A bullish Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOn The Money: McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a Senate vote | Pelosi, Mnuchin see progress, but no breakthrough | Trump, House lawyers return to court in fight over financial records Progress, but no breakthrough, on coronavirus relief McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a vote in Senate MORE (D-Calif.) suggested Wednesday that a bipartisan deal on coronavirus relief is imminent, vowing that Congress will deliver another massive round of emergency aid either before Election Day or a short time later.

“There will be a bill. It’s a question of is it in time to pay the November rent, which is my goal? Or is it going to be shortly thereafter, and retroactive?” Pelosi said in an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

“We’re in a better place than we have been,” she added. 

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Pelosi, who is in active negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a Senate vote | Pelosi, Mnuchin see progress, but no breakthrough | Trump, House lawyers return to court in fight over financial records Progress, but no breakthrough, on coronavirus relief McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a vote in Senate MORE in search of an agreement, has seen the effort complicated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a Senate vote | Pelosi, Mnuchin see progress, but no breakthrough | Trump, House lawyers return to court in fight over financial records Progress, but no breakthrough, on coronavirus relief LGBTQ voters must show up at the polls, or risk losing progress MORE (R-Ky.), who told Republicans behind closed doors Tuesday that he’s pressing the White House to resist a deal before the election on Nov. 3.

Pelosi on Wednesday acknowledged the Senate opposition, but said Democrats can overcome the Republican defiance by leaning on President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden holds massive cash advantage over Trump ahead of Election Day Tax records show Trump maintains a Chinese bank account: NYT Trump plays video of Biden, Harris talking about fracking at Pennsylvania rally MORE‘s entreaties to “go big” before the election. If that doesn’t work, she said Congress would act quickly in the lame-duck session to secure more relief — and compensate for the time gap by making the benefits retroactive.

“I’m optimistic, because even with what Mitch McConnell says, ‘We don’t want to do it before the election,’ … let’s keep working so that we can do it after the election,” Pelosi said.

“We want it before,” she added. “But again, I want people to know: Help is on the way. It will be bigger, it will be better, it will be safer, and it will be retroactive.”

The Speaker and Mnuchin have been in constant talks in recent weeks, ironing out the differences in funding and policy language between the Democrats’ $2.2 trillion proposal and the White House’s latest offer, which is approaching $1.9 trillion. The pair is scheduled to speak again Wednesday afternoon.

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Pelosi had set a Tuesday deadline for reaching an agreement with Mnuchin on the broad contours of a deal, if not the policy specifics, and the Speaker indicated on MSNBC that the two had met that threshold, allowing the talks to continue through the week.

“I do not believe that our timetable has come and gone. We had a purpose in the timetable, which is that we would establish where we were. Freeze the design on your position,” Pelosi said. “And that is what we are coming to conclusion about now.

“There is some delay on the part of Republicans about the appropriations piece of it. But I hope that will be resolved.”

Several key sticking points remain as the sides race to unite behind another aid package. One of them relates to the amount of funding for state and local governments. Democrats had proposed $436 billion for those districts, while Mnuchin had countered with $300 billion.

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“That affects just almost about everything,” Pelosi said. “Health, transportation and the rest, that make our lives function.”

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The sides have also sparred over language, demanded by Republicans, to protect businesses and schools from lawsuits. Pelosi is insisting on strong worker safety provisions to accompany any concession Democrats make in that area.

“Safe schools, safe work place, these are values, they’re not issues,” she said.

Pelosi on Wednesday also noted a third area of disagreement: help for restaurants, which have been clobbered by shutdowns and consumer apprehensions amid the pandemic.

“That’s something I’ll be taking to the secretary about [later in the day],” she said.

The Senate will vote Monday on confirming President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden holds massive cash advantage over Trump ahead of Election Day Tax records show Trump maintains a Chinese bank account: NYT Trump plays video of Biden, Harris talking about fracking at Pennsylvania rally MORE‘s nominee, Judge Amy Coney BarrettAmy Coney BarrettSupreme Court’s Pennsylvania mail ballot ruling tees up test for Barrett Schumer says he had ‘serious talk’ with Feinstein, declines to comment on Judiciary role Progress, but no breakthrough, on coronavirus relief MORE, to the Supreme Court.

