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VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE TUE, DEC 22, 2020 CNBC POLITICS EDITOR'S NOTE Hello,   Well, they did it.    It took most of the year, but Congress finally passed another Covid relief package. Late Monday night, the Senate voted 92-6 to send a $1.4 trillion government funding bill and a $900 billion measure to help Americans contend with the coronavirus pandemic to President Trump's desk. He is expected to sign it soon.   But while the relief bill had wide bipartisan support, it fell well short of satisfying everyone. Republicans, after years of supporting Trump's deficit-expanding policies, are once again posturing as fiscal hawks. They are skeptical of any new spending as President-elect Biden prepares to take office next month.   Meanwhile, Democrats, including Biden, view the $900 billion legislation as a down payment on even more aid as states and municipalities face a funding crunch, putting essential services at risk. The president-elect has vowed to propose a new package on day one of his administration.   What that bill looks like will likely depend greatly on what happens Jan. 5 in Georgia, where control of the Senate is at stake. The GOP can hold onto the majority, and keep Mitch McConnell as majority leader, if just one of their incumbent candidates, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, win their runoff election against Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, respectively.    If Republicans keep the Senate, there's a good chance that Biden might not be able to get a large relief package, or any at all, through Congress. If Democrats win both races in Georgia, they'll enjoy a one-vote advantage due to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' tie-breaking role, and would be able to get a bigger, but still compromised, bill passed.    For now, though, Congress is done for the holidays, and we're back to waiting.   Thoughts? Email Mike Calia at CNBCPolitics@nbcuni.com.   Due to Christmas, CNBC Politics newsletter will take a hiatus this Friday and return next Tuesday.   Have friends or colleagues who might like this newsletter? They can sign up here.    Subscribe to CNBC's daily new podcast The News with Shepard Smith, which provides deep, non-partisan coverage and perspective on the day's most important stories. Mike Calia @Michael_Calia KEY STORIES  Congress passes long-awaited Covid relief bill and government funding plan Congress passed a bill that contains $900 billion in coronavirus aid and a $1.4 trillion government funding plan, sending it to President Trump. Joe Biden receives Covid vaccine on live television, encourages Americans to get inoculated Biden received a Covid-19 vaccine on live television Monday afternoon in a demonstration intended to encourage Americans to receive shots of their own. Feds have discussed making a legal request for Giuliani's electronic communications, say two sources The federal investigation of the president's personal lawyer is ongoing, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. White House task force kept airport Covid screeners in place despite known risk of infection, sources say In interviews with dozens of officials, CNBC has learned that the program proved not only ineffective but dangerous from its earliest days. Attorney General Barr says special counsel not needed for Hunter Biden investigation, undercutting Trump President Trump has mulled pushing the Justice Department to name a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden, son of President-elect Joe Biden. Americans will get stimulus checks as soon as next week, Mnuchin says Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke in a CNBC interview ahead of Congress' expected vote to pass the $900 billion Covid-19 relief bill. House panel subpoenas HHS, CDC chiefs as investigation into Covid response intensifies "The subpoenas were necessary because ... efforts to interfere with scientific work at CDC were far more extensive and dangerous than previously known," Rep. Jim Clyburn said in a statement. Covid relief bill includes about $8 billion for vaccine distribution The Covid-19 relief package agreed to by lawmakers provides for more funding for coronavirus vaccine distribution than did earlier proposals.     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