ERICA HILL (GUEST CO-ANCHOR): The coronavirus pandemic is not just a health crisis. It touches everything in this country and around the world. It is a global economic crisis, and the longer it drags on, the more painful life becomes for millions of Americans simply trying to make ends meet. So, why hasn't Congress stepped in? Why has Congress not passed another stimulus bill? When could you see some relief? Joining us now, CNN political correspondent Arlette Saenz and CNN political analyst Margaret Talev, politics and White House editor at Axios. Good to see both of you this morning. So, you know, Margaret, the further we go along down this path, you can't help but ask the question, you know, is it time for Democrats to blink? Is it time for them to say, “OK, fine”?
MARGARET TALEV (CNN POLITICAL ANALYST): Yeah, Erica, I just don't think that that moment is imminent right now. The president moved on his own with these executive actions that have confused a lot of governors — including Republican governors across the U.S. — that have cut the unemployment checks, that have forced states to scramble to pick up the deficit or risk getting nothing at all. And his negotiating team's position with the congressional Democrats has been like, you know, “Now you have to come back” slash “You want us to come back.” I just don't think that's where they are right now.
But eventually, is there going to be a time when Congress needs to work out either a deal with the White House or just pass its own bills and see what happens? Yes, maybe. I mean, there is the politics of the moment. There's also the reality, which is people are beginning to face larger and larger numbers of evictions. People are trying to send their children back to school. They don't know where their next paycheck is going to come from. And the political reality that the president, heading into reelection — his reelection effort — really wants those $1,200 stimulus checks himself. And so, there is some leverage, but it doesn't seem like a deal is imminent at this point. They're on 24-hour call; they could be brought back at any moment. But right now, no planned votes back till mid-September, after the conventions.