usatoday--2020-12-30--Fate of $2,000 coronavirus aid checks in doubt as Senate leader McConnell blocks immediate action

The fate of President Donald Trump 's call to increase pandemic aid checks to $ 2,000 was in doubt Tuesday as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked Democrats ' initial attempt to approve increased payments .
All eyes are on McConnell and whether he will allow a bill increasing the one-time payments from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
After blocking quick passage of a measure that would increase the payments , the Kentucky Republican introduced a bill Tuesday that includes demands by the president – on contentious issues that Democrats are not likely to support and thus would kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bill would increase checks to $ 2,000 but includes a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , which grants certain legal protections for big tech companies , and would establish a commission to study election fraud .
The commission would examine many of the concerns Trump has raised since losing the election and would `` make recommendations to Congress to improve the security , integrity , and administration of Federal elections , '' the bill says .
The president has n't provided proof to back his claims , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread fraud in last month 's election .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , circulated copies of the bill , noting there was no way Democrats would support the legislation and it stood no chance of reaching Trump 's desk .
`` If Sen. McConnell tries loading up the bipartisan House-passed CASH ( Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help ) Act with unrelated , partisan provisions that will do absolutely nothing to help struggling families across the country , it will not pass the House and can not become law – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would a blatant attempt to deprive Americans of a $ 2,000 survival check , '' Schumer said in a statement .
`` Will Senate Republicans go along with Sen. McConnell ’ s cynical gambit or will they push him to give a vote on the standalone House-passed CASH Act ? ''
The measure McConnell introduced has n't been scheduled for a vote , and it 's unclear whether it will receive the backing of his conference , some of whom have voiced support for increasing aid payments to struggling Americans .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the prospect of linking aid payments , the Section 230 repeal and the election study , noting the president 's demands .
`` Those are the three important subjects the president has linked together .
This week , the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus , '' McConnell said on the Senate floor .
McConnell 's proposal could hinder any chances of passing increased aid checks as Democrats and Republicans differ on the issues of big tech immunity and election integrity .
Democrats called on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on raising aid checks .
Trump threatened Republicans on Twitter after McConnell blocked the effort to raise relief payments , telling conservatives to `` get tough '' and immediately approve more funds for Americans .
`` Unless Republicans have a death wish , and it is also the right thing to do , they must approve the $ 2000 payments ASAP .
$ 600 IS NOT ENOUGH ! ''
Trump wrote .
`` Also , get rid of Section 230 – Don ’ t let Big Tech steal our Country , and don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Presidential Election .
Get tough ! ''
The Senate majority leader did not give a timeline for when or if the chamber might take up increased relief payments or Trump 's other demands .
The House passed a measure Monday that would raise the payments to $ 2,000 with bipartisan support .
Forty-four House Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the measure as 130 rejected it .
Schumer attempted to put more pressure on McConnell over the matter before the GOP leader blocked his unanimous consent request to pass increased aid payments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ key to unlocking this dilemma '' and could simply allow his request to pass and give Americans more financial help .
`` $ 600 ?
Nope , it 's not enough , '' Schumer said on the Senate floor .
`` $ 2,000 stimulus checks could mean the difference between American families having groceries for a few extra weeks or going hungry .
The difference between paying the rent or being kicked out of your home that you 've lived in for years .
It could buy precious time for tens of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes its way across the country . ''
The proposal has put the GOP in a precarious position .
For months , Senate Republicans have urged limiting the size of the aid payments , citing concerns about the national debt .
But after his own administration negotiated a $ 900 billion coronavirus relief package , Trump demanded that Congress increase the payments from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
More : House approves increasing coronavirus aid checks to $ 2,000 for Americans , sends bill to Senate Though a handful of Senate Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief checks , most are opposed .
Holding a vote on the measure would put senators on the spot to either reject Trump 's demands for increased checks or relent on long-held objections to adding to the debt .
Further complicating matters , both of Georgia 's GOP senators – Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue – announced Tuesday they favor increasing checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
Both face close runoff elections next week that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate , and their Democratic opponents have ramped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their support ramped up pressure on McConnell , who is keen on helping Loeffler and Perdue win their races Jan. 5 .
The Senate faces another difficult vote on overriding Trump 's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act .
The House voted Monday to override the president 's veto , shifting the measure to the Senate .
McConnell scheduled a vote to override Trump 's veto Wednesday , but Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , objected in hopes of holding up Senate business until the majority leader scheduled a vote on increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's National Defense Authorization Act veto – the first of his presidency The NDAA , a $ 741 billion national security package , would raise troops ' pay , direct the purchase of weapons and set military policies .
It passed the House and Senate with overwhelming support by both parties but drew Trump 's ire largely over two policies .
The bill addresses stripping names , symbols , displays , monuments and other paraphernalia that honor the Confederacy .
It would establish a commission to study and develop a plan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bases such as the Army 's Forts Benning , Bragg , Hood and others .
Trump has said he is against changing the names of bases named for Confederate military leaders .
Trump criticized the legislation for not including language that would strip social media companies from the protections they enjoy under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act .
The measure , adopted in 1996 , prevents companies such as Twitter and Facebook from being sued by anyone claiming to be harmed by a post .
The Senate is likely to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed , it would mark the first time Congress has overridden a Trump veto since the start of his presidency .

Fate of $2,000 coronavirus aid checks in doubt as Senate leader McConnell blocks immediate action
Show Caption Hide Caption House approves $2,000 COVID-19 stimulus checks President Donald Trump has also called for the $2,000 stimulus checks. Staff Video, USA TODAY
The fate of President Donald Trump's call to increase pandemic aid checks to $2,000 was in doubt Tuesday as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked Democrats' initial attempt to approve increased payments.
All eyes are on McConnell and whether he will allow a bill increasing the one-time payments from $600 to $2,000. After blocking quick passage of a measure that would increase the payments, the Kentucky Republican introduced a bill Tuesday that includes demands by the president – on contentious issues that Democrats are not likely to support and thus would kill any chances of increasing aid payments.
The bill would increase checks to $2,000 but includes a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which grants certain legal protections for big tech companies, and would establish a commission to study election fraud. The commission would examine many of the concerns Trump has raised since losing the election and would "make recommendations to Congress to improve the security, integrity, and administration of Federal elections," the bill says. The president hasn't provided proof to back his claims, and the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread fraud in last month's election.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., circulated copies of the bill, noting there was no way Democrats would support the legislation and it stood no chance of reaching Trump's desk.
"If Sen. McConnell tries loading up the bipartisan House-passed CASH (Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help) Act with unrelated, partisan provisions that will do absolutely nothing to help struggling families across the country, it will not pass the House and cannot become law – any move like this by Sen. McConnell would a blatant attempt to deprive Americans of a $2,000 survival check," Schumer said in a statement. "Will Senate Republicans go along with Sen. McConnell’s cynical gambit or will they push him to give a vote on the standalone House-passed CASH Act?"
The measure McConnell introduced hasn't been scheduled for a vote, and it's unclear whether it will receive the backing of his conference, some of whom have voiced support for increasing aid payments to struggling Americans.
On the Senate floor earlier Tuesday, McConnell hinted at the prospect of linking aid payments, the Section 230 repeal and the election study, noting the president's demands.
"Those are the three important subjects the president has linked together. This week, the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus," McConnell said on the Senate floor.
McConnell's proposal could hinder any chances of passing increased aid checks as Democrats and Republicans differ on the issues of big tech immunity and election integrity. Democrats called on the Kentucky Republican to pass a standalone proposal on raising aid checks.
Trump threatened Republicans on Twitter after McConnell blocked the effort to raise relief payments, telling conservatives to "get tough" and immediately approve more funds for Americans.
"Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH!" Trump wrote. "Also, get rid of Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!"
The Senate majority leader did not give a timeline for when or if the chamber might take up increased relief payments or Trump's other demands. The House passed a measure Monday that would raise the payments to $2,000 with bipartisan support. Forty-four House Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the measure as 130 rejected it.
Schumer attempted to put more pressure on McConnell over the matter before the GOP leader blocked his unanimous consent request to pass increased aid payments. Schumer noted, "McConnell holds the key to unlocking this dilemma" and could simply allow his request to pass and give Americans more financial help.
"$600? Nope, it's not enough," Schumer said on the Senate floor. "$2,000 stimulus checks could mean the difference between American families having groceries for a few extra weeks or going hungry. The difference between paying the rent or being kicked out of your home that you've lived in for years. It could buy precious time for tens of millions of people, as the vaccine thankfully makes its way across the country."
The proposal has put the GOP in a precarious position. For months, Senate Republicans have urged limiting the size of the aid payments, citing concerns about the national debt. But after his own administration negotiated a $900 billion coronavirus relief package, Trump demanded that Congress increase the payments from $600 to $2,000.
More: House approves increasing coronavirus aid checks to $2,000 for Americans, sends bill to Senate
Though a handful of Senate Republicans have come out in favor of increasing relief checks, most are opposed. Holding a vote on the measure would put senators on the spot to either reject Trump's demands for increased checks or relent on long-held objections to adding to the debt.
Further complicating matters, both of Georgia's GOP senators – Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue – announced Tuesday they favor increasing checks from $600 to $2,000. Both face close runoff elections next week that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate, and their Democratic opponents have ramped up attacks over the coronavirus aid debacle.
Their support ramped up pressure on McConnell, who is keen on helping Loeffler and Perdue win their races Jan. 5.
The Senate faces another difficult vote on overriding Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act. The House voted Monday to override the president's veto, shifting the measure to the Senate.
McConnell scheduled a vote to override Trump's veto Wednesday, but Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., objected in hopes of holding up Senate business until the majority leader scheduled a vote on increasing relief payments.
More: House overrides Trump's National Defense Authorization Act veto – the first of his presidency
The NDAA, a $741 billion national security package, would raise troops' pay, direct the purchase of weapons and set military policies. It passed the House and Senate with overwhelming support by both parties but drew Trump's ire largely over two policies.
The bill addresses stripping names, symbols, displays, monuments and other paraphernalia that honor the Confederacy. It would establish a commission to study and develop a plan, its cost and the criteria for renaming bases such as the Army's Forts Benning, Bragg, Hood and others. Trump has said he is against changing the names of bases named for Confederate military leaders.
Trump criticized the legislation for not including language that would strip social media companies from the protections they enjoy under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The measure, adopted in 1996, prevents companies such as Twitter and Facebook from being sued by anyone claiming to be harmed by a post.
The Senate is likely to consider the veto override this week. If passed, it would mark the first time Congress has overridden a Trump veto since the start of his presidency.
Contributing: Rebecca Morin


