Your Daily Roundup for April 20th

Good morning. As the COVID-19 pandemic takes a toll on the U.S. economy, our team at Future Majority is tracking the latest updates: 

Congress is closing in on a deal to refund loans for small businesses:

Lawmakers and the White House are expected to reach a deal as soon as today to replenish funds to the small business loan program that went dry last week. The package is expected to be $450 billion, with most going to the Paycheck Protection Program (the emergency relief fund), $50 billion to the Small Business Administration disaster relief fund, $75 billion to hospitals and $25 billion for testing. 

Deaths from COVID-19 reached 40,000 in the U.S.

A grim milestone was reached in the U.S., with over 40,000 Americans succumbing to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. 

American’s outlook on the economy dropped 54 points in one month:

The Gallup poll found that its Economic Confidence Index dropped from +22 in March to -32 in April, a 54-point swing -- the largest one-month drop since Gallup began tracking this trend in 1992.

Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has also declined:

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that Trump’s approval for his handling of the crisis is solidly in the minority:

• Approve: 44%
• Disapprove: 52%

A new Navigator daily tracking poll out April 17th found that Trump’s economic approval also dipped slightly from their poll 10 days prior:

• Approve: 49%
• Disapprove: 47%