cnbc--2020-10-21--Wall Street donors keep their distance from cash-strapped Trump in campaign's final days

President Donald Trump returns to the White House after multiple campaign stops over the weekend on October 19 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Conservatives on Wall Street and in the broader finance community apparently no longer consider President Donald Trump a worthy investment .
People in the securities and investment industry pumped $ 20 million into his 2016 run for president , with most going toward super PACs backing his candidacy , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
That total does n't also include the millions of Wall Street contributions that went toward the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This time , though , donors in the same industry have given just over $ 13 million to back Trump .
It does n't look like he 'll make up the difference in the campaign 's final stretch , either , according to GOP strategists .
Meanwhile , many of the people who donated to his inaugural committee have disappeared from the fundraising scene .
In some cases , records show that these GOP megadonors have put their money toward efforts to help Republican Senate or House candidates .
Wall Street support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his response to the coronavirus outbreak , despite the tax and regulation cuts during the president 's tenure , according to Republican strategists who work with financial leaders .
These strategists spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely .
`` Wall Street craves policy , predictability and strong government institutions .
Trump has delivered the opposite .
The Covid crisis gave Wall Streeters the excuse they needed to move , '' said a GOP advisor who works for a former Trump donor in the finance world .
This person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the finance world were looking for .
Biden and his joint fundraising committees took in more than $ 4 million from finance leaders in the third quarter .
Biden has seen over $ 50 million from Wall Street leaders go toward his bid for the White House , including millions being donated to outside PACs .
Financial firms have started telling clients there 's a strong chance of a Democratic sweep next month .
Another Republican strategist who actively works with people in finance said that the few donors who donated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't plan to give again with just under two weeks left in the campaign .
The strategist said his clients were n't happy with how the campaign spent its previously massive war chest .
Former Trump campaign chief Brad Parscale once boasted that the organization was a financial `` Death Star . ''
Entering October , it had just over $ 60 million in cash on hand , compared with Biden 's nearly $ 180 million .
These same financial leaders also believe that Trump is going to lose , making support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standpoint , according to this strategist .
`` Wall Street is watching the same polls as everyone else .
They can see the direction the campaign is going and they are starting to alter their strategy , '' Trump donor Dan Eberhart told CNBC .
`` It 's about risk management .
If they ca n't beat Biden , they know they are going to have to join him . ''
As of Wednesday there were no plans by the campaign to have financial leaders in New York host a fundraising event for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the matter .
Representatives from the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee did not return a request for comment .
A few finance industry leaders have indeed given to Trump over the past three months , including Joe Ricketts , founder of TD Ameritrade ; Marc Rowan , co-founder of Apollo Global Management ; and former hedge fund manager John Paulson .
Each gave between $ 250,000 and $ 315,000 to the Trump Victory committee , a joint fundraising effort between Trump 's campaign and the RNC .
Rowan , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jared Kushner , the president 's son-in-law and senior advisor , in an attempt to relax rules on coronavirus relief money in a way that would benefit Apollo .
Paulson hosted a fundraising event for Trump in the Hamptons in August .
Other prominent Trump donors have scaled back their giving or , in some cases , gone completely quiet .
Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman gave $ 3 million to the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action in January , but nothing toward efforts supporting the president since then .
Robert Mercer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 15 million to the anti-Clinton super PAC Make America Number 1 in 2016 .
He gave $ 1 million to the president 's inaugural committee and invested $ 15 million in controversial data outfit Cambridge Analytica , which worked with Trump 's 2016 campaign .
Mercer cut a $ 350,000 check in February to the Trump Victory committee .
He started reducing his support two years ago after he and his daughter Rebekah came under public scrutiny for backing Trump the first time .
Stephen Feinberg , co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 to a pro-Trump super PAC titled Rebuilding America Now .
This cycle he has given nothing to any pro-Trump related entity , records show .
Steve Cohen , CEO of asset management firm Point72 , contributed $ 1 million to Trump 's inaugural committee after spending millions on a super PAC backing former presidential candidate and eventual Trump ally Chris Christie .
Cohen has invested nothing in the presidential election this time .
Henry Kravis , co-CEO of investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts , gave over $ 300,000 to the Republican National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave $ 1 million to Trump 's inaugural .
He has given nothing to Trump or the RNC this cycle .
Scott Bessent , founder of investment firm Key Square Group , gave $ 1 million to Trump 's inaugural .
He has n't given anything to Trump groups in 2020 .
Veteran investor Paul Singer , who was initially against Trump in the early stages of the 2016 election , gave $ 1 million to his inaugural fund and another $ 1 million to pro-Trump super PAC Future 45 .
This time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back Trump or the RNC .

President Donald Trump returns to the White House after multiple campaign stops over the weekend on October 19, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Conservatives on Wall Street and in the broader finance community apparently no longer consider President Donald Trump a worthy investment.
People in the securities and investment industry pumped $20 million into his 2016 run for president, with most going toward super PACs backing his candidacy, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. That total doesn't also include the millions of Wall Street contributions that went toward the president's inauguration after he defeated Hillary Clinton.
This time, though, donors in the same industry have given just over $13 million to back Trump. It doesn't look like he'll make up the difference in the campaign's final stretch, either, according to GOP strategists. Meanwhile, many of the people who donated to his inaugural committee have disappeared from the fundraising scene.
In some cases, records show that these GOP megadonors have put their money toward efforts to help Republican Senate or House candidates.
Wall Street support for Trump backed off mainly due to his response to the coronavirus outbreak, despite the tax and regulation cuts during the president's tenure, according to Republican strategists who work with financial leaders. These strategists spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely.
"Wall Street craves policy, predictability and strong government institutions. Trump has delivered the opposite. The Covid crisis gave Wall Streeters the excuse they needed to move," said a GOP advisor who works for a former Trump donor in the finance world.
This person pointed to Biden as the alternative many in the finance world were looking for. Biden and his joint fundraising committees took in more than $4 million from finance leaders in the third quarter. Biden has seen over $50 million from Wall Street leaders go toward his bid for the White House, including millions being donated to outside PACs. Financial firms have started telling clients there's a strong chance of a Democratic sweep next month.
Another Republican strategist who actively works with people in finance said that the few donors who donated to back Trump early in the campaign don't plan to give again with just under two weeks left in the campaign. The strategist said his clients weren't happy with how the campaign spent its previously massive war chest.
Former Trump campaign chief Brad Parscale once boasted that the organization was a financial "Death Star." Entering October, it had just over $60 million in cash on hand, compared with Biden's nearly $180 million.
These same financial leaders also believe that Trump is going to lose, making support for his campaign an unwise investment from their standpoint, according to this strategist.
"Wall Street is watching the same polls as everyone else. They can see the direction the campaign is going and they are starting to alter their strategy," Trump donor Dan Eberhart told CNBC. "It's about risk management. If they can't beat Biden, they know they are going to have to join him."
As of Wednesday there were no plans by the campaign to have financial leaders in New York host a fundraising event for Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Representatives from the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee did not return a request for comment.
A few finance industry leaders have indeed given to Trump over the past three months, including Joe Ricketts, founder of TD Ameritrade; Marc Rowan, co-founder of Apollo Global Management; and former hedge fund manager John Paulson. Each gave between $250,000 and $315,000 to the Trump Victory committee, a joint fundraising effort between Trump's campaign and the RNC.
Rowan, according to NBC News, reached out to Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior advisor, in an attempt to relax rules on coronavirus relief money in a way that would benefit Apollo. Paulson hosted a fundraising event for Trump in the Hamptons in August.
Other prominent Trump donors have scaled back their giving or, in some cases, gone completely quiet.
Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman gave $3 million to the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action in January, but nothing toward efforts supporting the president since then.
Robert Mercer, former co-CEO of Renaissance Technologies, gave $15 million to the anti-Clinton super PAC Make America Number 1 in 2016. He gave $1 million to the president's inaugural committee and invested $15 million in controversial data outfit Cambridge Analytica, which worked with Trump's 2016 campaign.
Mercer cut a $350,000 check in February to the Trump Victory committee. He started reducing his support two years ago after he and his daughter Rebekah came under public scrutiny for backing Trump the first time.
Stephen Feinberg, co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, gave over $1.4 million in 2016 to a pro-Trump super PAC titled Rebuilding America Now. This cycle he has given nothing to any pro-Trump related entity, records show.
Steve Cohen, CEO of asset management firm Point72, contributed $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee after spending millions on a super PAC backing former presidential candidate and eventual Trump ally Chris Christie. Cohen has invested nothing in the presidential election this time.
Henry Kravis, co-CEO of investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, gave over $300,000 to the Republican National Committee during the 2016 cycle. He gave $1 million to Trump's inaugural. He has given nothing to Trump or the RNC this cycle.
Scott Bessent, founder of investment firm Key Square Group, gave $1 million to Trump's inaugural. He hasn't given anything to Trump groups in 2020.
Veteran investor Paul Singer, who was initially against Trump in the early stages of the 2016 election, gave $1 million to his inaugural fund and another $1 million to pro-Trump super PAC Future 45. This time, he hasn't given anything to back Trump or the RNC.