usatoday--2020-12-31--Debate over $2,000 coronavirus aid checks could spur both Democratic and GOP turnout in Georgia Sena

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Debate over $2,000 coronavirus aid checks could spur both Democratic and GOP turnout in Georgia Senate races
Show Caption Hide Caption Georgia has become a true battleground for Trump, Biden and Senate Georgia has become a battleground state for President Trump and Joe Biden as well as Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. USA TODAY
Even though the proposal to increase coronavirus relief checks from $600 to $2,000 may fail in the Senate, backing for the idea from two Georgia Senate incumbents could energize Republican supporters before Tuesday's runoff election.
This week, Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue announced their support of an increase in the amount to be sent in checks to Americans, an idea pushed by both Democrats and President Donald Trump. Their Democratic challengers, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, also support a boost in aid. Ossoff and Warnock accused the GOP candidates of flip-flopping and hope the issue will draw Democratic supporters and left-leaning independents to the polls.
The debate has come to the forefront of Georgia's runoff races, which will determine which party controls the Senate at the start of President-elect Joe Biden's administration.
Alan Abramowitz, political science professor at Emory University and author of “The Great Alignment: Race, Party Transformation and the Rise of Donald Trump,” said it’s not surprising all four candidates support the increased aid as it’s “very popular, pretty much across the board ... even with Republican voters.”
More: Fate of $2,000 coronavirus aid checks in doubt as Senate leader McConnell blocks immediate action
Trump initially balked at signing a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, demanding an increase in the size of the checks to $2,000. Though he backed down and signed the legislation late Sunday, his support for bigger checks put pressure on Republicans, especially the two Georgia incumbents.
“It's only because Trump is in favor of it, obviously, that this is happening,” Abramowitz said of Perdue and Loeffler backing the increased aid. "If Trump had just signed the bill, without first attacking the $600 payment as woefully inadequate, there's no way this would have happened.”
The House passed legislation Monday that would increase the checks to $2,000. The Senate has yet to take up the bill. Instead, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced a bill Tuesday that would combine the proposal for bigger checks with two controversial proposals – a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that shields big tech companies from legal liabilities, and the creation of a commission to study Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud.
Mike Pence rallies in Georgia for Senate runoff Vice President Mike Pence is seemingly holding rallies everywhere in Georgia lately — except Atlanta and its inner suburbs. Pence returned Thursday for events in Columbus and Macon to support Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. (Dec. 17) AP
Combining the three provisions into one bill will probably kill the higher relief checks, given Democratic opposition to the repeal of Section 230 and the creation of the election commission. Trump's claims have been dismissed by court after court, and the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread election fraud.
McConnell said Wednesday the $2,000 checks had "no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate."
Georgia voters are already casting ballots.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 2.5 million votes had been cast in the runoff election. Of those, 1.7 million were early votes, and more than 850,000 were absentee ballots.
For Georgia, a state inundated with Senate runoff campaign ads, the relief checks have become something of a campaign promise for Loeffler and Perdue.
In a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Loeffler touted her 100% voting record with Trump, and she chided Democrats for “playing politics” and holding up relief.
“I’ve said, absolutely, we need to get relief to Americans now, and I will support that. But look, here’s the issue. Democrats have blocked relief time and again,” Loeffler said.
Perdue, also in a Fox interview, said the COVID-19 bill “should’ve been done four months ago” and accused Democrats of having "played politics" with the issue.
"I'm delighted to support the president in this – it's really a $1,400 increment over what we've already done," Perdue said. "And I think with the vaccine coming, I think this is absolutely appropriate, so I fully support what the president is doing right now.
"It's the right thing to do for the people in Georgia," he said.
More: GOP seeks to roll back mail-in voting in states such as Georgia and Pennsylvania that Trump is contesting
In July, Loeffler opposed an increase to unemployment insurance payments, and Perdue said he'd rather have a new payroll tax cut than direct payments.
Ossoff and Warnock are pushing back against Perdue and Loeffler.
During an interview with MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Wednesday, Ossoff accused Perdue of flipping "his position at the very last minute, but he doesn't mean any of this."
"He's just another dime-a-dozen politician who will say whatever he has to say when an election arrives to try to win reelection," Ossoff said. "If he meant this, he'd be on the floor of the United States Senate demanding that Mitch McConnell put up the House bill, a clean $2,000 check authorization, for an up or down vote.”
If David Perdue really wanted $2000 direct relief checks for the people, he'd be on the floor of the Senate demanding McConnell put up the House bill for a vote. pic.twitter.com/5lA9POLYcF — Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) December 30, 2020
Nse Ufot, CEO of the New Georgia Project, an organization that helps register voters, said the election is a "battle of the bases" and the relief check issue could spur turnout on both sides.
Ufot accused Loeffler and Purdue" of voting "against direct aid to Georgians all year" and said their support for higher checks is an anomaly.
"If this is the only set of circumstances under which they will vote with Georgia families, they can't go to D.C.," she said
Ufot noted that Trump's base is strong and that the two Republican incumbents are motivating his supporters to go the polls by siding with him on coronavirus aid.
Contributing: Will Peebles, Savannah Morning News


usatoday--2020-12-31--Live politics updates: Donald Trump to cut short Florida holiday, return to Washington; Fate of $2,0