“With regard to the Supreme Court justice … we’ll be voting to confirm justice-to-be Barrett next Monday,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a Senate vote | Pelosi, Mnuchin see progress, but no breakthrough | Trump, House lawyers return to court in fight over financial records Progress, but no breakthrough, on coronavirus relief LGBTQ voters must show up at the polls, or risk losing progress MORE (R-Ky.) said during a weekly press conference, confirming the timing of a final vote on her nomination.

“I think that will be another signature accomplishment in our effort to put on the courts, the federal courts, men and women that believe in the quaint notion that maybe the job of a judge is to actually follow the law,” McConnell added.

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Top GOP senators and aides had previously indicated to The Hill that they were likely to set up the final vote for Monday, allowing vulnerable GOP senators to spend the final week before the election back on the campaign trail.

To set up a final vote on Monday, McConnell is expected to tee up Barrett’s nomination Friday, a day after the Judiciary Committee is expected to sign off on her nomination.

The Senate will then hold a procedural vote Sunday. After that, senators could still debate her nomination for an additional 30 hours.

Republicans appear confident they will have the votes to put Barrett on the Supreme Court, setting a new record for the closest to a presidential election a nominee has been confirmed. Though other judicial nominees have been confirmed in a fewer number of days, they were further away from Election Day.

Because Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, Barrett could lose three GOP senators and still be confirmed by letting Vice President Pence break a tie. If Pence is needed, it would be the first time a vice president has had to weigh in on a Senate Supreme Court confirmation vote.

Only Republican Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsSenate to vote Monday to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court Cunningham, Tillis locked in tight race in North Carolina: poll 51 percent want Barrett seated on Supreme Court: poll MORE (Maine) has said she will oppose Barrett because she does not believe a nominee should be considered before the election. Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiSenate to vote Monday to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court Senate GOP eyes Oct. 26 for confirming Barrett to Supreme Court This week: Clock ticks on chance for coronavirus deal MORE (R-Alaska) has said she does not believe a nominee should be taken up, but hasn’t said how she will vote on Barrett’s nomination.

Murkowksi is expected to meet with Barrett this week.

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Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett declined to say on Tuesday if President TrumpDonald John TrumpLabor secretary’s wife tests positive for COVID-19 Russia shuts down Trump admin’s last-minute push to strike nuclear arms deal before election Trump makes appeal to suburban women at rally: ‘Will you please like me?’ MORE can pardon himself or if he should be required to disclose his debts.  

“That would be a legal question. That would be a constitutional question and so in keeping with my obligation not to give hints, previews or forecasts of how I would resolve the case, that’s not one I can answer,” Barrett told Sen. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerFive takeaways from Barrett’s Supreme Court grilling Trump praises Barrett’s performance on day one of questioning Barrett declines to say if Trump can pardon himself MORE (D-N.J.), who asked if she believed Trump is able to pardon himself for any past or future crimes.  

Trump said in 2018 that he had an “absolute right” to pardon himself, a statement that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: Pelosi, citing ‘leverage’ over Trump, holds strong to .2T in COVID-19 aid | McConnell to force vote on ‘targeted’ relief bill next week | Trump again asks court to shield tax records Overnight Health Care: Barrett says she’s ‘not hostile’ toward Affordable Care Act | Nominee says she doesn’t classify Roe v Wade as ‘superprecedent’ | Eli Lilly pauses study of COVID-19 treatment over safety concerns Barrett declines to say if Trump can pardon himself MORE (R-Ky.) and then-House Speaker Paul RyanPaul Davis RyanBarrett declines to say if Trump can pardon himself Trump calls into Rush Limbaugh’s show for two hours Pence-Harris debate draws more than 50M viewers, up 26 percent from 2016 MORE (R-Wis.) distanced themselves from at the time.

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At the time of Trump’s tweet, the investigation into his 2016 presidential election campaign and Russia’s election interference was still ongoing. 

