Beyond impeachment

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VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE FRI, FEB 12, 2021 CNBC POLITICS EDITOR'S NOTE Hello,   The second impeachment trial of former President Trump is coming to a close, even more quickly than had been expected.   His legal team will likely take about four hours Friday to make their defense, well short of their allotted 16 hours. The impeachment managers, the House Democrats prosecuting the case against Trump, argued their case over the better part of two days, but even they did not use their full allotment of time. On Saturday, the Senate is likely to vote on the verdict. That is widely expected to result in acquittal, even with some GOP senators expected to join their Democratic counterparts.   With the trial out of the way, Congress and the Biden administration will turn their full attention to other priorities. Here are three key issues emerging as the most pressing:   Covid relief and vaccinations: Both houses of Congress have approved a budget resolution that would allow President Biden's $1.9 trillion package to pass with a simple majority in the Senate. The House, meanwhile, has been making quick progress on putting the bill together. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expects Biden to sign the final measure before key assistance programs expire. The Biden administration, meanwhile, struck a deal for 200 million additional doses of the vaccine.   Infrastructure: Biden has said this is his next priority, following the Covid relief package, and he is acting on it. On Thursday, he hosted a meeting with senators and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who appeared virtually, about putting together a plan to update the nation's infrastructure. To drive his point home, he tied his push to China's escalating power as a prime economic competitor on the global stage.   China: The most pressing foreign policy challenge of the Biden administration. It's about more than infrastructure, and it's about more than accountability for the initial spread of the coronavirus. It's about the balance of economic power in the world, and the future itself. Atlantic Council CEO Frederick Kempe wrote in a recent CNBC op-ed: "Forging common cause among traditional U.S. partners and allies will take an unprecedented level of global engagement and give-and-take – and an acceptance of the reality of China's economic influence."   Follow along with CNBC.com's live coverage of the impeachment trial this afternoon and over the next several days.   Thoughts? Email Politics Editor Mike Calia at CNBCPolitics@nbcuni.com.   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  Live impeachment updates: Trump's legal team sets out to defend the former president Trump's legal team is set to defend the former president on Day 4 of the impeachment trial in the Senate. House advances $1,400 payments, unemployment boost as part of Covid relief plan House Democrats hope to pass their $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan this month and have it signed into law before mid-March. Biden warns China is going to 'eat our lunch' if U.S. doesn't get moving on infrastructure The telephone call between Xi and Biden comes as the new U.S. administration works to mend trade relations with the world's second-largest economy. White House secures deals for 200 million more Covid vaccine doses President Joe Biden announced that his administration secured deals for 200 million more doses of Covid-19 vaccine, bringing the U.S. total to 600 million. Pelosi expects Covid relief will be signed into law before unemployment programs expire Democrats are crafting their $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan, and the House hopes to pass it by the end of the month, Nancy Pelosi said. Feds charge five people with conspiracy in Capitol riot, several marched with Proud Boys Ex-President Donald Trump is on trial in the Senate for inciting the riot at the Capitol complex on Jan. 6, as Congress was confirming Joe Biden's election. State Department installs new coordinator as probe of mysterious neurological attacks on diplomats in Cuba continues The Cuban government has denied any knowledge or involvement in the incidents involving American diplomats. Mike Pompeo's pricey pens: Ex-secretary of State spent $10K in taxpayer funds on China-made swag for dinners Mike Pompeo's Madison Dinners had elite guest lists and raised questions about whether he was using the soirees to cultivate his political ambitions.     Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2021 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