19th & 22nd

 Georgia election news updates... Battle for Senate majority keeps Georgia in spotlight https://www.ajc.com/politics/battle-for-senate-majority-keeps-georgia-in-spotlight/NETOPBHYLBG3NP5IF7SVEHMF2Y/ SOURCE:  Greg Bluestein & Patricia Murphy, AJC LIVE UPDATES: Ga. winding down vote count before audit, likely recount (scroll down to 7:40pm update) https://www.ajc.com/politics/live-updates-bidens-lead-in-georgia-grows-with-weekend-vote-counts/CDZ2PLBVPVC5JMDBWFJE3UOHGU/ SOURCE:  AJC Staff 

 The Senate got their Supreme Court seat filled and left. It would be easy to blame the Senate for no stimulus...however, in my opinion BOTH parties are to blame for the stalled stimulus package.  Stimulus Hopes Put On Hold Until After Election as Senate Leaves https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/stimulus-hopes-put-on-hold-until-after-election-as-senate-leaves/ar-BB1aqUGL?ocid=msedgntp SOURCE:  Erik Wasson and Billy House, Bloomberg  (via MSN News) Democrats say Republicans will regret Barrett confirmation, slam 'manipulation' of Supreme Court https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-say-republicans-will-regret-barrett-confirmation-slam-manipulation-of-supreme-court/ar-BB1aqKB2?ocid=msedgntp SOURCE:  David Aaro, FOX News  (via MSN News)

 Latest news on GOP stimulus bill and Google... Senate Democrats block GOP's $500 billion coronavirus aid bill as Pelosi-Mnuchin talks continue https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-democrats-block-gop-s-500-billion-coronavirus-aid-bill-as-pelosi-mnuchin-talks-continue/ar-BB1agjPn?ocid=msedgntp SOURCE:  Jacob Pramuk, CNBC  (via MSN News) If Google's a monopoly, who is harmed by its market power? https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/if-google-s-a-monopoly-who-is-harmed-by-its-market-power/ar-BB1agojm?ocid=msedgntp SOURCE:  Matt O'Brien, AP Tech Writer (via MSN News)

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 

 More stimulus updates...   Some Democrats are urging Nancy Pelosi to accept the White House's $1.8 trillion stimulus offer. But Senate Republicans pose a big obstacle to a coronavirus relief deal. https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-urging-nancy-pelosi-accept-193747392.html SOURCE:  Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Business Insider (via Yahoo News) 'Stop playing games with our lives': Americans on financial brink plead with politicians to pass bill for 2nd stimulus checks https://news.yahoo.com/stop-playing-games-with-our-lives-americans-on-financial-brink-plead-with-politicians-to-pass-bill-for-second-stimulus-checks-151130740.html SOURCE: Marquise Frances, Yahoo News

 Latest Stimulus Bill updates... McConnell says Senate will vote on a $500 billion stimulus plan before Election Day as Trump tells GOP to ‘go big or go home’ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/13/covid-19-stimulus-mcconnell-says-senate-vote-ppp-bill-next-week/3640576001/ SOURCE:  Nicholas Wu, USA Today JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon calls for more federal stimulus spending https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-stimulus-third-quarter-earnings/ SOURCE:  Stephen Gendel, CBS News  Stocks Drop on Stimulus Deadlock as Banks Tumble: Markets Wrap https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/stocks-drop-with-stimulus-on-hold-as-banks-tumble-markets-wrap/ar-BB19X4wy?ocid=uxbndlbing SOURCE:  Rita Nazareth  and Claire Ballentine, Bloomberg (via MSN Money) 

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...

The meeting between Pelosi and Mnuchin didn't result in a stimulus bill agreement. So, Pelosi and the house just passed their own stimulus plan. This sounds good -- but it's not a done deal until it is approved by Trump and the republicans.  Speaking of republicans, I just found out that there are several republicans who voted no on a peaceful transition in the event Trump loses. This should be interesting.  More details below... House Democrats pass their $2.2 trillion stimulus plan which includes $600 federal unemployment benefits and direct payments https://www.businessinsider.com/house-democrats-stimulus-plan-congress-unemployment-economy-pass-vote-bill-2020-9?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=referral SOURCE:  Joseph Zeballas-Roig, Business Insider These 5 Republicans Voted No on House Resolution for Peaceful Transition if Trump Loses Election https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/these-5-republicans-voted-no-on-house-resolution-for-peaceful-transition-if-trum...