The Center for Strategic and International Studies held a virtual discussion on building vaccine confidence to help end the coronavirus pandemic. Representatives Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Ami Bera (D-CA) spoke about the government's role in combating misinformation, but stressed the importance of local leaders and trusted members of the community encouraging people to take a coronavirus vaccine when it is available to them.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held a news conference to discuss the agency's latest monetary policy actions amid the coronavirus pandemic. He announced the nation's central bank would keep its accommodative policies in place such as low interest rates until further notice. Chair Powell said he supports additional fiscal stimulus to help Americans struggling from the economic effects of COVID-19. His comments came as congressional lawmakers are in negotiations for additional virus relief legislation
Talking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden's business dealings. The week prior, the president-elect's son announced federal prosecutors were investigating his tax affairs. Sen. Graham also spoke about his relationship with President-elect Biden and pushed for the ending of Section 230 protections for social media platforms.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright joined the Atlantic Council for a virtual discussion on U.S. foreign policy as President-elect Biden prepared to take office. The former secretary spoke about the importance of U.S. leadership on the global stage and said the Biden administration would have to work to repair the U.S.'s reputation around the world, particularly among allies.
The Atlantic Council held a virtual discussion with foreign policy experts on U.S.-China relations. Panelists discussed an emboldened China as President-elect Joe Biden prepared to take office and discussed how the U.S. could work with its allies to confront and partner with China on various foreign policy challenges.
The Senate meets to consider judicial nominations for a U.S. District Court in Eastern Tennessee and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. It's possible Senators may also take up a long-term spending package for next year and COVID-19 relief legislation.
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that a Saturday Senate session was likely as Congress continues negotiations on COVID-19 & federal spending bills. Current funding for most government agencies will expire Friday at midnight.
Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Republicans and Democrats are close to reaching deals on COVID-19 relief & federal spending bills, but that some important details still need to be worked out.
Sen. James Lankford spoke on the floor about tomorrow's deadline to pass a spending bill to keep the government funded. He said the prospect of a government shutdown unfortunately has become predictable each December as Congress tries to finish its work. Follow his remarks Michigan Senator Gary Peters talked about the government's response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) came to the floor to discuss the coronavirus economic aid package. Sen. Portman is part of a bipartisan group of Senators who worked on the legislation.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) ) came to the floor to discuss the coronavirus economic aid package. Sen. Murkowski is part of a bipartisan group of Senators who worked on the legislation. Sen. Murkowski also paid tribute to departing staff members.
Vice President Pence campaigned for Republican Georgia Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler at a rally in Columbus, GA. The two senators both faced runoffs against Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Rev. Rafael Warnock after none of the candidates got more than 50 percent of the vote in the 2020 election. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a first cousin of Senator Perdue, kicked off the event with remarks in praise of the two Senators' performance in Capitol Hill. The two lawmakers then spoke, talking about the importance of the election, which could decide which party controls the Senate in the 117th Congress -- if both of them lost, the split with Democrats would be 50-50, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as a tie-breaking vote for the Democratic caucus. While Vice President Pence expressed support for President Trump's continued legal battle to overturn election results showing him losing both the popular and Electoral College votes, the vice president also framed th
Xavier Beccera, California attorney general and President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, and other experts, joined Politico for a discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Latino community.
Top executives of Purdue Pharma, a U.S. pharmaceutical company that makes OxyContin, testified about their role in the opioid epidemic at a virtual House Oversight Committee hearing. The company recently pleaded guilty to criminal charges as part of a settlement with the Justice Department. Witnesses included Purdue Pharma CEO Dr. Craig Landau along with two of the company's former owners, David and Kathe Sackler.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual year-end news conference in Moscow. For more than four hours, he answered a wide range of questions on the economy, foreign interference, relations with the U.S. and Europe, and whether he would run again in 2024. This 90-minute portion from the news conference began with a question on how his government is handling the coronavirus pandemic and the distribution of vaccines. President Putin said he had not yet taken the vaccine, but reassured the public it was safe and reliable. Following the event, he stopped to talk to a small group of reporters as he was headed out of the building, answering more questions on working with the incoming Biden administration and loosening restrictions during the pandemic.
Top executives of Purdue Pharma, a U.S. pharmaceutical company that makes OxyContin, testified about their role in the opioid epidemic at a virtual House Oversight Committee hearing. The company recently pleaded guilty to criminal charges as part of a settlement with the Justice Department. Witnesses included Purdue Pharma CEO Dr. Craig Landau along with two of the company's former owners, David and Kathe Sackler.
Xavier Beccera, California attorney general and President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, and other experts, joined Politico for a discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Latino community.
