Key PointsWe will not be intimidated by thugs: Sen. Mitch McConnellCongress confirmed the election of as president early Thursday, a day after a mob invaded the U.S. Capitol in a chaotic effort to avoid having President be formally recognized as the loser in the race.The affirmation came after the House and Senate overwhelmingly rejected efforts by some Republicans to object to the acceptance of Electoral College wins for Biden in Arizona and Pennsylvania.Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris hit 306 votes in the Electoral College, 36 more than needed to secure a White House victory....…Key PointsWe will not be intimidated by thugs: Sen. Mitch McConnellCongress confirmed the election of as president early Thursday, a day after a mob invaded the U.S. Capitol in a chaotic effort to avoid having President be formally recognized as the loser in the race.The affirmation came after the House and Senate overwhelmingly rejected efforts by some Republicans to object to the acceptance of Electoral College wins for Biden in Arizona and Pennsylvania.Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris hit 306 votes in the Electoral College, 36 more than needed to secure a White House victory....WW…

Key PointsGOP considers extending unemployment benefit at reduced level of $100 a week through DecemberRepublicans are considering extending the enhanced unemployment insurance benefit at a dramatically reduced level of $400 per month, or $100 a week, through the rest of the year, sources told CNBC. Congress passed a $600 per week, or $2,400 a month, boost to jobless benefits in March to deal with a wave of unemployment unseen in decades as states shut down their economies to combat the . The policy expires at the end of July as the U.S. unemployment rate stands above 11%, despite two...…Key PointsGOP considers extending unemployment benefit at reduced level of $100 a week through DecemberRepublicans are considering extending the enhanced unemployment insurance benefit at a dramatically reduced level of $400 per month, or $100 a week, through the rest of the year, sources told CNBC. Congress passed a $600 per week, or $2,400 a month, boost to jobless benefits in March to deal with a wave of unemployment unseen in decades as states shut down their economies to combat the . The policy expires at the end of July as the U.S. unemployment rate stands above 11%, despite two...WW…

Key PointsSenate overwhelmingly passes anti-Asian hate crimes billThe Senate passed a bill Thursday designed to curb a spike in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.The chamber approved the measure in a 94-1 vote, with Republican Josh Hawley of Missouri the only senator to oppose it. The legislation will head to the Democratic-held House. Speaker , D-Calif., has backed the bill, and President has signaled he would sign it into law.The proposal would instruct the Justice Department to expedite the review of hate crimes related to Covid-19. It also would give...…Key PointsSenate overwhelmingly passes anti-Asian hate crimes billThe Senate passed a bill Thursday designed to curb a spike in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.The chamber approved the measure in a 94-1 vote, with Republican Josh Hawley of Missouri the only senator to oppose it. The legislation will head to the Democratic-held House. Speaker , D-Calif., has backed the bill, and President has signaled he would sign it into law.The proposal would instruct the Justice Department to expedite the review of hate crimes related to Covid-19. It also would give...WW…

Key PointsPresident said Monday that he is ready to bargain with lawmakers about changes to his more than $2 trillion infrastructure plan."I'm prepared to negotiate as to the extent of my infrastructure project as well as how we pay for it. ... I think everyone acknowledges we need a significant increase in infrastructure. It's going to get down to what we call infrastructure," the president said ahead of an Oval Office meeting with House and Senate members from both parties.The president has said he will engage with Republicans skeptical of his proposal and try to win their support for the...…Key PointsPresident said Monday that he is ready to bargain with lawmakers about changes to his more than $2 trillion infrastructure plan."I'm prepared to negotiate as to the extent of my infrastructure project as well as how we pay for it. ... I think everyone acknowledges we need a significant increase in infrastructure. It's going to get down to what we call infrastructure," the president said ahead of an Oval Office meeting with House and Senate members from both parties.The president has said he will engage with Republicans skeptical of his proposal and try to win their support for the...WW…

