cnbc--2020-09-29--Despite policy wins under Trump, the Koch network isn't helping the president's reelection bid

In this February 26 , 2007 file photograph , Charles Koch , head of Koch Industries , talks passionately about his new book on Market Based Management .
The political advocacy group backed by billionaire Charles Koch has seen key policy victories under President Donald Trump , including regulatory and tax cuts .
Yet , despite the president being at risk of losing the election to Democratic nominee Joe Biden , and potentially jeopardizing another four years of Koch-friendly policies , the network , which has often favored Republican candidates , is staying out of the presidential election .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network would not get involved with the president 's bid for reelection .
The Koch stance has n't changed since then , even as Trump has lost his money advantage over Biden with close to a month until Election Day , according to people familiar with the matter .
A Real Clear Politics average shows Biden ahead of Trump by six points .
These people declined to be named as the discussions were deemed private .
The network did not support Trump during the 2016 election but was involved in the 2012 fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama .
The recent Koch policy victories started with with the Trump-GOP tax cut bill the president signed into law in late 2017 .
The organization has for years called for lower tax rates .
The Koch group has also pushed for further weakening of business regulations .
Trump has , at least from the Koch network 's standpoint , made headway on that front .
Then there was the First Step Act , a criminal justice reform bill publicly supported by the Koch political network .
The organization has also backed all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court , including a recent campaign to support the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett .
Numerous former Koch officials have worked in the Trump administration .
The group also fought the implementation of Obama 's Affordable Care Act , also known as Obamacare .
Trump eliminated the health-care law 's individual mandate and is challenging it in court .
But there remain stark policy differences between the Koch network and the Trump administration .
For one , the group , which favors global trade with few restrictions , has opposed the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fights with China and other countries .
The Koch network has also taken issue with how the administration sought to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for undocumented people who arrived in the United States as children .
The network , through political advocacy groups such as Americans for Prosperity , has been involved with backing candidates up and down the ballot in the 2020 election cycle , including ones at the state level and Republican senators .
Another Koch-backed group , known as the Libre Initiative , has recently supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-Texas , during his successful primary earlier this year .
A representative for Americans for Prosperity did not return a request for comment .
The Koch network believes its resources will be better utilized elsewhere , people familiar with the network said .
There 's also a growing belief within the network that it ca n't make much of a difference in the 2020 presidential election because of so many warring factions in the larger fight for the White House .
Indeed , the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows that outside groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going into the final stretch of the election .
Much of that total has been spent by super PACs already involved with the race for president .
Data shows that super PACs either backing Biden or opposing Trump have often combined to outspend those in the president 's corner .
Another reason for the Koch network staying out of the race , according to those familiar with its decision , comes down to the differences in personality between the larger Koch-backed organization and Trump himself .
Since the 2018 congressional midterms , Koch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to supporting and working with Democrats as long as they match up with the network 's priorities that often focus on limiting the influence of government .
It 's part of a larger shift toward trying to show that the group wants to be a unifying force instead of focusing on partisan fights .
Trump , on the other hand , is known to publicly lambast anyone , especially Democrats , if they do n't bend to his demands or those who push back on his proposals .
The repeated attacks by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ networks leaders , led to the decision not to directly help Trump 's bid for reelection .
`` All I can tell you is that there is a clear difference in style and approach , '' said a person familiar with the decision-making at the network .
If the Koch group entered the presidential election , `` you 're still going to forsake the ability to persuade and advocate for policy change reforms at the other levels , regardless of whether you 're going after Obama , or getting involved with Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
The president has previously criticized Koch and his late brother , David .
Charles Koch has refrained from responding .
Some Republican donors , including those who have attended Koch network summits , told CNBC they 're convinced it simply comes down to the fact that network leaders , for the most part , are n't fans of the president , personally .
`` They just do n't like Trump , '' longtime GOP donor Dan Eberhart told CNBC , when discussing why he believes the network is staying out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of the network , Eberhart has been to past donor summits that have featured Charles Koch himself .
`` I do n't think they like him personally and they have complete disagreements on trade , '' he added , while noting the two sides are in favor of many of the same policies .
Eberhart gave $ 100,000 to the Trump Victory committee in June .
Though it failed to help elect Republican candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election , that battle showed that the network had the resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the White House .
Data from CRP shows that in 2012 , Americans for Prosperity spent more than $ 30 million taking on Obama .

In this February 26, 2007 file photograph, Charles Koch, head of Koch Industries, talks passionately about his new book on Market Based Management.
The political advocacy group backed by billionaire Charles Koch has seen key policy victories under President Donald Trump, including regulatory and tax cuts.
Yet, despite the president being at risk of losing the election to Democratic nominee Joe Biden, and potentially jeopardizing another four years of Koch-friendly policies, the network, which has often favored Republican candidates, is staying out of the presidential election.
The Washington Post reported last year that the network would not get involved with the president's bid for reelection. The Koch stance hasn't changed since then, even as Trump has lost his money advantage over Biden with close to a month until Election Day, according to people familiar with the matter. A Real Clear Politics average shows Biden ahead of Trump by six points.
These people declined to be named as the discussions were deemed private. The network did not support Trump during the 2016 election but was involved in the 2012 fight for the White House versus then-President Barack Obama.
The recent Koch policy victories started with with the Trump-GOP tax cut bill the president signed into law in late 2017. The organization has for years called for lower tax rates. The Koch group has also pushed for further weakening of business regulations. Trump has, at least from the Koch network's standpoint, made headway on that front.
Then there was the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill publicly supported by the Koch political network. The organization has also backed all three of Trump's nominees to the Supreme Court, including a recent campaign to support the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. Numerous former Koch officials have worked in the Trump administration. The group also fought the implementation of Obama's Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Trump eliminated the health-care law's individual mandate and is challenging it in court.
But there remain stark policy differences between the Koch network and the Trump administration.
For one, the group, which favors global trade with few restrictions, has opposed the president's use of tariffs in his trade fights with China and other countries. The Koch network has also taken issue with how the administration sought to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for undocumented people who arrived in the United States as children.
The network, through political advocacy groups such as Americans for Prosperity, has been involved with backing candidates up and down the ballot in the 2020 election cycle, including ones at the state level and Republican senators. Another Koch-backed group, known as the Libre Initiative, has recently supported Democrats, including Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, during his successful primary earlier this year.
A representative for Americans for Prosperity did not return a request for comment.
The Koch network believes its resources will be better utilized elsewhere, people familiar with the network said. There's also a growing belief within the network that it can't make much of a difference in the 2020 presidential election because of so many warring factions in the larger fight for the White House.
Indeed, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows that outside groups have spent more than $1 billion going into the final stretch of the election. Much of that total has been spent by super PACs already involved with the race for president. Data shows that super PACs either backing Biden or opposing Trump have often combined to outspend those in the president's corner.
Another reason for the Koch network staying out of the race, according to those familiar with its decision, comes down to the differences in personality between the larger Koch-backed organization and Trump himself.
Since the 2018 congressional midterms, Koch network officials have said they are open to supporting and working with Democrats as long as they match up with the network's priorities that often focus on limiting the influence of government. It's part of a larger shift toward trying to show that the group wants to be a unifying force instead of focusing on partisan fights.
Trump, on the other hand, is known to publicly lambast anyone, especially Democrats, if they don't bend to his demands or those who push back on his proposals. The repeated attacks by the president have, for many of the networks leaders, led to the decision not to directly help Trump's bid for reelection.
"All I can tell you is that there is a clear difference in style and approach," said a person familiar with the decision-making at the network. If the Koch group entered the presidential election, "you're still going to forsake the ability to persuade and advocate for policy change reforms at the other levels, regardless of whether you're going after Obama, or getting involved with Trump and his uncouth style," this person added.
The president has previously criticized Koch and his late brother, David. Charles Koch has refrained from responding.
Some Republican donors, including those who have attended Koch network summits, told CNBC they're convinced it simply comes down to the fact that network leaders, for the most part, aren't fans of the president, personally.
"They just don't like Trump," longtime GOP donor Dan Eberhart told CNBC, when discussing why he believes the network is staying out of the race for president.
Though not a member of the network, Eberhart has been to past donor summits that have featured Charles Koch himself. "I don't think they like him personally and they have complete disagreements on trade," he added, while noting the two sides are in favor of many of the same policies. Eberhart gave $100,000 to the Trump Victory committee in June.
Though it failed to help elect Republican candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election, that battle showed that the network had the resources to be a force in the arena for the White House.
Data from CRP shows that in 2012, Americans for Prosperity spent more than $30 million taking on Obama.


