Is it time to give up on a stimulus deal?

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VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE FRI, AUG 14, 2020 CNBC POLITICS EDITOR'S NOTE Hello,   The prospects for a new coronavirus stimulus deal are getting bleaker every day.   Things hit a low point Thursday, when the Senate, led by Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, adjourned for several weeks. The House, led by Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has largely gone home, although they are on call in case a deal is struck and lawmakers' votes are needed.   The odds of a deal look almost impossible at this point. Congressional Democrats had been seeking a $3 trillion package. Republicans were pushing $1 trillion. When the Democrats offered to come down to $2 trillion, the White House said no thanks. Pelosi said the two sides are "miles apart in our values." McConnell accused her of "throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks."   With that, it looks like the nation is stuck without a new round of relief. Jobs have been coming back at a rapid pace. Yet, five months into this crisis, the unemployment rate is still at a worse point now than it was during the Great Recession. The virus continues to spread, and the economy is still far from getting back to normal. CNBC's Jacob Pramuk breaks down where we are.   Here are other stories the CNBC Politics team has been covering: Joe Biden is calling for every governor in America to issue an outdoor mask mandate to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. President Trump disagrees. Mike Bloomberg will speak at the Democratic National Convention next week. What Democrats really want to see from him, though, is big spending on behalf of Biden. They're wondering when (or if) billionaire Bloomberg is going to do just that. The U.S. Postal Service is the latest center of turmoil in the fight for the White House. Trump said he is resisting funding the cash-strapped agency because it would mean the USPS would be able to handle millions of mail-in ballots, which the president opposes. Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is calling for an investigation into the postmaster general's purchase of Amazon stock options. You can find more coverage linked below. Thoughts? Email Mike Calia at CNBCPolitics@nbcuni.com.     Have friends or colleagues who might like this newsletter? They can sign up here.  Mike Calia @Michael_Calia KEY STORIES  Coronavirus stimulus stalemate could drag on for weeks as Congress leaves town Progress toward a coronavirus aid deal in Washington is nonexistent as millions wait to see whether they can afford food and housing. Joe Biden calls for a nationwide mask mandate as he pushes his plan to combat coronavirus Biden remarks drew a sharp contrast with President Trump, who opposes such a mandate. Trump lifts Obama-era regulations on methane, a potent climate-warming gas Trump's new rule on methane pollution could be swiftly reversed if former Vice President Joe Biden wins the November presidential election and Democrats win control of the Senate. Trump says he is refusing additional post office funding as part of his fight against mail-in voting Democrats worry that a slew of recent operational changes made by the new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, could affect the 2020 election. Trump says UAE and Israel to normalize relations in deal that pauses West Bank annexations President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that the United Arab Emirates and Israel agreed to establish normal diplomatic relations in a development that will put on pause Israel's efforts to annex parts of the West Bank claimed by Palestinians. Mike Bloomberg to speak at DNC as Democrats wonder whether he will spend big for Biden A convention official told CNBC that Bloomberg plans to target President Donald Trump in his speech and specifically go after his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Yale 'illegally discriminates' against White and Asian students, Justice Department says A Yale spokeswoman responded: "We are proud of Yale's admissions practices, and we will not change them on the basis of such a meritless, hasty accusation." Michael Cohen says book on Trump discusses Russia collusion, 'golden showers' at Vegas sex club, lying to Melania The new book by Michael Cohen, the former lawyer and fixer for President Donald Trump, could go on sale before Trump squares off against Joe Biden on Election Day.     Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2020 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS