cnbc--2020-06-26--Democratic activists, tech execs plan to launch super PAC that will use Trump's own tweets against h

Democratic activists, tech execs plan to launch super PAC that will use Trump's own tweets against him

Democratic activists are putting the finishing touches on a super PAC that plans to use President Donald Trump 's prolific tweeting habits against him .
The PAC , known as Defeat by Tweet , is planning to launch a site Friday that will allow donors to give recurring contributions to the organization every time the president tweets to his 82 million-plus followers on Twitter .
Those funds will then be used to finance get-out-the-vote organizations , along with criminal and social justice reform groups , such as the Color of Change , Forward Justice and the Black Voters Matter Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump on Twitter with a receipt of how much each tweet raised for the group .
It 's being organized by Xander Schultz , a Silicon Valley tech executive who founded Complete Labs Inc. , an app that allows people to share and organize their daily to-do lists .
Schultz is involved with venture capital , including as a partner at NextGen Venture Partners , a start-up investment fund .
Schultz also works with Mike Novogratz , a former hedge fund executive and current bitcoin investor who has already pledged $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview with CNBC .
For years , Novogratz has spent millions funding criminal justice reform efforts .
In an interview with CNBC , Novogratz , CEO of Galaxy Investment Partners , pointed to Schultz as the architect of the PAC , particularly as it pertains to the retail and grassroots approach of encouraging new donors to start giving anywhere between 1 and 10 cents per tweet .
`` It 's all about funding these groups that help finance and organize for those down-ballot races .
The single best thing to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in these races , '' Novogratz said .
`` That 's how people get to the ballot box and more than likely those people will also vote against Trump . ''
Beyond his commitment of $ 1 million to this endeavor , Novogratz told CNBC , he made another major financial commitment of writing a six-figure check to the Biden Victory Fund , a joint fundraising committee between Joe Biden 's campaign and the Democratic National Committee .
Schultz says he hopes the PAC raises over $ 100 million by Election Day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these groups that are fighting for change in Black and Latino communities .
Many of them vocally oppose Trump and are calling on voters to support Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee .
The decision to create the super PAC came after the killing of George Floyd , which has sparked nationwide protests .
Trump has been criticized for his handling of the protests and once appeared to threaten those speaking out in a Twitter post .
`` These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd , and I wo n't let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
`` Any difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting starts . ''
Twitter flagged that tweet as a statement that violated its rule of glorifying violence .
Trump denied he was intending violence .
`` This is taxing hate speech and having it directly contribute to his defeat , '' Schultz said .
`` Twitter is his outlet , it 's his release .
I love the sarcastic tone of it all , but my personal goal is to move tens if not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations . ''
Schultz said the PAC 's primary partner is the Movement Voter Project , which says it supports `` hundreds of incredible organizations that both turn out unlikely voters and organize communities to grow their power and create transformation , from policy to the streets . ''
They also connect donors `` to the most effective grassroots voter organizations in the country that are mobilizing their communities in critical battleground states and districts where we must win in 2020 . ''
They also are turning to actors and high profile video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product .
Noah Centineo , who has been featured in shows on Netflix and the Disney Channel , is one of their celebrity partners .
Alfie Deyes , an English author and YouTube star who has nearly 5 million subscribers to his channel , is also one of the PAC 's partners .
Combined , they have just over 6 million Twitter followers .

Democratic activists are putting the finishing touches on a super PAC that plans to use President Donald Trump's prolific tweeting habits against him.
The PAC, known as Defeat by Tweet, is planning to launch a site Friday that will allow donors to give recurring contributions to the organization every time the president tweets to his 82 million-plus followers on Twitter.
Those funds will then be used to finance get-out-the-vote organizations, along with criminal and social justice reform groups, such as the Color of Change and the Black Voters Matter Fund. The PAC also intends to reply to Trump on Twitter with a receipt of how much each tweet raised for the group.
It's being organized by Xander Schultz, a Silicon Valley tech executive who founded Complete Labs Inc., an app that allows people to share and organize their daily to-do lists. Schultz is involved with venture capital, including as a partner at NextGen Venture Partners, a start-up investment fund.
Schultz also works with Mike Novogratz, a former hedge fund executive and current bitcoin investor who has already pledged $1 million for the project, Schultz said in an interview with CNBC. For years, Novogratz has spent millions funding criminal justice reform efforts.
In an interview with CNBC, Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Investment Partners, pointed to Schultz as the architect of the PAC, particularly as it pertains to the retail and grassroots approach of encouraging new donors to start giving anywhere between 1 and 10 cents per tweet.
"It's all about funding these groups that help finance and organize for those down-ballot races. The single best thing to help criminal justice reform is to actually invest in these races," Novogratz said. "That's how people get to the ballot box and more than likely those people will also vote against Trump."
Beyond his commitment of $1 million to this endeavor, Novogratz told CNBC, he made another major financial commitment of writing a six-figure check to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee between Joe Biden's campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
Schultz says he hopes the PAC raises over $100 million by Election Day in November, with the goal of helping these groups that are fighting for change in Black and Latino communities. Many of them vocally oppose Trump and are calling on voters to support Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee.
The decision to create the super PAC came after the killing of George Floyd, which has sparked nationwide protests. Trump has been criticized for his handling of the protests and once appeared to threaten those speaking out in a Twitter post.
"These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen," Trump said last month. "Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts." Twitter flagged that tweet as a statement that violated its rule of glorifying violence. Trump denied he was intending violence.
"This is taxing hate speech and having it directly contribute to his defeat," Schultz said. "Twitter is his outlet, it's his release. I love the sarcastic tone of it all, but my personal goal is to move tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars to these organizations."
Schultz said the PAC's primary partner is the Movement Voter Project, which says it supports "hundreds of incredible organizations that both turn out unlikely voters and organize communities to grow their power and create transformation, from policy to the streets."
They also connect donors "to the most effective grassroots voter organizations in the country that are mobilizing their communities in critical battleground states and districts where we must win in 2020."
They also are turning to actors and high profile video vloggers to spread the word about their product. Noah Centineo, who has been featured in shows on Netflix and the Disney Channel, is one of their celebrity partners. Alfie Deyes, an English author and YouTube star who has nearly 5 million subscribers to his channel, is also one of the PAC's partners.
Combined, they have just over 6 million Twitter followers.


cnbc--2020-06-26--Pence defends Trump campaign rallies despite surge in coronavirus cases: 'We have an election coming

Pence defends Trump campaign rallies despite surge in coronavirus cases: 'We have an election coming up this fall'

Vice President Mike Pence defended the Trump campaign 's decision to resume its signature in-person rallies despite a worrying spike in coronavirus cases .
At a White House coronavirus task force briefing Friday – the group 's first in nearly two months – a reporter asked Pence why the campaign forged ahead with the rallies , which have drawn tens of thousands of President Donald Trump 's supporters in the past .
`` The freedom of speech , the right to peaceably assemble , is enshrined in the constitution of the United States , '' replied Pence , who leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an election coming up this fall , '' he added .
`` We still want to give people the freedom to participate in the political process , and we respect that . ''
Another reporter grilled Pence for justifying the public gatherings while insisting that people follow state and local social distancing guidelines .
`` Even in a health crisis , the American people do n't forfeit our constitutional rights , '' Pence said .
`` I think it 's really important that we recognize how important freedom and personal responsibility to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he and Trump believed in `` taking proper steps '' in their approach to hosting rallies amid the pandemic .
At the most recent rally in Oklahoma over the weekend , attendees received masks , hand sanitizer and temperature checks before entering the Tulsa arena where Trump spoke .
But wearing the masks was not mandatory .
The vice president noted that attendees were screened at recent events , and added that Oklahoma 's positivity rate for Covid-19 cases appears to be on the decline as of Friday .
`` That 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are using common sense , they 're being responsible . ''
While Trump had regularly held rallies throughout his 2016 election bid and during much of his first term in office , the campaign suspended rallies for more than three months as the pandemic spread throughout the United States .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has also been off the campaign trail , appearing mostly during virtual events and interviews .
Despite his physical absence , Biden has surged ahead of Trump in general election polls .
The Trump campaign 's reboot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it did exposure to his reelection pitch , with top health officials in the area recommending the event be postponed .
Turnout at the 19,000-capacity convention center also fell well below the hype that the campaign had built up , marring the enthusiastic image the president 's reelection team was hoping to convey .
On Tuesday , Trump spoke to a packed megachurch in Phoenix , Arizona .
The president has regularly claimed that America has been more effective in combating the virus than any other country , even though the U.S. has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths from Covid-19 .
During a speech in Marinette , Wisconsin , on Thursday , Trump once again claimed that the U.S. is seeing an increase in coronavirus cases because it is testing more extensively than other nations .
More than 2.4 million coronavirus cases and at least 124,468 deaths have been confirmed in the U.S. , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
Pence , who as recently as last week had assured Americans that the `` panic '' over a so-called second wave of the virus was `` overblown , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we now have seen cases rise precipitously across the South . ''
`` If there 's one message that comes through today I hope it is saying to younger Americans in these states , and in these counties in particular , that they are a big part of the numbers that we are seeing in new cases , '' Pence said .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , recently said that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic .
Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see that roughly half of the new infections reported are in people under 35 years old , as that age group is less likely to be seriously harmed or killed by the virus than older demographics .
But Fauci warned that young people can still spread the disease to more at-risk populations .
`` People are infecting other people and ultimately you will infect someone who 's vulnerable , '' Fauci said at the briefing .

