19th & 22nd

Facebook Disrupts Spy Effort Aimed at Uyghurs https://threatpost.com/facebook-disrupts-spy-uyghurs/165032/ SOURCE:  Tara Seals, Threat Post  Watch live: CEOs of Facebook, Google and Twitter testify before Congress on misinformation https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/25/watch-big-tech-ceo-hearing-live.html SOURCE:  Lauren Feiner, CNBC 

  Google trying to put Microsoft on the spot at SolarWinds hearing https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/23/google-microsoft-solarwinds-hearing-471168 SOURCE:   Martin Matishak and Eric Geller, POLITICO Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification giant hit by ransomware https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/underwriters-laboratories-ul-certification-giant-hit-by-ransomware/ SOURCE:  Lawrence Abrams, Bleeping Computer 

  Congress approves $25 billion in rental assistance. Here’s how to apply https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/07/congress-approves-25-billion-in-rental-assistance-heres-how-to-apply-.html SOURCE:  Annie Nova, CNBC  Flight attendant union wants pro-Trump rioters barred from flights https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/07/flight-attendant-unions-raise-alarms-about-disruptive-travelers-after-pro-trump-riots-at-capitol.html SOURCE:  Leslie Josephs, CNBC

Well, the vaccine has finally arrived. Wonder how many people will take it?  I'm still in the 'wait-and-see' mode.  Biden and Trump both need to put pressure on Congress to pass a stimulus bill.  Unemployment benefits and the eviction moratorium are scheduled to end in December. If a stimulus package is not passed before then, January 2021 is going to be an economic mess.  First ‘mass air shipment’ of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine arrives as airlines prepare for more https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/30/first-mass-air-shipment-of-pfizers-covid-vaccine-arrives-as-airlines-prepare-for-more.html SOURCE:  Leslie Josephs & Berkeley Lovelace Jr., CNBC  Congress returns facing government shutdown deadline, calls for stimulus amid coronavirus surge https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/30/congress-looks-to-pass-coronavirus-stimulus-government-funding.html SOURCE:  Jacob Pramuk, CNBC 

I knew it was just a matter of time before there would be a 'coronavirus' related TV series (checkout the details below). It seems like COVID is taking a tour of congress and the White House. I hope this prompts more congress members to wear a mask.  ‘The Second Wave’: Broadway Stars Will Swenson, Phillipa Soo & Leslie Uggams Join Robert & Michelle King’s Coronavirus Drama Series For Spectrum https://deadline.com/2020/11/the-second-wave-will-swenson-phillipa-soo-leslie-uggams-1234616039/ SOURCE:  Peter White, Deadline At least 2 members of Congress announce positive Covid-19 diagnoses Monday https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/16/politics/lawmakers-members-covid-19-congress/index.html SOURCE:  Daniella Diaz and Kristin Wilson, CNN

 A lot of people will potentially be facing evictions next year, so let's hope McConnell can get a stimulus bill passed before 2021. The second article below highlights the continuing saga of Ant Anstead... McConnell calls for coronavirus package before end of the year https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/04/mcconnell-coronavirus-package-year-end-434047 SOURCE:  Marianne Levine, POLITICO Ant Anstead Jokes He Can't Hold Onto a Job or 'My Wives' After Wheeler Dealers Exit https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ant-anstead-jokes-cant-hold-205856483.html SOURCE:  Yahoo! Entertainment

 More COVID news and stimulus update... NJ governor on coronavirus lockdown: 'If we have to shut the whole place down we will' https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/nj-gov-on-a-covid-19-lockdown-if-we-have-to-shut-the-whole-place-down-we-will-205402414.html SOURCE:  Alexis Christoforous, Yahoo Finance  On The Money: McConnell says Congress will take up stimulus package at start of 2021 | Lawmakers see better prospects for COVID deal after election https://thehill.com/policy/finance/overnights/523706-on-the-money-mcconnell-says-congress-will-take-up-stimulus-package SOURCE:  Sylvan Lane, The Hill

