cnbc--2020-07-24--Here's what we know is in the Republican coronavirus relief bill

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) speaks to reporters following the Senate Republicans weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington , U.S. , June 16 , 2020 .
In addition to those pieces of the plan , Republicans have said their bill will include $ 16 billion in new funds for coronavirus testing and tax incentives to encourage companies to rehire workers and adopt safety measures .
Senate Republican leaders and White House negotiators outlined much , but not all , of what the proposal would include this week .
As Senate Republicans and the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill they previously hoped to release this week , provisions in the plan could change .
Democrats , who passed their own relief package in the House in May , will look to reshape major parts of the GOP legislation .
Congress faces pressure to pass more legislation in the coming days to combat the damage from a raging outbreak .
States will stop paying out the $ 600 per week enhanced federal unemployment benefit at the end of the week as the U.S. reports more than 4 million Covid-19 cases and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans do not plan to release a coronavirus relief bill until next week , but their proposal has mostly taken shape as Senate GOP leaders and the White House say they have reached a tentative deal .
GOP officials still need to come to a consensus among themselves even before Democrats join the discussions .
On Thursday , McConnell said the Trump administration `` has requested additional time to review the fine details . ''
Then on Friday , he said Republicans were developing a proposal they plan to release on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sitting down with the Democrats to see what we can agree to do going forward , '' he added .
Letting the extra unemployment benefit lapse even for a few weeks could have major ripple effects .
The payments will end around the same time a federal moratorium on evictions does .
The additional funds have not only helped the roughly 30 million people still getting some form of unemployment insurance cover food and housing costs , but also have boosted consumer spending at a time when many businesses are still closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week for the delays in passing new relief .
In a joint statement Friday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , said `` we had expected to be working throughout this weekend to find common ground on the next COVID response package . ''
`` It is simply unacceptable that Republicans have had this entire time to reach consensus among themselves and continue to flail , '' they said .
`` Time is of the essence and lives are being lost . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ releases a bill , he hopes Democrats `` meet our serious , fact-based proposal with the productive and bipartisan spirit that got us the CARES Act , rather than the cynical partisanship that led them to block '' a Republican-written police reform proposal last month .
Democrats have signaled they will push Republicans to make changes on several major pieces of the plan .
On Thursday , Pelosi said she will continue to call for extension of the $ 600 per week unemployment benefit at its current level .
She reiterated Friday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension of the unemployment benefit while Congress negotiates a broader bill , saying she wants to pass a full relief package .
The bill that passed the House in May would extend it into January .
Schumer previously signed on to a proposal that would automatically reduce the benefit as state unemployment rates fall below certain thresholds .
Pelosi and Schumer have also insisted on nearly $ 1 trillion in aid for states and municipalities as governments facing lost revenue and increased expenses during the pandemic consider laying off workers .
National Governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Maryland , and Vice Chair Andrew Cuomo , a New York Democrat , have repeatedly called on Congress to approve at least $ 500 billion more in relief for states .
The GOP proposal would give states and municipalities more flexibility in how they spend aid approved earlier this year but would not authorize new money .
Democrats also want to include rent and mortgage assistance in the developing bill .

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks to reporters following the Senate Republicans weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S.
In addition to those pieces of the plan, Republicans have said their bill will include $16 billion in new funds for coronavirus testing and tax incentives to encourage companies to rehire workers and adopt safety measures.
Senate Republican leaders and White House negotiators outlined much, but not all, of what the proposal would include this week.
As Senate Republicans and the Trump administration hammer out final details of a bill they previously hoped to release this week, provisions in the plan could change. Democrats, who passed their own relief package in the House in May, will look to reshape major parts of the GOP legislation.
Congress faces pressure to pass more legislation in the coming days to combat the damage from a raging outbreak. States will stop paying out the $600 per week enhanced federal unemployment benefit at the end of the week as the U.S. reports more than 4 million Covid-19 cases and at least 144,000 deaths from the disease.
Republicans do not plan to release a coronavirus relief bill until next week, but their proposal has mostly taken shape as Senate GOP leaders and the White House say they have reached a tentative deal.
GOP officials still need to come to a consensus among themselves even before Democrats join the discussions. On Thursday, McConnell said the Trump administration "has requested additional time to review the fine details."
Then on Friday, he said Republicans were developing a proposal they plan to release on Monday. After its release, "we'll be sitting down with the Democrats to see what we can agree to do going forward," he added.
Letting the extra unemployment benefit lapse even for a few weeks could have major ripple effects. The payments will end around the same time a federal moratorium on evictions does. The additional funds have not only helped the roughly 30 million people still getting some form of unemployment insurance cover food and housing costs, but also have boosted consumer spending at a time when many businesses are still closed.
Democrats have blamed Republicans throughout the week for the delays in passing new relief. In a joint statement Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said "we had expected to be working throughout this weekend to find common ground on the next COVID response package."
"It is simply unacceptable that Republicans have had this entire time to reach consensus among themselves and continue to flail," they said. "Time is of the essence and lives are being lost."
McConnell said Thursday that when the GOP releases a bill, he hopes Democrats "meet our serious, fact-based proposal with the productive and bipartisan spirit that got us the CARES Act, rather than the cynical partisanship that led them to block" a Republican-written police reform proposal last month.
Democrats have signaled they will push Republicans to make changes on several major pieces of the plan. On Thursday, Pelosi said she will continue to call for extension of the $600 per week unemployment benefit at its current level.
She reiterated Friday that she would not agree to a short-term extension of the unemployment benefit while Congress negotiates a broader bill, saying she wants to pass a full relief package.
The bill that passed the House in May would extend it into January. Schumer previously signed on to a proposal that would automatically reduce the benefit as state unemployment rates fall below certain thresholds.
Pelosi and Schumer have also insisted on nearly $1 trillion in aid for states and municipalities as governments facing lost revenue and increased expenses during the pandemic consider laying off workers. National Governors Association Chair Larry Hogan, a Republican from Maryland, and Vice Chair Andrew Cuomo, a New York Democrat, have repeatedly called on Congress to approve at least $500 billion more in relief for states.
The GOP proposal would give states and municipalities more flexibility in how they spend aid approved earlier this year but would not authorize new money.
Democrats also want to include rent and mortgage assistance in the developing bill.
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cnbc--2020-07-24--U.S. officials won't say whether they will comply with China order to close Chengdu consulate

The U.S. Consulate in Chengdu is pictured on July 23 , 2020 in Chengdu , Sichuan Province of China .
WASHINGTON — Senior U.S. officials would not address Friday whether the Trump administration intends to comply with an order to close an American Consulate in China , a move that comes on the heels of Washington 's forced closure of a Chinese Consulate in Houston .
On Friday morning , China 's Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to cease operations at its consulate in Chengdu , a city in southwest China 's Sichuan province .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wenbin , said some U.S. Chengdu consulate personnel were `` conducting activities not in line with their identities '' and had harmed China 's security interests , but would not elaborate .
`` The current situation in China-U.S. relations is not what China desires to see and the U.S. is responsible for all this .
We once again urge the U.S. to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track , '' he added .
Earlier in the week , the Trump administration ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials said the decision to shut down the Chinese Consulate was made to secure U.S. intellectual property and curb Chinese espionage .
A senior State Department official , who spoke on condition of anonymity , described the U.S. decision to close the Chinese consulate in Houston as `` serious '' and reflective of `` long-standing concerns . ''
The person also said that the Trump administration would be prepared to deal with second- and third-order effects in the wake of this decision , but would not elaborate .
`` On their decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to ask them , the MFA , about how they picked that , '' the official said .
The same official said the Department of State would continue to send U.S. diplomats to China saying , `` We still have a job to do out there . ''
Meanwhile , Beijing has not publicly agreed to evacuate from its consulate in Houston .
When asked how the U.S. may respond , the State Department official said , `` I 'm not going to speculate about how this rolls out in Houston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Justice charged four Chinese nationals with visa fraud in California and Indiana after they allegedly lied about their Chinese military service .
The arrests were described as `` a microcosm of a broader network of individuals in more than 25 cities , '' a senior Justice Department official said .
`` By their very nature consulates are a base of operations for foreign governments to the United States , including their intelligence services and it 's understood that there will be some activity here by those services , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their location within the United States and their status of sovereign territory of a foreign country , they can be exploited and the espionage and influence activities run out of a consulate can rise , ultimately to a level that threatens our national security , '' the official added .