Vice President Mike Pence defended the Trump campaign's decision to resume its signature in-person rallies despite a worrying spike in coronavirus cases.
At a White House coronavirus task force briefing Friday – the group's first in nearly two months – a reporter asked Pence why the campaign forged ahead with the rallies, which have drawn tens of thousands of President Donald Trump's supporters in the past.
"The freedom of speech, the right to peaceably assemble, is enshrined in the constitution of the United States," replied Pence, who leads the task force.
"And we have an election coming up this fall," he added. "We still want to give people the freedom to participate in the political process, and we respect that."
Another reporter grilled Pence for justifying the public gatherings while insisting that people follow state and local social distancing guidelines.
"Even in a health crisis, the American people don't forfeit our constitutional rights," Pence said. "I think it's really important that we recognize how important freedom and personal responsibility to this entire equation."
TCNN TWEET
Pence said that he and Trump believed in "taking proper steps" in their approach to hosting rallies amid the pandemic. At the most recent rally in Oklahoma over the weekend, attendees received masks, hand sanitizer and temperature checks before entering the Tulsa arena where Trump spoke. But wearing the masks was not mandatory.
The vice president noted that attendees were screened at recent events, and added that Oklahoma's positivity rate for Covid-19 cases appears to be on the decline as of Friday. "That's a great testament to the fact that people are using common sense, they're being responsible."
While Trump had regularly held rallies throughout his 2016 election bid and during much of his first term in office, the campaign suspended rallies for more than three months as the pandemic spread throughout the United States.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has also been off the campaign trail, appearing mostly during virtual events and interviews. Despite his physical absence, Biden has surged ahead of Trump in general election polls.
The Trump campaign's reboot in Tulsa yielded as much controversy as it did exposure to his reelection pitch, with top health officials in the area recommending the event be postponed. Turnout at the 19,000-capacity convention center also fell well below the hype that the campaign had built up, marring the enthusiastic image the president's reelection team was hoping to convey.
On Tuesday, Trump spoke to a packed megachurch in Phoenix, Arizona.
The president has regularly claimed that America has been more effective in combating the virus than any other country, even though the U.S. has reported the highest numbers of cases and deaths from Covid-19. During a speech in Marinette, Wisconsin, on Thursday, Trump once again claimed that the U.S. is seeing an increase in coronavirus cases because it is testing more extensively than other nations.
More than 2.4 million coronavirus cases and at least 124,468 deaths have been confirmed in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Pence, who as recently as last week had assured Americans that the "panic" over a so-called second wave of the virus was "overblown," admitted at the briefing Friday that "we now have seen cases rise precipitously across the South."
"If there's one message that comes through today I hope it is saying to younger Americans in these states, and in these counties in particular, that they are a big part of the numbers that we are seeing in new cases," Pence said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently said that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic.
Pence told reporters it was "encouraging" to see that roughly half of the new infections reported are in people under 35 years old, as that age group is less likely to be seriously harmed or killed by the virus than older demographics.
But Fauci warned that young people can still spread the disease to more at-risk populations.
"People are infecting other people and ultimately you will infect someone who's vulnerable," Fauci said at the briefing.
-- CNBC's Noah Higgins-Dunn contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-06-27--Trump says he canceled New Jersey trip to ensure 'law & order is enforced' in Washington, DC

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to the White House residence after exiting Marine One on the South Lawn on June 25 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
President Donald Trump tweeted that he abruptly canceled a planned trip to New Jersey on Friday to `` make sure LAW & ORDER is enforced '' in Washington , D.C. Trump 's late afternoon Twitter post was the first time he or the White House explained the sudden cancellation on Friday morning of his scheduled visit this weekend to his golf course in Bedminster , NJ .
The White House earlier had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new order by Gov .
Phil Murphy requiring visitors to the Garden State to quarantine after being in states with increasing numbers of coronavirus cases .
`` I was going to go to Bedminster , New Jersey , this weekend , but wanted to stay in Washington , D.C. to make sure LAW & ORDER is enforced , '' Trump wrote in his Twitter post .
`` The arsonists , anarchists , looters , and agitators have been largely stopped .
..
I am doing what is necessary to keep our communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought to Justice ! ''
The president soon afterward tweeted that he had just signed `` a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments , Memorials , and Statues - and combating recent Criminal Violence . ''
Trump 's tweets came a day after sources told NBC News that Trump personally called Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt and asked that the Park Service put back up a statue of Albert Pike , a Confederate general , which was pulled down and set on fire last week by protesters in a Washington park .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square , just across from the White House , but were scattered by police using pepper spray before they could topple the statue .
On Thursday , law enforcement authorities put up barriers around the Emancipation Memorial in the Capitol Hill area to prevent it from potential damage from protesters .
Some protesters have called for removal of the memorial , which depicts President Abraham Lincoln holding a copy of his Emancipation Proclamation , as a Black man kneels at Lincoln 's feet .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform of police and the removal of Confederate statues and other memorials seen as objectionable on the heels of the killing of George Floyd , a Black man , on Memorial Day by Minneapolis police .
Four now-fired cops have been arrested and charge in Floyd 's death , which occurred after one of them , Derek Chauvin , kneeled on his neck for nearly eight minutes during an arrest .
Murphy , the New Jersey governor , told CNBC earlier Friday that his coronavirus quarantine order would not have applied to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the United States is an essential worker . ''
Two days ago , a White House spokesman that Trump still planned to go to New Jersey despite Murphy 's order , which mirrors identical directives issued this week by New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Gov .
Ned Lamont to visitors who had been in a number of states with rising coronavirus cases .

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to the White House residence after exiting Marine One on the South Lawn on June 25, 2020 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump tweeted that he abruptly canceled a planned trip to New Jersey on Friday to "make sure LAW & ORDER is enforced" in Washington, D.C.
Trump's late afternoon Twitter post was the first time he or the White House explained the sudden cancellation on Friday morning of his scheduled visit this weekend to his golf course in Bedminster, NJ.
The White House earlier had said that the cancellation was unrelated to a new order by Gov. Phil Murphy requiring visitors to the Garden State to quarantine after being in states with increasing numbers of coronavirus cases.
"I was going to go to Bedminster, New Jersey, this weekend, but wanted to stay in Washington, D.C. to make sure LAW & ORDER is enforced," Trump wrote in his Twitter post.
"The arsonists, anarchists, looters, and agitators have been largely stopped. .. I am doing what is necessary to keep our communities safe — and these people will be brought to Justice!"
Tweet
The president soon afterward tweeted that he had just signed "a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues - and combating recent Criminal Violence."
Tweet
Trump's tweets came a day after sources told NBC News that Trump personally called Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt and asked that the Park Service put back up a statue of Albert Pike, a Confederate general, which was pulled down and set on fire last week by protesters in a Washington park.
On Monday, protesters tied ropes around the statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square, just across from the White House, but were scattered by police using pepper spray before they could topple the statue.
On Thursday, law enforcement authorities put up barriers around the Emancipation Memorial in the Capitol Hill area to prevent it from potential damage from protesters. Some protesters have called for removal of the memorial, which depicts President Abraham Lincoln holding a copy of his Emancipation Proclamation, as a Black man kneels at Lincoln's feet.
The U.S. has seen protests nationwide calling for reform of police and the removal of Confederate statues and other memorials seen as objectionable on the heels of the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, on Memorial Day by Minneapolis police.
Four now-fired cops have been arrested and charge in Floyd's death, which occurred after one of them, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on his neck for nearly eight minutes during an arrest.
Murphy, the New Jersey governor, told CNBC earlier Friday that his coronavirus quarantine order would not have applied to Trump, because "by any definition the president of the United States is an essential worker."
Two days ago, a White House spokesman that Trump still planned to go to New Jersey despite Murphy's order, which mirrors identical directives issued this week by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont to visitors who had been in a number of states with rising coronavirus cases.


cnbc--2020-06-26--Trump brother files new lawsuit seeking to block niece Mary Trump's tell-all book about family

