone's sentence on seven felony crimes, which occurred only four days before the 67-year-old Republican operative was set to start his 40 months in federal prison.
Barr had previously said that Stone's prosecution was "righteous" and the sentence was fair, and defended his decision to oppose a stricter sentence for Stone.
The Justice Department and White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Stone, a former campaign aide, was convicted of lying to Congress and obstruction and witness tampering after being indicted by a grand jury as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's 2016 presidential election meddling.
Mueller himself broke his trademark silence to condemn the president's rationale for granting Stone clemency, and to defend the special counsel's investigation.
"The work of the special counsel's office — its report, indictments, guilty pleas and convictions — should speak for itself," Mueller wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post. "But I feel compelled to respond both to broad claims that our investigation was illegitimate and our motives were improper, and to specific claims that Roger Stone was a victim of our office."
He added: "We made every decision in Stone's case, as in all our cases, based solely on the facts and the law and in accordance with the rule of law. The women and men who conducted these investigations and prosecutions acted with the highest integrity. Claims to the contrary are false."
Democrats quickly criticized Trump's decision and called it an abuse of the rule of law.
"With this commutation, Trump makes clear that there are two systems of justice in America: one for his criminal friends, and one for everyone else," said Rep. Adam Schiff of California.
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the first Republican to openly criticize the president's decision, calling it "unprecedented, historic corruption."
"An American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president," Romney wrote in a tweet on Saturday.
GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said on Saturday that although Trump has the legal constitutional authority to grant clemency for federal crimes, commuting Stone's sentence was a mistake.
"While I understand the frustration with the badly flawed Russia-collusion investigation, in my view, commuting Roger Stone's sentence is a mistake," Toomey said in a statement. "Any objections to Mr. Stone's conviction and trial should be resolved through the appeals process."
Other Republicans praised Trump's move, arguing that the president has a constitutional right to commute sentences.
Ranking House member Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio tweeted that "Like every president, President Trump has the constitutional right to commute sentences where he believes it serves the interest of fairness and justice."


cnbc--2020-07-11--Op-ed: Merkel faces a historic test of leadership that will shape Europe's future after coronavirus

German Chancellor Angela Merkel with face mask is pictured before the meeting of the federal council on July 03 , 2020 in Berlin , Germany .
History rarely provides major countries and their leaders the enormity of the second chance that Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel now enjoy as they begin their six-month European Union presidency .
For Germany , the drama is one of epic dimensions .
Can the country that has been at the source of so much European devastation through two world wars , resulting in lost territory and Cold War division , steady the EU through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , economic recession and rising U.S.-Chinese tensions ?
For Angela Merkel , who held the rotating EU presidency once before in 2007 , it 's a last shot at historic legacy .
Can Germany 's first and only woman chancellor , who has recharged her waning standing during the coronavirus , demonstrate the leadership required to unify and shape Europe that her critics say eluded her during almost 15 years in power .
`` How Europe fares in this crisis compared to other regions of the world will determine both the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world , '' Chancellor Merkel told the Bundestag , Germany 's parliament , as she assumed the EU presidency .
In her first trip outside Germany since the coronavirus lockdown this week , she made clear the stakes stretched far beyond Covid-19 .
`` Nobody makes it through this crisis alone , '' she said .
`` We are all vulnerable . ''
Those who know Merkel best say that what drives the uncharacteristic urgency and decisiveness of Merkel 's messages is a fear that the EU could become irrelevant or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its economic , social and political aftereffects .
She understands the challenges for the EU are of a more existential nature than those facing China , the United States or any other single country , coming even as the United Kingdom exits the Union .
China and the U.S. will emerge from the ravages of 2020 with their borders and political systems intact , yet the 27 EU members confront more fundamental questions as their citizens weigh the value EU membership has brought them in the crisis .
`` We ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Merkel told the European Parliament this week .
`` In many of the member states the opponents to Europe are waiting only to misuse this crisis for their own purposes . ''
Chancellor Merkel 's efforts will come to a head next Saturday , July 17 , at a special EU leaders ' summit to discuss the coronavirus recovery plan and a long-term EU budget .
Never has Germany supported , as Chancellor Merkel is doing now , the pooling of national debt to help harder hit parts of Europe .
