cnbc--2020-07-31--Pompeo slams U.S. tech firms for downplaying Chinese cyberthreat to lawmakers

Mike Pompeo , U.S. secretary of state , sits during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Thursday , July 30 , 2020 .
Pompeo is testifying on the State Department 's fiscal 2021 budget request .
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed U.S. tech companies on Thursday for their lack of transparency in regard to the breadth and depth of intellectual property theft the Chinese government conducts on American industries .
`` The idea that anyone in the tech space could not know of what the Chinese Communist Party is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are making seems incredulous to me , '' Pompeo said before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations .
Pompeo 's comments come a day after the CEOs of tech giants Amazon , Apple , Facebook and Google testified before the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust .
When asked by lawmakers if China steals technology from U.S. tech firms , Apple CEO Tim Cook , Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos largely downplayed the notion .
`` Only the CEO of Facebook said , 'yes absolutely , ' '' Sen. Marco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the tech CEO testimonies and specifically that of Mark Zuckerberg .
`` So Apple , Google and Amazon answered that question by saying either they had n't experienced it or they 've read that somewhere but would n't comment further , '' Rubio said .
`` Why would three of the four CEOs of the four largest tech companies headquartered in the United States be afraid to answer that question ? ''
he added .
`` I can only speculate , it 's patently clear to anyone who is watching that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of intellectual property threat , including technology , '' Pompeo responded .
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft threatens national security and has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs .
Beijing maintains it does not engage in intellectual property theft .
Sen. Cory Gardner , R-Colo. , also questioned Pompeo on the testimony given by tech CEOs , reiterating that tech leaders said they were largely unaware of Chinese espionage , the nation 's top diplomat quipped , `` well , they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean there 's a long history , a decades-long history of Chinese intellectual property threat , including against technologies , '' Pompeo added , saying that the Chinese government is `` completely willing to bully and to threaten '' companies .

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed U.S. tech companies on Thursday for their lack of transparency in regard to the breadth and depth of intellectual property theft the Chinese government conducts on American industries.
"The idea that anyone in the tech space could not know of what the Chinese Communist Party is attempting to steal and the cyberattacks they are making seems incredulous to me," Pompeo said before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Pompeo's comments come a day after the CEOs of tech giants Amazon , Apple , Facebook and Google testified before the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust. When asked by lawmakers if China steals technology from U.S. tech firms, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos largely downplayed the notion.
"Only the CEO of Facebook said, 'yes absolutely,'" Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told Pompeo, referring to the tech CEO testimonies and specifically that of Mark Zuckerberg. "So Apple, Google and Amazon answered that question by saying either they hadn't experienced it or they've read that somewhere but wouldn't comment further," Rubio said. "Why would three of the four CEOs of the four largest tech companies headquartered in the United States be afraid to answer that question?" he added.
"I can only speculate, it's patently clear to anyone who is watching that the Chinese are engaged in intense efforts of intellectual property threat, including technology," Pompeo responded.
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft threatens national security and has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs. Beijing maintains it does not engage in intellectual property theft.
Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., also questioned Pompeo on the testimony given by tech CEOs, reiterating that tech leaders said they were largely unaware of Chinese espionage, the nation's top diplomat quipped, "well, they need to get out more."
"I mean there's a long history, a decades-long history of Chinese intellectual property threat, including against technologies," Pompeo added, saying that the Chinese government is "completely willing to bully and to threaten" companies.
Earlier this month, Pompeo said the U.S. was looking at banning TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps, citing national security concerns.
Pompeo added that the Trump administration was evaluating TikTok akin to Chinese state-backed tech companies Huawei and ZTE, which he has previously described as "Trojan horses for Chinese intelligence."
There has been bipartisan support to remove TikTok from government-owned devices. The new version of the National Defense Authorization Act, if signed into law by President Donald Trump, would ban TikTok from such devices.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has taken concrete steps to discourage U.S. service members and their families from using Chinese-backed tech.
In December, the Defense Information Systems Agency advised that all Department of Defense personnel should not use the Chinese-owned social media platform, citing a "potential risk associated with using the TikTok app." A year earlier, the Pentagon halted sales of Huawei and ZTE mobile phones and modems on military bases around the world, again citing national security concerns.


cnbc--2020-08-01--Joe Biden nears final decision on running mate

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about his plans to combat racial inequality at a campaign event in Wilmington , Delaware , July 28 , 2020 .
As Joe Biden nears the announcement of his vice-presidential choice , the top contenders and their advocates are making final appeals .
The campaign has n't finalized a date for naming a running mate , but three people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans said a public announcement likely would n't happen before the week of Aug. 10 .
That 's one week before Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden as their presidential nominee .
Biden said in May that he hoped to name his pick around Aug. 1 and told reporters this week that he would `` have a choice in the first week of August . ''
He notably stopped short of saying when he would announce that choice .
Running mates are often announced on the eve of a convention .
As he prepares to make his choice , a committee established to vet possible running mates has provided Biden with briefing materials .
Biden will likely soon begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which could be the most consequential part of the process for a presidential candidate who values personal connections .
The leading contenders include California Sen. Kamala Harris , California Rep. Karen Bass and Obama national security adviser Susan Rice .
The deliberations remain fluid , however , and the campaign has reviewed nearly a dozen possible running mates .
`` For Joe Biden , this is crunch time .
After all the vetting , all the investigations into the prospective nominees , it 's now up to Joe .
It 's personal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill Richardson , who was vetted for vice-president in 2008 .
`` It 's now about his gut feeling . ''
Representatives for Biden declined to comment for this story .
The selection amounts to the most significant choice Biden has confronted in his nearly five-decade political career .
He has pledged to select a woman and is facing calls to choose the first Black woman to compete on a presidential ticket .
Given the historic significance of the moment , some are urging Biden not to let the announcement linger too long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VP himself , having been through this process , is aware of and mindful of not letting people hang out there too long , '' said Democratic strategist Karen Finney .
`` There certainly seems to be a bit of a media frenzy , and I think we have to be aware that at a point , it becomes unfair to the candidates being considered . ''
As a decision looms , the camps are jockeying for position .
Harris ' allies mobilized this week after Politico reported that the co-chair of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dodd , was concerned about Harris ' tough debate stage performance and that she has n't expressed regret .
Several California elected officials and labor leaders initiated a call with the vetting team to emphasize that Harris has strong support among labor and political leaders in her home state .
The call was organized by Lt. Gov .
Eleni Kounalakis and included the mayors of Oakland , Long Beach and Stockton and former Gov .
Gray Davis .
`` A group of us really felt we needed to organize and speak out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support , '' Kounalakis said .
Beyond emphasizing their strong relationships with Harris , they also pushed back against the idea that Harris would n't be a loyal partner .
Harris , while not directly addressing her vice-presidential prospects , told a group of young Black women Friday that it 's common for Black women to face resistance when they exercise their power .
`` There will be a resistance to your ambition .
There will be people who say to you : 'You are out of your lane , ' '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be .
...
I 've had that experience my entire career . ''
Biden has sought feedback on his pick from former President Barack Obama , who has provided advice but has insisted the choice is his to make , according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations .
Biden allies say his wife , Jill , and sister , Valerie Biden Owens , are likely to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they have with many of Biden 's biggest political decisions throughout his career .
Jill has held online campaign events and fundraisers with virtually all the potential contenders in recent weeks , as has Biden himself , effectively offering the contenders a try-out opportunity with the presumptive Democratic nominee .
On Thursday night , Bass joined Biden for a virtual fundraiser that raked in $ 2.2 million .
She has also taken steps to build her national profile , including providing interviews to multiple outlets over the past week .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Elizabeth Warren , who has also been considered as a running mate .
Biden said the event raised more than $ 1.7 million from over 50,000 grassroots donors .
That 's about a quarter of the $ 6 million the Massachusetts senator brought in during her first online fundraiser for the former vice-president last month that appealed to higher-dollar donors .
`` We 've known each other a long time .
Her fearless work for a just America has transformed lives and inspired millions , including me , '' Biden said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all know her . ''
Warren said , `` This is a time of unprecedented crisis . ''
`` But I wake up every single day with a heart full of hope and here is why : Vice-President Biden is meeting the moment , '' she added .
The two talked for nearly an hour but did not mention the vice-presidential selection process .
Some Biden donors have already begun to plan prospective fundraising events ahead of the formal announcement .
Biden 's team expects his running mate to contribute immediately to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris is thought to be the most formidable traditional fundraiser , while Warren 's ability to attract small-dollar donations from the party 's progressive base is also viewed as a major asset .

