Newsmaker: Sen. Ben Cardin (D., Md.) On COVID Relief, Trump & The Transition

As record numbers of new COVID-19 infections and deaths threaten the nation's beleaguered health system, 1.7 million people have applied for unemployment benefits in just the past two weeks.   Last night, Senator Chuck Schumer (D., NY) and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R., KY) announced a deal for a $900 billion dollar stimulus bill.  The House and Senate are expected to vote on the bill today.  It’s the first COVID-relief package since the CARES Act was passed way back in March.  It includes a direct payment to adults and children of $600, half of what the direct payment was nine months ago, and a $300 supplemental job benefit, which is also half as big as the first federal unemployment supplement that Congress passed at the beginning of the pandemic.  Will the stimulus be enough to keep the economy -- and millions of struggling Americans -- afloat as winter sets-in?  Plus, Russia has attacked a wide array of government agencies with a major hack of their information systems.  Corporate America was targeted as well.  President Trump has dismissed the attack and tried to implicate China as the perpetrator. This, as the new Trump-appointed Acting Secretary of Defense is refusing to meet with the Biden transition team, and as the president himself continues to call, without foundation, for the November election results to be overturned.  Tom's Newsmaker guest today is Maryland's Senior Senator, Ben Cardin.  Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.