White House, Congress talk next coronavirus relief bill as COVID-19 continues to surge

Negotiations over the next coronavirus relief package are expected to dominate the Sunday show circuit this weekend as Republicans work out internal fissures before commencing talks with Democrats.

Republicans suffered an embarrassing setback this week when they were forced to delay the unveiling of their proposal, as the Senate GOP and the White House could not come to a full agreement after saying they had a fundamental agreement. 

“The administration has requested additional time to review the fine details, but we will be laying down this proposal early next week. We have an agreement in principle on the shape of this package,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said from the Senate floor this week. 

Much of the disagreement has centered around the package’s ultimate price tag, with conservatives saying the initial goal of $1 trillion is already too high and will likely balloon after negotiations with Democrats.

Leading the negotiations for the White House are chief of staff Mark Meadows, who will appear on ABC’s “This Week,” and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who will be featured on “Fox News Sunday.”

Democrats have seized on the disarray, noting that the delay in coming to an agreement on the package will virtually guarantee the looming expiration of enhanced unemployment benefits.

“This weekend, millions of Americans will lose their Unemployment Insurance, will be at risk of being evicted from their homes, and could be laid off by state and local government, and there is only one reason: Republicans have been dithering for months while America’s crisis deepens,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a joint statement.

The package is expected to deal with an array of issues, including unemployment benefits, school reopenings, money for testing and stimulus checks.

Below are the full lineups of the Sunday politics talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — Meadows, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D).

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — To be announced.

CBS’s “Face the Nation” — Pelosi; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas); Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar; Eugene Woods, president and chief executive officer of Atrium Health; former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Assistant Health Secretary Adm. Brett Giroir; White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow; Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.); Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R); Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D).

“Fox News Sunday” — Mnuchin; Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.); acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf; Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.); Ray Dalio, co-chief investment officer and co-chairman of Bridgewater Associates;

“America This Week” with Eric Bolling — Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.); former Cincinnati Mayor Ken Blackwell (R); former deputy national security adviser K.T. McFarland.