Booker also asked if Barrett believed Trump should disclose his personal debt. A New York Times bombshell report last month found that the president has personal debt exceeding $400 million, most of which is coming due in the next few years. 

Booker’s questions, coming several hours into the Judiciary Committee’s Q&A, is one of several involving Trump. 

Booker also asked if a president should commit to a peaceful transition of power. 

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Barrett initially sidestepped the question, saying that Booker seemed to be “pulling me in a little bit of this question” about if Trump has said he will peacefully hand over power if he loses in next month’s election. 

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“To the extent that this is a political controversy right now, as a judge I want to stay out of it,” she said. 

When Booker asked again if a president should commit themselves to a peaceful transition of power, Barrett called the peaceful handover in the wake of an election “one of the beauties of America.”  

“One of the beauties of America from the beginning of the Republic is that we have had peaceful transitions of power and that disappointed voters have accepted the new leaders that come into office,” Barrett said. 

“That’s not true in every country. And I think that is part of the genius of our Constitution and the good faith and good will of the American people that we haven’t had the situations that have arisen in so many other countries where those issues have been present,” Barrett added. 

The wireless industry on Tuesday urged President TrumpDonald John TrumpTwo ethics groups call on House to begin impeachment inquiry against Barr Trump relishes return to large rallies following COVID-19 diagnosis McGrath: McConnell ‘can’t get it done’ on COVID-19 relief MORE to oppose any efforts to nationalize the 5G network infrastructure following the Pentagon’s recent engagements with telecommunications companies.

Groups that represent wireless telecommunication companies said a move towards 5G would be “at odds with more than a century of private sector led innovation and investment in communications networkers.” 

The letter was signed by seven groups, including The Wireless Association, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, and NCTA – The Internet and Telephone Association.

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“We need to ensure that a competitive, free market remains and supports the private-sector deployment of 5G networks to ensure American networks continue to be the gold standard worldwide,” the groups wrote.

The Pentagon has recently put out a request for information (RFI) that seeks input from wireless carriers on 5G.

Two top Democrats on Friday launched an inquiry into the RFI as well as reports that the White House informed the Pentagon to “proceed immediately” to what’s known as a request for proposal, signaling movement beyond a RFI.

In their letters to the administration, the Democrats cited wireless company Rivada, which retains Karl Rove as a lobbyist, as the company that would benefit from this shift in spectrum policy.

That move followed a letter to Trump from a group of 19 Republican senators expressing concerns about the RFI, saying they felt it contradicted a free-market strategy. That letter did not mention Rivada, Rove or the other political operatives with close ties to Trump.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenMcConnell challenger dodges court packing question ‘Hamilton’ cast to reunite for Biden fundraiser Trump relishes return to large rallies following COVID-19 diagnosis MORE said Monday that he is “not a fan” of the idea of adding seats to the Supreme Court after repeatedly dodging questions about the issue.

“I’m not a fan of court packing, but I don’t want to get off on that whole issue. I want to keep focused,” Biden told WKRC, a Cincinnati-area CBS/CW affiliate. “The president would like nothing better than to fight about whether or not I would in fact pack the court or not pack the court, et cetera. The focus is, why is he doing what he’s doing now?”

The former vice president also described Republicans’ push to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court before November’s election as a form of court packing.

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“Court packing’s going on now. Never before, when an election has already begun and millions of votes already cast, has it ever been that a Supreme Court nominee was put forward,” Biden said. “And one of the reasons is the only shot the American people get to determine who will be on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court or federal court is when they pick their senator or their president.”

Biden has previously called questions about his views on court packing a distraction, saying last week that “the moment I answer that question, the headline in every one of your papers will be on the answer to that question.”

Biden on Monday also discussed why his campaign was investing in Ohio, which President TrumpDonald John TrumpTwo ethics groups call on House to begin impeachment inquiry against Barr Trump relishes return to large rallies following COVID-19 diagnosis McGrath: McConnell ‘can’t get it done’ on COVID-19 relief MORE won by about 8 points in 2016. The RealClearPolitics average of polling shows a statistical tie between Trump and Biden in the Buckeye State, with Biden 0.6 points ahead.

