cnbc--2020-07-14--U.S. carries out the 1st federal execution in nearly 2 decades after Supreme Court clears the way

A correction officer patrols outside Federal Correctional Institution , Terre Haute , as Daniel Lewis Lee , convicted in the killing of three members of an Arkansas family in 1996 , is set to be put to death in the first federal execution in 17 years , in Terre Haute , Indiana , U.S. July 13 , 2020 .
TERRE HAUTE , Ind .
— The federal government on Tuesday carried out its first execution in almost two decades , killing by lethal injection a man convicted of murdering an Arkansas family in a 1990s plot to build a whites-only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ execution of Daniel Lewis Lee came over the objection of the victims ' relatives and following days of legal wrangling and delays .
Lee , 47 , of Yukon , Oklahoma , professed his innocence just before he was executed at the federal prison in Terre Haute , Indiana .
`` I did n't do it , '' Lee said .
`` I 've made a lot of mistakes in my life , but I 'm not a murderer . ''
His final words were : `` You 're killing an innocent man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the first execution by the Bureau of Prisons since 2003 -- and two others scheduled later in the week — drew scrutiny from civil rights groups and the relatives of Lee 's victims , who had sued to try to halt it , citing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic .
The pandemic has killed more than 135,000 people in the United States and is ravaging prisons nationwide .
Critics argued that the government was creating an unnecessary and manufactured urgency for political gain .
One of Lee 's lawyers , Ruth Friedman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government saw fit to carry out this execution during a pandemic . ''
`` And it is beyond shameful that the government , in the end , carried out this execution in haste , '' Friedman said in a statement .
The developments are likely to add a new front to the national conversation about criminal justice reform in the lead-up to the 2020 elections .
The execution of Lee , who died at 8:07 a.m. EDT , went off after a series of legal volleys that ended when the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling and allowed it to move forward .
Attorney General William Barr has said the Justice Department has a duty to carry out the sentences imposed by the courts , including the death penalty , and to bring a sense of closure to the victims and those in the communities where the killings happened .
But relatives of those killed by Lee in 1996 strongly opposed that idea and long argued that Lee deserved a sentence of life in prison .
They wanted to be present to counter any contention that the execution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` For us it is a matter of being there and saying , 'This is not being done in our name ; we do not want this , ' '' relative Monica Veillette said .


cnbc--2020-07-14--Don't stop the presses: Judge gives green light to Mary Trump book

A New York judge on Monday dismissed a legal challenge to the publication of Mary Trump 's tell-all book about her family — one day before its scheduled release .
In a 20-page ruling , Dutchess County Supreme Court Justice Hal Greenwald said the bid by President Donald Trump 's brother Robert to block publication of his niece 's book did n't pass legal muster — and noted news of the book 's contents had already `` reached millions of people by the tremendous attention it has gained by the media . ''
The ruling was handed down the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Too Much and Never Enough , How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , '' goes on sale in bookstores .
`` The court got it right in rejecting the Trump family 's effort to squelch Mary Trump 's core political speech on important issues of public concern , '' Mary Trump 's lawyer Ted Boutrous said in a statement .
`` Tomorrow , the American public will be able to read Mary 's important words for themselves . ''
The book 's publisher , Simon & Schuster , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfettered right to publish is a sacred American freedom and a founding principle of our republic , and we applaud the Court for affirming well-established precedents against prior restraint and pre-publication injunctions . ''
Robert Trump , the president 's younger brother , filed suit last month seeking to block the book 's publication , arguing it violated a confidentiality agreement Mary Trump had signed ending a court fight with the president and his siblings .
That court battle involved a fight over the estate of the president 's late father , Fred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had charged that the president and his siblings deprived them of their fair share of the estate .
Greenwald noted that `` at the time the Agreement was agreed upon , the Trump family were New York based real estate developers and not much else .
They were not elected officials or TV personalities . ''
The judge said Robert Trump 's contention that the agreement barred Mary Trump from ever writing about her family was overly broad , and also noted that he did n't explain how the book 's publication would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed .
`` His allegations are unsupported and conclusory , '' the judge wrote .
Greenwald had initially signed a temporary restraining order in the case against Simon & Schuster , but the order was struck down by an appeals court judge .
In his Monday ruling , Greenwald lifted a similar order against Mary Trump .
In his ruling , the judge noted that thousands of copies of the book had already been sent to stores , and references another court 's ruling about the president 's unsuccessful bid to block publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his former national security adviser .
`` Comparing the potential enormous cost and logistical nightmare of stopping the publication , recalling and removing hundreds of thousands of books from all types of booksellers , brick and mortar and virtual , libraries and private citizens , is an insurmountable task at this time .
To quote United States v. Bolton , ... 'By the looks of it the horse is not just out of the barn , it is out of the country , ' '' Greenwald wrote .

A New York judge on Monday dismissed a legal challenge to the publication of Mary Trump's tell-all book about her family — one day before its scheduled release.
In a 20-page ruling, Dutchess County Supreme Court Justice Hal Greenwald said the bid by President Donald Trump's brother Robert to block publication of his niece's book didn't pass legal muster — and noted news of the book's contents had already "reached millions of people by the tremendous attention it has gained by the media."
The ruling was handed down the night before Mary Trump's book, "Too Much and Never Enough, How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," goes on sale in bookstores.
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"The court got it right in rejecting the Trump family's effort to squelch Mary Trump's core political speech on important issues of public concern," Mary Trump's lawyer Ted Boutrous said in a statement. "Tomorrow, the American public will be able to read Mary's important words for themselves."
The book's publisher, Simon & Schuster, said in its own statement that "The unfettered right to publish is a sacred American freedom and a founding principle of our republic, and we applaud the Court for affirming well-established precedents against prior restraint and pre-publication injunctions."
Robert Trump, the president's younger brother, filed suit last month seeking to block the book's publication, arguing it violated a confidentiality agreement Mary Trump had signed ending a court fight with the president and his siblings. That court battle involved a fight over the estate of the president's late father, Fred Trump. Mary Trump and her brother had charged that the president and his siblings deprived them of their fair share of the estate.
Greenwald noted that "at the time the Agreement was agreed upon, the Trump family were New York based real estate developers and not much else. They were not elected officials or TV personalities."
The judge said Robert Trump's contention that the agreement barred Mary Trump from ever writing about her family was overly broad, and also noted that he didn't explain how the book's publication would harm him, as his court filing claimed.
"His allegations are unsupported and conclusory," the judge wrote.
Greenwald had initially signed a temporary restraining order in the case against Simon & Schuster, but the order was struck down by an appeals court judge. In his Monday ruling, Greenwald lifted a similar order against Mary Trump.
In his ruling, the judge noted that thousands of copies of the book had already been sent to stores, and references another court's ruling about the president's unsuccessful bid to block publication of a book by John Bolton, his former national security adviser.
"Comparing the potential enormous cost and logistical nightmare of stopping the publication, recalling and removing hundreds of thousands of books from all types of booksellers, brick and mortar and virtual, libraries and private citizens, is an insurmountable task at this time. To quote United States v. Bolton, ... 'By the looks of it the horse is not just out of the barn, it is out of the country,'" Greenwald wrote.


cnbc--2020-07-15--Pro-Biden super PAC American Bridge hires Mike Bloomberg's digital firm Hawkfish

Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg addresses his staff and the media after announcing that he will be ending his campaign on March 04 , 2020 in New York City .
Hawkfish , a tech firm founded by billionaire former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg , has signed on with a pro-Joe Biden super PAC after missing out on working directly with the presumptive Democratic nominee 's campaign .
The super PAC , American Bridge , recently signed a contract with the Bloomberg firm , officials told CNBC .
The PAC has spent millions of dollars on ads on TV and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's bid for the White House .
The organization is also well known for its often-unmatched opposition research arm .
American Bridge 's president and co-founder , Bradley Beychok , confirmed in a statement to CNBC that the committee is moving ahead with hiring the firm .
He said Hawkfish will target people who voted for President Donald Trump in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin .
American Bridge is investing at least $ 20 million in ads in those states , with the goal of softening Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton in the three states during the 2016 election , but Real Clear Politics polling averages show Biden ahead of Trump in those states .
`` American Bridge 21st Century is excited to partner with Hawkfish to bring their cutting edge data , modeling , and analytics capabilities to our work , '' Beychok said .
`` Donald Trump has never been weaker and now is the time for Democrats to use the best technology to help win back seniors and small-town , rural voters in order to put Joe Biden in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the PAC 's most recent ads feature former Trump voters blasting the president for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
A person with direct knowledge of the matter said American Bridge hired Hawkfish to use its data analytics to better target previous supporters of the president .
`` Among other things , Hawkfish will focus on providing traditional polling , media study habits , and data modeling and analytics , '' this person said .
American Bridge has a general election partnership with another pro-Biden PAC , Unite the Country .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were planning to deploy a nine-figure effort backing Biden .
The effort is being co-chaired by former Massachusetts Gov .
Deval Patrick and former Michigan Gov .
Jennifer Granholm .
Hawkfish was Bloomberg 's primary digital agency and technology services provider during his brief run for president .
It was responsible for creating much of the campaign 's digital ads , which usually targeted Trump .
Data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows Hawkfish was paid at least $ 73 million by Bloomberg 's campaign , including a $ 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York mayor dropped out of the Democratic primary and endorsed Biden .
The former presidential candidate recently spent an additional $ 35 million on Hawkfish to help Democrats overtake Republicans this November , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Bloomberg , who has a net worth of close to $ 60 billion , was the sole source of funding for his campaign .
He spent at least $ 1 billion on his run for president .
Since Bloomberg 's withdrawal from the race in March , his tech company has n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new client even more significant for its hopes to be a player in the 2020 campaign .
Hawkfish previously struggled to sign potential clients , including Biden 's own campaign , which opted not to use its services .
Hawkfish did manage to pick up the Democratic National Committee as a client , but , as McClatchy reported last month , those involved with the matter said it was a `` small data contract . ''
Hawkfish has also seen a change in its management structure .
It picked a new CEO in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hangar .
Jeff Glueck , former CEO of location tracking firm Foursquare and later the head of digital at Hawkfish , is now leading a team that will focus on projects involving their `` soft side clients , '' his LinkedIn page says .
That group of clients working with Glueck does not include political candidates and focuses on nonprofits , super PACs and voter registration groups , among others .
`` We are responsible for bringing in new national organizations as clients , and overseeing client services , project delivery , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We tap Hawkfish experts on voter modeling and audience development , media planning , creative production , measurement and insights , and social media and programmatic optimization , '' Glueck 's page says .
Gary Briggs , a former chief marketing officer at Facebook , is Hawkfish 's chairman .
The new Hawkfish client could also indicate something donors have been waiting to see for months : where Bloomberg plans to put his millions in support of Biden .
Bloomberg has been plotting a massive spending blitz to back Biden 's campaign and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside groups , such as American Bridge , or a separate independent expenditure account .
A person familiar with Bloomberg 's efforts recently told CNBC that the former New York mayor is planning to put up additional donations intended to help Democrats defend the House of Representatives , including a potential investment into the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee .
He has already spent over $ 11 million on the House Majority PAC , a super PAC intended to help Democrats keep their majority in the chamber .

Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg addresses his staff and the media after announcing that he will be ending his campaign on March 04, 2020 in New York City.
Hawkfish, a tech firm founded by billionaire former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg, has signed on with a pro-Joe Biden super PAC after missing out on working directly with the presumptive Democratic nominee's campaign.
The super PAC, American Bridge, recently signed a contract with the Bloomberg firm, officials told CNBC.
The PAC has spent millions of dollars on ads on TV and online in support of the former vice president's bid for the White House. The organization is also well known for its often-unmatched opposition research arm.
American Bridge's president and co-founder, Bradley Beychok, confirmed in a statement to CNBC that the committee is moving ahead with hiring the firm.
He said Hawkfish will target people who voted for President Donald Trump in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. American Bridge is investing at least $20 million in ads in those states, with the goal of softening Trump's support there. Trump edged out Hillary Clinton in the three states during the 2016 election, but Real Clear Politics polling averages show Biden ahead of Trump in those states.
"American Bridge 21st Century is excited to partner with Hawkfish to bring their cutting edge data, modeling, and analytics capabilities to our work," Beychok said. "Donald Trump has never been weaker and now is the time for Democrats to use the best technology to help win back seniors and small-town, rural voters in order to put Joe Biden in the White House."
Some of the PAC's most recent ads feature former Trump voters blasting the president for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
A person with direct knowledge of the matter said American Bridge hired Hawkfish to use its data analytics to better target previous supporters of the president. "Among other things, Hawkfish will focus on providing traditional polling, media study habits, and data modeling and analytics," this person said.
American Bridge has a general election partnership with another pro-Biden PAC, Unite the Country. The two committees announced in late March that they were planning to deploy a nine-figure effort backing Biden. The effort is being co-chaired by former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Hawkfish was Bloomberg's primary digital agency and technology services provider during his brief run for president. It was responsible for creating much of the campaign's digital ads, which usually targeted Trump. Data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows Hawkfish was paid at least $73 million by Bloomberg's campaign, including a $20 million payout in March after the former New York mayor dropped out of the Democratic primary and endorsed Biden. The former presidential candidate recently spent an additional $35 million on Hawkfish to help Democrats overtake Republicans this November, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Bloomberg, who has a net worth of close to $60 billion, was the sole source of funding for his campaign. He spent at least $1 billion on his run for president.
Since Bloomberg's withdrawal from the race in March, his tech company hasn't fully hit its stride, making this new client even more significant for its hopes to be a player in the 2020 campaign.
Hawkfish previously struggled to sign potential clients, including Biden's own campaign, which opted not to use its services.
Hawkfish did manage to pick up the Democratic National Committee as a client, but, as McClatchy reported last month, those involved with the matter said it was a "small data contract."
Hawkfish has also seen a change in its management structure. It picked their first CEO in Josh Mendelsohn, a managing partner at Hangar. Jeff Glueck, former CEO of location tracking firm Foursquare and later the head of digital at Hawkfish, is now leading a team that will focus on projects involving their "soft side clients," his LinkedIn page says. That group of clients working with Glueck does not include political candidates and focuses on nonprofits, super PACs and voter registration groups, among others.
"We are responsible for bringing in new national organizations as clients, and overseeing client services, project delivery, and achievement of campaign metrics and goals. We tap Hawkfish experts on voter modeling and audience development, media planning, creative production, measurement and insights, and social media and programmatic optimization," Glueck's page says.
Gary Briggs, a former chief marketing officer at Facebook, is Hawkfish's chairman.
The new Hawkfish client could also indicate something donors have been waiting to see for months: where Bloomberg plans to put his millions in support of Biden.
Bloomberg has been plotting a massive spending blitz to back Biden's campaign and that talk has included giving millions to outside groups, such as American Bridge, or a separate independent expenditure account.
A person familiar with Bloomberg's efforts recently told CNBC that the former New York mayor is planning to put up additional donations intended to help Democrats defend the House of Representatives, including a potential investment into the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He has already spent over $11 million on the House Majority PAC, a super PAC intended to help Democrats keep their majority in the chamber.


cnbc--2020-07-15--Biden maintains lead over Trump in 2020 swing states, new CNBC/Change Research poll says

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about his plans for tackling climate change during a campaign event in Wilmington , Delaware , July 14 , 2020 .
Recent versions of the poll , taken every two weeks , show a race that has momentarily swung in Biden 's favor as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the United States .
It marks a shift from CNBC/Change Research surveys taken in March and April , which showed Trump leading Biden in most of the swing states .
Here 's how Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in individual states : Biden holds an edge over Trump in Arizona , Florida , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , while the rivals are virtually tied in North Carolina , the survey released Wednesday found .
Biden leads Trump by a 49 % to 43 % margin among all respondents in the six states , while Libertarian and Green Party candidates Jo Jorgensen and Howie Hawkins get 4 % and 1 % of support , respectively .
Former Vice President Joe Biden is holding on to his lead over President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters give the president low marks on how he has handled a range of issues , according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll .
The poll released Wednesday surveyed 4,332 likely voters across the six states from Friday to Sunday .
It has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points .
The poll underscores dissatisfaction with how Trump is managing his presidency — even in six states that he won in 2016 .
The battlegrounds , which include coronavirus hotspots Arizona and Florida , will once again determine who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Across the six states , a majority of voters approves of how Trump is handling only one issue : the stock market .
Here are the marks likely voters gave Trump on how he is managing seven different topics : • The coronavirus : 43 % approve , 57 % disapprove ( in Florida , the current epicenter of the U.S. outbreak , only 40 % of respondents approve of the job Trump is doing ) • Ensuring economic relief for COVID-19 goes to those who need it most , rather than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 53 % disapprove The negative views on Trump 's job performance come as he has downplayed the roiling health and economic crisis caused by coronavirus case spikes across the southern and western United States .
The U.S. seven-day average of new coronavirus cases topped 60,000 for the first time on Monday .
As the president urges states to kickstart their economies as swiftly as possible , the outbreak has forced them to reconsider their reopening plans .
California ordered the closure of all bars , dine-in restaurants and a range of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the most populous U.S. state surges .
In the six swing states , voters trust Biden more than Trump to address several key issues .
On handling the coronavirus , 54 % responded that Biden and Democrats would do a better job , while 46 % chose Trump and the GOP .
Majorities of 55 % and 53 % , respectively , said Biden and Democrats would do a better job of making health care more affordable and putting the middle class first .
Voters were evenly split on who would better @ @ @ @