This week , USA TODAY Politics focuses on the run-up to President-elect Joe Biden 's inauguration , his remaining Cabinet picks and the final week of the current Congress .
Jan. 3 : New Congress is sworn in .
Jan. 6 : Congress will count and certify the electoral results in a joint session .
Jan. 20 : Inauguration of Biden , who will take the oath of office .
Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest information on the transition .
President Donald Trump will cut his annual holiday trip to Florida short and return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eve , the White House said Wednesday .
The announcement came hours after media reports indicated Trump would go forward with an annual New Year ’ s Eve celebration at his Palm Beach club , Mar-a-Lago , amid the coronavirus pandemic .
White House officials did not disclose the reason for Trump ’ s decision to return to the White House on Thursday .
Trump has kept a low profile in Florida since arriving on Dec. 23 and has rarely been seen outside the golf course .
Instead of providing a detailed schedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was working “ tirelessly for the American people ” and would take “ many meetings and calls.
” The president ’ s return date had long been somewhat in the air , but he has in the past attended the annual black-tie New Year ’ s Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago .
Trump ’ s return comes as his demand for $ 2,000 stimulus checks for millions of Americans appears to be dead .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has tied the larger checks to two other provisions – eliminating legal protections for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to study the 2020 election – that are widely opposed by Democrats .
Sen. Josh Hawley , a Missouri Republican , says he will object to the Electoral College results next week when Congress meets to officially certify President-elect Joe Biden 's win over President Donald Trump , ensuring a doomed but dramatic congressional fight to overturn Biden 's win .
Hawley , a close ally of the president , is the first senator to announce he would back the effort on Jan. 6 , ensuring both chambers will debate and be forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's election win .
A faction of conservative House Republicans , led by Mo .
Brooks , R-Ala. , have already said they will object to electoral votes from some battleground states that Biden won , such as Pennsylvania ad Georgia .
Trump has repeatedly called on congressional Republicans to step up and object on his behalf , but many have acknowledged Biden 's win .
Some went as far to call the effort to object meaningless .
The effort , however , is doomed to fail in the Democratic-controlled House and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have warned colleagues not to challenge the Electoral College vote .
A proposal from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to raise stimulus checks to Americans to $ 2,000 could scuttle chances of passing the increased aid checks .
President Donald Trump has demanded that Congress increase the aid payments included in a $ 900 billion coronavirus relief package from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
The Kentucky Republican introduced a bill Tuesday that includes two other Trump demands that Democrats are not likely to support .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , which grants certain legal protections for big tech companies , and establish a commission to study election fraud .
The commission would examine many of the concerns Trump has raised since losing the election and make recommendations to Congress .
The president has n't provided proof to back his claims , and the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread fraud in last month 's election .
New voting restrictions : GOP seeks to roll back mail-in voting in states like Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D-N.Y. , said there was no way Democrats would support the legislation and it stood no chance of reaching Trump 's desk .
Democrats called on McConnell to pass a standalone proposal on stimulus checks .
Meanwhile , the Treasury Department is has begun issuing the $ 600 payments .
The department said payments would begin for Americans with direct deposit set up through the Internal Revenue Service as soon as Tuesday night .
Paper checks will begin to be mailed Wednesday .
McConnell 's bill has n't been scheduled for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will receive the backing of Senate Republicans .
Some have voiced support for increasing relief checks , but most are opposed .
Holding a vote on the measure would put Republican senators on the spot to either reject Trump 's demands for increased checks or relent on long-held objections to adding to the debt .

Live politics updates: Donald Trump to cut short Florida holiday, return to Washington; Fate of $2,000 stimulus checks remains uncertain
Show Caption Hide Caption House approves $2,000 COVID-19 stimulus checks President Donald Trump has also called for the $2,000 stimulus checks. Staff Video, USA TODAY
This week, USA TODAY Politics focuses on the run-up to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, his remaining Cabinet picks and the final week of the current Congress.
Dates to watch:
Jan. 3: New Congress is sworn in.
Jan. 5: Senate runoff election in Georgia.
Jan. 6: Congress will count and certify the electoral results in a joint session.
Jan. 20: Inauguration of Biden, who will take the oath of office.
Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest information on the transition.
President Donald Trump will cut his annual holiday trip to Florida short and return to Washington on New Year’s Eve, the White House said Wednesday.
The announcement came hours after media reports indicated Trump would go forward with an annual New Year’s Eve celebration at his Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, amid the coronavirus pandemic. White House officials did not disclose the reason for Trump’s decision to return to the White House on Thursday.
Trump has kept a low profile in Florida since arriving on Dec. 23 and has rarely been seen outside the golf course. Instead of providing a detailed schedule, the White House said only that he was working “tirelessly for the American people” and would take “many meetings and calls.”
The president’s return date had long been somewhat in the air, but he has in the past attended the annual black-tie New Year’s Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump’s return comes as his demand for $2,000 stimulus checks for millions of Americans appears to be dead. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has tied the larger checks to two other provisions – eliminating legal protections for social media companies and creating a commission to study the 2020 election – that are widely opposed by Democrats.
— John Fritze
Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, says he will object to the Electoral College results next week when Congress meets to officially certify President-elect Joe Biden's win over President Donald Trump, ensuring a doomed but dramatic congressional fight to overturn Biden's win.
Hawley, a close ally of the president, is the first senator to announce he would back the effort on Jan. 6, ensuring both chambers will debate and be forced to vote on whether to overturn Biden's election win. A faction of conservative House Republicans, led by Mo. Brooks, R-Ala., have already said they will object to electoral votes from some battleground states that Biden won, such as Pennsylvania ad Georgia.
Biden won the Dec. 14 Electoral College vote 306-232.
Trump has repeatedly called on congressional Republicans to step up and object on his behalf, but many have acknowledged Biden's win. Some went as far to call the effort to object meaningless.
The effort, however, is doomed to fail in the Democratic-controlled House and even in the Senate, where Republican leaders led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have warned colleagues not to challenge the Electoral College vote.
Read the full story.
— Christal Hayes and Joey Garrison
A proposal from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to raise stimulus checks to Americans to $2,000 could scuttle chances of passing the increased aid checks.
President Donald Trump has demanded that Congress increase the aid payments included in a $900 billion coronavirus relief package from $600 to $2,000.
The Kentucky Republican introduced a bill Tuesday that includes two other Trump demands that Democrats are not likely to support. The measure would increase checks to $2,000 but also repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which grants certain legal protections for big tech companies, and establish a commission to study election fraud.
The commission would examine many of the concerns Trump has raised since losing the election and make recommendations to Congress. The president hasn't provided proof to back his claims, and the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread fraud in last month's election.
New voting restrictions: GOP seeks to roll back mail-in voting in states like Georgia, Pennsylvania
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said there was no way Democrats would support the legislation and it stood no chance of reaching Trump's desk. Democrats called on McConnell to pass a standalone proposal on stimulus checks.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department is has begun issuing the $600 payments. The department said payments would begin for Americans with direct deposit set up through the Internal Revenue Service as soon as Tuesday night. Paper checks will begin to be mailed Wednesday.
McConnell's bill hasn't been scheduled for a vote, and it's unclear whether it will receive the backing of Senate Republicans. Some have voiced support for increasing relief checks, but most are opposed.
Holding a vote on the measure would put Republican senators on the spot to either reject Trump's demands for increased checks or relent on long-held objections to adding to the debt.
— Christal Hayes and staff reports


usatoday--2020-12-31--Backstory: In a dire year, reporters found hope in a 100-year-old hero, a rusty hoop and a newborn p

