SENATE APPROVES MORE RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
By Emily Knapp, Senior digital politics editor and Lisa Desjardins, Correspondent (@EmilyRoseKnapp and @LisaDNews)

After nearly two weeks of talks (with most negotiators working from home), Republicans and Democrats today at last revealed a $480 billion extension of the mega-business-rescue package they passed in March. It is one of the most wide-sweeping and heavily funded 25-page bills in recent memory. 

Ok, so what’s in it? 

Most of the money will go toward the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, that was established by the $2.2 trillion relief package passed at the end of March. Reminder: The PPP was created to help small businesses stay open and continue to pay employees for up to eight weeks, but it ran out of money last Thursday after just 13 days in operation. 

Passage of the new relief plan was held up by Democrats in Congress, who refused to allow a general extension of funding without money specifically targeting overlooked communities, smaller banks and hospitals. Democrats ultimately won some — but not all — of the concessions they were seeking. 

Here’s a breakdown of where the money will go:

• $320 billion to extend PPP
• $60 billion for economic disaster loans, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loans, or EIDL, which also ran out of funding
• $75 billion for hospitals and other health care providers
• $25 billion for testing, which will go to the National Institutes of Health as well as states and cities

It also contains some important policy, especially on testing:

• The bill requires the Trump administration to present a national testing plan to Congress within 30 days
• It also requires that agencies present data on infections and deaths by race, gender and geographic location within 180 days

What’s next? The House plans to vote on the bill Thursday, with a full chamber vote that will require many members return to Washington. After that, the bill will go to the president, who is expected to sign it quickly. After it’s signed, money could be flowing to businesses in as little as a day. 

For more, watch our segment on tonight’s show — and we’ll keep you posted on Twitter, too.  

WHAT HAPPENS TO STATES THAT HAVE DELAYED PRIMARIES OVER CORONAVIRUS?
By Daniel Bush, @DanielBush
Senior political reporter

The Democratic National Committee hasn’t finished hammering out rules changes for states that delayed their primaries because of the coronavirus pandemic, DNC Chair Tom Perez said Tuesday, but the party bought itself “more time” to make adjustments by pushing back its summer nominating convention.

Perez told the PBS NewsHour that the DNC’s rules and bylaws committee is working closely with states to find a workaround for a rule that requires states to forfeit half of their delegates if they hold primaries after June 9. Several states have rescheduled their primaries for late June or July in response to the public health crisis.

“If the convention were still in July we’d be up against a more difficult type of deadline,” Perez said in a phone interview. “Given that we’ve moved it back [to Aug. 17], I think we have provided the rules and bylaws committee with some flexibility moving forward.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden became the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee earlier this month after Sen. Bernie Sanders, his last remaining challenger, dropped out of the primary race. Biden has so far won 1,305 of the 1,991 delegates needed to secure the nomination.

But the decision by several states to delay voting amid the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders slowed Biden’s path to the nomination. Biden could still cross the delegate threshold if the states that are slated to vote by June 9 go forward with their primaries. But the final delegate count will depend on any adjustments the DNC may make for awarding delegates in states that moved their primaries after June 9...READ MORE

FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By Alex D’Elia, @AlexDEliaNews
Politics production assistant

Schools transform into ‘relief’ kitchens, but federal aid fails to keep up -- April 19. Some school districts around the country are expanding their child nutrition programs to provide food for adults and families during the coronavirus pandemic. Why it matters: Though districts are providing a critical service to people in need, the costs do not qualify for reimbursement under the Department of Agriculture’s child nutrition programs. -- The New York Times

Washington state unemployment website crashes after ‘a tsunami of claims’ for coronavirus job-loss benefits -- April 19. The heightened demand on the unemployment programs during the coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed the state’s system. Why it matters: The frustrations and delays surrounding unemployment benefits are not unique to Washington state; unemployment sites are struggling to keep up with demand across the country. -- The Seattle Times

The White House praised hotels for housing doctors. Cities say Trump’s hotels aren’t participating. -- April 18. With tourism at a virtual standstill, hotels are using empty space to house medical personnel at reduced rates or for free. Why it matters: The president has praised these efforts, though none of his hotels appear to be participating themselves. -- The Washington Post

The IRS is drowning in unopened tax refund requests amid pandemic -- April 20. All tax processing and assistance centers have been shuttered to protect employees, leaving fewer people to help with refunds. Why it matters: Millions of Americans expecting tax refunds or wondering if they qualify for tax credits could face extended delays. -- POLITICO

With classrooms shuttered for the year, Louisiana public schools face these huge challenges -- April 18. State educators are grappling with a variety of obstacles — including access to internet and broadband — as they try to deliver remote learning while schools remain shuttered for the rest of the academic year. Why it matters: The crisis is disproportionately affecting economically disadvantaged students, and the potential gap could have long-lasting  consequences. -- The Advocate

#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke
Politics producer

On this day in 1926, Queen Elizabeth II was born. In the time since her succession to the throne, the U.S. has had 12 presidents. She has met all but one of them.

Our question: Which U.S. president never met with Queen Elizabeth II?

Send your answers to [email protected] or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.

Last week, we asked: In the middle of the 20th century, a U.S. president famously tried to nationalize the steel industry to prevent a strike, claiming sweeping powers because of the Korean War. The Supreme Court ruled that the president did not have this authority. Who was that president? 

The answer: President Harry S. Truman

Congratulations to our winners: Bill and Barbara Barrons!!

Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your Inbox next week.