Republican president-elect Donald Trump ( R ) hugs his brother Robert Trump after delivering his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9 , 2016 in New York City .
President Donald Trump 's brother has , as expected , filed a new lawsuit seeking to permanently block publication of their niece 's new tell-all book about the wealthy family , a day after a judge in another New York state court tossed out his first such effort on jurisdiction grounds .
Robert Trump 's latest court action targeting Mary Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it allegedly would violate a nondisclosure agreement , was filed in Dutchess County [ New York ] Supreme Court .
Robert Trump lives in that county , and his brother , the president , owns a golf course there .
Robert Trump 's filing , which names both Mary Trump and publisher Simon & Schuster as defendants , was expected after his first attempt to stop the book was summarily dismissed Thursday in Queens County Surrogate 's Court .
But his lawyer , Charles Harder , had told CNBC on Thursday that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York County Supreme Court , which is in Manhattan , not in upstate Dutchess County , which is about 80 miles north of New York City .
Harder , who has also represented President Trump on other issues , did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday .
Mary Trump 's lawyer , Theodore Boutrous , in an email said the new lawsuit `` is yet another baseless attempt by the Trump family to obtain an unconstitutional prior restraint to block core political speech relating to the President . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mary 's book , `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , '' is scheduled to be published July 28 .
Mary is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr. , the president 's older brother , who died when Mary was a teenager .
Like the prior court filing in Queens County , Robert Trump argues in his suit that the book will violate the nondisclosure agreement that Mary signed in 2001 with him , Donald Trump and their sister , retired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following a legal dispute over the will of the elder Trumps ' late father , Fred Trump Sr. Mary is `` not allowed to write a book , '' President Trump recently said .
Robert 's suit says the confidentiality pact bars all people who signed the NDA from writing about their legal dispute over Fred Sr. 's will , or about `` their relationship with each other . ''

Republican president-elect Donald Trump (R) hugs his brother Robert Trump after delivering his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City.
President Donald Trump's brother has, as expected, filed a new lawsuit seeking to permanently block publication of their niece's new tell-all book about the wealthy family, a day after a judge in another New York state court tossed out his first such effort on jurisdiction grounds.
Robert Trump's latest court action targeting Mary Trump's forthcoming book, on the grounds that it allegedly would violate a nondisclosure agreement, was filed in Dutchess County [New York] Supreme Court. Robert Trump lives in that county, and his brother, the president, owns a golf course there.
Robert Trump's filing, which names both Mary Trump and publisher Simon & Schuster as defendants, was expected after his first attempt to stop the book was summarily dismissed Thursday in Queens County Surrogate's Court, a venue that as a rule handled issues relating to wills and estates of dead people.
Charles Harder had told CNBC on Thursday that the new case would be filed in a New York state Supreme Court, which handles lawsuits and criminal matters at a trial level in that state.
Harder, who has also represented President Trump on other issues, in a email to CNBC on Saturday said, "Almost 20 years ago, several Trump family members, including Robert and Mary, settled a legal dispute. It included an agreement to never publish any books about their family relationships. All five agreed that any breach would be enjoined by a court."
"Mary Trump reaped the rewards of the agreement for 20 years, and now seeks to breach the agreement by cashing in on a 'tell-all' book," Harder said.
"The enforcement of voluntary contracts is a pillar of our legal system. This private dispute has nothing to do with the First Amendment."
Mary Trump's lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, in an email said the new lawsuit "is yet another baseless attempt by the Trump family to obtain an unconstitutional prior restraint to block core political speech relating to the President."
"It will fail," Boutrous said.
Mary's book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," is scheduled to be published July 28. Mary is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr., the president's older brother, who died when Mary was a teenager.
Like the prior court filing in Queens County, Robert Trump argues in his suit that the book will violate that nondisclosure agreement that Mary signed in 2001 with him, Donald Trump and their sister, retired federal appeals Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, following a legal dispute over the will of the elder Trumps' late father, Fred Trump Sr.
Mary is "not allowed to write a book," President Trump recently said.
Robert's suit says the confidentiality pact bars all people who signed the NDA from writing about their legal dispute over Fred Sr.'s will, or about "their relationship with each other."


cnbc--2020-06-26--The election is 'Biden's to lose' as Trump alienates voters, says longtime GOP pollster

Joe Biden 's Democratic campaign for the White House has gotten a boost lately because President Donald Trump is alienating voters with his divisive rhetoric , longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz told CNBC on Friday .
`` This election is absolutely not over .
But it 's Joe Biden 's to lose , '' Luntz said in a `` Squawk Box '' interview .
`` You never , ever count anyone out , but these have not been a good two weeks for Donald Trump . ''
`` Biden has been pretty quiet '' lately and he should stay that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes gaffes that Trump can exploit , Luntz said .
The latest gaffe came during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania , where Biden on Thursday said the U.S. had `` over 120 million dead from Covid , '' when he meant to say over 100,000 .
According to data from Johns Hopkins University on Friday , total Covid-19 deaths in America exceeded 124,000 from more than 2.4 million cases .
Trump tweeted out Biden 's misstep , writing , `` This is beyond a normal mistake . ''
Luntz said Biden should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he had been on coronavirus lockdown for months , and `` staying away from the media . ''
`` The quieter [ Biden ] is , the better he 's doing in the surveys , '' Luntz said .
`` That ought to tell you something .
The more Trump speaks — and I think it 's the message , and I think it 's what he 's saying — the worse he 's showing up . ''
According to the RealClearPolitics national polling average , Biden leads Trump by 10 percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` States that Donald Trump won in 2016 have now shifted to towards Joe Biden by anywhere from 6 to 10 points .
That 's significant .
That 's beyond the margin of error . ''
The Trump and Biden campaigns did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
Biden is also gaining favor on Wall Street , which has benefited greatly from Trump 's 2017 corporate tax cut and his push to eliminate business regulations .
Even with the coronavirus hit to the markets , the Dow Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close , was up 40 % since Election Day 2016 and 30 % higher since Trump 's inauguration 73 days later .
Various current and former financiers , analysts , lobbyists , lawyers and political advisors with banking clients told CNBC they 're increasingly preparing for the possibility that the former vice president could beat Trump in the November election .
`` They are willing to support anyone that gives them a sense of stability , and a sense that things will calm down .
That 's why Biden has actually moved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering voting for him , '' Luntz said .
Luntz said the prospect for higher taxes under Biden is not hurting him in the polls .
`` There 's a greater acceptance for higher taxes today than there ever has been in my research .
And this goes back to Reagan-Mondale in 1984 .
That 's how significant this is ; a willingness to pay for the spending , willingness to keep the economy going , willingness to give something because of all the unrest out there , '' Luntz said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same bluster and tough talk that worked four years ago when he shook the political establishment by beating Hillary Clinton .
`` Hillary Clinton was very easy to dislike .
Donald Trump had her number . ''
However , Luntz added , `` There is a brittleness , an anger , a frustration , an anxiety that exists in the American people that did not exist in 2016 , '' referring to the dual crises of the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide protests against racial inequalities sparked by last month 's killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer .
`` Again , it 's Donald Trump 's language , not his policies , that matter , '' Luntz said .
`` The language that he 's using is not the language of the American people .
He 's being very tough .
The public wants empathy .
They want understanding .
He talks about law and order .
He should talk about public safety .
He talks about his supporters being warriors when what people really want is for him to [ work ] for hard-working taxpayers . ''