cnbc--2020-09-29--Pelosi, Mnuchin renew talks as Democrats release $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke Tuesday morning after Democrats unveiled a coronavirus stimulus plan designed to restart progress toward a relief deal .
Democrats released the $ 2.2 trillion legislation Monday night as they struggle to break a weeks-long impasse with the White House over how to structure a fifth relief bill .
While the Democratic-held House passed a $ 3.4 trillion proposal in May , the Trump administration has offered to inject only $ 1.3 trillion more into efforts to boost the economy and health-care system during the pandemic .
Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` went over the provisions '' of the latest proposal , the speaker 's spokesman Drew Hammill said .
While the pair agreed to talk again Wednesday , it is unclear if they moved any closer to a compromise .
In an interview with MSNBC , Pelosi called the conversation with Mnuchin `` positive . ''
Asked if the House would vote on its bill , the California Democrat said she hopes `` we will come to a bipartisan agreement that will remove all doubt that the legislation will pass and be signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Democrats on Monday night , Pelosi said her party is `` making good on our promise to compromise with this updated bill '' because it cuts more than $ 1 trillion from their original plan .
The new legislation would : • Reinstate the $ 600 per week enhanced unemployment benefit through January • Send a second $ 1,200 direct payment to most Americans • Give $ 436 billion in relief over one year to state and local governments • Authorize more money for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Put $ 225 billion into education and $ 57 billion into child care • Set aside billions for rental and mortgage assistance Republicans have in particular fought against sending additional relief to states and municipalities .
The White House has proposed $ 150 billion in new aid to states and localities .
The push to rejuvenate stimulus talks follows growing doubts about Congress ' ability to approve another aid package before the Nov. 3 election , when both parties will try to at least keep control of a chamber of Congress .
Political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussions , even before the Senate started wrestling over whether to confirm President Donald Trump 's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the election .

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speak to reporters after their coronavirus relief negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. August 7, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke Tuesday morning after Democrats unveiled a coronavirus stimulus plan designed to restart progress toward a relief deal. Democrats released the $2.2 trillion legislation Monday night as they struggle to break a weeks-long impasse with the White House over how to structure a fifth relief bill. While the Democratic-held House passed a $3.4 trillion proposal in May, the Trump administration has offered to inject only $1.3 trillion more into efforts to boost the economy and health-care system during the pandemic.
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Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke for 50 minutes on Tuesday morning and "went over the provisions" of the latest proposal, the speaker's spokesman Drew Hammill said. While the pair agreed to talk again Wednesday, it is unclear if they moved any closer to a compromise. In an interview with MSNBC, Pelosi called the conversation with Mnuchin "positive." Asked if the House would vote on its bill, the California Democrat said she hopes "we will come to a bipartisan agreement that will remove all doubt that the legislation will pass and be signed by the president." Writing to House Democrats on Monday night, Pelosi said her party is "making good on our promise to compromise with this updated bill" because it cuts more than $1 trillion from their original plan. The new legislation would: Reinstate the $600 per week enhanced unemployment benefit through January
Send a second $1,200 direct payment to most Americans
Give $436 billion in relief over one year to state and local governments
Authorize more money for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for the hardest-hit businesses and industries
Send $25 billion to airlines to cover payroll costs
Inject $75 billion into Covid-19 testing and contact tracing efforts
Put $225 billion into education and $57 billion into child care
Set aside billions for rental and mortgage assistance
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, left, and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows speak to reporters in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. July 29, 2020. Erin Scott | Reuters
Republicans have in particular fought against sending additional relief to states and municipalities. The White House has proposed $150 billion in new aid to states and localities. The push to rejuvenate stimulus talks follows growing doubts about Congress' ability to approve another aid package before the Nov. 3 election, when both parties will try to at least keep control of a chamber of Congress. Political considerations played a huge role in the discussions, even before the Senate started wrestling over whether to confirm President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the election.


cnbc--2020-09-29--Biden campaign slams Facebook for 'regression' in its efforts to safeguard the election

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden delivers a speech on the U.S. Supreme Court at the Queen Theater in Wilmington , Delaware , U.S. , September 27 , 2020 .
In a scathing message to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Monday , the Biden campaign accused the platform of backsliding on its work to protect democracy in the U.S. by fighting misinformation about the 2020 presidential election .
`` Rather than seeing progress , we have seen regression , '' wrote Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon in a letter to Zuckerberg that was obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of future action is serving as nothing more than an excuse for inaction . ''
O'Malley Dillon accuses Facebook of failing to act on its commitments to prohibit messages misrepresenting who can vote and how .
She points to a recent video posted on the Trump campaign 's Facebook page featuring Donald Trump Jr. claiming without evidence that his father 's opponents have a plan `` to add millions of fraudulent ballots that can cancel your vote and overturn the election . ''
Facebook added a label to the video that says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of trustworthiness in the US and the same is predicted this year , '' citing the Bipartisan Policy Center and linking to voting information .
But the Biden campaign said that is not enough .
`` No company that considers itself a force for good in democracy , and that purports to take voter suppression seriously , would allow this dangerous claptrap to be spread to millions of people , '' O'Malley Dillon wrote .
`` Removing this video should have been the easiest of easy calls under your policies , yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dillon also criticized Facebook for maintaining posts from the president himself encouraging his followers to attempt to vote at their polling place even if they submitted a mail-in ballot , unless it can be proved that the ballot was counted .
After Trump called for North Carolina residents to take such action , officials in the state told voters it 's illegal to vote twice and that showing up to the polls on Election Day if they 'd already submitted a mailed ballot would only make lines longer and more risky during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labels on Trump 's posts but did not specifically call out the illegality of voting twice .
Twitter hides tweets from the president that violate its voter misinformation policies and requires users to click to view them .
O'Malley Dillon called for Facebook to remove Trump 's posts that violate its policies .
`` While many Republicans think we should take one course , many Democrats think we should do the exact opposite , '' a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement .
`` We 've faced criticism from Republicans for being biased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more steps to restrict the exact same content .
We have rules in place to protect the integrity of the election and free expression , and we will continue to apply them impartially . ''
`` Silicon Valley ca n't help Joe Biden hide his 47 years of failure , '' a Trump spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC .
Representatives for the Biden campaign did not immediately respond to requests from CNBC to provide the letter .
Facebook has taken several steps since the 2016 election to protect its platform from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermine U.S. democracy .
After U.S. government officials found Russian agents had been able to buy political ads and sow disinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms in the last presidential election , Facebook installed tougher measures for advertisers seeking to place political messages , stepped up moderation efforts and created a searchable political ads database .
But many Democrats have held that Facebook 's efforts have not gone far enough .
Facebook has not eliminated advertisers ' ability to target voters on a very small scale as critics such as Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The platform has also said recently it would let politicians lie in political ads and has refused to remove posts from President Donald Trump .
Facebook said earlier this month , however , it would ban new political ads from running the week before Election Day , Nov. 3 , and would take down posts that claim voters will catch Covid-19 if they go to the polls .
Still , many voters are opting to vote by mail or vote early in light of health precautions .
Twitter , by contrast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past year on political content , such as fact-checking and obscuring some of Trump 's tweets and banning political ads altogether .
Twitter 's political ad revenue was far smaller than that for Facebook , though Zuckerberg has said it is also not a significant part of the company 's revenue .
Zuckerberg has said that he does not want to be an arbiter of truth on Facebook , but O'Malley Dillon wrote that by failing to effectively combat disinformation , Facebook is failing to protect voters ' voices .
`` As you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' O'Malley Dillon wrote .
`` Facebook has committed to not allow that voice to be drowned out by a storm of disinformation , but has failed at every opportunity to follow through on that commitment .
We will be calling out those failures as they occur over the coming 36 days . ''

