cnbc--2020-10-09--Companies distance themselves from Trump ally who launched vulgar attack on Kamala Harris

U.S. President Donald Trump approaches reporters as he departs on campaign travel to Minnesota from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington , September 30 , 2020 .
Big companies distanced themselves from a Washington , D.C. , consultant and Trump ally who launched a vulgar attack on Sen. Kamala Harris during the vice presidential debate Wednesday night .
Harlan Hill , an advocate of President Donald Trump 's , is the head of the Logan Circle Group .
The website of the company says it is a `` boutique public relations and political consulting firm '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be clients under a title of `` Trusted by the best . ''
Corporate giants such as American Airlines and AT & T are among those listed .
There are also political organizations , including the Trump campaign and the House campaign of California Republican Darrell Issa .
Hill , who had been an occasional guest in the past on Fox News , called Harris a vulgar name on Twitter on Wednesday .
`` Kamala Harris comes off as such an insufferable lying b -- -- .
Sorry , it 's just true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
After publication of the story , Hill said he has done work for both AT & T and American Airlines , either directly or through what he calls `` consulting partners . ''
`` In my 10 years in consulting , I have done work for all of the companies mentioned on the Logan Circle Group websites — either directly or thru consulting partners — when I 'm released from our NDAs , I will be happy to discuss the specifics of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill will no longer be allowed to appear on Fox News , the network said Thursday .
Both American Airlines and AT & T distanced themselves from him on Thursday and demanded he stop using their names and logo on his website .
`` We have found no record of this person working for us , and he certainly never will in the future .
We have contacted him and demanded he remove our name and logo from his website , '' Jim Greer , a spokesman for AT & T , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has found no record of working with Hill .
Anti-Trump Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt retweeted Hill 's tweet about Harris , asking AT & T and American Airlines whether they were comfortable with Hill representing him .
`` You are right , '' the airline tweeted from its account .
`` We wo n't tolerate it .
We just told Mr. Hill to stop using our name & logo .
He does n't represent us & never will . ''
Hill also has seen pushback from other groups that his website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice , a nonprofit organization that , according to its website , provides `` pro bono legal services to protect children 'lost in the system ' after exposure to family violence , physical/sexual abuse , substance addictions or neglect '' is also on Hill 's company website as an organization that trusts him .
The executive director of the group , Eileen King , told CNBC that the group hired Hill years ago to help it build a new website but he has n't done any work for it since .
After being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said her group may consider asking him to now remove its name from his website entirely .
Further , she added , the work he did on the website was n't great .
`` It was kind of eh .
Nothing horrible .
Nothing too great .
I do n't think he had any particular interest or sympathy with our cause , '' she said .
After publication , King confirmed that the organization has asked Hill to take down their name and logo from his website .

U.S. President Donald Trump approaches reporters as he departs on campaign travel to Minnesota from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, September 30, 2020.
Big companies distanced themselves from a Washington, D.C., consultant and Trump ally who launched a vulgar attack on Sen. Kamala Harris during the vice presidential debate Wednesday night.
Harlan Hill, an advocate of President Donald Trump's, is the head of the Logan Circle Group. The website of the company says it is a "boutique public relations and political consulting firm" and lists a slew of what appear to be clients under a title of "Trusted by the best."
Corporate giants such as American Airlines and AT&T are among those listed. There are also political organizations, including the Trump campaign and the House campaign of California Republican Darrell Issa.
Hill, who had been an occasional guest in the past on Fox News, called Harris a vulgar name on Twitter on Wednesday.
"Kamala Harris comes off as such an insufferable lying b----. Sorry, it's just true," Hill tweeted. He initially did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.
After publication of the story, Hill said he has done work for both AT&T and American Airlines, either directly or through what he calls "consulting partners."
"In my 10 years in consulting, I have done work for all of the companies mentioned on the Logan Circle Group websites — either directly or thru consulting partners — when I'm released from our NDAs, I will be happy to discuss the specifics of these campaigns," Hill told CNBC.
Hill will no longer be allowed to appear on Fox News, the network said Thursday.
Both American Airlines and AT&T distanced themselves from him on Thursday and demanded he stop using their names and logo on his website.
"We have found no record of this person working for us, and he certainly never will in the future. We have contacted him and demanded he remove our name and logo from his website," Jim Greer, a spokesman for AT&T, told CNBC.
American Airlines told CNBC that it has found no record of working with Hill. Anti-Trump Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt retweeted Hill's tweet about Harris, asking AT&T and American Airlines whether they were comfortable with Hill representing him. "You are right," the airline tweeted from its account. "We won't tolerate it. We just told Mr. Hill to stop using our name & logo. He doesn't represent us & never will."
Hill also has seen pushback from other groups that his website says he has ties with.
Child Justice, a nonprofit organization that, according to its website, provides "pro bono legal services to protect children 'lost in the system' after exposure to family violence, physical/sexual abuse, substance addictions or neglect" is also on Hill's company website as an organization that trusts him.
The executive director of the group, Eileen King, told CNBC that the group hired Hill years ago to help it build a new website but he hasn't done any work for it since.
After being informed of Hill attacking Harris, King said her group may consider asking him to now remove its name from his website entirely. Further, she added, the work he did on the website wasn't great.
"It was kind of eh. Nothing horrible. Nothing too great. I don't think he had any particular interest or sympathy with our cause," she said.
After publication, King confirmed that the organization has asked Hill to take down their name and logo from his website.


cnbc--2020-10-10--Trump to hold in-person event at the White House on Saturday, then head to Florida rally Monday

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks in front of the media in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , DC on June 1 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump plans to hold an in-person event at the White House on Saturday , less than a week after he was in the hospital with the coronavirus , a White House official told CNBC on Friday .
Later Friday , the Trump campaign announced that the president would travel to Sanford , Florida , on Monday to deliver a speech at a Make America Great Again event .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public event since he revealed last week that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19 .
Since that announcement , numerous other people who work at and are connected to the White House have also tested positive .
The event is set to feature `` remarks to peaceful protesters for law and order , '' according to an invitation obtained by ABC News , which first reported the gathering .
The White House official confirmed ABC 's reporting to CNBC .
A crowd is expected to gather on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. , according to the invitation posted by ABC .
Trump will address the attendees from the balcony of the White House at 2 p.m. , multiple outlets reported .
The in-person event comes as Trump faces criticism for downplaying the threat of the pandemic , and for participating in meetings that disregard social distancing recommendations from health experts in his own administration .
The president contracted the virus less than a week after a large , in-person gathering at the White House celebrating the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials who attended that event , including multiple Republican lawmakers , have since tested positive , according to NBC News .
The White House appears to be taking additional precautions for the upcoming event Saturday .
All attendees are required to bring masks with them , and they will be instructed to wear them while on the White House grounds , a source with knowledge of the plans told CNBC .
The participants must also submit to a coronavirus `` screening , '' the source said , which will include a temperature check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and safety of all attendees is our priority and following CDC guidelines is strongly encouraged , '' the source said .
The event was revealed just 25 days away from the presidential election between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden .
Trump , who is down in the polls , has been off the campaign trail since announcing his diagnosis .
But Trump has insisted throughout the week that he no longer feels any Covid-19 symptoms , and White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said in a memo Thursday evening that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` safe return to public engagements '' by the weekend .
Trump was flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last Friday evening , the same day he announced his diagnosis in a tweet .
He was discharged on Monday evening and has continued to be treated at the White House by doctors .
Despite a slew of Covid-19 cases being reported in and around the White House and the Trump administration -- NBC counted 27 as of Friday morning -- the president has not stayed isolated in the White House residence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Oval Office , where he was reportedly briefed on coronavirus stimulus talks and the progress of Hurricane Delta .
The list of positive cases includes White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , immigration policy advisor Stephen Miller and multiple members of the White House press corps .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told CBS News on Friday : `` I think the data speaks for themselves .
We had a super spreader event in the White House . ''
More than 7.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , and at least 212,789 have died , data from Johns Hopkins University shows .