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about his plans for tackling climate change during a campaign event in Wilmington, Delaware, July 14, 2020. Leah Millis | Reuters
Former Vice President Joe Biden is holding on to his lead over President Donald Trump in six 2020 swing states as voters give the president low marks on how he has handled a range of issues, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll. Biden holds an edge over Trump in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, while the rivals are virtually tied in North Carolina, the survey released Wednesday found. Biden leads Trump by 49% to 43% among all respondents in the six states, while Libertarian and Green Party candidates Jo Jorgensen and Howie Hawkins get 4% and 1% of support, respectively. Nationally, Biden leads Trump 51% to 41%. Here's how Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, and the Republican Trump matched up in individual states: Arizona: Biden 51%, Trump 45%
Biden 51%, Trump 45% Florida: Biden 50%, Trump 43%
Biden 50%, Trump 43% Michigan: Biden 48%, Trump 42%
Biden 48%, Trump 42% North Carolina: Biden 47%, Trump 46%
Biden 47%, Trump 46% Pennsylvania: Biden 50%, Trump 42%
Biden 50%, Trump 42% Wisconsin: Biden 48%, Trump 42% Recent versions of the poll, taken every two weeks, show a race that has momentarily swung in Biden's favor as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the United States. It marks a shift from CNBC/Change Research surveys taken in March and April, which showed Trump leading Biden in most of the swing states.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
The poll released Wednesday surveyed 4,332 likely voters across the six states from Friday to Sunday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. The poll underscores dissatisfaction with how Trump is managing his presidency — even in six states that he won in 2016. The battlegrounds, which include coronavirus hot spots Arizona and Florida, will likely once again determine who wins the White House this year. Across the six states, a majority of voters approves of how Trump is handling only one issue: the stock market. Here are the marks likely voters gave Trump on how he is managing seven key issues: The coronavirus: 43% approve, 57% disapprove (in Florida, the current epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, only 40% of respondents approve of the job Trump is doing)
43% approve, 57% disapprove (in Florida, the current epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, only 40% of respondents approve of the job Trump is doing) The economy: 48% approve, 52% disapprove (nationally, Trump is at 46% approval and 54% disapproval on the economy)
48% approve, 52% disapprove (nationally, Trump is at 46% approval and 54% disapproval on the economy) Helping your pocketbook: 47% approve, 53% disapprove
47% approve, 53% disapprove The stock market: 51% approve, 49% disapprove
51% approve, 49% disapprove Immigration: 45% approve, 55% disapprove
45% approve, 55% disapprove Ensuring economic relief for Covid-19 goes to those who need it most, rather than the wealthy and well-connected: 47% approve, 53% disapprove
47% approve, 53% disapprove Making America respected around the globe: 45% approve, 55% disapprove The negative views on Trump's job performance come as he has played down the roiling health and economic crises caused by spikes in coronavirus case across the South and West. The U.S. seven-day average of new infections topped 60,000 for the first time on Monday.
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cnbc--2020-07-15--China vows retaliation after Trump slaps sanctions on it for interference in Hong Kong

The law , dubbed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act , would slap mandatory sanctions on Chinese officials and companies that helped back Beijing 's imposition of a security law that clamps down on dissent in Hong Kong .
The sanctions bill passed both houses of Congress earlier this month .
`` Hong Kong affairs are purely China 's internal affairs and no foreign country has the right to interfere , '' the ministry said .
China 's foreign ministry said on Wednesday Beijing will impose retaliatory sanctions against U.S. individuals and entities in response to the law targeting banks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not reference the executive order .
`` No special privileges , no special economic treatment and no export of sensitive technologies .
In addition to that , as you know , we are placing massive tariffs and have placed very large tariffs on China . ''
`` Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China , '' Trump said during a lengthy speech in the White House Rose Garden that quickly drifted away from that legislation to touch on a variety of campaign issues .
Trump also said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferential treatment that Hong Kong has long enjoyed .
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he signed legislation to impose sanctions on China in response to its interference with Hong Kong 's autonomy .
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington , U.S. , July 14 , 2020 .
The Trump administration has been openly critical of Beijing 's sweeping national security law aimed at limiting Hong Kong 's autonomy and banning literature critical of the Chinese Communist Party .
Earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described the new law as an `` Orwellian move '' and an assault `` on the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong . ''
The security law is the latest issue to ratchet up tensions relations between Washington and Beijing .
The Trump administration has previously blamed China for the unfolding health crisis caused by the coronavirus , and it has criticized Beijing for its illegal territorial claims in the South China Sea .
The world 's two largest economies are also struggling to mend trade relations , with intellectual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sticking point .
Trump began his speech in the Rose Garden focused on targeting China 's actions , but quickly pivoted to lash out at an array of his political opponents – especially presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Biden 's `` entire career has been a gift to the Chinese Communist Party , '' Trump said , adding that `` it 's been devastating for the American worker . ''
`` Biden expressed more fawning praise about China on an ordinary day than about America , '' Trump claimed .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has `` never lived up to '' its founding ideals .
Trump also spent a significant chunk of the speech railing against what seemed to be the bulk of Biden 's campaign platform .
The president attacked Biden on issues including immigration , energy policy , school choice and military funding , among others .
`` There 's never been a time when the two candidates were so different , '' Trump said .
Trump also said he will be signing a `` very powerful '' merit-based immigration act , without providing specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Trump over his effort to end the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program , known as DACA , which shielded hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation and allowed them to receive work permits .
Biden 's campaign did not immediately provide a response to the president 's attacks .
The Trump administration for months has hinted that the U.S. would take steps to punish China for failing to prevent the virus , which was first observed in the Chinese city of Wuhan , from spreading throughout the globe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million people worldwide and wrought havoc on the global economy , with leaders at every level of government imposing extreme measures to try to slow the spread of the disease .
The United States has reported more deaths and infections from Covid-19 than any other nation , and a recent surge of new cases in numerous states suggests the crisis is far from over .
Trump has placed the blame for the devastation squarely with China , and has frequently referred to the coronavirus in terms that associate it with the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' – over the objections of critics who call those names xenophobic .
`` China 's secrecy , deceptions and cover-up allowed it to spread all over the world ... and China must be held fully accountable , '' Trump said in an Independence Day speech at the White House .
The pandemic has thrown into question the status of Trump 's long-sought trade deal with Beijing , the first phase of which was signed by both nations earlier this year .
Trump said last week that America 's relationship with China has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is n't even thinking about the next stage in possible trade negotiations .
In a CBS News interview earlier Tuesday , Trump doubled down : `` Look , we made a great trade deal but as soon as the deal was done , the ink was n't even dry and they hit us with the plague .
So right now I 'm not interested in talking to China about another deal .
I 'm interested in doing other things with China . ''

The law, dubbed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, would slap mandatory sanctions on Chinese officials and companies that helped back Beijing's imposition of a security law that clamps down on dissent in Hong Kong. The sanctions bill passed both houses of Congress earlier this month.
"Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs and no foreign country has the right to interfere," the ministry said.
China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday Beijing will impose retaliatory sanctions against U.S. individuals and entities in response to the law targeting banks, though the statement released through state media did not reference the executive order.
"No special privileges, no special economic treatment and no export of sensitive technologies. In addition to that, as you know, we are placing massive tariffs and have placed very large tariffs on China."
"Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China," Trump said during a lengthy speech in the White House Rose Garden that quickly drifted away from that legislation to touch on a variety of campaign issues.
Trump also said that he signed an executive order ending the preferential treatment that Hong Kong has long enjoyed.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he signed legislation to impose sanctions on China in response to its interference with Hong Kong's autonomy.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 14, 2020.
The Trump administration has been openly critical of Beijing's sweeping national security law aimed at limiting Hong Kong's autonomy and banning literature critical of the Chinese Communist Party.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the new law as an "Orwellian move" and an assault "on the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong."
The security law is the latest issue to ratchet up tensions relations between Washington and Beijing. The Trump administration has previously blamed China for the unfolding health crisis caused by the coronavirus, and it has criticized Beijing for its illegal territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The world's two largest economies are also struggling to mend trade relations, with intellectual property theft proving to be a major sticking point.
Trump began his speech in the Rose Garden focused on targeting China's actions, but quickly pivoted to lash out at an array of his political opponents – especially presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Biden's "entire career has been a gift to the Chinese Communist Party," Trump said, adding that "it's been devastating for the American worker."
"Biden expressed more fawning praise about China on an ordinary day than about America," Trump claimed. He quoted Biden saying recently that the U.S. has "never lived up to" its founding ideals.
Trump also spent a significant chunk of the speech railing against what seemed to be the bulk of Biden's campaign platform. The president attacked Biden on issues including immigration, energy policy, school choice and military funding, among others.
"There's never been a time when the two candidates were so different," Trump said. Trump also said he will be signing a "very powerful" merit-based immigration act, without providing specific details. The Supreme Court recently ruled against Trump over his effort to end the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, known as DACA, which shielded hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation and allowed them to receive work permits.
Biden's campaign did not immediately provide a response to the president's attacks.
The Trump administration for months has hinted that the U.S. would take steps to punish China for failing to prevent the virus, which was first observed in the Chinese city of Wuhan, from spreading throughout the globe.
The pandemic has killed more than half a million people worldwide and wrought havoc on the global economy, with leaders at every level of government imposing extreme measures to try to slow the spread of the disease. The United States has reported more deaths and infections from Covid-19 than any other nation, and a recent surge of new cases in numerous states suggests the crisis is far from over.
Trump has placed the blame for the devastation squarely with China, and has frequently referred to the coronavirus in terms that associate it with the country – such as the "Chinese Virus" – over the objections of critics who call those names xenophobic.
"China's secrecy, deceptions and cover-up allowed it to spread all over the world ... and China must be held fully accountable," Trump said in an Independence Day speech at the White House.
The pandemic has thrown into question the status of Trump's long-sought trade deal with Beijing, the first phase of which was signed by both nations earlier this year. Trump said last week that America's relationship with China has been "severely damaged" and that he isn't even thinking about the next stage in possible trade negotiations.
In a CBS News interview earlier Tuesday, Trump doubled down: "Look, we made a great trade deal but as soon as the deal was done, the ink wasn't even dry and they hit us with the plague. So right now I'm not interested in talking to China about another deal. I'm interested in doing other things with China."
—Reuters contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-07-15--Republican Tuberville dashes Sessions' hopes of reclaiming his Senate seat

