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U.S. COVID-19 Cases Hit an All-Time Single Day High, a Reminder That a Second Relief Bill Hasn’t Been Passed

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  • COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are drastically on the rise and have passed 100,000 new cases in a single day for the first time.
  • This increase isn’t an outlier and is likely driven by the reopening plans that states have implemented.
  • The rise in cases is a reminder that a second coronavirus relief bill still hasn’t been negotiated, although Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has officially called for another package by the end of the year. 
  • Democrats are likely going to have to negotiate a package, as it seems like they might not have full control of the government in 2021 to pass the version they passed in the House earlier this year.

COVID-19 Cases on the Rise

The United States recorded 102,831 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the largest single-day spike of new infections since the start of the pandemic.

New cases have been on the rise since an initial dip leading into the fall, however, the last five days have been especially rough, bringing in numbers not seen since the first weeks of the outbreak in the US.

Experts point out that most U.S. states have begun to reopen, including many that allow indoor dining and expanded access to group activities. These same activities are some of the most likely to spread the coronavirus.

The current seven-day average of daily new cases is 89,859. That’s 108% more than the previous month. Nationwide only three states have managed to maintain a downward trend: Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

John Hopkins reports that 9.5 million Americans to-date have been infected with COVID-19 and 234,000 have died.

The trend of increased cases isn’t limited to the U.S. either. On October 30, France entered its second national lockdown, and Germany followed in their footsteps at the start of November. In the coming days and weeks, the U.K., Austria, and much of Europe have plans to implement further shutdowns. Only in East and Southeast Asia have countries managed to keep the virus relatively contained, with only small outbreaks.

Where’s the Second Stimulus Bill?

The spike in cases serves as a cold reminder that Congress has yet to pass another coronavirus relief package. On Wednesday, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that he would push for a second coronavirus bill to be passed before the end of the year.

At a press conference in Kentucky, he told reporters, “We need another rescue package.”

Hopefully, the partisan passions that prevented us from doing another rescue package will subside with the election. We need to do it, and I think we need to do it before the end of the year.”

McConnell went on to say he would agree to negotiate a few of the points that Democrats wanted in the bill they passed in the House earlier this year, including concessions on expanded funding for schools, hospitals, and a continuation of the small-business loan program.

However, Sen. McConnell wouldn’t agree to the massive spending proposal that Democrats have sought. Notably, he opposed increased funding for state governments and expanded national testing programs, instead favoring the small-business loan program and tax credits for retaining employees.

It’s unclear how much Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will want to negotiate with Republicans, as House Democrats have been adamant in their $3 trillion spending bill.

Although, it does look like Pelosi will have a weaker hand in negotiations because current eletion projections show that Democrats will maintain control of the House but lose some seats there.

There is a chance; however, that the Senate may not be in Republican control. There are still a handful of races to call, and it increasingly looks like Georgia will have two run-off elections in January.

Those elections could easily decide who controls the Senate.

See What Others Are Saying: (NBC News) (Wall Street Journal) (NPR)

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Survey and Census Data Shows Record Number of Americans are Struggling Financially

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Americans are choosing not to pursue medical treatment more and more frequently as they encounter money troubles.


A recent federal survey shows that a record number of Americans were worse off financially in 2022 than a year prior.

Coupled with recent census data showing pervasive poverty across much of the country, Americans are forced to make difficult decisions, like foregoing expensive healthcare. 

According to a recent Federal Reserve Bureau survey, 35% of adults say they were worse off in 2022 than 2021, which is the highest share ever recorded since the question was raised in 2014. 

Additionally, half of adults reported their budget was majorly affected by rising prices across the country, and that number is even higher among minority communities and parents living with their children.

According to recent census data, more than 10% of the counties in the U.S. are experiencing persistent poverty, meaning the area has had a poverty rate of 20% or higher between 1989 and 2019. 

16 states report at least 10% of their population living in persistent poverty. But most of the suffering counties were found in the South — which accounts for over half the people living in persistent poverty, despite making up less than 40% of the population. 

These financial realities have placed many Americans in the unfortunate situation of choosing between medical treatment and survival. The Federal Reserve study found that the share of Americans who skipped medical treatment because of the cost has drastically increased since 2020. 

The reflection of this can be found in the overall health of households in different income brackets. 75% of households with an income of $25,000 or less report being in good health – compared to the 91% of households with $100,000 or more income. 