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks in front of the media in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC on June 1, 2020.
President Donald Trump plans to hold an in-person event at the White House on Saturday, less than a week after he was in the hospital with the coronavirus, a White House official told CNBC on Friday.
Later Friday, the Trump campaign announced that the president would travel to Sanford, Florida, on Monday to deliver a speech at a Make America Great Again event.
The White House gathering marks Trump's first public event since he revealed last week that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19. Since that announcement, numerous other people who work at and are connected to the White House have also tested positive.
The event is set to feature "remarks to peaceful protesters for law and order," according to an invitation obtained by ABC News, which first reported the gathering. The White House official confirmed ABC's reporting to CNBC.
A crowd is expected to gather on the White House South Lawn beginning at 11:30 a.m., according to the invitation posted by ABC.
Trump will address the attendees from the balcony of the White House at 2 p.m., multiple outlets reported.
The in-person event comes as Trump faces criticism for downplaying the threat of the pandemic, and for participating in meetings that disregard social distancing recommendations from health experts in his own administration.
The president contracted the virus less than a week after a large, in-person gathering at the White House celebrating the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. More than a dozen officials who attended that event, including multiple Republican lawmakers, have since tested positive, according to NBC News.
The White House appears to be taking additional precautions for the upcoming event Saturday. All attendees are required to bring masks with them, and they will be instructed to wear them while on the White House grounds, a source with knowledge of the plans told CNBC. The participants must also submit to a coronavirus "screening," the source said, which will include a temperature check and a brief questionnaire.
"The health and safety of all attendees is our priority and following CDC guidelines is strongly encouraged," the source said.
The event was revealed just 25 days away from the presidential election between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump, who is down in the polls, has been off the campaign trail since announcing his diagnosis.
But Trump has insisted throughout the week that he no longer feels any Covid-19 symptoms, and White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said in a memo Thursday evening that he anticipates the president can make a "safe return to public engagements" by the weekend.
On Friday night, Trump told Fox News that he had stopped taking any medication for the coronavirus eight hours before. "Right now, I'm medication free," he said.
Trump was flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last Friday evening, the same day he announced his diagnosis in a tweet. He was discharged on Monday evening and has continued to be treated at the White House by doctors.
Despite a slew of Covid-19 cases being reported in and around the White House and the Trump administration -- NBC counted 27 as of Friday morning -- the president has not stayed isolated in the White House residence. On Wednesday, Trump returned to the Oval Office, where he was reportedly briefed on coronavirus stimulus talks and the progress of Hurricane Delta.
The list of positive cases includes White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, immigration policy advisor Stephen Miller and multiple members of the White House press corps.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS News on Friday: "I think the data speaks for themselves. We had a super spreader event in the White House."
More than 7.6 million coronavirus cases have been reported in the U.S., and at least 212,789 have died, data from Johns Hopkins University shows.


cnbc--2020-10-11--Here's what you need to know about Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearings

U.S. Judge Amy Coney Barrett , who has been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court , on Capitol Hill in Washington , September 30 , 2020 .
The confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett will kick off Monday despite criticism from Democrats about the event possibly being unsafe because of the Covid-19 pandemic .
The hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin at 9 a.m .
ET and last though Thursday .
Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , has said that he expects the committee to approve the 48-year-old judge by Oct. 22 , giving Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring the nomination to the Senate floor before Election Day .
The confirmation battle , set in the middle of the contentious election contest between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump , has so far lacked the theatrics of the last fight over a Supreme Court nominee .
But the consequences could prove dramatic , as Trump aims to solidify a 6-3 conservative majority on the country 's highest court .
Barrett was nominated to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who served for nearly three decades on the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice .
Barrett is expected to speak at the end of the day on Monday .
In prepared remarks , the judge focuses on her family , introducing the Judiciary Committee to her seven children and her husband , Jesse .
She also praises Ginsburg and her judicial mentor , Justice Antonin Scalia , with whom she has said she shares a philosophy .
Ginsburg and Scalia were close friends but ideological opposites .
Barrett will also express her view that courts should avoid making policy decisions and value judgments , which she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political branches elected by and accountable to the people . ''
`` The public should not expect courts to do so , and courts should not try , '' she will say .
Looming over the confirmation is Ginsburg 's final wish that she not be replaced until after the election , which Biden and his congressional allies have called on Republicans to heed .
Barrett does not address Ginsburg 's dying statement in her prepared remarks , but does share kind words about the late justice .
`` I have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but no one will ever take her place .
I will be forever grateful for the path she marked and the life she led , '' Barrett will say .

U.S. Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who has been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2020.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing begins Monday despite Democrats' complaints that it could be unsafe because of Covid.
The hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin at 9 a.m. ET and last though Thursday.
Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has said he expects the committee to approve the 48-year-old judge by Oct. 22, giving Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell enough time to bring the nomination to the Senate floor before Election Day on Nov. 3.
The confirmation battle, set in the middle of the contentious election between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump, has so far lacked the theatrics of the last fight over a Supreme Court nominee.
But the consequences could prove dramatic, as Trump aims to solidify a 6-3 conservative majority on the country's highest court. Barrett was nominated to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who served for nearly three decades on the Supreme Court and became its most senior liberal justice.
Barrett is expected to speak at the end of the day Monday. In prepared remarks, the judge focuses on her family, introducing the Judiciary Committee to her seven children and her husband, Jesse.
She also praises Ginsburg and her judicial mentor, Justice Antonin Scalia, with whom she has said she shares a philosophy. Ginsburg and Scalia were close friends but ideological opposites.
Barrett also expressed her view that courts should avoid making policy decisions and value judgments, which she said in her prepared remarks that they "must be made by the political branches elected by and accountable to the people."
"The public should not expect courts to do so, and courts should not try," she said.
Looming over the confirmation is Ginsburg's final wish that she not be replaced until after the election, which Biden and his congressional allies have called on Republicans to heed. In her prepared remarks, Barrett did not address Ginsburg's dying statement, but did share kind words about the late justice.
"I have been nominated to fill Justice Ginsburg's seat, but no one will ever take her place. I will be forever grateful for the path she marked and the life she led," Barrett said.


cnbc--2020-10-11--Democrats and Republicans dismiss Trump’s coronavirus stimulus offer, dimming hopes for a deal

Democrats in the House and Republicans in the Senate expressed opposition to President Donald Trump 's $ 1.8 trillion coronavirus stimulus offer over the weekend , with White House negotiators now calling for a separate vote on small business loans until the deadlock on a broader package is broken .
The White House 's offer nearly doubles the original proposal from Republicans when talks began in late summer but is about $ 400 billion less than the $ 2.2 trillion bill Democrats previously passed , leaving party leaders in Congress on both sides unhappy .
`` This proposal amounted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the Trump administration 's stimulus offer in a letter to her members Saturday .
`` When the President talks about wanting a bigger relief package , his proposal appears to mean that he wants more money at his discretion to grant or withhold , rather than agreeing on language prescribing how we honor our workers , crush the virus and put money in the pockets of workers , '' Pelosi said .
Congress has failed to pass new aid for months as the virus continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery slows .
Pelosi said the administration 's proposal lacks a strategic plan to contain the spread of the virus , and has inadequate funding for state and local governments as well as financial relief for American families .
Pelosi has called for a deal that reinstates the $ 600 per week supplemental unemployment benefit that ended in July and much more money for child care than what the administration is offering .
Senate Republicans also expressed opposition to the administration offer in a Saturday morning call with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sources told NBC News .
They hated the package , one source said .
Republicans do n't like the price tag and some of the policy areas .
They took issue with what they described as Democrat demands to provide maximum health insurance subsidies to any new Obamacare enrollee as part of an agreement , one source said .
Mnuchin and Meadows in a letter to Congress on Sunday said that House Democrats have n't compromised with Republicans on the bipartisan stimulus legislation .
They called for a separate vote on Paycheck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small businesses .
`` Now is the time for us to come together and immediately vote on a bill to allow us to spend the unused Paycheck Protection Program funds while we continue to work towards a comprehensive package , '' they wrote .
`` The all-or-nothing approach is an unacceptable response to the American people . ''
Pelosi wrote in a second letter Sunday that Trump 's failure to take the virus seriously `` is reflected in the grossly inadequate response we finally received from the Administration on Saturday . ''
Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on virus testing , tracing and treatment `` wholly insufficient '' and said Democrats and Republicans remain at an impasse on stimulus legislation until the issues are resolved .
As election day approaches , it 's unclear if Congress will have time to produce a pandemic relief bill and push it through the Republican-held Senate , which is moving quickly to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that a stimulus package is `` unlikely in the next three weeks . ''
Larry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said on Sunday morning that the president might go `` beyond '' the numbers that Democrats have called for in their stimulus proposal for certain `` key targeted areas . ''
Kudlow also said he thinks Senate Republicans who are opposed to the $ 1.8 trillion proposal from the White House will ultimately agree to a final deal '' I think if an agreement can be reached they will go along with it , '' Kudlow said of the Senate GOP in an interview on CNN .
Kudlow also said he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on another stimulus deal .
However , Jerome Powell , the Federal Reserve chair , warned several days ago that `` too little support would lead to a weak recovery , creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses . ''
Trump , who called off talks several days ago , now says he 's changed his position on approving more coronavirus aid before the November election , telling right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh that `` I would like to see a bigger stimulus package , frankly , than either the Democrats or Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House communications director Alyssa Farah later told reporters that the administration wants a package that costs below $ 2 trillion , which would be less than the $ 2.2 trillion bill Democrats have proposed .

