| | | | | |  | | By Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross | Presented by |  | | | OK, LET'S TAKE STOCK of where we are on Covid relief. WELL, WE'RE NOWHERE! WITH 9 DAYS until the end of the congressional session, there's no bill, no sense of who is in charge, no breakthroughs on any long-held policy disputes. And we have no idea whether the tens of millions of Americans who need continued support from the government will get it. -- THE SAME ISSUES that have stalled these talks for months -- direct payment, state and local cash and liability -- are still gumming up the works. -- SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL offered to drop state and local and liability -- Democrats said no, accusing him of trying to upstage bipartisan talks. -- ON TUESDAY NIGHT, a mere hours after MCCONNELL offered to drop state and local and liability, Washington's Most Eager Man, Treasury Secretary STEVEN MNUCHIN, offered Democrats state and local and liability in a $916 billion package. Democrats said it was a good sign, but a bad idea at the same time because it slashed supplemental unemployment benefits. SENATE MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER: "Well, I think cutting unemployment to virtually almost nothing is a very, very bad idea, and so I'm against that. I think that the better way to go is a bipartisan plan that the Gang of Eight has put together. That's the way to go. Cutting unemployment to the extent he has is not going to take much, it's not going to get much support among any Democrats." -- DEMOCRATS are pushing for the bipartisan negotiating group to be the nucleus of the Covid relief talks. That group has but an outline -- no legislative text, and no decision on state and local or liability. Marianne LeVine on the outline WE ASKED MCCONNELL this morning what was up. He said: "We're still looking for a way forward." ALL LEADERS have said they want a deal. Will any of them assert themselves and do something to get a deal? | | A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have committed more than $5.5 billion to help the nation address the COVID-19 outbreak, by providing premium relief, eliminating patient treatment costs, and enhancing access to telehealth. Learn more. | | | THE VACCINE HUNT -- REUTERS/DUBAI: "UAE says Sinopharm vaccine has 86% efficacy against COVID-19": "While the positive data comes soon after last month's upbeat results from Western rivals, such as Pfizer Inc, Moderna, AstraZeneca Plc and from Russia, neither the UAE nor Sinopharm have released detailed data from the pivotal study. … In September, [the UAE] authorised emergency use of the vaccine for certain groups, the first such international clearance for a vaccine developed in China. … 'The analysis shows no serious safety concerns,' [the analysis] said." Reuters -- WAPO: "Britain warns people with 'significant' allergic reactions not to take Pfizer vaccine," by William Booth and Erin Cunningham in London: "Two staffers with Britain's National Health Service suffered symptoms of 'anaphylactoid reaction' when they received vaccinations at a hospital on Tuesday. NHS officials said both workers have a history of serious allergies and carry adrenaline pens to quickly quell symptoms, which can include skin reactions, low blood pressure, constricted airways and dizziness or fainting." WaPo -- CBC: "Health Canada approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine" Good Wednesday afternoon. SIREN -- HOSPITALS OVERLOADED … "Intensive Care Beds Are Nearing Capacity Across the Country, New Data Shows," by NYT's Lauren Leatherby, John Keefe, Lucy Tompkins, Charlie Smart and Matthew Conlen: "In El Paso, hospitals reported that just 13 of 400 intensive care beds were not occupied last week. In Fargo, N.D., there were just three. In Albuquerque, there were zero. More than a third of Americans live in areas where hospitals are running critically short of intensive care beds, federal data show … "The new data shows that some areas — like Amarillo, Texas, Coral Gables, Fla., and Troy, Mich. — are seeing rates of serious illness from Covid-19 that approach the levels seen in New York City during the worst weeks of the spring." … AND STOCKPILES UNDERSUPPLIED: "U.S. Supplies of Covid-19 PPE Fall Short of Targets," by WSJ's Stephanie Armour, Betsy McKay and Susan Pulliam: "The Trump administration said in May it was aiming to increase its emergency supply of N95 respirator masks to 300 million in the coming 90 days. It never met the goal; by mid-November, the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile and the Federal Emergency Management Agency held 142 million N95 masks … "The U.S. also has yet to develop a centralized database to distribute medical gear to all health providers. … [T]here is growing alarm among some public health and state leaders about having enough medical gear to cope with a wave of cases that is projected to roughly double the U.S. death toll, now at more than 280,000, by February." WSJ WAPO: "For the first time, the U.S. will reward nursing homes for controlling the spread of infectious disease," by Will Englund: "More than 9,000 nursing homes have been able to show progress in controlling the novel coronavirus infection, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, and will share $523 million in incentive payments as a reward, starting Wednesday. "The emergency spending plan marks a departure for Medicare and Medicaid, which pay for the majority of nursing home residents, in tying financial incentives to infection-control measures for the first time. Over the years, the nursing home business has been shaped by extra fees for services performed — such as therapy, dialysis or care for diabetes — but with none for defending against infectious disease. Nursing home operators emphasized those services, often gaming the system to maximize income, while typically squeezing expenses devoted to standard nursing care." WaPo | | | | TRACK THE TRANSITION & NEW ADMINISTRATION HEADING INTO 2021: President-elect Biden is pushing full steam ahead on putting together his Cabinet and White House staff. These appointments and staffing decisions send clear-cut signals about Biden's priorities. What do these signals foretell? Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, it tracks the appointments, people, and the emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | | P-P-P-PROBLEMS -- "How Pandemic Aid Attracted Hordes of Gleeful and Gutsy Scammers," by NYT's Stacy Cowley: "Four months after the federal government's signature coronavirus relief program for small businesses expired, investigators and lawmakers have only scratched the surface of schemes that illicitly tapped its forgivable loans. The program's hastily drafted and frequently revised rules, its removal of normal lending guardrails and governmental pressure to swiftly approve applications created the ideal conditions for thievery to thrive." NYT -- NBC: "Accused hate groups receive pandemic aid," by April Glaser and Olivia Solon: "Fourteen organizations designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center or the Anti-Defamation League have received funding from the Paycheck Protection Program totaling $4.3 million." NBC CRISTIANO LIMA: "YouTube to remove videos claiming mass fraud changed election results": "YouTube said Wednesday it will begin removing any videos that falsely claim widespread voting fraud changed the outcome of the 2020 presidential race now that the deadline for states to resolve disputes over the results has passed." POLITICO … The announcement VALLEY TALK -- "Google to lift post-election political ad ban on Dec. 10," by Axios' Sara Fischer: "The lift comes about a month ahead of two crucial Georgia runoff races that will determine control of the Senate. Millions of dollars have been pouring into the Senate runoffs, but most of that money thus far has been channeled into local broadcast ads due to Google and Facebook's extended political ad bans. … "Beginning Thursday, Google says it will be lifting its 'sensitive event' policy, which it put in place to help prevent misinformation spread via ads that concern sensitive events like elections or public health crises." Axios -- ELENA SCHNEIDER: "Google announced the decision in an email to digital consultants, after directly informing several top clients on Wednesday morning … Facebook, which also instituted a ban on political ads ahead of the election, has not yet announced if or when it will lift its ban." ON THE GROUND -- "Georgia Senate Runoff Elections Trigger Panicked Door Knocking by Both Parties," by WSJ's Cameron McWhirter and Joshua Jamerson in Cherokee County: "Both parties are conducting what they describe as enormous voter turnout operations—not only because so much is at stake for both sides, but because they're fretting about turning out their own people when Mr. Trump is not on the ballot." | | | | HAPPENING THURSDAY - CLOSING THE ORAL HEALTH CARE GAP : Oral health care remains out of reach or limited for millions of people living in the United States, particularly for those with low income, those living in rural communities, and in communities of color. What will it take to improve access and quality of oral care for Americans, especially for the most vulnerable? Join POLITICO for a virtual conversation exploring the challenges in oral care disparities and the policies and strategies that can help solve them. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | IMMIGRATION FILES -- "Arrests of Immigrant Children at Border Climb, Fueling Concern for Biden Team," by WSJ's Alicia Caldwell and Michelle Hackman: "Immigrant children and families are again heading north to the U.S.-Mexico border in increasing numbers after a lull, signaling the possibility of a fresh humanitarian crisis and an early challenge for the incoming Biden administration. … "[I]n October, 4,630 unaccompanied children were taken into custody by border patrol agents, up from 712 in April, while 4,501 migrants traveling as families arrived in October, compared with 716 in April, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data show. During one six-day period in mid-November about 1,000 children were taken into custody, according to a recent federal court filing made by the federal government." WSJ GOOD LUCK WITH THAT IRAN DEAL REVIVAL! -- "Iran Is Moving Key Facility at Nuclear Site Underground, Satellite Images Show," by NYT's Christoph Koettl, with videos by Arielle Ray: "The mysterious July explosion that destroyed a centrifuge assembly hall at Iran's main nuclear fuel enrichment facility in Natanz was deemed by the Iranian authorities to be enemy sabotage, and provoked a defiant response: The wrecked building would be rebuilt in 'the heart of the mountains,' the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said. "Progress on that pledge, which could shield the facility from an aerial assault or other threats, has been unclear to outside observers. But new satellite imagery is now shedding light on the Iranian plans. The Visual Investigations team of The New York Times has tracked construction at the site using the new imagery. For the first time, new tunnel entrances for underground construction are visible under a ridge in the mountain foothills south of the Natanz facility, about 140 miles south of Tehran." NYT CLICKER … NYT: "2020: The Year in Pictures" AFTERNOON READ -- "How Oath Keepers Are Quietly Infiltrating Local Government," by Ciara O'Rourke in Granbury, Texas, for POLITICO Magazine: "Depending on whom you ask, Oath Keepers is either 'the last line of defense against tyranny' or an extremist militia. … Oath Keepers has made inroads across the country with thousands of law enforcement officers, soldiers and veterans. … "[W]hat's happening in Hood County may represent a shift for a group that was once seen as a governmental antagonist but is now establishing itself inside the halls of the elected officialdom. And it is setting up potentially dangerous conflicts between officials with different ideas of what constitutes legitimate government authority." POLITICO Magazine TRANSITION -- Steve Neuman has been promoted to VP of global government affairs for American Airlines. He's returning to the company after a leave of absence to manage the Midwest region for the Biden campaign. BONUS BIRTHDAYS: Jessica Furst Johnson … Anne Bradbury, CEO of AXPC (h/ts Liz Bowman) | | | | A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association:   Taking action to fight the pandemic. See how we're meeting the challenge. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