“If you win Ohio, the game’s over. Ohio and Florida are two very important states that Trump won significantly the last time,” he told WKRC. “Ohio I think is a toss-up right here, we plan on investing here.”

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A shuffle to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) independent board of science advisers will add a longtime consultant who has worked for the tobacco and chemicals industries while promoting a member listed as someone “not to pick” by the Union of Concerned Scientists to be the panel’s chair.

The EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) is meant to serve as an outside sounding board on the agency’s actions, with 40 or so of the nation’s top scientists weighing in on the scientific backing behind a number of policy proposals. 

But the board has shifted under the Trump administration, adding more members with ties to industry and fewer members with an academic background, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. That follows a move by prior EPA Administrator Scott PruittEdward (Scott) Scott PruittOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Barrett says climate change is a ‘contentious matter of public debate’ | Shuffle of EPA’s science advisers elevates those with industry tries | Conservation groups to sue Trump administration, seeking giraffe protections Shuffle of EPA’s science advisers elevates those with industry tries OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA gives Oklahoma authority over many tribal environmental issues | More than 60 Democrats ask feds to reconsider Tongass logging plan | EPA faces decision on chemical linked to brain damage in children MORE barring academics from serving on the board if they received agency grants for their research.

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A list of new appointees released Wednesday includes the usual cast of academics and state environmental and health officials. But it also adds Kenneth Mundt to the board, a consultant with Cardno ChemRisk who critics say has a history of working to discredit science on the harms of tobacco and a number of chemicals.

“Kenneth Mundt is pretty much a classic product defender. He has been employed by the chemical industry on pretty much every harmful chemical you can think of to defend it and to downplay the science on it,” said Genna Reed with the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Center for Science and Democracy.

Though Mundt is new to the board, he’s already being placed in a leadership role, assigned to chair the SAB’s chemicals subcommittee.

“They’re not even trying to hide that they are undermining all the independence of the Science Advisory Board. By placing him at the helm of the chemicals subcommittee they are basically announcing they are going to be pushing out peer reviews that are more favorable to industry.”

Mundt has worked to defend hexavalent chromium — the contaminant at play in the Erin Brockovich film — as well as formaldehyde and chloroprene, used in the production of synthetic rubber neoprene. Each has been linked with various types of cancer.

When he was hired to represent chloroprene manufacturer Denka, the Natural Resources Defense Council called Mundt “the right person for the job, having previously defended chemical and tobacco industries. As a consultant for Philip Morris and the tobacco industry, Mundt attacked the National Cancer Institute’s findings that low-tar cigarettes could cause lung cancer.”

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Multiple calls to Cardno ChemRisk’s headquarters went unanswered. EPA spokeswoman Molly Block said none of the nominees to the SAB garnered any negative feedback during the comment period. 

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“The administrator has taken a thoughtful and informed approach to appointing SAB members this cycle, including two [federal register] notices requesting nominations and a final comment period on the full list of nominees,” she said, calling all the new members “fully qualified.”

John Graham, who was appointed to the board in 2017, will now be its new chair alongside his role as a professor of environmental affairs at Indiana University.

Prior to his academic role, he worked in the George W. Bush administration as administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and led the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis.

Graham has opposed various rules that were also opposed by automakers — the same group that funded his research at Harvard.

In 2017, the Union of Concerned Scientists listed him on a “who not to pick” list for the SAB, calling him a regulatory reform advocate. 

“I’ve known John for years and he is really one of the best environmental scholars this country has to offer,” EPA Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerShuffle of EPA’s science advisers elevates those with industry tries OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump creates federal council on global tree planting initiative | Green group pushes for answers on delayed climate report | Carbon dioxide emissions may not surpass 2019 levels until 2027: analysis Trump creates federal government council on global tree planting initiative MORE said in a release announcing his promotion.

“His advice has been influential during his time on the SAB and I am looking to his future advice as Board Chair,” Wheeler added.

The EPA also created a new vice chair position on the SAB, something the agency said was “established to ensure smooth operation of the board.”

Barbara Beck, who has served on the SAB for two years, will fill that role. 