The U.S. Consulate in Chengdu is pictured on July 23, 2020 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China.
WASHINGTON — Senior U.S. officials would not address Friday whether the Trump administration intends to comply with an order to close an American Consulate in China, a move that comes on the heels of Washington's forced closure of a Chinese Consulate in Houston.
On Friday morning, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to cease operations at its consulate in Chengdu, a city in southwest China's Sichuan province.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said some U.S. Chengdu consulate personnel were "conducting activities not in line with their identities" and had harmed China's security interests, but would not elaborate.
"The current situation in China-U.S. relations is not what China desires to see and the U.S. is responsible for all this. We once again urge the U.S. to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track," he added.
Earlier in the week, the Trump administration ordered China to close its consulate in Houston. Officials said the decision to shut down the Chinese Consulate was made to secure U.S. intellectual property and curb Chinese espionage.
A senior State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the U.S. decision to close the Chinese consulate in Houston as "serious" and reflective of "long-standing concerns." The person also said that the Trump administration would be prepared to deal with second- and third-order effects in the wake of this decision, but would not elaborate.
"On their decision to close Chengdu, you're going to have to ask them, the MFA, about how they picked that," the official said. The same official said the Department of State would continue to send U.S. diplomats to China saying, "We still have a job to do out there."
Meanwhile, Beijing has not publicly agreed to evacuate from its consulate in Houston. When asked how the U.S. may respond, the State Department official said, "I'm not going to speculate about how this rolls out in Houston."
The latest revelation comes as the Department of Justice charged four Chinese nationals with visa fraud in California and Indiana after they allegedly lied about their Chinese military service.
The arrests were described as "a microcosm of a broader network of individuals in more than 25 cities," a senior Justice Department official said.
"By their very nature consulates are a base of operations for foreign governments to the United States, including their intelligence services and it's understood that there will be some activity here by those services," the person said.
"But because of their location within the United States and their status of sovereign territory of a foreign country, they can be exploited and the espionage and influence activities run out of a consulate can rise, ultimately to a level that threatens our national security," the official added.


cnbc--2020-07-24--Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen released from prison, again, after judge says book ban was retalia

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen released from prison, again, after judge says book ban was retaliation

Michael Cohen , the former personal lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump , arrives at his Manhattan apartment after being released from federal prison to serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement in New York , May 21 , 2020 .
Michael Cohen was released from prison Friday , a day after a judge ruled that President Donald Trump 's former lawyer was improperly returned there in retaliation for failing to agree to a ban on publishing a book about Trump .
`` I just spoke with my client as he left FCI Otisville , '' said Cohen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is extremely gratified that the court upheld his fundamental constitutional right to speak freely and publicly , and he looks forward to doing exactly that . ''
Cohen , 53 , of Manhattan , was serving a three-year sentence in late May when he was furloughed from the Otisville prison as part of a program to reduce inmate population during the coronavirus pandemic .
He was taken into custody on July 9 and sent back to prison a day later after his other lawyer , Jeffrey Levine , said he balked at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confinement , which included a ban on speaking to reporters , posting on social media and publishing a book .
Prosecutors said Cohen had refused to agree to any of the conditions , such as a ban on speaking to felons , submitting to electronic monitoring and having family members do his food shopping .
Cohen sued the Justice Department and Bureau of Prisons this week seeking his release , claiming he was reimprisoned because he is writing a critical book about Trump .
`` With this release , the Trump administration would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not put someone in prison for writing a book critical of the president , '' said Vera Eidelman , staff attorney with the ACLU 's Speech , Privacy , and Technology Project , which assisted Cohen .
Manhattan federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein on Thursday ruled that Cohen 's imprisonment was `` retaliatory '' and noted that officials had not warned Cohen that he would be sent back into prison if he did not agree to the conditions without any negotiation .
The Bureau of Prisons denied that Cohen 's imprisonment was retaliation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Congress , financial crimes and campaign finance violations .
The campaign charges related to hush money paid before the 2016 presidential election to two women who said they had sex with Trump .

Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives at his Manhattan apartment after being released from federal prison to serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement in New York, May 21, 2020.
Michael Cohen was released from prison Friday, a day after a judge ruled that President Donald Trump's former lawyer was improperly returned there in retaliation for failing to agree to a ban on publishing a planned book about Trump.
"I just spoke with my client as he left FCI Otisville," said Cohen's lawyer Danya Perry.
"He is extremely gratified that the court upheld his fundamental constitutional right to speak freely and publicly, and he looks forward to doing exactly that."
Cohen, who was first furloughed from the prison in late May, was picked up by his son, who drove him back to their apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side. He will serve out the remainder of his three-year criminal sentence there under home confinement.
His term is due to end Nov. 22, 2021.
Cohen, 53, originally was furloughed as part of a Bureau of Prison's program to reduce inmate population during the coronavirus pandemic.
But he was taken into custody on July 9 at a meeting with a U.S. Probation official to discuss the conditions of his home confinement.
Jeffrey Levine, another lawyer for Cohen, said that during the meeting Cohen had balked at the condition that would ban him from speaking to reporters, posting on social media and publishing a book. Cohen plans to publish that book, which will be critical of Trump, before the 2020 presidential election.
Prosecutors said Cohen became combative at the meeting and refused to agree to any of the conditions, such as a ban on speaking to felons, having family members do his food shopping and submitting to electronic monitoring.
Cohen sued the Justice Department and Bureau of Prisons this week seeking his release. He claimed he was reimprisoned because he is writing the Trump book.


cnbc--2020-07-24--Trump allows defense contractors to sell more armed drones to foreign militaries

A pair of MQ-9 Reapers from the 46th Expeditionary Attack Squadron are parked on the flightline at Ali Al Salem Air Base , Kuwait , June 9 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a measure this week that will allow U.S. defense contractors to sell more armed drones to foreign militaries , a State Department official said Friday .
The updated policy determination opens up the sale of armed U.S. drones to foreign governments that were previously forbidden from buying them under the Missile Technology Control Regime , or MTCR , which was signed three decades ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classifies large drones akin to cruise missiles , which makes sales of such weapons subject to high export restrictions .
Under the updated policy , the U.S. no longer subjects drones that fly under 800 kilometers per hour — such as Reapers made by General Atomics and Global Hawks made by Northrop Grumman — to MTCR 's high bar .
Clarke Cooper , assistant secretary for political-military affairs at the Department of State , said the new policy will help U.S. allies and partners `` meet their urgent national security and commercial requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy is largely viewed as a Trump administration effort to sell more weapons overseas .
Cooper reiterated that sales of U.S. drones would still be held to a high bar , downplaying concerns that the sale of more drones would lead to human rights abuses .
`` These are all case-by-case determinations based on not only what the partner requirement may be but also how that aligns with U.S. interest , '' he said .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that the MTCR was outdated , hurt the U.S. defense industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handicapping our partners and allies with subpar technology . ''
`` Approving or denying [ an unmanned aircraft system ] sale to any country is a whole-of-government decision and takes into account our national security , nonproliferation , and foreign policy objectives , as well as the purchasing country 's ability to responsibly use and safeguard United States-origin technology , '' McEnany said in a statement .

A pair of MQ-9 Reapers from the 46th Expeditionary Attack Squadron are parked on the flightline at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 9, 2020.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a measure this week that will allow U.S. defense contractors to sell more armed drones to foreign militaries, a State Department official said Friday.
The updated policy determination opens up the sale of armed U.S. drones to foreign governments that were previously forbidden from buying them under the Missile Technology Control Regime, or MTCR, which was signed three decades ago by 35 member nations.
The MTCR classifies large drones akin to cruise missiles, which makes sales of such weapons subject to high export restrictions. Under the updated policy, the U.S. no longer subjects drones that fly under 800 kilometers per hour — such as Reapers made by General Atomics and Global Hawks made by Northrop Grumman — to MTCR's high bar.
Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary for political-military affairs at the Department of State, said the new policy will help U.S. allies and partners "meet their urgent national security and commercial requirements."
The modified U.S. drone export policy is largely viewed as a Trump administration effort to sell more weapons overseas.
Cooper reiterated that sales of U.S. drones would still be held to a high bar, downplaying concerns that the sale of more drones would lead to human rights abuses.
"These are all case-by-case determinations based on not only what the partner requirement may be but also how that aligns with U.S. interest," he said.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that the MTCR was outdated, hurt the U.S. defense industry and "hindered deterrence capability abroad by handicapping our partners and allies with subpar technology."
"Approving or denying [an unmanned aircraft system] sale to any country is a whole-of-government decision and takes into account our national security, nonproliferation, and foreign policy objectives, as well as the purchasing country's ability to responsibly use and safeguard United States-origin technology," McEnany said in a statement.


cnbc--2020-07-24--FBI arrests Chinese researcher for visa fraud after she hid at consulate in San Francisco

The flag of the People 's Republic of China flies in the wind above the Consulate General of the People 's Republic of China in San Francisco , California on July 23 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — A researcher who took refuge in the Chinese consulate in San Francisco after allegedly lying to investigators about her Chinese military service was arrested and will appear in court on Monday , according to a senior Justice Department official .
According to court documents unsealed earlier this week in the Eastern District of California , Juan Tang , a researcher at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nonimmigrant J1 visa in October 2019 .
The visa was issued in November 2019 and Tang entered the United States a month later .
Tang allegedly made fraudulent statements on her visa application by concealing that she served in the Chinese military .
The FBI concluded that Tang was a uniformed officer of the People 's Liberation Army Air Force after photographs of her were uncovered on electronic media seized in accordance with a search warrant .
`` I wo n't discuss the circumstances of the arrest , '' said the official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymity , adding that the individual did not have diplomatic immunity .
The person said that the details of the arrest could be released when the defendant appears before the Eastern District of California court on Monday .
`` The issue here is that their true status was n't disclosed by visa application , '' the official said , adding that the arrest was not a tit-for-tat move as tensions between Washington and Beijing simmer .
On Thursday evening , the FBI arrested Tang , who had avoided arrest by taking refuge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If convicted , Tang faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $ 250,000 .
Tang 's arrest for alleged visa fraud follows those of three other Chinese researchers in California and Indiana .
The arrests were described as `` a microcosm of a broader network of individuals in more than 25 cities , '' the Justice Department official said .
`` By their very nature consulates are a base of operations for foreign governments to the United States , including their intelligence services and it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here by those services , '' the person said .
`` But because of their location within the United States and their status of sovereign territory of a foreign country , they can be exploited and the espionage and influence activities run out of a consulate can rise , ultimately to a level that threatens our national security , '' the person added .