The White House's offer nearly doubles the original proposal from Republicans when talks began in late summer but is about $400 billion less than the $2.2 trillion bill Democrats previously passed , leaving party leaders in Congress on both sides unhappy.
Democrats in the House and Republicans in the Senate expressed opposition to President Donald Trump's $1.8 trillion coronavirus stimulus offer over the weekend, with White House negotiators now calling for a separate vote on small business loans until the deadlock on a broader package is broken.
"This proposal amounted to one step forward, two steps back," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the Trump administration's stimulus offer in a letter to her members Saturday.
"When the President talks about wanting a bigger relief package, his proposal appears to mean that he wants more money at his discretion to grant or withhold, rather than agreeing on language prescribing how we honor our workers, crush the virus and put money in the pockets of workers," Pelosi said.
Congress has failed to pass new aid for months as the virus continues to spread across the country and economic recovery slows.
The White House offer includes the following, according to NBC News: State and local governments — $300 billion
Unemployment insurance — $400 per week, through the third week of January and retroactive to Sept. 12
Liability protection for businesses
Stimulus checks — $1,200 for adults, $1,000 per child
Airlines — $20 billion
PPP loans — $330 billion
Minority lending — $10 billion
Testing, tracing, vaccines, and health-care providers — $175 billion
Education — $150 billion
Student loan forgiveness — $25 billion
Food assistance — $15 billion
Child care — $25 billion
Postal service — $10 billion
Employee retention tax credit — $91 billion
Lodging industry — $20 billion
Broadband — $15 billion
Pelosi said the administration's proposal lacks a strategic plan to contain the spread of the virus, and has inadequate funding for state and local governments as well as financial relief for American families.
Pelosi has called for a deal that reinstates the $600 per week supplemental unemployment benefit that ended in July and much more money for child care than what the administration is offering.
Senate Republicans also expressed opposition to the administration offer in a Saturday morning call with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, sources told NBC News. They hated the package, one source said. Republicans don't like the price tag and some of the policy areas. They took issue with what they described as Democrat demands to provide maximum health insurance subsidies to any new Obamacare enrollee as part of an agreement, one source said.
Mnuchin and Meadows in a letter to Congress on Sunday said that House Democrats haven't compromised with Republicans on the bipartisan stimulus legislation. They called for a separate vote on Paycheck Protection Program funding, forgivable loans for small businesses.
"Now is the time for us to come together and immediately vote on a bill to allow us to spend the unused Paycheck Protection Program funds while we continue to work towards a comprehensive package," they wrote. "The all-or-nothing approach is an unacceptable response to the American people."
Pelosi wrote in a second letter Sunday that Trump's failure to take the virus seriously "is reflected in the grossly inadequate response we finally received from the Administration on Saturday." Pelosi called the White House proposal's spending on virus testing, tracing and treatment "wholly insufficient" and said Democrats and Republicans "remain at an impasse" on stimulus legislation until the issues are resolved.
As election day approaches, it's unclear if Congress will have time to produce a pandemic relief bill and push it through the Republican-held Senate, which is moving quickly to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that a stimulus package is "unlikely in the next three weeks."
Larry Kudlow, Trump's top economic advisor, said on Sunday morning that the president might go "beyond" the numbers that Democrats have called for in their stimulus proposal for certain "key targeted areas."
Kudlow also said he thinks Senate Republicans who are opposed to the $1.8 trillion proposal from the White House will ultimately agree to a final deal
"I think if an agreement can be reached they will go along with it," Kudlow said of the Senate GOP in an interview on CNN.
Kudlow also said he doesn't think an economic recovery is dependent on another stimulus deal. However, Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, warned several days ago that "too little support would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses."
Trump, who called off talks several days ago, now says he's changed his position on approving more coronavirus aid before the November election, telling right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh that "I would like to see a bigger stimulus package, frankly, than either the Democrats or Republicans are offering."
However, White House communications director Alyssa Farah later told reporters that the administration wants a package that costs below $2 trillion, which would be less than the $2.2 trillion bill Democrats have proposed.
— CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report


cnbc--2020-10-10--Tight race between Joni Ernst and Theresa Greenfield in Iowa could determine balance of power in the

Tight race between Joni Ernst and Theresa Greenfield in Iowa could determine balance of power in the Senate

Republican Joni Ernst minced no words in her first televised ad of her successful Senate bid in 2014 .
`` I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm .
So when I get to Washington , I 'll know how to cut pork , '' the then-state senator says in the ad before the camera cuts to footage of pigs .
`` Washington 's full of big spenders .
Let 's make 'em squeal . ''
When Iowa voters cast their ballots in 2020 , they 'll decide whether Ernst has lived up to that promise during her six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reliable Republican vote in the Senate , voting against her party only 3.4 % of the time in the current legislative session , according to data compiled by ProPublica .
The average Senate Republican voted against the party 4.3 % of the time in the current Congress , according to ProPublica .
She 's also an ally of President Donald Trump , who faces a challenge from Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden .
With political observers predicting a close presidential race in Iowa , her fate may also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
National Democratic groups have zeroed in on the race as an opportunity to win back the majority in the Senate , with both the Cook Political Report and FiveThirtyEight rating Iowa 's Senate race as a toss-up .
Cook rates the presidential race as a toss-up for Iowa as well , and FiveThirtyEight says Trump is slightly favored to win there .
The GOP holds a 53-47 edge in the Senate .
Ernst , the first woman from Iowa to hold federal elected office , now faces Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously held political office .
Greenfield ran for Congress in 2018 , but her bid ended after her ex-campaign manager admitted to forging signatures without her knowledge to get her on the primary ballot .
Greenfield submitted a new petition to add her name at the last minute but failed to come up with enough signatures .
This time around , national groups such as EMILY 's List have made Greenfield 's name front and center for Iowa voters .
That broad interest in the race has brought the Greenfield campaign a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 11.5 million as of June 30 while Ernst raised more than $ 14.4 million , according to Open Secrets .
The national spotlight has also opened a line of attack for Greenfield 's detractors , who have used it to paint her as a puppet for the liberal wing of her party .
`` Theresa Greenfield wo n't say where she stands , but the millions being spent to elect her from liberal extremists who will defund police , raise taxes and destroy Iowa jobs tells you all you need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Ernst campaign claims , juxtaposing clips of Greenfield and progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y .
The attacks sound similar to those Republicans have tried to wage against Biden and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. Like Biden , Greenfield is a moderate Democrat who has publicly said she does not support defunding the police and has supported tax plans that would mainly impact the wealthiest families .
Toeing the line in a swing state as progressive money descends on her campaign , Greenfield has focused her message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Greenfield 's husband died when she was pregnant with her second child .
She has said she relied on Social Security survivor benefits to help make ends meet , fueling her desire to preserve such benefits .
`` Theresa has the momentum in the final stretch of this race because she 's demonstrated from day one that she 'll always put Iowa first — from protecting access to health care to helping Iowans get through this pandemic to rebuilding our economy , '' Greenfield for Iowa spokesperson Izzi Levy said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` illegal coordination with a dark money group set up by her top political aides . ''
Political nonprofits are sometimes referred to as `` dark money '' groups , because they can take unlimited amounts of money without revealing their donors .
The groups must keep their work separate from candidates and ca n't make their political work their primary focus .
An Associated Press investigation from December 2019 found that top aides to Ernst had created an outside group that worked closely with her to raise money for her reelection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviewed that the level of overlap could potentially be illegal .
At the time , a senior advisor to Ernst told the AP that the campaign `` is completely separate and independent from any outside organization , '' and said `` For the AP to suggest otherwise , is the definition of fake news . ''
Ernst , meanwhile , has focused on issues that resonate most for Republicans , such as the economy and law and order , while trying to persuade voters she 's still the candidate who can make Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joni spokesperson Melissa Deatsch focused on the outside money backing Greenfield 's campaign to claim she 's not right for Iowa .
`` Iowans ca n't trust Theresa Greenfield , who is hiding behind nearly $ 100 million that she and her liberal special interest allies are spending trying to buy Iowa 's Senate seat , '' Deatsch claimed in a statement .
`` Liberal groups are pouring money behind Greenfield because they know she 'd be a rubber stamp on their radical agenda .
Greenfield may be great for California , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Outside spending supporting Greenfield has surpassed that for Ernst at $ 10.2 million for the Democrat compared with $ 6.8 million for the incumbent Republican , according to the most recent data from Open Secrets .
Outside spenders pitched in $ 38.5 million to oppose Ernst , while $ 33.7 million was spent to oppose Greenfield , also according to the site .
Focus on health care and the economy Like other Democrats contending for office this year , Greenfield has leaned on the issue of health care in light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court decision on the Affordable Care Act , which became more uncertain after the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
With a political fight brewing over the confirmation of Ginsburg 's replacement on the bench , Iowa State University political science professor Dave Peterson said keeping the race focused on health care would be the best strategy for Democrats .
`` I do think if they 're overly critical of [ nominee Amy Coney ] Barrett 's faith , that 's not going to be attractive to Iowans , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum to Greenfield 's campaign soon after Ginsburg died when he said it became clear Republicans would not abide by the precedent they set not to confirm former President Barack Obama 's nominee in an election year .
Republicans including Ernst have said this time is different because Republicans control both the Senate and White House , which was not the case in 2016 .
Still , the no-party voters who both candidates are vying to win over are usually not too interested in the ins and outs of the political fights , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Timothy Hagle .
`` Since they do n't pay that much attention to politics they also do n't care about the political process kind of things , '' said Hagle , who donated to Ernst 's campaign in 2014 .
He said he has not made political donations this cycle in part because he frequently talks with journalists about the election and said his comments were made as an academic , not as a Republican .
Meanwhile , Ernst has made the economy one of her key focuses .
It has remained a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after years of growth despite massive and ongoing unemployment due to the pandemic .
According to a mid-September Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll , 31 % of likely voters polled said the economy was the most important issue in the election .
Law and order followed at 18 % , the Covid-19 pandemic at 15 % and health care at 13 % .
Ernst has appealed to Iowa 's rural voters by promising to cut down on regulations for businesses and fight `` for a level playing field for farmers when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign website .
Some rural voters have suffered under Trump administration policies Ernst has backed .
Ernst supported the Environmental Protection Agency 's approval of year-round use of gasoline infused with 15 % ethanol , a major product in Iowa .
But ethanol producers later complained that exemptions the agency made to the standard for oil refineries undercut their gains .
Trump 's trade dispute with China has also hurt farmers , as Ernst acknowledged on CNN last year , but she 's defended its importance as a way to stand up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmers in Iowa seem to see the trade policies that way , too , according to academics interviewed for this article and several reports and polls published over the past year .
While they may be experiencing pain in the near term , some say they believe the policies will end up benefiting them in the end .
`` I 've heard farmers say , ' I understand it 's painful right now , but this is what needs to happen and so over the long term this is going to benefit me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , ' '' said Rachel Paine Caufield , a political science professor at Drake University in Iowa .
`` At the same time , I think that there is a general sense that the political system as a whole is not terribly responsive to small town agricultural interests . ''
`` And so if you feel abandoned by the political system and you feel like you found a candidate who is paying attention and talking to you — not just about you , but to you — I think that inspires a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I think there is an additional level of the negative partisanship that 's happening .
If the alternative is to vote for Democrats , then you stick it out with the Republicans . ''
A mid-September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found 56 % of likely Iowa voters felt Ernst had n't done enough to help the state during her time in office , including 19 % who plan to vote for her anyway .
Of the likely voters polled , 43 % said Ernst 's relationship with Trump was `` about right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are `` too close . ''
That opens the question of how much of Ernst 's political future is tied to Trump 's .
`` My feeling is that if Iowa goes for Trump in the presidential race , Ernst is going to win [ in the senatorial race ] because I ca n't envision that people that are going to vote for Trump are not going to vote for Ernst , '' Hagle said .
`` There has n't been much of a sense of what she 's done or what she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Party , McConnell and Trump have been doing , '' Peterson said of Ernst .
Ernst 's voting record is n't the only thing that makes her run this time different from last .
Academics interviewed by CNBC also considered Greenfield a stronger candidate than Ernst 's last opponent in 2014 , then-Rep. Bruce Braley .
The Hill dubbed him one of the `` worst candidates of 2014 , '' in part due to a gaffe where he criticized senior Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley as just a `` farmer from Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lacking stumbles , Greenfield 's message has been clearer than Braley 's , Peterson said .
Her personal story touches on the key focus of health care and Social Security in her campaign .
That clarity is something Ernst achieved in her last campaign , according to Peterson .
`` Ernst had that six years ago , '' he said .
`` She started with that 'make 'em squeal ' ad that became famous , and there was a sort of sense of who she was and how she was going to shake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time . ''
`` [ Braley ] faced no primary challenger and did n't define himself or his issues very clearly to voters , '' Paine Caufield said .
`` Joni Ernst was kind of the scrappy winner of a tough primary so defined herself early and creatively and she developed a voice for herself that hit on a certain demographic group in Iowa .
While she was credible , she was also tough and ready and would say it like it was and did n't need to be overly polite about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign talking about castrating pigs . ''
Peterson said many Iowans would tend to accept the incumbent but given the uncertainty in the economy during the pandemic , voters may be looking for alternatives .
`` That 's where Greenfield running a good campaign can make her an attractive alternative , '' he said .
WATCH : Sen. Joni Ernst : The Green New Deal would destroy the agriculture industry

