Your Daily Roundup for December 1st

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

There are only 10 days until government funding runs dry:

After the Thanksgiving recess, Congress was back in session on Monday to discuss two key priorities: government funding and a potential COVID-19 economic relief bill. It has been nearly nine agonizing months since an agreement was reached between both houses of Congress and the White House on a stimulus package and getting one done during the lame duck remains in question. Moreover, Congress must fend off a government shutdown when a temporary spending bill expires in only 10 days on December 11th.

The White House is not holding back its pressure on the FDA:

White House chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, summoned the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Stephen Hahn, to explain why his agency has not provided emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Hahn has remained committed to political independence in the approval process of a vaccine, promising to uphold the highest scientific standards. An outside panel of experts will meet and weigh in on Pfizer’s vaccine on December 10th.

As COVID-19 rages, states and localities are imposing new restrictions:

From California to Rhode Island, states and cities across the country have put in place new virus-related restrictions in the past several days. Hospitalizations hit a record high nationally on Sunday, spurring many governors to act. Restrictions include limits on elective surgeries, some business shutdowns, mandatory quarantine for travel, and more.