Joe Biden's Democratic campaign for the White House has gotten a boost lately because President Donald Trump is alienating voters with his divisive rhetoric, longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz told CNBC on Friday.
"This election is absolutely not over. But it's Joe Biden's to lose," Luntz said in a "Squawk Box" interview. "You never, ever count anyone out, but these have not been a good two weeks for Donald Trump."
"Biden has been pretty quiet" lately and he should stay that way, because when he speaks he makes gaffes that Trump can exploit, Luntz said.
The latest gaffe came during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, where Biden on Thursday said the U.S. had "over 120 million dead from Covid," when he meant to say over 100,000. According to data from Johns Hopkins University on Friday, total Covid-19 deaths in America exceeded 124,000 from more than 2.4 million cases.
Trump tweeted out Biden's misstep, writing, "This is beyond a normal mistake."
TRUMP TWEET
Luntz said Biden should be "staying in his basement," where he had been on coronavirus lockdown for months, and "staying away from the media."
"The quieter [Biden] is, the better he's doing in the surveys," Luntz said. "That ought to tell you something. The more Trump speaks — and I think it's the message, and I think it's what he's saying — the worse he's showing up."
The Biden campaign did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.
However, the Trump campaign emailed CNBC over the weekend, writing: "Like the Biden campaign, we too want to see more of Joe Biden unfiltered and unscripted. If Joe Biden made himself available to the American public half as much as President Trump does, the choice would be even clearer."
According to the RealClearPolitics national polling average, Biden leads Trump by 9.2 percentage points as of Monday morning.
More importantly, Luntz said, "States that Donald Trump won in 2016 have now shifted to towards Joe Biden by anywhere from 6 to 10 points. That's significant. That's beyond the margin of error."
Biden is also gaining favor on Wall Street, which has benefited greatly from Trump's 2017 corporate tax cut and his push to eliminate business regulations. Even with the coronavirus hit to the markets, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, as of Thursday's close, was up 40% since Election Day 2016 and 30% higher since Trump's inauguration 73 days later.
Various current and former financiers, analysts, lobbyists, lawyers and political advisors with banking clients told CNBC they're increasingly preparing for the possibility that the former vice president could beat Trump in the November election.
"They are willing to support anyone that gives them a sense of stability, and a sense that things will calm down. That's why Biden has actually moved in the business community and people are now considering voting for him," Luntz said.
Luntz said the prospect for higher taxes under Biden is not hurting him in the polls.
"There's a greater acceptance for higher taxes today than there ever has been in my research. And this goes back to Reagan-Mondale in 1984. That's how significant this is; a willingness to pay for the spending, willingness to keep the economy going, willingness to give something because of all the unrest out there," Luntz said.
He said Trump should not try to use the same bluster and tough talk that worked four years ago when he shook the political establishment by beating Hillary Clinton. "Hillary Clinton was very easy to dislike. Donald Trump had her number."
However, Luntz added, "There is a brittleness, an anger, a frustration, an anxiety that exists in the American people that did not exist in 2016," referring to the dual crises of the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide protests against racial inequalities sparked by last month's killing of George Floyd by a White police officer.
"Again, it's Donald Trump's language, not his policies, that matter," Luntz said. "The language that he's using is not the language of the American people. He's being very tough. The public wants empathy. They want understanding. He talks about law and order. He should talk about public safety. He talks about his supporters being warriors when what people really want is for him to [work] for hard-working taxpayers."


cnbc--2020-06-26--Trump touts Navy 'yacht with missiles' as he plays up manufacturing in key 2020 state Wisconsin

`` It 's like a yacht with missiles on it , '' the president said of the American-built warships .
`` You know , sometimes , you can make it look great for less money .
I said , 'This is not a good looking ship .
Let 's change the design of it , ' '' he continued .
`` And I got people in , and we looked at different designs , and as long as we 're going to do it and look at what you 're doing , how beautiful it is . ''
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look terrible , '' Trump told workers of Fincantieri Marinette Marine on Thursday .
`` I would change designs , I looked at it .
I said , 'That 's a terrible looking ship , let 's make it beautiful . '
'' WASHINGTON — Speaking to workers at a shipbuilding facility in Wisconsin , President Donald Trump touted American manufacturing and took credit for helping to design a better-looking class of U.S. Navy warships .
US President Donald Trump waves after speaking to guests during a visit to the Fincantieri Marinette Marine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marinette , Wisconsin .
Trump has long pledged to bring manufacturing back from overseas , equating that effort with American renewal .
At the shipyard , he said the future of the facility had looked bleak not long ago but `` then a lot of good things came along . ''
`` Manufacturing , remember , manufacturing was never going to come back .
Well , it did come back .
It came back big , '' Trump said .
His remarks come on the heels of a $ 5.5 billion Pentagon contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Navy 's newest class of warships .
According to the contract , which was awarded in April , the Navy frigates will be built at Fincantieri 's shipyard in Marinette , Wisconsin , which currently produces the U.S. Navy 's littoral combat ships .
The Pentagon estimated the first ship would cost $ 1.2 billion .
The nine subsequent ships would cost up to approximately $ 781 million , in 2018 constant dollars , Navy officials said in an April call with reporters .
Read more : CNBC spent a day aboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's visit to Wisconsin came as election polls in the crucial swing state show him hemorrhaging support to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
A New York Times/Siena College poll released Thursday found Biden leading Trump in Wisconsin by 11 points .
Trump narrowly beat out Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election , turning the state red for the first time in a presidential contest since 1988 .
The Times ' poll shows the president is also trailing Biden in five other battleground states that Trump won in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cheering crowd at the Wisconsin shipyard gave the event the look and feel of a campaign stop as much as a presidential visit .
Biden , who traveled to the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Thursday , said Trump did not deserve credit for the success of the area he was visiting .
`` Today , Donald Trump is in Marinette to take credit for Obama-Biden administration-fueled successes in an attempt to paper over the fact that Wisconsin has been bleeding blue-collar manufacturing jobs over the past few weeks , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of offering real relief to working families , he 's trying to claim credit for progress in Marinette he did not build . ''
The trip came days after the Trump campaign resumed the boisterous arena rallies that defined his 2016 campaign but had been suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic .
While both Trump and Biden have been cleared off the campaign trail , polls show Trump falling badly behind the former vice president as voters sour on the incumbent 's handling of the virus and his reaction to the civil unrest over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point in the cycle , no other Republican or Democratic nominee in the last four elections was as far ahead of their opponent as Biden is against Trump , according to CNBC 's averages of polls posted to RealClearPolitics .

"It's like a yacht with missiles on it," the president said of the American-built warships.
"You know, sometimes, you can make it look great for less money. I said, 'This is not a good looking ship. Let's change the design of it,'" he continued. "And I got people in, and we looked at different designs, and as long as we're going to do it and look at what you're doing, how beautiful it is."
"The ships that they were building, they look terrible," Trump told workers of Fincantieri Marinette Marine on Thursday. "I would change designs, I looked at it. I said, 'That's a terrible looking ship, let's make it beautiful.'"
WASHINGTON — Speaking to workers at a shipbuilding facility in Wisconsin, President Donald Trump touted American manufacturing and took credit for helping to design a better-looking class of U.S. Navy warships.
US President Donald Trump waves after speaking to guests during a visit to the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard on June 25, 2020 in Marinette, Wisconsin.
Trump has long pledged to bring manufacturing back from overseas, equating that effort with American renewal. At the shipyard, he said the future of the facility had looked bleak not long ago but "then a lot of good things came along."
"Manufacturing, remember, manufacturing was never going to come back. Well, it did come back. It came back big," Trump said.
His remarks come on the heels of a $5.5 billion Pentagon contract to shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine for the U.S. Navy's newest class of warships. According to the contract, which was awarded in April, the Navy frigates will be built at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin, which currently produces the U.S. Navy's littoral combat ships.
The Pentagon estimated the first ship would cost $1.2 billion. The nine subsequent ships would cost up to approximately $781 million, in 2018 constant dollars, Navy officials said in an April call with reporters.
Read more: CNBC spent a day aboard the Navy's newest class of warships
Trump's visit to Wisconsin came as election polls in the crucial swing state show him hemorrhaging support to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
A New York Times/Siena College poll released Thursday found Biden leading Trump in Wisconsin by 11 points. Trump narrowly beat out Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, turning the state red for the first time in a presidential contest since 1988.
The Times' poll shows the president is also trailing Biden in five other battleground states that Trump won in 2016. The president's largely ad-libbed remarks before a cheering crowd at the Wisconsin shipyard gave the event the look and feel of a campaign stop as much as a presidential visit.
Biden, who traveled to the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Thursday, said Trump did not deserve credit for the success of the area he was visiting.
"Today, Donald Trump is in Marinette to take credit for Obama-Biden administration-fueled successes in an attempt to paper over the fact that Wisconsin has been bleeding blue-collar manufacturing jobs over the past few weeks," he said in a statement. "Instead of offering real relief to working families, he's trying to claim credit for progress in Marinette he did not build."
The trip came days after the Trump campaign resumed the boisterous arena rallies that defined his 2016 campaign but had been suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic. While both Trump and Biden have been cleared off the campaign trail, polls show Trump falling badly behind the former vice president as voters sour on the incumbent's handling of the virus and his reaction to the civil unrest over George Floyd's death.
At this point in the cycle, no other Republican or Democratic nominee in the last four elections was as far ahead of their opponent as Biden is against Trump, according to CNBC's averages of polls posted to RealClearPolitics.
-- Reuters contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-06-26--Here's how Biden's polling lead over Trump compares with past presidential races