Beck, like Mundt, has a long history of working for chemical consulting firms. Her company, Gradient, has worked to defend a number of controversial chemicals and products. 

She has published a study questioning ties between varying levels of lead exposure and brain impacts in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said there is no safe level of exposure to lead.

And new to the board is Joseph Haney, who like outgoing board chairman Michael Honeycutt, works at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

“The Science Advisory Board is supposed to cover the breadth of expertise in different scientific fields. That has been disputed by Pruitt and Wheeler who have focused more on geographic diversity as their representation standard,” Reed said.

“But still there are lots of other state departments they could have selected someone from instead of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which has been known to have less stringent standards for chemicals considered hazardous to public health,” she continued.

The EPA touted its changes as a way the administration has “reestablished the importance of the SAB and utilized its very talented experts to provide advice on those issues critical to the agency and its mission.”

But Reed said the growing industry representation on the board is a problem.

“Placing individuals who work at these firms on these advisory committees, what it will do is give industry the opportunity and platform to present that same sowing of doubt and that same distorting of the science that will ultimately lead to less independent, less objective Science Advisory Board,” she said.

Rachel Frazin contributed to this report, which was updated at 3:49 p.m.

A wildfire that began Sunday near Colorado Springs, Colo., is now burning in a U.S. Army base’s training area, officials said.

The Wild Horse Fire jumped over a highway as high winds swept the area and spread to Fort Carson’s training area. Base officials said in a statement that the fire currently doesn’t pose a threat to any facility personnel or property. 

Fort Carson Fire and Emergency officials reported the fire has burned 580 acres and is zero percent contained. The officials said high winds are not expected on Monday, and they plan to use UH-60 Black Hawks to fight the blaze, particularly on the Highway 115 corridor.

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The National Weather Service said winds reached 50 to 80 mph on Sunday afternoon, which Fort Carson fire personnel said likely drove the fire across the highway to the Army base. 

The wildfire had shut down part of Highway 115 for 13 hours before the highway reopened at 4 a.m. Monday, The Denver Channel reported. Officials announced a six-mile portion of the highway would close for about three hours early Monday afternoon as authorities fight the fire.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office required evacuations for an area near the fire but has since lifted the order. The location is still under “pre-evacuation status.”

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The new fire is one of the smallest in the state. The larger Cameron Peak Park Fire has spread across about 134,559 acres and is 47 percent contained, and the Williams Fork Fire has stretched across 14,357 acres and is 26 percent contained, according to the Colorado Tourism Office. 

The Pine Gulch Fire, the largest in Colorado history, spread about 139,000 acres before being contained in September, two months after it started, CNN noted.

–Updated at 3:34 p.m.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Tuesday morning refused to say how she viewed two landmark cases establishing a woman’s right to an abortion, setting up a major battle on the issue over ahead of her Supreme Court confirmation vote and the Nov. 3 election.

Democrats say Barrett is a threat to overturn the landmark abortion rights case Roe v. Wade, pointing to her legal writings, in which she cited Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which affirmed Roe v. Wade, was an example of an “erroneous decision.”

Barrett, a member of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, in 2018 also disagreed with a decision not to review her circuit court’s decision striking down an Indiana law that would have restricted abortion based on a fetus’s disability or sex.

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Asked by Sen. Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel FeinsteinGraham lays groundwork for committee vote on Supreme Court pick Democrats steer clear of Barrett’s religion during Supreme Court hearing Gloves come off in Barrett confirmation hearing MORE (D-Calif.) on Tuesday if she agreed with late Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent in Planned Parenthood v. Casey or his view that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overruled, Barrett declined to answer.

“I do want to be forthright and answer every question so far as I can. I think on that question I’m going to invoke Justice Kagan’s, which I think is perfectly put. When she was in her confirmation hearing, she was not going to grade precedent, or give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down,” Barrett said, referring to Justice Elena KaganElena KaganSupreme Court rejects GOP effort to block mail voting in Montana Supreme Court hears landmark B copyright fight between Oracle, Google Supreme Court nominee gives no clues in GOP meeting MORE, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Obama in 2010.