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about his plans to combat racial inequality at a campaign event in Wilmington, Delaware, July 28, 2020.
As Joe Biden nears the announcement of his vice-presidential choice, the top contenders and their advocates are making final appeals.
The campaign hasn't finalized a date for naming a running mate, but three people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans said a public announcement likely wouldn't happen before the week of Aug. 10. That's one week before Democrats will hold their convention to officially nominate Biden as their presidential nominee.
Biden said in May that he hoped to name his pick around Aug. 1 and told reporters this week that he would "have a choice in the first week of August." He notably stopped short of saying when he would announce that choice.
Running mates are often announced on the eve of a convention. As he prepares to make his choice, a committee established to vet possible running mates has provided Biden with briefing materials. Biden will likely soon begin one-on-one conversations with those under consideration, which could be the most consequential part of the process for a presidential candidate who values personal connections.
The leading contenders include California Sen. Kamala Harris, California Rep. Karen Bass and Obama national security adviser Susan Rice. The deliberations remain fluid, however, and the campaign has reviewed nearly a dozen possible running mates.
"For Joe Biden, this is crunch time. After all the vetting, all the investigations into the prospective nominees, it's now up to Joe. It's personal," said former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who was vetted for vice-president in 2008. "It's now about his gut feeling."
Representatives for Biden declined to comment for this story.
The selection amounts to the most significant choice Biden has confronted in his nearly five-decade political career. He has pledged to select a woman and is facing calls to choose the first Black woman to compete on a presidential ticket.
Given the historic significance of the moment, some are urging Biden not to let the announcement linger too long.
"My sense is that the VP himself, having been through this process, is aware of and mindful of not letting people hang out there too long," said Democratic strategist Karen Finney. "There certainly seems to be a bit of a media frenzy, and I think we have to be aware that at a point, it becomes unfair to the candidates being considered."
As a decision looms, the camps are jockeying for position.
Harris' allies mobilized this week after Politico reported that the co-chair of the vetting committee, former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, was concerned about Harris' tough debate stage performance and that she hasn't expressed regret.
Several California elected officials and labor leaders initiated a call with the vetting team to emphasize that Harris has strong support among labor and political leaders in her home state. The call was organized by Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and included the mayors of Oakland, Long Beach and Stockton and former Gov. Gray Davis.
"A group of us really felt we needed to organize and speak out and correct the record because she has tremendous support," Kounalakis said.
Beyond emphasizing their strong relationships with Harris, they also pushed back against the idea that Harris wouldn't be a loyal partner.
Harris, while not directly addressing her vice-presidential prospects, told a group of young Black women Friday that it's common for Black women to face resistance when they exercise their power.
"There will be a resistance to your ambition. There will be people who say to you: 'You are out of your lane,'" she said during the digital summit. "They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be. ... I've had that experience my entire career."
Biden has sought feedback on his pick from former President Barack Obama, who has provided advice but has insisted the choice is his to make, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations.
Biden allies say his wife, Jill, and sister, Valerie Biden Owens, are likely to play a key role in the decision, as they have with many of Biden's biggest political decisions throughout his career. Jill has held online campaign events and fundraisers with virtually all the potential contenders in recent weeks, as has Biden himself, effectively offering the contenders a try-out opportunity with the presumptive Democratic nominee.
On Thursday night, Bass joined Biden for a virtual fundraiser that raked in $2.2 million. She has also taken steps to build her national profile, including providing interviews to multiple outlets over the past week.
On Friday night, Biden held a virtual fundraiser with Elizabeth Warren, who has also been considered as a running mate. Biden said the event raised more than $1.7 million from over 50,000 grassroots donors. That's about a quarter of the $6 million the Massachusetts senator brought in during her first online fundraiser for the former vice-president last month that appealed to higher-dollar donors.
"We've known each other a long time. Her fearless work for a just America has transformed lives and inspired millions, including me," Biden said. "She is something else. You all know her."
Warren said, "This is a time of unprecedented crisis."
"But I wake up every single day with a heart full of hope and here is why: Vice-President Biden is meeting the moment," she added. The two talked for nearly an hour but did not mention the vice-presidential selection process.
Some Biden donors have already begun to plan prospective fundraising events ahead of the formal announcement. Biden's team expects his running mate to contribute immediately to his fundraising operation. Of the finalists, Harris is thought to be the most formidable traditional fundraiser, while Warren's ability to attract small-dollar donations from the party's progressive base is also viewed as a major asset.


cnbc--2020-08-01--Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva tests positive for coronavirus

Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva tested positive for Covid-19 , his office announced on Saturday .
Grijalva , a Democrat whose district includes parts of the Phoenix and Tucson areas , as well as much of the state 's border region with Mexico , is self-isolating in the Washington , D.C. , area , according to spokesman Geoff Nolan .
In a statement , the congressman criticized some other members of Congress for not taking the virus seriously and he praised House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's decision to require masks .
`` While I can not blame anyone directly for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are some Members of Congress who fail to take this crisis seriously , '' Grijalva said in the statement .
`` Numerous Republican members routinely strut around the Capitol without a mask to selfishly make a political statement at the expense of their colleagues , staff , and their families . ''
The news about Grijalva 's positive test was first reported by the Arizona Republic , which said that Grijalva presided over a committee meeting on Tuesday that included Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert .
Gohmert announced on Wednesday that he had tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the 12th member of Congress to test positive for Covid-19 .
There have been more than 4.5 million confirmed cases of the virus and at least 153,000 deaths in the United States , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .

Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva tested positive for Covid-19, his office announced on Saturday.
Grijalva, a Democrat whose district includes parts of the Phoenix and Tucson areas, as well as much of the state's border region with Mexico, is self-isolating in the Washington, D.C., area, according to spokesman Geoff Nolan.
In a statement, the congressman criticized some other members of Congress for not taking the virus seriously and he praised House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to require masks.
"While I cannot blame anyone directly for this, this week has shown that there are some Members of Congress who fail to take this crisis seriously," Grijalva said in the statement. "Numerous Republican members routinely strut around the Capitol without a mask to selfishly make a political statement at the expense of their colleagues, staff, and their families."
The news about Grijalva's positive test was first reported by the Arizona Republic, which said that Grijalva presided over a committee meeting on Tuesday that included Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert. Gohmert announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for the virus.
Grijalva appears to be the 12th member of Congress to test positive for Covid-19. There have been more than 4.5 million confirmed cases of the virus and at least 153,000 deaths in the United States, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.


cnbc--2020-08-01--Congressional Democrats and the White House are still at an impasse over coronavirus bill

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , joined by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , speaks to reporters in the U.S. Capitol in Washington , July 29 , 2020 .
The top Democrats in Congress are not close to a deal with the White House to pump more money into the U.S. economy to ease the coronavirus ' heavy toll , both sides said on Saturday after an essential lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans expired .
`` This was the longest meeting we had and it was more productive than the other meetings , '' Democratic Senate Minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are many issues that are still very much outstanding . ''
Schumer made the remarks after he and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi concluded a three-hour meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the Capitol on Saturday .
Mnuchin told reporters the talks were constructive but had reached an `` impasse '' over whether to come to a short-term agreement or a more comprehensive deal .
The officials will meet again on Monday , after their staff meet on Sunday , Schumer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been unable to reach an accord for a next round of economic relief from a pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 Americans and triggered the sharpest economic collapse since the Great Depression .
In a meeting late Thursday between top White House officials and congressional Democratic leaders , negotiations focused on an extension of the $ 600 per week in federal unemployment benefits that Americans who lost jobs due to the pandemic have been receiving in addition to state jobless payments .
Pelosi said on Friday that she rejected an offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue the $ 600 payments for one more week .
Congressional Democrats want to see the weekly payments extended into next year as part of a broader package .
Senate Republicans have said the $ 600 payments are an incentive to stay home rather than return to work .
Their proposal would provide a much-reduced weekly payment of $ 200 until states create a system to provide a 70 % wage replacement for laid-off workers .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Saturday slammed Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend without a deal to extend the unemployment benefits or protect renters facing eviction .
`` Because Donald Trump is abdicating his responsibility to lead us out of the pandemic crisis and the economic crisis , we now face a potential housing crisis across the country , '' Biden said in a statement .
Pelosi told House Democrats in a letter late on Saturday that `` all parties must understand the gravity of the situation in order to reach an agreement that protects Americans ' lives , livelihoods and the life of our @ @ @

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, joined by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, speaks to reporters in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, July 29, 2020.
The top Democrats in Congress are not close to a deal with the White House to pump more money into the U.S. economy to ease the coronavirus' heavy toll, both sides said on Saturday after an essential lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans expired.
"This was the longest meeting we had and it was more productive than the other meetings," Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. "There are many issues that are still very much outstanding."
Schumer made the remarks after he and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi concluded a three-hour meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the Capitol on Saturday.
Mnuchin told reporters the talks were constructive but had reached an "impasse" over whether to come to a short-term agreement or a more comprehensive deal.
The officials will meet again on Monday, after their staff meet on Sunday, Schumer said.
Congress for the past several months has been unable to reach an accord for a next round of economic relief from a pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 Americans and triggered the sharpest economic collapse since the Great Depression.
In a meeting late Thursday between top White House officials and congressional Democratic leaders, negotiations focused on an extension of the $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits that Americans who lost jobs due to the pandemic have been receiving in addition to state jobless payments.
Pelosi said on Friday that she rejected an offer by Republican President Donald Trump's administration to continue the $600 payments for one more week.
Congressional Democrats want to see the weekly payments extended into next year as part of a broader package.
Senate Republicans have said the $600 payments are an incentive to stay home rather than return to work. Their proposal would provide a much-reduced weekly payment of $200 until states create a system to provide a 70% wage replacement for laid-off workers.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Saturday slammed Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for letting the Senate go home for the weekend without a deal to extend the unemployment benefits or protect renters facing eviction.
"Because Donald Trump is abdicating his responsibility to lead us out of the pandemic crisis and the economic crisis, we now face a potential housing crisis across the country," Biden said in a statement.
Pelosi told House Democrats in a letter late on Saturday that "all parties must understand the gravity of the situation in order to reach an agreement that protects Americans' lives, livelihoods and the life of our democracy."