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden 's mostly virtual election bid so far seems to be more effective than his predecessors ' best efforts on the actual campaign trail , a CNBC polling analysis shows .
Numerous nationwide polls of voters show Biden taking a commanding , double-digit lead over President Donald Trump with less than five months to go until Election Day .
At this point in the cycle , no other Republican or Democratic nominee in the last four elections was as far ahead of their opponent as Biden is against Trump , according to CNBC 's averages of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported Thursday that Trump is farther behind his rival in the polls than any incumbent has been since George H.W .
Bush in 1992 .
Compare Biden 's lead over Trump with Trump 's 2016 race against Democrat Hillary Clinton , Barack Obama 's runs against Republicans Mitt Romney in 2012 and John McCain in 2008 , and Republican George W. Bush 's 2004 reelection race against Democrat John Kerry .
In most stages of each of the four previous presidential races , the candidates were more narrowly matched in the polls .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public polling is notoriously unreliable and consistently underestimates this President and his ability to directly connect with American voters , '' Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement to CNBC .
`` Our data continues to show the President is strong against a defined Biden .
He will be re-elected in November . ''
The winner in the polls wo n't necessarily predict the winner in an election , as history shows .
Clinton led Trump in most of the final polls before the 2016 election , yet lost despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eke out a polling lead over Bush on the eve of the 2004 election , according to CNBC 's analysis , yet he still lost .
Polling trend lines can also shift significantly as Election Day draws near — there 's no guarantee Biden 's lead in the summer will continue through the fall .
Different polls can vary widely in their methodologies , as well .
Some surveys may include any registered voter , for example , while others try to narrow the response to only those who say they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 's noteworthy that the gap between the current candidates appears to have widened in recent weeks , even as Biden has mostly eschewed in-person campaign events due to concerns about spreading the coronavirus .
He 's made just a handful of non-virtual appearances in the past few months and , as the Trump campaign is quick to point out , he has held no press conferences in more than 80 days .
Trump 's operation , meanwhile , recently resumed holding the raucous arena rallies that defined his successful 2016 bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
But the president 's kickoff rally in Oklahoma yielded as much controversy as it did exposure to his reelection pitch , and low turnout at the Tulsa convention center marred the enthusiastic image his campaign was hoping to convey .
It 's not just a national trend : Polls show Biden is making gains in swing states , as well .
A CNBC/Change Research Poll published last week showed Biden beating Trump in Arizona , Florida , Michigan , Pennsylvania , North Carolina and Wisconsin — though some of those results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error of plus or minus 2 percentage points .
A poll from The New York Times and Siena College released Thursday gives Biden an even wider lead in each of those battleground states .
Trump won all six of them in 2016 .
Murtaugh called that survey `` terribly flawed , '' claiming it undersampled Republicans and only looked at registered voters , rather than likely voters .
Trump on Thursday morning lashed out on Twitter at the `` phony Fake Suppression Polls '' showing him trailing Biden .

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Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's mostly virtual election bid so far seems to be more effective than his predecessors' best efforts on the actual campaign trail, a CNBC polling analysis shows. Numerous nationwide polls of voters show Biden taking a commanding, double-digit lead over President Donald Trump with less than five months to go until Election Day. At this point in the cycle, no other Republican or Democratic nominee in the last four elections was as far ahead of their opponent as Biden is against Trump, according to CNBC's averages of polls posted to RealClearPolitics. NBC News reported Thursday that Trump is farther behind his rival in the polls than any incumbent has been since George H.W. Bush in 1992. Compare Biden's lead over Trump with Trump's 2016 race against Democrat Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama's runs against Republicans Mitt Romney in 2012 and John McCain in 2008, and Republican George W. Bush's 2004 reelection race against Democrat John Kerry. In most stages of each of the four previous presidential races, the candidates were more narrowly matched in the polls. See for yourself:
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"As we learned in 2016, public polling is notoriously unreliable and consistently underestimates this President and his ability to directly connect with American voters," Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement to CNBC. "Our data continues to show the President is strong against a defined Biden. He will be re-elected in November." The winner in the polls won't necessarily predict the winner in an election, as history shows. Clinton led Trump in most of the final polls before the 2016 election, yet lost despite winning the popular vote. Kerry appeared to eke out a polling lead over Bush on the eve of the 2004 election, according to CNBC's analysis, yet he still lost. Polling trend lines can also shift significantly as Election Day draws near — there's no guarantee Biden's lead in the summer will continue through the fall. Different polls can vary widely in their methodologies, as well. Some surveys may include any registered voter, for example, while others try to narrow the response to only those who say they are likely to vote in November. Still, it's noteworthy that the gap between the current candidates appears to have widened in recent weeks, even as Biden has mostly eschewed in-person campaign events due to concerns about spreading the coronavirus. He's made just a handful of non-virtual appearances in the past few months and, as the Trump campaign is quick to point out, he has held no press conferences in more than 80 days.


cnbc--2020-06-28--Biden slams Trump over report Russia offered bounties for Afghan militants to kill U.S. soldiers

Joe Biden has accused Donald Trump of betraying his duty as president , after a report claimed the White House knew for months Russian intelligence offered Afghan militants bounties to kill U.S. soldiers but did not punish Moscow .
`` His entire presidency has been a gift to Putin , but this is beyond the pale , '' Biden said during a virtual town hall Saturday .
`` It 's betrayal of the most sacred duty we bear as a nation to protect and equip our troops when we send them into harm 's way .
It 's a betrayal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved one serving in Afghanistan or anywhere overseas . ''
The New York Times reported Friday that the U.S. determined months ago a Russian military intelligence unit offered Taliban-linked militants bounties to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan .
Trump was briefed on the intelligence and the White House National Security Council discussed the findings at a meeting in late March , according to the Times , which cited officials briefed on the matter .
Officials developed options from a diplomatic complaint to sanctions , but the White House has not yet authorized a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officials .
The Wall Street Journal also reported Saturday that a Russian spy unit paid militants in Afghanistan to attack U.S. troops , citing people familiar with classified American intelligence .
The assessment was delivered to the White House earlier this spring , a person familiar with the intel told the Journal .
The White House denied Saturday that Trump or Vice President Mike President were briefed on the matter , but did not dispute the validity of the intelligence as described in the New York Times ' report .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day and they are subject to strict scrutiny , '' White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said .
`` While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations , the CIA Director , National Security Advisor , and the Chief of Staff can all confirm that neither the President nor the Vice President were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence . ''
`` This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of the New York Times story erroneously suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter , '' she added .
The Trump administration reached a deal with the Taliban in February to reduce its troop presence and established a cease-fire , with the goal of completely withdrawing from Afghanistan in 14 months .
Biden , the former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , slammed Trump for inviting Russia to join a summit meeting of seven world powers , known as the G-7 , in Washington this September after allegedly being briefed on the plot to kill U.S. soldiers .
Russia was kicked out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine .
`` President Trump , the commander in chief of American troops serving in a dangerous theater of war , has known about this for months according the Times and done worse than nothing , '' Biden said .
`` Not only has he failed to sanction or impose any kind of consequences on Russia for this egregious violation of international law , Donald Trump has continued his embarrassing campaign of deference and debasing himself before Vladimir Putin , '' Biden continued .
`` He has had this information according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin in the United States and sought to invite Russia to rejoin the G7 . ''
The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee , Rep. Michael McCaul , said he immediately reached out to the Trump administration after reading the New York Times ' report and `` will be talking with them in the very near future . ''
`` If accurate , the Administration must take swift and serious action to hold the Putin regime accountable , '' McCaul said .
The Texas congressman said the report deepens his concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior globally . ''
`` From invading Ukraine , propping up dictators around the world and interfering in U.S. and European elections , the Putin regime has shown time and again it can not be trusted and is not our friend , '' McCaul said .
Biden said he took the report personally as the father of a soldier who served in a war zone .
His son Beau , who died of brain cancer in 2015 , deployed to Iraq in 2008 with the Army National Guard .
`` But I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate for President .
I think about this as a dad , a Father who sent his son to serve in harm 's way for a year in the Middle East and in Iraq , and I 'm disgusted on behalf of those families whose loved ones are serving today , '' Biden said .