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“I think in an area where precedent continues to be pressed and litigated, as is true of Casey, it would actually be wrong and a violation of the cannons for me to do that as a sitting judge,” she added. “If I express a view on a precedent one way or another, whether I say I love it or I hate it, it signals to litigant I might tilt one way or another in a pending case.”

Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, was not happy with the reply.

“It’s distressing not to get a straight answer,” she said, citing the potential impact on millions of women of curtailing Roe v. Wade or Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

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Democratic suspicions over how Barrett might rule in abortion cases is heightened by the fact that conservatives, notably Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyDemocrats steer clear of Barrett’s religion during Supreme Court hearing The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Sponsored by Facebook – Sights and sounds as Amy Coney’s Barrett hearing begins Cruz says he raised concerns with Trump over Gorsuch and Kavanaugh before nominations MORE (R-Mo.), demanded that President TrumpDonald John TrumpTwo ethics groups call on House to begin impeachment inquiry against Barr Trump relishes return to large rallies following COVID-19 diagnosis McGrath: McConnell ‘can’t get it done’ on COVID-19 relief MORE nominate a judge with a public record of skepticism toward Roe v. Wade.

Barrett, however, insisted on Tuesday that she would not come to the Supreme Court with any “agenda.”

“I can’t pre-commit or say, ‘Yes, I’m going in with some agenda,’ because I’m not. I don’t have any agenda. I have no agenda to try and overrule Casey. I have an agenda to stick to the rule of law and decide cases as they come,” she said.

Asked once again by Feinstein whether she agreed with Scalia’s view that Roe v. Wade should be overturned, Barrett declined to answer, asserting it could come before her on the court.

“My answer is the same because that’s a case that’s litigated. Its contours could come up again, in fact, do come up. They came up last term before the court,” she said, describing abortion rights as a “contentious issue.”

Feinstein said “that makes it difficult for me” because “this is a very important case.”

“You could be a very important vote,” she added.

Supporters say there are 17 abortion-related cases that are “just one step away” from the Supreme Court and that two recent cases on restrictions were decided by just one vote while Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgRuth Bader GinsburgMcConnell challenger dodges court packing question Protesters arrested on first day of Barrett hearings Democrats steer clear of Barrett’s religion during Supreme Court hearing MORE was still on the court.

Federal Reserve board member Lael Brainard warned Wednesday that the U.S. economy could slip back into recession if the White House and Congress cannot strike a deal on fiscal stimulus. 

Brainard said in a speech that a failure to approve more coronavirus relief funding poses “the most significant downside risk” to the economy other than a massive resurgence of COVID-19. She warned that without further assistance for millions of unemployed workers and cash-strapped state and local governments, the recovery from the onset of the pandemic could grind to a halt or even reverse.

“Too little support would lead to a slower and weaker recovery,” Brainard said.

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“Premature withdrawal of fiscal support would risk allowing recessionary dynamics to become entrenched, holding back employment and spending, increasing scarring from extended unemployment spells, leading more businesses to shutter and ultimately harming productive capacity.”

Brainard and other top Fed officials have warned since May that extending the aid passed through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act would be crucial to a steady recovery. She and a broad, ideologically diverse range of economists credit the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill with dampening the economic blow of the pandemic and paving the way to a quicker rebound.

“With unemployment and reduced hours likely to persist, many of these households are unlikely to be able to sustain recent levels of consumption without additional fiscal support as well as extended loan forbearance and eviction moratoriums,” she said on Wednesday.

“The financial security of displaced workers will depend importantly on whether unemployment benefits will be extended or supplemented—and if this will occur before any remaining savings accrued from the CARES Act funding run out.”

Brainard and her colleagues’ pleas for further fiscal support have become increasingly dire and direct as the White House and House Democrats attempt to strike a deal on another round of aid before Election Day. 

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Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOn The Money: McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a Senate vote | Pelosi, Mnuchin see progress, but no breakthrough | Trump, House lawyers return to court in fight over financial records Progress, but no breakthrough, on coronavirus relief McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a vote in Senate MORE (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a Senate vote | Pelosi, Mnuchin see progress, but no breakthrough | Trump, House lawyers return to court in fight over financial records Progress, but no breakthrough, on coronavirus relief McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a vote in Senate MORE have spent weeks in near daily negotiations to strike a long-shot pre-election stimulus deal. While Pelosi on Tuesday cited progress toward resolving Democratic concerns with the Trump administration’s offer, there is no formal deal yet with less than two weeks until Election Day.