cnbc--2020-10-21--Senate Democrats block GOP's $500 billion coronavirus aid bill as Pelosi-Mnuchin talks continue

Democrats , meanwhile , accuse the GOP of failing to recognize the magnitude of the economic and health crisis gripping the country .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , has called the Republican plan `` partisan '' and `` emaciated . ''
Republicans in Congress argue Democrats have reached for an expensive wish list filled with many provisions unrelated to the crisis .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , has said Democrats are engaging in `` all-or-nothing obstruction '' as they hold out for a comprehensive deal worth about $ 2 trillion .
The stalemate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol Hill as millions of Americans , trying to afford food and housing and keep their businesses open , await more federal aid during an economic crisis .
Election-year politics have jarred the legislative process as new Covid-19 infections in the U.S. reach levels unseen in weeks .
The GOP tried to advance its bill , similar to one Democrats opposed last month .
The measure failed in a 51-44 party-line vote , falling short of the 60 votes needed .
Senate Democrats blocked Republicans ' attempt to pass a $ 500 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin make a last-ditch push to strike a relief deal before the 2020 election .
The legislation before the Senate on Wednesday included funds for a second Paycheck Protection Program loan for struggling small businesses , a $ 300 per week supplemental unemployment insurance benefit , and liability protections for businesses , among other provisions .
It did not include another round of direct payments to people .
The Senate vote on a bill that had little chance of becoming law came as Pelosi and Mnuchin extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sides said they made progress in a conversation Tuesday .
Both Pelosi and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said they aim to have a deal in place before the end of the week .
Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke Wednesday afternoon , and the speaker 's office said they moved closer to being able to write legislation .
The pair will talk again Thursday .
The negotiators face a range of political pitfalls with under two weeks until the election .
After at one point pulling out of talks , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief bill as voters head to the polls .
He has even claimed he wants to put more money into a package than the $ 2.2 trillion Democrats seek .
But every step the White House takes toward Democrats ' position risks losing more Senate Republican support in a potential vote .
It appears unlikely a bipartisan agreement would get the 13 Senate GOP votes needed to overcome a filibuster .
`` If they 're going to come up with a $ 2 trillion bill that is going to put money on items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid , then that is not a direction we should travel , '' Sen. Marsha Blackburn , R-Tenn. , told CNBC on Wednesday .
The relief fight has brought challenging political calculations for Republicans .
McConnell told his caucus he has encouraged the White House not to strike a comprehensive deal before the election , as it would divide the GOP before the election and vulnerable lawmakers want to get home to campaign after Monday 's vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett , NBC News reported .
The Senate also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen the PPP .
Sen. Susan Collins , a Maine Republican facing a difficult reelection challenge , was one of the measure 's co-authors .
Republicans made their second attempt to pass their relief legislation as Democrats criticized them for moving quickly to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death .
A CNBC/Change Research poll released Tuesday found a clear majority of voters in six swing states want Congress to pass more relief and believe the Senate should prioritize an aid bill over the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans share the blame almost evenly for the lack of new aid money .

Democrats, meanwhile, accuse the GOP of failing to recognize the magnitude of the economic and health crisis gripping the country. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y., has called the Republican plan "partisan" and "emaciated."
Republicans in Congress argue Democrats have reached for an expensive wish list filled with many provisions unrelated to the crisis. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., has said Democrats are engaging in "all-or-nothing obstruction" as they hold out for a comprehensive deal worth about $2 trillion.
The stalemate in the Senate extends months of gridlock on Capitol Hill as millions of Americans, trying to afford food and housing and keep their businesses open, await more federal aid during an economic crisis. Election-year politics have jarred the legislative process as new Covid-19 infections in the U.S. reach levels unseen in weeks.
The GOP tried to advance its bill, similar to one Democrats opposed last month. The measure failed in a 51-44 party-line vote, falling short of the 60 votes needed.
Senate Democrats blocked Republicans' attempt to pass a $500 billion coronavirus stimulus bill Wednesday as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin make a last-ditch push to strike a relief deal before the 2020 election.
The legislation before the Senate on Wednesday included funds for a second Paycheck Protection Program loan for struggling small businesses, a $300 per week supplemental unemployment insurance benefit, and liability protections for businesses, among other provisions. It did not include another round of direct payments to people.
The Senate vote on a bill that had little chance of becoming law came as Pelosi and Mnuchin extended their discussions toward a comprehensive agreement. The sides said they made progress in a conversation Tuesday. Both Pelosi and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said they aim to have a deal in place before the end of the week.
Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke Wednesday afternoon, and the speaker's office said they moved closer to being able to write legislation. The pair will talk again Thursday.
The negotiators face a range of political pitfalls with under two weeks until the election. After at one point pulling out of talks, President Donald Trump has pushed for a sprawling relief bill as voters head to the polls. He has even claimed he wants to put more money into a package than the $2.2 trillion Democrats seek.
But every step the White House takes toward Democrats' position risks losing more Senate Republican support in a potential vote. It appears unlikely a bipartisan agreement would get the 13 Senate GOP votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
"If they're going to come up with a $2 trillion bill that is going to put money on items that are not needed directly related to Covid, then that is not a direction we should travel," Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told CNBC on Wednesday.
The relief fight has brought challenging political calculations for Republicans. McConnell told his caucus he has encouraged the White House not to strike a comprehensive deal before the election, as it would divide the GOP before the election and vulnerable lawmakers want to get home to campaign after Monday's vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, NBC News reported.
The Senate also tried to pass a bill on Tuesday to reopen the PPP. Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican facing a difficult reelection challenge, was one of the measure's co-authors.
Republicans made their second attempt to pass their relief legislation as Democrats criticized them for moving quickly to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. A CNBC/Change Research poll released Tuesday found a clear majority of voters in six swing states want Congress to pass more relief and believe the Senate should prioritize an aid bill over the Supreme Court nomination.
Respondents also said Democrats and Republicans share the blame almost evenly for the lack of new aid money.
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cnbc--2020-10-22--The Senate battle between Martha McSally and Mark Kelly shows just how much Arizona is changing