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden holds a roundtable meeting on reopening the economy with community leaders at the Enterprise Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 2020.
Joe Biden has accused Donald Trump of betraying his duty as president, after a report claimed the White House knew for months Russian intelligence offered Afghan militants bounties to kill U.S. soldiers but did not punish Moscow.
"His entire presidency has been a gift to Putin, but this is beyond the pale," Biden said during a virtual town hall Saturday. "It's betrayal of the most sacred duty we bear as a nation to protect and equip our troops when we send them into harm's way. It's a betrayal of every single American family with a loved one serving in Afghanistan or anywhere overseas."
The New York Times reported Friday that the U.S. determined months ago a Russian military intelligence unit offered Taliban-linked militants bounties to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
Trump was briefed on the intelligence and the White House National Security Council discussed the findings at a meeting in late March, according to the Times, which cited officials briefed on the matter. Officials developed options from a diplomatic complaint to sanctions, but the White House has not yet authorized a response, the Times reported, citing the officials.
The Wall Street Journal also reported Saturday that a Russian spy unit paid militants in Afghanistan to attack U.S. troops, citing people familiar with classified American intelligence. The assessment was delivered to the White House earlier this spring, a person familiar with the intel told the Journal.
The White House on Saturday denied that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were briefed on the matter, but did not dispute the validity of the intelligence as described in the New York Times' report.
"The United States receives thousands of intelligence reports a day and they are subject to strict scrutiny," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said. "While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations, the CIA Director, National Security Advisor, and the Chief of Staff can all confirm that neither the president nor the vice president were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence."
"This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of the New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter," she added.
Trump said on Twitter Sunday that he, Pence and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows were not briefed on what he referred to as "the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians."
The Trump administration reached a deal with the Taliban in February to reduce the U.S. troop presence and established a cease-fire, with the goal of completely withdrawing from Afghanistan in 14 months.
Biden, the former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, slammed Trump for inviting Russia to join a summit meeting of seven world powers, known as the G-7, in Washington this September after allegedly being briefed on the plot to kill U.S. soldiers. Russia was kicked out of the group in 2014 after annexing Crimea from Ukraine.
"President Trump, the commander in chief of American troops serving in a dangerous theater of war, has known about this for months according to the Times and done worse than nothing," Biden said.
"Not only has he failed to sanction or impose any kind of consequences on Russia for this egregious violation of international law, Donald Trump has continued his embarrassing campaign of deference and debasing himself before Vladimir Putin," Biden continued. "He has had this information according to the Times and yet he offered to host Putin in the United States and sought to invite Russia to rejoin the G7."
The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, said he immediately reached out to the Trump administration after reading the New York Times' report and "will be talking with them in the very near future."
"If accurate, the administration must take swift and serious action to hold the Putin regime accountable," McCaul said. The Texas congressman said the report deepens his concerns about the Russian government's "malicious behavior globally."
"From invading Ukraine, propping up dictators around the world and interfering in U.S. and European elections, the Putin regime has shown time and again it cannot be trusted and is not our friend," McCaul said.
Biden said he took the report personally as the father of a soldier who served in a war zone. His son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, deployed to Iraq in 2008 with the Army National Guard.
"But I don't just think about this as a candidate for president. I think about this as a dad, a father who sent his son to serve in harm's way for a year in the Middle East and in Iraq, and I'm disgusted on behalf of those families whose loved ones are serving today," Biden said.


cnbc--2020-06-27--Trump brother files new lawsuit seeking to block niece Mary Trump's tell-all book about family

Republican president-elect Donald Trump ( R ) hugs his brother Robert Trump after delivering his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9 , 2016 in New York City .
President Donald Trump 's brother has , as expected , filed a new lawsuit seeking to permanently block publication of their niece 's new tell-all book about the wealthy family , a day after a judge in another New York state court tossed out his first such effort on jurisdiction grounds .
Robert Trump 's latest court action targeting Mary Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it allegedly would violate a nondisclosure agreement , was filed in Dutchess County [ New York ] Supreme Court .
Robert Trump lives in that county , and his brother , the president , owns a golf course there .
Robert Trump 's filing , which names both Mary Trump and publisher Simon & Schuster as defendants , was expected after his first attempt to stop the book was summarily dismissed Thursday in Queens County Surrogate 's Court , a venue that as a rule handled issues relating to wills and estates of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNBC on Thursday that the new case would be filed in a New York state Supreme Court , which handles lawsuits and criminal matters at a trial level in that state .
Harder , who has also represented President Trump on other issues , in a email to CNBC on Saturday said , `` Almost 20 years ago , several Trump family members , including Robert and Mary , settled a legal dispute .
It included an agreement to never publish any books about their family relationships .
All five agreed that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Mary Trump reaped the rewards of the agreement for 20 years , and now seeks to breach the agreement by cashing in on a 'tell-all ' book , '' Harder said .
`` The enforcement of voluntary contracts is a pillar of our legal system .
This private dispute has nothing to do with the First Amendment . ''
Mary Trump 's lawyer , Theodore Boutrous , in an email said the new lawsuit `` is yet another baseless attempt by the Trump family to obtain an unconstitutional prior restraint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President . ''
`` It will fail , '' Boutrous said .
Mary 's book , `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , '' is scheduled to be published July 28 .
Mary is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr. , the president 's older brother , who died when Mary was a teenager .
Like the prior court filing in Queens County , Robert Trump argues in his suit that the book will violate that nondisclosure agreement that Mary signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their sister , retired federal appeals Judge Maryanne Trump Barry , following a legal dispute over the will of the elder Trumps ' late father , Fred Trump Sr. Mary is `` not allowed to write a book , '' President Trump recently said .
Robert 's suit says the confidentiality pact bars all people who signed the NDA from writing about their legal dispute over Fred Sr. 's will , or about `` their relationship with each other . ''


cnbc--2020-06-28--Trump promotes video showing apparent supporter shouting 'white power'

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center on June 20 , 2020 in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
President Donald Trump promoted a video on Twitter Sunday morning showing a man in a golf cart with Trump campaign gear shouting `` white power . ''
The video , which Trump said was from the Florida retirement community known as The Villages , featured a parade of golf carts , some with pro-Trump signs , driving past anti-Trump protesters who were shouting curses at them .
The man who is heard shouting `` white power '' was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The tweet was removed from his feed hours later .
`` Thank you to the great people of The Villages , '' Trump had written .
`` The Radical Left Do Nothing Democrats will Fall in the Fall .
Corrupt Joe is shot .
See you soon !
!
! ''
In a statement to reporters , White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said Trump `` is a big fan of The Villages .
He did not hear the one statement made on the video .
What he did see was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Speaking on CNN 's `` State of the Union , '' Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. , said of Trump 's promotion `` there 's no question he should not have retweeted it . ''
`` He should just take it down , '' Scott said , adding he thinks the video is `` indefensible . ''
`` We should take it down , '' he said .
`` That 's what I think . ''
Elsewhere on `` State of the Union '' on Sunday , Health and Human Services Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , his administration nor I would do anything to be supportive of white supremacy or anything '' of the like .
`` I 've not seen that , and so I do n't want to comment further on that , '' Azar said after CNN 's Jake Tapper played the video on air .
`` But obviously the president and I and his whole administration would stand against any acts of white supremacy . ''
The president has a history of problematic retweets dating back years , like when he promoted an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the 2016 campaign and during recent months where he has increasingly retweeted accounts supportive or promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory .
Trump has also been accused of appearing sympathetic to white supremacists .
In 2017 , Trump famously said that there were `` very fine people '' among a group of white nationalists in Charlottesville , Virginia .
Trump has remained steadfast in his opposition to renaming military bases and removing statues honoring members of the Confederacy even as members of his own party express openness to doing so On Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a vote to protect `` our Heritage , History and LAW & ORDER ! ''

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center on June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
President Donald Trump promoted a video on Twitter Sunday morning showing a man in a golf cart with Trump campaign gear shouting "white power."
The video, which Trump said was from the Florida retirement community known as The Villages, featured a parade of golf carts, some with pro-Trump signs, driving past anti-Trump protesters who were shouting curses at them. The man who is heard shouting "white power" was responding to protesters shouting "racist."
The tweet was removed from his feed hours later.
"Thank you to the great people of The Villages," Trump had written. "The Radical Left Do Nothing Democrats will Fall in the Fall. Corrupt Joe is shot. See you soon!!!"
In a statement to reporters, White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said Trump "is a big fan of The Villages. He did not hear the one statement made on the video. What he did see was tremendous enthusiasm from his many supporters."
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said of Trump's promotion "there's no question he should not have retweeted it."
"He should just take it down," Scott said, adding he thinks the video is "indefensible."
"We should take it down," he said. "That's what I think."
Elsewhere on "State of the Union" on Sunday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said "obviously neither the president, his administration nor I would do anything to be supportive of white supremacy or anything" of the like.
"I've not seen that, and so I don't want to comment further on that," Azar said after CNN's Jake Tapper played the video on air. "But obviously the president and I and his whole administration would stand against any acts of white supremacy."
The president has a history of problematic retweets dating back years, like when he promoted an account with the handle "WhiteGenocideTM" during the 2016 campaign and during recent months where he has increasingly retweeted accounts supportive or promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory.
Trump has also been accused of appearing sympathetic to white supremacists. In 2017, Trump famously said that there were "very fine people" among a group of white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Trump has remained steadfast in his opposition to renaming military bases and removing statues honoring members of the Confederacy even as members of his own party express openness to doing so
On Saturday, Trump tweeted that a vote for him will be a vote to protect "our Heritage, History and LAW & ORDER!"


cnbc--2020-06-29--Biden slams Trump over report Russia offered bounties for Afghan militants to kill U.S. soldiers