I 'm USA TODAY editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll , and this is The Backstory , insights into our biggest stories of the week .
If you 'd like to get The Backstory in your inbox every week , sign up here .
On Sunday , we told the story of Jo Marie Hernandez , a single mom of a 4-year-old , who was selling her car to pay rent .
`` I only have $ 100 left to my name , '' she said .
`` We ’ re starving and will be out on the street soon . ''
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 5,000 to help her avoid eviction .
And just like that , out of a news story of despair came hope .
Reporters Jessica Menton and Joseph Spector were writing about the negotiations over coronavirus relief .
Hernandez , who lives in Olean , New York , had lost her job at a gas station in Randolph because of the coronavirus pandemic and was counting on extended unemployment benefits .
“ When I accepted to do the story , I did it in hopes a politician would read it and see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through .
Yet instead it 's the true heart and backbone of this country , the people , that heard my voice .
It goes to show where the heart of our country lies , ” Hernandez said about the donations to a GoFundMe page set up for her by a stranger from South Carolina moved by her story .
As journalists , we 're on the front lines of history , and this year it 's been dire .
But we also get to witness kindness like that shown to Hernandez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , '' as well .
Sports reporter Analis Bailey recounts the story of FedEx driver Aubrey Robinson , who drove by 11-year-old Eli Maines as he played basketball on a rusty , bent hoop in his mobile home park outside West Harrison , Indiana .
The ball barely fit through the warped basket .
Eli did n't seem to care .
He played joyfully .
Still , Robinson , who works six days a week , bought him a new hoop and ball and drove 50 miles to secretly leave it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next to the old hoop with a note that said it was from “ just one of the FedEx drivers for the area.
” When Eli 's mom read the note , she knew who it was from , and she began to cry .
So did Eli when he got home and saw it .
`` It taught me that there are not only bad people in the world , '' Eli said .
`` It taught me to do stuff for others , be nice for others . ''
The story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved a 100-year-old British army veteran .
Captain Sir Thomas Moore , 99 at the time , pledged to walk 100 laps in his garden before his 100th birthday to raise $ 1,250 ( £1,000 ) for National Health Service staff and volunteers .
His goal was to walk 10 laps a day with the help of his walker .
He reached his fundraising goal within 24 hours and went on to raise close to $ 44 million .
`` When you think of who it is all for – all those brave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got , '' he told the BBC .
`` I think they deserve every penny , and I hope we get some more for them , too . ''
He was thanked ( and knighted ) by Queen Elizabeth II , was honored with a military flyover and received more than 150,000 cards from schoolchildren .
`` In the face of the pandemic and the incredible suffering it has created , it ’ s easy to feel helpless , '' Yancey-Bragg said .
`` Captain Tom reminded me that any person can make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as simple as taking a walk . ''
In Chicago , reporter Grace Hauck met Juanita Tennyson .
The 23-year-old had been laid off from her fast-food job and decided to use her free time to help others .
She organized `` love marches '' and set up sidewalk tables to give free household goods to Chicagoans in neighborhoods that had been hit especially hard by COVID-19 , the economic fallout and the nation ’ s gun violence .
“ Love can heal , and I think I ’ m proving that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out tampons and canned beans in the city 's South Shore neighborhood , across the street from an empty retail corridor .
`` I ’ ve helped a lot of people .
I ’ ve met a lot of people .
Usually people say I came right on time.
” Supreme Court reporter Richard Wolf was taken with pandemic frontline health care workers who were also `` Dreamers . ''
`` They were undocumented children when they arrived from Mexico and elsewhere , living under the constant threat of deportation , '' Wolf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working as doctors , nurses , paramedics and physical therapists , often without enough protective equipment .
I had interviewed many DACA ( Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ) recipients before and after the Supreme Court heard the Trump administration ’ s challenge to the program ’ s legality late in 2019 .
`` Now they were waiting for the justices ’ decision – and while they waited , they were saving lives . ''
Physical therapist Veronica Velasquez told Wolf in March , `` This is just my calling.
” She is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the U.S. when she was 11 .
“ I knew this was something I wanted to do , pandemic or no pandemic.
” Three months later , the `` Dreamers '' won a 5-4 decision from the Supreme Court , Wolf reported .
And this month , a federal judge ordered the program fully restored , for old and new applicants alike .
Editor Jay Cannon smiles at the story of the 103-year-old woman from Eaton , Massachusetts , who recovered from COVID-19 then celebrated with a Bud Light .
Great-great grandmother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a “ hardcore Boston sports fan.
” '' I don ’ t know if it was her age , her demeanor or the fact that she celebrated beating COVID-19 in the same fashion I would celebrate making it to Friday afternoon , but Stejna is a rock star in true 2020 fashion , '' Cannon said .
Not all joy came out of hardship .
Some of our favorite stories came from moments of celebration , humanity , sweetness and awe .
Photojournalist Harrison Hill enjoyed reporting on the fan reaction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dodgers World Series drive-in watch party was the first time this year that I saw people come together for the love of baseball , '' he said .
`` In the midst of a pandemic , hundreds of people were able to find comfort and family in the parking lot of Dodgers Stadium , even if every car was 10 feet away from each other . ''
Life reporter Bryan Alexander was moved by a `` Quarantine Diary '' interview with Henry Winkler , and how the actor captured the way so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain some sort of being able to fit in a shirt . ''
) `` I think no matter who you are , no matter what we are doing in our lives before this started , no matter how old we are , eventually , we are all feeling exactly the same , '' Winkler said to Life reporter Andrea Mandell .
`` You 're up for a moment .
You are down for a moment .
You make the mistake of watching the news and you crash . ''
But when asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all over , Winkler said without pause , “ Hug my family.
” Reporter Ryan Miller reveled in the miracle of a giant panda birth at the National Zoo in Washington , D.C. , shown live on the zoo 's Giant Panda Cam .
`` Of course the animal news that dominated 2020 was the “ murder hornets ” in Washington state , but the birth of Xiao Qi Ji was a miracle – as the translation of his name implies – when his mother became the oldest giant panda to successfully give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
While interviewing people at the zoo , he met a couple from upstate New York who were among the panda superfans who drove down to Washington often to visit .
`` I can only imagine their joy when they got the news of the birth , '' he said .
And finally , science writer Doyle Rice reminds us we are part of a much bigger picture .
`` With so much bad news in 2020 , I took comfort in this story I wrote back in June , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new study that said there could be over 30 intelligent civilizations scattered somewhere throughout our own Milky Way galaxy .
To me , stories about outer space tend to give needed perspective on our troubles down here on Earth .
`` Specifically , this story gave me hope about our own species and planet , that we 're not alone after all , and that we 'll get through this and future ordeals . ''
As for me , as a mom and an editor , stories of kindness , especially toward kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I got a little teary when Dr. Anthony Fauci told our reporter that Santa was immune from the coronavirus .
Children had been asking about Santa getting sick or spreading the virus , and Fauci wanted them to know Santa was going to be OK. '' Santa is exempt from this because Santa , of all the good qualities , has a lot of good innate immunity , '' Fauci told our reporter , without missing a beat , when asked about Santa 's health .
I 'm not sure what moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about Santa or that the nation 's leading expert on COVID-19 took time to reassure them .
As journalists , it 's our job to bring you the news of the day , no matter how tough .
But it 's also important that we write about joy and inspiration , marvel and kindness .
This is news as well .
Backstory : With millions of Americans about to lose COVID-19 benefits , here is where relief stands Backstory : Will the COVID-19 vaccine be required ?
Any side effects ?
Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Answers to your most-asked questions .
Nicole Carroll is the editor-in-chief of USA TODAY .
Reach her at EIC @ usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter here .
Thank you for supporting our journalism .
You can subscribe to our print edition , ad-free experience or electronic newspaper replica here .