Democratic senate candidate Theresa Greenfield (L) and Senator Joni Ernst, R-IA (R). Caroline Brehman | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Republican Joni Ernst minced no words in her first televised ad of her successful Senate bid in 2014. "I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm. So when I get to Washington, I'll know how to cut pork," the then-state senator says in the ad before the camera cuts to footage of pigs. "Washington's full of big spenders. Let's make 'em squeal." When Iowa voters cast their ballots in 2020, they'll decide whether Ernst has lived up to that promise during her six years in Washington. Ernst has become a reliable Republican vote in the Senate, voting against her party only 3.4% of the time in the current legislative session, according to data compiled by ProPublica. The average Senate Republican voted against the party 4.3% of the time in the current Congress, according to ProPublica. She's also an ally of President Donald Trump, who faces a challenge from Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden. With political observers predicting a close presidential race in Iowa, her fate may also be tied to that of the president's. National Democratic groups have zeroed in on the race as an opportunity to win back the majority in the Senate, with both the Cook Political Report and FiveThirtyEight rating Iowa's Senate race as a toss-up. Cook rates the presidential race as a toss-up for Iowa as well, and FiveThirtyEight says Trump is slightly favored to win there. The GOP holds a 53-47 edge in the Senate. Ernst, the first woman from Iowa to hold federal elected office, now faces Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield, a real estate executive who has not previously held political office. Greenfield ran for Congress in 2018, but her bid ended after her ex-campaign manager admitted to forging signatures without her knowledge to get her on the primary ballot. Greenfield submitted a new petition to add her name at the last minute but failed to come up with enough signatures. This time around, national groups such as EMILY's List have made Greenfield's name front and center for Iowa voters. That broad interest in the race has brought the Greenfield campaign a large influx of funds. Greenfield has raised more than $11.5 million as of June 30 while Ernst raised more than $14.4 million, according to Open Secrets.
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The national spotlight has also opened a line of attack for Greenfield's detractors, who have used it to paint her as a puppet for the liberal wing of her party. "Theresa Greenfield won't say where she stands, but the millions being spent to elect her from liberal extremists who will defund police, raise taxes and destroy Iowa jobs tells you all you need to know," an attack ad from the Ernst campaign claims, juxtaposing clips of Greenfield and progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The attacks sound similar to those Republicans have tried to wage against Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. Like Biden, Greenfield is a moderate Democrat who has publicly said she does not support defunding the police and has supported tax plans that would mainly impact the wealthiest families. Toeing the line in a swing state as progressive money descends on her campaign, Greenfield has focused her message primarily on health care and Social Security. Greenfield's husband died when she was pregnant with her second child. She has said she relied on Social Security survivor benefits to help make ends meet, fueling her desire to preserve such benefits. "Theresa has the momentum in the final stretch of this race because she's demonstrated from day one that she'll always put Iowa first — from protecting access to health care to helping Iowans get through this pandemic to rebuilding our economy," Greenfield for Iowa spokesperson Izzi Levy said in a statement, accusing Ernst's campaign of "illegal coordination with a dark money group set up by her top political aides." Political nonprofits are sometimes referred to as "dark money" groups, because they can take unlimited amounts of money without revealing their donors. The groups must keep their work separate from candidates and can't make their political work their primary focus. An Associated Press investigation from December 2019 found that top aides to Ernst had created an outside group that worked closely with her to raise money for her reelection. The AP said based on documents it reviewed that the level of overlap could potentially be illegal. At the time, a senior advisor to Ernst told the AP that the campaign "is completely separate and independent from any outside organization," and said "For the AP to suggest otherwise, is the definition of fake news." Ernst, meanwhile, has focused on issues that resonate most for Republicans, such as the economy and law and order, while trying to persuade voters she's still the candidate who can make Washington squeal. In a statement, Team Joni spokesperson Melissa Deatsch focused on the outside money backing Greenfield's campaign to claim she's not right for Iowa. "Iowans can't trust Theresa Greenfield, who is hiding behind nearly $100 million that she and her liberal special interest allies are spending trying to buy Iowa's Senate seat," Deatsch claimed in a statement. "Liberal groups are pouring money behind Greenfield because they know she'd be a rubber stamp on their radical agenda. Greenfield may be great for California, but she's far too liberal for Iowa." Outside spending supporting Greenfield has surpassed that for Ernst at $10.2 million for the Democrat compared with $6.8 million for the incumbent Republican, according to the most recent data from Open Secrets. Outside spenders pitched in $38.5 million to oppose Ernst, while $33.7 million was spent to oppose Greenfield, also according to the site.
Focus on health care and the economy
Like other Democrats contending for office this year, Greenfield has leaned on the issue of health care in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and upcoming Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, which became more uncertain after the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. With a political fight brewing over the confirmation of Ginsburg's replacement on the bench, Iowa State University political science professor Dave Peterson said keeping the race focused on health care would be the best strategy for Democrats. "I do think if they're overly critical of [nominee Amy Coney] Barrett's faith, that's not going to be attractive to Iowans," he said. Peterson himself donated the legal maximum to Greenfield's campaign soon after Ginsburg died when he said it became clear Republicans would not abide by the precedent they set not to confirm former President Barack Obama's nominee in an election year. Republicans including Ernst have said this time is different because Republicans control both the Senate and White House, which was not the case in 2016. Still, the no-party voters who both candidates are vying to win over are usually not too interested in the ins and outs of the political fights, said University of Iowa political science professor Timothy Hagle. "Since they don't pay that much attention to politics they also don't care about the political process kind of things," said Hagle, who donated to Ernst's campaign in 2014. He said he has not made political donations this cycle in part because he frequently talks with journalists about the election and said his comments were made as an academic, not as a Republican. Meanwhile, Ernst has made the economy one of her key focuses. It has remained a strong issue for Republicans and for Trump after years of growth despite massive and ongoing unemployment due to the pandemic. According to a mid-September Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, 31% of likely voters polled said the economy was the most important issue in the election. Law and order followed at 18%, the Covid-19 pandemic at 15% and health care at 13%. Ernst has appealed to Iowa's rural voters by promising to cut down on regulations for businesses and fight "for a level playing field for farmers when it comes to trade," according to her campaign website.
Trump and trade
Some rural voters have suffered under Trump administration policies Ernst has backed. Ernst supported the Environmental Protection Agency's approval of year-round use of gasoline infused with 15% ethanol, a major product in Iowa. But ethanol producers later complained that exemptions the agency made to the standard for oil refineries undercut their gains. Trump's trade dispute with China has also hurt farmers, as Ernst acknowledged on CNN last year, but she's defended its importance as a way to stand up for fair prices and national security. Many farmers in Iowa seem to see the trade policies that way, too, according to academics interviewed for this article and several reports and polls published over the past year. While they may be experiencing pain in the near term, some say they believe the policies will end up benefiting them in the end. "I've heard farmers say, 'I understand it's painful right now, but this is what needs to happen and so over the long term this is going to benefit me and I'm willing to stick it out,'" said Rachel Paine Caufield, a political science professor at Drake University in Iowa. "At the same time, I think that there is a general sense that the political system as a whole is not terribly responsive to small town agricultural interests." "And so if you feel abandoned by the political system and you feel like you found a candidate who is paying attention and talking to you — not just about you, but to you — I think that inspires a loyalty," she said. "And I think there is an additional level of the negative partisanship that's happening. If the alternative is to vote for Democrats, then you stick it out with the Republicans." A mid-September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found 56% of likely Iowa voters felt Ernst hadn't done enough to help the state during her time in office, including 19% who plan to vote for her anyway. Of the likely voters polled, 43% said Ernst's relationship with Trump was "about right," while 37% said they are "too close." That opens the question of how much of Ernst's political future is tied to Trump's. "My feeling is that if Iowa goes for Trump in the presidential race, Ernst is going to win [in the senatorial race] because I can't envision that people that are going to vote for Trump are not going to vote for Ernst," Hagle said. "There hasn't been much of a sense of what she's done or what she's been doing other than what the Republican Party, McConnell and Trump have been doing," Peterson said of Ernst.
A more formidable foe
Ernst's voting record isn't the only thing that makes her run this time different from last. Academics interviewed by CNBC also considered Greenfield a stronger candidate than Ernst's last opponent in 2014, then-Rep. Bruce Braley. The Hill dubbed him one of the "worst candidates of 2014," in part due to a gaffe where he criticized senior Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley as just a "farmer from Iowa." Braley later apologized. Beyond lacking stumbles, Greenfield's message has been clearer than Braley's, Peterson said. Her personal story touches on the key focus of health care and Social Security in her campaign. That clarity is something Ernst achieved in her last campaign, according to Peterson. "Ernst had that six years ago," he said. "She started with that 'make 'em squeal' ad that became famous, and there was a sort of sense of who she was and how she was going to shake things up. And Greenfield has that this time." "[Braley] faced no primary challenger and didn't define himself or his issues very clearly to voters," Paine Caufield said. "Joni Ernst was kind of the scrappy winner of a tough primary so defined herself early and creatively and she developed a voice for herself that hit on a certain demographic group in Iowa. While she was credible, she was also tough and ready and would say it like it was and didn't need to be overly polite about it. She literally spent that entire campaign talking about castrating pigs." Peterson said many Iowans would tend to accept the incumbent but given the uncertainty in the economy during the pandemic, voters may be looking for alternatives. "That's where Greenfield running a good campaign can make her an attractive alternative," he said. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. WATCH: Sen. Joni Ernst: The Green New Deal would destroy the agriculture industry