cnbc--2020-08-02--Stimulus talks: White House, Dems still agree on $1,200 checks but deadlocked on unemployment assist

Stimulus talks: White House, Dems still agree on $1,200 checks but deadlocked on unemployment assistance

United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin arrives for the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Hearings to examine implementation of Title I of the CARES Act on Capitol Hill in Washington , DC , June 10 , 2020 .
Familiar fault lines continue to separate the White House and congressional Democrats on the next coronavirus stimulus package a day after an extended meeting between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and administration officials including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and chief of staff Mark Meadows .
Pelosi and Mnuchin both took to the airwaves on Sunday morning to lay out their competing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key sticking point separating Democrats and Republicans continues to be the federal boost to unemployment assistance , which was set at $ 600 per week in March but recently lapsed .
While the White House has come out in favor of reducing the federal assistance to $ 200 a week , Democrats have called for keeping it at the $ 600 level .
During an interview on ABC 's `` This Week '' on Sunday , Pelosi said that Trump was standing in the way of an agreement .
`` We 've been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 200 proposal , which does not meet the needs of America 's working families , and it 's a condescension , quite frankly , '' Pelosi said .
`` They 're saying , 'They really do n't need it .
They 're just staying home because they make more money at $ 600 , ' '' she added .

Familiar fault lines continue to separate the White House and congressional Democrats on the next coronavirus stimulus package a day after an extended meeting between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and administration officials including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Pelosi and Mnuchin both took to the airwaves on Sunday morning to lay out their competing visions for the rescue bill. The key sticking point separating Democrats and Republicans continues to be the federal boost to unemployment assistance, which was set at $600 per week in March but recently lapsed.
While the White House has come out in favor of reducing the federal assistance to $200 a week, Democrats have called for keeping it at the $600 level.
During an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, Pelosi said that Trump was standing in the way of an agreement.
"We've been for the $600. They have a $200 proposal, which does not meet the needs of America's working families, and it's a condescension, quite frankly," Pelosi said.
"They're saying, 'They really don't need it. They're just staying home because they make more money at $600,'" she added.
Appearing on the same program shortly after, Mnuchin said the administration was worried about the cost.
"There's obviously a need to support workers, support the economy," Mnuchin said. "On the other hand, we have to be careful about not piling on enormous amounts of debt."


cnbc--2020-08-02--Dr. Birx warns U.S. in new phase of coronavirus pandemic with 'extraordinarily widespread' cases

Deborah Birx , coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force , speaks after a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Health and Human Services on June 26 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Dr. Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus task force coordinator , said on Sunday that the U.S. is `` in a new phase '' of battling against the coronavirus pandemic and urged Americans to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines .
`` What we are seeing today is different from March and April .
It is extraordinarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's both rural and urban , '' Birx said during an interview on CNN .
`` To everybody who lives in a rural area , you are not immune or protected from this virus , '' Birx said .
`` And that is why we keep saying , no matter where you live in America , you need to wear a mask and socially distance , do the personal hygiene pieces . ''
The U.S. has more than 4.6 million coronavirus cases and at least 154,449 deaths , the most of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins University .
Asked about former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb 's warning that the country could experience 300,000 deaths by the end of 2020 , Birx responded , `` Anything is possible '' but declined to provide details on current projections .
Birx said the U.S. virus death toll will depend on how southern and western states with the worst outbreaks respond to the virus over the coming weeks .
The virus is rapidly spreading across much of the Midwest , as well in states like Florida and California that have experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northeast , once the epicenter of the virus , has seen a decline in cases since hitting a peak in April .
`` It 's not super spreading individuals , it 's super spreading events and we need to stop those , '' Birx said .
`` We definitely need to take more precautions . ''
Asked if schools should stay closed and have remote learning in areas where there is a 5 % positivity rate , Birx deferred to the CDC 's guidelines on school reopenings .
`` If you have high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just like we are asking people not to go to bars , not to have household parties , not to create large spreading events , we are asking people to distance learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control , '' Birx said .

Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, speaks after a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Health and Human Services on June 26, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, said on Sunday that the U.S. is "in a new phase" of battling against the coronavirus pandemic and urged Americans to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.
"What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread ... it's more widespread and it's both rural and urban," Birx said during an interview on CNN.
"To everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus," Birx said. "And that is why we keep saying, no matter where you live in America, you need to wear a mask and socially distance, do the personal hygiene pieces."
The U.S. has more than 4.6 million coronavirus cases and at least 154,449 deaths, the most of any country, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University.
Asked about former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb's warning that the country could experience 300,000 deaths by the end of 2020, Birx responded, "Anything is possible" but declined to provide details on current projections.
Birx said the U.S. virus death toll will depend on how southern and western states with the worst outbreaks respond to the virus over the coming weeks.
The virus is rapidly spreading across much of the Midwest, as well in states like Florida and California that have experienced a significant surge in infections. The Northeast, once the epicenter of the virus, has seen a decline in cases since hitting a peak in April.
"It's not super spreading individuals, it's super spreading events and we need to stop those," Birx said. "We definitely need to take more precautions."
Asked if schools should stay closed and have remote learning in areas where there is a 5% positivity rate, Birx deferred to the CDC's guidelines on school reopenings.
"If you have high case load and active community spread, just like we are asking people not to go to bars, not to have household parties, not to create large spreading events, we are asking people to distance learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control," Birx said.


cnbc--2020-08-01--Op-ed: Keep your eyes on Russia for an August surprise of Putin's making

For all the legitimate focus on rising U.S.-Chinese tensions , this summer 's sleeper surprise for the West is more likely to emerge from Vladimir Putin 's Russia .
That 's because the built-in contradictions between Russia 's international ambition and domestic rot that have always characterized Putin 's rule , now into its 21st year , are coming to head in a manner that provides him both greater opportunity and peril .
The brutal effectiveness of his thugocracy state is increasing , with a military modernization that includes a newly detected test of anti-satellite space weapons , highly publicized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence operations that effectively employ advanced technology and a lower-tech army of mercenaries .
At the same time , the weakness of his demographically aging , economically ossifying Covid-hit country continues to grow in the wake of lower oil prices .
The World Bank projects a 6 % decline in Russian GDP in 2020 in a country that already had 12.3 % of its population , or 18 million people , below the poverty line .
Greater opportunity for Putin presents itself in a United States that 's distracted by the coronavirus spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upheavals , polarizing November elections and divisions with and within Europe .
With the chance that his friend President Donald Trump might lose the November election , Putin could calculate that now could be the time to seize new opportunities .
The peril is symbolized by surprisingly large and enduring protests in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk , which continued this weekend .
New Levada polling shows that 45 % of Russians say they approve of the recent wave of anti-Kremlin protests , and Putin opponents are looking to convert this energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to predict is whether an August surprise — or one at any time ahead of U.S. elections in November — would grow more from Russia 's strength , its weakness , or more likely some combination of the two .
It has been times like these in the past when matters had seemed sour for Moscow that Putin has turned to adventures abroad to solidify his domestic control .
So should one be watching for a surprise of the sort of the Russo-Georgian war of August 2008 , the seizure and annexation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war from 2015 to the present , or more electoral and disinformation activity in Europe and particularly around U.S. elections this November ?
On that front , the first indicator could be Russian response to the Belarus election a week from Sunday on Aug. 9 .
Janusz Bugajksi of the Center for European Policy Analysis reckons that Putin could use `` the pretext of growing unrest in Belarus and the disputed presidential elections '' as a chance to act as national liberator with the `` looming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Russia .
Following the arrest this week of 32 Russians at a sanatorium near Minsk , Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko accused the Kremlin-linked Wagner military contractor of sending 200 of its mercenaries to destabilize his country ahead of his election , where he faces a challenge from three opposition groups .
What 's clear is that Putin 's relations have soured dangerously with Lukashenko , who has resisted Russia 's efforts to effectively merge the two states into a Moscow-dominated union .
Lukashenko has been reaching out to Europe and the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Most of all , Putin will resist any further erosion of Kremlin power in its own region that would be prompted by a tilt either by Lukashenko or his opposition toward Western institutions or allegiances , akin to Georgia and Ukraine .
Some analysts say Putin 's appetite for such an adventure has run its course .
That 's unlikely , however , until he experiences more painful pushback than he has thus far from the United States , Europe or others .
In an interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump said he has n't confronted Putin with intelligence that Russia paid the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan .
Trump spoke to Putin this Tuesday , one of at least eight times he 's done so since the intelligence landed in the President 's Daily Brief in late February If past performance is any indicator of future outcomes , do n't join the wishful Western thinkers who believe that Russia 's economic pain and domestic opposition has advanced so far that Putin is in greater danger than are his adversaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged by his string of international advances in the face of little pushback and , like the schoolyard bully who has n't yet felt a serious blow , he will continue his life 's work of undoing the wrong of Soviet collapse in any way available to him .
A powerful new book by Financial Times correspondent Catherine Belton , `` Putin 's People , '' `` demonstrates how the future president made full use of KGB methods , contacts , and networks at each stage of his career , '' writes Anne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in The Atlantic .
No less a source than Russian businessman Vladimir Yakunin , who with Konstantin Malofeyev helped set up organizations across Europe that would promote alternatives to democracy and European integration , told Bolton it was all about restoring Russia 's `` global position . ''
Angela Stent , a consistently wise American expert on Russia , writes that despite its limited economic capabilities , Russia could become `` an even more influential international player . ''
That 's in part because of growing doubts about U.S. reliability among allies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin as a thuggish dictator , his global partners — including a number of senior Mideast officials with whom I 've spoken — see him as a reliable , pragmatic leader with whom they can do business .
They 'd rather deal with Russia in Syria than Iran , and they 'd rather have Russia in Libya than Turkey .
As to the prospect of a summer bombshell , Stent writes , `` It has been the case throughout Russian history , things appear to be stable until suddenly they are not .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear from his hastily arranged referendum .
But he himself could face unanticipated challenges to his plan to stay in power indefinitely . ''
As for this August , however , my bet would be that if there is a surprise , it will be one of Putin 's choosing .
Frederick Kempe is a best-selling author , prize-winning journalist and president & CEO of the Atlantic Council , one of the United States ' most influential think tanks on global affairs .
He worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistant managing editor and as the longest-serving editor of the paper 's European edition .
His latest book – `` Berlin 1961 : Kennedy , Khrushchev , and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth '' – was a New York Times best-seller and has been published in more than a dozen languages .
Follow him on Twitter @ FredKempe and subscribe here to Inflection Points , his look each Saturday at the past week 's top stories and trends .
For more insight from CNBC contributors , follow @ CNBCopinion on Twitter .