 We are on the stimulus 'see-saw' again.  Yesterday, Mnuchin said that it was a 'very good' chance that a stimulus plan would be passed before the election. Now he is saying a new stimulus plan most likely won't happen before November. Mnuchin: Deal on Coronavirus Stimulus Will Be ‘Difficult’ to Reach Before Election https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-10-14/mnuchin-deal-on-coronavirus-stimulus-will-be-difficult-to-reach-before-election SOURCE:  Claire Hansen, US News World & Report Stocks Fall as Stimulus Hopes Fade, Banks Slump: Markets Wrap https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/stocks-drop-on-mnuchin-s-remarks-as-banks-tumble-markets-wrap/ar-BB19ZBuo?ocid=uxbndlbing SOURCE:  Rita Nazarath and Vildana Hajric, Bloomberg (via MSN Money) The stock market's near-term fate could be decided by the tight Senate race as stimulus remains in limbo, Morgan Stanley says https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-senate-e...

 Updates where the stimulus bill stands and how Trump plans to get back on the campaign trail... White House pushes for limited stimulus bill https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-congress-relief/white-house-seeks-limited-coronavirus-relief-bill-promises-further-talks-on-broader-stimulus-idUSKBN26W0QO SOURCE:  Valerie Volcovici, Reuters  Trump says he is recovered from COVID-19, prepares for return to campaign trail https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election/trump-says-he-is-recovered-from-covid-19-prepares-for-return-to-campaign-trail-idUSKBN26W09G SOURCE:  John Whitesides, Reuters

I thought Pelosi and Mnuchin were going to work out a stimulus deal by today. I was obviously wrong. The house has left for October recess without any deal between the house and senate. The election is early November, which only leaves a little time to work out an agreement.  One group that was hoping for a deal to be worked out this week, are airline workers. About 35,000 airline workers were laid off today. Another 10,000 will be either furloughed or laid off by the middle of the month. In addition to the airline industry, the banking and hospitality industries are also expected to layoff thousands by the end of the year.  Let's hope that Pelosi and Mnuchin are continuing to talk during the October recess.  'I don’t have a Plan B': 40,000 airline workers brace for mass layoffs https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/09/30/coronavirus-us-congress-help-airline-workers-avoid-layoffs/3585643001/ SOURCE:  USA Today House leaves for October recess without...

More updates about Congress trying to reach a stimulus deal... Pelosi anticipates reaching economic relief deal with Mnuchin, saying Trump diagnosis ‘changes the dynamic’ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pelosi-anticipates-reaching-economic-relief-deal-with-mnuchin-saying-trump-diagnosis-changes-the-dynamic/ar-BB19E5m5?ocid=msedgntp SOURCE:  Erica Werner, Jeff Stein, Washington Post Moderate Democrats Pressure Pelosi On Unemployment, Coronavirus Relief https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/nancy-pelosi-democrats-coronavirus-relief-bill-001403832.html SOURCE:  Matt Fuller, Arthur Delaney, HuffPost

Pelosi made appearances on several news shows over the past weekend. One of the topics she focused on was a second stimulus bill.  Pelosi feels strongly that a new stimulus deal can be reached before the election. One of the reasons she feels more confident now than in the past, is that the democrats have agreed to trim down their stimulus proposal to appease the republicans. She hopes that by doing this a new deal can be reached quickly, and signed by the president at the end of next week.  There are also some politicians who support Mark Cuban's stimulus proposal. Not sure if his proposal will appeal to republicans or the president -- but it definitely appeals to most average working Americans.  Mnuchin and Powell have stated that there is billions of dollars of unused aid that could be re-allocated for a second stimulus package. How can so much money just be laying around when there are so many in need? For further details on the above, checkout the articles below... W...