The flag of the People's Republic of China flies in the wind above the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, California on July 23, 2020.
WASHINGTON — A researcher who took refuge in the Chinese consulate in San Francisco after allegedly lying to investigators about her Chinese military service was arrested and will appear in court on Monday, according to a senior Justice Department official.
According to court documents unsealed earlier this week in the Eastern District of California, Juan Tang, a researcher at the University of California, Davis, applied for a nonimmigrant J1 visa in October 2019. The visa was issued in November 2019 and Tang entered the United States a month later.
Tang allegedly made fraudulent statements on her visa application by concealing that she served in the Chinese military. The FBI concluded that Tang was a uniformed officer of the People's Liberation Army Air Force after photographs of her were uncovered on electronic media seized in accordance with a search warrant.
"I won't discuss the circumstances of the arrest," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, adding that the individual did not have diplomatic immunity. The person said that the details of the arrest could be released when the defendant appears before the Eastern District of California court on Monday.
"The issue here is that their true status wasn't disclosed by visa application," the official said, adding that the arrest was not a tit-for-tat move as tensions between Washington and Beijing simmer.
On Thursday evening, the FBI arrested Tang, who had avoided arrest by taking refuge in the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. If convicted, Tang faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Tang's arrest for alleged visa fraud follows those of three other Chinese researchers in California and Indiana. The arrests were described as "a microcosm of a broader network of individuals in more than 25 cities," the Justice Department official said.
"By their very nature consulates are a base of operations for foreign governments to the United States, including their intelligence services and it's understood that there will be some activity here by those services," the person said.
"But because of their location within the United States and their status of sovereign territory of a foreign country, they can be exploited and the espionage and influence activities run out of a consulate can rise, ultimately to a level that threatens our national security," the person added.


cnbc--2020-07-24--Judge blocks federal officers from targeting journalists in Portland anti-racism protests

Federal officers must not target journalists or legal observers at the anti-racism protests taking place in Portland , Oregon , a judge ruled , extending a prohibition that had already been in effect for local police and delivering a win to local activists .
U.S. District Judge Michael Simon issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S .
Marshals Service in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of individuals who were observing and reporting on the demonstrations , which have occurred nightly for nearly two months .
Simon said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by federal officers , including evidence that they had specifically targeted journalists and legal observers who were clearly identified and not violating the law , raised serious questions about First Amendment violations .
The role of the federal law enforcement officers at the protests in Portland has come under scrutiny by civil rights advocates and elected officials .
On Thursday , the Justice Department 's inspector general said it would examine the conduct of federal officers in the city .
Those who brought the suit claimed that federal officers shot at them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pepper balls and hit them with batons , sometimes with no warning , after they had identified themselves as members of the press .
The order , which will remain in effect for 14 days , bars federal officers from `` arresting , threatening to arrest , or using physical force directed against any person whom they know or reasonably should know '' is a journalist or legal observer unless there is probable cause that the person committed a crime .
Journalists and legal observers `` shall not be required to disperse following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and such persons shall not be subject to arrest for not dispersing following the issuance of an order to disperse , '' Simon wrote , though he noted that they `` remain bound by all other laws . ''
`` This order is a victory for the rule of law , '' Jann Carson , interim executive director of the ACLU of Oregon , said in a statement .
`` Federal agents from Trump 's Departments of Homeland Security and Justice are terrorizing the community , threatening lives , and relentlessly attacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These are the actions of a tyrant , and they have no place anywhere in America . ''
Matthew Borden , a partner at BraunHagey & Borden who served as pro bono counsel for the ACLU , said the order was a `` critical protection for journalists and legal observers exercising their fundamental right to record and observe police activities at these important protests , and it 's a victory for the nation 's right to receive a full account of these events . ''
Representatives of the DHS and Marshals Service did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Local officials have raised complaints about the conduct of federal officials .
Those denunciations escalated after Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler , who joined the protests on Wednesday evening , was hit with tear gas outside a federal courthouse .
`` What I saw last night was powerful in many ways , '' Wheeler wrote in a post on Twitter on Thursday .
`` I listened , heard , and stood with protesters .
And I saw what it means when the federal government unleashes paramilitary forces against its own people . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a separate suit seeking to stop federal officials from allegedly snatching protesters off of sidewalks and throwing them in unmarked vans without identifying themselves as law enforcement .
President Donald Trump taunted Wheeler in a post on Twitter on Thursday morning , calling him the `` Radical Left Mayor of Portland '' who Trump claimed was `` booed & shouted out of existence by the agitators & anarchists .
Love watching pathetic Never Trumpers squirm ! ''
Trump has blasted the actions of protesters in Oregon and around the country who have demonstrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd , a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis .
The federal government has said in court papers that it has deployed more than 100 officers to Portland , and Trump has threatened to send agents to other cities led by liberal mayors where he has claimed protests have gotten out of control .
In court papers arguing against the temporary restraining order , attorneys for the Justice Department said the protests have led to criminal activity and that officers had been targeted with improvised explosives , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and `` balloons filled with paint and other substances such as feces . ''
They argued that an order would n't be possible to implement and would `` improperly bind the hands of law enforcement , including by preventing them from taking appropriate action when individuals are engaging in criminal conduct . ''
But Simon rejected that reasoning in his order , noting that the city of Portland itself had supported the ACLU in the matter .
`` Although the Federal Defendants assert their right to disperse 'violent opportunists , ' there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observer — let alone any of the named Plaintiffs — has damaged federal property or acted violently towards federal officers , '' Simon wrote .
He added that the government during oral arguments had already `` conceded that they have no such evidence . ''
`` Indeed , the evidence before the Court shows that journalists and legal observers attend the protests as 'guardians of the public interest , ' not as vandals , '' Simon wrote .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , who will face Trump during November 's presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers in Portland .
`` Of course the U.S. government has the right and duty to protect federal property , '' Biden said in a statement .
`` The Obama-Biden administration protected federal property across the country without resorting to these egregious tactics — and without trying to stoke the fires of division in this country . ''

watch now
Federal officers must not target journalists or legal observers at the anti-racism protests taking place in Portland, Oregon, a judge ruled, extending a prohibition that had already been in effect for local police and delivering a win to local activists. U.S. District Judge Michael Simon issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshals Service in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of individuals who were observing and reporting on the demonstrations, which have occurred nightly for nearly two months. Simon said in Thursday night's order that tactics by federal officers, including evidence that they had specifically targeted journalists and legal observers who were clearly identified and not violating the law, raised serious questions about First Amendment violations. The role of the federal law enforcement officers at the protests in Portland has come under scrutiny by civil rights advocates and elected officials. On Thursday, the Justice Department's inspector general said it would examine the conduct of federal officers in the city. Those who brought the suit claimed that federal officers shot at them with tear gas canisters, rubber bullets and pepper balls and hit them with batons, sometimes with no warning, after they had identified themselves as members of the press. The order, which will remain in effect for 14 days, bars federal officers from "arresting, threatening to arrest, or using physical force directed against any person whom they know or reasonably should know" is a journalist or legal observer unless there is probable cause that the person committed a crime.
Federal law enforcement officers, deployed under the Trump administration's new executive order to protect federal monuments and buildings, face off with protesters against racial inequality in Portland, Oregon, U.S. July 18, 2020. Nathan Howard | Reuters
Journalists and legal observers "shall not be required to disperse following the issuance of an order to disperse, and such persons shall not be subject to arrest for not dispersing following the issuance of an order to disperse," Simon wrote, though he noted that they "remain bound by all other laws." "This order is a victory for the rule of law," Jann Carson, interim executive director of the ACLU of Oregon, said in a statement. "Federal agents from Trump's Departments of Homeland Security and Justice are terrorizing the community, threatening lives, and relentlessly attacking journalists and legal observers documenting protests. These are the actions of a tyrant, and they have no place anywhere in America." Matthew Borden, a partner at BraunHagey & Borden who served as pro bono counsel for the ACLU, said the order was a "critical protection for journalists and legal observers exercising their fundamental right to record and observe police activities at these important protests, and it's a victory for the nation's right to receive a full account of these events." Representatives of the DHS and Marshals Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Local concerns and a Trump taunt


cnbc--2020-07-24--China orders U.S. to close a consulate after U.S. demands it shutter Houston outpost

A Chinese paramilitary policeman stands guard at the entrance to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu , southwest China 's Sichuan @ @ @ @ @ 2012 .
China 's Foreign Ministry announced Friday it is revoking the license for the @ @ @ @ @ southwestern city of Chengdu .
The ministry also ordered the consulate general to cease operations @ @ @ @ @ between China and the U.S. is something the Chinese side does not want to see @ @ @ @ @ said in a Chinese-language statement translated by CNBC .
`` The responsibility lies entirely with @ @ @ @ @ the statement added .
`` We again urge the U.S. side to immediately revoke its @ @ @ @ @ create necessary conditions for the two countries ' relationship to return to normal . ''
@ @ @ @ @ declined to comment .