For all the legitimate focus on rising U.S.-Chinese tensions, this summer's sleeper surprise for the West is more likely to emerge from Vladimir Putin's Russia.
That's because the built-in contradictions between Russia's international ambition and domestic rot that have always characterized Putin's rule, now into its 21st year, are coming to head in a manner that provides him both greater opportunity and peril.
The brutal effectiveness of his thugocracy state is increasing, with a military modernization that includes a newly detected test of anti-satellite space weapons, highly publicized advances in hypersonic technologies, and worldwide intelligence operations that effectively employ advanced technology and a lower-tech army of mercenaries.
At the same time, the weakness of his demographically aging, economically ossifying Covid-hit country continues to grow in the wake of lower oil prices. The World Bank projects a 6% decline in Russian GDP in 2020 in a country that already had 12.3% of its population, or 18 million people, below the poverty line.
Greater opportunity for Putin presents itself in a United States that's distracted by the coronavirus spread, its own economic downturn, racial upheavals, polarizing November elections and divisions with and within Europe. With the chance that his friend President Donald Trump might lose the November election, Putin could calculate that now could be the time to seize new opportunities.
The peril is symbolized by surprisingly large and enduring protests in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk, which continued this weekend. New Levada polling shows that 45% of Russians say they approve of the recent wave of anti-Kremlin protests, and Putin opponents are looking to convert this energy into something more.
What's difficult to predict is whether an August surprise — or one at any time ahead of U.S. elections in November — would grow more from Russia's strength, its weakness, or more likely some combination of the two. It has been times like these in the past when matters had seemed sour for Moscow that Putin has turned to adventures abroad to solidify his domestic control.
So should one be watching for a surprise of the sort of the Russo-Georgian war of August 2008, the seizure and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war from 2015 to the present, or more electoral and disinformation activity in Europe and particularly around U.S. elections this November?
On that front, the first indicator could be Russian response to the Belarus election a week from Sunday on Aug. 9. Janusz Bugajksi of the Center for European Policy Analysis reckons that Putin could use "the pretext of growing unrest in Belarus and the disputed presidential elections" as a chance to act as national liberator with the "looming prospect" of the absorption of Belarus into Russia.
Following the arrest this week of 32 Russians at a sanatorium near Minsk, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko accused the Kremlin-linked Wagner military contractor of sending 200 of its mercenaries to destabilize his country ahead of his election, where he faces a challenge from three opposition groups.
What's clear is that Putin's relations have soured dangerously with Lukashenko, who has resisted Russia's efforts to effectively merge the two states into a Moscow-dominated union. Lukashenko has been reaching out to Europe and the United States, including a February visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Most of all, Putin will resist any further erosion of Kremlin power in its own region that would be prompted by a tilt either by Lukashenko or his opposition toward Western institutions or allegiances, akin to Georgia and Ukraine.
Some analysts say Putin's appetite for such an adventure has run its course. That's unlikely, however, until he experiences more painful pushback than he has thus far from the United States, Europe or others.
In an interview with "Axios on HBO" this week, Trump said he hasn't confronted Putin with intelligence that Russia paid the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. Trump spoke to Putin this Tuesday, one of at least eight times he's done so since the intelligence landed in the President's Daily Brief in late February
If past performance is any indicator of future outcomes, don't join the wishful Western thinkers who believe that Russia's economic pain and domestic opposition has advanced so far that Putin is in greater danger than are his adversaries.
If anything, he has been encouraged by his string of international advances in the face of little pushback and, like the schoolyard bully who hasn't yet felt a serious blow, he will continue his life's work of undoing the wrong of Soviet collapse in any way available to him.
A powerful new book by Financial Times correspondent Catherine Belton, "Putin's People," "demonstrates how the future president made full use of KGB methods, contacts, and networks at each stage of his career," writes Anne Applebaum in a review of the book in The Atlantic.
No less a source than Russian businessman Vladimir Yakunin, who with Konstantin Malofeyev helped set up organizations across Europe that would promote alternatives to democracy and European integration, told Bolton it was all about restoring Russia's "global position."
Angela Stent, a consistently wise American expert on Russia, writes that despite its limited economic capabilities, Russia could become "an even more influential international player." That's in part because of growing doubts about U.S. reliability among allies.
Despite the prevalent view in Washington of Putin as a thuggish dictator, his global partners — including a number of senior Mideast officials with whom I've spoken — see him as a reliable, pragmatic leader with whom they can do business. They'd rather deal with Russia in Syria than Iran, and they'd rather have Russia in Libya than Turkey.
As to the prospect of a summer bombshell, Stent writes, "It has been the case throughout Russian history, things appear to be stable until suddenly they are not. Putin likes to surprise, as was clear from his hastily arranged referendum. But he himself could face unanticipated challenges to his plan to stay in power indefinitely."
As for this August, however, my bet would be that if there is a surprise, it will be one of Putin's choosing.
Frederick Kempe is a best-selling author, prize-winning journalist and president & CEO of the Atlantic Council, one of the United States' most influential think tanks on global affairs. He worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than 25 years as a foreign correspondent, assistant managing editor and as the longest-serving editor of the paper's European edition. His latest book – "Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth" – was a New York Times best-seller and has been published in more than a dozen languages. Follow him on Twitter @FredKempe and subscribe here to Inflection Points, his look each Saturday at the past week's top stories and trends.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.


cnbc--2020-08-03--Democrats and Trump officials leave 'productive' meeting, but still don't have a coronavirus relief

