19th & 22nd

  Mitch McConnell Is Trying To Block Mandatory Paid Sick Leave For Workers Who Get COVID https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/mcconnell-blocking-paid-sick-leave-coronavirus SOURCE:  Paul McLeod, BuzzFeed  Minimum wage set to rise in 20 states, 32 localities as growing number adopt $15 an hour https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/12/31/minimum-wage-base-pay-set-rise-20-states-15-floor-spreads/4083623001/ SOURCE:  Paul Davidson, USA Today

 We're back at the drawing board for a new stimulus package. Hopefully, a plan will get passed before the end of the year. Millions of Americans are counting on it. Hewlett Packard is definitely a big tech loss for Silicon Valley. Curious to know why HPE execs chose Houston.  McConnell shoots down bipartisan $900 billion coronavirus stimulus plan as stalemate drags on https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/coronavirus-stimulus-update-senators-to-unveil-relief-bill.html SOURCE:  Jacob Pramuck, CNBC Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the latest tech company to leave Silicon Valley, and is moving to Houston https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/hpe-is-relocating-headquarters-to-houston-from-california.html SOURCE:  Jessica Bursztynsky, CNBC 

 Updates in media news and where things stand with stimulus talks... BuzzFeed set to acquire HuffPost https://thehill.com/homenews/media/526719-buzzfeed-set-to-acquire-huffpost SOURCE:  John Bowden, The Hill Schumer says McConnell has agreed to resume negotiations over Covid-19 stimulus https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/19/coronavirus-stimulus-update-mcconnell-agrees-to-resume-talks-schumer-says.html SOURCE:  Tucker Higgins, CNBC

More political and entertainment news... McConnell declines in floor speech to congratulate Biden as president-elect https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/525177-mcconnell-declines-in-floor-speech-to-congratulate-biden-as-president-elect SOURCE:  Alexander Bolton, The Hill George Stephanopoulos Lobbies to Become Next Host of ‘Jeopardy!’ (Exclusive) https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/george-stephanopoulos-lobbies-become-next-181028363.html SOURCE:  Tony Maglio and Sharon Waxman, The Wrap  (via Yahoo News)

 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

The latest stimulus plan updates...  McConnell sets up votes on narrow coronavirus relief proposal https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/17/mcconnell-sets-up-coronavirus-relief-votes-430038 SOURCE:  Marianne Levine, POLITICO   Kudlow confident that Trump can 'round up' Senate GOP behind coronavirus relief deal https://thehill.com/policy/finance/521422-kudlow-confident-that-trump-can-round-up-senate-gop-behind-coronavirus-relief SOURCES:  Sylvan Lane, The Hill 

Just a day ago the White House assured Americans of a stimulus deal. Today, Mitch McConnell is saying he doesn't think a stimulus will pass before the election. It looks like the GOP is hellbent on getting Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court.  More below... Mitch McConnell: A COVID-19 relief deal is 'unlikely' before Election Day https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mitch-mcconnell-a-covid-19-relief-deal-is-unlikely-before-election-day/ar-BB19RF2X?ocid=msedgdhp Morgan Watkins, Louisville Courier Journal (via MSN News) Congress has stalled a new stimulus deal with $1,200 payments for 5 months. But the GOP-led Senate plans to confirm Trump's Supreme Court pick in 2 weeks. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/congress-has-stalled-a-new-stimulus-deal-with-1-200-payments-for-5-months-but-the-gop-led-senate-plans-to-confirm-trump-s-supreme-court-pick-in-2-weeks/ar-BB19RQ0G?ocid=msedgdhp SOURCE: Oma Seddiq (Business Insider)

Trump's lack of COVID protocols is keeping a lot of people away from the White House, including Mitch McConnell. I don't blame him. McConnell may be a hardcore republican but he's not crazy. Well, at least he's not in this situation.  I have a lot of friends who work in media, so I wasn't surprised to hear about the WarnerMedia layoffs. A few of my friends are seeking jobs at other media companies, but most are starting their own digital business. They know starting a business is risky, but they don't feel there is security working for someone else. McConnell says he hasn't visited White House in two months due to coronavirus https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/520205-mcconnell-says-he-hasnt-visited-white-house-in-two-months-due-to-coronavirus SOURCE:  Jordain Carney, The Hill WarnerMedia Begins Massive Round of Layoffs https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warnermedia-begins-massive-round-layoffs-1287678 SOURCE:  Tatiana Siegel, Lesley Goldberg, The Hollyw...

Looks like McConnell and other republicans are getting a little anxious about Trump's behavior this past weekend. One day he looks very ill, and the next day he is riding around in a car smiling at his supporters. I don't know why they are upset. Trump has had this type of personality from the first day he took office. I don't blame those Secret Service agents for being upset. I would be upset too if I had to ride in the same car with a person who has been confirmed to have COVID19. If I was one of those agents, it would have been the day I lost my job. That's just me.  More information about the above below... Secret Service agents criticize Trump car ride: 'This should never have happened' https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/secret-service-agents-criticize-trump-car-ride-this-should-never-have-happened/ar-BB19Ium3?ocid=msedgntp SOURCE:  Zack Budryk, The Hill (via MSN) GOP anxiety grows over Trump political roller coaster https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...

I knew after the reports regarding confusion over Trump's diagnosis was published, that he would somehow let people know he was OK...and he did that by sending out a tweet. Problem is, I still don't believe that Trump is really doing OK.  Below are some more updates. McConnell Says Spoke With Trump and He 'Sounds Well' https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2020-10-03/mcconnell-says-spoke-with-trump-and-he-sounds-well SOURCE:  US News & Report  'I am feeling well!': President Trump emerges to tweet to his followers amid conflicting reports about his coronavirus diagnosis https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-walter-reed-hospital-coronavirus-twitter-2020-10 John L. Dorman, Business Insider