A Chinese paramilitary policeman stands guard at the entrance to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province on September 17, 2012.
China's Foreign Ministry announced Friday it is revoking the license for the U.S. consulate general in the southwestern city of Chengdu.
The ministry also ordered the consulate general to cease operations.
"The current situation between China and the U.S. is something the Chinese side does not want to see," the foreign ministry said in a Chinese-language statement translated by CNBC.
"The responsibility lies entirely with the U.S. side," the statement added. "We again urge the U.S. side to immediately revoke its relevant wrong decisions, to create necessary conditions for the two countries' relationship to return to normal."
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing declined to comment.


cnbc--2020-07-28--Senate GOP unveils coronavirus relief plan with 70% wage replacement in unemployment insurance

Here is what we know about the bill , as Republican leaders release the details : • It would set enhanced federal unemployment insurance at 70 % of a worker 's previous wages , replacing the $ 600 per week which states stopped paying out this week .
• The GOP would set the benefit at a sum of $ 200 per week on top of what recipients would normally receive from states through September , slashing what they got from April through July .
In October , the 70 % replacement would take effect up to a maximum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal would send direct payments of $ 1,200 and $ 2,400 to individuals and couples , respectively .
It would set the same qualifications as the checks approved in March : the payments started to phase out at an average of $ 75,000 in income per person , and individuals or couples making an average of $ 99,000 or more did not receive one .
It would offer an additional $ 500 per dependent of any age .
• The legislation would shield entities such as businesses , doctors and schools from lawsuits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negligence '' or `` willful misconduct . ''
• It would set aside $ 190 billion for Paycheck Protection Program loans .
The bill would allow small businesses with fewer than 300 employees that have seen revenue fall by more than 50 % to apply for a second round of aid .
It would also authorize $ 100 billion for loans to seasonal businesses and companies in low-income Census tracts that can show revenue reduction of more than 50 % .
• The bill provides $ 105 billion to help schools reopen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that amount would go to colleges , according to Senate Health , Education , Labor , and Pensions Chairman Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn .
Most of the money would go to schools physically reopening to help them with the costs associated with safely restarting .
• It includes $ 16 billion to help states boost Covid-19 testing capacity , according to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby , R-Ala. • Shelby said it would put $ 26 billion toward the development of Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics .
• The plan includes 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. • It includes several tax credits , including an enhanced employee retention credit and a credit for expenses such as upgrades to workplaces and testing that help businesses operate safely .
McConnell , of Kentucky , and his fellow Republicans unveiled the measure as Congress scrambles to respond to a pandemic still wreaking havoc across the country .
GOP committee chairs outlined major parts of the legislation they hope will serve as a starting point in talks with Democrats on a bill that could pass both chambers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for nearly two hours at the Capitol on Monday .
Leaving the discussion , Meadows told reporters the sides had a `` very good meeting , '' and said the administration officials would return for talks Tuesday .
In a statement earlier in the day , the speaker urged the GOP to try to reach a deal before lawmakers ' planned August recess .
`` If Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't take long .
Time is running out .
Congress can not go home without an agreement , '' Pelosi said .
McConnell , in outlining the plan Monday , urged Democrats to come to an agreement quickly .
`` The pandemic is not finished .
The economic pain is not finished .
So Congress can not be finished either , '' he said .
The GOP hoped to release a pandemic aid plan last week , but senators and the White House struggled to reach a consensus as Covid-19 cases and deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who passed a $ 3 trillion relief plan in May , will look to change many provisions in the Republican opening offer .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the Republican coronavirus relief plan on Monday.
Here is what we know about the bill, as Republican leaders release the details:
It would set enhanced federal unemployment insurance at 70% of a worker's previous wages, replacing the $600 per week which states stopped paying out this week.
The GOP would set the benefit at a sum of $200 per week on top of what recipients would normally receive from states through September, slashing what they got from April through July. In October, the 70% replacement would take effect up to a maximum of $500 per week.
The proposal would send direct payments of $1,200 and $2,400 to individuals and couples, respectively. It would set the same qualifications as the checks approved in March: the payments started to phase out at an average of $75,000 in income per person, and individuals or couples making an average of $99,000 or more did not receive one. It would offer an additional $500 per dependent of any age.
The legislation would shield entities such as businesses, doctors and schools from lawsuits, except for cases of "gross negligence" or "willful misconduct."
It would set aside $190 billion for Paycheck Protection Program loans. The bill would allow small businesses with fewer than 300 employees that have seen revenue fall by more than 50% to apply for a second round of aid. It would also authorize $100 billion for loans to seasonal businesses and companies in low-income Census tracts that can show revenue reduction of more than 50%.
The bill provides $105 billion to help schools reopen in the fall. Roughly $30 billion of that amount would go to colleges, according to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. Most of the money would go to schools physically reopening to help them with the costs associated with safely restarting.
It includes $16 billion to help states boost Covid-19 testing capacity, according to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
Shelby said it would put $26 billion toward the development of Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics.
The plan includes 100% deductability of business meals, according to Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
It includes several tax credits, including an enhanced employee retention credit and a credit for expenses such as upgrades to workplaces and testing that help businesses operate safely.
The bill also authorizes an unrelated $1.75 billion for construction of a new FBI headquarters building in downtown Washington D.C., a short walk from President Donald Trump's hotel. His company worried plans to demolish the FBI's current home, the J. Edgar Hoover Building, and move headquarters to the suburbs could allow a competitor hotel to move downtown, according to The Washington Post.
McConnell, of Kentucky, and his fellow Republicans unveiled the measure as Congress scrambles to respond to a pandemic still wreaking havoc across the country. GOP committee chairs outlined major parts of the legislation they hope will serve as a starting point in talks with Democrats on a bill that could pass both chambers of Congress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for nearly two hours at the Capitol on Monday. Leaving the discussion, Meadows told reporters the sides had a "very good meeting," and said the administration officials would return for talks Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after the discussions, Pelosi called the Republican proposal "pathetic."
"It isn't serious," she said, according to reporters at the Capitol.
McConnell, in outlining the plan Monday, urged Democrats to come to an agreement quickly.
"The pandemic is not finished. The economic pain is not finished. So Congress cannot be finished either," he said.
The GOP hoped to release a pandemic aid plan last week, but senators and the White House struggled to reach a consensus as Covid-19 cases and deaths rise around the country. Democrats, who passed a $3 trillion relief plan in May, will look to change many provisions in the Republican opening offer.


cnbc--2020-07-27--Top CEOs ramp up GOP donations as Biden threatens to scale back corporate tax cuts

The CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the United States have started ramping up their donations to Republican causes as concern grows about Joe Biden 's plan to raise the corporate tax rate .
Of the top 10 political donors among S & P 500 CEOs , a majority gave big to GOP groups in the second quarter , according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics .
The development comes as the presumptive Democratic nominee has expanded his lead in the polls over President Donald Trump .
As Trump and other Republicans slide in the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up under a Democratic administration and Congress has forced GOP donors off the sidelines , according to people helping raise money for GOP organizations .
Biden has said he wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28 % from 21 % .
A Real Clear Politics polling average shows Biden ahead of Trump by close to 10 points .
The Cook Political Report marks six Republican-held Senate seats in Colorado , Georgia , Iowa , Maine , Montana and North Carolina as toss ups .
Despite the increased support from CEOs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their opponents in the second quarter .
People helping raise money for these Republican organizations told CNBC that the idea of taxes going up has struck a nerve with GOP donors and forced them off the sidelines after being largely absent throughout the 2020 election cycle .
Dan Eberhart , a longtime prominent Republican donor , told CNBC he senses that wealthy financiers are going to start lining up behind Trump .
`` After Biden released his economic plan , I would expect CEO donations to President Trump to accelerate .
Raising the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to growing revenue or earnings , '' Eberhart said .
He noted that the recent run of corporate executives giving to Republicans is a sign that the campaign is fervently calling these donors .
There are just under 100 days until Election Day .
`` It 's clear Team Trump needs to break the glass and pull the fire alarm .
They are doing that , and there 's still time , '' Eberhart said .
Roy Bailey , a Texas businessman who is leading fundraising efforts for the Trump campaign and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders he speaks with says there is a concern that Biden will be influenced by more progressive leaders , such as as Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez if he became president .
`` Who do they want managing the economy : Trump ( Mnuchin , Powell , Kudlow ) or Biden ( Bernie , Warren and AOC ) ?
, '' Bailey said .
A Wall Street financial advisory firm recently told their clients they do n't expect Biden to lean too far to the left as the policy recommendations put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders did n't , they say , have many progressive ideas .
Jeffrey Sprecher , the CEO of the Intercontinental Exchange and husband to Sen. Kelly Loeffler , R-Ga. , who came under scrutiny for their stock dealings during the start of the coronavirus pandemic , gave nearly $ 1.3 million during the April-June quarter .
Sprecher 's total was the most he 's given in the past two presidential election cycles .
Of those donations , $ 1 million went to America First Action , a pro-Trump super PAC .
Sprecher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Republican Senatorial Committee , the official campaign arm of Republicans running for Senate seats .
Loeffler is running for reelection to the Senate .
Safra Catz , the CEO of Oracle , gave $ 125,000 in May to the Trump Victory committee , a joint fundraising operation between the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee .
She also wrote a $ 46,100 check to the McCarthy Victory Fund in June .
Before her recent spending spree , Catz had given very few political contributions this cycle .
Oracle Chairman Larry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and was one of the donors advising Trump at the start of the pandemic .
Other notable S & P 500 CEO contributions to Republican led groups in the second quarter include Robert Bradway , the chief executive of biopharmaceutical company Amgen ; Daniel Amos , the CEO of insurance giant Aflac ; and Gregory Brown , the CEO of Motorola Solutions .
David Zaslav the CEO of Discovery Inc. , and Bob Iger , the former CEO of Disney who is now the company 's executive chairman , are among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter .

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U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a roadside stop in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., July 26, 2020. Tom Brenner | Reuters
The CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the United States have started ramping up their donations to Republican causes as concern grows about Joe Biden's plan to raise the corporate tax rate. Of the top 10 political donors among S&P 500 CEOs, a majority gave big to GOP groups in the second quarter, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. The development comes as the presumptive Democratic nominee has expanded his lead in the polls over President Donald Trump. As Trump and other Republicans slide in the polls, the idea that taxes could go up under a Democratic administration and Congress has forced GOP donors off the sidelines, according to people helping raise money for GOP organizations. Biden has said he wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%. A Real Clear Politics polling average shows Biden ahead of Trump by close to 10 points. The Cook Political Report marks six Republican-held Senate seats in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Montana and North Carolina as toss ups. Despite the increased support from CEOs, Biden and the Democratic National Committee outraised their opponents in the second quarter.
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People helping raise money for these Republican organizations told CNBC that the idea of taxes going up has struck a nerve with GOP donors and forced them off the sidelines after being largely absent throughout the 2020 election cycle. Dan Eberhart, a longtime prominent Republican donor, told CNBC he senses that wealthy financiers are going to start lining up behind Trump. "After Biden released his economic plan, I would expect CEO donations to President Trump to accelerate. Raising the corporate tax rate is not exactly conducive to growing revenue or earnings," Eberhart said. He noted that the recent run of corporate executives giving to Republicans is a sign that the campaign is fervently calling these donors. There are just under 100 days until Election Day. "It's clear Team Trump needs to break the glass and pull the fire alarm. They are doing that, and there's still time," Eberhart said. Roy Bailey, a Texas businessman who is leading fundraising efforts for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee, explained that business leaders he speaks with says there is a concern that Biden will be influenced by more progressive leaders, such as as Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez if he became president. "Who do they want managing the economy: Trump (Mnuchin, Powell, Kudlow) or Biden (Bernie, Warren and AOC)?," Bailey said. A Wall Street financial advisory firm recently told their clients they don't expect Biden to lean too far to the left as the policy recommendations put together by allies of Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders didn't, they say, have many progressive ideas.
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cnbc--2020-07-27--Trump files new effort to block Manhattan DA Vance's subpoena for tax records

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about today 's Supreme Court rulings , calling them `` part of a political witch hunt and a hoax , ” during a roundtable discussion with members of the Hispanic community in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington , July 9 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump 's lawyers on Monday doubled down on efforts to block Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. from obtaining his tax records and other financial documents from the president 's accountants with a grand jury subpoena .
Their new filing in Manhattan federal court objecting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 decision that Trump did not have an unqualified immunity while serving as president to prevent a state prosecutor from obtaining his records as part of a criminal probe .
That July 9 ruling left the door open for Trump to argue that the subpoena should be thrown out , or limited , on other grounds .
Trump , unlike every other president since the mid-1970s , has refused to release his income tax returns to the public .
In an amended lawsuit filed Monday , Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's tax returns and other records from the accounting firm Mazars USA `` amounts to harassment of the President in violation of his legal rights . ''
Specifically , the lawyers are challenging the subpoena for being `` wildly overboard , '' and `` not remotely confined to the grand jury investigation that began in 2018 '' at the direction of Vance .
The filing said that `` the subpoena demands voluminous documents that relate to topics and entities far beyond the District Attorney 's limited jurisdiction under New York law . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it amounts to an unguided and unlawful 'fishing expedition ' into the President 's personal financial and business dealings , '' the filing said .
Trump 's lawyers also claim that the subpoena `` was issued in bad faith . ''
They said that Vance `` knew when he issued it — and he has since admitted — that the subpoena was not designed to meet the needs of the grand jury , '' but instead `` was drafted by a congressional committee purportedly to investigate issues of national concern . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he knew was overbroad and sought irrelevant records , '' the lawyers wrote .
`` That the District Attorney dubiously claims he did this for 'efficiency ' reasons does not save the subpoena from invalidation , '' they wrote .
`` It confirms that he lacked a good-faith basis and that the subpoena amounts to harassment of the President . ''
Vance is seeking Trump 's tax records for an investigation of whether , at the least , the president 's company improperly accounted for a hush money payment that Trump 's then-personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election .
Daniels claims she had sex with Trump one time more than a decade ago .
Another woman who says she had an affair with Trump , Playboy model Karen McDougal , received a hush money payment in 2016 from the publisher of The National Enquirer , a Trump-friendly supermarket tabloid .
Trump denies having had sex either woman .
Cohe pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations for facilitating the payments to both Daniels and McDougal .
Records show that Cohen was reimbursed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Organization and by Trump personally .

U.S. President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, July 9, 2020.
President Donald Trump's lawyers on Monday doubled down on efforts to block Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. from obtaining his tax records and other financial documents from the president's accountants with a grand jury subpoena.
Their new filing in Manhattan federal court objecting to that subpoena came weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 decision that Trump did not have an unqualified immunity while serving as president to prevent a state prosecutor from obtaining his records as part of a criminal probe.
That July 9 ruling left the door open for Trump to argue that the subpoena should be thrown out, or limited, on other grounds.
Trump, unlike every other president since the mid-1970s, has refused to release his income tax returns to the public.
In an amended lawsuit filed Monday, Trump's lawyers said that the subpoena for Trump's tax returns and other records from the accounting firm Mazars USA "amounts to harassment of the President in violation of his legal rights."
Specifically, the lawyers are challenging the subpoena for being "wildly overboard," and "not remotely confined to the grand jury investigation that began in 2018" at the direction of Vance.
The filing said that "the subpoena demands voluminous documents that relate to topics and entities far beyond the District Attorney's limited jurisdiction under New York law."
"The Mazars subpoena is so sweeping that it amounts to an unguided and unlawful 'fishing expedition' into the President's personal financial and business dealings," the filing said.
Trump's lawyers also claim that the subpoena "was issued in bad faith."
They said that Vance "knew when he issued it — and he has since admitted — that the subpoena was not designed to meet the needs of the grand jury," but instead "was drafted by a congressional committee purportedly to investigate issues of national concern."
Vance thus "issued a grand-jury subpoena he knew was overbroad and sought irrelevant records," the lawyers wrote.
"That the District Attorney dubiously claims he did this for 'efficiency' reasons does not save the subpoena from invalidation," they wrote.
"It confirms that he lacked a good-faith basis and that the subpoena amounts to harassment of the President."
Vance is seeking Trump's tax records for an investigation of whether, at the least, the president's company improperly accounted for a hush money payment that Trump's then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election.
Daniels claims she had sex with Trump one time more than a decade ago. Another woman who says she had an affair with Trump, Playboy model Karen McDougal, received a hush money payment in 2016 from the publisher of The National Enquirer, a Trump-friendly supermarket tabloid.
Trump denies having had sex either woman.
Cohe pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations for facilitating the payments to both Daniels and McDougal.
Records show that Cohen was reimbursed for the payment to Daniels by the Trump Organization and by Trump personally.