Tommy Tuberville defeated Jeff Sessions in Tuesday 's Republican Senate runoff election in Alabama , denying the ex-senator a chance to reclaim his seat , the Associated Press and other news outlets projected .
NBC News has not projected the race result .
The former college football coach will try to unseat Sen. Doug Jones , the most vulnerable Senate Democrat , this fall .
Tuberville coasted to victory in the runoff with the support of President Donald Trump , who openly lobbied against Sessions , his former attorney general and an early supporter of his 2016 presidential bid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state at Auburn University , not only cast himself as an ally of the president but aimed to leverage Trump 's opposition to Sessions .
The president has torn into Sessions since 2017 , when the then-attorney general recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election in a decision the president blames for the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller .
In a tweet Saturday urging Alabama Republicans to support Tuberville , Trump called Sessions `` a disaster who has let us all down . ''
Sessions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vouched for nativist and anti-immigrant policy that in many ways previewed Trump 's politics , responded that he has `` taken the road less travelled '' and `` not sought fame or fortune . ''
`` As you know , Alabama does not take orders from Washington , '' added the 73-year-old Sessions , who Trump forced out of his administration in 2018 .

Tommy Tuberville defeated Jeff Sessions in Tuesday's Republican Senate runoff election in Alabama, denying the ex-senator a chance to reclaim his seat, the Associated Press and other news outlets projected.
NBC News has not projected the race result.
The former college football coach will try to unseat Sen. Doug Jones, the most vulnerable Senate Democrat, this fall. Tuberville coasted to victory in the runoff with the support of President Donald Trump, who openly lobbied against Sessions, his former attorney general and an early supporter of his 2016 presidential bid.
Tuberville, a 65-year-old who coached in the state at Auburn University, not only cast himself as an ally of the president but aimed to leverage Trump's opposition to Sessions. The president has torn into Sessions since 2017, when the then-attorney general recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election in a decision the president blames for the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller.
In a tweet Tuesday night, Trump said he called Tuberville to congratulate him after the victory. He argued Jones "represents Alabama poorly."
Donald Trump tweet
The president lobbied against Sessions throughout the runoff. In a tweet Saturday urging Alabama Republicans to support Tuberville, Trump called Sessions "a disaster who has let us all down." Sessions, who during his 20 years in Washington vouched for nativist and anti-immigrant policy that in many ways previewed Trump's politics, responded that he has "taken the road less travelled" and "not sought fame or fortune."
"As you know, Alabama does not take orders from Washington," added the 73-year-old Sessions, who Trump forced out of his administration in 2018.


cnbc--2020-07-15--Judge denies bail for Ghislaine Maxwell after she pleads not guilty in Jeffrey Epstein sex crimes ca

Judge denies bail for Ghislaine Maxwell after she pleads not guilty in Jeffrey Epstein sex crimes case

A federal judge on Tuesday denied bail for Ghislaine Maxwell , the British socialite accused of facilitating the sexual abuse of young girls in the mid-1990s by her former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein , the now-dead investor .
Maxwell , who will remain in jail pending trial , pleaded not guilty at the bail hearing in Manhattan federal court , where her lawyer had sought her release on a $ 5 million bond .
`` The risk is simply too great '' for Maxwell to be released on bail , Nathan said .
The judge noted Maxwell 's wealth , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international ties , and her lack of strong family or business connections in the United States , as she denied the bail request .
Nathan also cited the `` seriousness '' of Maxwell 's alleged crimes as a reason she would have to flee and said no bail condition , or combination of conditions , would ensure she would willingly appear in court on the charges .
Maxwell , 58 , faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted of crimes that include enticing minors into traveling to have sex with Epstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dead crooked British media baron Robert Maxwell did not visibly react to the judge 's decision , which she saw and listened to via a video teleconference from a Brooklyn , New York , federal jail .
The bail denial came nearly a year to the day after Epstein was himself denied bail on child sex trafficking charges after his lawyers offered to post a whopping $ 100 million bond .
A federal prosecutor who argued against Maxwell 's bail request told Nathan that Maxwell had posed as `` Jen Marshall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking privacy , last November when she looked at purchasing the New Hampshire house where she was found in her pajamas and arrested by FBI agents on the morning of July 2 .
Maxwell , according to a real estate agent involved in the purchase , posed as the wife of a man who identified himself as `` Scott Marshall , '' a purported retired member of the British military who was writing a book , the prosecutor , Alison Moe , said .
The $ 1 million house , which sits on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later was bought by a legal entity set up for that purpose , and to hide the actual identity of the people who purchased the residence .
The real estate agent realized that Maxwell was the British-accented `` journalist '' who used another name after she saw news stories about her arrest , Moe said .
The prosecutor said that Maxwell 's deception with the real estate agent , and other factors , warranted detaining her without bail , as did wealth of up to $ 10 million in assets , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Swiss bank account .
Maxwell , who waived her physical appearance in court due to the coronavirus pandemic , spoke in a clear , firm voice as she denied the charges laid out in a six-count indictment against her .
`` Not guilty , '' Maxwell told Nathan early in the hearing , which lasted slightly more than two hours , and which was listened to on a conference call by more than 1,000 people .
Moe estimated that the trial would take three weeks .
Annie Farmer , one of three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the criminal case against Maxwell , told the judge that she should deny the bail request , saying that `` the danger Maxwell posed must be taken seriously . ''
`` She is a sexual predator who groomed and abused me and countless other children and young women .
She has never shown any remorse for her heinous crimes or the devastating , lasting effects her actions caused , '' Farmer said , after telling the judge she first met Maxwell when she was 16 years old .
Farmer , who requested to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court hearing , said , `` Those that survived implore this court that she be detained pending trial . ''
Another accuser , identified as Jane Doe , said in a statement read to the judge by Moe , that , `` Without Ghislaine , Jeffrey could not have done what he did . ''
Prosecutors had called Maxwell an `` extreme '' flight risk due to wealth , and cited her talent for `` hiding '' as she moved around New England in the past year since Epstein 's arrest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , one of the nations where she holds citizenship , does not extradite its own citizens on criminal charges .
`` There is an incredibly strong incentive for the defendant to flee , '' Moe said .
And `` there 's a real concern here that the defendant could live beyond the reach for extradition for years , '' the prosecutor said .
Moe scoffed at Maxwell 's claim to federal Pretrial Services that she has `` no income , '' which the prosecutor said was not credible given the lifestyle that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was troublesome that Maxwell was offering to have someone else 's property secure her potential bond , at the same time she proposed to be released and to stay at a luxury hotel in New York City as her case proceeds to trial .
In a court filing Monday , prosecutors told Nathan that when the FBI went to arrest Maxwell in the New Hampshire home , she ignored an order `` to open the door and , instead , [ tried ] to flee to another room in the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Prosecutors also said that after she was taken into custody FBI agents found a cellphone belonging to Maxwell at the house that had been wrapped in aluminum foil in an apparent effort to prevent authorities from tracking its whereabouts .
Prosecutors said that since her arrest , other people have come forward to bolster their case against her .
Maxwell 's lawyers , in turn , had asked Nathan to set a personal recognizance bond for Maxwell in the amount of $ 5 million .
Defense attorneys said that bond would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as by property in Britain worth $ 3.75 million .
The lawyers also proposed that Maxwell , who is the first person other than Epstein to be charged in connection with his alleged sex crimes , be confined to a residence in New York , with electronic monitoring , as a condition of her bail .
`` Ms. Maxwell vigorously denies the charges , intends to fight them , and is entitled to the presumption of innocence , '' her lawyers , Mark Cohen and Jeffrey Pagliuca , wrote in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Tuesday 's hearing that prosecutors failed to show Maxwell was a flight risk , noting that she had remained in the United States in the year since Epstein 's arrest , and that her attorneys had been in regular contact with the prosecutors ' office in an effort to dissuade them from filing charges against her .
Cohen told the judge that `` It 's just not realistic , '' particularly given restrictions in place because of the Covid-19 outbreak , that Maxwell and her lawyers can prepare effectively for her trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The attorney also told the judge that the defense will be making a `` very significant [ legal ] motion that will decide whether this indictment survives , or the shape of this indictment . ''
Maxwell 's lawyers argue that the bulk of the case against her , the charges relating to the sexual contact with minors by Epstein and her , are barred by a nonprosecution agreement that Epstein signed with federal prosecutors in South Florida in 2007 , as part of his agreement to plead guilty to state criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lawyers say , covers Epstein 's co-conspirators , of whom Maxwell allegedly is one .
But Moe said that Maxwell is not covered by that agreement .
Maxwell is charged with conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts , enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sexual acts , conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity , transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity , and two counts of perjury .
The hearing came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that Maxwell is also under investigation by the U.S. Virgin Islands ' Justice Department for her alleged participation in Epstein 's sex trafficking operation .
Epstein owned a large private island in the Virgin Islands , which was locally known as `` Pedophile Island . ''