WASHINGTON — A little over two years ago , Arizona was represented in the U.S. Senate by two Republicans , it had a Republican governor and Republicans held majorities in both chambers of the state legislature .
If current polling holds , two weeks from now all that will be left of decades of GOP dominance will be Doug Ducey , an unpopular governor who is term-limited out of office in two years .
It is across this rapidly shifting political landscape that one of the most consequential Senate races of 2020 is being run , between Republican incumbent Martha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy captain and astronaut Mark Kelly .
Ducey appointed McSally to her role in December 2018 after she lost the race for the state 's other Senate seat to another Democrat , Kyrsten Sinema .
Recent polls show Kelly leading McSally by an average of 8 points .
The lead reflects , in part , the shifting demographics of the state , which have helped to tilt electoral outcomes there toward Democrats for the past several cycles .
Kelly 's strength also stems from voter disapproval of Republican President Donald Trump , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington .
This race is an especially pivotal one for Senate Republicans , who are trying to hold on to their majority amid what both Republican and Democratic strategists predict could be a `` blue wave '' of Democratic victories at the polls on Nov. 3 .
But it is not just McSally 's Senate seat that may be slipping out of reach for Republicans in Arizona .
If current polling trends continue , voters there are poised to hand control of the state House to Democrats , and to split the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each party 15 seats and ending decades of Republican majority .
Arizona is a red state that 's turning blue before our very eyes , and it is Kelly , who is spearheading that shift .
`` The first thing in this race we need to talk about is that Kelly is the best Senate candidate in the country running as a Democrat , '' said Chuck Coughlin , a longtime Republican political strategist in Arizona .
In addition to his career in the Navy and with NASA , the 56-year-old Kelly is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who survived a gunshot to the head in 2011 .
Giffords went on to become a leader of the gun violence prevention movement , and she and Kelly founded the nonprofit Americans for Responsible Solutions .
Ever since Kelly retired from the Navy in 2011 , Democrats have been encouraging him to run for office .
But it was only after Trump was elected in 2016 , and two years after that , when beloved GOP Sen. John McCain died of glioblastoma , that the pathway to a Senate seat became clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McSally , 54 , also has a military background , having served for more than 25 years in the Air Force , where she became the first woman to fly a fighter jet in combat .
A moderate Republican who represented a swing district in Congress , McSally was appointed by Ducey to fill McCain 's seat following his death in 2018 .
At the time , she seemed like a good choice to help keep the seat in Republican hands .
But Trump 's divisive record and his insistence that Republicans in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made it much more difficult for moderate Republicans to build winning coalitions of voters .
McSally 's response has been to fashion herself as `` a loyal foot soldier for Trump , '' said Doug Heye , a longtime Republican strategist in Washington .
`` When I first met her , she was a very different candidate , back when she was running for the House [ in 2012 ] , much more middle of the road . ''
said Heye .
Her near total embrace of Trump eight years later `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in voters ' minds .
But like many vulnerable Republicans this year , McSally decided to run as closely as possible to Trump .
Despite Trump 's polarizing stances , her campaign wagered that enthusiasm among the president 's staunchest supporters , coupled with the GOP 's historic advantage among registered voters , could power her and Trump to victory .
On Monday , McSally spoke at her second Trump rally in as many weeks , telling a red-hat-wearing crowd in Prescott that Arizona is `` ground zero '' in the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
This state will decide to send President Trump back for four more years .
This state will decide the Senate majority and stopping the radical left in my race , '' she said .
As if to underscore her Trump bona fides , McSally told the crowd that she would be flying back to Washington on Monday night with Trump aboard Air Force One .
Overall , it 's hard to tell how much , if any , of McSally 's 8-point deficit with voters is tied to Trump 's tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently outperforming McSally in CNBC polls by 2 points , and in several other polls by an even greater margin .
In an election defined so far by record levels of voter enthusiasm , Kelly appears to be reaping the benefits of voter outrage at Trump .
As of Oct. 1 , Kelly 's Senate campaign had raised a staggering $ 83 million , nearly half of it , $ 39 million coming in just between July and September .
According to Open Secrets data , 80 % of Kelly 's individual donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Arizona .
McSally raised $ 23 million during the third quarter , with around 70 % of her donations coming from outside the state .
A key difference , however , is that Kelly has raised these huge amounts while doing practically nothing as a candidate to court his party 's most enthusiastic donors : the base .
On the contrary , the former naval officer has run his race as an independent , taking every opportunity to stress that as a senator he 'll bring `` independent leadership '' to Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Republicans ( including Trump ) on shared priorities .
In keeping with his strategy to insulate his campaign from the left wing of the Democratic Party , Kelly rarely does TV interviews , and he almost never goes on cable news shows .
Kelly did , however , appear on ABC 's `` The View '' in September , where he held up both McCain and another Arizona Republican , the late senator and archconservative Barry Goldwater , as models of bipartisanship .
`` I think Arizonans really like independent leadership , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aisle to get things done for Arizona and the American people .
I mean , your Dad did that , Barry Goldwater , there are lots of examples , '' Kelly told co-host Meghan McCain , daughter of the late senator .
Kelly also dodged a question about Arizona 's shift from red to blue , something most Democratic candidates would jump at the chance to talk about .
`` I do n't know who hands out the colors , there must be someone in Washington , D.C. , who does that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not Kelly wants to talk about it , the reality on the ground is unmistakable : The demographic profile of Arizona voters is changing , and it has been for several years .
And the implications for Republicans and Democrats extend well beyond 2020 contests .
`` There 's a lot that 's going into the way the state is changing this cycle and the past few cycles , '' said Coughlin .
`` It 's an activation of the Hispanic youth vote , the California influx is part of it , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and military bases are factors , too .
In a lot of ways , Arizona is like a cheap Silicon Valley . ''
The growth in Hispanic voters is happening nationwide , but it has been especially pronounced in Arizona in recent years .
In the state 's largest county , Maricopa , 31 % of residents are Latino and in the past four years , twice as many voters in Maricopa County have registered as Democrats than as Republicans .
Another 100,000 Latino voters have turned 18 in the past two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young voters are notoriously difficult to mobilize .
There has also been a major influx of newcomers to the state , making Arizona as a whole and Maricopa County in particular among the fastest growing areas in the United States .
Since 2016 , the number of people who have moved to Arizona is estimated at 300,000 , and fully a quarter of the newcomers hail from California , the nation 's most politically liberal state .
Many of the newcomers have settled in the Phoenix suburbs , where they 've helped to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic candidates win more votes than Republicans do .
To be sure , most of the state 's rural counties remain solidly Republican .
But these sparsely populated areas are no match for the sheer number of people in Maricopa County , around 60 % of the state 's entire population .
This dominance extends to politics .
In 2016 , Maricopa County accounted for 53 % of all the votes cast statewide .
But experts say it 's far too early to count the Republican Party out in the Grand Canyon State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outnumber Democrats statewide .
`` The proportions of registered Republicans and Democrats in Arizona have remained remarkably stable : Registered Republicans solidly outnumber registered Democrats , '' Samara Klar and Christopher Weber of the University of Arizona wrote in The New York Times .
Klar and Weber argue that what 's driving Democrats ' polling advantage this year is n't merely the addition of more Democrats , it 's a loss of Republican support for McSally and Trump .
Experts say this shift away from the top of the ticket has also been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic has had on Arizona , where more than 5,000 people have died from Covid-19 .
Trump , McSally and Ducey have all seen their approval ratings fall this year among Arizona voters , a majority of whom say getting the pandemic under control should be the government 's top priority .
Against the backdrop of these trends , Kelly and his message of bipartisanship and independence seem perfectly tuned to offer disaffected 2016 Trump voters an appealing alternative .
In Kelly 's anti-partisan pitch , Arizona 's wandering Republicans and Arizona 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they agree : Washington is broken .
As Kelly put it in his recent debate with McSally , `` Partisan politics has made this crisis worse , and partisan politics and partisan politicians are not going to get us out of it . ''

Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Democratic challenger Mark Kelly at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 6, 2020. Getty Images
WASHINGTON — A little over two years ago, Arizona was represented in the U.S. Senate by two Republicans, it had a Republican governor and Republicans held majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. If current polling holds, two weeks from now all that will be left of decades of GOP dominance will be Doug Ducey, an unpopular governor who is term-limited out of office in two years. It is across this rapidly shifting political landscape that one of the most consequential Senate races of 2020 is being run, between Republican incumbent Martha McSally and her Democratic challenger, former Navy captain and astronaut Mark Kelly. Ducey appointed McSally to her role in December 2018 after she lost the race for the state's other Senate seat to another Democrat, Kyrsten Sinema. Recent polls show Kelly leading McSally by an average of 8 points. The lead reflects, in part, the shifting demographics of the state, which have helped to tilt electoral outcomes there toward Democrats for the past several cycles. Kelly's strength also stems from voter disapproval of Republican President Donald Trump, whose platform and positions McSally has wholeheartedly supported in Washington. This race is an especially pivotal one for Senate Republicans, who are trying to hold on to their majority amid what both Republican and Democratic strategists predict could be a "blue wave" of Democratic victories at the polls on Nov. 3. But it is not just McSally's Senate seat that may be slipping out of reach for Republicans in Arizona. If current polling trends continue, voters there are poised to hand control of the state House to Democrats, and to split the state Senate down the middle, giving each party 15 seats and ending decades of Republican majority.
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There's more. After breaking for Trump by 4 points in 2016, Arizona voters tell pollsters this year that they plan to vote for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, shifting Arizona's 11 Electoral College votes from Trump's column into Biden's. A recent CNBC/Change Research poll showed Biden leading Trump in Arizona by 6 points, a stunning reversal in a state that has only once gone to a Democratic presidential nominee in the past 72 years.
Comparing the candidates
Arizona is a red state that's turning blue before our very eyes, and it is Kelly, who is spearheading that shift. "The first thing in this race we need to talk about is that Kelly is the best Senate candidate in the country running as a Democrat," said Chuck Coughlin, a longtime Republican political strategist in Arizona. In addition to his career in the Navy and with NASA, the 56-year-old Kelly is the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived a gunshot to the head in 2011. Giffords went on to become a leader of the gun violence prevention movement, and she and Kelly founded the nonprofit Americans for Responsible Solutions.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
Ever since Kelly retired from the Navy in 2011, Democrats have been encouraging him to run for office. But it was only after Trump was elected in 2016, and two years after that, when beloved GOP Sen. John McCain died of glioblastoma, that the pathway to a Senate seat became clear enough to persuade Kelly to run. McSally, 54, also has a military background, having served for more than 25 years in the Air Force, where she became the first woman to fly a fighter jet in combat. A moderate Republican who represented a swing district in Congress, McSally was appointed by Ducey to fill McCain's seat following his death in 2018. At the time, she seemed like a good choice to help keep the seat in Republican hands. But Trump's divisive record and his insistence that Republicans in Congress mirror his positions on every issue have made it much more difficult for moderate Republicans to build winning coalitions of voters. McSally's response has been to fashion herself as "a loyal foot soldier for Trump," said Doug Heye, a longtime Republican strategist in Washington. "When I first met her, she was a very different candidate, back when she was running for the House [in 2012], much more middle of the road." said Heye. Her near total embrace of Trump eight years later "understandably creates a question of authenticity" in voters' minds. But like many vulnerable Republicans this year, McSally decided to run as closely as possible to Trump. Despite Trump's polarizing stances, her campaign wagered that enthusiasm among the president's staunchest supporters, coupled with the GOP's historic advantage among registered voters, could power her and Trump to victory. On Monday, McSally spoke at her second Trump rally in as many weeks, telling a red-hat-wearing crowd in Prescott that Arizona is "ground zero" in the 2020 election. "The country is relying on us. This state will decide to send President Trump back for four more years. This state will decide the Senate majority and stopping the radical left in my race," she said. As if to underscore her Trump bona fides, McSally told the crowd that she would be flying back to Washington on Monday night with Trump aboard Air Force One. Overall, it's hard to tell how much, if any, of McSally's 8-point deficit with voters is tied to Trump's tough reelection fight. Especially since Trump is currently outperforming McSally in CNBC polls by 2 points, and in several other polls by an even greater margin.
Mark Kelly, U.S. Democratic Senate candidate, and his wife Gabby Giffords, former U.S. Representative from Arizona, speak with an attendee during a roundtable discussion with Latino small business owners in Tucson, Arizona, U.S., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. Cheney Orr | Bloomberg | Getty Images
"The Trump people can smell that [McSally] is not really a dyed-in-the-wool Trumper, so she has an enthusiasm problem on the right," said Coughlin, the GOP strategist. "And she's a Republican, so she has a problem on the left." CNBC reached out to McSally's campaign staff and asked them to respond to Heye and Coughlin's critiques, but they did not reply. Neither did Kelly's campaign.
The base and bipartisanship
In an election defined so far by record levels of voter enthusiasm, Kelly appears to be reaping the benefits of voter outrage at Trump. As of Oct. 1, Kelly's Senate campaign had raised a staggering $83 million, nearly half of it, $39 million coming in just between July and September. According to Open Secrets data, 80% of Kelly's individual donations in the race have come from outside of Arizona. McSally raised $23 million during the third quarter, with around 70% of her donations coming from outside the state. A key difference, however, is that Kelly has raised these huge amounts while doing practically nothing as a candidate to court his party's most enthusiastic donors: the base. On the contrary, the former naval officer has run his race as an independent, taking every opportunity to stress that as a senator he'll bring "independent leadership" to Washington and he'll work across the aisle with Republicans (including Trump) on shared priorities. In keeping with his strategy to insulate his campaign from the left wing of the Democratic Party, Kelly rarely does TV interviews, and he almost never goes on cable news shows.
U.S. President Donald Trump points at the wall as he talks with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott while touring a section of recently constructed U.S.-Mexico border wall in San Luis, Arizona, U.S., June 23, 2020. Carlos Barria | Reuters
Kelly did, however, appear on ABC's "The View" in September, where he held up both McCain and another Arizona Republican, the late senator and archconservative Barry Goldwater, as models of bipartisanship. "I think Arizonans really like independent leadership, folks that are willing to work across the aisle to get things done for Arizona and the American people. I mean, your Dad did that, Barry Goldwater, there are lots of examples," Kelly told co-host Meghan McCain, daughter of the late senator. Kelly also dodged a question about Arizona's shift from red to blue, something most Democratic candidates would jump at the chance to talk about. "I don't know who hands out the colors, there must be someone in Washington, D.C., who does that," Kelly said. Whether or not Kelly wants to talk about it, the reality on the ground is unmistakable: The demographic profile of Arizona voters is changing, and it has been for several years. And the implications for Republicans and Democrats extend well beyond 2020 contests.
Arizona is changing
"There's a lot that's going into the way the state is changing this cycle and the past few cycles," said Coughlin. "It's an activation of the Hispanic youth vote, the California influx is part of it, the booming economy, aerospace, defense jobs and military bases are factors, too. In a lot of ways, Arizona is like a cheap Silicon Valley." The growth in Hispanic voters is happening nationwide, but it has been especially pronounced in Arizona in recent years. In the state's largest county, Maricopa, 31% of residents are Latino and in the past four years, twice as many voters in Maricopa County have registered as Democrats than as Republicans.
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cnbc--2020-10-23--Trump campaign ad about America's comeback features footage from Russia and Slovenia

U.S. President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One as he arrives at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix , Arizona , October 19 , 2020 .
The ads featuring footage from Russia and Slovenia were first flagged to CNBC by Democratic super PAC American Bridge .
Trump 's campaign spent over $ 4 million between October 14 and 20 on Facebook ads , the site 's ad tracker says .
It 's the latest instance of the Trump campaign and pro-Trump groups using footage from other countries in their ads .
Trump 's campaign is trying to link @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blast the prior business dealings of his son Hunter Biden .
U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia is attempting to meddle in the 2020 election .
President Donald Trump 's campaign used stock footage from Russia and Slovenia in a digital ad intended to convince voters that America is bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic .
The campaign did not return a request for comment .
One of the Trump campaign 's latest Facebook ads features foreign stock footage from Russia and Slovenia .
It was live on the campaign 's Facebook page between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inactive , Facebook 's ad archive says .
The ad depicted an American flag and then to a scene of what could seem like a tranquil field somewhere in the United States .
The clip of that field is , in fact , from Slovenia , according to the photographer who published the clip on Pond5 , a website that collects stock photos and videos .
The name of the photographer listed on the site is Airstock .
CNBC reached out to the photographer through Pond5 's message portal and was told `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am from Slovenia . ''
The same footage is also available on other stock media sties , such as depositphotos .
Those accounts also label themselves as being from Slovenia .
The voiceover of the ad says , `` In a face of a trial unlike any other , America is doing what we always do , '' as the clip continues into the scene of the field in Slovenia .
It goes on to say , `` We are rising to the occasion .
Thanks to the bold actions of President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producing a Covid-19 vaccine faster than anyone thought possible . ''
As the ad says , `` Together we will beat this virus , '' a woman who appears to be a doctor pops up on screen .
A review of Shutterstock footage shows that the doctor seems to come from the account of a photographer with the online name of Right Cameraman .
After a CNBC inquiry , Right Cameraman said in an email that the woman posing as a doctor in the clip was `` an actress , filmed in Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographer also said he had no knowledge that his video was being used in the ad until CNBC contacted him .
The ad , according to data from the Facebook ad , archive shows it did not make many impressions .
More than 30 % who did view the spot were women between the ages of 55 and 64 ; 27 % of then were men from that same age group .
Another Trump campaign digital ad with stock footage derived from Russia was previously published on Google .
It attempts to depict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Xi Jinping and suggests that if he becomes president , that allegiance will lead to losses of American jobs .
A scene of a plane flying over a Beijing sign was tagged by Pond5 as being produced in Russia .
The person who published the scene says on the website `` envato market '' they are based out of the Russian Federation .
Google 's Transparency Report , which tracks the amount of money being spent on Google ads , said the ad ran for five days until around October 19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made up to 100,000 impressions .
Google says it cost the campaign up to $ 1,000 .

U.S. President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One as he arrives at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, October 19, 2020.
The ads featuring footage from Russia and Slovenia were first flagged to CNBC by Democratic super PAC American Bridge. Trump's campaign spent over $4 million between October 14 and 20 on Facebook ads, the site's ad tracker says.
It's the latest instance of the Trump campaign and pro-Trump groups using footage from other countries in their ads. Trump's campaign is trying to link Democratic rival Joe Biden to China and blast the prior business dealings of his son Hunter Biden. U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia is attempting to meddle in the 2020 election.
President Donald Trump's campaign used stock footage from Russia and Slovenia in a digital ad intended to convince voters that America is bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic.
The campaign did not return a request for comment.
One of the Trump campaign's latest Facebook ads features foreign stock footage from Russia and Slovenia. It was live on the campaign's Facebook page between October 15 and 16 and is now inactive, Facebook's ad archive says.
The ad depicted an American flag and then to a scene of what could seem like a tranquil field somewhere in the United States.
The clip of that field is, in fact, from Slovenia, according to the photographer who published the clip on Pond5, a website that collects stock photos and videos. The name of the photographer listed on the site is Airstock. CNBC reached out to the photographer through Pond5's message portal and was told "it was shot in Slovenia and I am from Slovenia."
The same footage is also available on other stock media sties, such as depositphotos. Those accounts also label themselves as being from Slovenia.
The voiceover of the ad says, "In a face of a trial unlike any other, America is doing what we always do," as the clip continues into the scene of the field in Slovenia. It goes on to say, "We are rising to the occasion. Thanks to the bold actions of President Trump, we are on the verge of producing a Covid-19 vaccine faster than anyone thought possible."
As the ad says, "Together we will beat this virus," a woman who appears to be a doctor pops up on screen. A review of Shutterstock footage shows that the doctor seems to come from the account of a photographer with the online name of Right Cameraman. After a CNBC inquiry, Right Cameraman said in an email that the woman posing as a doctor in the clip was "an actress, filmed in Russia in a studio."
The Russia-based photographer also said he had no knowledge that his video was being used in the ad until CNBC contacted him.
The ad, according to data from the Facebook ad, archive shows it did not make many impressions. More than 30% who did view the spot were women between the ages of 55 and 64; 27% of then were men from that same age group.
Another Trump campaign digital ad with stock footage derived from Russia was previously published on Google. It attempts to depict Biden as a strong ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping and suggests that if he becomes president, that allegiance will lead to losses of American jobs.
A scene of a plane flying over a Beijing sign was tagged by Pond5 as being produced in Russia. The person who published the scene says on the website "envato market" they are based out of the Russian Federation.
Google's Transparency Report, which tracks the amount of money being spent on Google ads, said the ad ran for five days until around October 19. It targeted the battleground state Michigan and made up to 100,000 impressions. Google says it cost the campaign up to $1,000.