An eventual Pelosi-White House deal, which would likely cost roughly $1.8 trillion, also faces hurdles in the GOP-controlled Senate. Senate Republican leaders have warned that there is little support among their conference for another $1 trillion-plus bill, though Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: McConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a Senate vote | Pelosi, Mnuchin see progress, but no breakthrough | Trump, House lawyers return to court in fight over financial records Progress, but no breakthrough, on coronavirus relief LGBTQ voters must show up at the polls, or risk losing progress MORE (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he would bring such a measure up for a vote anyway.

If all members of the Senate Democratic Caucus vote for a potential stimulus package of that size, it would need the support of 13 Senate Republicans to reach President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden holds massive cash advantage over Trump ahead of Election Day Tax records show Trump maintains a Chinese bank account: NYT Trump plays video of Biden, Harris talking about fracking at Pennsylvania rally MORE’s desk. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push expansion of offshore wind, block offshore drilling with ocean energy bill | Poll: Two-thirds of voters support Biden climate plan | Biden plan lags Green New Deal in fighting emissions from homes Biden plan lags Green New Deal in fighting emissions from homes Ocasio-Cortez rolls out Twitch channel to urge voting MORE‘s (D-N.Y.) entrance into the Twitch online gaming community became one of the most-watched streams in the platform’s history as more than half a million people tuned in Tuesday evening.

A multihour stream of the New York congresswoman playing “Among Us” alongside popular streamers Hasanabi and Pokimane and others including a colleague and fellow “squad” member, Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarVeterans launch pro-law enforcement super PAC with battlegrounds ad buys Kamala Harris and the stereotypes we place on Black women Pocan won’t seek another term as Progressive Caucus co-chair MORE (D-Minn.), drew more than 430,000 viewers on her channel. Other streamers broadcasting while taking part in the event drew tens of thousands of concurrent viewers as well, likely bringing the total past half a million viewers.

The stream is now the third highest watched in Twitch history, according to Gamespot.com, trailing a record set by streamer Ninja in 2018 during a Fortnite session with rapper Travis Scott and hip-hop artist Drake. A Fortnite in-game event streamed earlier this year from Spanish streamer TheGrefg was the second most watched event.

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Omar captioned a picture of herself playing on a staffer’s computer Tuesday evening shortly after joining the event, during which she won at least one match while at times playing alongside her oldest daughter, Isra Hirsi.

Other members of Congress appeared to be enjoying the stream from a distance.

Rep. Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibOcasio-Cortez, progressives call on Senate not to confirm lobbyists or executives to future administration posts Pocan won’t seek another term as Progressive Caucus co-chair Kamala Harris’s facial expressions during debate go viral MORE (D-Mich.), another “squad” member, tweeted a picture of her two sons watching Ocasio-Cortez play, and added: “They think this is the coolest thing ever & are trying to convince me to get with the program.”

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At one point in the stream, Ocasio-Cortez also announced that Rep. Justin AmashJustin AmashHillicon Valley: House votes to condemn QAnon | Americans worried about foreign election interference | DHS confirms request to tap protester phones House votes to condemn alleged hysterectomies on migrant women House approves measure condemning QAnon, but 17 Republicans vote against it MORE (I-Mich.) had texted her, telling her that he was greatly enjoying the stream.

“I had no idea how Among Us worked before this Twitch stream, but this is great, and I’ve got my son speed-teaching me,” Amash tweeted minutes later.

Plans for the hugely popular stream evolved over the course of a single day following Ocasio-Cortez’s query to her followers a day earlier asking if anyone would be interested in a stream featuring a get-out-the-vote message.

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Numerous streamers including Pokimane and Hasanabi, also known as former Young Turks contributor Hasan Piker, responded to the congresswoman’s Monday tweet, apparently prompting plans for the star-studded stream.

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