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls, in Manhattan Federal Court, in New York, July 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch. Jane Rosenberg | Reuters
A federal judge on Tuesday denied bail for Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite accused of facilitating the sexual abuse of young girls in the mid-1990s by her former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, the now-dead investor. Maxwell, who will remain in jail pending trial, pleaded not guilty at the bail hearing in Manhattan federal court, where her lawyer had sought her release on a $5 million bond. Maxwell poses "a substantial risk of flight," said Judge Alison Nathan. "The risk is simply too great" for Maxwell to be released on bail, Nathan said. The judge noted Maxwell's wealth, her citizenship in Britain and France, other international ties, and her lack of strong family or business connections in the United States, as she denied the bail request. Nathan also cited the "seriousness" of Maxwell's alleged crimes as a reason she would have to flee and said no bail condition, or combination of conditions, would ensure she would willingly appear in court on the charges. Maxwell, 58, faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted of crimes that include enticing minors into traveling to have sex with Epstein, and perjury. The daughter of the dead crooked British media baron Robert Maxwell did not visibly react to the judge's decision, which she saw and listened to via a video teleconference from a Brooklyn, New York, federal jail. The bail denial came nearly a year to the day after Epstein was himself denied bail on child sex trafficking charges after his lawyers offered to post a whopping $100 million bond. A federal prosecutor who argued against Maxwell's bail request told Nathan that Maxwell had posed as "Jen Marshall," a "journalist" who was seeking privacy, last November when she looked at purchasing the New Hampshire house where she was found in her pajamas and arrested by FBI agents on the morning of July 2.
Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls, in Manhattan Federal Court, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. July 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch. Jane Rosenberg | Reuters
Maxwell, according to a real estate agent involved in the purchase, posed as the wife of a man who identified himself as "Scott Marshall," a purported retired member of the British military who was writing a book, the prosecutor, Alison Moe, said. The $1 million house, which sits on more than 150 acres of land, later was bought by a legal entity set up for that purpose, and to hide the actual identity of the people who purchased the residence. The real estate agent realized that Maxwell was the British-accented "journalist" who used another name after she saw news stories about her arrest, Moe said. The prosecutor said that Maxwell's deception with the real estate agent, and other factors, warranted detaining her without bail, as did wealth of up to $10 million in assets, at least $4 million of which is in a Swiss bank account. Maxwell, who waived her physical appearance in court due to the coronavirus pandemic, spoke in a clear, firm voice as she denied the charges laid out in a six-count indictment against her. "Not guilty," Maxwell told Nathan early in the hearing, which lasted slightly more than two hours, and which was listened to on a conference call by more than 1,000 people. Nathan scheduled Maxwell's trial to begin on July 12, 2021. Moe estimated that the trial would take three weeks.
Annie Farmer, one of three women whose claims are the basis for the criminal case against Maxwell, told the judge that she should deny the bail request, saying that "the danger Maxwell posed must be taken seriously." "She is a sexual predator who groomed and abused me and countless other children and young women. She has never shown any remorse for her heinous crimes or the devastating, lasting effects her actions caused," Farmer said, after telling the judge she first met Maxwell when she was 16 years old. Farmer, who requested to be identified by her real name during the court hearing, said, "Those that survived implore this court that she be detained pending trial." Another accuser, identified as Jane Doe, said in a statement read to the judge by Moe, that, "Without Ghislaine, Jeffrey could not have done what he did."
Protestors gather outside court as Ghislaine Maxwell is set to make her first court appearance on July 14, 2020 at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, on a video link from her cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, over sex-trafficking charges tied to her former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein in New York. Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images
Prosecutors had called Maxwell an "extreme" flight risk due to wealth, and cited her talent for "hiding" as she moved around New England in the past year since Epstein's arrest in July 2019. They also argued that France, one of the nations where she holds citizenship, does not extradite its own citizens on criminal charges. "There is an incredibly strong incentive for the defendant to flee," Moe said. And "there's a real concern here that the defendant could live beyond the reach for extradition for years," the prosecutor said. Moe scoffed at Maxwell's claim to federal Pretrial Services that she has "no income," which the prosecutor said was not credible given the lifestyle that Maxwell has been enjoying. Moe also said it was troublesome that Maxwell was offering to have someone else's property secure her potential bond, at the same time she proposed to be released and to stay at a luxury hotel in New York City as her case proceeds to trial. In a court filing Monday, prosecutors told Nathan that when the FBI went to arrest Maxwell in the New Hampshire home, she ignored an order "to open the door and, instead, [tried] to flee to another room in the house, quickly shutting a door behind her." Prosecutors also said that after she was taken into custody FBI agents found a cellphone belonging to Maxwell at the house that had been wrapped in aluminum foil in an apparent effort to prevent authorities from tracking its whereabouts. Prosecutors said that since her arrest, other people have come forward to bolster their case against her. Maxwell's lawyers, in turn, had asked Nathan to set a personal recognizance bond for Maxwell in the amount of $5 million. Defense attorneys said that bond would be secured by six unidentified co-signers, as well as by property in Britain worth $3.75 million. The lawyers also proposed that Maxwell, who is the first person other than Epstein to be charged in connection with his alleged sex crimes, be confined to a residence in New York, with electronic monitoring, as a condition of her bail. "Ms. Maxwell vigorously denies the charges, intends to fight them, and is entitled to the presumption of innocence," her lawyers, Mark Cohen and Jeffrey Pagliuca, wrote in a court filing last week. Cohen argued during Tuesday's hearing that prosecutors failed to show Maxwell was a flight risk, noting that she had remained in the United States in the year since Epstein's arrest, and that her attorneys had been in regular contact with the prosecutors' office in an effort to dissuade them from filing charges against her. Cohen told the judge that "It's just not realistic," particularly given restrictions in place because of the Covid-19 outbreak, that Maxwell and her lawyers can prepare effectively for her trial while she is being held in jail. The attorney also told the judge that the defense will be making a "very significant [legal] motion that will decide whether this indictment survives, or the shape of this indictment." Maxwell's lawyers argue that the bulk of the case against her, the charges relating to the sexual contact with minors by Epstein and her, are barred by a nonprosecution agreement that Epstein signed with federal prosecutors in South Florida in 2007, as part of his agreement to plead guilty to state criminal charges in 2008. That agreement, the lawyers say, covers Epstein's co-conspirators, of whom Maxwell allegedly is one. But Moe said that Maxwell is not covered by that agreement. Maxwell is charged with conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sexual acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and two counts of perjury. The hearing came a day after the Bloomberg news service reported that Maxwell is also under investigation by the U.S. Virgin Islands' Justice Department for her alleged participation in Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Epstein owned a large private island in the Virgin Islands, which was locally known as "Pedophile Island."


cnbc--2020-07-16--Nancy Pelosi says coronavirus aid bill will cost at least $1.3 trillion, but 'that's not enough'