Backstory: In a dire year, reporters found hope in a 100-year-old hero, a rusty hoop and a newborn panda. Some favorite moments of 2020.
I'm USA TODAY editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll, and this is The Backstory, insights into our biggest stories of the week. If you'd like to get The Backstory in your inbox every week, sign up here.
On Sunday, we told the story of Jo Marie Hernandez, a single mom of a 4-year-old, who was selling her car to pay rent. "I only have $100 left to my name," she said. "We’re starving and will be out on the street soon." By Tuesday, strangers had donated more than $5,000 to help her avoid eviction.
And just like that, out of a news story of despair came hope.
Reporters Jessica Menton and Joseph Spector were writing about the negotiations over coronavirus relief. Hernandez, who lives in Olean, New York, had lost her job at a gas station in Randolph because of the coronavirus pandemic and was counting on extended unemployment benefits.
“When I accepted to do the story, I did it in hopes a politician would read it and see the genuine struggle the American people are going through. Yet instead it's the true heart and backbone of this country, the people, that heard my voice. It goes to show where the heart of our country lies,” Hernandez said about the donations to a GoFundMe page set up for her by a stranger from South Carolina moved by her story.
As journalists, we're on the front lines of history, and this year it's been dire. But we also get to witness kindness like that shown to Hernandez, hope from the "heart of our country," as well.
Sports reporter Analis Bailey recounts the story of FedEx driver Aubrey Robinson, who drove by 11-year-old Eli Maines as he played basketball on a rusty, bent hoop in his mobile home park outside West Harrison, Indiana. The ball barely fit through the warped basket.
Eli didn't seem to care. He played joyfully.
Still, Robinson, who works six days a week, bought him a new hoop and ball and drove 50 miles to secretly leave it for his family. She set it up next to the old hoop with a note that said it was from “just one of the FedEx drivers for the area.”
When Eli's mom read the note, she knew who it was from, and she began to cry. So did Eli when he got home and saw it.
"It taught me that there are not only bad people in the world," Eli said. "It taught me to do stuff for others, be nice for others."
The story that brought joy to reporter N'dea Yancey-Bragg involved a 100-year-old British army veteran. Captain Sir Thomas Moore, 99 at the time, pledged to walk 100 laps in his garden before his 100th birthday to raise $1,250 (£1,000) for National Health Service staff and volunteers. His goal was to walk 10 laps a day with the help of his walker.
He reached his fundraising goal within 24 hours and went on to raise close to $44 million.
"When you think of who it is all for – all those brave and super doctors and nurses we have got," he told the BBC. "I think they deserve every penny, and I hope we get some more for them, too."
He was thanked (and knighted) by Queen Elizabeth II, was honored with a military flyover and received more than 150,000 cards from schoolchildren.
"In the face of the pandemic and the incredible suffering it has created, it’s easy to feel helpless," Yancey-Bragg said. "Captain Tom reminded me that any person can make a difference, even by doing something as simple as taking a walk."
In Chicago, reporter Grace Hauck met Juanita Tennyson. The 23-year-old had been laid off from her fast-food job and decided to use her free time to help others. She organized "love marches" and set up sidewalk tables to give free household goods to Chicagoans in neighborhoods that had been hit especially hard by COVID-19, the economic fallout and the nation’s gun violence.
“Love can heal, and I think I’m proving that,” Tennyson told Hauck as she passed out tampons and canned beans in the city's South Shore neighborhood, across the street from an empty retail corridor. "I’ve helped a lot of people. I’ve met a lot of people. Usually people say I came right on time.”
Supreme Court reporter Richard Wolf was taken with pandemic frontline health care workers who were also "Dreamers."
"They were undocumented children when they arrived from Mexico and elsewhere, living under the constant threat of deportation," Wolf said. "Yet here they were working as doctors, nurses, paramedics and physical therapists, often without enough protective equipment. I had interviewed many DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients before and after the Supreme Court heard the Trump administration’s challenge to the program’s legality late in 2019.
"Now they were waiting for the justices’ decision – and while they waited, they were saving lives."
Physical therapist Veronica Velasquez told Wolf in March, "This is just my calling.” She is a native of the Philippines who came to the U.S. when she was 11. “I knew this was something I wanted to do, pandemic or no pandemic.”
Three months later, the "Dreamers" won a 5-4 decision from the Supreme Court, Wolf reported. And this month, a federal judge ordered the program fully restored, for old and new applicants alike.
Editor Jay Cannon smiles at the story of the 103-year-old woman from Easton, Massachusetts, who recovered from COVID-19 then celebrated with a Bud Light. Great-great grandmother Jennie Stejna is an avid bingo player and a “hardcore Boston sports fan.”
"I don’t know if it was her age, her demeanor or the fact that she celebrated beating COVID-19 in the same fashion I would celebrate making it to Friday afternoon, but Stejna is a rock star in true 2020 fashion," Cannon said.
Not all joy came out of hardship. Some of our favorite stories came from moments of celebration, humanity, sweetness and awe.
Photojournalist Harrison Hill enjoyed reporting on the fan reaction to the World Series.
"Covering the Dodgers World Series drive-in watch party was the first time this year that I saw people come together for the love of baseball," he said. "In the midst of a pandemic, hundreds of people were able to find comfort and family in the parking lot of Dodgers Stadium, even if every car was 10 feet away from each other."
Life reporter Bryan Alexander was moved by a "Quarantine Diary" interview with Henry Winkler, and how the actor captured the way so many are feeling (including trying to "maintain some sort of being able to fit in a shirt.")
"I think no matter who you are, no matter what we are doing in our lives before this started, no matter how old we are, eventually, we are all feeling exactly the same," Winkler said to Life reporter Andrea Mandell. "You're up for a moment. You are down for a moment. You make the mistake of watching the news and you crash."
But when asked what he will do when this is all over, Winkler said without pause, “Hug my family.”
Reporter Ryan Miller reveled in the miracle of a giant panda birth at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., shown live on the zoo's Giant Panda Cam.
"Of course the animal news that dominated 2020 was the “murder hornets” in Washington state, but the birth of Xiao Qi Ji was a miracle – as the translation of his name implies – when his mother became the oldest giant panda to successfully give birth in the United States," he said.
While interviewing people at the zoo, he met a couple from upstate New York who were among the panda superfans who drove down to Washington often to visit. "I can only imagine their joy when they got the news of the birth," he said.
And finally, science writer Doyle Rice reminds us we are part of a much bigger picture.
"With so much bad news in 2020, I took comfort in this story I wrote back in June," he said. "One about a new study that said there could be over 30 intelligent civilizations scattered somewhere throughout our own Milky Way galaxy. To me, stories about outer space tend to give needed perspective on our troubles down here on Earth.
"Specifically, this story gave me hope about our own species and planet, that we're not alone after all, and that we'll get through this and future ordeals."
As for me, as a mom and an editor, stories of kindness, especially toward kids, get to me.
This year, I got a little teary when Dr. Anthony Fauci told our reporter that Santa was immune from the coronavirus. Children had been asking about Santa getting sick or spreading the virus, and Fauci wanted them to know Santa was going to be OK.
"Santa is exempt from this because Santa, of all the good qualities, has a lot of good innate immunity," Fauci told our reporter, without missing a beat, when asked about Santa's health.
I'm not sure what moved me more: that little kids were worried about Santa or that the nation's leading expert on COVID-19 took time to reassure them.
As journalists, it's our job to bring you the news of the day, no matter how tough.
But it's also important that we write about joy and inspiration, marvel and kindness.
A cold beer. A walk around a garden. A newborn cub. Rent money from strangers.
This is news as well.
Backstory: With millions of Americans about to lose COVID-19 benefits, here is where relief stands
Backstory: Will the COVID-19 vaccine be required? Any side effects? Will I have to pay for it? Answers to your most-asked questions.
Nicole Carroll is the editor-in-chief of USA TODAY. Reach her at EIC@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter here. Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free experience or electronic newspaper replica here.


usatoday--2020-12-31--Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land' tops USA TODAY's 100 bestselling books of 2020. See the full list