cnbc--2020-10-22--Joe Biden is ready for Trump's debate attacks on his family, his campaign says

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks 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 , September 29 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is ready for President Donald Trump to unleash a torrent of attacks on Biden 's family Thursday night at the final presidential debate , Biden campaign aides said .
`` We expect that Trump will attack Vice President Biden and his family , '' said deputy campaign manager Kate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Every time he does that , all he 's doing is reinforcing what we have said all along : He is acknowledging that he has no case for a second term . ''
Down in the polls with 12 days to go , Trump has seized on recently released emails allegedly taken off a laptop belonging to Biden 's son Hunter .
The emails have not been independently verified .
Intelligence analysts say that the timing of their release , and their murky provenance , bear the hallmarks of Russian election interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly this week that Biden be prosecuted for unidentified crimes .
Earlier this week a reporter asked Trump what exactly he was claiming Biden had done wrong .
Trump replied simply : `` He is a criminal .
He 's a criminal .
... Let me tell you something : Joe Biden is a criminal , and he 's been a criminal for a long time . ''
`` These attacks are backfiring on Trump , '' said Bedingfield .
`` Voters are sick and tired of Trump 's lies , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a year . ''
Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani have spent more than a year trying to sow suspicion that Biden used his position as vice president to help his son 's business ventures in Ukraine .
But a Republican-led Senate probe earlier this year found no wrongdoing on Biden 's part .
Biden has stayed out of the spotlight most of the week , preparing for the high-stakes debate in Nashville .
The narrative of secret emails released just weeks before a presidential election in an attempt to damage the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
In 2016 , Russian intelligence units hacked the Democratic National Committee and released emails intended to damage then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton .
Bedingfield said it 's no secret that Russia and other foreign countries are seeking to interfere with the U.S. election .
`` What 's most troubling is that Donald Trump and his campaign seem perfectly comfortable using what many believe to be foreign attempts at interference for their own political gain , '' she said .
This is likely to be the centerpiece of Biden 's rebuttal against Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no `` there '' there .
But more importantly , that Trump is once again using the product of suspected Russian interference to try to smear his opponent days away from an election .
`` I think the contrast here is incredibly strong , '' said Bedingfield .
`` In Joe Biden , you have somebody who has said unequivocally that foreign interference in our elections is not something he will tolerate , not something he would tolerate if he were president .
And you ca n't say the same for Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign held its own pre-debate call .
That call was focused solely on recent allegations against the Bidens , and the campaign participants refused to answer any questions outside of that subject .
When NPR 's Tamara Keith attempted to ask about Trump 's debate preparations , Ambassador Richard Grenell responded , `` Have you reported on the Biden emails ? ''
Keith replied that she covers the Trump campaign , not the Biden campaign .
When Grenell began to press the issue , Keith cut in to note that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 'm speaking , I 'm speaking .
Do n't be homophobic , '' said Grenell , who is gay .
`` Do n't interrupt , do n't interrupt , do n't interrupt .
I 'm speaking . ''
The 90-minute debate will air across broadcast TV and cable news stations starting at 9 p.m .
ET .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks 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, September 29, 2020.
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is ready for President Donald Trump to unleash a torrent of attacks on Biden's family Thursday night at the final presidential debate, Biden campaign aides said.
"We expect that Trump will attack Vice President Biden and his family," said deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield on a pre-debate conference call. "Every time he does that, all he's doing is reinforcing what we have said all along: He is acknowledging that he has no case for a second term."
Down in the polls with 12 days to go, Trump has seized on recently released emails allegedly taken off a laptop belonging to Biden's son Hunter. The emails have not been independently verified.
Intelligence analysts say that the timing of their release, and their murky provenance, bear the hallmarks of Russian election interference.
Trump, nonetheless, has demanded repeatedly this week that Biden be prosecuted for unidentified crimes. Earlier this week a reporter asked Trump what exactly he was claiming Biden had done wrong. Trump replied simply: "He is a criminal. He's a criminal. ... Let me tell you something: Joe Biden is a criminal, and he's been a criminal for a long time."
"These attacks are backfiring on Trump," said Bedingfield. "Voters are sick and tired of Trump's lies, and we've heard the same debunked attacks for over a year."
Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani have spent more than a year trying to sow suspicion that Biden used his position as vice president to help his son's business ventures in Ukraine. But a Republican-led Senate probe earlier this year found no wrongdoing on Biden's part.
Biden has stayed out of the spotlight most of the week, preparing for the high-stakes debate in Nashville.
The narrative of secret emails released just weeks before a presidential election in an attempt to damage the opponent of Donald Trump is a familiar one. In 2016, Russian intelligence units hacked the Democratic National Committee and released emails intended to damage then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Bedingfield said it's no secret that Russia and other foreign countries are seeking to interfere with the U.S. election. "What's most troubling is that Donald Trump and his campaign seem perfectly comfortable using what many believe to be foreign attempts at interference for their own political gain," she said.
This is likely to be the centerpiece of Biden's rebuttal against Trump's attacks. Firstly that there's no "there" there. But more importantly, that Trump is once again using the product of suspected Russian interference to try to smear his opponent days away from an election.
"I think the contrast here is incredibly strong," said Bedingfield. "In Joe Biden, you have somebody who has said unequivocally that foreign interference in our elections is not something he will tolerate, not something he would tolerate if he were president. And you can't say the same for Donald Trump."
Following the Biden call, the Trump campaign held its own pre-debate call.
That call was focused solely on recent allegations against the Bidens, and the campaign participants refused to answer any questions outside of that subject.
When NPR's Tamara Keith attempted to ask about Trump's debate preparations, Ambassador Richard Grenell responded, "Have you reported on the Biden emails?"
Keith replied that she covers the Trump campaign, not the Biden campaign. When Grenell began to press the issue, Keith cut in to note that she has colleagues who have covered the allegations.
"I'm speaking, I'm speaking. Don't be homophobic," said Grenell, who is gay. "Don't interrupt, don't interrupt, don't interrupt. I'm speaking."
The 90-minute debate will air across broadcast TV and cable news stations starting at 9 p.m. ET.
– CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this article.


cnbc--2020-10-22--White House says Trump tests negative for coronavirus before debate with Biden

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to reporters as he walks from Marine One with first lady Melania Trump to board Air Force One as they depart Washington on campaign travel to Nashville , Tennessee to attend his second and final debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , at Joint Base Andrews , Maryland , U.S. , October 22 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump tested negative for the coronavirus ahead of his final debate with former Vice President Joe Biden , the White House said Thursday .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Trump was tested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveled to the debate hall in Nashville , Tennessee , where he will face off against Biden for the second and final time before Election Day .
Chief of staff Mark Meadows also told reporters that Trump tested negative .
The debate is set to kick off at 9 p.m .
ET .
It will be moderated by NBC News ' Kristen Welker .
Trump and Biden had first participated in a messy , rancorous brawl of a debate in late September .
Days after that event , Trump announced that he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .
It was unclear when he had first been infected or by whom .