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden holds a roundtable meeting on reopening the economy with community leaders at the Enterprise Center in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , on June 11 , 2020 .
Joe Biden has accused Donald Trump of betraying his duty as president , after a report claimed the White House knew for months Russian intelligence offered Afghan militants bounties to kill U.S. soldiers but did not punish Moscow .
`` His entire presidency has been a gift to Putin , but this is beyond the pale , '' Biden said during a virtual town hall Saturday .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we bear as a nation to protect and equip our troops when we send them into harm 's way .
It 's a betrayal of every single American family with a loved one serving in Afghanistan or anywhere overseas . ''
The New York Times reported Friday that the U.S. determined months ago a Russian military intelligence unit offered Taliban-linked militants bounties to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan .
Trump was briefed on the intelligence and the White House National Security Council discussed the findings at a meeting in late March , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefed on the matter .
Officials developed options from a diplomatic complaint to sanctions , but the White House has not yet authorized a response , the Times reported , citing the officials .
The Wall Street Journal also reported Saturday that a Russian spy unit paid militants in Afghanistan to attack U.S. troops , citing people familiar with classified American intelligence .
The assessment was delivered to the White House earlier this spring , a person familiar with the intel told the Journal .
The White House on Saturday denied that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the matter , but did not dispute the validity of the intelligence as described in the New York Times ' report .
`` The United States receives thousands of intelligence reports a day and they are subject to strict scrutiny , '' White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said .
`` While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations , the CIA Director , National Security Advisor , and the Chief of Staff can all confirm that neither the president nor the vice president were briefed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of the New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter , '' she added .
Trump said on Twitter Sunday that he , Pence and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows were not briefed on what he referred to as `` the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians . ''
The Trump administration reached a deal with the Taliban in February to reduce the U.S. troop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the goal of completely withdrawing from Afghanistan in 14 months .
Biden , the former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , slammed Trump for inviting Russia to join a summit meeting of seven world powers , known as the G-7 , in Washington this September after allegedly being briefed on the plot to kill U.S. soldiers .
Russia was kicked out of the group in 2014 after annexing Crimea from Ukraine .
`` President Trump , the commander in chief of American troops serving in a dangerous theater of war , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Times and done worse than nothing , '' Biden said .
`` Not only has he failed to sanction or impose any kind of consequences on Russia for this egregious violation of international law , Donald Trump has continued his embarrassing campaign of deference and debasing himself before Vladimir Putin , '' Biden continued .
`` He has had this information according to the Times and yet he offered to host Putin in the United States and sought to invite Russia to rejoin the G7 . ''
The top Republican on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael McCaul , said he immediately reached out to the Trump administration after reading the New York Times ' report and `` will be talking with them in the very near future . ''
`` If accurate , the administration must take swift and serious action to hold the Putin regime accountable , '' McCaul said .
The Texas congressman said the report deepens his concerns about the Russian government 's `` malicious behavior globally . ''
`` From invading Ukraine , propping up dictators around the world and interfering in U.S. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown time and again it can not be trusted and is not our friend , '' McCaul said .
Biden said he took the report personally as the father of a soldier who served in a war zone .
His son Beau , who died of brain cancer in 2015 , deployed to Iraq in 2008 with the Army National Guard .
`` But I do n't just think about this as a candidate for president .
I think about this as a dad , a father who sent his son to serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Middle East and in Iraq , and I 'm disgusted on behalf of those families whose loved ones are serving today , '' Biden said .


cnbc--2020-07-01--Swing state voters give Trump dismal marks as coronavirus cases spike, CNBC/Change Research poll fin

Swing state voters give Trump dismal marks as coronavirus cases spike, CNBC/Change Research poll finds

People wait in line at a walk-up testing site for COVID-19 during the new coronavirus pandemic , Tuesday , June 30 , 2020 , in Miami Beach , Fla .
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 % .
As cases spike in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states reopened their economies , likely voters in Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin believe Trump shoulders much of the blame , the survey released Wednesday found .
Voters in six key 2020 election states have little good to say about how President Donald Trump is handling the coronavirus as the pandemic tears through the country , according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll .
The poll suggests many voters think Trump plays a role in the policies and behaviors that have contributed to the flood of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 % , said they agree that the president is urging states to restart their economies too quickly in order to boost his reelection prospects , while 45 % disagree .
The survey found only 43 % of voters agree that Trump is setting a good example and providing accurate information about proper Covid-19 precautions .
Another 57 % disagree .
Trump has drawn backlash for not wearing a face covering in public , a practice his administration says can help to slow infections .
The poll , taken from Friday to Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six states and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.6 percentage points .
Along with a wave of other recent surveys , it shows Trump has significant ground to make up before November if he wants to win a second term .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leads the incumbent by a 50 % to 44 % margin across the swing states , wider than the 48 % to 45 % edge he held in a poll taken two weeks earlier .
Here 's the current state of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CNBC/Change Research poll : The survey also shows challenges for Republicans running in Senate races in Arizona , Michigan and North Carolina .
Democrats need to win those seats — two of which are held by the GOP and one by Democrats — and a handful of others to flip control of the Senate .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber , and keeping it would help them stifle Democratic priorities if Biden wins the White House and his party holds the House .
In Arizona , Democratic former astronaut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 53 % to 44 % , the poll found .
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters holds a 49 % to 42 % advantage over Army veteran John James in Michigan .
In North Carolina , Democratic former state Sen. Cal Cunningham also holds a 51 % to 41 % edge over Republican Sen. Thom Tillis .
While current polling averages show Kelly and Peters holding wide leads , other recent surveys show a tight race between Cunningham and Tillis .
The findings come as voters in the six states grow more concerned about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular , are recent hot spots and are among a growing list of states that have scaled back or stalled their economic reopening .
Across the six swing states surveyed , 71 % of respondents say they have very or somewhat serious concerns about coronavirus .
Two weeks ago , the number stood at 64 % .
In response to the increase in cases , 43 % of voters surveyed say states should increase precautions again and 27 % say they should pause reopening ; 18 % say the states should continue relaxing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should lift restrictions immediately .
While Trump has not worn a face mask in public , most swing-state voters have not followed his lead .
The poll shows 75 % of respondents say they are wearing masks in public , up from 68 % two weeks ago .
Researchers at Goldman Sachs say a federal mask mandate could reduce new infections and prevent an estimated 5 % dip in GDP that would otherwise accompany new lockdowns .

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%.
As cases spike in pockets of the South and West after states reopened their economies, likely voters in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin believe Trump shoulders much of the blame, the survey released Wednesday found.
Voters in six key 2020 election states have little good to say about how President Donald Trump is handling the coronavirus as the pandemic tears through the country, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll.
The poll suggests many voters think Trump plays a role in the policies and behaviors that have contributed to the flood of infections. A majority of respondents, 55%, said they agree that the president is urging states to restart their economies too quickly in order to boost his reelection prospects, while 45% disagree.
The survey found only 43% of voters agree that Trump is setting a good example and providing accurate information about proper Covid-19 precautions. Another 57% disagree. Trump has drawn backlash for not wearing a face covering in public, a practice his administration says can help to slow infections.
The poll, taken from Friday to Sunday, surveyed 3,729 likely voters in the six states and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.6 percentage points.
Along with a wave of other recent surveys, it shows Trump has significant ground to make up before November if he wants to win a second term. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leads the incumbent by a 50% to 44% margin across the swing states, wider than the 48% to 45% edge he held in a poll taken two weeks earlier.
Here's the current state of the race in individual states, according to the CNBC/Change Research poll:
Arizona: Biden 51%, Trump 44%
Biden 51%, Trump 44% Florida: Biden 50%, Trump 45%
Biden 50%, Trump 45% Michigan: Biden 48%, Trump 43%
Biden 48%, Trump 43% North Carolina: Biden 51%, Trump 44%
Biden 51%, Trump 44% Pennsylvania: Biden 50%, Trump 44%
Biden 50%, Trump 44% Wisconsin: Biden 51%, Trump 43%
The survey also shows challenges for Republicans running in Senate races in Arizona, Michigan and North Carolina. Democrats need to win those seats — two of which are held by the GOP and one by Democrats — and a handful of others to flip control of the Senate. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber, and keeping it would help them stifle Democratic priorities if Biden wins the White House and his party holds the House.
In Arizona, Democratic former astronaut Mark Kelly leads GOP Sen. Martha McSally by 53% to 44%, the poll found. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters holds a 49% to 42% advantage over Army veteran John James in Michigan.
In North Carolina, Democratic former state Sen. Cal Cunningham also holds a 51% to 41% edge over Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. While current polling averages show Kelly and Peters holding wide leads, other recent surveys show a tight race between Cunningham and Tillis.
The findings come as voters in the six states grow more concerned about Covid-19. Arizona and Florida, in particular, are recent hot spots and are among a growing list of states that have scaled back or stalled their economic reopening.
Across the six swing states surveyed, 71% of respondents say they have very or somewhat serious concerns about coronavirus. Two weeks ago, the number stood at 64%.
In response to the increase in cases, 43% of voters surveyed say states should increase precautions again and 27% say they should pause reopening; 18% say the states should continue relaxing precautions, and 12% say they should lift restrictions immediately.
While Trump has not worn a face mask in public, most swing-state voters have not followed his lead. The poll shows 75% of respondents say they are wearing masks in public, up from 68% two weeks ago.
Researchers at Goldman Sachs say a federal mask mandate could reduce new infections and prevent an estimated 5% dip in GDP that would otherwise accompany new lockdowns.
— Graphics by CNBC's Nate Rattner
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cnbc--2020-07-01--Senate Democrats push to extend enhanced unemployment benefit until jobless rates fall