Former President Barack Obama ’ s memoir “ A Promised Land ” is USA TODAY ’ s bestselling book of 2020 .
Published Nov. 17 , the first volume in Obama 's presidential memoir broke more than 1 million in sales in its first week and has not shown any signs of slowing .
It has held the top spot on USA TODAY 's Best-Selling Books list since its debut , an impressive feat considering it has been on the list for only six weeks .
Obama follows in the footsteps of his wife and former first lady Michelle Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memoir “ Becoming , '' USA TODAY 's top-selling book of 2018 and the top nonfiction title of 2019 .
Michelle Obama 's book continues to sell well and is No .
18 on this year 's list .
More : The books that got us through 2020 : USA TODAY entertainment experts share their favorite reads More : Obama unveils his favorite music of 2020 : Yes , it includes Megan thee Stallion 's 'Savage Remix' This was also a year where two nonfiction trends stood out : books on race and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about race and racism dominated the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list in 2020 after the death of George Floyd , a 46-year-old Black man who died in May after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe .
Books about race have remained a constant presence on the list .
Demand for books on race was so high that major online booksellers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble ran out of popular titles .
And according to the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more books on race and racism than ever before .
Included in the top 100 bestselling books overall are “ White Fragility ” by Robin DiAngelo , “ Caste ” by Isabel Wilkerson , “ So You Want to Talk About Race ” by Ijeoma Oluo , “ How to Be an Antiracist ” by Ibram X. Kendi , and the young-adult title “ Stamped : Racism , Antiracism , and You ” from Kendi and Jason Reynolds .
More : Looking for books about racism ?
Experts suggest these must-read titles for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bookshelf ' : Little libraries , book boxes promote conversation about race in America Trump had myriad books written about him and his administration in 2020 , and many made the top 100 , most notably the No .
3 book “ Too Much and Never Enough , ” by niece Mary Trump , former national security adviser John Bolton ’ s “ The Room Where It Happened ” and journalist Bob Woodward ’ s “ Rage.
” As for fiction , Stephenie Meyer ’ s “ Midnight Sun , ” the long-anticipated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edward Cullen 's perspective , claimed the top spot in fiction at No .
2 , followed by last year ’ s No .
1 book “ Where the Crawdads Sing ” by Delia Owens and Suzanne Collins ’ Hunger Games prequel “ The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
” Here are the top 100 books of the year , according to data from USA TODAY ’ s Best-Selling Books list : 3 .
`` Too Much and Never Enough , '' by Mary L. Trump 4 .
`` Where the Crawdads Sing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes , '' by Suzanne Collins 9 .
`` Little Fires Everywhere , '' by Celeste Ng 11 .
`` The Room Where It Happened , '' by John Bolton 13 .
`` The Boy , the Mole , the Fox and the Horse , '' by Charlie Mackesy 14 .
`` How to Be an Antiracist , '' by Ibram X. Kendi 16 .
`` The Splendid and the Vile , '' by Erik Larson 17 .
`` The Very Hungry Caterpillar , '' by Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' by Don Miguel Ruiz 29 .
`` Brown Bear , Brown Bear , What Do You See ? ''
by Bill Martin Jr. , Eric Carle 30 .
`` Then She Was Gone , '' by Lisa Jewell 31 .
`` Oh , the Places You ’ ll Go ! ''
by Dr. Seuss 35 .
`` If It Bleeds , '' by Stephen King 40 .
`` Love You Forever , '' by Robert Munsch ; art by Sheila McGraw 43 .
`` I Love You to the Moon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ art by Tim Warnes 44 .
`` The Giver of Stars , '' by Jojo Moyes 45 .
`` The Wonky Donkey , '' by Craig Smith ; art by Katz Cowley 46 .
`` Harry Potter and the Sorcerer ’ s Stone , '' by J.K. Rowling 50 .
`` The Mamba Mentality : How I Play , '' by Kobe Bryant 53 .
`` The Tattooist of Auschwitz , '' by Heather Morris 54 .
`` The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck , '' by Mark Manson 59 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' by Ken Follett 65 .
`` The One and Only Ivan , '' by Katherine Applegate ; art by Patricia Castelao 67 .
`` The Body Keeps the Score , '' by Bessel van der Kolk 68 .
`` Where the Wild Things Are , '' by Maurice Sendak 69 .
`` So You Want to Talk About Race , '' by Ijeoma Oluo 70 .
`` Room on the Broom , '' by Julia Donaldson , Axel Scheffler 71 .
`` Before We Were Yours , '' by Lisa Wingate 74 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ball Rolls , '' by Dav Pilkey 75 .
`` The Woman in the Window , '' by A.J .
Finn 76 .
`` You Are a Badass , '' by Jen Sincero 79 .
`` The Law of Innocence , '' by Michael Connelly 80 .
`` Get Out of Your Head , '' by Jennie Allen More : How 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid ' author Jeff Kinney became the king of COVID-19 book tours More:2021 has to be better for Hollywood , because it can ’ t get any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Hurry Cookbook , '' by Steve Doocy , Kathy Doocy

Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land' tops USA TODAY's 100 bestselling books of 2020. See the full list
Show Caption Hide Caption Barack Obama on ego and the presidency By the time he assumed office, Obama realized, "The ego part of it didn't interest me anymore. What interested me was what could I get done." Apple TV+
Former President Barack Obama’s memoir “A Promised Land” is USA TODAY’s bestselling book of 2020.
Published Nov. 17, the first volume in Obama's presidential memoir broke more than 1 million in sales in its first week and has not shown any signs of slowing. It has held the top spot on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list since its debut, an impressive feat considering it has been on the list for only six weeks.
Obama follows in the footsteps of his wife and former first lady Michelle Obama’s success with her post-White House memoir “Becoming," USA TODAY's top-selling book of 2018 and the top nonfiction title of 2019. Michelle Obama's book continues to sell well and is No. 18 on this year's list.
More: The books that got us through 2020: USA TODAY entertainment experts share their favorite reads
More: Obama unveils his favorite music of 2020: Yes, it includes Megan thee Stallion's 'Savage Remix'
This was also a year where two nonfiction trends stood out: books on race and books about President Donald Trump.
Books about race and racism dominated the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list in 2020 after the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died in May after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe.
Books about race have remained a constant presence on the list. Demand for books on race was so high that major online booksellers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble ran out of popular titles. And according to the American Booksellers Association, independent book stores sold more books on race and racism than ever before.
Included in the top 100 bestselling books overall are “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo, “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson, “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo, “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi, and the young-adult title “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” from Kendi and Jason Reynolds.
More: Looking for books about racism? Experts suggest these must-read titles for adults and kids
More: 'Decolonize your bookshelf': Little libraries, book boxes promote conversation about race in America
Trump had myriad books written about him and his administration in 2020, and many made the top 100, most notably the No. 3 book “Too Much and Never Enough,” by niece Mary Trump, former national security adviser John Bolton’s “The Room Where It Happened” and journalist Bob Woodward’s “Rage.”
As for fiction, Stephenie Meyer’s “Midnight Sun,” the long-anticipated retelling of "Twilight" from vampire Edward Cullen's perspective, claimed the top spot in fiction at No. 2, followed by last year’s No. 1 book “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens and Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
Here are the top 100 books of the year, according to data from USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list:
1. "A Promised Land," by Barack Obama
2. "Midnight Sun," by Stephenie Meyer
3. "Too Much and Never Enough," by Mary L. Trump
4. "Where the Crawdads Sing," by Delia Owens
5. "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," by Suzanne Collins
6. "Untamed," by Glennon Doyle
7. "Dog Man: Grime and Punishment," by Dav Pilkey
8. "White Fragility," by Robin DiAngelo
9. "Little Fires Everywhere," by Celeste Ng
10. "American Dirt," by Jeanine Cummins
11. "The Room Where It Happened," by John Bolton
12. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End," Jeff Kinney
13. "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse," by Charlie Mackesy
14. "How to Be an Antiracist," by Ibram X. Kendi
15. "Magnolia Table, Volume 2," by Joanna Gaines
16. "The Splendid and the Vile," by Erik Larson
17. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," by Eric Carle
18. "Becoming," by Michelle Obama
19. "A Time for Mercy," by John Grisham
20. "The Vanishing Half," by Brit Bennett
21. "Rage," by Bob Woodward
22. "The Silent Patient," by Alex Michaelides
23. "Camino Winds," by John Grisham
24. "Dog Man: Fetch-22," by Dav Pilkey
25. "Caste," by Isabel Wilkerson
26. "Greenlights," by Matthew McConaughey
27. "The Return," by Nicholas Sparks
28. "The Four Agreements," by Don Miguel Ruiz
29. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr., Eric Carle
30. "Then She Was Gone," by Lisa Jewell
31. "Oh, the Places You’ll Go!" by Dr. Seuss
32. "Educated," by Tara Westover
33. "Atomic Habits," by James Clear
34. "Walk the Wire," by David Baldacci
35. "If It Bleeds," by Stephen King
36. "The 5 Love Languages," by Gary Chapman
37. "Modern Comfort Food," by Ina Garten
38. "The Guest List," by Lucy Foley
39. "Live Free or Die," by Sean Hannity
40. "Love You Forever," by Robert Munsch; art by Sheila McGraw
41. "Goodnight Moon," by Margaret Wise Brown; art by Clement Hurd
42. "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom," by Bill Martin Jr.
43. "I Love You to the Moon and Back," by Amelia Hepworth; art by Tim Warnes
44. "The Giver of Stars," by Jojo Moyes
45. "The Wonky Donkey," by Craig Smith; art by Katz Cowley
46. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," by J.K. Rowling
47. "The Sentinel," by Lee Child, Andrew Child
48. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter
49. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball," by Jeff Kinney
More: Winter reading guide: 20 books from Joan Didion, Kazuo Ishiguro, Cicely Tyson, more
More: 40 celebrities who narrate audiobooks, including Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg
50. "The Mamba Mentality: How I Play," by Kobe Bryant
51. "Just Mercy," by Bryan Stevenson
52. "Cat Kid Comic Club," by Dav Pilkey
53. "The Tattooist of Auschwitz," by Heather Morris
54. "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck," by Mark Manson
55. "1984," by George Orwell
56. "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee
57. "The Guardians," by John Grisham
58. "28 Summers," by Elin Hilderbrand
59. "The Evening and the Morning," by Ken Follett
60. "First 100 Words," by Roger Priddy
61. "The Alchemist," by Paulo Coelho
62. "Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Adventure," by Jeff Kinney
63. "Disloyal," by Michael Cohen
64. "Dune," by Frank Herbert
65. "The One and Only Ivan," by Katherine Applegate; art by Patricia Castelao
66. "Ready Player Two," by Ernest Cline
67. "The Body Keeps the Score," by Bessel van der Kolk
68. "Where the Wild Things Are," by Maurice Sendak
69. "So You Want to Talk About Race," by Ijeoma Oluo
70. "Room on the Broom," by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
71. "Before We Were Yours," by Lisa Wingate
72. "Normal People," by Sally Rooney
73. "The Dutch House," by Ann Patchett
74. "Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls," by Dav Pilkey
75. "The Woman in the Window," by A.J. Finn
76. "You Are a Badass," by Jen Sincero
77. "Killing Crazy Horse," by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
78. "Burn After Writing," by Sharon Jones
79. "The Law of Innocence," by Michael Connelly
80. "Get Out of Your Head," by Jennie Allen
81. "Blackout," by Candace Owens
82. "Daylight," by David Baldacci
83. "The Outsiders," by S.E. Hinton
84. "Humans," by Brandon Stanton
More: How 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' author Jeff Kinney became the king of COVID-19 book tours
More: 2021 has to be better for Hollywood, because it can’t get any worse
85. "The Nightingale," by Kristin Hannah
86. "The Order," by Daniel Silva
87. "Born a Crime," by Trevor Noah
88. "The Ickabog," by J.K. Rowling
89. "Fortune and Glory," by Janet Evanovich
90. "The Great Gatsby," by F. Scott Fitzgerald
91. "The Happy in a Hurry Cookbook," by Steve Doocy, Kathy Doocy
92. "Relationship Goals," Michael Todd
93. "Stamped," by Jason Reynolds; Ibram X. Kendi
94. "Rhythm of War," by Brandon Sanderson
95. "Fair Warning," by Michael Connelly
96. "A Very Stable Genius," by Philip Rucker, Carol Leonnig
97. "Green Eggs and Ham," by Dr. Seuss
98. "Such a Fun Age," by Kiley Reid
99. "Hideaway," by Nora Roberts
100. "Deadly Cross." by James Patterson