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden delivers a speech on the U.S. Supreme Court at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., September 27, 2020.
In a scathing message to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Monday, the Biden campaign accused the platform of backsliding on its work to protect democracy in the U.S. by fighting misinformation about the 2020 presidential election.
"Rather than seeing progress, we have seen regression," wrote Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon in a letter to Zuckerberg that was obtained by Axios. "Facebook's continued promise of future action is serving as nothing more than an excuse for inaction."
O'Malley Dillon accuses Facebook of failing to act on its commitments to prohibit messages misrepresenting who can vote and how. She points to a recent video posted on the Trump campaign's Facebook page featuring Donald Trump Jr. claiming without evidence that his father's opponents have a plan "to add millions of fraudulent ballots that can cancel your vote and overturn the election."
Facebook added a label to the video that says, "Voting by mail has a long history of trustworthiness in the US and the same is predicted this year," citing the Bipartisan Policy Center and linking to voting information.
But the Biden campaign said that is not enough.
"No company that considers itself a force for good in democracy, and that purports to take voter suppression seriously, would allow this dangerous claptrap to be spread to millions of people," O'Malley Dillon wrote. "Removing this video should have been the easiest of easy calls under your policies, yet it remains up today."
O'Malley Dillon also criticized Facebook for maintaining posts from the president himself encouraging his followers to attempt to vote at their polling place even if they submitted a mail-in ballot, unless it can be proved that the ballot was counted. After Trump called for North Carolina residents to take such action, officials in the state told voters it's illegal to vote twice and that showing up to the polls on Election Day if they'd already submitted a mailed ballot would only make lines longer and more risky during the pandemic.
Facebook and Twitter both placed labels on Trump's posts but did not specifically call out the illegality of voting twice. Twitter hides tweets from the president that violate its voter misinformation policies and requires users to click to view them. O'Malley Dillon called for Facebook to remove Trump's posts that violate its policies.
"While many Republicans think we should take one course, many Democrats think we should do the exact opposite," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. "We've faced criticism from Republicans for being biased against conservatives and Democrats for not taking more steps to restrict the exact same content. We have rules in place to protect the integrity of the election and free expression, and we will continue to apply them impartially."
"Silicon Valley can't help Joe Biden hide his 47 years of failure," a Trump spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC.
Representatives for the Biden campaign did not immediately respond to requests from CNBC to provide the letter.
Facebook has taken several steps since the 2016 election to protect its platform from being manipulated by bad actors seeking to undermine U.S. democracy. After U.S. government officials found Russian agents had been able to buy political ads and sow disinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms in the last presidential election, Facebook installed tougher measures for advertisers seeking to place political messages, stepped up moderation efforts and created a searchable political ads database.
But many Democrats have held that Facebook's efforts have not gone far enough. Facebook has not eliminated advertisers' ability to target voters on a very small scale as critics such as Democratic Federal Election Commissioner Ellen Weintraub has suggested.
The platform has also said recently it would let politicians lie in political ads and has refused to remove posts from President Donald Trump. Facebook said earlier this month, however, it would ban new political ads from running the week before Election Day, Nov. 3, and would take down posts that claim voters will catch Covid-19 if they go to the polls. Still, many voters are opting to vote by mail or vote early in light of health precautions.
Twitter , by contrast, has taken more aggressive actions in the past year on political content, such as fact-checking and obscuring some of Trump's tweets and banning political ads altogether. Twitter's political ad revenue was far smaller than that for Facebook, though Zuckerberg has said it is also not a significant part of the company's revenue.
Zuckerberg has said that he does not want to be an arbiter of truth on Facebook, but O'Malley Dillon wrote that by failing to effectively combat disinformation, Facebook is failing to protect voters' voices.
"As you say, 'voting is voice,'" O'Malley Dillon wrote. "Facebook has committed to not allow that voice to be drowned out by a storm of disinformation, but has failed at every opportunity to follow through on that commitment. We will be calling out those failures as they occur over the coming 36 days."
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WATCH: Facebook's battle against election manipulation


cnbc--2020-09-29--Trump claims without offering proof that he has little debt and paid millions in taxes after NYT rep

Trump claims without offering proof that he has little debt and paid millions in taxes after NYT report

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference inside the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House September 27 , 2020 in Washington , U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday claimed he had paid `` many millions of dollars in taxes '' and has `` very little debt '' after a bombshell report in The New York Times revealed he had paid effectively no income taxes over several years and is facing more than $ 400 million in looming loan and debt repayments .
But Trump , in his tweet making that claim , did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say he had paid millions of dollars in `` income taxes , '' which was the key point of the Times article .
Trump wrote in the same tweet thread that he has `` very little debt compared to the value of assets , '' despite the Times report saying otherwise .
Trump , who has been in the White House for nearly four years , in a tweet wrote that he `` may '' release financial statements showing a list of his properties , assets and liabilities .
He did not say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date .
Trump has consistently refused to release his income tax returns , claiming he can not do so because he is being audited .
However , there is no restriction on a taxpayer releasing their returns while under audit .
The president also is fighting a last-ditch legal battle in federal appeals court seeking to block Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. from obtaining eight years of his income tax returns and other financial records from Trump 's accountants as part of a criminal investigation .
The Times reported Sunday that for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in 2017 , Trump paid just $ 750 per year in income taxes .
`` He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years — largely because he reported losing much more money than he made , '' the Times reported on its website , two days before Tuesday 's first presidential debate between Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden , the former vice president .
The article undercut Trump 's boasts of brilliant business acumen , saying that by racking up consistent business losses he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars obtained from his father , his work on `` The Apprentice '' reality TV show and bank loans .
`` Also hanging over him is a decade-long audit battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the legitimacy of a $ 72.9 million tax refund that he claimed , and received , after declaring huge losses .
An adverse ruling could cost him more than $ 100 million , '' the Times reported .

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference inside the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House September 27, 2020 in Washington, U.S.
President Donald Trump on Monday claimed he had paid "many millions of dollars in taxes" and has "very little debt" after a bombshell report in The New York Times revealed he had paid effectively no income taxes over several years and is facing more than $400 million in looming loan and debt repayments.
But Trump, in his tweet making that claim, did not offer proof and conspicuously did not say he had paid millions of dollars in "income taxes," which was the key point of the Times article.
Trump wrote in the same tweet thread that he has "very little debt compared to the value of assets," despite the Times report saying otherwise.
Trump, who has been in the White House for nearly four years, in a tweet wrote that he "may" release financial statements showing a list of his properties, assets and liabilities. He did not say why he has not done so to date.
Trump has consistently refused to release his income tax returns, claiming he cannot do so because he is being audited. However, there is no restriction on a taxpayer releasing their returns while under audit.
The president also is fighting a last-ditch legal battle in federal appeals court seeking to block Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. from obtaining eight years of his income tax returns and other financial records from Trump's accountants as part of a criminal investigation.
The Times reported Sunday that for two recent consecutive years, in 2016 and in 2017, Trump paid just $750 per year in income taxes.
"He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years — largely because he reported losing much more money than he made," the Times reported on its website, two days before Tuesday's first presidential debate between Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden, the former vice president.
The article undercut Trump's boasts of brilliant business acumen, saying that by racking up consistent business losses he has burned through hundreds of millions of dollars obtained from his father, his work on "The Apprentice" reality TV show and bank loans.
"Also hanging over him is a decade-long audit battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the legitimacy of a $72.9 million tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses. An adverse ruling could cost him more than $100 million," the Times reported.


cnbc--2020-09-29--Trump paid little to no federal income taxes over several years as he piled up losses and debt, NYT

Trump paid little to no federal income taxes over several years as he piled up losses and debt, NYT reports

President Donald Trump 's businesses have hemorrhaged hundreds of millions of dollars over the last two decades , allowing him to minimize his federal income tax bill to $ 0 or nearly $ 0 for many of the years in that period , according to a bombshell report published on Sunday by The New York Times .
Trump paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and another $ 750 the following year , the newspaper reported , and none at all in 10 of the previous 15 years .
The losses also strained Trump 's finances , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personally responsible for more than $ 420 million in debt , most of which is coming due within the next four years , according to the Times .
The report , which comes just two days before Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden meet for the first general election debate of the 2020 contest , appears to be based on the most complete collection of the president 's recent tax returns assembled to date .
The Times said that the story is the first of several , with more to be published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reporters who authored the story won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for an investigation of the president 's finances based on earlier tax records .
CNBC has not seen the documents reviewed by the Times .

