Sunday shows – Democrats’ spending plan in the spotlight

The Democrats’ spending bill dominated the Sunday morning political shows, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying she thinks “we are pretty much there now” on the scaled-back package.

Democrats are working to determine what aspects of the reconciliation package will remain, be amended or removed as lawmakers seek to come to a resolution over the top-line figure of the package.

Read The Hill’s full coverage below.

Pelosi on spending bill: ‘I think we are pretty much there now’ By MONIQUE BEALS   Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) indicated on Sunday that Democrats would reach an agreement this week on President Biden’s social spending bill. “We have 90 percent of the bill agreed to and written. We just have some of the last decisions to be made,” Pelosi said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I think we are pretty much there now,” Pelosi said when asked if an agreement would be reached before the president leaves for Europe on Friday. Read the full story here

Khanna expresses frustration about Sinema By JOSEPH CHOI   Progressive Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) expressed frustration about centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) on Sunday for her part in helping stall key Democratic bills from advancing in the Senate and saying that he was frustrated that she refuses to talk about what her positions are. Read the full story here

Yellen expects inflation to return to normal levels next year By MONIQUE BEALS    “Inflation will remain high into next year because of what’s already happened, but I expect improvement by the middle to end of next year, second half of next year,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday. Read the full story here

CDC director ‘encouraged’ by dropping COVID-19 cases but says ‘we can’t be complacent’ By JOSEPH CHOI   Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said on Sunday that she was “encouraged” by dropping COVID-19 cases across the country but warned “we can’t be complacent.” Read the full story here

Fauci says vaccines could be available to kids in early November By CAROLINE VAKIL   Anthony Fauci said on Sunday that COVID-19 vaccines could be available for children in early November, providing a boost of optimism for some parents seeking to get their kids inoculated in time for the holidays. Read the full story here

Arkansas governor says mandates are increasing vaccine hesitancy By MONIQUE BEALS   Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said on Sunday mandates are increasing hesitancy surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Read the full story here

Jan. 6 committee chair: ‘No question’ Capitol riot was a premeditated attack By CAROLINE VAKIL   Rep. Bennie Thompson, (D-Miss.), the chairman of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, said on Sunday there was “no question” that it was a premeditated attack. Read the full story here

Independent senator: ‘Talking filibuster’ or ‘alternative’ an option By JOSEPH CHOI   Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) on Sunday said he is open to keeping some form of the legislative filibuster, proposing a “talking filibuster” or “alternative” as members of the Democratic caucus call for the procedure to be abolished in the upper chamber. Read the full story here

Pelosi won’t say if she’ll run for reelection in 2022 By REMA RAHMAN   Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday laughed off a question about whether she would run for reelection in 2022, saying she would consult with her family before making her decision public. Read the full story here

GOP senator: Best thing Trump could do to help Republicans in 2022 is talk about future By JOSEPH CHOI   Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on Sunday said the best thing former President Trump could do to help the Republican Party take back a majority in Congress in the 2022 midterms is to “talk about the future.” Read the full story here