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to reporters as he walks from Marine One with first lady Melania Trump to board Air Force One as they depart Washington on campaign travel to Nashville, Tennessee to attend his second and final debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., October 22, 2020.
President Donald Trump tested negative for the coronavirus ahead of his final debate with former Vice President Joe Biden, the White House said Thursday.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Trump was tested for Covid-19 on Air Force One as he traveled to the debate hall in Nashville, Tennessee, where he will face off against Biden for the second and final time before Election Day.
Chief of staff Mark Meadows also told reporters that Trump tested negative.
The debate is set to kick off at 9 p.m. ET. It will be moderated by NBC News' Kristen Welker.
Trump and Biden had first participated in a messy, rancorous brawl of a debate in late September. Days after that event, Trump announced that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19. It was unclear when he had first been infected or by whom.


cnbc--2020-10-22--Progressive lawmakers call on congressional leaders to prepare for next pandemic

More than 100 Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives , largely progressives , are calling on congressional leaders to take steps to prepare the United States for the next pandemic and mitigate racial disparities in U.S. health care .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, and Rep. Ro Khanna , D-Calif. , spearheaded a letter sent to the top Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate on Thursday calling on them to `` lay the groundwork to prevent and mitigate future pandemics . ''
`` In addition to passing a robust package to address the current crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps now to ensure the nation is better prepared for the next pandemic , '' the lawmakers wrote .
The push from the left just a few days before the election between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden provides an indication of the kind of pressure Biden could face to act swiftly if he is swept into power alongside a Democratic Senate .
Some of the details in the letter mirror those in Biden 's own plan , which notes that `` even as we respond to this crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
A Warren aide did n't say whether Biden 's campaign was in the loop on the letter but noted that the policies it advocated for were consistent with the presidential contender 's plans as well as his ability to implement them .
The five-page letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif .
It called on the leaders to take five steps : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestic health programs at the state , local , territorial and tribal level and replenish the Strategic National Stockpile .
• Ensure the White House collaborates with international health groups and boost the government 's funding to international organizations such as the World Health Organization .
• Create 250,000 jobs responsible for executing `` key public health initiatives '' such as contact tracing and disease surveillance .
• Address racial disparities by ensuring `` everyone in America has access to high-quality health care '' as well as requiring companies developing or producing future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make pricing `` reasonable . ''
• Halt environmental degradation , including wildlife trafficking and deforestation , which can contribute to the growth of pandemics .
In addition to Warren and Khanna , 139 other Democrats signed the letter , including Sens .
Bernie Sanders of Vermont , Ed Markey of Massachusetts , Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York .
In the House , three members of the `` squad '' — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York , Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of @ @ @ @ @

More than 100 Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives, largely progressives, are calling on congressional leaders to take steps to prepare the United States for the next pandemic and mitigate racial disparities in U.S. health care.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., spearheaded a letter sent to the top Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate on Thursday calling on them to "lay the groundwork to prevent and mitigate future pandemics."
"In addition to passing a robust package to address the current crisis, we must take bold and comprehensive steps now to ensure the nation is better prepared for the next pandemic," the lawmakers wrote.
The push from the left just a few days before the election between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden provides an indication of the kind of pressure Biden could face to act swiftly if he is swept into power alongside a Democratic Senate.
Some of the details in the letter mirror those in Biden's own plan, which notes that "even as we respond to this crisis, we must prepare for the next one."
A Warren aide didn't say whether Biden's campaign was in the loop on the letter but noted that the policies it advocated for were consistent with the presidential contender's plans as well as his ability to implement them.
The five-page letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
It called on the leaders to take five steps:
Commit billions of dollars in funding to domestic health programs at the state, local, territorial and tribal level and replenish the Strategic National Stockpile.
Ensure the White House collaborates with international health groups and boost the government's funding to international organizations such as the World Health Organization.
Create 250,000 jobs responsible for executing "key public health initiatives" such as contact tracing and disease surveillance.
Address racial disparities by ensuring "everyone in America has access to high-quality health care" as well as requiring companies developing or producing future pandemic therapeutics or vaccines with federal funding to make pricing "reasonable."
Halt environmental degradation, including wildlife trafficking and deforestation, which can contribute to the growth of pandemics.
In addition to Warren and Khanna, 139 other Democrats signed the letter, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. In the House, three members of the "squad" — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts — also signed.
Read the full letter.


cnbc--2020-10-22--Appeals court says Manhattan DA can't prosecute former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort due to dou

Appeals court says Manhattan DA can't prosecute former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort due to double jeopardy rule

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is escorted into court for his arraignment in New York Supreme Court , June 27 , 2019 .
A New York state court appeals panel ruled Thursday that Paul Manafort , the disgraced former chief of President Donald Trump 's 2016 campaign , can not be prosecuted on state criminal charges related to the same conduct that led to his federal criminal convictions .
The ruling upheld a decision last December by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Maxwell Wiley , which said that the rule of double jeopardy barred Manafort from being prosecuted for mortgage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. 's office .
`` It is undisputed that the federal charges of which defendant has already been convicted involve the same fraud , against the same victims , as is charged in his New York indictment , '' the ruling , issued by the state Supreme Court 's appellate division , said .
The ruling could stop efforts to put Manafort back behind bars and to short-circuit the effect of a possible pardon of him by Trump for his federal convictions .
Manafort was released from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his 7½-year federal sentence in home confinement due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic spreading in prisons .
Vance 's spokesman , Danny Frost , said in response to the ruling , `` We will consider our appellate options . ''
Manafort 's lawyer , Todd Blanche , in an emailed statement said , `` We are pleased '' with the decision .
`` As we have said from the time the District Attorney announced charges against Mr. Manafort , this is a case that should never have been brought because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York law , '' Blanche said .
`` As the Appellate Division held , the People 's arguments 'fall far short ' of triggering an exception to double jeopardy that would justify this prosecution . ''
Manafort , 71 , was convicted at a federal trial and in a subsequent guilty plea in another federal court in 2018 of multiple crimes related to money he earned from consulting work for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine .
His work in Ukraine predated his service in Trump 's 2016 presidential campaign .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes in an indictment obtained by Vance right after being sentenced on the federal charges in 2019 .

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is escorted into court for his arraignment in New York Supreme Court, June 27, 2019.
A New York state court appeals panel ruled Thursday that Paul Manafort, the disgraced former chief of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, cannot be prosecuted on state criminal charges related to the same conduct that led to his federal criminal convictions.
The ruling upheld a decision last December by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Maxwell Wiley, which said that the rule of double jeopardy barred Manafort from being prosecuted for mortgage fraud, conspiracy and falsifying business records by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.'s office.
"It is undisputed that the federal charges of which defendant has already been convicted involve the same fraud, against the same victims, as is charged in his New York indictment," the ruling, issued by the state Supreme Court's appellate division, said.
The ruling could stop efforts to put Manafort back behind bars and to short-circuit the effect of a possible pardon of him by Trump for his federal convictions.
Manafort was released from prison last May to serve the balance of his 7½-year federal sentence in home confinement due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic spreading in prisons.
Vance's spokesman, Danny Frost, said in response to the ruling, "We will consider our appellate options."
Manafort's lawyer, Todd Blanche, in an emailed statement said, "We are pleased" with the decision.
"As we have said from the time the District Attorney announced charges against Mr. Manafort, this is a case that should never have been brought because the dismissed indictment is a clear violation of New York law," Blanche said.
"As the Appellate Division held, the People's arguments 'fall far short' of triggering an exception to double jeopardy that would justify this prosecution."
Manafort, 71, was convicted at a federal trial and in a subsequent guilty plea in another federal court in 2018 of multiple crimes related to money he earned from consulting work for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine. His work in Ukraine predated his service in Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
The longtime Republican operative was charged with state crimes in an indictment obtained by Vance right after being sentenced on the federal charges in 2019.


cnbc--2020-10-22--Pelosi cautions that Congress may be far from passing a stimulus bill despite progress on a deal

While Democrats and the White House are close to reaching a coronavirus stimulus deal , it could take a lot longer to write and vote on a bill , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday .
The California Democrat plans to speak to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin again Thursday as they try to craft an aid agreement .
While the speaker said the sides are `` just about there '' on reaching a deal , she cautioned that passing it into law will take time as she and the Trump administration try to iron out remaining issues .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next few days , it 'll take a while to write the bill , '' Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol .
The House speaker said the sides still have not come to a consensus on several topics that have flummoxed negotiators during months of on-again , off-again talks .
Those include aid to state and local governments , liability protections for businesses , and funding for the U.S. Census and election systems .
The failure to reach an accord by now has made it all but impossible for lawmakers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or boost a sluggish economy before the Nov. 3 election .
However , Pelosi said she believes `` both sides want to reach an agreement '' during what she called a `` serious attempt '' to provide aid .
`` We can do something great , and I 'm still optimistic that we can do that , '' she said .

While Democrats and the White House are close to reaching a coronavirus stimulus deal, it could take a lot longer to write and vote on a bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday.
The California Democrat plans to speak to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin again Thursday as they try to craft an aid agreement. While the speaker said the sides are "just about there" on reaching a deal, she cautioned that passing it into law will take time as she and the Trump administration try to iron out remaining issues.
"If we can resolve some of these things in the next few days, it'll take a while to write the bill," Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol.
The House speaker said the sides still have not come to a consensus on several topics that have flummoxed negotiators during months of on-again, off-again talks. Those include aid to state and local governments, liability protections for businesses, and funding for the U.S. Census and election systems.
The failure to reach an accord by now has made it all but impossible for lawmakers to inject money into the fight against Covid-19 or boost a sluggish economy before the Nov. 3 election. However, Pelosi said she believes "both sides want to reach an agreement" during what she called a "serious attempt" to provide aid.
"We can do something great, and I'm still optimistic that we can do that," she said.


cnbc--2020-10-22--Biden holds edge in swing state polls while his large national lead over Trump shrinks slightly