President Donald Trump's businesses have hemorrhaged hundreds of millions of dollars over the last two decades, allowing him to minimize his federal income tax bill to $0 or nearly $0 for many of the years in that period, according to a bombshell report published on Sunday by The New York Times.
Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and another $750 the following year, the newspaper reported, and none at all in 10 of the previous 15 years.
The losses also strained Trump's finances, according to the paper. He is personally responsible for more than $420 million in debt, most of which is coming due within the next four years, according to the Times.
The report, which comes just two days before Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden meet for the first general election debate of the 2020 contest, appears to be based on the most complete collection of the president's recent tax returns assembled to date.
The Times said that the story is the first of several, with more to be published in the coming weeks. Two of the reporters who authored the story won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for an investigation of the president's finances based on earlier tax records.
CNBC has not seen the documents reviewed by the Times.


cnbc--2020-09-30--The highlights from the vicious first debate between Trump and Biden

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden had their first chance to challenge each other face to face .
They did — a lot .
Hardly a minute went by in the 90-minute brawl without one of the candidates angrily interrupting the other , whether on the coronavirus pandemic , the Supreme Court , the economy or anything else , including each other 's families .
`` Will you shut up , man ? ''
Biden snapped at Trump at one point .
`` You 're the worst president America has ever had , '' he said later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump shot back at Biden during questions on the economy .
Even the moderator , Fox News ' Chris Wallace , could n't always stay above the fray .
`` I hate to raise my voice , but why should n't I be different than the two of you ? ''
the exasperated host said at one point .
Here are the highlights .
For more details , see our live blog .
The first question was about the Supreme Court , where Trump has nominated conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
`` We won the election , '' Trump began .
`` Elections have consequences . ''
Biden responded that `` the American people have a right to have a say , '' and that `` we should wait '' until after the presidential election to select another justice .
But Trump jumped in before the former vice president had finished his answer .
The two candidates started sparring , first over Barrett 's record but quickly moving on to other territory .
Wallace jumped in after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bicker with Trump .
`` Please let the vice president talk , '' Wallace admonished Trump at one point .
Trump and Biden continued to interrupt each other .
`` Would you shut up , man ? ''
Biden snapped at Trump .
As Wallace moved onto the coronavirus , Biden said with a laugh : `` That was really a productive segment . ''
Trump spars with the moderator : ' I guess I 'm debating you' As Wallace asked the second question of the night , Trump jumped in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday '' anchor .
Wallace began asking about health care , and Trump interrupted Wallace to dispute his line of questioning about having not introduced a comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act implemented by former President Barack Obama .
Wallace continued to try to get through his question , asking Trump to let him finish .
After a few moments of cross-talk , Trump said , `` I guess I 'm debating you , not him , '' referring to Biden .
Wallace repeatedly asked Trump and Biden to maintain order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had to admonish Trump more .
`` Your campaign agreed that both sides would get two-minute answers , '' Wallace told Trump late in the debate .
Biden : Trump did n't take Covid seriously until it hit stocks Biden swiped at Trump over the president 's early handling of the coronavirus , alleging that the administration started to inform the public of the disease 's severity only when it hit the stock market .
`` Do you believe for a moment what he 's telling you in light of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole issue relating to Covid ? ''
Biden asked .
`` He still has n't even acknowledged that he knew this was happening — knew how dangerous it would be back in February — and he did n't even tell you . ''
`` He panicked , or just looked at the stock market , one of the two , '' Biden added .
`` Because guess what ?
A lot of people died and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter or a lot quicker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy Both candidates took turns trumpeting their qualifications to navigate the U.S. economy through the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump highlighted his business-friendly tax cuts and stock market gains while Biden noted significant job creation while he was vice president in the Obama administration .
Trump said : `` When the stock market goes up , that means jobs .
It also means 401 ( k ) s. '' Trump at Biden : `` If you got in ... if you ever became president with your ideas — you want to terminate my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll tell you what .
You 'll lose half of the companies that have poured in here .
...
They 'll leave . ''
Said Biden : `` We were able to have an economic recovery that created the jobs you 're talking about .
We handed him a booming economy .
He blew it . ''
He continued : `` Even before Covid , manufacturing went in the hole .
Manufacturing went in the hole . ''
`` I 'm the guy that brought back the automobile industry .
I was asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We brought them back right here in the state of Ohio and Michigan .
He blew it . ''
Trump and Biden spar over their adult children Biden and Trump sparred over their children , with Trump launching a misleading attack on Biden 's son Hunter over his consulting business .
`` China ate your lunch , Joe .
No wonder , your son goes in and he takes out billions of dollars .
takes out billions of dollars to manage .
He makes millions of dollars , '' Trump said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Biden .
Trump continued with another unfounded claim : `` Why is it , just out of curiosity , the mayor of Moscow 's wife gave your son $ 3.5 million ? ''
`` None of that is true , '' Biden said again .
`` He did n't get $ 3.5 million ? ''
Trump demanded .
According to Politifact , there is no evidence that Hunter Biden had anything to do with the deal in question .
This kind of sparring continued for several minutes , until Biden pivoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You want to talk about families and ethics ?
I do n't want to do that .
His family , we can talk about all night , '' Biden said , referring to Trump 's adult children .
`` My family lost a fortune coming down and helping with government , '' Trump shot back .
`` Every single one of them . ''
`` This is not about my family .
It 's not about your family .
It 's about the American people , '' said Biden .
Wallace then changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter late in the debate .
`` Hunter got thrown out of the military , '' Trump said of Biden 's son .
`` He got thrown out . ''
Trump would not explicitly condemn White supremacists and tell them not to `` add to violence '' surrounding unrest in the U.S. Wallace asked Trump if he would publicly `` condemn White supremacists and militia groups and say they need to stand down and not add to the violence . ''
Trump immediately turned to an attack on what he calls the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to antifacist demonstrators .
`` I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing , '' Trump said , referring to violence at demonstrations .
Pressed by Wallace to state his condemnation for White supremacists , Trump said , `` Proud Boys , stand back and stand by .
But I 'll tell you what , somebody 's got to do something about antifa and the left . ''
The Proud Boys is a far-right organization deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center .
Social media companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts and removed pages of members affiliated with the group for hate .
Biden urges voting , Trump warns of 'fraud like you 've never seen' Near the end of the debate , the moderator turned to election integrity .
Wallace asked how confident Americans should be that the election will be fair .
Biden urged citizens to vote , whether in person or by mail .
He cited Trump administration officials as he assured that there 's `` no chance at all that mail-in ballots are a source of manipulation or cheating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without evidence , that an expected flood of mail-in ballots due to the pandemic will lead to massive fraud in the 2020 election .
Just last week , Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost to Biden in the election .
`` He 's trying to scare people into thinking that it 's not going to be legitimate , '' Biden said of Trump .
`` Show up and vote .
You will determine the outcome of this election . ''
In response , Trump continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This is not going to end well , '' Trump said .
`` This is going to be a fraud like you 've never seen . ''
He also returned to his well-worn attacks against the Obama administration for `` spying on my campaign . ''
`` They came after me trying to do a coup , '' Trump said .
`` We 've caught 'em all . ''
`` President Obama , he knew about it too , '' Trump added , `` So do n't tell me about a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lauren Feiner contributed to this report .

watch now
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden had their first chance to challenge each other face to face. They did — a lot. Hardly a minute went by in the 90-minute brawl without one of the candidates angrily interrupting the other, whether on the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court, the economy or anything else, including each other's families. "Will you shut up, man?" Biden snapped at Trump at one point. "You're the worst president America has ever had," he said later. "China ate your lunch," Trump shot back at Biden during questions on the economy. Even the moderator, Fox News' Chris Wallace, couldn't always stay above the fray. "I hate to raise my voice, but why shouldn't I be different than the two of you?" the exasperated host said at one point. Here are the highlights.
For more details, see our live blog.
Attacks from the outset
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The first question was about the Supreme Court, where Trump has nominated conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "We won the election," Trump began. "Elections have consequences." Biden responded that "the American people have a right to have a say," and that "we should wait" until after the presidential election to select another justice. But Trump jumped in before the former vice president had finished his answer. The two candidates started sparring, first over Barrett's record but quickly moving on to other territory. Wallace jumped in after a few exchanges, and himself began to bicker with Trump. "Please let the vice president talk," Wallace admonished Trump at one point. Trump and Biden continued to interrupt each other. "Would you shut up, man?" Biden snapped at Trump. As Wallace moved onto the coronavirus, Biden said with a laugh: "That was really a productive segment."
Trump spars with the moderator: 'I guess I'm debating you'
US President Donald Trump speaks during the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 29, 2020. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
As Wallace asked the second question of the night, Trump jumped in to push back on the "Fox News Sunday" anchor. Wallace began asking about health care, and Trump interrupted Wallace to dispute his line of questioning about having not introduced a comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act implemented by former President Barack Obama. Wallace continued to try to get through his question, asking Trump to let him finish. After a few moments of cross-talk, Trump said, "I guess I'm debating you, not him," referring to Biden. Wallace repeatedly asked Trump and Biden to maintain order throughout the debate -- though he acknowledged that he had to admonish Trump more. "Your campaign agreed that both sides would get two-minute answers," Wallace told Trump late in the debate.
Biden: Trump didn't take Covid seriously until it hit stocks
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Biden swiped at Trump over the president's early handling of the coronavirus, alleging that the administration started to inform the public of the disease's severity only when it hit the stock market. "Do you believe for a moment what he's telling you in light of all the lies he's told you about the whole issue relating to Covid?" Biden asked. "He still hasn't even acknowledged that he knew this was happening — knew how dangerous it would be back in February — and he didn't even tell you." "He panicked, or just looked at the stock market, one of the two," Biden added. "Because guess what? A lot of people died and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter or a lot quicker."
Biden and Trump battle over the economy
watch now
Both candidates took turns trumpeting their qualifications to navigate the U.S. economy through the coronavirus pandemic. Trump highlighted his business-friendly tax cuts and stock market gains while Biden noted significant job creation while he was vice president in the Obama administration. Trump said: "When the stock market goes up, that means jobs. It also means 401(k)s." Trump at Biden: "If you got in ... if you ever became president with your ideas — you want to terminate my taxes [tax cuts], I'll tell you what. You'll lose half of the companies that have poured in here. ... They'll leave." Said Biden: "We were able to have an economic recovery that created the jobs you're talking about. We handed him a booming economy. He blew it." He continued: "Even before Covid, manufacturing went in the hole. Manufacturing went in the hole." "I'm the guy that brought back the automobile industry. I was asked to bring back Chrysler and General Motors. We brought them back right here in the state of Ohio and Michigan. He blew it."
Trump and Biden spar over their adult children
watch now
Biden and Trump sparred over their children, with Trump launching a misleading attack on Biden's son Hunter over his consulting business. "China ate your lunch, Joe. No wonder, your son goes in and he takes out billions of dollars. takes out billions of dollars to manage. He makes millions of dollars," Trump said. "That's simply not true," said Biden. Trump continued with another unfounded claim: "Why is it, just out of curiosity, the mayor of Moscow's wife gave your son $3.5 million?" "None of that is true," Biden said again. "He didn't get $3.5 million?" Trump demanded. According to Politifact, there is no evidence that Hunter Biden had anything to do with the deal in question. This kind of sparring continued for several minutes, until Biden pivoted. "Here's the deal. You want to talk about families and ethics? I don't want to do that. His family, we can talk about all night," Biden said, referring to Trump's adult children. "My family lost a fortune coming down and helping with government," Trump shot back. "Every single one of them." "This is not about my family. It's not about your family. It's about the American people," said Biden.
Wallace then changed the subject. But Trump returned to Hunter late in the debate. "Hunter got thrown out of the military," Trump said of Biden's son. "He got thrown out."
Trump would not explicitly condemn White supremacists
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Trump would not explicitly condemn White supremacists and tell them not to "add to violence" surrounding unrest in the U.S. Wallace asked Trump if he would publicly "condemn White supremacists and militia groups and say they need to stand down and not add to the violence." Trump immediately turned to an attack on what he calls the "radical left" like antifa, referring to antifacist demonstrators. "I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing," Trump said, referring to violence at demonstrations. Pressed by Wallace to state his condemnation for White supremacists, Trump said, "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left." The Proud Boys is a far-right organization deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter have suspended accounts and removed pages of members affiliated with the group for hate.
Biden urges voting, Trump warns of 'fraud like you've never seen'
watch now