I feel like I'm on a see-saw...one minute stimulus talks are off...then back on again.  Check-out the articles below for the latest... P. S. I love Mark Cuban's Idea Mnuchin says he and Pelosi have agreed to restart stimulus talks https://thehill.com/policy/finance/517999-mnuchin-says-he-and-pelosi-have-agreed-to-restart-stimulus-talks SOURCE:  Sylvan Lane, The Hill Pelosi hopeful COVID-19 relief talks resume 'soon' https://thehill.com/homenews/house/518002-pelosi-hopeful-covid-19-relief-talks-resume-soon SOURCE:  Mike Lillis, The Hill Mark Cuban: Every household in America should receive a $1,000 stimulus check every 2 weeks for the next 2 months https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/23/mark-cuban-americans-should-get-a-1000-dollar-stimulus-check-every-2-weeks.html SOURCE:  Taylor Locke, CNBC, Make It

Small businesses are calling on Congress to pass a 'stand-alone' bill that will help them maintain their business and keep employees on the payroll. Hopefully, Steve Mnuchin can persuade Larry Kudlow that the country does need another stimulus package. As of yesterday, Kudlow seem convinced that another stimulus package is not needed for an economic recovery in the US. What world does he live in? Small business leaders urge Congress to pass standalone COVID-19 relief package https://finance.yahoo.com/news/small-business-leaders-urge-congress-222659083.html SOURCE:  Lucas Manfredi, Fox Business Mnuchin, Powell say Congress needs to pass more COVID-19 relief https://www.rollcall.com/2020/09/22/mnuchin-powell-say-congress-needs-to-pass-more-covid-19-relief/ SOURCE:  By Jim Saksa, Roll Call Kudlow—Contradicting Other Top Officials—Says Stimulus Not Needed For Economic Recovery https://www.forbes.com/sites/sergeiklebnikov/2020/09/22/kudlow-contradicting-other-top-officials-say...

This week it looks like stimulus talks are going to resume -- but the question is, will a bill be approved before the election?   A new stimulus package needs to be passed before November, because in many states expanded unemployment benefits are about to run out.  Trump moves closer to Pelosi in economic aid talks, and House speaker must decide next move https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-moves-closer-to-pelosi-in-economic-aid-talks-and-house-speaker-must-decide-next-move/ar-BB199HSY?ocid=msedgntp SOURCE:  Rachael Bade, Erica Werner - Washington Post Poverty groups brace for influx of need as extra unemployment benefits expire https://www.yahoo.com/money/poverty-groups-brace-for-influx-as-extra-unemployment-benefits-expire-203544453.html SOURCE:  Ben Werschkul, Yahoo Money Trump threw stimulus checks back into play and called for a large economic aid package — but Republicans still aren't backing more spending https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...

Based on the articles below, it looks like a Stimulus/Relief Bill will get passed. I truly hope so because so many people need financial support.  White House sees encouraging signs on coronavirus relief bill, Meadows says https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-sees-encouraging-signs-on-coronavirus-relief-bill-meadows-says/ar-BB196L3J?ocid=msedgntp SOURCE:  MSN & Reuters Will a New Bipartisan Stimulus Proposal Finally Bring Americans Relief? https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/09/15/will-a-new-bipartisan-stimulus-proposal-finally-br/ SOURCE:  Motley Fool Coronavirus stimulus: Bipartisan caucus unveils $1.5 trillion proposal, including checks and extra unemployment benefits, in attempt to break gridlock https://www.yahoo.com/money/coronavirus-stimulus-bipartisan-caucus-unveils-15-trillion-proposal-143810175.html SOURCE:  Yahoo Money  - Denitsa Tsekova, Reporter

I have several friends and relatives who recently lost their jobs. Most are over 40 and have no idea how to re-start their careers. But before they can restart their career, they first must survive.  One friend, Tammie, who has worked as an executive assistant for the past 15 years, has been struggling to keep herself afloat now that her unemployment benefits have run out. Although she has a lot of experience, most of the companies she is applying to are looking for someone "younger" to fill the position. The crazy thing about this is, is that the "younger" applicants who are being interviewed for these positions don't have enough experience to successfully do the job. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why -- they're only 23 years old! How much experience do these employers think they have? In order to save money, Tammie sold her car, moved into a one bedroom apartment and sold some clothes on Ebay. Thankfully, she was "renting" the...