January 1, Senate Approves $2.2 Trillion in COVID-19 Relief 

This Day in History | 1953

Dr. Jonas Salk announces he has successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, the virus that causes polio. The year before, there were 58,000 new polio cases in the United States. More than 3,000 died from the disease.

Good Morning Middle Americans, 

Well the finally did it. Congress passed their massive $2.2 trillion dollar COVID-19 recovery bill. 

The question now is – how will we know if that the people and business that get that money are wasting it?  Pay close attention folks. This is one of the biggest infusion of money into our economy from the government. But don’t forget – it’s your money. 

Also today, there are least two cases of people being charged with terrorism – related to coronavirus. 

Finally, Democrats are starting to talk about drafting Andrew Cuomo for the 2020 presidential race as Joe Biden continues to struggle to stay relevant from the sidelines and his house in Delaware. 

Read all about it!

-Fraser Dixon

US deaths top 1,000 as Congress Approves $2.2 trillion in Virus Aid 

(AP) – U.S. deaths from the coronavirus pandemic topped 1,000 in another grim milestone for a global outbreak that is taking lives and wreaking havoc on economies and the established routines of ordinary life.

In a recognition of the scale of the threat, the U.S. Senate late Wednesday passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems.

The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced. The 880-page measure is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history.

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Man Faces Terror Charges After Coughing on Grocery Store Worker

(Fox 5 NY) – A New Jersey man the governor described as a “knucklehead” faces multiple charges after he allegedly coughed on a grocery store worker and then claimed to have coronavirus.

Governor Phil Murphy said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference that the man got into a dispute with an employee of a Wegmans store sometime on Sunday.

Get the latest here

Could a ‘Draft Cuomo’ Movement Be in the Democrats’ Future?

(National Review) – Democrats are publicly talking about “contingency options” for their July convention in Milwaukee in case the coronavirus persists in being a public-health threat. But privately, some are also talking about needing a Plan B if Joe Biden, their nominee apparent, continues to flounder.

Some Democrats are openly talking up New York governor Andrew Cuomo, whose profile has soared during the crisis, as a Biden stand-in. Yesterday, a Draft Cuomo 2020 account on Twitter announced that “Times have changed & we need Gov. Cuomo to be the nominee. Our next POTUS must be one w/an ability to lead thru this crisis.”

Find out more here