Key PointsAny hopes that Washington could scrape together a bipartisan infrastructure package took a hit Thursday.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters the more than $2 trillion plan the White House unveiled Wednesday "is not going to get support from our side." The proposal would invest in roads, bridges, airports, broadband, water systems, electric vehicles and job training programs, and raise the corporate tax rate to 28% to offset the spending.Private markets will play a 'key role' in the delivery of Biden's infrastructure plan, analyst saysThe Republican also...…Key PointsAny hopes that Washington could scrape together a bipartisan infrastructure package took a hit Thursday.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters the more than $2 trillion plan the White House unveiled Wednesday "is not going to get support from our side." The proposal would invest in roads, bridges, airports, broadband, water systems, electric vehicles and job training programs, and raise the corporate tax rate to 28% to offset the spending.Private markets will play a 'key role' in the delivery of Biden's infrastructure plan, analyst saysThe Republican also...WW…

Key PointsSen. Thom Tillis has prostate cancer and will undergo surgery next week to treat it, he announced Monday."I am in the hands of outstanding medical professionals and expect to make a full recovery," the North Carolina Republican said in a statement.Tillis, 60, won election to his second six-year term in November. The senator said he had no symptoms and the cancer was found early after testing during an annual physical. "Early detection can truly save lives," he said. Tillis traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border last week with a group of Republican senators. The full Senate will not...…Key PointsSen. Thom Tillis has prostate cancer and will undergo surgery next week to treat it, he announced Monday."I am in the hands of outstanding medical professionals and expect to make a full recovery," the North Carolina Republican said in a statement.Tillis, 60, won election to his second six-year term in November. The senator said he had no symptoms and the cancer was found early after testing during an annual physical. "Early detection can truly save lives," he said. Tillis traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border last week with a group of Republican senators. The full Senate will not...WW…

Key PointsSen. hopes to include a Medicare expansion in Democrats' upcoming economic recovery plan.The Vermont independent and Senate Budget Committee chair hopes to lower the eligibility age for coverage to either 60 or 55 from the current 65, a Sanders aide confirmed Friday Sanders also wants to ensure Medicare covers dental visits and glasses, among other medical needs.He aims to fund the coverage expansion by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices directly with drug companies. Sanders wants to include the provision in Democrats' next budget reconciliation bill, which can pass with no...…Key PointsSen. hopes to include a Medicare expansion in Democrats' upcoming economic recovery plan.The Vermont independent and Senate Budget Committee chair hopes to lower the eligibility age for coverage to either 60 or 55 from the current 65, a Sanders aide confirmed Friday Sanders also wants to ensure Medicare covers dental visits and glasses, among other medical needs.He aims to fund the coverage expansion by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices directly with drug companies. Sanders wants to include the provision in Democrats' next budget reconciliation bill, which can pass with no...WW…

Key PointsThe White House is weighing whether to suspend intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments, in response to pressure from developing nations and subsequent support from progressive lawmakers, according to three sources familiar with the matter.A temporary suspension of intellectual property protections would apply to all medical technologies to treat or prevent Covid-19. South Africa and India made a formal request to the World Trade Organization to waive the protections until the pandemic is over, but the issue was tabled without a resolution.The White...…Key PointsThe White House is weighing whether to suspend intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments, in response to pressure from developing nations and subsequent support from progressive lawmakers, according to three sources familiar with the matter.A temporary suspension of intellectual property protections would apply to all medical technologies to treat or prevent Covid-19. South Africa and India made a formal request to the World Trade Organization to waive the protections until the pandemic is over, but the issue was tabled without a resolution.The White...WW…

Key PointsMnuchin: Trump won't bailout 'mismanaged' states such as Illinois or New YorkTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC on Thursday that any new government assistance to combat the economic slowdown from the coronavirus pandemic will not be a bailout for states."On the state issue, the president is not going to bail out Chicago and New York and other states that prior to the coronavirus were mismanaged," he said on .""We're going to have the Kennedy bill which basically says that the states that have the money can use the money for lost revenues. That's going to take care of...…Key PointsMnuchin: Trump won't bailout 'mismanaged' states such as Illinois or New YorkTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC on Thursday that any new government assistance to combat the economic slowdown from the coronavirus pandemic will not be a bailout for states."On the state issue, the president is not going to bail out Chicago and New York and other states that prior to the coronavirus were mismanaged," he said on .""We're going to have the Kennedy bill which basically says that the states that have the money can use the money for lost revenues. That's going to take care of...WW…