cnbc--2020-09-30--House delays vote on $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill to allow more time for talks

The House speaker said she and Mnuchin had an `` extensive conversation '' and `` found areas where we are seeking further clarification . ''
Entering the talks , Mnuchin said the White House and Democrats had reached common ground on issues including direct payments , small business loans and airline aid .
But reports indicate they still need to resolve disputes over state and local government aid and liability protections for businesses , among other topics .
Approving the bill would be a largely symbolic action as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already opposed it .
The pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ craft an elusive fifth relief package that could pass both chambers of Congress , the California Democrat said in a statement .
House Democrats initially aimed to pass their roughly $ 2.2 trillion rescue legislation Wednesday night , but called off the vote until at least Thursday to allow more time for bipartisan talks .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) speaks during a briefing to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington , September 10 , 2020 .
Pelosi and Mnuchin met in person for the first time since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approving more aid to boost the U.S. economy and health-care system before the Nov. 3 election .
Both officials sounded more optimistic about the prospect of a deal earlier Wednesday as Mnuchin prepared to offer a roughly $ 1.5 trillion package to counter the Democrats ' proposal .
Speaking to reporters as he left the Capitol , the Treasury secretary said the sides `` made a lot of progress over the last few days , '' according to NBC News .
`` We still do n't have an agreement , but we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're going to see where we end up , '' he said .
After months of lawmakers wrestling over how much money to inject into the ongoing fight against the virus outbreak , it is unclear what could pass both chambers of Congress and get signed by President Donald Trump .
The Republican-held Senate has grown more wary of spending federal dollars on the response as leaders in the Democratic-held House insist on a comprehensive relief package .
Vulnerable members of both parties have agitated to pass more aid ahead of Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest coronavirus stimulus plan , which costs about $ 1.2 trillion less than the $ 3.4 trillion plan the chamber approved in May .
To trim the price tag , it largely cuts back the amount of time for which money is allocated .
The package would reinstate the enhanced federal unemployment insurance at $ 600 per week through January and send another $ 1,200 direct payment to most Americans .
It would set aside more money for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for certain small businesses , provide another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payrolls , and send $ 436 billion in relief to states and municipalities over one year .
The bill would include rent and mortgage assistance funds , $ 75 billion for Covid-19 testing and contact tracing , along with more than $ 200 billion for education .

The House speaker said she and Mnuchin had an "extensive conversation" and "found areas where we are seeking further clarification." Entering the talks, Mnuchin said the White House and Democrats had reached common ground on issues including direct payments, small business loans and airline aid. But reports indicate they still need to resolve disputes over state and local government aid and liability protections for businesses, among other topics.
Approving the bill would be a largely symbolic action as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already opposed it.
The pair will continue discussions as they try to craft an elusive fifth relief package that could pass both chambers of Congress, the California Democrat said in a statement. House Democrats initially aimed to pass their roughly $2.2 trillion rescue legislation Wednesday night, but called off the vote until at least Thursday to allow more time for bipartisan talks.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during a briefing to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 10, 2020.
Pelosi and Mnuchin met in person for the first time since last month, raising hopes of Congress approving more aid to boost the U.S. economy and health-care system before the Nov. 3 election. Both officials sounded more optimistic about the prospect of a deal earlier Wednesday as Mnuchin prepared to offer a roughly $1.5 trillion package to counter the Democrats' proposal.
Speaking to reporters as he left the Capitol, the Treasury secretary said the sides "made a lot of progress over the last few days," according to NBC News.
"We still don't have an agreement, but we have more work to do. And we're going to see where we end up," he said.
After months of lawmakers wrestling over how much money to inject into the ongoing fight against the virus outbreak, it is unclear what could pass both chambers of Congress and get signed by President Donald Trump. The Republican-held Senate has grown more wary of spending federal dollars on the response as leaders in the Democratic-held House insist on a comprehensive relief package.
Vulnerable members of both parties have agitated to pass more aid ahead of Election Day.
The House this week released its latest coronavirus stimulus plan, which costs about $1.2 trillion less than the $3.4 trillion plan the chamber approved in May. To trim the price tag, it largely cuts back the amount of time for which money is allocated.
The package would reinstate the enhanced federal unemployment insurance at $600 per week through January and send another $1,200 direct payment to most Americans. It would set aside more money for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for certain small businesses, provide another $25 billion in aid for airline payrolls, and send $436 billion in relief to states and municipalities over one year.
The bill would include rent and mortgage assistance funds, $75 billion for Covid-19 testing and contact tracing, along with more than $200 billion for education.
— CNBC's Ylan Mui contributed to this report
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cnbc--2020-09-30--Next Trump-Biden debate rules to change, with a possible mic mute, after an ugly first round

This combination of pictures created on September 29 , 2020 shows US President Donald Trump ( L ) and Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland , Ohio , on September 29 , 2020 .
The group that sponsors the presidential debates said Wednesday that it will make format changes to the next two showdowns between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden `` to maintain order '' in light of their fractious first showdown .
A source close to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that no final decisions have been made on the changes .
But the source also said that the group is considering cutting off a candidate 's microphone if they violate the rules .
The initial debate between Trump and Biden in Cleveland on Tuesday night quickly descended into disorder , with frequent name-calling and interruptions .
Trump on several occasions resisted moderator Chris Wallace 's admonitions to follow the rules and to allow the former vice president Biden to speak uninterrupted .
In a New York Times interview Wednesday , the Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dreamt that it would go off the tracks the way it did , '' he said .
`` Last night 's debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues , '' the Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement .
The commission added that it `` will be carefully considering the changes that it will adopt and will announce those measures shortly . ''
The commission said it was `` grateful to '' Wallace `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to last night 's debate and intends to ensure that additional tools to maintain order are in place for the remaining debates . ''
Tim Murtaugh , spokesman for the Trump campaign , said of the commission , `` They 're only doing this because their guy got pummeled last night . ''
`` President Trump was the dominant force and now Joe Biden is trying to work the refs .
They should n't be moving the goalposts and changing the rules in the middle of the game , '' Murtaugh said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes said , `` Try getting a new Anchor and a smarter Democrat candidate ! ''
Biden told reporters at a campaign event in Ohio that he supported the idea of making changes to the debate format .
`` I just hope there 's a way in which the debate commission can control the ability of us to answer the question without interruption , '' Biden said .
`` I 'm not going to speculate on what happens in the second or third debate . ''
Biden , referring to Trump 's conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He not only attacked me constantly and my family , but he attacked the moderator . ''
Wallace told The Times that , `` As a practical matter , even if the president 's microphone had been shut [ on Tuesday ] he still could have continued to interrupt , and it might well have been picked up on Biden 's microphone , and it still would have disrupted the proceedings in the hall , '' he said .
The next debate between the Republican incumbent Trump and Biden is scheduled for Oct. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political editor at C-SPAN , is the moderator for the second debate .
It will be in a town hall format .
A third presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 22 at Belmont University in Nashville .
NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker will moderate that debate .
The first and only vice presidential debate between incumbent Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. , is scheduled for Oct. 7 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City .
USA Today 's Washington bureau chief , Susan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event .