cnbc--2020-10-11--Fauci says comments in Trump ad taken 'out of context' and used 'without my permission'

Dr. Anthony Fauci , Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases testifies at a House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing on Capitol Hill on July 31 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Force .
White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that a new Trump campaign ad takes his comments `` out of context '' and used his remarks without his approval .
`` In my nearly five decades of public service , I have never publicly endorsed nor do I now endorse any political candidates , '' Fauci , the director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diseases , said in a statement to NBC News .
`` The comments attributed to me without my permission in the GOP campaign ad were taken out of context from a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials , '' he added .
The ad supporting President Donald Trump 's reelection bid , entitled `` Carefully , '' was released on Saturday and touts the president 's management of the coronavirus pandemic .
The 30-second ad includes a clip of Fauci saying that he `` ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' to address the pandemic , which has now killed more than 210,000 Americans , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The full extent of Fauci 's remarks , made during a March interview Fauci did on Fox 's `` Life , Liberty and Levin , '' show the White House virus advisor talking about the entire federal government 's response to Covid-19 .
Fauci was not , as the ad suggested , offering direct praise for the president .
Still , the Trump campaign countered that the words are his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcast .
`` These are Dr. Fauci 's own words .
The video is from a nationally broadcast television interview in which Dr. Fauci was praising the work of the Trump Administration .
The words spoken are accurate , and directly from Dr. Fauci 's mouth , '' Tim Murtaugh , the Trump 2020 communications director , said in a statement .
`` As Dr. Fauci recently testified in the Senate , President Trump took the virus seriously from the beginning , acted quickly , and saved lives , '' Murtaugh added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship with the public health advisor , may be attempting to tap Fauci 's popularity among voters to help offer his campaign new life .
The president has for months trailed Democratic challenger former Vice President Joe Biden in national polls .
Biden has extended his lead over Trump in recent weeks following the first presidential debate in late September and Trump 's Covid-19 diagnosis .
An average calculated by RealClearPolitics.com showed the spread between Biden and Trump grew from 6.8 percentage points before the debate to 9.8 as of Sunday .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. is reporting more than 40,000 new coronavirus cases as a seven-day average , a rate that could worsen as temperatures cool in the northern U.S. and force people indoors .
On Friday , the U.S. reported 57,420 new cases , the highest daily number in nearly two months .
The Trump campaign also issued a press release over the weekend listing several examples of when they say Fauci applauded the administration 's effort to combat the disease .
The president 's campaign claimed that Biden 's promises to listen to Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` contradicts '' the health expert so often .
Fauci told MSNBC 's Andrea Mitchell last week that he 's `` not comfortable with that .
I would like to see that level , way , way down , well below 10,000 . ''
`` In certain regions of the country , like the Midwest the Northwest , and even now we 're starting to see a little difficulty in the northeast in New York .
Then you get concerned because it is more difficult to deal with respiratory borne virus , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said Thursday .
`` And if you start seeing upticks , the way we 're seeing it , and you have a baseline that 's 40,000 and stuck at 40,000 , that 's not the optimal position to be in as you enter into the fall and winter . ''

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases testifies at a House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing on Capitol Hill on July 31, 2020 in Washington, DC. Force.
The 30-second ad includes a clip of Fauci saying that he "can't imagine anybody could be doing more" to address the pandemic, which has now killed more than 210,000 Americans, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The ad supporting President Donald Trump's reelection bid, entitled "Carefully," was released on Saturday and touts the president's management of the coronavirus pandemic.
"The comments attributed to me without my permission in the GOP campaign ad were taken out of context from a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials," he added.
"In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed nor do I now endorse any political candidates," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a statement to NBC News.
White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that a new Trump campaign ad takes his comments "out of context" and used his remarks without his approval.
The full extent of Fauci's remarks, made during a March interview Fauci did on Fox's "Life, Liberty and Levin," show the White House virus advisor talking about the entire federal government's response to Covid-19. Fauci was not, as the ad suggested, offering direct praise for the president.
Still, the Trump campaign countered that the words are his own and taken from a nationally televised broadcast.
"These are Dr. Fauci's own words. The video is from a nationally broadcast television interview in which Dr. Fauci was praising the work of the Trump Administration. The words spoken are accurate, and directly from Dr. Fauci's mouth," Tim Murtaugh, the Trump 2020 communications director, said in a statement.
"As Dr. Fauci recently testified in the Senate, President Trump took the virus seriously from the beginning, acted quickly, and saved lives," Murtaugh added.
Trump, who's had a fickle relationship with the public health advisor, may be attempting to tap Fauci's popularity among voters to help offer his campaign new life.
The president has for months trailed Democratic challenger former Vice President Joe Biden in national polls. Biden has extended his lead over Trump in recent weeks following the first presidential debate in late September and Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis.
An average calculated by RealClearPolitics.com showed the spread between Biden and Trump grew from 6.8 percentage points before the debate to 9.8 as of Sunday.
Trump's lagging polling numbers also come as the U.S. is reporting more than 40,000 new coronavirus cases as a seven-day average, a rate that could worsen as temperatures cool in the northern U.S. and force people indoors.
On Friday, the U.S. reported 57,420 new cases, the highest daily number in nearly two months.
The Trump campaign also issued a press release over the weekend listing several examples of when they say Fauci applauded the administration's effort to combat the disease.
The president's campaign claimed that Biden's promises to listen to Fauci are doubtful since the former vice president "contradicts" the health expert so often.
Fauci told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell last week that he's "not comfortable with that. I would like to see that level, way, way down, well below 10,000."
"In certain regions of the country, like the Midwest the Northwest, and even now we're starting to see a little difficulty in the northeast in New York. Then you get concerned because it is more difficult to deal with respiratory borne virus, as people begin to go indoors more," he said Thursday. "And if you start seeing upticks, the way we're seeing it, and you have a baseline that's 40,000 and stuck at 40,000, that's not the optimal position to be in as you enter into the fall and winter."