cnbc--2020-07-27--U.S. diplomatic footprint in China shrinks as tensions between Washington and Beijing intensify

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration closed its consulate in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu on Monday , reducing America 's diplomatic footprint in the world 's second-largest economy as relations between Washington and Beijing hit a boiling point .
The U.S. Consulate in Chengdu opened 35 years ago and up until Monday employed 200 people , of which 50 were U.S. diplomats and 150 were local hires , according to the consulate website .
U.S. Marines lowered the American flag that once flew over the consulate and a covering was placed over the plaque marking its entrance as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compliance with a Chinese order .
The U.S. now has five remaining consulates in Shanghai , Wuhan , Guangzhou , Shenyang and Hong Kong-Macau as well as its embassy in Beijing .
Relations between the world 's two largest economies have plunged to their worst point in years over a variety of issues , ranging from trade and cybersecurity to the Covid-19 pandemic , to China 's territorial claims in the South China Sea and its growing clampdown on Hong Kong 's autonomy .
On Friday morning , China 's Ministry of Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cease operations at its consulate in Chengdu , a city in southwest China 's Sichuan province .
`` The consulate has stood at the center of our relations with the people in Western China , including Tibet , for 35 years .
We are disappointed by the Chinese Communist Party 's decision and will strive to continue our outreach to the people in this important region through our other posts in China , '' a Department of State spokesperson said .
China 's Foreign Ministry spokesman , Wang Wenbin , said some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities not in line with their identities '' and had harmed China 's security interests , but would not elaborate .
`` The current situation in China-U.S. relations is not what China desires to see and the U.S. is responsible for all this .
We once again urge the U.S. to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track , '' he added .

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration closed its consulate in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu on Monday, reducing America's diplomatic footprint in the world's second-largest economy as relations between Washington and Beijing hit a boiling point.
The U.S. Consulate in Chengdu opened 35 years ago and up until Monday employed 200 people, of which 50 were U.S. diplomats and 150 were local hires, according to the consulate website.
U.S. Marines lowered the American flag that once flew over the consulate and a covering was placed over the plaque marking its entrance as the U.S. diplomatic staff left its mission in compliance with a Chinese order. The U.S. now has five remaining consulates in Shanghai, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenyang and Hong Kong-Macau as well as its embassy in Beijing.
Relations between the world's two largest economies have plunged to their worst point in years over a variety of issues, ranging from trade and cybersecurity to the Covid-19 pandemic, to China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and its growing clampdown on Hong Kong's autonomy.
On Friday morning, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to cease operations at its consulate in Chengdu, a city in southwest China's Sichuan province.
"The consulate has stood at the center of our relations with the people in Western China, including Tibet, for 35 years. We are disappointed by the Chinese Communist Party's decision and will strive to continue our outreach to the people in this important region through our other posts in China," a Department of State spokesperson said.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said some U.S. Chengdu consulate personnel were "conducting activities not in line with their identities" and had harmed China's security interests, but would not elaborate.
"The current situation in China-U.S. relations is not what China desires to see and the U.S. is responsible for all this. We once again urge the U.S. to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track," he added.


cnbc--2020-07-27--Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is out of the hospital

Wilbur Ross , U.S. commerce secretary , wears a protective mask while arriving to a signing ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Wednesday , July 8 , 2020 .
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has left the hospital where he had been admitted for health reasons unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic , the Commerce Department said Monday .
Ross `` is doing well and resting at home , '' the department said in a statement .
`` We continue to anticipate a quick recovery .
He is engaged and involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Commerce . ''
A spokesperson for the department had revealed on July 18 that Ross had checked in for `` minor , non-coronavirus related issues . ''
The 82-year-old Commerce secretary had been working from his home in Palm Beach , Florida , since at least late March .
It is unclear what health complications required Ross to be hospitalized .
Days before his hospitalization was announced , Ross had been in Washington , D.C. , where he joined a crowd of White House officials and reporters to hear President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had also apparently attended a small business showcase at the White House on July 2 , when he received a shout-out from Trump .
Health officials warn the elderly face greater risks from the coronavirus pandemic , which has now infected more than 4.2 million people in the U.S. and killed at least 146,900 , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .

Wilbur Ross, U.S. commerce secretary, wears a protective mask while arriving to a signing ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has left the hospital where he had been admitted for health reasons unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic, the Commerce Department said Monday.
Ross "is doing well and resting at home," the department said in a statement. "We continue to anticipate a quick recovery. He is engaged and involved, business as usual at the Department of Commerce."
A spokesperson for the department had revealed on July 18 that Ross had checked in for "minor, non-coronavirus related issues."
The 82-year-old Commerce secretary had been working from his home in Palm Beach, Florida, since at least late March. It is unclear what health complications required Ross to be hospitalized.
Days before his hospitalization was announced, Ross had been in Washington, D.C., where he joined a crowd of White House officials and reporters to hear President Donald Trump deliver remarks on cutting regulations. Ross had also apparently attended a small business showcase at the White House on July 2, when he received a shout-out from Trump.
Health officials warn the elderly face greater risks from the coronavirus pandemic, which has now infected more than 4.2 million people in the U.S. and killed at least 146,900, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.


cnbc--2020-07-27--Trump national security advisor Robert O'Brien tests positive for coronavirus

President Donald Trump 's national security advisor , Robert O'Brien , has tested positive for the coronavirus .
O'Brien has `` mild symptoms and has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site , '' the White House said in a statement Monday .
`` There is no risk of exposure to the President or the Vice President .
The work of the National Security Council continues uninterrupted , '' the White House said .
O'Brien , 54 , is among the highest-ranking members in Trump 's orbit reported to have come down with the coronavirus .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the virus .
Vice President Mike Pence 's press secretary , Katie Miller , tested positive for Covid-19 in May .
That same month , a personal valet for Trump , who among other tasks served meals to the president , also tested positive .
Kimberly Guilfoyle , an official on Trump 's reelection campaign and the girlfriend of the president 's oldest son , tested positive in July .
On Monday afternoon , Trump told reporters at the White House that he did not know when O'Brien first tested positive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him lately . ''
The White House has said Trump is regularly tested , as are all officials who come into close contact with the president and vice president .
O'Brien earlier this month had traveled to Europe to meet with officials from the United Kingdom , France , Germany and Italy .
He was photographed on that trip in close proximity with his European counterparts , none of whom appeared to be wearing masks during meetings , photos from the NSC 's official Twitter account show .
More than 4.2 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 and at least 146,900 have died , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Bloomberg first reported O'Brien 's diagnosis , citing people familiar with the matter .
CNN and Politico followed with reports of their own .

President Donald Trump's national security advisor, Robert O'Brien, has tested positive for the coronavirus.
O'Brien has "mild symptoms and has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site," the White House said in a statement Monday.
"There is no risk of exposure to the President or the Vice President. The work of the National Security Council continues uninterrupted," the White House said.
O'Brien, 54, is among the highest-ranking members in Trump's orbit reported to have come down with the coronavirus.
But other administration officials have previously been diagnosed with the virus. Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive for Covid-19 in May. That same month, a personal valet for Trump, who among other tasks served meals to the president, also tested positive.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, an official on Trump's reelection campaign and the girlfriend of the president's oldest son, tested positive in July.
On Monday afternoon, Trump told reporters at the White House that he did not know when O'Brien first tested positive, adding, "I haven't seen him lately."
The White House has said Trump is regularly tested, as are all officials who come into close contact with the president and vice president.
O'Brien earlier this month had traveled to Europe to meet with officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. He was photographed on that trip in close proximity with his European counterparts, none of whom appeared to be wearing masks during meetings, photos from the NSC's official Twitter account show.
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More than 4.2 million people in the U.S. have tested positive for Covid-19 and at least 146,900 have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Bloomberg first reported O'Brien's diagnosis, citing people familiar with the matter. CNN and Politico followed with reports of their own.
-- CNBC's Amanda Macias contributed reporting.


cnbc--2020-07-26--Mnuchin says GOP coronavirus relief plan ready as unemployment boost runs out — 'We can move very qu

Mnuchin says GOP coronavirus relief plan ready as unemployment boost runs out — 'We can move very quickly'