Democrats and Trump officials leave 'productive' meeting, but still don't have a coronavirus relief deal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. , left , speaks as she stands next to Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. , right , on Capitol Hill in Washington , Monday , Aug. 3 , 2020 .
Democrats and Trump administration officials left a Monday afternoon meeting touting progress toward an elusive fifth coronavirus bill , but said they still had issues to resolve .
Negotiators House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows met for more than two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed Sunday 's staff-level talks on a package to help rein in a raging pandemic and jolt a flailing U.S. economy .
Following the meeting , Pelosi told reporters the discussions were `` productive . ''
She said `` we are moving down the track , '' but `` still have our differences . ''
Addressing reporters alongside the speaker , Schumer added that `` we 're making some progress on certain issues , moving closer together . ''
The senator said `` there are a lot of issues that are still outstanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desire to get something done as soon as we can . ''
Mnuchin and Meadows went to brief Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , about the talks after the meeting concluded .
Mnuchin told reporters that discussions with Democrats were done for the day .
The negotiators are expected to meet more this week .
As the White House pressures Democrats to accept a short-term fix , Trump also said he is exploring executive action to extend a moratorium on evictions from federally-backed housing .
It is unclear what power he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expired late last month when Congress failed to pass a bill to sustain it .
`` A lot of people are going to be evicted , but I 'm going to stop it because I 'll do it myself when I have to , '' he said during an event at the White House On Monday .
`` I have a lot of powers with respect to executive orders , and we 're looking at that very seriously right now . ''
The effort to pass a relief package has gained urgency after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit expired at the end of July .
The extra aid has helped tens of millions of jobless people afford food and housing as the economy reels during the outbreak .
Disagreements over how to structure unemployment insurance have stood in the way of a deal .
Democrats have insisted on continuing the $ 600 weekly sum .
They passed a House bill in May to extend the aid into next year .
Republicans , who questioned the need for more pandemic relief before they released a proposal last week , want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per week through September .
They would then set the aid at 70 % wage replacement .
Asked Monday if negotiators made any progress on unemployment insurance , Schumer responded that Republicans are `` sticking to their position , '' according to reporters at the Capitol .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, speaks as she stands next to Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., right, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Aug. 3, 2020.
Democrats and Trump administration officials left a Monday afternoon meeting touting progress toward an elusive fifth coronavirus bill, but said they still had issues to resolve.
Negotiators House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows met for more than two hours at the Capitol. The discussions followed Sunday's staff-level talks on a package to help rein in a raging pandemic and jolt a flailing U.S. economy.
Following the meeting, Pelosi told reporters the discussions were "productive." She said "we are moving down the track," but "still have our differences."
Addressing reporters alongside the speaker, Schumer added that "we're making some progress on certain issues, moving closer together." The senator said "there are a lot of issues that are still outstanding, but I think there is a desire to get something done as soon as we can."
Mnuchin and Meadows went to brief Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., about the talks after the meeting concluded. Mnuchin told reporters that discussions with Democrats were done for the day.
The negotiators are expected to meet more this week.
As the White House pressures Democrats to accept a short-term fix, Trump also said he is exploring executive action to extend a moratorium on evictions from federally-backed housing. It is unclear what power he has to continue the policy, which expired late last month when Congress failed to pass a bill to sustain it.
"A lot of people are going to be evicted, but I'm going to stop it because I'll do it myself when I have to," he said during an event at the White House On Monday. "I have a lot of powers with respect to executive orders, and we're looking at that very seriously right now."
The effort to pass a relief package has gained urgency after a $600 per week federal unemployment benefit expired at the end of July. The extra aid has helped tens of millions of jobless people afford food and housing as the economy reels during the outbreak.
Disagreements over how to structure unemployment insurance have stood in the way of a deal. Democrats have insisted on continuing the $600 weekly sum. They passed a House bill in May to extend the aid into next year.
Republicans, who questioned the need for more pandemic relief before they released a proposal last week, want to slash the extra benefit to $200 per week through September. They would then set the aid at 70% wage replacement.
Asked Monday if negotiators made any progress on unemployment insurance, Schumer responded that Republicans are "sticking to their position," according to reporters at the Capitol.


cnbc--2020-08-03--Barack Obama issues his first round of 2020 endorsements

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama released his first slate of 2020 candidate endorsements on Monday , putting his considerable political weight behind 118 candidates up and down the ballot in 17 states .
Obama endorsed five Democratic Senate challengers in some of the nation 's most closely watched races , those in Colorado , Iowa , Maine , North Carolina and South Carolina .
`` Together , these candidates will help us redeem our country 's promise by sticking up for working people , restoring fairness and opportunity to our system , and fighting for the good of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top , '' Obama said in a statement .
The Democratic candidates in several high-profile Senate races are notably absent from the list , such as Mark Kelly in Arizona and Steve Bullock in Montana .
In Kelly 's case , the former astronaut 's primary is on Tuesday and Obama 's announcement specified that endorsed candidates hail from states that have already completed those contests .
Bullock , however , is one of several Democratic Senate challengers missing from the list because they 're running in traditionally red states — places where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help a candidate in a statewide race .
The other states are Kentucky , Georgia and Texas .
Other notable endorsements from the former president included dozens of state legislative candidates in Texas , Pennsylvania and North Carolina , all states where control of one or both of the chambers is being tightly contested this year .
The party that controls a state 's legislature is virtually guaranteed to have outsize influence over the 2021 redistricting that will follow the 2020 census .
According to a statement from his office , Obama selected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key goals : winning control of the U.S. Senate and holding the majority in the U.S. House ; electing Democrats who will support fair redistricting in 2021 ; supporting alumni of his campaigns and Administration ; and promoting diverse , emerging leaders for this time . ''
The endorsements are the latest step in Obama 's growing engagement on the 2020 political battlefield .
Since the beginning of June , Obama has raised approximately $ 24 million at virtual fundraisers for his former vice president , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were widely shared on social media .
Obama is also expected to speak at the Democratic National Convention later this month .
Last week , Obama delivered a stirring eulogy for the late civil rights leader and Georgia congressman John Lewis , in which he called for expanded voting rights .
`` Even as we sit here , there are those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws ... attacking our voting rights with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ See all of Obama 's endorsements here .

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama released his first slate of 2020 candidate endorsements on Monday, putting his considerable political weight behind 118 candidates up and down the ballot in 17 states.
Obama endorsed five Democratic Senate challengers in some of the nation's most closely watched races, those in Colorado, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina.
"Together, these candidates will help us redeem our country's promise by sticking up for working people, restoring fairness and opportunity to our system, and fighting for the good of all Americans — not just those at the top," Obama said in a statement.
The Democratic candidates in several high-profile Senate races are notably absent from the list, such as Mark Kelly in Arizona and Steve Bullock in Montana. In Kelly's case, the former astronaut's primary is on Tuesday and Obama's announcement specified that endorsed candidates hail from states that have already completed those contests.
Bullock, however, is one of several Democratic Senate challengers missing from the list because they're running in traditionally red states — places where an endorsement from Obama might not necessarily help a candidate in a statewide race. The other states are Kentucky, Georgia and Texas.
Other notable endorsements from the former president included dozens of state legislative candidates in Texas, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, all states where control of one or both of the chambers is being tightly contested this year. The party that controls a state's legislature is virtually guaranteed to have outsize influence over the 2021 redistricting that will follow the 2020 census.
According to a statement from his office, Obama selected candidates "because their election would advance key goals: winning control of the U.S. Senate and holding the majority in the U.S. House; electing Democrats who will support fair redistricting in 2021; supporting alumni of his campaigns and Administration; and promoting diverse, emerging leaders for this time."
The endorsements are the latest step in Obama's growing engagement on the 2020 political battlefield. Since the beginning of June, Obama has raised approximately $24 million at virtual fundraisers for his former vice president, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. He has also filmed spots with Biden that were widely shared on social media.
OBAMA TWEET
Obama is also expected to speak at the Democratic National Convention later this month. Last week, Obama delivered a stirring eulogy for the late civil rights leader and Georgia congressman John Lewis, in which he called for expanded voting rights.
"Even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws ... attacking our voting rights with surgical precision," he said.
See all of Obama's endorsements here.
WATCH: Obama's remarks at Rep. John Lewis's funeral


cnbc--2020-08-03--Trump and company could be under investigation for bank and insurance fraud, Manhattan DA Vance reve

Trump and company could be under investigation for bank and insurance fraud, Manhattan DA Vance reveals