Democrats and Republicans need to resolve several disputes about what to include in a developing coronavirus relief bill as the pandemic wreaks havoc across the United States and financial lifelines are set to expire , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday .
Leaders in the Democratic-held House and GOP-controlled Senate acknowledge they need to approve more aid to combat the deadly disease 's unabated spread while supporting the economy and educating students .
But with only about two weeks until Congress plans to leave Washington for all of August , Pelosi still sees a gulf in the breadth of relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide .
`` They know there 's going to be a bill .
… First it was going to be no bill .
And then it was going to be some little bill .
Now it 's $ 1.3 [ trillion ] .
That 's not enough , '' she told reporters in Washington on Thursday .
The Senate aims to unveil coronavirus relief plans next week , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in his home state of Kentucky on Wednesday .
The Republican added that `` kids in school , jobs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the bill . ''
Pelosi has pushed for another round of direct payments for individuals , and McConnell has said he is open to another stimulus check — though it remains to be seen what limits lawmakers will place on who receives money .
Both leaders have called for federal funding or incentives to allow schools to reopen as safely as possible in the fall .
But the leaders appear divided on several thorny issues .
Congress has only days to prevent millions of Americans left jobless by the pandemic from seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 600 per week federal unemployment benefit passed in March expires at the end of the month .
Last week , 1.3 million people filed new jobless claims , underscoring an ongoing crisis as many businesses remain closed and states facing virus outbreaks pause or roll back plans to reopen their economies .
While Democrats want to extend the enhanced unemployment insurance , McConnell and President Donald Trump 's top economic advisors want to end it as designed now because it left certain people making more money at home than they did at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers could craft future aid for people still struggling to cover costs after losing their jobs .
Other points of conflict Congress will need to resolve include : • Democrats want to pass assistance for renters and homeowners as local and state eviction and foreclosure moratoriums start to expire around the country .
Pelosi called the issue `` very urgent '' and said Republicans have opposed allocating money for housing relief .
• Pelosi has pushed to send nearly $ 1 trillion to state and local governments facing lost revenue and increased costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resisted approving more aid for states and municipalities , arguing he does not want to cover for bad financial decisions made before the pandemic hit .
• McConnell has said any bill will have to include liability protections for doctors and businesses .
Democrats generally oppose the proposal , but Pelosi has said she wants to see exactly how the GOP would structure a legal shield .
• Democrats want to expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits , but Republicans opposed doing so in the spring .
• Pelosi has proposed stronger Occupational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers during the pandemic , a plan she said the GOP has resisted .
While lawmakers plan to go home from the start of August through Labor Day , Pelosi said this week that she would cancel the House 's August recess if needed to pass another aid bill .

Democrats and Republicans need to resolve several disputes about what to include in a developing coronavirus relief bill as the pandemic wreaks havoc across the United States and financial lifelines are set to expire, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday.
Leaders in the Democratic-held House and GOP-controlled Senate acknowledge they need to approve more aid to combat the deadly disease's unabated spread while supporting the economy and educating students. But with only about two weeks until Congress plans to leave Washington for all of August, Pelosi still sees a gulf in the breadth of relief she and her Republican counterparts want to provide.
"They know there's going to be a bill. … First it was going to be no bill. And then it was going to be some little bill. Now it's $1.3 [trillion]. That's not enough," she told reporters Thursday in Washington.
The Senate aims to unveil coronavirus relief plans next week, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in his home state of Kentucky on Wednesday. The Republican added that "kids in school, jobs and health care are likely to be the focus of the bill."


cnbc--2020-07-16--Joe Biden's joint committees raise nearly $100 million in second quarter as big-money donors get off

Joe Biden's joint committees raise nearly $100 million in second quarter as big-money donors get off the sidelines

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at an an event about affordable healthcare at the Lancaster Recreation Center on June 25 , 2020 in Lancaster , Pennsylvania .
Joe Biden and his joint fundraising committees combined to raise close to $ 100 million in the second quarter on the backs of many new donors from the business community who have come off the sidelines to help him try to defeat President Donald Trump .
Biden 's committees , the Biden Victory Fund and Biden Action Fund , are also raising money for the Democratic National Committee and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more significant for their efforts to take down Trump and Republicans as a whole come November .
Biden Victory , according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings , raised close to $ 86 million , while Biden Action brought in around $ 11 million in the second quarter .
The two committees combined have more than $ 90 million on hand going into the third quarter .
Biden and the DNC outraised Trump and the Republican National Committee in the second quarter , with the Democrats raking in $ 282 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
Trump 's two joint committees combined to raise close to $ 150 million , with much of it coming from small donors to the Trump Make America Great Again Committee .
James Murdoch , the son of conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch and former CEO of 21st Century Fox , gave $ 615,000 to Biden Victory in late June , which is close to the most a donor can give to the joint committee .
Jeff Lawson , CEO of cloud platform Twilio , gave just more than $ 620,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quibi , contributed $ 500,000 .
Bob Iger , executive chairman of Disney , gave $ 250,000 , as did legendary movie director Steven Spielberg .
Dustin Moskovitz , who co-founded Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg , gave one of his biggest checks of the cycle to Biden Victory in late June , worth more than $ 620,000 .
Ken Frazier , the Merck CEO who was once on Trump 's business advisory council , gave $ 50,000 to Biden Victory in May .
Frazier resigned from the administration 's American Advisory Council three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's response to demonstrations in Charlottesville , Virginia .
While he 's given to some other Democratic causes this cycle , records show Frazier has also backed allies of Trump 's , including committees linked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy .
Biden 's success also comes after numerous virtual big-money events that were hosted by billionaire Tom Steyer , Sens .
Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren , former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama .
Outside Biden groups were also a boost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ super PAC the Lincoln Project raised over $ 16 million in the second quarter , and American Bridge brought in close to the same amount .
Many of Biden 's bundlers told CNBC that the renewed effort by these business leaders is linked to the fact that Sen. Bernie Sanders and more liberal candidates are no longer a threat to becoming president .
There 's also a sense that Biden is going to defeat Trump , with most polls showing the president consistently down against the former vice president .
Trump has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goings of the coronavirus pandemic and during the ongoing protests since the death of George Floyd , something donors have also taken note of and responded to with big checks for Biden in the month of June , as CNBC reported .

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at an an event about affordable healthcare at the Lancaster Recreation Center on June 25, 2020 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Joe Biden and his joint fundraising committees combined to raise close to $100 million in the second quarter on the backs of many new donors from the business community who have come off the sidelines to help him try to defeat President Donald Trump.
Biden's committees, the Biden Victory Fund and Biden Action Fund, are also raising money for the Democratic National Committee and state parties, making the massive haul even more significant for their efforts to take down Trump and Republicans as a whole come November.
Biden Victory, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings, raised close to $86 million, while Biden Action brought in around $11 million in the second quarter. The two committees combined have more than $90 million on hand going into the third quarter.
Biden and the DNC outraised Trump and the Republican National Committee in the second quarter, with the Democrats raking in $282 million and the GOP pulling in $266 million. Trump's two joint committees combined to raise close to $150 million, with much of it coming from small donors to the Trump Make America Great Again Committee.
James Murdoch, son of conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch and former CEO of 21st Century Fox, gave $615,000 to Biden Victory in late June, which is close to the most a donor can give to the joint committee. Jeff Lawson, CEO of cloud platform Twilio, gave just more than $620,000. Meg Whitman, CEO of media company Quibi, contributed $500,000. Bob Iger, executive chairman of Disney, gave $250,000, as did legendary movie director Steven Spielberg. Dustin Moskovitz, who co-founded Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg, gave one of his biggest checks of the cycle to Biden Victory in late June, worth more than $620,000.
Ken Frazier, the Merck CEO who was once on Trump's business advisory council, gave $50,000 to Biden Victory in May. Frazier resigned from the administration's American Advisory Council three years ago in protest of the president's response to demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia. While he's given to some other Democratic causes this cycle, records show Frazier has also backed allies of Trump's, including committees linked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Another donor that seemingly came out of nowhere to give big to the Biden-DNC committee is Eli Reinhard. He contributed over $620,000 to Biden Victory in June, his biggest contribution ever, according to data compiled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Reinhard, a California-based real estate developer and philanthropist, has a mixed donation history. His previous biggest donation came in 2008 with a $10,000 contribution to the Republican Party of California. He's also given to former New York Mayor and current Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign, and made donations to former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown's 2010 Senate campaign.
Biden's success also comes after numerous virtual big-money events that were hosted by billionaire Tom Steyer, Sens. Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama. Outside Biden groups were also a boost to the former vice president. Anti-Trump super PAC the Lincoln Project raised more than $16 million in the second quarter, and American Bridge brought in close to the same amount.
Many of Biden's bundlers told CNBC that the renewed effort by these business leaders is linked to the fact that Sen. Bernie Sanders and more liberal candidates are no longer a threat to becoming president. There's also a sense that Biden is going to defeat Trump, with most polls showing the president consistently down against the former vice president.
Trump has been floundering in the polls since the early goings of the coronavirus pandemic and during the ongoing protests since the death of George Floyd, something donors have also taken note of and responded to with big checks for Biden in the month of June, as CNBC reported.


cnbc--2020-07-16--GOP Sen. Marco Rubio blames 'bad disconnect' with Trump administration for reported remdesivir short

GOP Sen. Marco Rubio blames 'bad disconnect' with Trump administration for reported remdesivir shortage

