House Speaker Nancy Pelosi repeated a phrase throughout her update this morning on the latest federal response to the coronavirus: "Testing, testing, testing."
The speaker said testing is "so very important, to take inventory, to understand the epidemiological spread of the virus, and also to meet the needs of the people affected."
She confirmed that Democrats and Republicans are working closely to pass a bill today that would provide additional protections, and free testing, following an $8.3 billion aid package last week. "No one will say I can't afford it," she said.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act would ensure free coronavirus testing, paid emergency sick leave, expanded unemployment insurance, increased protections for health care workers on the frontline, and food security initiative for children while schools are closed.
The bill is currently being debated in the House, but the clock is ticking as lawmakers consider whether they should leave the capital out of an abundance of caution.
When asked if House Democrats would stick around if a deal was not made within the next two days, Pelosi insisted lawmakers would get it done.
"We don't need 48 hours. We need to make a decision to help families now," she said.
"If people have to stay home, we have to stay home, but we don't want people to panic," Pelosi added but held off from outlining further plans to address the virus.
"We're here to pass a bill. When we pass a bill, we'll make a judgment about what comes next," she said.
As an addendum to her update on the coronavirus response, the speaker chimed in on the Democratic primary race.
"In case you were going to ask, no, I don't think Bernie Sanders should get out of the race. I'm a grassroots person. I'm chair of the California Democratic Party. I know the enthusiasm of supporters of candidates, and they want to see it play out."
Kelly Weill, reporter for The Daily Beast, joins us to talk about Michael Wolff's new book, which gives revealing details about the disarray in the Trump campaign and the first year of the administration.
Kelly Weill, reporter at The Daily Beast, told Cheddar that they "come from very similar worlds." She argues that "Trump has a tendency to boast," and Wolff might've been a "willing listener."
Political consultant Rick Wilson explains how Steve Bannon went from adviser to enemy. "The relationship is over," he says.
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The White House is demanding Michael Wolff not publish his upcoming tell-all, "Fire and Fury." Axios' Alayna Treene joins Cheddar to break down the story that's turning the political and media worlds on their heads.
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Ken Stern, Author of "Republican Like Me" and former CEO of NPR, says the "independent billionaire,...the movie star who doesn't have any political baggage, may in fact be a credible candidate."