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) speaks during a press conference on the coronavirus outbreak at the U.S. Capitol March 11 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Schumer and other members of the Democratic caucus called for corporations and employers to offer paid sick leave to all employees following recommended health procedures .
Also pictured ( L-R ) are Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-OH ) , Sen. Ben Cardin ( D-MD ) , Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) , Sen. Patty Murray ( D-WA ) , Sen. Patrick Leahy ( D-VT ) and Sen. Mark Warner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plan Wednesday that would extend the enhanced unemployment benefit passed to sustain workers displaced by the coronavirus until state unemployment rates fall , when it would be phased out .
Congress approved an additional $ 600 per week in federal unemployment insurance , on top of what states normally provide , as part of the $ 2 trillion pandemic rescue package approved in March .
The policy has given the millions of workers laid off or furloughed during the outbreak a critical income backstop , but it expires at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate hovers above 13 % .
The Democrats ' plan marks a starting point in talks on an upcoming relief bill with Republicans , who want to let the benefit expire at the end of the month .
Democrats say the bill would improve the program by tying additional aid to economic conditions rather than setting an arbitrary date to end it .
The legislation would extend the enhanced insurance through March but reduce the amount beneficiaries receive as the economy recovers .
Once a state 's three-month average unemployment rate dips below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut by $ 100 for every percentage point the jobless rate falls until it slides below 6 % .
For example , a beneficiary would get an extra $ 500 per week if their state 's average unemployment rate sits between 10 % and 11 % .
Once it drops below 10 % , the person 's enhanced benefit would fall to $ 400 per week .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , a New York Democrat who introduced the bill along with Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden , D-Ore. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` millions of American families will have their legs cut out from underneath them at the worst possible time — in the middle of a pandemic when unemployment is higher than it 's been since the Great Depression . ''
Republicans have opposed extending the policy .
They argue the benefit , which leaves many people making more than they did while working , deters employees from going back to work .
Returning is a difficult prospect for many Americans who do not receive hazard pay or guaranteed sick leave during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitch McConnell said that `` to have the basic protections of unemployment insurance is extremely important and should be continued . ''
But he called the extra jobless benefit a `` mistake . ''
Some Senate Republicans and Trump administration officials have supported a back-to-work bonus , potentially paid out weekly .
McConnell has said the Senate will consider another coronavirus aid package when it returns from its two-week Fourth of July recess .
The $ 3 trillion relief bill House Democrats passed in May would extend the enhanced federal unemployment benefit through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for release Thursday will provide a picture of how much the economy recovered as states started to reopen more businesses in recent weeks .
Increased risks to Americans ' health and the economy have surfaced in recent days as the pandemic continues to rip across the country .
Coronavirus cases across the U.S. have spiked , forcing states including California , Texas and Florida to pause or roll back their economic reopening plans .
The U.S. has reported more than 2.6 million Covid-19 cases and at least 127,000 deaths related to the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a press conference on the coronavirus outbreak at the U.S. Capitol March 11, 2020 in Washington, DC. Schumer and other members of the Democratic caucus called for corporations and employers to offer paid sick leave to all employees following recommended health procedures. Also pictured (L-R) are Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA).
The Democrats' plan marks a starting point in talks on a relief bill with Republicans, who want to let the unemployment benefit expire at the end of the month. Democrats say the bill would improve the program by tying additional aid to economic conditions rather than setting an arbitrary date to end it.
Congress approved in March an additional $600 per week in federal unemployment insurance, on top of what states normally provide, as part of the $2 trillion pandemic rescue package. The policy has given the millions of workers laid off or furloughed during the outbreak a critical income backstop, but it expires at the end of the month even as the U.S. unemployment rate hovers above 13%.
Senate Democrats unveiled a plan Wednesday to extend enhanced unemployment benefits until a drop in a state's unemployment rate, when it would be phased out.
The legislation would extend the enhanced insurance through March but reduce the amount beneficiaries receive as the economy recovers. Once a state's three-month average unemployment rate dips below 11%, the benefit would get cut by $100 for every percentage point the jobless rate falls until it slides below 6%.
For example, beneficiaries would get an extra $500 per week if their state's average unemployment rate sits between 10% and 11%. Once it drops below 10%, the enhanced benefit would fall to $400 per week.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat who introduced the bill along with Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden of Oregon, said letting the benefit expire would mean "millions of American families will have their legs cut out from underneath them at the worst possible time — in the middle of a pandemic when unemployment is higher than it's been since the Great Depression."
Republicans have opposed extending the policy. They argue that the benefit, which leaves many people making more than they did while working, deters employees from going back to work. Returning is a difficult prospect for many Americans who do not receive hazard pay or guaranteed sick leave during the pandemic.
On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said that "to have the basic protections of unemployment insurance is extremely important and should be continued." But he called the extra jobless benefit a "mistake."
Some Senate Republicans and Trump administration officials have supported a back-to-work bonus, potentially paid out weekly. McConnell has said the Senate will consider another coronavirus aid package when it returns from its two-week Fourth of July recess.
The $3 trillion relief bill House Democrats passed in May would extend the enhanced federal unemployment benefit through January.
The June jobs report set for release Thursday will provide a picture of how much the economy recovered as states started to reopen more businesses in recent weeks. Increased risks to Americans' health and the economy have surfaced in recent days as the pandemic continues to rip across the country.
Coronavirus cases across the U.S. have spiked, forcing states including California, Texas and Florida to pause or roll back their economic reopening plans.
The U.S. has reported more than 2.6 million Covid-19 cases and at least 127,000 deaths related to the disease — by far the highest totals in the world, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
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cnbc--2020-07-01--Trump should tell people to wear coronavirus masks, ex-chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says

Former White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told CNBC on Wednesday that President Donald Trump `` probably should '' urge American residents to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` It would not hurt him ... politically and it certainly would n't hurt us economically and would probably help for him to go out and say , 'You know what , go back to work , just a wear a mask .
It 's the best thing you can possibly do , ' '' Mulvaney , now a special envoy to Northern Ireland , said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely eschewed wearing a face covering in public during the Covid-19 crisis , and even suggested some people choose to wear them only to `` signal disapproval of him . ''
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends people wear a mask in public , especially in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Cali.
, on Sunday called for the CDC to issue a mask mandate , which some state and local governments have done .
Mulvaney , who Trump removed from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , is the latest Republican in Washington to diverge from the president on face masks .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday there should be `` no stigma '' about wearing a face covering , emphasizing it 's about `` protecting everyone we encounter . ''
On Sunday , Vice President Mike Pence urged Americans who are living in areas with Covid-19 outbreaks to wear a mask in public .
Pence 's comments came at an event in Texas , one of the U.S. states currently experiencing the most significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mulvaney 's comments Wednesday followed the results of the latest CNBC/Change Research poll , which showed a majority of voters in six swing states key to the 2020 election disapprove of how Trump is handling the pandemic .
Only 43 % of voters agree that Trump is setting a good example and providing accurate information about proper Covid-19 precautions , the poll found .

Former White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told CNBC on Wednesday that President Donald Trump "probably should" urge American residents to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic.
"It would not hurt him ... politically and it certainly wouldn't hurt us economically and would probably help for him to go out and say, 'You know what, go back to work, just a wear a mask. It's the best thing you can possibly do,'" Mulvaney, now a special envoy to Northern Ireland, said on "Squawk Box."
Trump has largely eschewed wearing a face covering in public during the Covid-19 crisis, and even suggested some people choose to wear them only to "signal disapproval of him."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends people wear a mask in public, especially in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Cali., on Sunday called for the CDC to issue a mask mandate, which some state and local governments have done.
Mulvaney, who Trump removed from his post as acting chief of staff in March, is the latest Republican in Washington to diverge from the president on face masks. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on Monday there should be "no stigma" about wearing a face covering, emphasizing it's about "protecting everyone we encounter."
On Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence urged Americans who are living in areas with Covid-19 outbreaks to wear a mask in public. Pence's comments came at an event in Texas, one of the U.S. states currently experiencing a significant rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
Mulvaney's comments Wednesday followed the results of the latest CNBC/Change Research poll, which showed a majority of voters in six swing states key to the 2020 election disapprove of how Trump is handling the pandemic. Only 43% of voters agree that Trump is setting a good example and providing accurate information about proper Covid-19 precautions, the poll found.