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin prepares to testify before the House Small Business Committee at the U.S. Capitol on July 17 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said Republicans have now finalized their latest piece of coronavirus relief legislation , worth about $ 1 trillion , and intend to introduce it Monday .
`` We do have an entire plan , '' Mnuchin said on `` Fox News Sunday . ''
`` The [ Trump ] administration and the Senate Republicans are completely on the same page , '' he said after delays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republicans had hoped to release their official proposal as soon as last Thursday , but that did not happen as the clock ticked on the weekly unemployment boost that has kept many Americans afloat during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the White House had requested more time to `` review the fine details . ''
Mnuchin said Sunday that he hopes Congress can work in a bipartisan manner to approve the GOP proposal , which is expected to have another round of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability protections for businesses and schools among other provisions .
It also will modify the federal unemployment insurance supplement to include about 70 % wage replacement for individuals , he said , instead of the $ 600 boost in weekly benefits for all recipients .
That benefit , which was a key component of the $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act , came to an end over the weekend .
`` We can move very quickly with the Democrats on these issues .
We 've moved quickly before and I see no reason why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if there are issues that take longer , we 'll deal with those as well , '' Mnuchin said .
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow on CNN earlier Sunday called the Republican proposal a `` very well rounded package . ''
He also said the Trump administration intends to extend the federal moratorium on evictions , but did n't specify whether that would be in this legislation .
Mnuchin said some pieces of the legislation , such as the unemployment benefits and liability protection , are a higher priority than other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in parts to expedite the negotiating process , he said .
`` This will be the fifth set of legislation so there 's no reason why ca n't have number five , six and seven as we need to deal with issues , '' he said .
`` And obviously , anything we do we need bipartisan support . ''
But Democrats have expressed opposition to a piecemeal approach .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats have been `` anxious to negotiate '' with Republicans since mid-May , when the lower chamber approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The bill , passed almost entirely with Democratic votes , went nowhere in the GOP-controlled Senate .
`` They 're in disarray and that delay is causing suffering for America 's families , '' Pelosi said of the Republicans ' struggle to put a plan together on CBS ' `` Face the Nation . ''
`` We have been ready for two months and 10 days . ''
Pelosi added that the House , which has a recess scheduled for August , `` ca n't go home without '' the next piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , Pelosi said a deal can not be done piecemeal and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said `` we have to address it as a totality . ''
Pelosi also appeared to push back Sunday on the Republican 's plan for the federal unemployment supplement , suggesting that calculating a specific amount for each person would be difficult .
`` The reason we had $ 600 was its simplicity and figuring out 70 % of somebody 's wages , people do n't all make a salary .
They makes wages , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
`` So why do n't we just keep it simple ? ''
Republicans contend that continuing the $ 600 weekly benefit could inhibit the U.S. economic recovery since some workers may make more money on unemployment insurance than they did on the job .
House Democrats in their May legislation extended the $ 600 weekly benefit through January .
Senate Democrats have proposed linking the level of the federal supplement to state unemployment rates ; under the proposal , the weekly benefit would be reduced as economic conditions in a @ @ @

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin prepares to testify before the House Small Business Committee at the U.S. Capitol on July 17, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said Republicans have now finalized their latest piece of coronavirus relief legislation, worth about $1 trillion, and intend to introduce it Monday.
"We do have an entire plan," Mnuchin said on "Fox News Sunday." "The [Trump] administration and the Senate Republicans are completely on the same page," he said after delays in rolling out the plan last week.
Republicans had hoped to release their official proposal as soon as last Thursday, but that did not happen as the clock ticked on the weekly unemployment boost that has kept many Americans afloat during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the White House had requested more time to "review the fine details."
Mnuchin said Sunday that he hopes Congress can work in a bipartisan manner to approve the GOP proposal, which is expected to have another round of $1,200 stimulus checks for Americans and liability protections for businesses and schools among other provisions.
It also will modify the federal unemployment insurance supplement to include about 70% wage replacement for individuals, he said, instead of the $600 boost in weekly benefits for all recipients. That benefit, which was a key component of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, came to an end over the weekend.
"We can move very quickly with the Democrats on these issues. We've moved quickly before and I see no reason why we can't move quickly again. And if there are issues that take longer, we'll deal with those as well," Mnuchin said.
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow on CNN earlier Sunday called the Republican proposal a "very well rounded package." He also said the Trump administration intends to extend the federal moratorium on evictions, but didn't specify whether that would be in this legislation.
Mnuchin said some pieces of the legislation, such as the unemployment benefits and liability protection, are a higher priority than other issues. A deal could be done in parts to expedite the negotiating process, he said.
"This will be the fifth set of legislation so there's no reason why can't have number five, six and seven as we need to deal with issues," he said. "And obviously, anything we do we need bipartisan support."
But Democrats have expressed opposition to a piecemeal approach. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats have been "anxious to negotiate" with Republicans since mid-May, when the lower chamber approved a $3 trillion coronavirus rescue package. The bill, passed almost entirely with Democratic votes, went nowhere in the GOP-controlled Senate.
"They're in disarray and that delay is causing suffering for America's families," Pelosi said of the Republicans' struggle to put a plan together on CBS' "Face the Nation." "We have been ready for two months and 10 days."
Pelosi added that the House, which has a recess scheduled for August, "can't go home without" the next piece of coronavirus legislation being approved. On Thursday, Pelosi said a deal cannot be done piecemeal and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said "we have to address it as a totality."
Pelosi also appeared to push back Sunday on the Republican's plan for the federal unemployment supplement, suggesting that calculating a specific amount for each person would be difficult.
"The reason we had $600 was its simplicity and figuring out 70% of somebody's wages, people don't all make a salary. They makes wages, and they sometimes have it vary," she said. "So why don't we just keep it simple?"
Republicans contend that continuing the $600 weekly benefit could inhibit the U.S. economic recovery since some workers may make more money on unemployment insurance than they did on the job.
House Democrats in their May legislation extended the $600 weekly benefit through January. Senate Democrats have proposed linking the level of the federal supplement to state unemployment rates; under the proposal, the weekly benefit would be reduced as economic conditions in a state improve.


cnbc--2020-07-27--Beijing would prefer Trump be reelected as it gives China an advantage internationally, analyst says

China would prefer to see U.S. President Donald Trump win a second term in office as it would allow Beijing to continue to pursue its international ambitions , said an analyst on Monday .
`` Bluntly , Beijing would prefer to see the Trump administration continue , '' said Rodger Baker , senior vice president of strategic analysis at Stratfor , a consultancy .
`` The reason is that at least , thus far , the way the Trump administration has acted and the perception internationally of that administration — and what you see going on domestically inside the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States — gives Beijing an advantage , '' said Baker .
He added that what Beijing would really fear is a concerted U.S. policy and a coordinated international policy that constrains China .
U.S.-China relations have become increasingly strained in recent years as the two sides spar on a range of issues , culminating in the closure of two consulates in the last week .
Last week , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a sweeping address at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library , saying the U.S. will no longer tolerate Beijing 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on allies to `` induce China to change . ''

China would prefer to see U.S. President Donald Trump win a second term in office as it would allow Beijing to continue to pursue its international ambitions, said an analyst on Monday.
"Bluntly, Beijing would prefer to see the Trump administration continue," said Rodger Baker, senior vice president of strategic analysis at Stratfor, a consultancy.
"The reason is that at least, thus far, the way the Trump administration has acted and the perception internationally of that administration — and what you see going on domestically inside the United States and the polarization inside the United States — gives Beijing an advantage," said Baker.
He added that what Beijing would really fear is a concerted U.S. policy and a coordinated international policy that constrains China.
U.S.-China relations have become increasingly strained in recent years as the two sides spar on a range of issues, culminating in the closure of two consulates in the last week.
Last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a sweeping address at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, saying the U.S. will no longer tolerate Beijing's playbook to usurp global order and calling on allies to "induce China to change."


cnbc--2020-07-27--U.S. shuts its consulate in southwestern city of Chengdu after China orders its closure

A worker attempts to remove the wall insignia of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu , southwestern China 's Sichuan province , on July 26 , 2020 .
China 's Foreign Ministry said Monday the U.S. consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu was closed as of 10 a.m. local time .
Earlier Monday , Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its social media account that the American flag in the consulate premise was lowered at 6:18 a.m. A statement from the U.S. State Department confirmed that the consulate had eased operations , reported the Associated Press .
China revoked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retaliation for a U.S. order to close the Chinese consulate in Houston days earlier .
The U.S. had said that the directive to close the Chinese consulate was made to protect American intellectual property and the private information of its citizens — a decision that China condemned .
The U.S. consulate in Chengdu was established in 1985 and covered the autonomous region of Tibet , the municipality of Chongqing , and Sichuan , Yunnan and Guizhou provinces .
In its statement , the U.S. State Department said the consulate `` has stood at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in Western China , including Tibet , for 35 years , '' the AP reported .
With the closure of the Chengdu premise , the U.S. now has five remaining consulates in Greater China , in addition to its embassy in the Chinese capital of Beijing .