usatoday--2020-12-31--Minimum wage set to rise in 20 states, 32 localities as growing number adopt $15 an hour

Minimum wage set to rise in 20 states, 32 localities as growing number adopt $15 an hour
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus pay: Walmart to boost minimum wage for warehouse workers Coronavirus fear has Walmart raising wages for their warehouse workers. Buzz60
With the COVID-19 pandemic raging, layoffs mounting and $2,000 stimulus checks for U.S. households looking highly uncertain, there couldn’t be a better time to bump up the minimum wage for millions of low-paid Americans, worker advocacy groups say.
Employers argue there couldn’t be a worse time, with small businesses struggling to survive amid plunging revenue and a new round of state shutdowns aimed at curtailing the latest coronavirus spike.
So far, workers appear to have won the fight and will reap the benefits starting Friday.
Twenty states and 32 cities and counties – including many in California – are set to raise their minimum wages on or about New Year’s Day, according to a report provided exclusively to USA TODAY by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), a worker advocacy group. About half of those localities will reach the $15 threshold championed by striking fast-food workers and deemed a pipe dream just a few years ago.
Since some will act later in the year, a total 24 states and 50 cities and counties – a record 74 jurisdictions – will boost their pay floors sometime in 2021, NELP figures show.
“The fact that we’re still seeing a record number” of states and localities lift their base pay despite vehement opposition from business groups during the health crisis “is a big deal,” says Yannet Lathrop, a researcher and policy analyst at NELP.
Business groups in Maryland and New York, in particular, sought to delay the hikes, but state officials pressed forward.
Meanwhile, the turnabout in views about a $15 wage base has been head-spinning. Even states with relatively low minimums, like Florida and Virginia, are poised for significant increases in 2021 and headed toward $15, or at least the strong possibility of it, by 2026.
'They're not earning enough'
By then, 42% of the U.S. workforce will be covered by $15 minimum wage laws, according to the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute
“All workers should be able to make ends meet,” Lathrop says. “They’re not earning enough, especially when they’re exposing themselves to a deadly virus,” as restaurant, grocery store, health care and other front-line workers are doing.
Rocio Espinoza, 44, earns $13.50 an hour as a food preparer and crew trainer at a McDonald’s in Madera, California. After working at the restaurant for 2 ½ years and in the fast-food industry since 2012, “I don’t feel it’s enough,” she said through a translator.
During the pandemic, she says, her schedule has been cut from about 35 hours on average to about 20 hours, putting even more pressure on her finances, even with her husband’s income from his chauffeur job.
“I don’t even feel I have enough for food and gas,” she says.
After California's minimum wage increases to $14 on Friday, “It will help to have enough gas to get around,” buy more food and allow her to be out sick without worrying about the hit to her monthly budget. It also may help whittle down the $2,000 to $3,000 she owes for medical bills.
Yet employer groups say the impact of a $15 wage will be dire for small businesses battered by the pandemic. Seventeen percent of restaurants, or more than 100,000, have closed permanently or for the long term amid the health outbreak, the National Restaurant Association said early this month.
Even before the crisis, restaurants in cities with aggressive minimum wage increases, like Seattle and San Francisco, were cutting workers or hiring fewer, says Michael Saltsman, managing director of the Employment Policies Institute, which is backed by the restaurant industry.
“If you list the top 100 things you’d do (to help small businesses weather the pandemic), dramatically increasing labor costs is nowhere on that list,” Saltsman says.
Lathrop disputes that higher minimum wages hurt employment. The way to address the financial hardships of small businesses during the crisis "is assistance from the federal government," she says. "It’s not to keep wages low.”
The $900 billion relief package signed by President Trump this week does include more forgivable small business loans. Saltsman says that’s “just a lifeline to temporarily stop the bleeding” and won’t be enough for many restaurants.
Business loans: What's in the stimulus package for small businesses, PPP loans and cultural grants
A Congressional Budget Office study last year found a $15 federal minimum wage would increase pay for 17 million workers who earn less than that and possibly another 10 million who earn slightly more. It would cause 1.3 million other workers to lose their jobs, according to the study's median estimate.
Federal minimum still $7.25 an hour
The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009, with Senate Republicans repeatedly blocking efforts to increase it. Still, 30 states, with more than 60% of the US workforce, now have pay floors above the federal government’s, according to NELP.
Low-income workers are on the verge of benefiting from bigger paychecks. On Friday, about half the 20 states and 32 localities boosting their minimum wages will enact large increases as part of significant hikes being phased in over several years following legislation or ballot initiatives.
The hourly pay floor will rise nearly $2 in Denver to $14.77; $2 in Flagstaff, Arizona, to $15; $1.50 in New Mexico to $10.50; $1 in New Jersey to $12; $1 in California to $14 (for large employers) or $13 (for small employers); and $1 in Illinois to $11.
That’s not chump change. A $2-per-hour increase adds up to about $4,000 a year for a full-time employee.
There will also be small, annual cost-of-living increases in about 10 states and a couple dozen localities. For example, base hourly pay will edge up from $12 to $12.32 in Colorado, and from $13.50 to $13.69 in Washington State.
Later in 2020, another five states and 18 localities will push up their pay floors. In May, the threshold will jump from $7.25 (the federal minimum) to $9.50 in Virginia. And in September, it will climb from $8.56 to $10 in Florida.
About 15 cities and counties will reach $15 an hour sometime in 2021 – including Flagstaff and Chicago (for large employers), joining the 25 or so already at that benchmark. And while no state is currently at that standard, nine are headed there over the next few years – California, New York, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Virginia. In Virginia and upstate New York, state officials eventually must make final decisions about whether, or how quickly, to move to $15.
Lathrop traces the $15 juggernaut to the awareness generated by Fight for $15, an alliance of fast-food and other low-paid workers that has staged walkouts across the country since 2012 and is backed by the Service Employees International Union.
“The movement for a higher wage continues to gather strength,” she says.
Reality check: Homeowners aren't fleeing cities in droves despite COVID-19
The outlook for malls: Shopping malls were struggling before COVID-19 and now have more empty stores. What's next after the pandemic?


