Hello and welcome to our viewers in the United States and right around the world. Im paula newton, live, from cnn center in atlanta where its 2 00 a. M. , on the east coast. 11 00 p. M. , out west. I want to thank everyone for joining us. Now, two big votes in the u. S. House of representatives are sending both support and a stinging rebuke to the u. S. President. Lawmakers from both parties voted, monday, to override President Trumps veto of a sweeping, defense bill. They also voted, by smaller margins, to increase the covidrelief checks, from 600, to 2,000. A move supported by the president. Now, those issues, now go to the senate, where President Trumps republican allies will have some tough decisions to make. Stimulus checks from the 900 billion coronavirusrelief package are expected, now, to start going out, this week. Now, this is all happening, as the u. S. Faces its highest number of covidhospital admissions, yet. More than 121,000 people, at this hour, in hospital with covid.
Remarks live when they happen. Now, this comes as the house is expected to vote later this afternoon on a bill that would send 2,000 relief payments to Many Americans, one day after President Trump signed a pandemic aid bill that included 600 payments to those americans, which the president and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer say are not enough. This bill is not sufficient. Its emergency, but its not enough. And one place its not enough is relief to people. We need that money. People are desperate. They need the help. Now, the United States took only a week, one week, to reach another million cases in december, the deadliest month for the virus yet. In all, more than 101,000 americans have lost their lives since election day in early november, bringing the total to more than 334,000 since the pandemic began nearly one year ago. Were going to begin with that fight over relief on capitol hill. Joining us now, nbc news political reporter monica alba, traveling with the president in
Republicans in particular try to navigate an increasingly bitter and unpredictable president whos in his final days in office. Republicans are arguably in a really tough spot here. Later today the house is going to vote on 2,000 direct checks for americans impacted by the pandemic, something trump wants but that many republicans dont. And the house is also going to vote to override the president s veto of the defense bill, a piece of legislation the president doesnt want but republicans sure do. The two republicans at the center of the storm, the president has created, are georgia senators Kelly Loeffler and david perdue, whose runoff elections on january 5th are going to decide control of the senate. But will they choose to buck the leader of their party or not . And what about all the other republicans on capitol hill for that matter . Many of them hint want to run for president. All of this comes after President Trump put the government on the brink of a shutdown while railing again
Favor to 134 against. The politics of it fascinating with President Trump and top Congressional Democrats all pushing to get this done. To this point, Senate Republicans appear to be what could hold americans back from getting more help. Every Senate Democrat is for it but unfortunately, we dont have the republicans on board. Today i am telling donald trump, dont just talk about it, act. Some Senate Republicans sound skeptical about spending more this point. How can the republicans vote against more aid when millions of americans are still unemployed through no fault of their own . Yeah, because its terribly untargeted, right . Why would we be sending 2,000 to people with a sixfigure income who have had no suspension, no reduction of their income at all . But i House Democrats as this is about helping those really in need. It is not for the wealthy. This will be for individuals of 75,000 or less, so yes, we absolutely need to do that. Some republicans are calling for cuts elsewhere or
The president is still demanding an increase in direct payments. Democrats say they will try to pass that today. Its not clear what President Trump got out of all of this. This morning, the New York Post is blasting the president s efforts to try to overturn the election results, with this front page saying stop the insanity and dictionary i declaring you lost. Were also learning new details about the suicide bombing in nashville. Police releasing new Surveillance Video of the moment of the blast on Christmas Morning. Police now have identified the man who they say detonated a bomb inside an rv parked downtown. An american suicide bomber. Theyre now focusing on why he did this. Joining us now to discuss it all, margaret talev, cnn political analyst and politics and white house editor for axios and cnn political analyst, toluse olorunnipa, a White House Reporter for the washington post. Thank you, jim, ill take it. Margaret. Ill start with what happened last night. After 7 00 p. M. , th