Dec 14 WATCH: Sens. Manchin and Collins hold press conference on COVID-19 relief bill By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press The proposal that is being unveiled Monday includes billions of dollars for businesses, the unemployed and for schools, along with money for vaccine distribution. Continue reading
Dec 11 Watch 6:40 'Frustrated and fractured' Congress remains at an impasse on COVID relief There was a swirl of activity in Washington, D.C. Friday from the U.S. Capitol to the Supreme Court. Congress remains at a stalemate over a bipartisan relief bill, while the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit brought by Texas that challenged… Continue watching
Dec 10 European Union strikes deal on landmark budget, virus recovery fund By Lorne Cook, Raf Casert, Associated Press The 1.82 trillion-euro ($2.21 trillion) seven-year budget and recovery package is vital for virus-battered European economies. Hungary and Poland had threatened to veto it over a move to tie the use of EU funds to upholding the rule of law. Continue reading
Dec 10 WATCH: With deadline looming, COVID-19 aid talks continue By Associated Press Even as negotiations continue, congressional leaders are placing blame on each other for the lack of a final COVID-19 relief bill. A one-week extension of a potential government shutdown appears to have sapped some urgency from the talks. Continue reading
Dec 10 U.S. budget deficit up 25.1% in first 2 months of budget year By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The Treasury Department reported Thursday that with two months gone in the budget year, the deficit totaled $429.3 billion, up from $343.3 billion in last year's October-November period. Continue reading
Dec 10 U.S. jobless claims jump to 853,000 amid virus resurgence By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The number of people applying for unemployment aid jumped last week to 853,000, the most since September, evidence that companies are cutting more jobs as new virus cases spiral higher. Continue reading
Dec 09 Watch 3:44 Under pressure, lawmakers scramble to provide economic relief Lawmakers on Wednesday continued to tangle over the details of a bipartisan economic relief bill during the pandemic, even as two-thirds of Americans say the federal government needs to do more to address economic hardships created by the coronavirus, according… Continue watching
Dec 09 Lawmakers act to avert shutdown, buying time for virus relief talks By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press The House on Wednesday easily passed a temporary funding bill that sets a Dec. 18 deadline for Congress to wrap up both a virus relief measure and a $1.4 trillion government spending bill. Continue reading
Dec 09 Hunter Biden says he's facing federal investigation over 'tax affairs' By Eric Tucker, Michael Balsamo, Jonathan Lemire, Associated Press In a statement released by the president-elect's transition office, the younger Biden said he learned about the investigation on Tuesday. He did not disclose details of the matter. Continue reading
Dec 09 U.S. government, states bring antitrust action against Facebook By Marcy Gordon, Michael R. Sisak, Associated Press Federal regulators asked for Facebook to be ordered to divest its Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services as the U.S. government and 48 states and districts accused the company of abusing its market power. Continue reading