President Donald Trump still trails former Vice President Joe Biden in polling averages , including in swing states , but the wide national gap has slightly shrunk as the candidates sprint toward Election Day with less than two weeks to go .
• The NBC News national polling average had Biden up more than 8 percentage points over Trump , 51 % -42.7 % .
That figure , down nearly 1 point since last week , is based on an unweighted average of the 10 most recent reliable public opinion polls .
• The RealClearPolitics general election polling average showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seven days ago , the Democrat held a 9.2-point edge .
• FiveThirtyEight 's national polling tracker gave Biden a 9.9-point advantage , 0.4 percentage points lower than where he stood a week earlier .
But its models maintained that Biden has an 87 % chance of winning the election .
The narrowing trend may offer a sign of encouragement for Trump , who is also behind Biden in favorability ratings and campaign fundraising numbers .
With 12 days left until the election , however , the shift hardly suggests the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory .
But the presidency is not determined by the candidate with the most votes .
In 2016 , Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won more than 2 million more votes than Trump , but still lost the election following a series of razor-thin defeats in key swing states that handed the Republican a majority of the Electoral College .
At this point in the race four years ago , Clinton , like Biden , held a sizable lead in national polls .
She also led Trump , by a smaller margin , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proved decisive in her defeat .
RealClearPolitics shows that Biden is ahead of where Clinton stood in these states 12 days out from Election Day .
The most recent CNBC/Change Research polls , released earlier this week , show Biden with leads in six key states , although some are tighter : Even if Trump catches up to Biden in the polls by Nov. 3 , it might be too late .
Mail-in voting numbers and early voting totals in numerous states are already leaps and bounds ahead of where they were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than 45 million Americans had already cast their ballots , according to U.S .
Elections Project data .
The 2016 race turned dramatically in late October , when focus veered toward Clinton 's use of a private email server .
Controversies over emails had already played a major role in the election , following leaks of messages belonging to Democratic National Committee members that were stolen by Russian hackers .
But then-FBI Director James Comey 's public remarks about the Democrat 's emails , delivered just a few days before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her the presidency .
A number of `` October surprise '' -like events have already transpired in 2020 , and so far none of them has significantly changed experts ' views of the race .
Trump 's announcement in early October that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus , and his subsequent hospitalization , coincided with a bump in the polls for Biden .
But the president left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after three days and has since returned to a jam-packed travel schedule , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his favor .
In recent days , the Trump campaign and its supporters have seized on another report about emails — this time from Biden 's son Hunter Biden .
The New York Post alleges the emails show Hunter Biden attempted to set up a meeting between his father and a top executive at a Ukrainian company he worked for while Joe Biden was vice president .
The report , which cites Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former top advisor Steve Bannon as sources , has been treated with skepticism by other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come up Thursday night , when Trump and Biden face off in their second and final debate before the election .
The event , set to start at 9 p.m .
ET in Nashville , will include a few changes made after the candidates ' unruly first face-off in late September .
Most notably , Trump and Biden will have their microphones turned off at certain times in order to avoid a shouting match mired in crosstalk and insults — as happened in the first debate .
Viewers largely recoiled at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won .
It 's unclear if Trump , who interrupted far more than Biden and at times even lashed out at the moderator , will take a different approach Thursday night .
He has already criticized NBC News ' Kristen Welker , who is set to moderate the Nashville event , as `` unfair . ''
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien also shared a public letter urging the Commission on Presidential Debates to focus the debate on foreign policy .
But the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be a main issue .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from Covid-19 , and more than 8.33 million cases have been reported , according to Johns Hopkins University .

President Donald Trump still trails former Vice President Joe Biden in polling averages, including in swing states, but the wide national gap has slightly shrunk as the candidates sprint toward Election Day with less than two weeks to go.
Here's what some nationwide polling trackers showed Thursday morning:
The NBC News national polling average had Biden up more than 8 percentage points over Trump, 51%-42.7%. That figure, down nearly 1 point since last week, is based on an unweighted average of the 10 most recent reliable public opinion polls.
The RealClearPolitics general election polling average showed Biden with a 7.5-point lead over Trump. Seven days ago, the Democrat held a 9.2-point edge.
FiveThirtyEight's national polling tracker gave Biden a 9.9-point advantage, 0.4 percentage points lower than where he stood a week earlier. But its models maintained that Biden has an 87% chance of winning the election.
The narrowing trend may offer a sign of encouragement for Trump, who is also behind Biden in favorability ratings and campaign fundraising numbers. With 12 days left until the election, however, the shift hardly suggests the president is likely to secure a popular vote victory.
But the presidency is not determined by the candidate with the most votes. In 2016, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won more than 2 million more votes than Trump, but still lost the election following a series of razor-thin defeats in key swing states that handed the Republican a majority of the Electoral College.
At this point in the race four years ago, Clinton, like Biden, held a sizable lead in national polls. She also led Trump, by a smaller margin, in a handful of swing states that ultimately proved decisive in her defeat. RealClearPolitics shows that Biden is ahead of where Clinton stood in these states 12 days out from Election Day.
The most recent CNBC/Change Research polls, released earlier this week, show Biden with leads in six key states, although some are tighter:
Arizona: Biden 51%, Trump 45% (+6)
Biden 51%, Trump 45% (+6) Florida: Biden 50%, Trump 45% (+5)
Biden 50%, Trump 45% (+5) Michigan: Biden 51%, Trump 44% (+7)
Biden 51%, Trump 44% (+7) North Carolina: Biden 50%, Trump 47% (+3)
Biden 50%, Trump 47% (+3) Pennsylvania: Biden 49%, Trump 47% (+2)
Biden 49%, Trump 47% (+2) Wisconsin: Biden 52%, Trump 44% (+8)
Even if Trump catches up to Biden in the polls by Nov. 3, it might be too late. Mail-in voting numbers and early voting totals in numerous states are already leaps and bounds ahead of where they were in past elections. As of Thursday morning, more than 45 million Americans had already cast their ballots, according to U.S. Elections Project data.
The 2016 race turned dramatically in late October, when focus veered toward Clinton's use of a private email server. Controversies over emails had already played a major role in the election, following leaks of messages belonging to Democratic National Committee members that were stolen by Russian hackers. But then-FBI Director James Comey's public remarks about the Democrat's emails, delivered just a few days before the 2016 election, are arguably what cost her the presidency.
A number of "October surprise"-like events have already transpired in 2020, and so far none of them has significantly changed experts' views of the race.
Trump's announcement in early October that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, and his subsequent hospitalization, coincided with a bump in the polls for Biden. But the president left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after three days and has since returned to a jam-packed travel schedule, an apparent recovery that some say might work in his favor.
In recent days, the Trump campaign and its supporters have seized on another report about emails — this time from Biden's son Hunter Biden. The New York Post alleges the emails show Hunter Biden attempted to set up a meeting between his father and a top executive at a Ukrainian company he worked for while Joe Biden was vice president.
The report, which cites Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former top advisor Steve Bannon as sources, has been treated with skepticism by other news outlets. But it's likely to come up Thursday night, when Trump and Biden face off in their second and final debate before the election.
The event, set to start at 9 p.m. ET in Nashville, will include a few changes made after the candidates' unruly first face-off in late September. Most notably, Trump and Biden will have their microphones turned off at certain times in order to avoid a shouting match mired in crosstalk and insults — as happened in the first debate.
Viewers largely recoiled at the ugly display, though polls showed Biden won. It's unclear if Trump, who interrupted far more than Biden and at times even lashed out at the moderator, will take a different approach Thursday night. He has already criticized NBC News' Kristen Welker, who is set to moderate the Nashville event, as "unfair."
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien also shared a public letter urging the Commission on Presidential Debates to focus the debate on foreign policy. But the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be a main issue.
At least 222,220 people in the U.S. have died from Covid-19, and more than 8.33 million cases have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University.


cnbc--2020-10-22--Ghislaine Maxwell said under oath that she 'never' saw Jeffrey Epstein have sex 'with a minor,' unse

Ghislaine Maxwell said under oath that she 'never' saw Jeffrey Epstein have sex 'with a minor,' unsealed deposition reveals

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls , in Manhattan Federal Court , in New York , July 14 , 2020 in this courtroom sketch .
Ghislaine Maxwell , the accused procurer for late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , said under oath that she `` never saw any inappropriate underage activities with Jeffrey ever , '' a newly released deposition of the British socialite revealed Thursday .
`` I am not addressing any questions about consensual adult sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while being questioned in April 2016 by a lawyer for Virginia Giuffre , who claimed she was sexually abused by Epstein years earlier .
`` I never saw any inappropriate underage activities with Jeffrey ever , '' Maxwell said .
`` I never observed Jeffrey having sex with a minor . ''
Multiple women have said Epstein sexually abused and exploited them when they were underage , and Maxwell has been accused of acting as a recruiter of teenage girls for her former boyfriend , Epstein , whose properties she managed for years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the abuse .
She adamantly denies those claims .
Epstein had socialized for years with wealthy and powerful people , including Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton , as well as with Britain 's Prince Andrew .