A worker attempts to remove the wall insignia of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu, southwestern China's Sichuan province, on July 26, 2020.
China's Foreign Ministry said Monday the U.S. consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu was closed as of 10 a.m. local time.
Earlier Monday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its social media account that the American flag in the consulate premise was lowered at 6:18 a.m. A statement from the U.S. State Department confirmed that the consulate had eased operations, reported the Associated Press.
China revoked the license of the consulate on Friday in retaliation for a U.S. order to close the Chinese consulate in Houston days earlier. The U.S. had said that the directive to close the Chinese consulate was made to protect American intellectual property and the private information of its citizens — a decision that China condemned.
The U.S. consulate in Chengdu was established in 1985 and covered the autonomous region of Tibet, the municipality of Chongqing, and Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. In its statement, the U.S. State Department said the consulate "has stood at the center of our relations with the people in Western China, including Tibet, for 35 years," the AP reported.
With the closure of the Chengdu premise, the U.S. now has five remaining consulates in Greater China, in addition to its embassy in the Chinese capital of Beijing.


cnbc--2020-07-26--Kudlow says coronavirus relief will include $1,200 checks and extension of eviction moratorium

Larry Kudlow , director of the U.S. National Economic Council , speaks to members of the media at the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Tuesday , April 7 , 2020 .
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Sunday that the next round of coronavirus relief will include $ 1,200 stimulus payments to Americans and the Trump administration will lengthen the federal eviction moratorium .
`` There 's a $ 1,200 check coming , that 's going to be part of the new package , '' Kudlow said in an interview on CNN 's `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have finalized the next relief bill , worth about $ 1 trillion , and will introduce it Monday .
The legislation is set to provide temporary and reduced extension of unemployment benefits , another round of stimulus checks , liability protection for businesses and funding to help schools restart .
It will also include $ 16 billion in new funds for testing and tax incentives to encourage companies to rehire employees .
`` The check is there , the reemployment bonus is there .
The retention bonus is there , '' Kudlow said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There will be breaks , tax credits for small businesses and restaurants . ''
`` It 's a very well rounded package , '' Kudlow added .
`` It 's a very well targeted package . ''
Kudlow also said the administration plans to lengthen the federal eviction moratorium , which has protected millions of renters in the last four months from getting evicted .
Cities across the U.S. have been bracing for a surge of evictions when the moratorium expired on Friday .
The moratorium covered renters in building with mortgages backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocates have called for a nationwide eviction ban along with rent cancellations and other forms of housing relief .

Larry Kudlow, director of the U.S. National Economic Council, speaks to members of the media at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Sunday that the next round of coronavirus relief will include $1,200 stimulus payments to Americans and the Trump administration will lengthen the federal eviction moratorium.
"There's a $1,200 check coming, that's going to be part of the new package," Kudlow said in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."
Republicans have finalized the next relief bill, worth about $1 trillion, and will introduce it Monday. The legislation is set to provide temporary and reduced extension of unemployment benefits, another round of stimulus checks, liability protection for businesses and funding to help schools restart. It will also include $16 billion in new funds for testing and tax incentives to encourage companies to rehire employees.
"The check is there, the reemployment bonus is there. The retention bonus is there," Kudlow said of the next relief legislation. "There will be breaks, tax credits for small businesses and restaurants."
"It's a very well rounded package," Kudlow added. "It's a very well targeted package."
Kudlow also said the administration plans to lengthen the federal eviction moratorium, which has protected millions of renters in the last four months from getting evicted.
Cities across the U.S. have been bracing for a surge of evictions when the moratorium expired on Friday. The moratorium covered renters in building with mortgages backed by the government. Lawmakers and housing advocates have called for a nationwide eviction ban along with rent cancellations and other forms of housing relief.


cnbc--2020-07-27--China alienates its Washington allies as its relationship with the U.S. worsens, analysts say

Analysts say Beijing made a `` strategic error '' in alienating its allies in Washington as tensions between China and the U.S. intensified .
Last week , the conflict between the world 's two biggest powers came to a head as both ordered the other to shut down their respective consulates .
Washington asked China to close its consulate in Houston , and Beijing retaliated by announcing that the U.S. consulate in the Chinese city of Chengdu must shut .
China has no more allies in Washington , even among the Democrats , analysts pointed out during a virtual conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Robert Kaplan , senior advisor at Eurasia Group , said the U.S. was comfortable with China 's system which was `` enlightened , benign , collegial , technocratic authoritarianism , '' but it has since evolved into a `` one-man personality … repressive kind of regime . ''
`` The result of that is that China has no more friends in Washington … no friends in Congress , and not many friends among the Democrats .
The left-leaning Democrats dislike China for the same reason the right wing Republications do , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. that the Chinese regime has been in effect stealing American jobs , '' he said .
Kishore Mahbubani , a distinguished fellow from the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore , agreed .
`` China 's biggest strategic error was to alienate its number one friendly constituency in the United States , which was the American business community , '' he said during the conference .
`` Because frankly , for a long time in the past , for example in the mid 1990s , when President Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , the American business community immediately said : 'Stop , stop , please do n't go there , China 's got a big market . '
They were always the one force that would prevent any major downturn in US-China relations .
But what 's significant is that when President Trump finally launched his trade war against China ... no one spoke up , '' he added .
Tensions between both countries have been running high this year , as they squabble over various issues , including the origins of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the South China Sea .
`` Unsolvable '' issues keeping Washington and Beijing apart include the South China Sea , according to Kaplan .
The South China Sea has been a point of contention for both sides because China has aggressively claimed much of the waterway as its own , while the U.S. promotes freedom of navigation along the sea route .
Countries including the Philippines , Taiwan and Vietnam also laid claim to parts of the resource-rich waterway .
`` The United States and China have diametrically opposed ambitions and goals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For China , the South China Sea is absolutely critical to control in order to allow China easy access to its growing Indian Ocean maritime empire ...
It 's like the British East India Company in reverse , '' Kaplan said , referring to Britain 's efforts to dominate Asian trade routes hundreds of years ago .
`` From the United States ' point of view ... the United States is a Pacific power , as if it was actually located in East Asia — the legacy of World War II ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inch , '' he added .
In a rare move earlier this month , the U.S. Navy sent two aircraft carriers to conduct operations and exercises in the region on July 4 , Independence Day in the U.S. Beijing also carried out military exercises in the South China Sea from July 1 to July 5 .
Additionally , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hardened the U.S. stance on China 's claims in the South China Sea .
`` Beijing 's claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullying to control them , '' he said in a press statement .
He added that the U.S. is aligning itself with a 2016 decision by the International Court of Justice in the Hague , which ruled that China has no historic title over the South China Sea .
The founder of Eurasia Group , Ian Bremmer , said the move to align itself with the court ruling means the U.S. directly denies China 's territorial claims in the region , and it could lead to military escalation .
`` It 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military escalation , with the pentagon likely to expand military exercises in the region , shadow Chinese naval vessels operating in other countries ' exclusive economic zones , and the like , '' Bremmer wrote in a note last week .
— CNBC 's Evelyn Cheng and Abigail Ng contributed to this report .

U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Jim Watson and Peter Klaunzer | Pool, AFP | Getty Images
Analysts say Beijing made a "strategic error" in alienating its allies in Washington as tensions between China and the U.S. intensified. Last week, the conflict between the world's two biggest powers came to a head as both ordered the other to shut down their respective consulates. Washington asked China to close its consulate in Houston, and Beijing retaliated by announcing that the U.S. consulate in the Chinese city of Chengdu must shut. China has no more allies in Washington, even among the Democrats, analysts pointed out during a virtual conference organized by Singapore-based bank DBS on Thursday.
China's biggest strategic error was to alienate its number one friendly constituency in the United States, which was the American business community. Kishore Mahbubani Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore
Robert Kaplan, senior advisor at Eurasia Group, said the U.S. was comfortable with China's system which was "enlightened, benign, collegial, technocratic authoritarianism," but it has since evolved into a "one-man personality … repressive kind of regime." "The result of that is that China has no more friends in Washington … no friends in Congress, and not many friends among the Democrats. The left-leaning Democrats dislike China for the same reason the right wing Republications do, because the feeling is from the extremes of the U.S. that the Chinese regime has been in effect stealing American jobs," he said. Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow from the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore, agreed. "China's biggest strategic error was to alienate its number one friendly constituency in the United States, which was the American business community," he said during the conference.
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"Because frankly, for a long time in the past, for example in the mid 1990s, when President Bill Clinton wanted to pass some measures against China, the American business community immediately said: 'Stop, stop, please don't go there, China's got a big market.' They were always the one force that would prevent any major downturn in US-China relations. But what's significant is that when President Trump finally launched his trade war against China ... no one spoke up," he added.
South China Sea rivalry
Tensions between both countries have been running high this year, as they squabble over various issues, including the origins of the coronavirus outbreak and China's claims of ownership in the South China Sea. "Unsolvable" issues keeping Washington and Beijing apart include the South China Sea, according to Kaplan. The South China Sea has been a point of contention for both sides because China has aggressively claimed much of the waterway as its own, while the U.S. promotes freedom of navigation along the sea route. Countries including the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also laid claim to parts of the resource-rich waterway. "The United States and China have diametrically opposed ambitions and goals in the South and East China Sea. For China, the South China Sea is absolutely critical to control in order to allow China easy access to its growing Indian Ocean maritime empire ... It's like the British East India Company in reverse," Kaplan said, referring to Britain's efforts to dominate Asian trade routes hundreds of years ago. "From the United States' point of view ... the United States is a Pacific power, as if it was actually located in East Asia — the legacy of World War II ... Neither side is willing to budge an inch," he added.
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