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. leaves a hearing in U.S. President Donald Trump 's tax case in New York , October 23 , 2019 .
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. could be investigating President Donald Trump and his company for possible insurance and bank fraud , the prosecutor 's office revealed Monday in a new court filing .
In the filing , Vance 's office urged a federal judge to toss out Trump 's new legal effort to prevent prosecutors from getting his tax returns and other records from his accountants through a grand jury subpoena .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seeking Trump 's financial records from the accounting firm Mazars USA as part of a probe into how the president 's company , the Trump Organization , accounted for a hush-money payment to a porn star , Stormy Daniels , who says she had sex with Trump years ago .
Trump has denied having sex with Daniels .
The White House , the Trump Organization and Trump 's lawyer had no immediate comment on Vance 's filing .
Trump , when asked at a White House press briefing Monday evening about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , `` This is just a continuation of the witch hunt . ''
The president likened the District Attorney 's possible move to other investigations involving him since his 2016 presidential run , including special counsel Robert Mueller 's probe of Russian election interference and the impeachment proceedings spurred by the House of Representatives .
`` It 's Democrat stuff , they failed with Mueller , they failed with everything , they failed with Congress , they failed at every stage of the game , '' Trump said .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in American history and there 's nothing that I know even about it , '' Trump added .
`` It 's a terrible thing that they do , it 's really a terrible thing .
The witch hunt has gone on long enough . ''
Trump was impeached in the Democrat-led House on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress ; he was acquitted in the GOP-majority Senate .
The filing Monday by Vance 's office in U.S. District Court in Manhattan did not explicitly say what it is probing beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that the office is seeking up to a decade 's worth of the financial records to see if they contain evidence of other `` potentially improper financial transactions by a variety of individuals and entities over a period of years . ''
`` At the time the Mazars Subpoena was issued , there were public allegations of possible criminal activity at Plaintiff 's New York County-based Trump Organization dating back over a decade , '' Vance 's office wrote , citing news reports last year .
`` These reports describe transactions involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York County , but whose conduct at times extended beyond New York 's borders , '' the filing said .
The filing also cited a prior court ruling which noted that the `` investigation may result in ' a favorable outcome .
.
.
substantially related to [ , ] ' among other things , 'alleged insurance and bank fraud by the Trump Organization and its officers . '
'' Trump 's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified to Congress last year that Trump had both inflated and deflated the value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance purposes .
Vance 's office in its court filing also said that Trump 's second lawsuit seeking to block the subpoena `` merely regurgitates allegations and arguments this Court has rejected before . ''
The president 's `` 'new ' filing contains nothing new whatsoever , and [ Trump ] has utterly failed to make a 'stronger showing ' of bad faith than he previously made to this Court , '' Vance 's office said .
Prosecutors also argued to Judge Victor Marrero that Trump 's suit opposing the subpoena `` merely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation . ''
The office said : `` Every day that goes by is another day Plaintiff effectively achieves the 'temporary absolute immunity ' that was rejected by this Court , the Court of Appeals , and the Supreme Court . ''
The DA also argued that further delay increases the chance of loss of evidence and of the expiration of the statute of limitations for certain crimes .
The U.S. Supreme Court last month rejected Trump 's bid to block the subpoena , ruling that presidents do not have immunity from being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in office .
But the Supreme Court allowed Trump to raise other arguments opposing the subpoena at the federal district court level .
The president 's lawyers did so last week in their new lawsuit .
That suit said the subpoena `` amounts to harassment of the President in violation of his legal rights , '' is `` wildly overboard '' in the records it seeks and `` is not remotely confined to the grand jury investigation that began in 2018 . ''
Trump 's lawyers also argue in the suit that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump has refused to release his income tax returns to the public , reversing more than four decades of practice by other presidents .

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. leaves a hearing in U.S. President Donald Trump's tax case in New York, October 23, 2019.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. could be investigating President Donald Trump and his company for possible insurance and bank fraud, the prosecutor's office revealed Monday in a new court filing.
In the filing, Vance's office urged a federal judge to toss out Trump's new legal effort to prevent prosecutors from getting his tax returns and other records from his accountants through a grand jury subpoena.
Vance's office already was known to be seeking Trump's financial records from the accounting firm Mazars USA as part of a probe into how the president's company, the Trump Organization, accounted for a hush-money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who says she had sex with Trump years ago. Trump has denied having sex with Daniels.
The White House, the Trump Organization and Trump's lawyer had no immediate comment on Vance's filing.
Trump, when asked at a White House press briefing Monday evening about the possible criminal probe of his business, said, "This is just a continuation of the witch hunt."
The president likened the District Attorney's possible move to other investigations involving him since his 2016 presidential run, including special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian election interference and the impeachment proceedings spurred by the House of Representatives.
"It's Democrat stuff, they failed with Mueller, they failed with everything, they failed with Congress, they failed at every stage of the game," Trump said.
"This is a continuation of the worst witch hunt in American history and there's nothing that I know even about it," Trump added. "It's a terrible thing that they do, it's really a terrible thing. The witch hunt has gone on long enough."
Trump was impeached in the Democrat-led House on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress; he was acquitted in the GOP-majority Senate.
The filing Monday by Vance's office in U.S. District Court in Manhattan did not explicitly say what it is probing beyond the hush-money payment.
But the filing noted that the office is seeking up to a decade's worth of the financial records to see if they contain evidence of other "potentially improper financial transactions by a variety of individuals and entities over a period of years."
"At the time the Mazars Subpoena was issued, there were public allegations of possible criminal activity at Plaintiff's New York County-based Trump Organization dating back over a decade," Vance's office wrote, citing news reports last year.
"These reports describe transactions involving individual and corporate actors based in New York County, but whose conduct at times extended beyond New York's borders," the filing said.
The filing also cited a prior court ruling which noted that the "investigation may result in 'a favorable outcome . . . substantially related to[,]' among other things, 'alleged insurance and bank fraud by the Trump Organization and its officers.'"
Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified to Congress last year that Trump had both inflated and deflated the value of real estate assets for tax and insurance purposes.
Vance's office in its court filing also said that Trump's second lawsuit seeking to block the subpoena "merely regurgitates allegations and arguments this Court has rejected before."
The president's "'new' filing contains nothing new whatsoever, and [Trump] has utterly failed to make a 'stronger showing' of bad faith than he previously made to this Court," Vance's office said.
Prosecutors also argued to Judge Victor Marrero that Trump's suit opposing the subpoena "merely serves to delay the grand jury's investigation."
The office said: "Every day that goes by is another day Plaintiff effectively achieves the 'temporary absolute immunity' that was rejected by this Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court."
The DA also argued that further delay increases the chance of loss of evidence and of the expiration of the statute of limitations for certain crimes.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month rejected Trump's bid to block the subpoena, ruling that presidents do not have immunity from being investigated for crimes by state prosecutors while in office.
But the Supreme Court allowed Trump to raise other arguments opposing the subpoena at the federal district court level.
The president's lawyers did so last week in their new lawsuit.
That suit said the subpoena "amounts to harassment of the President in violation of his legal rights," is "wildly overboard" in the records it seeks and "is not remotely confined to the grand jury investigation that began in 2018."
Trump's lawyers also argue in the suit that the subpoena "was issued in bad faith."
Trump has refused to release his income tax returns to the public, reversing more than four decades of practice by other presidents.


cnbc--2020-08-03--How Trump could force a payroll tax holiday without waiting for Congress

President Donald Trump speaks to the media before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on July 31 .
President Donald Trump might not have to wait for Congress to pass his payroll tax cut .
He may be able to do it on his own .
Rather than waiting for lawmakers to come around to a payroll tax holiday , the president could order the Treasury Department to stop collecting the tax , according to an Aug. 2 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal .
The opinion piece was authored by Stephen Moore , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task force , and Phil Kerpen , president of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity .
At a White House press briefing Monday evening , the president said he does indeed have the power to unilaterally suspend the collection of payroll taxes .
`` I can do that also through an executive order , '' Trump said at the briefing , `` so we 'll be talking about that . ''
The president added that his administration is `` having a very good discussion '' with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , about another coronavirus relief package .
But Trump said it was n't `` fair '' that the Democratic leaders `` want to bail out cities and states that have been in trouble for years of bad management . ''
Payroll taxes are the slice of employees ' pay that 's withheld to fund Social Security and Medicare .
More from Personal Finance : Small businesses rehire staff but cut pay and hours Treasury canceling stimulus checks to dead recipients Coronavirus unemployment claims are worst in history The burden is shared by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for a 6.2 % levy that funds Social Security , plus a 1.45 % tax that goes toward Medicare .
While Social Security taxes are subject to a wage base limit of $ 137,700 in 2020 , Medicare taxes continue to apply beyond that threshold .
To get the payroll tax break — a deferral , according to Moore and Kerpen — the Trump administration would employ a section of the tax code that allows the Treasury Secretary to postpone certain tax-related deadlines in a federally declared disaster .
Earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to delay the due date for 2019 federal income taxes .
`` Mr. Trump should instruct the Treasury to stop withholding payroll taxes , '' Moore and Kerpen wrote .

President Donald Trump speaks to the media before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on July 31.
President Donald Trump might not have to wait for Congress to pass his payroll tax cut. He may be able to do it on his own.
Rather than waiting for lawmakers to come around to a payroll tax holiday, the president could order the Treasury Department to stop collecting the tax, according to an Aug. 2 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal.
The opinion piece was authored by Stephen Moore, a member of the president's economic recovery task force, and Phil Kerpen, president of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity.
At a White House press briefing Monday evening, the president said he does indeed have the power to unilaterally suspend the collection of payroll taxes.
"I can do that also through an executive order," Trump said at the briefing, "so we'll be talking about that."
The president added that his administration is "having a very good discussion" with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., about another coronavirus relief package. But Trump said it wasn't "fair" that the Democratic leaders "want to bail out cities and states that have been in trouble for years of bad management."
Payroll taxes are the slice of employees' pay that's withheld to fund Social Security and Medicare.
More from Personal Finance:
Small businesses rehire staff but cut pay and hours
Treasury canceling stimulus checks to dead recipients
Coronavirus unemployment claims are worst in history
The burden is shared by the worker and the employer: Each is responsible for a 6.2% levy that funds Social Security, plus a 1.45% tax that goes toward Medicare. While Social Security taxes are subject to a wage base limit of $137,700 in 2020, Medicare taxes continue to apply beyond that threshold.
To get the payroll tax break — a deferral, according to Moore and Kerpen — the Trump administration would employ a section of the tax code that allows the Treasury Secretary to postpone certain tax-related deadlines in a federally declared disaster.
Earlier this year, the administration used this same authority to delay the due date for 2019 federal income taxes.
"Mr. Trump should instruct the Treasury to stop withholding payroll taxes," Moore and Kerpen wrote.


cnbc--2020-08-03--Trump attacks Dr. Birx after she said U.S. reached 'new phase' in coronavirus fight

President Donald Trump targeted Dr. Deborah Birx , a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force , in a tweet Monday , complaining that she `` hit us '' following reported criticism of her from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
Trump said on Twitter that Pelosi , D-Calif. , had gone after Birx `` because she was too positive on the very good job we are doing on combatting the China Virus , including Vaccines & Therapeutics . ''
`` In order to counter Nancy , Deborah took the bait & hit us .
Pathetic ! ''
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which of Birx 's remarks Trump was referencing in the tweet .
The White House did not respond to CNBC 's request for clarification .
When asked about his tweet at a White House press briefing Monday evening , Trump said : `` I think we 're doing very well , I told Dr. Birx I think we 're doing very well , she was in my office a little while ago .
It 's a person I have a lot of respect for .
I think Nancy Pelosi 's treated her very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very nasty . ''
Trump did not respond when asked to clarify if he disagreed with Birx 's characterization of the current state of the pandemic .
Birx had warned on CNN 's `` State of the Union '' on Sunday that the U.S. had entered a `` new phase '' in its battle against the virus .
`` What we are seeing today is different from March and April .
It is extraordinarily widespread ... it 's more widespread and it 's both rural and urban , '' Birx said .

