Focus Washington October 2020

U.S. Sanctions Turn up Heat but Huawei Serving European 5G Clients

October 11, 2020 Focus Washington

Chinese telecom giant Huawei is finding it harder to counter U.S. sanctions designed to choke off its access to semiconductors but can continue to serve European 5G network clients, a senior European executive told an […]

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protection against coronavirus infection

U.S. COVID-19 Cases Hit Two-Month High, 10 States Report Record Increases

October 11, 2020 Focus Washington

New cases of COVID-19 in the United States hit a two-month high on Friday with over 58,000 infections of the coronavirus reported and hospitalizations in the Midwest at record levels for a fifth day in […]

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McConnell Says a Coronavirus Stimulus Package Is ‘Unlikely in the Next Three Weeks’

October 10, 2020 Focus Washington

Congress likely will not pass another coronavirus stimulus package before the Nov. 3 election, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday, CNBC informed. The White House and Democrats have restarted last-ditch talks toward an elusive […]

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Trump Raises Coronavirus Stimulus Offer to $1.8 Trillion

October 10, 2020 Focus Washington

The White House on Friday took a new coronavirus stimulus offer to Democrats, believed to cost $1.8 trillion, as the sides work to strike a deal before the 2020 election, CNBC writes. The plan would […]

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Pelosi, Mnuchin Fail to Reach COVID-19 Stimulus Deal, but Talks Continue

October 10, 2020 Focus Washington

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin failed on Friday to reach agreement on a COVID-19 stimulus package, while the top Senate Republican voiced doubt that Congress would act before the Nov. […]

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A House of Representatives committee examining former President Donald Trump's withdrawal of sensitive materials from the White House.

Trump Plans Return to Campaign With First Public Event Since COVID-19 Diagnosis

October 10, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump plans his first steps toward resuming in-person election campaigning on Saturday when he delivers remarks to supporters at the White House, aiming to show he has beaten the coronavirus and is back […]

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Federal Judge Blocks Texas Order Limiting Ballot Drop-off Sites to 1 per County

October 10, 2020 Focus Washington

A U.S. federal judge blocked on Friday an order from Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott limiting the number of drop-off sites allowed for absentee ballots statewide to just one per county, a constraint Democrats denounced […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Candidates and the Virus – Trump Leads Florida, Biden Michigan – Texas, New Hampshire, Georgia Senate

October 9, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Friday, October 9, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45%Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Despite the turmoil of the last week and a half, President Trump’s job rating has hardly budged…. […]

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Ted Cruz Warns the Election ‘Could Be a Bloodbath of Watergate Proportions’ for GOP

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned on Friday that Republicans could see “a bloodbath of Watergate proportions” if voters are angry and broke when casting their ballots next month, CNBC writes. Cruz blamed House Speaker Nancy […]

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Storm-Battered U.S. Gulf Coast Braces for Hurricane Delta

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Hurricane Delta is now strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico and churning toward the U.S. Gulf Coast after largely sparing Mexico. Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana have declared states of emergency, and parts of Louisiana are […]

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Pelosi, Mnuchin Speak About Broad Stimulus Bill as White House Sends Mixed Signals

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke about a broad coronavirus stimulus plan Thursday, capping another day of jumbled efforts in Washington to inject more aid into a floundering economy, CNBC reported. […]

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Oil Prices Head for 11% Weekly Jump on North America, Norway Outages

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Oil prices inched up on Friday, setting both benchmark contracts on track for their biggest weekly gains since early June, on the back of supply outages caused by a storm in the Gulf of Mexico […]

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Global Shares Advance on Stimulus, Biden Victory Hopes

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Asian shares inched towards 2-1/2-year highs on Friday as revived hopes for a U.S. stimulus deal eclipsed weaker-than-expected jobs data, while mainland Chinese markets jumped after a week-long holiday, Reuters informed. Investors were also increasingly […]

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McConnell Avoids White House, Citing Laxity on Masks, COVID-19 Precautions

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, one of President Donald Trump’s most powerful allies in Washington, has avoided visiting the White House for more than two months because of its handling of the coronavirus, he told […]

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More Than 6.6 Million Americans Have Already Voted, Suggesting Record Turnout

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Americans are rushing to cast ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election at an unprecedented pace, early voting numbers show, indicating a possible record turnout for the showdown between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger […]

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China Joins WHO-Backed Vaccine Programme Covax Rejected by Trump

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

China has joined a global scheme for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine backed by the World Health Organization (WHO), it said on Friday, giving a major boost to an initiative shunned by U.S. President Donald […]

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Trump Maps Return to Campaign Trail After White House Says COVID-19 Treatment Complete

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Republican President Donald Trump on Friday prepared to return to the campaign trail with a pair of weekend rallies after his COVID-19 diagnosis sidelined him for a week in the race against Democratic nominee Joe […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: VP Debate: Playing Dodgeball – New Polls for Prez, Senate Races

October 8, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, October 8, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45%Up 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls, ranging from 42% (Reuters) to 47% (Fox News). Without […]

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Trump Says he Won’t Participate in Virtual Debate after CPD Announces Changes

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump, in his first interview since his positive coronavirus test, told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo on Thursday that he will not participate in the next debate, just minutes after the Commission on Presidential […]

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Warren Slams Facebook, Says Platform is Banning Political Ads to ‘Avoid Blame’

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

Former presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., slammed Facebook as “performative” on Tuesday after the social media company announced it will temporarily stop running political ads in the U.S. in the immediate aftermath of Election Day, Fox News informed. “Facebook is […]

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Saudi Arabia Calls on Global Community to Stand up to Iranian Violations

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday the international community needs to stand up to its responsibilities toward the violations and breaches of international agreements and treaties committed by Iran, Arab News reported. During their weekly Cabinet […]

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Facebook Says It Will Halt Political Ads in the U.S. After the Polls Close on Nov. 3

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

Facebook on Wednesday announced that it will stop running political ads in the U.S. after polls close for the 2020 election on Nov. 3 and keep them halted for an indefinite period, CNBC writes. “While […]

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U.S. Charges ISIS Members With Hostage Deaths

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

The Justice Department unsealed charges Wednesday against two Islamic State militants from Britain, accusing them of carrying out a gruesome campaign of torture, beheadings and other acts of violence against Western hostages they had captured […]

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Regeneron Antibodies in Demand After Trump Treatment, Doctors Seek More Data

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

Patients are asking to join clinical trials of antibody-based COVID-19 drugs after U.S. President Donald Trump was treated last week with an experimental therapy from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, and on Wednesday he promised to make […]

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Pentagon Risk Grows as Marine Corps’ No. 2 Officer Tests Positive for Coronavirus

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

The Marine Corps said on Wednesday its No. 2 officer, General Gary Thomas, had tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the second senior military official to do so this week, another sign of the danger to […]

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White House Aides Downplay Coronavirus Aid Chances

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

Top White House officials on Wednesday downplayed the possibility of more coronavirus relief, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi disparaged President Donald Trump for backing away from talks on a comprehensive deal, Reuters reported. White House […]

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Despite COVID-19 Treatment, Trump Edges Back Into Campaign Spotlight

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump, still confined to the White House where he is being treated for COVID-19, planned more steps on Thursday to try to reinvigorate a re-election campaign hit hard by his handling of the […]

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Trump’s Pandemic Record in Spotlight as Harris, Pence Trade Blows at VP Debate

October 8, 2020 Focus Washington

Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris clashed over the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic during their debate on Wednesday, as the White House struggled to contain an outbreak that has […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Port-Diagnosis Polling – Triple Crown States Favor Biden – Last Debate

October 7, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Wednesday, October 7, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44%Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on three polls, ranging from 43% (Economist) to 46% (The Hill). The third […]

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Progressive Groups Launch ‘We Paid More’ Campaign in Response to Trump Taxes Report

October 7, 2020 Focus Washington

The New York Times’ article about President Donald Trump who is a billionaire and has only paid $750 in federal income taxes the period between 2016 and 2017 exploded throughout the country and made several […]

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