Jonathan Bernstein, Columnist

Republicans Are Setting Up a Nuclear Winter

The pieces are falling into place for a filibuster fight next year. 

No deal?

Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg

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The pandemic relief and stimulus bill remains almost as dead as a bill can get, but that doesn’t mean that the continued maneuverings aren’t meaningful. Republicans are currently planning a sure-to-be-filibustered vote on a relatively small bill and are openly opposing the White House’s position, which (most of the time) is for a $1.8 trillion bill or larger. House Democrats clearly wanted a bill back in April; at this point it’s unclear whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi would accept a deal just before the election, although she and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are still negotiating, or at least going through the motions.