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls, in Manhattan Federal Court, in New York, July 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the accused procurer for late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, said under oath that she "never saw any inappropriate underage activities with Jeffrey ever," a newly released deposition of the British socialite revealed Thursday.
"I am not addressing any questions about consensual adult sex," Maxwell, 58, said while being questioned in April 2016 by a lawyer for Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was sexually abused by Epstein years earlier.
"I never saw any inappropriate underage activities with Jeffrey ever," Maxwell said.
"I never observed Jeffrey having sex with a minor."
Multiple women have said Epstein sexually abused and exploited them when they were underage, and Maxwell has been accused of acting as a recruiter of teenage girls for her former boyfriend, Epstein, whose properties she managed for years.
Some accusers have said Maxwell participated in the abuse. She adamantly denies those claims.
Epstein had socialized for years with wealthy and powerful people, including Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as with Britain's Prince Andrew.


cnbc--2020-10-22--Republicans vote to advance Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to advance the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court over a boycott from the committee 's Democrats .
The vote paves the way for the full Senate to confirm Barrett to the high court on Monday , ahead of the Nov. 3 election between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden .
Trump has repeatedly pressed for Barrett to be placed on the high court in time to resolve any election-related litigation , a request that Democrats see as a plain call for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winner if the outcome is contested .
The swift action by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , R , S-C. , to meet Trump 's deadline will make Barrett the first justice in history to be confirmed so close to Election Day .
Barrett , who was a professor at Notre Dame Law School until Trump nominated her to serve on the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals approximately three years ago , will be the sixth Republican-appointee on the nine-judge Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump nominated her to the high court last month after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , a liberal icon who served on the bench for 27 years .
Ginsburg expressed a dying wish not to be replaced until after the election .
As Ginsburg 's replacement , Barrett is expected to shift the court 's center of gravity decisively to the right , potentially imperiling the Democratic agenda items on health care , abortion access and the Second Amendment .
In focus is a Nov. 10 case the court will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also known as the Affordable Care Act .
While the Democrats did not appear at Thursday 's committee hearing , they left supersized posters of individuals who rely on the law in their seats .
Republicans denounced the gesture as theatrics .
Barrett declined to provide specifics about her views on Obamacare during two days of questioning before the committee last week , but reaffirmed her originalist method of interpretation and her affinity for the late Justice Antonin Scalia , the conservative hero for whom she clerked early in her career .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obamacare , the conservative said she would approach the Nov. 10 case with an open mind if confirmed .
She noted that the upcoming case raises questions about a legal doctrine upon which she had not previously expressed an opinion .
Some progressives were outraged by Democrats ' handling of Barrett 's confirmation hearings , arguing they lent legitimacy to a process at odds with McConnell 's 2016 refusal to even hold hearings for President Barack Obama 's nominee Judge Merrick Garland .
Organizations with power on the left , including Justice Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , the committee 's top Democrat , to step down .
Democrats on Wednesday announced that they would boycott Thursday 's hearing .
`` We will not grant this process any further legitimacy by participating in a committee markup of this nomination just twelve days before the culmination of an election that is already underway , '' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , said in a statement that was joined by the committee 's Democrats .
At the start of the hearing , Graham addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not going to allow them to take over the committee . ''
`` They made a choice not to participate , '' he said .

watch now
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to advance the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court over a boycott from the committee's Democrats. The vote paves the way for the full Senate to confirm Barrett to the high court on Monday, ahead of the Nov. 3 election between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump has repeatedly pressed for Barrett to be placed on the high court in time to resolve any election-related litigation, a request that Democrats see as a plain call for the court's conservative majority to declare him the winner if the outcome is contested. The swift action by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R, S-C., to meet Trump's deadline will make Barrett the first justice in history to be confirmed so close to Election Day.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) arrives next to U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) for a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., October 22, 2020. Hannah Mackay | Reuters
Barrett, who was a professor at Notre Dame Law School until Trump nominated her to serve on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals approximately three years ago, will be the sixth Republican-appointee on the nine-judge Supreme Court, and Trump's third nominee. Trump nominated her to the high court last month after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon who served on the bench for 27 years. Ginsburg expressed a dying wish not to be replaced until after the election. As Ginsburg's replacement, Barrett is expected to shift the court's center of gravity decisively to the right, potentially imperiling the Democratic agenda items on health care, abortion access and the Second Amendment. In focus is a Nov. 10 case the court will hear over the constitutionality of Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act. While the Democrats did not appear at Thursday's committee hearing, they left supersized posters of individuals who rely on the law in their seats. Republicans denounced the gesture as theatrics.
Democratic Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee boycott the committee vote on Amy Coney Barrett to serve as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of the United States during a Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 22, 2020. Caroline Brehman | CQ Roll Call | Reuters


cnbc--2020-10-22--GOP’s Marco Rubio: I'm open to voting for higher Covid stimulus because Americans need help

Sen. Marco Rubio told CNBC on Thursday he would be willing to support a more expensive coronavirus stimulus package than he 'd like because failing to provide financial relief to Americans and U.S. businesses presents larger risks to the U.S. economy .
`` No one is going to get everything they want here , and from my perspective , that means the bill on this is probably going to be higher than I want it to be and I 'm very uncomfortable with that , '' the Florida Republican said on `` Squawk Box . ''
However , he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not doing something is even higher .
So as long as it 's limited in some way , as long as it 's not crazy , yes I 'm willing to be flexible about it because I think it 's that important . ''
Rubio 's comments came one day after Senate Democrats again blocked an effort from Republicans in the chamber to pass a $ 500 billion coronavirus relief bill , which included additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program .
Democrats say it does n't offer enough help .
House Speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiate with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for a larger stimulus package as millions of Americans remain out of work during the pandemic .
The two are expected to talk again Thursday to see if they can narrow their differences and reach a deal before the Nov. 3 election .
House Democrats most recently passed a $ 2.2 trillion bill , while the White House has put forward a nearly $ 1.9 trillion proposal .
Pelosi and Democratic leaders have consistently been opposed to GOP proposals for so-called skinny stimulus bills , contending a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is necessary due to the scale of the pandemic 's economic and health implications .
By contrast , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , has warned that approving a deal that costs more than $ 2 trillion before the election could cause divisions within the GOP caucus .
`` Clearly there are Republicans in the Senate that will not vote for a deal that goes to $ 1.6 trillion , $ 1.8 trillion , '' said Rubio , chairman of Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship .
While he said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that price tag either , `` I 'm willing to vote for things I 'm not in favor of in order to pass the things I think are essential and important for our country , within reason . ''
Rubio expressed concerns about small businesses that are struggling to keep their doors open and Americans who are facing challenges around housing .
He also warned that `` we have n't seen the worst yet from some cities and counties '' as they face budget gaps from declining tax revenues .
`` In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk here of structural damage to components of our economy if we do n't do something , '' he said .
`` I have more optimism that we 're going to have a deal on stimulus .
I do n't know if it will be before the election just simply because of the calendar and some of the time constraints we face . ''

Sen. Marco Rubio told CNBC on Thursday he would be willing to support a more expensive coronavirus stimulus package than he'd like because failing to provide financial relief to Americans and U.S. businesses presents larger risks to the U.S. economy.
"No one is going to get everything they want here, and from my perspective, that means the bill on this is probably going to be higher than I want it to be and I'm very uncomfortable with that," the Florida Republican said on "Squawk Box."
However, he added, "I think the price of not doing something is even higher. So as long as it's limited in some way, as long as it's not crazy, yes I'm willing to be flexible about it because I think it's that important."
Rubio's comments came one day after Senate Democrats again blocked an effort from Republicans in the chamber to pass a $500 billion coronavirus relief bill, which included additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. Democrats say it doesn't offer enough help.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., continues to negotiate with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for a larger stimulus package as millions of Americans remain out of work during the pandemic. The two are expected to talk again Thursday to see if they can narrow their differences and reach a deal before the Nov. 3 election. House Democrats most recently passed a $2.2 trillion bill, while the White House has put forward a nearly $1.9 trillion proposal.
Pelosi and Democratic leaders have consistently been opposed to GOP proposals for so-called skinny stimulus bills, contending a more comprehensive and expensive piece of legislation is necessary due to the scale of the pandemic's economic and health implications.
By contrast, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has warned that approving a deal that costs more than $2 trillion before the election could cause divisions within the GOP caucus. "Clearly there are Republicans in the Senate that will not vote for a deal that goes to $1.6 trillion, $1.8 trillion," said Rubio, chairman of Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
While he said he would not be "happy" about that price tag either, "I'm willing to vote for things I'm not in favor of in order to pass the things I think are essential and important for our country, within reason."
Rubio expressed concerns about small businesses that are struggling to keep their doors open and Americans who are facing challenges around housing. He also warned that "we haven't seen the worst yet from some cities and counties" as they face budget gaps from declining tax revenues.
"In the end, I think we run the risk here of structural damage to components of our economy if we don't do something," he said. "I have more optimism that we're going to have a deal on stimulus. I don't know if it will be before the election just simply because of the calendar and some of the time constraints we face."