Meanwhile, the Senate adjourned Thursday, with Republicans and Democrats far from a deal on unemployment benefits.
President Trump continued to air his grievances over voting by mail Thursday, as unemployment benefits are expiring after Capitol Hill failed to reach an agreement Thursday. Thursday marked the release of some of the worst economic figures in U. S. history — Gross domestic product (GDP) shrank at an annual rate of 32.9% in the second quarter of the year, as the coronavirus pandemic decimated broad swaths of economic activity. The Senate adjourned Thursday afternoon, with Republicans and Democrats far apart on how to extend expanded unemployment benefits for those out of work because of the virus. That means expanded unemployment benefits — an additional $600 per week from the federal government — will expire. Mr. Trump on Thursday called for the temporary extension of expanded unemployment benefits, a program to halt evictions, direct payments to Americans, and $105 billion to help schools safely reopen. Mr. Trump, who had previously pinned his reelection hopes on a booming economy and pays close attention to economic indicators, made little mention of the grim GDP news.