U.S .
Senator Marco Rubio , a Republican from Florida , speaks to members of the media as he walks through the Senate Subway on Capitol Hill in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Tuesday , May 19 , 2020 .
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said Thursday that shortages of a coronavirus treatment being reported in Florida 's hospitals are due to a `` bad disconnect '' with the Trump administration about his state 's needs .
Rubio , whose state is grappling with a massive surge in Covid-19 cases , said on Twitter that he 's heard reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' that `` several hospitals '' in Florida have `` low or no supplies '' of remdesivir , an antiviral drug developed by Gilead Sciences .
Shipments of the drug to Florida are coordinated by the federal government , Rubio tweeted , and `` we have a bad disconnect between what they think we need & what we really need . ''
A spokesman for Rubio did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for additional comment .
Neither the Department of Health and Human Services nor the White House immediately provided a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rubio , a frequent defender of President Donald Trump , said Monday that several Florida hospitals had recently voiced concerns about a `` potentially critical shortage of Remdesivir . ''
`` I am in contact with federal officials in hopes of addressing this matter immediately , '' Rubio tweeted then .
The reports emerged days before the Trump administration revealed it had ordered hospitals to start sending its data on coronavirus patients directly to HHS .
The information had previously been posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , an agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outdated data collection system .
On Wednesday , HHS spokesman Michael Caputo said the CDC 's data tracking system , the National Health Safety Network , led to a one-week lag in data that was driving administration decisions compared with the reality in hospitals .
During the Covid-19 pandemic , such a lag could cost lives as HHS officials use the data to make potentially life-saving decisions such as how to distribute the country 's scarce supply of remdesivir .
While no vaccine is available for the coronavirus , some studies of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A study from Gilead published Friday found remdesivir reduced the risk of death for severely sick patients by 62 % compared with standard care alone .
In June , the Trump administration announced a deal with Gilead to supply the U.S. with more than 500,000 treatment courses of remdesivir for its hospitals through September .
That figure represents nearly all of Gilead 's projected production for the next three months , according to HHS .
Florida is in the midst of a record-breaking spike in coronavirus cases .
On Sunday , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marking the highest single-day total of any state .
The virus ' spread in the Sunshine State comes months after other hot spots around the country , such as New York , managed to clamp down on transmission .
Other states , including California , Texas and Arizona , are also experiencing a significant increase in Covid-19 cases .

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, speaks to members of the media as he walks through the Senate Subway on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said Thursday that shortages of a coronavirus treatment being reported in Florida's hospitals are due to a "bad disconnect" with the Trump administration about his state's needs.
Rubio, whose state is grappling with a massive surge in Covid-19 cases, said on Twitter that he's heard reports as recently as "late last night" that "several hospitals" in Florida have "low or no supplies" of remdesivir, an antiviral drug developed by Gilead Sciences .
Shipments of the drug to Florida are coordinated by the federal government, Rubio tweeted, and "we have a bad disconnect between what they think we need & what we really need."
Rubio TWEET
In the past week, the administration has sent Florida two shipments of remdesivir – an amount that "was not based on the recent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations" and will not be enough to tide the state over until the next expected delivery on July 27, a spokesman for Rubio told CNBC.
"Hospitals are still seeking additional supplies of Remdesivir, as well as better communication with the federal government and a shorter lag time between submitting requests and having those requests fulfilled," the spokesman said.
"Senator Rubio and our office have spoken with the White House and HHS, and we are working to ensure Florida's hospital system receives the necessary resources it needs to deal with COVID-19 patients."
Neither the Department of Health and Human Services nor the White House provided a response to the senator's tweet.
Rubio, a frequent defender of President Donald Trump, said Monday that several Florida hospitals had recently voiced concerns about a "potentially critical shortage of Remdesivir."
"I am in contact with federal officials in hopes of addressing this matter immediately," Rubio tweeted then.
The reports emerged days before the Trump administration revealed it had ordered hospitals to start sending its data on coronavirus patients directly to HHS. The information had previously been posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency within the HHS that officials say used an outdated data collection system.
On Wednesday, HHS spokesman Michael Caputo said the CDC's data tracking system, the National Health Safety Network, led to a one-week lag in data that was driving administration decisions compared with the reality in hospitals. During the Covid-19 pandemic, such a lag could cost lives as HHS officials use the data to make potentially life-saving decisions such as how to distribute the country's scarce supply of remdesivir.
While no vaccine is available for the coronavirus, some studies of treatments like remdesivir have shown promising results. A study from Gilead published Friday found remdesivir reduced the risk of death for severely sick patients by 62% compared with standard care alone.
In June, the Trump administration announced a deal with Gilead to supply the U.S. with more than 500,000 treatment courses of remdesivir for its hospitals through September. That figure represents nearly all of Gilead's projected production for the next three months, according to HHS.
Florida is in the midst of a record-breaking spike in coronavirus cases. On Sunday, it reported more than 15,000 new cases, marking the highest single-day total of any state.
The virus' spread in the Sunshine State comes months after other hot spots around the country, such as New York, managed to clamp down on transmission. Other states, including California, Texas and Arizona, are also experiencing a significant increase in Covid-19 cases.


cnbc--2020-07-16--Republican convention in Jacksonville to be downsized as coronavirus surges in Florida

President Donald J. Trump walks from the Oval Office to board marine One and depart from the South Lawn at the White House on Wednesday , July 15 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Organizers for the Republican National Convention announced a severe cap on the number of people who can attend the event in Jacksonville , Florida , next month .
The move comes as coronavirus cases skyrocket in the state , forcing the group to rethink its planning to account for measures to avoid spreading the disease to attendees and employees .
The event , scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 , will now be held in both indoor and outdoor venues , and the number of people allowed to attend will be slashed by thousands , according to a letter from Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel sent to delegates Thursday morning .
`` Admittance to the convention venue for the first three days of the convention celebration in Jacksonville ( August 24 , 25 , 26 ) will be limited to regular delegates only , '' McDaniel said in the letter , meaning that only about 2,500 people would be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final day ( Thursday , August 27 ) when President Trump will publicly accept the nomination , we plan that each delegate , their guest , and alternate delegates will be permitted to attend , '' the letter continued .
That would mean about 6,000 or 7,000 people would be able to attend on the final day .
The news of the scaled-back convention was first reported by The Washington Post .
The convention typically attracts tens of thousands of people over the course of multiple days .
Event organizers had been adamant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale similar to those in the past , when the world was free of Covid-19 .
President Donald Trump has been eager for the convention to have cheering crowds as a way to uplift his flagging campaign .
His Democratic rival Joe Biden has opened a wide lead in the race , according to most national polls , and in swing states including Florida .
But the pandemic appears to have succeeded in scuttling Trump 's plans .
The scale-back is just the latest shift to a convention that has seen drastic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The biggest move was the unconventional change in location , to Jacksonville from Charlotte , North Carolina , following a deadlock over how to execute the event .
The RNC pulled out of Charlotte after Trump clashed with Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper , who expected organizers to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines to avoid spreading the coronavirus .
Officials in North Carolina asked Republican organizers repeatedly to come up with a plan to maintain social distancing .
The RNC instead promised to conduct temperature checks and hand out masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even wearing those masks would be enforced .
Strict adherence to social distancing , as requested by North Carolina officials , would have likely meant drastically slashing the number of people in attendance , which the GOP signaled would not be in the cards .
But the decision to move to Jacksonville has come with its own set of challenges and concessions .
Florida is one of dozens of states that has seen sudden spikes in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in recent weeks .
With Covid-19 cases now rising there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality of the virus and its potential impacts .
First the RNC raised the possibility of hosting the convention at least partly outdoors instead of at the indoor VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena as expected .
Moving the event out of doors in August , when the weather in Florida can be hot , humid and potentially extreme , could add unknown elements to an already difficult transition .
Past convention organizers told CNBC after news broke of the venue change that they were skeptical the GOP would be able to pull off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Planning a convention is a large undertaking that involves tens of millions of dollars , dozens of pages of legal contracts , intense arena renovation and whole-city adjustments to prepare for the flood of people who attend .
And while McDaniel 's letter from Thursday says that attendees will have `` available COVID-19 testing , '' `` on-site temperature checks , '' `` available PPE , '' and `` aggressive sanitizing protocols , '' it does not specify how or whether attendees will be asked to practice social distancing .
In stark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic National Convention , slated for Aug. 17 to Aug. 20 , will be a nearly all-virtual event in Milwaukee .
Delegates have been told to stay home due to health concerns , and the Democratic National Committee has said it is reevaluating how many people will be allowed on the convention floor .