usatoday--2020-12-30--Weird New Year's Eve drops to watch: A fish named Wylie, a lighted blueberry and cheese

Some cities across the United States traditionally ring in the new year by dropping giant objects with local significance , and on New Year 's Eve 2020 it will be possible for millions of Americans to witness a number of these unique traditions .
Many New Year 's Eve celebrations will be held virtually this year , as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges Americans to celebrate from the safety of their homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
That means celebrations that previously attracted small numbers of local revelers will now be accessible to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quirky drops that are available to watch virtually this year : A recent storm damaged a fiberglass fish named Wylie the Walleye that Port Clinton , Ohio , traditionally drops on New Year 's Eve , but that wo n't stop this celebration .
( Walleyes are freshwater fish popular among anglers and can be found in the Great Lakes . )
New Year 's Eve 2020 's drop will be held virtually on the Wylie Walleye YouTube page .
The town of Burgaw , North Carolina , and the North Carolina Blueberry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new year by dropping a giant lighted blueberry .
The virtual event will allow viewers to enter for gift cards and prizes , as well as enjoy a live band performance .
It will begin at 6 p.m .
ET with the Blueberry Drop at 7 p.m .
ET .
A 6-foot-tall metal pinecone illuminated with hundreds of LED lights will be lowered from the roof of the Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff as usual , and people can watch from the warmth and safety of their homes .
The tradition started in 1999 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the hotel , which opened on Jan. 1 , 1900 , and to honor the history of Flagstaff , which is surrounded by the pine trees of Coconino National Forest .
In the community of Plymouth , Wisconsin , home of Sartori Cheese , the annual Sartori Cheese Drop is also going virtual .
This event celebrates the city of Plymouth , known as the cheese capital of the world .
For more than a decade , the event has drawn thousands as the community comes together to welcome in the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a countdown and the lowering of a giant wedge of Sartori 's award-winning BellaVitano Gold Cheese .
The 2020 Sartori Cheese drop was filmed in partnership with the Plymouth Arts Center and the Plymouth Fire Department .
As in past years , a lighted bear will descend four stories from City Hall in New Bern , North Carolina .
The Bear Drop starts at 6 p.m .
ET and can be viewed live on Facebook .
Of note : 6 p.m. in New Bern will be midnight in the town 's sister city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an old Germanic word for Bear . )
Contributing : Craig Shoup , The ( Fremont , Ohio ) News-Messenger ; Cheryl M. Whitaker , Wilmington ( North Carolina ) StarNews ; Alison Stanton , for The ( Arizona ) Republic ; Todd Wetherington , ( New Bern , North Carolina ) Sun Journal ; The Associated Press

Weird New Year's Eve drops to watch: A fish named Wylie, a lighted blueberry and cheese
Show Caption Hide Caption Crystals installed on Times Square New Year's ball Workers have installed nearly 200 glittering Waterford crystal triangles on Times Square's New Year's Eve ball in preparation for a pandemic-limited celebration. (Dec. 28) AP
Some cities across the United States traditionally ring in the new year by dropping giant objects with local significance, and on New Year's Eve 2020 it will be possible for millions of Americans to witness a number of these unique traditions.
Many New Year's Eve celebrations will be held virtually this year, as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges Americans to celebrate from the safety of their homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
That means celebrations that previously attracted small numbers of local revelers will now be accessible to the whole nation. Here are a few quirky drops that are available to watch virtually this year:
More: CDC recommends alternatives for New Year’s Eve celebrations
A Walleye named Wylie in Ohio
A recent storm damaged a fiberglass fish named Wylie the Walleye that Port Clinton, Ohio, traditionally drops on New Year's Eve, but that won't stop this celebration.(Walleyes are freshwater fish popular among anglers and can be found in the Great Lakes.)
New Year's Eve 2020's drop will be held virtually on the Wylie Walleye YouTube page.
A blueberry in North Carolina
The town of Burgaw, North Carolina, and the North Carolina Blueberry Festival will once again welcome in the new year by dropping a giant lighted blueberry.
The virtual event will allow viewers to enter for gift cards and prizes, as well as enjoy a live band performance. It will begin at 6 p.m. ET with the Blueberry Drop at 7 p.m. ET.
To watch the event, visit burgawnc.gov/351/Burgaw-Blueberry-Drop.
A pinecone in Arizona
A 6-foot-tall metal pinecone illuminated with hundreds of LED lights will be lowered from the roof of the Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff as usual, and people can watch from the warmth and safety of their homes.
The tradition started in 1999 as a celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the hotel, which opened on Jan. 1, 1900, and to honor the history of Flagstaff, which is surrounded by the pine trees of Coconino National Forest.
Watch the Great Pinecone Drop at pineconedrop.com.
Cheese in Wisconsin
In the community of Plymouth, Wisconsin, home of Sartori Cheese, the annual Sartori Cheese Drop is also going virtual.
This event celebrates the city of Plymouth, known as the cheese capital of the world. For more than a decade, the event has drawn thousands as the community comes together to welcome in the new year. Traditionally, the event includes a countdown and the lowering of a giant wedge of Sartori's award-winning BellaVitano Gold Cheese.
The 2020 Sartori Cheese drop was filmed in partnership with the Plymouth Arts Center and the Plymouth Fire Department.
A bear in North Carolina
As in past years, a lighted bear will descend four stories from City Hall in New Bern, North Carolina.
The Bear Drop starts at 6 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on Facebook. Of note: 6 p.m. in New Bern will be midnight in the town's sister city: Bern, Switzerland. (Bern is an old Germanic word for Bear.)
Contributing: Craig Shoup, The (Fremont, Ohio) News-Messenger; Cheryl M. Whitaker, Wilmington (North Carolina) StarNews; Alison Stanton, for The (Arizona) Republic; Todd Wetherington, (New Bern, North Carolina) Sun Journal; The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-12-30--Family reunited with dog 10 months after he went missing

Family reunited with dog 10 months after he went missing The Maldonado family thought they 'd never see their lost @ @ @ @ @ to a microchip , and officer Vicki Staten , he made it home .

Family reunited with dog 10 months after he went missing
The Maldonado family thought they'd never see their lost dog Rocky again. Thanks to a microchip, and officer Vicki Staten, he made it home.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-12-31--A picture a week reveals beautiful timelapse of Vermont's changing seasons

One picture for each week in 2020 reveals stunning seasonal changes in Vermont .

Year-long timelapse shows stunning seasonal changes in Vermont
One picture for each week in 2020 reveals stunning seasonal changes in Vermont.
USA TODAY, Storyful


usatoday--2020-12-31--Nancy Pelosi slams Mitch McConnell for blocking coronavirus stimulus bill

Nancy Pelosi said Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans are holding up the distribution of $ 2,000 stimulus checks to @ @ @ @

Stimulus checks: Nancy Pelosi slams Mitch McConnell for blocking bill
Nancy Pelosi said Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans are holding up the distribution of $2,000 stimulus checks to the American people.
Associated Press, USA TODAY