This combination of pictures created on September 29, 2020 shows US President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 29, 2020.
The group that sponsors the presidential debates said Wednesday that it will make format changes to the next two showdowns between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden "to maintain order" in light of their fractious first showdown.
A source close to the Commission on Presidential Debates told NBC News that no final decisions have been made on the changes. But the source also said that the group is considering cutting off a candidate's microphone if they violate the rules.
The initial debate between Trump and Biden in Cleveland on Tuesday night quickly descended into disorder, with frequent name-calling and interruptions.
Trump on several occasions resisted moderator Chris Wallace's admonitions to follow the rules and to allow the former vice president Biden to speak uninterrupted.
In a New York Times interview Wednesday, the Fox News journalist Wallace said, "I never dreamt that it would go off the tracks the way it did," he said.
"Last night's debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues," the Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement.
The commission added that it "will be carefully considering the changes that it will adopt and will announce those measures shortly."
The commission said it was "grateful to" Wallace "for the professionalism and skill he brought to last night's debate and intends to ensure that additional tools to maintain order are in place for the remaining debates."
Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for the Trump campaign, said of the commission, "They're only doing this because their guy got pummeled last night."
"President Trump was the dominant force and now Joe Biden is trying to work the refs. They shouldn't be moving the goalposts and changing the rules in the middle of the game," Murtaugh said.
Trump in a tweet about the planned changes said, "Try getting a new Anchor and a smarter Democrat candidate!"
Biden told reporters at a campaign event in Ohio that he supported the idea of making changes to the debate format.
"I just hope there's a way in which the debate commission can control the ability of us to answer the question without interruption," Biden said. "I'm not going to speculate on what happens in the second or third debate."
Biden, referring to Trump's conduct on Tuesday night, said, "He not only attacked me constantly and my family, but he attacked the moderator."
Wallace told The Times that, "As a practical matter, even if the president's microphone had been shut [on Tuesday] he still could have continued to interrupt, and it might well have been picked up on Biden's microphone, and it still would have disrupted the proceedings in the hall," he said.
The next debate between the Republican incumbent Trump and Biden is scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami. Steve Scully, the political editor at C-SPAN, is the moderator for the second debate. It will be in a town hall format.
A third presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 22 at Belmont University in Nashville. NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker will moderate that debate.
The first and only vice presidential debate between incumbent Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is scheduled for Oct. 7 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. USA Today's Washington bureau chief, Susan Page, is the moderator for that event.


cnbc--2020-09-30--Elizabeth Warren on Trump's reported $750 income tax payment: 'The system itself is broken'

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) speaks during a news conference concerning the extension of eviction protections in the next coronavirus bill , at the U.S. Capitol on July 22 , 2020 .
The real takeaway from President Donald Trump 's reported $ 750 federal income tax payments , according to Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, is that the U.S. tax system is not working .
`` The problem here is that the system itself is broken , and you 've got to ask why , '' Warren said in an interview with CNBC 's Jim Cramer during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And you want to know why ?
The reason is because of the Donald Trumps of the world , the people who have used their money and used their influence to get Congress to keep rewriting those laws . ''
Warren referenced the blockbuster New York Times report published Sunday that claimed Trump had paid $ 750 in federal income tax in the year he won the presidency and in his first year in office .
The report also found that Trump had paid no federal income tax in 10 of the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the income statements reported by the Times .
Trump , who is reputed to be a billionaire , previously called the report `` fake news . ''
During Tuesday 's presidential debate he said he has paid `` millions '' in federal income tax and said `` you 'll get to see it , '' though he did not provide a firm date .
Trump has previously cited an audit by the Internal Revenue Service as a reason why he has not disclosed his income statements , though the IRS has said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such information .
White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in a statement that Trump `` has been clear , he 's paid millions of dollars in taxes . ''
Warren also said Trump 's `` one legislative achievement '' was a tax bill that benefited millionaires and billionaires .
Deere said Trump 's tax cuts allowed middle-income families to exempt more income from taxes , doubled the child tax credit and said the legislation allowed companies to announce raises and bonuses for workers .
`` The President 's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy in our history and helped lay a firm foundation for this country to bounce back quicker than anyone predicted from the COVID shutdown , '' Deere said in the statement .
`` While President Trump wants to lower taxes , Sen. Warren and her colleagues want to raise taxes on hardworking families . ''
Warren and other Democrats have advocated for wealth taxes aimed at taxing assets of the richest taxpayers , which would generally not raise rates on lower and middle-class families .
Warren said Wednesday that the problem with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get away with paying less , other taxpayers need to fill in the gaps .
`` It 's not just that Donald Trump does n't pay taxes , it 's that somebody else has to pay to keep this country going , '' Warren said .
`` Nurses pay a big share , teachers pay a big share , grocery store clerks pay a big share , and Donald Trump just pays a tiny little bit . ''

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks during a news conference concerning the extension of eviction protections in the next coronavirus bill, at the U.S. Capitol on July 22, 2020.
The real takeaway from President Donald Trump's reported $750 federal income tax payments, according to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is that the U.S. tax system is not working.
"The problem here is that the system itself is broken, and you've got to ask why," Warren said in an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer during the virtual Delivering Alpha conference Wednesday. "And you want to know why? The reason is because of the Donald Trumps of the world, the people who have used their money and used their influence to get Congress to keep rewriting those laws."
Warren referenced the blockbuster New York Times report published Sunday that claimed Trump had paid $750 in federal income tax in the year he won the presidency and in his first year in office. The report also found that Trump had paid no federal income tax in 10 of the previous 15 years. CNBC has not viewed the income statements reported by the Times.
Trump, who is reputed to be a billionaire, previously called the report "fake news." During Tuesday's presidential debate he said he has paid "millions" in federal income tax and said "you'll get to see it," though he did not provide a firm date. Trump has previously cited an audit by the Internal Revenue Service as a reason why he has not disclosed his income statements, though the IRS has said that would not bar a taxpayer from sharing such information.
White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in a statement that Trump "has been clear, he's paid millions of dollars in taxes."
Warren also said Trump's "one legislative achievement" was a tax bill that benefited millionaires and billionaires. Deere said Trump's tax cuts allowed middle-income families to exempt more income from taxes, doubled the child tax credit and said the legislation allowed companies to announce raises and bonuses for workers.
"The President's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped build the strongest, most inclusive economy in our history and helped lay a firm foundation for this country to bounce back quicker than anyone predicted from the COVID shutdown," Deere said in the statement. "While President Trump wants to lower taxes, Sen. Warren and her colleagues want to raise taxes on hardworking families."
Warren and other Democrats have advocated for wealth taxes aimed at taxing assets of the richest taxpayers, which would generally not raise rates on lower and middle-class families.
Warren said Wednesday that the problem with the system is that because wealthy people can get away with paying less, other taxpayers need to fill in the gaps.
"It's not just that Donald Trump doesn't pay taxes, it's that somebody else has to pay to keep this country going," Warren said. "Nurses pay a big share, teachers pay a big share, grocery store clerks pay a big share, and Donald Trump just pays a tiny little bit."
WATCH: President Trump dismisses a New York Times report alleging years of tax avoidance


cnbc--2020-09-30--Citigroup's Ray McGuire turns to tech exec Charles Phillips as advisor for likely NYC mayoral campai

Citigroup's Ray McGuire turns to tech exec Charles Phillips as advisor for likely NYC mayoral campaign