President Donald Trump targeted Dr. Deborah Birx, a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force, in a tweet Monday, complaining that she "hit us" following reported criticism of her from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Trump said on Twitter that Pelosi, D-Calif., had gone after Birx "because she was too positive on the very good job we are doing on combatting the China Virus, including Vaccines & Therapeutics."
"In order to counter Nancy, Deborah took the bait & hit us. Pathetic!" Trump wrote.
Trump TWEET
It was not immediately clear which of Birx's remarks Trump was referencing in the tweet. The White House did not respond to CNBC's request for clarification.
When asked about his tweet at a White House press briefing Monday evening, Trump said: "I think we're doing very well, I told Dr. Birx I think we're doing very well, she was in my office a little while ago. It's a person I have a lot of respect for. I think Nancy Pelosi's treated her very badly, very, very badly, very nasty."
Trump did not respond when asked to clarify if he disagreed with Birx's characterization of the current state of the pandemic.
Birx had warned on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that the U.S. had entered a "new phase" in its battle against the virus.
"What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread ... it's more widespread and it's both rural and urban," Birx said.


cnbc--2020-08-03--Trump returns to the Hamptons for fundraising swing as Biden closes the cash gap

US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One prior to departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland , July 31 , 2020 , as he travels to Tampa , Florida .
President Donald Trump is returning to one of the wealthiest regions of New York for a fundraising blitz as presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden builds his own formidable campaign war chest .
Trump and his team will be traveling this week to the Hamptons on Long Island for high-dollar , in-person fundraisers as the state enforces 50-person limits on gatherings in certain areas amid the coronavirus pandemic .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call on people across the state to stay socially distant and wear masks .
The events begin Thursday , when son Donald Jr. , and the son 's girlfriend , leading campaign and Republican National Committee fundraiser Kimberly Guilfoyle , will be guests at a dinner .
Tickets for this event start at $ 2,800 per person for the reception and go up to $ 50,000 per couple to attend the corresponding dinner .
More expensive fundraisers that will feature the president himself are set to take place on Saturday .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraiser in the area , with tickets starting at $ 50,000 for guests take part in a photo op and watch the president 's remarks .
For $ 100,000 , an attendee can also be part of a round table discussions with Trump .
The later event on Saturday will cost up to $ 500,000 per couple to gain entrance .
All proceeds for the Hamptons events will be going to the Trump Victory committee , a joint fundraising operation between the campaign and the RNC .
Representatives for Trump and the RNC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president 's slew of campaign fundraising events , including on Aug. 10 in Jackson , Wyoming , comes as Biden and the Democratic National Committee have started gaining ground in Trump 's cash-on-hand advantage .
At the end of the second quarter , Trump and the RNC had $ 295 million on hand while Biden and the DNC had $ 242 million on hand .
Biden and his allies outraised Trump 's team during the quarter .
A Real Clear Politics polling average shows Biden ahead of Trump by 7 points .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV ads in the early voting states of North Carolina , Georgia , Florida and Arizona .
As for the event in Wyoming , Foster Friess , a businessman and former Republican gubernatorial nominee , will be one of the co-hosts to the fundraiser , he told CNBC late Monday .
It will feature Trump Jr. , Guilfoyle , the presidents daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband , Jared Kushner .
Tickets to the round table discussion start at $ 5,600 and go up to $ 35,500 .
Trump 's campaign and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamptons .
Trump 's son and his girlfriend recently took part in a social event in the Hamptons at the home of longtime real estate executive Joe Farrell .
The New York Post reported that Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. did not wear masks .
Guilfoyle later tested positive for the coronavirus .
Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle reportedly bought a $ 4.4 million for a summer home in Bridgehampton last year .
His father and the RNC raised at least $ 10 million last year during a swing through the Hamptons .
The town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a nonpolitical charity concert that featured performances by the Chainsmokers and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon , who opened the show as a DJ .
The event was supposed to only allow guests to watch from their vehicles , but videos on social media show many got out of their cars , with no social distancing and lax mask wearing .
The state 's health commissioner recently started an investigation into the event .

US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One prior to departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, July 31, 2020, as he travels to Tampa, Florida.
President Donald Trump is returning to one of the wealthiest regions of New York for a fundraising blitz as presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden builds his own formidable campaign war chest.
Trump and his team will be traveling this week to the Hamptons on Long Island for high-dollar, in-person fundraisers as the state enforces 50-person limits on gatherings in certain areas amid the coronavirus pandemic. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has continued to call on people across the state to stay socially distant and wear masks.
The events begin Thursday, when son Donald Jr., and the son's girlfriend, leading campaign and Republican National Committee fundraiser Kimberly Guilfoyle, will be guests at a dinner. Tickets for this event start at $2,800 per person for the reception and go up to $50,000 per couple to attend the corresponding dinner.
More expensive fundraisers that will feature the president himself are set to take place on Saturday.
Trump is slated to head to an afternoon fundraiser in the area, with tickets starting at $50,000 for guests take part in a photo op and watch the president's remarks. For $100,000, an attendee can also be part of a round table discussions with Trump. The later event on Saturday will cost up to $500,000 per couple to gain entrance.
All proceeds for the Hamptons events will be going to the Trump Victory committee, a joint fundraising operation between the campaign and the RNC.
Representatives for Trump and the RNC did not return requests for comment.
The president's slew of campaign fundraising events, including on Aug. 10 in Jackson, Wyoming, comes as Biden and the Democratic National Committee have started gaining ground in Trump's cash-on-hand advantage. At the end of the second quarter, Trump and the RNC had $295 million on hand while Biden and the DNC had $242 million on hand. Biden and his allies outraised Trump's team during the quarter.
A Real Clear Politics polling average shows Biden ahead of Trump by 7 points. With that, the Trump campaign launched TV ads in the early voting states of North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Arizona.
As for the event in Wyoming, Foster Friess, a businessman and former Republican gubernatorial nominee, will be one of the co-hosts to the fundraiser, he told CNBC late Monday. It will feature Trump Jr., Guilfoyle, the presidents daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. Tickets to the round table discussion start at $5,600 and go up to $35,500.
Trump's campaign and the president's family have ties to the Hamptons.
Trump's son and his girlfriend recently took part in a social event in the Hamptons at the home of longtime real estate executive Joe Farrell. The New York Post reported that Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. did not wear masks. Guilfoyle later tested positive for the coronavirus.
Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle reportedly bought a $4.4 million for a summer home in Bridgehampton last year.
His father and the RNC raised at least $10 million last year during a swing through the Hamptons.
The town of Southampton has also come under scrutiny after a nonpolitical charity concert that featured performances by the Chainsmokers and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, who opened the show as a DJ. The event was supposed to only allow guests to watch from their vehicles, but videos on social media show many got out of their cars, with no social distancing and lax mask wearing.
The state's health commissioner recently started an investigation into the event.


cnbc--2020-08-03--Stimulus talks: White House, Dems still agree on $1,200 checks but deadlocked on unemployment assist

Familiar fault lines continue to separate the White House and congressional Democrats on the next coronavirus stimulus package a day after an extended meeting between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and administration officials including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and chief of staff Mark Meadows .
Pelosi and Mnuchin both took to the airwaves on Sunday morning to lay out their competing visions for the rescue bill .
The key sticking point separating Democrats and Republicans continues to be the federal boost to unemployment assistance , which was set at $ 600 per week in March but recently lapsed .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reducing the federal assistance to $ 200 a week , Democrats have called for keeping it at the $ 600 level .
During an interview on ABC 's `` This Week '' on Sunday , Pelosi said that Trump was standing in the way of an agreement .
`` We 've been for the $ 600 .
They have a $ 200 proposal , which does not meet the needs of America 's working families , and it 's a condescension , quite frankly , '' Pelosi said .
`` They 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
They 're just staying home because they make more money at $ 600 , ' '' she added .
Appearing on the same program shortly after , Mnuchin said the administration was worried about the cost .
`` There 's obviously a need to support workers , support the economy , '' Mnuchin said .
`` On the other hand , we have to be careful about not piling on enormous amounts of debt . ''


cnbc--2020-08-03--The $600 unemployment boost has ended. What's next?