It will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beside French leader Emmanuel Macron and other EU leaders , whether she can convert a group of skeptics known as `` the frugal four '' – Austria , Denmark , the Netherlands and Sweden -- who have resisted the scale and makeup of the $ 850 billion recovery plan .
Yet even as that story unfolds , Germany at the same time is at the center of an unfolding global drama .
At its heart is the danger of a strategic , transatlantic decoupling – highlighted in this space two weeks ago – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Will Germany continue to define itself first-and-foremost as a strategic partner and ally of the United States ?
Or will it tilt more toward an alignment with China and Russia due to growing economic lures , in the first case , and geographic proximity and energy interests , in the latter ?
Or will it , and thus Europe , instead free float among powers in the pursuit of `` strategic autonomy , '' a situation unlikely to result in a more peaceful and integrated Europe ?
European attitudes toward the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 crisis .
A new poll commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations showed that in Denmark , Portugal , France , Germany and Spain that around two-thirds of people surveyed said their view of the U.S. had grown worse .
In Germany , the mood soured further after President Trump 's announcement on June 15 , without prior consultation with Berlin , that the U.S. plans to withdraw 9,500 of its 34,500 troops from Germany , even as the U.S. weighs $ 3.1 billion in new trade sanctions on Europe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she believes it is President Trump 's spite , more than anything else , that lay behind the timing and nature of his troop withdrawal announcement , following her decision not to physically attend a G-7 meeting that the president had hoped to schedule in Washington this month .
Some German officials have cast doubt on whether even the possible election of former Vice President Joe Biden in November would alter this trajectory .
`` Everyone who thinks everything in the trans-Atlantic partnership will be as it once was with a Democratic president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Minister Heiko Mass told the German press agency DPA this week .
Chancellor Merkel has made relations with Beijing a cornerstone of her EU presidency , and her country 's manufacturing base has come increasingly to depend on the Chinese market .
German exports to China have risen more than fivefold since Merkel took over as chancellor in 2005 to more than $ 125 billion , making it the country 's number one market .
The United States stood at number three at some $ 78 billion .
A full third of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transacted with Germany .
Most Europeans blame President Trump 's punitive trade policy and the tone of his tweets for the current threat of transatlantic decoupling .
They see his distaste for the EU as evidence that Washington would prefer European disunity .
For some , it seems as though Merkel has no other choice than embracing China .
Yet for Germany and Merkel , the promise of this second chance at leadership can only be fulfilled if she at the same time works to limit the erosion in transatlantic relations and ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Germany is unified today because Merkel 's predecessor Helmut Kohl understood that his European and transatlantic aspirations reinforced each other .
Difficult as it may seem at the moment for Chancellor Merkel to navigate both , it is the only course that can ensure her legacy and Germany 's hopes for European resilience and unity .
Frederick Kempe is a best-selling author , prize-winning journalist and president & CEO of the Atlantic Council , one of the United States ' most influential think tanks on global affairs .
He worked at The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years as a foreign correspondent , assistant managing editor and as the longest-serving editor of the paper 's European edition .
His latest book – `` Berlin 1961 : Kennedy , Khrushchev , and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth '' – was a New York Times best-seller and has been published in more than a dozen languages .
Follow him on Twitter @ FredKempe and subscribe here to Inflection Points , his look each Saturday at the past week 's top stories and trends .
For more insight from CNBC contributors , @ @ @ @ @ @

German Chancellor Angela Merkel with face mask is pictured before the meeting of the federal council on July 03, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.
History rarely provides major countries and their leaders the enormity of the second chance that Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel now enjoy as they begin their six-month European Union presidency.
For Germany, the drama is one of epic dimensions. Can the country that has been at the source of so much European devastation through two world wars, resulting in lost territory and Cold War division, steady the EU through this historic test of a public health crisis, economic recession and rising U.S.-Chinese tensions?
For Angela Merkel, who held the rotating EU presidency once before in 2007, it's a last shot at historic legacy. Can Germany's first and only woman chancellor, who has recharged her waning standing during the coronavirus, demonstrate the leadership required to unify and shape Europe that her critics say eluded her during almost 15 years in power.
These aren't academic questions.
"How Europe fares in this crisis compared to other regions of the world will determine both the future of European prosperity and Europe's role in the world," Chancellor Merkel told the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, as she assumed the EU presidency.
In her first trip outside Germany since the coronavirus lockdown this week, she made clear the stakes stretched far beyond Covid-19. "Nobody makes it through this crisis alone," she said. "We are all vulnerable."