Ray McGuire , vice chairman of Citigroup Inc. , speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills , California , April 29 , 2019 .
Citigroup executive Ray McGuire is turning to one of his closest associates in the business community to guide him on what appears to be a likely run for mayor of New York .
McGuire , according to people familiar with the matter , has turned to Charles Phillips , former CEO of software company Infor , as an advisor while he seriously considers running for the city 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added , has been in on meetings with potential supporters , including those with ties to Wall Street , and others guiding McGuire on his potential run .
One of the people noted that Phillips is in line to be McGuire 's campaign manager if he officially announces his run .
Another acknowledged that Phillips will at least be `` very involved '' with the Citi vice chairman 's campaign if he were to get into the race .
These people declined to be named as Phillips ' role had yet to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also chairman of Citi 's banking , capital markets and advisory business , has not publicly confirmed whether he is planning to get into the race .
Mayor Bill de Blasio is wrapping up his final term .
A Citi spokeswoman , McGuire and Phillips did not return requests for comment .
Phillips , who also had leadership stints at Morgan Stanley and Oracle , has been close to McGuire for years .
McGuire and Phillips serve on the board of trustees of the New York City Police Foundation , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times previously reported that McGuire and Phillips have met with officials at the New York Police Department to discuss how to improve relations with the Black community .
In 2019 , they were two of 27 Black leaders that condemned the dousing of water on New York police officers .
Phillips also has extensive experience in politics , making him an ideal choice to possibly have a senior role on what seems to be a likely mayoral campaign .
He served on President Barack Obama 's Economic Recovery Board .
He helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Economic Alliance , which has a political action committee that backs candidates with priorities of working on the economic interests of the Black community .
They have endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris .
Phillips currently serves on the board of directors of the Black Economic Alliance .
McGuire , a moderate Democrat , has been vocal on key issues when it comes to policing and the Black community .
After the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers , McGuire told CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and called on corporate leaders to take the necessary steps to combat racism .
He recently authored a preface to a Citi report titled `` Closing the Racial Inequality Gaps . ''
In the introduction , the banking executive reflects on how he 's seen as a Black man .
`` Yet even today , with all those credentials and as one of the leading executives on Wall Street , I am still seen first as a six-foot-four , two-hundred-pound Black man wherever I go — even in my own neighborhood .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he writes .

Ray McGuire, vice chairman of Citigroup Inc., speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, April 29, 2019.
Citigroup executive Ray McGuire is turning to one of his closest associates in the business community to guide him on what appears to be a likely run for mayor of New York.
McGuire, according to people familiar with the matter, has turned to Charles Phillips, former CEO of software company Infor, as an advisor while he seriously considers running for the city's highest office.
Phillips, these people added, has been in on meetings with potential supporters, including those with ties to Wall Street, and others guiding McGuire on his potential run.
One of the people noted that Phillips is in line to be McGuire's campaign manager if he officially announces his run. Another acknowledged that Phillips will at least be "very involved" with the Citi vice chairman's campaign if he were to get into the race. These people declined to be named as Phillips' role had yet to be made public.
McGuire, who is also chairman of Citi's banking, capital markets and advisory business, has not publicly confirmed whether he is planning to get into the race. Mayor Bill de Blasio is wrapping up his final term. A Citi spokeswoman, McGuire and Phillips did not return requests for comment.
Phillips, who also had leadership stints at Morgan Stanley and Oracle, has been close to McGuire for years. McGuire and Phillips serve on the board of trustees of the New York City Police Foundation, according to the group's 2019 report. The New York Times previously reported that McGuire and Phillips have met with officials at the New York Police Department to discuss how to improve relations with the Black community.
In 2019, they were two of 27 Black leaders that condemned the dousing of water on New York police officers.
Phillips also has extensive experience in politics, making him an ideal choice to possibly have a senior role on what seems to be a likely mayoral campaign.
He served on President Barack Obama's Economic Recovery Board. He helped organize what is now known as the Black Economic Alliance, which has a political action committee that backs candidates with priorities of working on the economic interests of the Black community. They have endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Phillips currently serves on the board of directors of the Black Economic Alliance.
McGuire, a moderate Democrat, has been vocal on key issues when it comes to policing and the Black community.
After the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, McGuire told CNBC that the killing was "cold-blooded murder" and called on corporate leaders to take the necessary steps to combat racism.
He recently authored a preface to a Citi report titled "Closing the Racial Inequality Gaps." In the introduction, the banking executive reflects on how he's seen as a Black man.
"Yet even today, with all those credentials and as one of the leading executives on Wall Street, I am still seen first as a six-foot-four, two-hundred-pound Black man wherever I go — even in my own neighborhood. I could have been George Floyd," he writes.


cnbc--2020-09-30--Trump should correct his statements on White supremacists, GOP Sen. Tim Scott says

Republican Sen. Tim Scott said Wednesday that he believes President Donald Trump `` needs to correct '' comments from his debate with former Vice President Joe Biden , where Trump did not explicitly condemn White supremacists and violent right-wing groups .
Scott , the only Black Republican in the Senate , said , `` White supremacy should be denounced at every turn .
I think the president misspoke , and he needs to correct it . ''
He added : `` If he does n't correct it , I guess he did n't misspeak . ''
Scott , a supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican National Convention , gave those remarks to reporters before heading into a meeting with Judge Amy Coney Barrett , Trump 's Supreme Court nominee .
The White House declined to comment on the South Carolina senator 's remarks .
But when asked earlier Wednesday about the president 's controversial comments at the debate , White House communications director Alyssa Farah said , `` I do n't think that there 's anything to clarify . ''
In the vicious , bare-knuckled brawl of a debate Tuesday night , Trump had been asked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace , if he was willing to condemn White supremacists and right-wing militia members who have added to the recent civil unrest seen in U.S. cities .
`` You have repeatedly criticized the [ former ] vice president for not calling out antifa and other left-wing groups , but are you willing tonight to condemn White supremacists and militia groups and say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha and as we 've seen in Portland ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Sure , I 'm willing to do that . ''
But when repeatedly prompted by Wallace and Biden to follow through and flatly condemn those groups , the president pivoted back to his denunciations of the left .

Republican Sen. Tim Scott said Wednesday that he believes President Donald Trump "needs to correct" comments from his debate with former Vice President Joe Biden, where Trump did not explicitly condemn White supremacists and violent right-wing groups.
Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, said, "White supremacy should be denounced at every turn. I think the president misspoke, and he needs to correct it."
He added: "If he doesn't correct it, I guess he didn't misspeak."
Scott, a supporter of Trump's who spoke at the Republican National Convention, gave those remarks to reporters before heading into a meeting with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Trump's Supreme Court nominee.
The White House declined to comment on the South Carolina senator's remarks. But when asked earlier Wednesday about the president's controversial comments at the debate, White House communications director Alyssa Farah said, "I don't think that there's anything to clarify."
Trump had been asked in the debate with Biden to condemn the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group. The president instead told the group to "stand back and stand by," a message its members reportedly celebrated.
Later Wednesday, Trump told reporters outside the White House, "I don't know who the Proud Boys are."
"Whoever they are, they need to stand down," Trump said, according to a pool report.
When asked specifically about White supremacy, Trump said, "I've always denounced any form of any of that" and reiterated his contention that Biden needs to condemn antifa.
In the vicious, bare-knuckled brawl of a debate Tuesday night, Trump had been asked by the moderator, Fox News' Chris Wallace, if he was willing to condemn White supremacists and right-wing militia members who have added to the recent civil unrest seen in U.S. cities.
"You have repeatedly criticized the [former] vice president for not calling out antifa and other left-wing groups, but are you willing tonight to condemn White supremacists and militia groups and say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha and as we've seen in Portland?" Wallace asked.
Trump initially said, "Sure, I'm willing to do that." But when repeatedly prompted by Wallace and Biden to follow through and flatly condemn those groups, the president pivoted back to his denunciations of the left.


cnbc--2020-09-30--Democrats see fundraising boom following wild debate between Trump and Biden

