5 Stories Watch Next Week | July 24, 2020

5 Stories to Watch Next Week There are simply too many developing stories to follow in the world. To make things easier, we narrowed them down to five that you should really watch next week: White House, Senate GOP working on another COVID-19 rescue package — The White House and Senate Republicans are crafting another legislative package to address the economic fallout from the coronavirus, but negotiations hit multiple stumbling blocks on Thursday. Both sides failed to reach an agreement as factions within the GOP bickered over key issues. One issue related to manufacturing and China. Some Republicans also had concerns about the overall cost and the exclusion of funding for coronavirus testing. The White House agreed to withdraw President Trump’s demand to include a payroll tax cut in the legislation after Senate Republicans rejected the idea. There is agreement, however, on sending new stimulus checks to certain Americans. Critically, a deadline for expiring unemployment benefits comes at the end of next week. Watch next week to see if Congress and the White House make progress on pushing this massive legislation forward. Democratic Party to amend, vote on 2020 platform ahead of convention — This week, the Democratic Party released a draft of its 2020 platform. A 15-person panel of Democratic leaders, including allies of both Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), produced the 80-page document. The platform shows how the party has become more progressive, shifting noticeably to the left since 2016. There is more emphasis on social justice, police brutality, and climate change. In the section on foreign policy, the party calls for an end to “forever wars” and less military spending. On Monday, the party’s full Platform Committee, a body of about 180 delegates, will meet. The committee will be able to make amendments and then forward the document for ratification by the full Democratic convention next month. Watch next week to see if the Democratic Party makes any major changes to the platform, which outlines Democrats’ policy vision for the next four years. Trump cancels GOP convention events in Florida — President Trump on Thursday canceled the portion of the Republican National Convention to be held in Jacksonville, Florida, citing the surge in coronavirus cases across the state. The decision came weeks after the president said he would move much of the convention out of Charlotte, North Carolina, the initial site, expressing frustration that the state’s governor couldn’t guarantee that the event could take place in full capacity. President Trump said Thursday that delegates would still travel to Charlotte on August 24. He also promised to do tele-rallies and other events. Watch next week for any updates on the convention. House, Senate to begin reconciling their versions of defense policy bill — The Senate on Thursday easily passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the mammoth annual defense policy bill. The legislation authorizes $740 billion for national security programs in fiscal year 2021, including $636.4 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget. The bill also includes a measure requiring the military to change the names of all bases and other military assets named for Confederate figures within three years. President Trump has threatened to veto the NDAA if it includes a plan to rename bases named after Confederate commanders. The House passed its version of the NDAA on Tuesday. Now both chambers need to reconcile their two bills to send a final version to President Trump’s desk. Watch next week for any progress in the reconciliation process. US-China tensions escalate, with both sides shutting down consulates — This week, the Trump administration gave China until Friday to close its consulate in Houston, saying the Chinese diplomatic outpost was involved in economic espionage and visa fraud. In response, Beijing retaliated on Friday, ordering the closure of the US Consulate in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu. The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the consulate’s staff of interfering in China’s internal affairs and damaging the country’s security interests. Amid this tit-for-tat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech on Thursday in which he called on the free world and the Chinese people to change the Communist Party’s direction. Watch next week to see whether this diplomatic row escalates further. Order Newt's Latest Book: https://www.gingrich360.com/trump-and-the-american-future