Those who know Merkel best say that what drives the uncharacteristic urgency and decisiveness of Merkel's messages is a fear that the EU could become irrelevant or even unravel from the force of Covid-19 and its economic, social and political aftereffects. She understands the challenges for the EU are of a more existential nature than those facing China, the United States or any other single country, coming even as the United Kingdom exits the Union.
China and the U.S. will emerge from the ravages of 2020 with their borders and political systems intact, yet the 27 EU members confront more fundamental questions as their citizens weigh the value EU membership has brought them in the crisis.
"We can't allow ourselves to be naïve," Merkel told the European Parliament this week. "In many of the member states the opponents to Europe are waiting only to misuse this crisis for their own purposes."
Chancellor Merkel's efforts will come to a head next Saturday, July 17, at a special EU leaders' summit to discuss the coronavirus recovery plan and a long-term EU budget. Never has Germany supported, as Chancellor Merkel is doing now, the pooling of national debt to help harder hit parts of Europe.
It will be a test of her leadership, beside French leader Emmanuel Macron and other EU leaders, whether she can convert a group of skeptics known as "the frugal four" – Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden -- who have resisted the scale and makeup of the $850 billion recovery plan.
Yet even as that story unfolds, Germany at the same time is at the center of an unfolding global drama. At its heart is the danger of a strategic, transatlantic decoupling – highlighted in this space two weeks ago – that would alter 75 years of history.
Will Germany continue to define itself first-and-foremost as a strategic partner and ally of the United States? Or will it tilt more toward an alignment with China and Russia due to growing economic lures, in the first case, and geographic proximity and energy interests, in the latter? Or will it, and thus Europe, instead free float among powers in the pursuit of "strategic autonomy," a situation unlikely to result in a more peaceful and integrated Europe?
European attitudes toward the United States have shifted dramatically downward during the Covid-19 crisis. A new poll commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations showed that in Denmark, Portugal, France, Germany and Spain that around two-thirds of people surveyed said their view of the U.S. had grown worse.
In Germany, the mood soured further after President Trump's announcement on June 15, without prior consultation with Berlin, that the U.S. plans to withdraw 9,500 of its 34,500 troops from Germany, even as the U.S. weighs $3.1 billion in new trade sanctions on Europe.
Chancellor Merkel's friends privately share that she believes it is President Trump's spite, more than anything else, that lay behind the timing and nature of his troop withdrawal announcement, following her decision not to physically attend a G-7 meeting that the president had hoped to schedule in Washington this month.
Some German officials have cast doubt on whether even the possible election of former Vice President Joe Biden in November would alter this trajectory. "Everyone who thinks everything in the trans-Atlantic partnership will be as it once was with a Democratic president underestimates the structural changes," German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass told the German press agency DPA this week.
Chancellor Merkel has made relations with Beijing a cornerstone of her EU presidency, and her country's manufacturing base has come increasingly to depend on the Chinese market. German exports to China have risen more than fivefold since Merkel took over as chancellor in 2005 to more than $125 billion, making it the country's number one market. The United States stood at number three at some $78 billion. A full third of China's trade with the EU is transacted with Germany.
Most Europeans blame President Trump's punitive trade policy and the tone of his tweets for the current threat of transatlantic decoupling. They see his distaste for the EU as evidence that Washington would prefer European disunity. For some, it seems as though Merkel has no other choice than embracing China.
Yet for Germany and Merkel, the promise of this second chance at leadership can only be fulfilled if she at the same time works to limit the erosion in transatlantic relations and ultimately restore European relations with the United States.
Germany is unified today because Merkel's predecessor Helmut Kohl understood that his European and transatlantic aspirations reinforced each other. Difficult as it may seem at the moment for Chancellor Merkel to navigate both, it is the only course that can ensure her legacy and Germany's hopes for European resilience and unity.
Frederick Kempe is a best-selling author, prize-winning journalist and president & CEO of the Atlantic Council, one of the United States' most influential think tanks on global affairs. He worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than 25 years as a foreign correspondent, assistant managing editor and as the longest-serving editor of the paper's European edition. His latest book – "Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth" – was a New York Times best-seller and has been published in more than a dozen languages. Follow him on Twitter @FredKempe and subscribe here to Inflection Points, his look each Saturday at the past week's top stories and trends.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.