cnbc--2020-10-11--Jaime Harrison raises $57 million in campaign to unseat Lindsey Graham, shattering quarterly record

Jaime Harrison , a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate , speaks during a 'Rural Hope Agenda ' event in Rowesville , South Carolina , U.S. , on Friday , Aug. 28 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — The campaign of South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison said Sunday it had raised a colossal $ 57 million in the past three months , a record-breaking sum aimed at unseating Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham .
The impressive $ 57 million Harrison raised from July through September shatters the previous record of $ 38.1 million then-Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke raised in the third quarter of 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign total to $ 86 million this cycle .
And while Sen. Graham has not yet released his third-quarter fundraising he said in a pair of interviews last month on Fox News that he was `` being killed financially . ''
`` I 'm being killed financially .
This money is because they hate my guts , '' Graham said during an interview on `` Fox & Friends '' on Sept. 24 .
Later that evening he told Fox host Sean Hannity that he needed financial help with his Senate race .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Hannity , adding : `` Help me .
They 're killing me moneywise .
Help me .
You did last week .
Help me again . ''

Jaime Harrison, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, speaks during a 'Rural Hope Agenda' event in Rowesville, South Carolina, U.S., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2020.
WASHINGTON — The campaign of South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison said Sunday it had raised a colossal $57 million in the past three months, a record-breaking sum aimed at unseating Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The impressive $57 million Harrison raised from July through September shatters the previous record of $38.1 million then-Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke raised in the third quarter of 2018.
The single-quarter haul brings Harrison's campaign total to $86 million this cycle.
And while Sen. Graham has not yet released his third-quarter fundraising he said in a pair of interviews last month on Fox News that he was "being killed financially."
"I'm being killed financially. This money is because they hate my guts," Graham said during an interview on "Fox & Friends" on Sept. 24. Later that evening he told Fox host Sean Hannity that he needed financial help with his Senate race.
"I'm getting overwhelmed," Graham told Hannity, adding: "Help me. They're killing me moneywise. Help me. You did last week. Help me again."


cnbc--2020-10-11--Amy Coney Barrett emphasizes her family in confirmation hearing opening statement

U.S. Judge Amy Coney Barrett , who has been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court , on Capitol Hill in Washington , September 30 , 2020 .
Judge Amy Coney Barrett will focus on her family in the opening statement of her Supreme Court confirmation hearings set to begin on Monday , according to prepared remarks obtained by NBC News .
The 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals judge , whom Trump officially nominated to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last month , avoids mentioning the controversies swirling around her appointment in the four-page statement .
Barrett will instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and praise her legal mentors and Ginsburg .
The 48-year-old will say that becoming a Supreme Court justice was `` not a position I had sought out , and I thought carefully before accepting . ''
`` I chose to accept the nomination because I believe deeply in the rule of law and the place of the Supreme Court in our Nation , '' she will say .
`` I believe Americans of all backgrounds deserve an independent Supreme Court that interprets our Constitution and laws as they are written . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ view , courts should steer away from making policy judgments .
`` The policy decisions and value judgments of government must be made by the political branches elected by and accountable to the people , '' she will say .
`` The public should not expect courts to do so , and courts should not try . ''
Democrats have pushed for Ginsburg 's seat to remain empty until after the Nov. 3 presidential election , but Trump and his congressional allies are seeking to get Barrett on the bench as quickly as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-S.C. , told Fox News earlier Sunday that he expected the committee to approve Barrett by Oct. 22 , and for the full Senate to confirm her a week before Election Day .
The spreading pandemic threatened to derail the hearings after several Republican senators became ill. As a precaution , Graham , who is looking for a political win as he faces an increasingly tight reelection battle , has said that senators may attend the hearings virtually .
In her opening statement , Barrett does not refer to her views on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which critics of her nomination have seized on .
She will allude to her religious views , which have also been fodder for attacks .
`` I believe in the power of prayer , and it has been uplifting to hear that so many people are praying for me , '' she will say .
Barrett will also use the speech to praise Ginsburg , saying she was `` nominated to fill Justice Ginsburg 's seat , but no one will ever take her place .
I will be forever grateful for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led . ''
Early in her career , Barrett clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia , who was an ideological opponent and personal friend of Ginsburg 's .
Barrett will say that Scalia `` taught me more than just law . ''
`` He was devoted to his family , resolute in his beliefs , and fearless of criticism , '' she will say .
`` And as I embarked on my own legal career , I resolved to maintain that same perspective . ''
`` There is a tendency in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as all-consuming , while losing sight of everything else .
But that makes for a shallow and unfulfilling life , '' she will add .
`` I worked hard as a lawyer and a professor ; I owed that to my clients , my students , and myself .
But I never let the law define my identity or crowd out the rest of my life . ''
Barrett will be introduced on Monday by Indiana 's two senators , Republican Sens .
Todd Young and Mike Braun , as well as Patricia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dame Law School .

U.S. Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who has been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2020.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett will focus on her family in the opening statement of her Supreme Court confirmation hearings set to begin on Monday, according to prepared remarks obtained by NBC News.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge, whom Trump officially nominated to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last month, avoids mentioning the controversies swirling around her appointment in the four-page statement.
Barrett will instead introduce the Judiciary Committee to her seven children and praise her legal mentors and Ginsburg. The 48-year-old will say that becoming a Supreme Court justice was "not a position I had sought out, and I thought carefully before accepting."
"I chose to accept the nomination because I believe deeply in the rule of law and the place of the Supreme Court in our Nation," she will say. "I believe Americans of all backgrounds deserve an independent Supreme Court that interprets our Constitution and laws as they are written."
Barrett will also say that in her view, courts should steer away from making policy judgments.
"The policy decisions and value judgments of government must be made by the political branches elected by and accountable to the people," she will say. "The public should not expect courts to do so, and courts should not try."
Democrats have pushed for Ginsburg's seat to remain empty until after the Nov. 3 presidential election, but Trump and his congressional allies are seeking to get Barrett on the bench as quickly as possible.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told Fox News earlier Sunday that he expected the committee to approve Barrett by Oct. 22, and for the full Senate to confirm her a week before Election Day.
The spreading pandemic threatened to derail the hearings after several Republican senators became ill. As a precaution, Graham, who is looking for a political win as he faces an increasingly tight reelection battle, has said that senators may attend the hearings virtually.
In her opening statement, Barrett does not refer to her views on abortion or the Affordable Care Act, which critics of her nomination have seized on. She will allude to her religious views, which have also been fodder for attacks.
"I believe in the power of prayer, and it has been uplifting to hear that so many people are praying for me," she will say.
Barrett will also use the speech to praise Ginsburg, saying she was "nominated to fill Justice Ginsburg's seat, but no one will ever take her place. I will be forever grateful for the path she marked and the life she led."
Early in her career, Barrett clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who was an ideological opponent and personal friend of Ginsburg's. Barrett will say that Scalia "taught me more than just law."
"He was devoted to his family, resolute in his beliefs, and fearless of criticism," she will say. "And as I embarked on my own legal career, I resolved to maintain that same perspective."
"There is a tendency in our profession to treat the practice of law as all-consuming, while losing sight of everything else. But that makes for a shallow and unfulfilling life," she will add. "I worked hard as a lawyer and a professor; I owed that to my clients, my students, and myself. But I never let the law define my identity or crowd out the rest of my life."
Barrett will be introduced on Monday by Indiana's two senators, Republican Sens. Todd Young and Mike Braun, as well as Patricia O'Hara, a law professor at Notre Dame Law School.


cnbc--2020-10-13--Trump tests negative for the coronavirus on consecutive days, White House doctor says

President Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus `` on consecutive days , '' a White House physician said Monday , the first disclosure that Trump has tested negative for the virus since he revealed his diagnosis earlier this month .
Dr. Sean Conley , in a brief memo shared hours before Trump was scheduled to host a reelection campaign rally in Florida , said that the president 's latest Covid-19 results came from an antigen test from Abbott Laboratories .
But Conley 's memo noted that a variety of laboratory data all show the virus is no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Repeatedly negative antigen tests , taken in context with additional clinical and laboratory data , including viral load , subgenomic RNA , and PCR cycle threshold measurements , as well as ongoing assessment of viral culture date , all indicate a lack of detectable viral replication , '' Conley wrote .
Conley 's memo did not specify on which consecutive days Trump had tested negative .
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
Since Trump announced on Oct. 2 that he and first lady Melania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House has consistently refused to answer when asked when the president last tested negative before his positive diagnosis .
Knowing when the president last tested negative could provide crucial information about when he was infected and by whom , as well as whom Trump may have exposed to the virus while he was contagious .
Trump , 74 , had flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on the same day he shared his diagnosis .
He stayed there for three days before returning to the White House , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he boarded Air Force One for the outdoor rally in Sanford , Florida .
Since Trump tweeted out his positive diagnosis , numerous White House staffers and others who work there , including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and multiple members of the press , have also tested positive for Covid-19 .
Less than a week before his positive diagnosis , the president had gathered a large group of supporters at the White House for the announcement of his latest Supreme Court nominee , Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
Multiple Republican lawmakers who attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina and former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , later tested positive .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told CBS News on Friday : `` I think the data speaks for themselves .
We had a super-spreader event in the White House . ''
The president has been eager to return to the campaign trail , where he has just over three weeks left before the election against Democratic nominee Joe Biden , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The former vice president , 77 , tested negative for the coronavirus earlier Monday .
Trump has been criticized for holding in-person campaign rallies , a signature component of his winning 2016 campaign .
Leading health experts , including those in his own administration , have said the gatherings are unsafe during the pandemic because of the heightened risk of transmission of the virus .
`` We know that that is asking for trouble , '' Fauci said in a CNN interview on Monday afternoon when asked about the public-health risks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of the virus and pressured state leaders to lift their strict social distancing restrictions , in part to revive the U.S. economy .
Despite the U.S. holding the world-record death toll from Covid-19 — more than 214,000 deaths — and a recent uptick in the number of cases being reported daily , Trump has continued to push for `` reopening '' the country .
`` Lockdowns are killing countries all over the world , '' Trump tweeted Monday evening before the rally .
`` The cure can not be worse than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , Democrat governors .
Open up New York .
A long battle , but they finally did the right thing ! ''

Since Trump announced on Oct. 2 that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the virus, the White House has consistently refused to answer when asked when the president last tested negative before his positive diagnosis.
Conley's memo did not specify on which consecutive days Trump had tested negative. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
"Repeatedly negative antigen tests, taken in context with additional clinical and laboratory data, including viral load, subgenomic RNA, and PCR cycle threshold measurements, as well as ongoing assessment of viral culture date, all indicate a lack of detectable viral replication," Conley wrote.
But Conley's memo noted that a variety of laboratory data all show the virus is no longer active in the president's body.
Dr. Sean Conley, in a brief memo shared hours before Trump was scheduled to host a reelection campaign rally in Florida, said that the president's latest Covid-19 results came from an antigen test from Abbott Laboratories.
President Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus "on consecutive days," a White House physician said Monday, the first disclosure that Trump has tested negative for the virus since he revealed his diagnosis earlier this month.
Knowing when the president last tested negative could provide crucial information about when he was infected and by whom, as well as whom Trump may have exposed to the virus while he was contagious.
Trump, 74, had flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on the same day he shared his diagnosis. He stayed there for three days before returning to the White House, where he remained until Monday evening, when he boarded Air Force One for the outdoor rally in Sanford, Florida.
Since Trump tweeted out his positive diagnosis, numerous White House staffers and others who work there, including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and multiple members of the press, have also tested positive for Covid-19.
Less than a week before his positive diagnosis, the president had gathered a large group of supporters at the White House for the announcement of his latest Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Multiple Republican lawmakers who attended that event, including Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, later tested positive.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS News on Friday: "I think the data speaks for themselves. We had a super-spreader event in the White House."
The president has been eager to return to the campaign trail, where he has just over three weeks left before the election against Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who is currently leading Trump in the polls.
The former vice president, 77, tested negative for the coronavirus earlier Monday.
Trump has been criticized for holding in-person campaign rallies, a signature component of his winning 2016 campaign. Leading health experts, including those in his own administration, have said the gatherings are unsafe during the pandemic because of the heightened risk of transmission of the virus.
"We know that that is asking for trouble," Fauci said in a CNN interview on Monday afternoon when asked about the public-health risks of the rallies.
Trump has long downplayed the threat of the virus and pressured state leaders to lift their strict social distancing restrictions, in part to revive the U.S. economy.
Despite the U.S. holding the world-record death toll from Covid-19 — more than 214,000 deaths — and a recent uptick in the number of cases being reported daily, Trump has continued to push for "reopening" the country.
"Lockdowns are killing countries all over the world," Trump tweeted Monday evening before the rally. "The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself. Open up your states, Democrat governors. Open up New York. A long battle, but they finally did the right thing!"


cnbc--2020-10-12--Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearings open with focus on health care

A sharply divided Senate Judiciary Committee opened Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Monday , with little doubt about the eventual outcome and both sides looking to score political points as Election Day nears .
Republicans , led by Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , defended holding the hearings despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and touted Barrett 's qualifications .
They warned that Democrats would focus inappropriately on Barrett 's Catholicism and seek to turn the process into a battle resembling the one fought over Justice Brett Kavanaugh two years ago .
Democrats avoided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however .
Sen. Dianne Feinstein , the top Democrat on the committee , quickly sought to turn the focus of the hearings to health care .
Surrounded by large posters of individuals apparently protected by the Affordable Care Act , Feinstein made it clear that Democrats will spend the four-day process discussing an upcoming Supreme Court case over the constitutionality of the law .
`` We ca n't afford to go back to those days when Americans could be denied coverage or charged exorbitant amounts .
That 's what 's at stake for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That 's why the questions we will ask and the views that you will share with us are so important . ''
The court is scheduled to hear a case over the legality of the ACA on Nov. 10 .
Barrett has criticized Chief Justice John Roberts ' legal reasoning upholding the law in a 2012 case .
`` This administration , with the support of Senate Republicans , will be in front of the Supreme Court on Nov. 10 , to argue that the entire Affordable Care Act should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of California , the Democratic vice presidential nominee and a member of the Judiciary Committee , said .
`` If they succeed , it will result in millions of people losing access to health care at the worst possible time -- in the middle of the pandemic , '' she said .
Harris appeared remotely as a health precaution , with a copy of a children 's book about the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , `` I Dissent : Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark , '' on display .

A sharply divided Senate Judiciary Committee opened Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Monday, with little doubt about the eventual outcome and both sides looking to score political points as Election Day nears.
Republicans, led by Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., defended holding the hearings despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and touted Barrett's qualifications.
They warned that Democrats would focus inappropriately on Barrett's Catholicism and seek to turn the process into a battle resembling the one fought over Justice Brett Kavanaugh two years ago.
Democrats avoided discussion of Barrett's religious views, however. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee, quickly sought to turn the focus of the hearings to health care.
Surrounded by large posters of individuals apparently protected by the Affordable Care Act, Feinstein made it clear that Democrats will spend the four-day process discussing an upcoming Supreme Court case over the constitutionality of the law.
"We can't afford to go back to those days when Americans could be denied coverage or charged exorbitant amounts. That's what's at stake for many of us," Feinstein said. "That's why the questions we will ask and the views that you will share with us are so important."
The court is scheduled to hear a case over the legality of the ACA on Nov. 10. Barrett has criticized Chief Justice John Roberts' legal reasoning upholding the law in a 2012 case.
"This administration, with the support of Senate Republicans, will be in front of the Supreme Court on Nov. 10, to argue that the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down," Sen. Kamala Harris of California, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and a member of the Judiciary Committee, said.
"If they succeed, it will result in millions of people losing access to health care at the worst possible time -- in the middle of the pandemic," she said.
Harris appeared remotely as a health precaution, with a copy of a children's book about the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, "I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark," on display.


cnbc--2020-10-12--Trump is pushing for multiple events per day in election 'home stretch,' campaign says