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden gestures as he participates in the first 2020 presidential campaign debate with U.S. President Donald Trump held on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland , Ohio , U.S. , September 29 , 2020 .
Joe Biden and his party scored a huge fundraising windfall during and after Tuesday night 's acrimonious debate with President Donald Trump .
The Democratic fundraising website ActBlue processed close to $ 8 million between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m .
ET , according to the site 's live ticker .
By 9:30 a.m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , since the start of the debate , at least $ 25 million had gone through the site to various campaigns and committees up and down the ballot .
Biden campaign officials told reporters late Tuesday they raised $ 3.8 million between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. through ActBlue , which they said was the site 's one-hour record .
Rufus Gifford , Biden 's deputy campaign manager , tweeted on Wednesday that he had never received so many `` calls/texts/emails from people wanting to give money to the campaign , '' than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of early Wednesday , the Trump campaign , the Republican National Committee and a representative for GOP donation website WinRed had not announced fundraising hauls .
They did not return CNBC 's requests for comment on how much they brought in over similar time periods .
The fundraising success for Democrats shows that the debate may have given Biden and the party another boost of enthusiasm , even though some critics say that the debate was so wild , it was sometimes impossible to decipher what the candidates were saying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ success for Democrats .
In the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death , the site processed over $ 100 million in contributions .
During the debate , the candidates battled over issues ranging from the economy to the Trump and Biden families .
The president has come under fire for not denouncing White supremacist groups and urging his supporters to go into the polls to monitor what was happening .
Longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz , who held a session with a small group of voters during the debate , told CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away feeling embarrassed , and he believes the battle would make the group less likely to vote .
`` I have never had a session blow up where the participants were disappointed on both sides , where everyone was embarrassed and everyone was upset about what had happened , '' Luntz said on `` Squawk Box , '' while agreeing with the participants ' assessment .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden gestures as he participates in the first 2020 presidential campaign debate with U.S. President Donald Trump held on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., September 29, 2020.
Joe Biden and his party scored a huge fundraising windfall during and after Tuesday night's acrimonious debate with President Donald Trump.
The Democratic fundraising website ActBlue processed close to $8 million between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET, according to the site's live ticker. By 9:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, it showed that, since the start of the debate, at least $25 million had gone through the site to various campaigns and committees up and down the ballot.
Biden campaign officials told reporters late Tuesday they raised $3.8 million between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. through ActBlue, which they said was the site's one-hour record.
Rufus Gifford, Biden's deputy campaign manager, tweeted on Wednesday that he had never received so many "calls/texts/emails from people wanting to give money to the campaign," than he had in the previous 12 hours.
As of early Wednesday, the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and a representative for GOP donation website WinRed had not announced fundraising hauls. They did not return CNBC's requests for comment on how much they brought in over similar time periods.
The fundraising success for Democrats shows that the debate may have given Biden and the party another boost of enthusiasm, even though some critics say that the debate was so wild, it was sometimes impossible to decipher what the candidates were saying. This is the latest moment of fundraising success for Democrats. In the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, the site processed over $100 million in contributions.
During the debate, the candidates battled over issues ranging from the economy to the Trump and Biden families. The president has come under fire for not denouncing White supremacist groups and urging his supporters to go into the polls to monitor what was happening.
Longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz, who held a session with a small group of voters during the debate, told CNBC on Wednesday he and the participants came away feeling embarrassed, and he believes the battle would make the group less likely to vote.
"I have never had a session blow up where the participants were disappointed on both sides, where everyone was embarrassed and everyone was upset about what had happened," Luntz said on "Squawk Box," while agreeing with the participants' assessment.


cnbc--2020-09-30--Mnuchin says he is 'hopeful' White House and Democrats can strike a coronavirus stimulus deal

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he will talk to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about coronavirus stimulus again Wednesday and is `` hopeful '' about the prospects of a deal .
`` I say we 're going to give it one more serious try to get this done and I think we 're hopeful that we can get something done , '' he said during the Delivering Alpha conference presented by CNBC and Institutional Investor .
`` I think there is a reasonable compromise here . ''
The Treasury secretary added that he aims to find an `` understanding '' with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
Mnuchin said an offer he expects to bring to the speaker — a counter to the $ 2.2 trillion aid bill the House could vote on this week — will resemble the roughly $ 1.5 trillion bipartisan House Problem Solvers caucus proposal put forward earlier this month .
Pelosi previously rejected that plan .
The legislation included $ 450 per week in enhanced unemployment benefits during an eight-week transition period , another round of $ 1,200 direct payments and more Paycheck Protection Program small business loan funding , among other provisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have failed to forge a consensus on what to include in a fifth coronavirus relief package as the outbreak ravages American lives and livelihoods .
Before Mnuchin and Pelosi renewed talks in recent days , doubts had grown about Congress ' ability to pass new aid before the Nov. 3 election .
Both the Treasury secretary and House speaker sounded more optimistic about progress Wednesday than they have in recent weeks .
In an MSNBC interview , Pelosi also said she is `` hopeful '' about the potential for an agreement .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back with today and how our negotiations go next , '' she said .
Mnuchin said the sides have found consensus on several major issues .
Those include small business loans , funding for schools , direct payments to individuals , airline aid and employee retention tax credits .
He said the White House will still push for liability protections for businesses and schools — a provision Democrats have previously opposed .
While Mnuchin added that the Trump administration supports some new relief for state and local governments , it is unclear if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have proposed more than $ 400 billion in aid over a year .
Of course , any agreement the White House and Democrats reach will also have to get through the Republican-held Senate .
As GOP lawmakers grow weary of spending trillions to bolster the federal response to the pandemic , the Senate tried to pass a roughly $ 500 billion relief plan earlier this month .
Democrats blocked it and called it inadequate .
Mnuchin said he and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows spoke to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday to update them on the talks .
`` Let 's see if we can get a compromise agreement with the speaker , something that works , and then we 'll continue to work with both sides on all the exact language and the policies , '' Mnuchin said .
The pandemic continues to ravage the United States , which is reporting tens of thousands of new cases per day on average .
While the job market has rebounded since a wave of virus-related layoffs in the spring , the U.S. unemployment rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries including restaurants , travel and entertainment buckle under restrictions meant to slow the outbreak 's spread .

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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he will talk to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about coronavirus stimulus again Wednesday and is "hopeful" about the prospects of a deal. "I say we're going to give it one more serious try to get this done and I think we're hopeful that we can get something done," he said during the Delivering Alpha conference presented by CNBC and Institutional Investor. "I think there is a reasonable compromise here." The Treasury secretary added that he aims to find an "understanding" with Pelosi on a broad relief package by Thursday. Mnuchin said an offer he expects to bring to the speaker — a counter to the $2.2 trillion aid bill the House could vote on this week — will resemble the roughly $1.5 trillion bipartisan House Problem Solvers caucus proposal put forward earlier this month.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaking at the 2020 Delivering Alpha Conference on Sept. 30th, 2020. CNBC
Pelosi previously rejected that plan. The legislation included $450 per week in enhanced unemployment benefits during an eight-week transition period, another round of $1,200 direct payments and more Paycheck Protection Program small business loan funding, among other provisions. The Trump administration and Democratic leaders have failed to forge a consensus on what to include in a fifth coronavirus relief package as the outbreak ravages American lives and livelihoods. Before Mnuchin and Pelosi renewed talks in recent days, doubts had grown about Congress' ability to pass new aid before the Nov. 3 election. Both the Treasury secretary and House speaker sounded more optimistic about progress Wednesday than they have in recent weeks. In an MSNBC interview, Pelosi also said she is "hopeful" about the potential for an agreement.
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cnbc--2020-09-30--Vicious first debate between Trump and Biden offered little on policy, lots of conflict


cnbc--2020-09-30--GOP pollster sees Trump-Biden debate as embarrassing, says it 'encouraged people not to vote'

Longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz told CNBC on Wednesday that participants in his focus group were let down by the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
`` I have never had a session blow up where the participants were disappointed on both sides , where everyone was embarrassed and everyone was upset about what had happened , '' Luntz said on `` Squawk Box , '' while agreeing with the participants ' assessment .
Trump and former Vice President Biden held a bitter 90-minute debate Tuesday night , the first of three scheduled debates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The candidates frequently interrupted the other , with Biden at one point saying to Trump , `` Will you shut up , man ? ''
`` They felt like they did n't get the policy they were looking for , '' such as on economic issues , Luntz said , referring to the more than dozen participants in his debate focus group .
`` They felt like the candidates behaved as though they did n't deserve to be president , '' Luntz added .
`` It actually makes them less likely to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate made him recalibrate some expectations about voter participation in the election .
`` I would have said to you , we 're going to have the biggest turnout ever .
What happened last night absolutely encouraged people not to vote . ''

Longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz told CNBC on Wednesday that participants in his focus group were let down by the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
"I have never had a session blow up where the participants were disappointed on both sides, where everyone was embarrassed and everyone was upset about what had happened," Luntz said on "Squawk Box," while agreeing with the participants' assessment.
Trump and former Vice President Biden held a bitter 90-minute debate Tuesday night, the first of three scheduled debates ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The candidates frequently interrupted the other, with Biden at one point saying to Trump, "Will you shut up, man?"
"They felt like they didn't get the policy they were looking for," such as on economic issues, Luntz said, referring to the more than dozen participants in his debate focus group.
"They felt like the candidates behaved as though they didn't deserve to be president," Luntz added. "It actually makes them less likely to vote for any candidate."
Luntz said the debate made him recalibrate some expectations about voter participation in the election. "I would have said to you, we're going to have the biggest turnout ever. What happened last night absolutely encouraged people not to vote."