President Donald J. Trump walks from the Oval Office to board marine One and depart from the South Lawn at the White House on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Organizers for the Republican National Convention announced a severe cap on the number of people who can attend the event in Jacksonville, Florida, next month.
The move comes as coronavirus cases skyrocket in the state, forcing the group to rethink its planning to account for measures to avoid spreading the disease to attendees and employees.
The event, scheduled to take place between Aug. 24 and Aug. 27, will now be held in both indoor and outdoor venues, and the number of people allowed to attend will be slashed by thousands, according to a letter from Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel sent to delegates Thursday morning.
"Admittance to the convention venue for the first three days of the convention celebration in Jacksonville (August 24, 25, 26) will be limited to regular delegates only," McDaniel said in the letter, meaning that only about 2,500 people would be in attendance those days.
"For the final day (Thursday, August 27) when President Trump will publicly accept the nomination, we plan that each delegate, their guest, and alternate delegates will be permitted to attend," the letter continued.
That would mean about 6,000 or 7,000 people would be able to attend on the final day. The news of the scaled-back convention was first reported by The Washington Post.
The convention typically attracts tens of thousands of people over the course of multiple days. Event organizers had been adamant about hosting a packed convention on a scale similar to those in the past, when the world was free of Covid-19.
President Donald Trump has been eager for the convention to have cheering crowds as a way to uplift his flagging campaign. His Democratic rival Joe Biden has opened a wide lead in the race, according to most national polls, and in swing states including Florida.
But the pandemic appears to have succeeded in scuttling Trump's plans.
The scale-back is just the latest shift to a convention that has seen drastic and unusual upheaval over the last few months. The biggest move was the unconventional change in location, to Jacksonville from Charlotte, North Carolina, following a deadlock over how to execute the event.
The RNC pulled out of Charlotte after Trump clashed with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who expected organizers to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
Officials in North Carolina asked Republican organizers repeatedly to come up with a plan to maintain social distancing. The RNC instead promised to conduct temperature checks and hand out masks, but gave no indication that social distancing or even wearing those masks would be enforced. Strict adherence to social distancing, as requested by North Carolina officials, would have likely meant drastically slashing the number of people in attendance, which the GOP signaled would not be in the cards.
But the decision to move to Jacksonville has come with its own set of challenges and concessions.
Florida is one of dozens of states that has seen sudden spikes in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in recent weeks. With Covid-19 cases now rising there, organizers have been forced to face the reality of the virus and its potential impacts.
First the RNC raised the possibility of hosting the convention at least partly outdoors instead of at the indoor VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena as expected.
Moving the event out of doors in August, when the weather in Florida can be hot, humid and potentially extreme, could add unknown elements to an already difficult transition.
Past convention organizers told CNBC after news broke of the venue change that they were skeptical the GOP would be able to pull off a robust event on such short notice.
Planning a convention is a large undertaking that involves tens of millions of dollars, dozens of pages of legal contracts, intense arena renovation and whole-city adjustments to prepare for the flood of people who attend.
And while McDaniel's letter from Thursday says that attendees will have "available COVID-19 testing," "on-site temperature checks," "available PPE," and "aggressive sanitizing protocols," it does not specify how or whether attendees will be asked to practice social distancing.
In stark contrast to the Republican plan, the Democratic National Convention, slated for Aug. 17 to Aug. 20, will be a nearly all-virtual event in Milwaukee. Delegates have been told to stay home due to health concerns, and the Democratic National Committee has said it is reevaluating how many people will be allowed on the convention floor.


cnbc--2020-07-16--Swing state voters want schools to reopen but worry it will be unsafe, CNBC/Change Research poll fin

Swing state voters want schools to reopen but worry it will be unsafe, CNBC/Change Research poll finds

Voters in six swing states overwhelmingly want schools to reopen , but many think holding in-person classes will be unsafe as the coronavirus pandemic rips through the United States , according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll .
The choice of whether to send students back to schools this year , part or full time , has become the latest U.S. political flash point as daily coronavirus cases hit new records .
While the transition to online learning has proved daunting and parents have struggled to find child care or work while helping to educate their children , resuming classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among students , teachers and parents .
The CNBC/Change Research survey asked respondents to select two activities the government should work hardest to reopen safely from a list that included including K-12 schools , airlines , beaches , sports venues , retail stores and bars .
Nearly 3 in 4 respondents — 74 % — chose day care and K-12 schools .
Education trumped all other choices among the likely voters surveyed in Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — states that will likely determine the outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal share of 33 % picked retail stores and public transportation , while 26 % answered indoor dining .
Air travel , beaches and `` professional sports and entertainment venues '' followed at 11 % , 10 % and 9 % , respectively .
Bars were the lowest priority , as only 5 % of voters said the government should work hardest to reopen them .
Though respondents want to see schools open , they worry about the ability to hold classes .
A plurality of swing-state voters , 43 % , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students this fall .
Another 33 % answered that full-time in-person classes will be safe , while 13 % said the same about part-time in-person classes .
Voters logged nearly identical answers when asked whether reopening schools would be safe for faculty and parents .
A larger share of parents than those without children said they believe it is safe to restart in-person classes .
For instance , 39 % of parents consider it safe for kids to go back into school , versus 30 % of non-parents .
In Florida and Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spots , voters are less comfortable with reopening schools than respondents in the four other states .
A majority of respondents in Florida , 52 % , said in-person classes will not be safe for students , while 50 % of voters in Arizona said the same .
The poll released Wednesday surveyed 4,332 likely voters across the six states from Friday to Sunday .
It has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points .
The pandemic has forced state and local governments into unprecedented decisions on how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
School districts around the country have opted for a range of plans , from online-only learning to a mix of remote and in-person schooling or a return to regular classes .
Los Angeles and San Diego schools , for instance , will operate only online as the coronavirus case count climbs in California .
New York City plans to teach students in person for a few days a week and remotely the rest of the time .
Congress is preparing to include money for the equipment and personnel needed to safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill .
Lawmakers hope to pass legislation by early next month .
On Wednesday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said a developing plan would put a `` heavy emphasis '' on education .
`` We need to find a way to safely get back to work , and we feel , I feel , like the federal government will have to play a financial role in helping to make that possible , '' he told reporters in Kentucky , according to NBC News .
President Donald Trump , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he sees a return to normalcy as a boon to his reelection chances .
He even threatened to pull federal education funding if schools do not open this fall .
`` The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election , but is important for the children & families .
May cut off funding if not open ! ''
he wrote in a tweet earlier this month .
The move likely would not play well in the six states Trump needs to carry to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Only 38 % of respondents to the CNBC/Change Research poll said they support the idea , while 60 % said they oppose it .
A majority , 55 % , responded that they `` strongly '' oppose cutting off funding for schools that do not open .
Colleges also have tough decisions to make about how students return to class .
Some higher learning institutions have also opted for online-only classes or a mix of in-person and remote learning .
Asked in the survey if students should pay full tuition for virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they should , while 72 % said they should not .

Voters in six swing states overwhelmingly want schools to reopen, but many think holding in-person classes will be unsafe as the coronavirus pandemic rips through the United States, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll.
The choice of whether to send students back to schools this year, part or full time, has become the latest U.S. political flash point as daily coronavirus cases hit new records. While the transition to online learning has proved daunting and parents have struggled to find child care or work while helping to educate their children, resuming classes without proper safeguards risks rampant disease transmission among students, teachers and parents.
The CNBC/Change Research survey asked respondents to select two activities the government should work hardest to reopen safely from a list that included including K-12 schools, airlines, beaches, sports venues, retail stores and bars. Nearly 3 in 4 respondents — 74% — chose day care and K-12 schools. Education trumped all other choices among the likely voters surveyed in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — states that will likely determine the outcome of November's presidential election.
An equal share of 33% picked retail stores and public transportation, while 26% answered indoor dining. Air travel, beaches and "professional sports and entertainment venues" followed at 11%, 10% and 9%, respectively. Bars were the lowest priority, as only 5% of voters said the government should work hardest to reopen them.
Though respondents want to see schools open, they worry about the ability to hold classes. A plurality of swing-state voters, 43%, said in-person classes will not be safe for students this fall.
Another 33% answered that full-time in-person classes will be safe, while 13% said the same about part-time in-person classes. Voters logged nearly identical answers when asked whether reopening schools would be safe for faculty and parents.
A larger share of parents than those without children said they believe it is safe to restart in-person classes. For instance, 39% of parents consider it safe for kids to go back into school, versus 30% of non-parents.
In Florida and Arizona, two of the current virus hot spots, voters are less comfortable with reopening schools than respondents in the four other states. A majority of respondents in Florida, 52%, said in-person classes will not be safe for students, while 50% of voters in Arizona said the same.
The poll released Wednesday surveyed 4,332 likely voters across the six states from Friday to Sunday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.
The pandemic has forced state and local governments into unprecedented decisions on how to educate children without worsening a public health crisis. School districts around the country have opted for a range of plans, from online-only learning to a mix of remote and in-person schooling or a return to regular classes.
Los Angeles and San Diego schools, for instance, will operate only online as the coronavirus case count climbs in California. New York City plans to teach students in person for a few days a week and remotely the rest of the time.
Congress is preparing to include money for the equipment and personnel needed to safely reopen schools in its next coronavirus aid bill. Lawmakers hope to pass legislation by early next month. On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said a developing plan would put a "heavy emphasis" on education.
"We need to find a way to safely get back to work, and we feel, I feel, like the federal government will have to play a financial role in helping to make that possible," he told reporters in Kentucky, according to NBC News.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has pressured schools to reopen as he sees a return to normalcy as a boon to his reelection chances. He even threatened to pull federal education funding if schools do not open this fall.
"The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!" he wrote in a tweet earlier this month.
Donald Trump tweet
The move likely would not play well in the six states Trump needs to carry to win another term in the White House. Only 38% of respondents to the CNBC/Change Research poll said they support the idea, while 60% said they oppose it. A majority, 55%, responded that they "strongly" oppose cutting off funding for schools that do not open.
Colleges also have tough decisions to make about how students return to class. Some higher learning institutions have also opted for online-only classes or a mix of in-person and remote learning.
Asked in the survey if students should pay full tuition for virtual classes, only 16% of respondents said they should, while 72% said they should not.
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