President Donald Trump addresses a rally in support of law and order on the South Lawn of the White House on October 10 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
President Donald Trump , recently hospitalized with the coronavirus , has been pushing his reelection campaign to schedule more in-person rallies and other events in the final weeks before the Nov. 3 election .
The president Monday morning was `` getting on my case for not having enough rallies and public events scheduled , '' senior advisor Jason Miller told reporters in an on-the-record campaign call .
`` So he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said that in the `` home stretch '' of the campaign against Democratic nominee Joe Biden , Trump is expected to be out on the campaign trail `` at least in the short term , two to three events a day . ''
`` That will even grow as we get closer to Election Day , '' Miller said .
Trump , since revealing on Oct. 2 that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19 , has spoken only once before a live audience .
At that event at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke for less than 20 minutes -- a far cry from the typical Trump rallies , which often feature the president delivering remarks at a near-shout for more than an hour and a half without interruption .
The president 's eagerness to get out of the White House -- where he has been holed up since leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last Monday -- comes as Biden 's national polling lead appears to have grown wider .
Trump 's support among seniors , a large voting bloc that traditionally leans Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers , is also slipping , recent polls show .
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien assured on the call that `` you 're seeing really good really strong advertising that we 're out of the box with this week that has tremendous appeal to seniors . ''
`` Whatever perceived slippage you 're seeing in your numbers among seniors , I 'm absolutely certain that it will be addressed , '' Stepien added .
Health experts have warned that the Trump campaign 's signature events , which are marked by large groups of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , could lead to widespread transmission of the coronavirus .
Some advisors have voiced concerns about the president venturing outside once more so soon after contracting the virus .
`` He 's going to kill himself , '' one Trump advisor said , Axios reported Sunday .
Trump has proclaimed himself cured of the virus , and White House physician Sean Conley has said the president is no longer contagious .
But the U.S. is seeing an uptick in the number of daily Covid-19 cases reported on average -- more than 50,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven-day moving average from Johns Hopkins University .
And it remains the case that more deaths from the coronavirus have been reported in the U.S. than in any other country .
Trump has three rallies on his schedule this week , the first of which is set for Monday evening in Sanford , Florida .
He is also set to speak in Pennsylvania , Iowa and North Carolina .

President Donald Trump addresses a rally in support of law and order on the South Lawn of the White House on October 10, 2020 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump, recently hospitalized with the coronavirus, has been pushing his reelection campaign to schedule more in-person rallies and other events in the final weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
The president Monday morning was "getting on my case for not having enough rallies and public events scheduled," senior advisor Jason Miller told reporters in an on-the-record campaign call. "So he's ready to go."
Miller also said that in the "home stretch" of the campaign against Democratic nominee Joe Biden, Trump is expected to be out on the campaign trail "at least in the short term, two to three events a day."
"That will even grow as we get closer to Election Day," Miller said.
Trump, since revealing on Oct. 2 that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19, has spoken only once before a live audience. At that event at the White House on Saturday, he spoke for less than 20 minutes -- a far cry from the typical Trump rallies, which often feature the president delivering remarks at a near-shout for more than an hour and a half without interruption.
The president's eagerness to get out of the White House -- where he has been holed up since leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last Monday -- comes as Biden's national polling lead appears to have grown wider.
Trump's support among seniors, a large voting bloc that traditionally leans Republican and shows up to vote in high numbers, is also slipping, recent polls show.
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien assured on the call that "you're seeing really good really strong advertising that we're out of the box with this week that has tremendous appeal to seniors."
"Whatever perceived slippage you're seeing in your numbers among seniors, I'm absolutely certain that it will be addressed," Stepien added.
Health experts have warned that the Trump campaign's signature events, which are marked by large groups of tightly packed supporters without masks cheering the president, could lead to widespread transmission of the coronavirus.
Some advisors have voiced concerns about the president venturing outside once more so soon after contracting the virus. "He's going to kill himself," one Trump advisor said, Axios reported Sunday.
Trump has proclaimed himself cured of the virus, and White House physician Sean Conley has said the president is no longer contagious. But the U.S. is seeing an uptick in the number of daily Covid-19 cases reported on average -- more than 50,000 cases a day, according to the seven-day moving average from Johns Hopkins University. And it remains the case that more deaths from the coronavirus have been reported in the U.S. than in any other country.
Trump has three rallies on his schedule this week, the first of which is set for Monday evening in Sanford, Florida. He is also set to speak in Pennsylvania, Iowa and North Carolina.


cnbc--2020-10-12--Here's what you need to know about Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearings

U.S. Judge Amy Coney Barrett , who has been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court , on Capitol Hill in Washington , September 30 , 2020 .
Judge Amy Coney Barrett 's confirmation hearing begins Monday despite Democrats ' complaints that it could be unsafe because of Covid .
The hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin at 9 a.m .
ET and last though Thursday .
Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , has said he expects the committee to approve the 48-year-old judge by Oct. 22 , giving Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell enough time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Election Day on Nov. 3 .
The confirmation battle , set in the middle of the contentious election between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump , has so far lacked the theatrics of the last fight over a Supreme Court nominee .
But the consequences could prove dramatic , as Trump aims to solidify a 6-3 conservative majority on the country 's highest court .
Barrett was nominated to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who served for nearly three decades on the Supreme Court and became its most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak at the end of the day Monday .
In prepared remarks , the judge focuses on her family , introducing the Judiciary Committee to her seven children and her husband , Jesse .
She also praises Ginsburg and her judicial mentor , Justice Antonin Scalia , with whom she has said she shares a philosophy .
Ginsburg and Scalia were close friends but ideological opposites .
Barrett also expressed her view that courts should avoid making policy decisions and value judgments , which she said in her prepared remarks that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ branches elected by and accountable to the people . ''
`` The public should not expect courts to do so , and courts should not try , '' she said .
Looming over the confirmation is Ginsburg 's final wish that she not be replaced until after the election , which Biden and his congressional allies have called on Republicans to heed .
In her prepared remarks , Barrett did not address Ginsburg 's dying statement , but did share kind words about the late justice .
`` I have been nominated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one will ever take her place .
I will be forever grateful for the path she marked and the life she led , '' Barrett said .


cnbc--2020-10-12--Democrats and Republicans dismiss Trump’s coronavirus stimulus offer, dimming hopes for a deal

The White House 's offer nearly doubles the original proposal from Republicans when talks began in late summer but is about $ 400 billion less than the $ 2.2 trillion bill Democrats previously passed , leaving party leaders in Congress on both sides unhappy .
Democrats in the House and Republicans in the Senate expressed opposition to President Donald Trump 's $ 1.8 trillion coronavirus stimulus offer over the weekend , with White House negotiators now calling for a separate vote on small business loans until the deadlock on a broader package is broken .
`` This proposal amounted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the Trump administration 's stimulus offer in a letter to her members Saturday .
`` When the President talks about wanting a bigger relief package , his proposal appears to mean that he wants more money at his discretion to grant or withhold , rather than agreeing on language prescribing how we honor our workers , crush the virus and put money in the pockets of workers , '' Pelosi said .
Congress has failed to pass new aid for months as the virus continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery slows .
Pelosi said the administration 's proposal lacks a strategic plan to contain the spread of the virus , and has inadequate funding for state and local governments as well as financial relief for American families .
Pelosi has called for a deal that reinstates the $ 600 per week supplemental unemployment benefit that ended in July and much more money for child care than what the administration is offering .
Senate Republicans also expressed opposition to the administration offer in a Saturday morning call with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sources told NBC News .
They hated the package , one source said .
Republicans do n't like the price tag and some of the policy areas .
They took issue with what they described as Democrat demands to provide maximum health insurance subsidies to any new Obamacare enrollee as part of an agreement , one source said .
Mnuchin and Meadows in a letter to Congress on Sunday said that House Democrats have n't compromised with Republicans on the bipartisan stimulus legislation .
They called for a separate vote on Paycheck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small businesses .
`` Now is the time for us to come together and immediately vote on a bill to allow us to spend the unused Paycheck Protection Program funds while we continue to work towards a comprehensive package , '' they wrote .
`` The all-or-nothing approach is an unacceptable response to the American people . ''
Pelosi wrote in a second letter Sunday that Trump 's failure to take the virus seriously `` is reflected in the grossly inadequate response we finally received from the Administration on Saturday . ''
Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on virus testing , tracing and treatment `` wholly insufficient '' and said Democrats and Republicans `` remain at an impasse '' on stimulus legislation until the issues are resolved .
As election day approaches , it 's unclear if Congress will have time to produce a pandemic relief bill and push it through the Republican-held Senate , which is moving quickly to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that a stimulus package is `` unlikely in the next three weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic advisor , said on Sunday morning that the president might go `` beyond '' the numbers that Democrats have called for in their stimulus proposal for certain `` key targeted areas . ''
Kudlow also said he thinks Senate Republicans who are opposed to the $ 1.8 trillion proposal from the White House will ultimately agree to a final deal '' I think if an agreement can be reached they will go along with it , '' Kudlow said of the Senate GOP in an interview on CNN .
Kudlow also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is dependent on another stimulus deal .
However , Jerome Powell , the Federal Reserve chair , warned several days ago that `` too little support would lead to a weak recovery , creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses . ''
Trump , who called off talks several days ago , now says he 's changed his position on approving more coronavirus aid before the November election , telling right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh that `` I would like to see a bigger stimulus package , frankly , than either the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , White House communications director Alyssa Farah later told reporters that the administration wants a package that costs below $ 2 trillion , which would be less than the $ 2.2 trillion bill Democrats have proposed .