Sunday shows – Spotlight shifts to positive tests among Pence aides

Multiple guests on the Sunday morning political talk shows weighed in on news that aides to Vice President Mike Pence have tested positive for COVID-19 and discussed whether he should continue campaigning.

Interviews also focused on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s comments about oil, and the state of stimulus negotiations.

Read The Hill’s complete coverage below.

White House chief of staff defends decision to keep Pence on road By JUSTINE COLEMAN   White House chief of staff Mark Meadows declined to say how many people in Vice President Mike Pence’s office have contracted the coronavirus during a contentious CNN interview, while defending the decision to keep Pence on the road in the presidential campaign’s final stretch. Read the full story here

Christie ‘surprised’ Pence to campaign after aides test positive for COVID-19 By JOSEPH CHOI   Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a top GOP ally of President Trump, said he’s surprised that Vice President Mike Pence is hitting the campaign trail after the vice president’s chief of staff and other aides tested positive for the coronavirus. Read the full story here

Lewandowski points to Harris team when asked if Pence should campaign after aides test positive By JORDAN WILLIAMS   Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski defended Vice President Pence for campaigning after his chief of staff tested positive for COVID-19, noting that Democrat Kamala Harris continued to campaign for her ticket after a staffer tested positive.  Read the full story here

Republican National Committee chair warns of ‘most progressive, radical takeover of our country’ if Biden wins By JORDAN WILLIAMS   Ronna McDaniel, the chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), warned during an interview on Sunday of the most “progressive, radical takeover of our country” if Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins in November.  Read the full story here

Kudlow says Biden wouldn’t be able to replace fossil fuels in 15 years By CELINE CASTRONUOVO    White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow argued in an interview broadcast on Sunday that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s plan to end fossil fuels in 15 years would not be feasible, adding that “you couldn’t do it even if you wanted to.”  Read the full story here

Biden campaign aide: Trump trying to distort former vice president’s position on oil By JORDAN WILLIAMS   “Donald Trump is trying to distort Joe Biden’s position on this because he’s desperate to be running against anyone but Joe Biden,” Kate Bedingfield said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “That’s been true from the start of this primary.”  Read the full story here

Ocasio-Cortez says Democrats must focus on winning White House for Biden By JUSTINE COLEMAN   Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said on Sunday that Democrats need to focus on winning the election before pushing for specific policies from a potential Joe Biden administration.  Read the full story here

Pelosi commits to running for Speaker if Democrats retain House By JUSTINE COLEMAN   Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday committed to running for the leadership position again if Democrats retain their House majority in November’s election. Read the full story here

Outgoing Va. Republican: Two-party system is failing Americans By JOSEPH CHOI    Outgoing Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) said on Sunday that being a politician with any party right now is “difficult” and expressed doubts over whether the two-party system is benefitting Americans. Read the full story here

White House security adviser: ‘Nothing’ foreign adversaries ‘can do to change your vote or to stop you from voting’ By JUSTINE COLEMAN   White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien said Sunday that there is “nothing” foreign adversaries “can do to change your vote or stop you from voting.” Read the full story here

Pelosi dismisses talk of White House compromise on stimulus: They ‘keep moving the goal post’ By JUSTINE COLEMAN    Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is dismissing talk that the White House has compromised during COVID-19 stimulus talks, saying administration officials “keep moving the goal post.” Read the full story here

Trump’s former Homeland Security adviser on COVID-19: ‘We could have saved more lives with a different, faster approach’ By JOSEPH CHOI   President Trump’s former Homeland Security adviser, Tom Bossert, said on Sunday that not enough has been done to fight COVID-19 in the U.S, calling for a coordinated response to the pandemic. Read the full story here