With negotiations between Democrats and Republicans at an impasse , millions relying on that aid are in the dark as to what comes next .
Meanwhile , the economic recovery appears to have stalled or reversed , coronavirus infections are surging , eviction protections have expired for many and plans to reopen schools remain in flux , potentially requiring many parents to forgo work for child-care duties .
`` It 's not clear we 're on a very clear trajectory out of this economic downturn , '' said Beth Akers , a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President George W. Bush 's Council of Economic Advisors .
`` So I 'm very concerned for when we take away the $ 600 from unemployed people . ''
Americans lost the weekly subsidy , at least temporarily , after Friday .
Federal relief legislation enacted in March — the CARES Act — set a July 31 end date .
Congress has yet to agree on an extension or replacement policy .
Given the scale of the problem , with roughly 30 million Americans collecting unemployment benefits , it 's likely lawmakers will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to experts .
More from Personal Finance Republican senators propose $ 1,000 stimulus checks America faces an unprecedented eviction crisis Unemployment aid will fall by 93 % for some `` It 's more a question of how much it will be and how long it will take , '' said Till von Wachter , an economics professor at the University of California , Los Angeles and director of the California Policy Lab .
`` I 'm not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term , '' Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff , said during a television interview on Sunday , on CBS 's `` Face The Nation . ''
Absent a federal supplement , the average American will get about $ 321 a week from state unemployment programs — less than half of prior earnings .
That situation will hit low-wage workers — who are already more likely to be living paycheck to paycheck and represent a disproportionate share of the unemployed — particularly hard .
`` You ca n't make a living as a low-income worker making 50 % of your prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The $ 600-a-week supplement to unemployment benefits has been a hot-button issue since a federal coronavirus relief law , the CARES Act , enacted the payments in late March .
The tension comes from some recipients being able to collect more from unemployment benefits than they earned from their jobs .
Republicans have unified against the $ 600 weekly enhancement , believing it to be a disincentive to return to work and therefore a drag on the economic recovery .
Democrats want to extend the payments , saying they pump money into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bills .
The House passed legislation in May to extend them through early 2021 .
Senate Republicans unveiled a proposal last week to reduce aid to $ 200 from $ 600 a week through September .
In October , they 'd shift to a system where federal and state benefits replace 70 % of a person 's lost wages , which would be in place through year-end .
It 's likely lawmakers will meet somewhere in the middle , economists said .
`` I think that 's where people have put their stakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ von Wachter said .
Many families would likely still see financial hardship with a payment of $ 200 .
That would give Californians up to $ 650 a week in total benefits , for example .
But $ 650 is less than the threshold for being considered `` very low income '' in this country , von Wachter said .
`` It 's hard when you 're already living your life on bare bones , '' Artavia Milliam , a recipient of unemployment benefits in New York , said during a House Ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We just want to survive until we get through the crisis . ''
The $ 600 supplement reduced food insecurity by 30 % and led to a 42 % reduction in eating less due to financial constraints , according to a paper published Thursday by academics at Boston University and the University of Pennsylvania .
And prospects of finding a new job are dim .
There are about 14 million more unemployed people than job openings right now , according to the Economic Policy Institute .
`` I 'm not losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 a week right now because I think there are a lot more people looking for jobs in the economy right now than there are jobs available , '' Akers said .
A wage-replacement approach like the one suggested by Republicans is the ideal approach , but is also unlikely to materialize within their timetable , according to labor experts .
At the onset of the pandemic , lawmakers broached the idea of capping a subsidy , at 100 % of lost wages .
But antiquated state technology made that an impossibility in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a compromise : when combined with typical state-paid benefits , the federal subsidy aimed at fully replacing lost wages for the average jobless person ( about $ 976 a week in the first quarter ) .
It 's unlikely all states would be able to administer such a policy within the next few months , economists said .
One compromise may be a flat amount ( $ 200 to $ 600 ) that transitions to a system replacing perhaps 70 % -100 % of prior wages over a longer time period like early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawmakers can offer states a financial incentive to update their technology .
That could take the form of offering extended federal funding to pay benefits for the self-employed , freelancers and others being covered by the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program , he said .

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) arrives as Senate Republicans hold their weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 16, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The $600 boost in weekly unemployment checks ended Friday. With negotiations between Democrats and Republicans at an impasse, millions relying on that aid are in the dark as to what comes next. Meanwhile, the economic recovery appears to have stalled or reversed, coronavirus infections are surging, eviction protections have expired for many and plans to reopen schools remain in flux, potentially requiring many parents to forgo work for child-care duties. "It's not clear we're on a very clear trajectory out of this economic downturn," said Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and a former staff economist on President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisors. "So I'm very concerned for when we take away the $600 from unemployed people."
watch now
'Can't make a living'
Americans lost the weekly subsidy, at least temporarily, after Friday. Federal relief legislation enacted in March — the CARES Act — set a July 31 end date. Congress has yet to agree on an extension or replacement policy. Given the scale of the problem, with roughly 30 million Americans collecting unemployment benefits, it's likely lawmakers will pass some sort of additional aid, according to experts. More from Personal Finance
Republican senators propose $1,000 stimulus checks
America faces an unprecedented eviction crisis
Unemployment aid will fall by 93% for some "It's more a question of how much it will be and how long it will take," said Till von Wachter, an economics professor at the University of California, Los Angeles and director of the California Policy Lab. A White House official suggested an agreement isn't forthcoming. "I'm not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term," Mark Meadows, President Trump's chief of staff, said during a television interview on Sunday, on CBS's "Face The Nation." Absent a federal supplement, the average American will get about $321 a week from state unemployment programs — less than half of prior earnings.
It's hard when you're already living your life on bare bones. Artavia Milliam unemployed worker in New York
That situation will hit low-wage workers — who are already more likely to be living paycheck to paycheck and represent a disproportionate share of the unemployed — particularly hard. "You can't make a living as a low-income worker making 50% of your prior earnings," von Wachter said.
Between $200 and $600
The $600-a-week supplement to unemployment benefits has been a hot-button issue since a federal coronavirus relief law, the CARES Act, enacted the payments in late March. The tension comes from some recipients being able to collect more from unemployment benefits than they earned from their jobs. Republicans have unified against the $600 weekly enhancement, believing it to be a disincentive to return to work and therefore a drag on the economic recovery. Democrats want to extend the payments, saying they pump money into the economy and help American families pay their bills. The House passed legislation in May to extend them through early 2021.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
Senate Republicans unveiled a proposal last week to reduce aid to $200 from $600 a week through September. In October, they'd shift to a system where federal and state benefits replace 70% of a person's lost wages, which would be in place through year-end. It's likely lawmakers will meet somewhere in the middle, economists said. "I think that's where people have put their stakes in the ground right now," von Wachter said.
Many families would likely still see financial hardship with a payment of $200. That would give Californians up to $650 a week in total benefits, for example. But $650 is less than the threshold for being considered "very low income" in this country, von Wachter said. "It's hard when you're already living your life on bare bones," Artavia Milliam, a recipient of unemployment benefits in New York, said during a House Ways and Means Committee press conference on Friday. "We just want to survive until we get through the crisis."
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards schoen
The $600 supplement reduced food insecurity by 30% and led to a 42% reduction in eating less due to financial constraints, according to a paper published Thursday by academics at Boston University and the University of Pennsylvania. And prospects of finding a new job are dim. There are about 14 million more unemployed people than job openings right now, according to the Economic Policy Institute. "I'm not losing sleep over people getting an extra $600 a week right now because I think there are a lot more people looking for jobs in the economy right now than there are jobs available," Akers said.
Wage replacement
A wage-replacement approach like the one suggested by Republicans is the ideal approach, but is also unlikely to materialize within their timetable, according to labor experts. At the onset of the pandemic, lawmakers broached the idea of capping a subsidy, at 100% of lost wages. But antiquated state technology made that an impossibility in short order.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-CA., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY., speak to reporters following a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on July 30. Congressional leadership and White House officials are continuing negotiations on a new relief package for Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the economic recession it has caused. Samuel Corum | Getty Images
The $600 was a compromise: when combined with typical state-paid benefits, the federal subsidy aimed at fully replacing lost wages for the average jobless person (about $976 a week in the first quarter). It's unlikely all states would be able to administer such a policy within the next few months, economists said. One compromise may be a flat amount ($200 to $600) that transitions to a system replacing perhaps 70%-100% of prior wages over a longer time period like early next year, von Wachter said. Lawmakers can offer states a financial incentive to update their technology. That could take the form of offering extended federal funding to pay benefits for the self-employed, freelancers and others being covered by the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, he said.