See what others are saying: (Axios) (The Hill) (Federal Reserve)

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Montana Governor Signs TikTok Ban

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The ban will likely face legal challenges before it is officially enacted next year. 


First Statewide Ban of TikTok

Montana became the first state to ban TikTok on Wednesday after Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed legislation aimed at protecting “Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party.”

The ban will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, though the law will likely face a handful of legal challenges before that date. 

Under the law, citizens of the state will not be held liable for using the app, but companies that offer the app on their platforms, like Apple and Google, will face a $10,000 fine per day of violations. TikTok would also be subject to the hefty daily fine. 

Questions remain about how tech companies will practically enforce this law. During a hearing earlier this year, a representative from TechNet said that these platforms don’t have the ability to “geofence” apps by state.

Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics, told the Associated Press that app stores could have the capability to enforce the restriction, but it would be difficult to carry out and there would be a variety of loopholes by tools like VPNs.

Montana’s law comes as U.S. politicians have taken aim at TikTok over its alleged ties to the CCP. Earlier this year, the White House directed federal agencies to remove TikTok from government devices. Conservatives, in particular, have been increasingly working to restrict the app.

“The Chinese Communist Party using TikTok to spy on Americans, violate their privacy, and collect their personal, private, and sensitive information is well-documented,” Gov. Gianforte said in a Wednesday statement. 

Criticism of Montana Law

TikTok, however, has repeatedly denied that it gives user data to the government. The company released a statement claiming Montana’s law “infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people” in the state. 

“We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue using TikTok to express themselves, earn a living, and find community as we continue working to defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana,” the company said. 

The American Civil Liberties Union condemned Montana’s law for similar reasons. 

“This law tramples on our free speech rights under the guise of national security and lays the groundwork for excessive government control over the internet,” the ACLU tweeted. “Elected officials do not have the right to selectively censor entire social media apps based on their country of origin.”

Per the AP, there are 200,000 TikTok users in Montana, and another 6,000 businesses use the platform as well. Lawsuits are expected to be filed against the law in the near future.

See what others are saying: (Associated Press) (Fast Company) (CBS News)

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How a Disney-Loving Former Youth Pastor Landed on The FBI’s “Most Wanted” List

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 “Do what is best, not for yourself, for once. Think about everyone else,” Chris Burns’ 19-year-old son pleaded to his father via The Daily Beast. 


Multi-Million Dollar Scheme 

Former youth pastor turned financial advisor Chris Burns remains at large since going on the run in September of 2020 to avoid a Securities Exchange Commission investigation into his businesses.

Despite his fugitive status, the Justice Department recently indicted Burns with several more charges on top of the $12 million default judgment he received from the SEC. 

Burns allegedly sold false promissory notes to investors across Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. The SEC claims he told the investors they were participating in a “peer to peer” lending program where businesses that needed capital would borrow money and then repay it with interest as high as 20%. Burns allegedly also reassured investors that the businesses had collateral so the investment was low-risk. 

The SEC says that Burns instead took that money for personal use. 

Burns’ History 

Burns began his adult life as a youth pastor back in 2007 before transitioning into financial planning a few years later.  By 2017, he launched his own radio show, The Chris Burns Show, which was funded by one of his companies, Dynamic Money – where every week Burns would “unpack how this week’s headlines practically impact your life, wallet, and future,” according to the description. He also frequently appeared on television and online, talking about finances and politics. 

The SEC alleges that he used his public appearances to elevate his status as a financial advisor and maximize his reach to investors.

His family told The Daily Beast that he became obsessed with success and he reportedly bought hand-made clothes, a million-dollar lakehouse, a boat, several cars, and took his family on several trips to Disney World. His eldest son and wife said that Burns was paying thousands of dollars a day for VIP tours and once paid for the neighbors to come along. 

Then in September 2020, he reportedly told his wife that he was being investigated by the Securities Exchange Commission but he told her not to worry. 

The day that he was supposed to turn over his business documents to the SEC, he disappeared, telling his wife he was just going to take a trip to North Carolina to tell his parents about the investigation. Then, the car was found abandoned in a parking lot with several cashier’s checks totaling $78,000

FBI’s Most Wanted

The default judgment in the SEC complaint orders Burns, if he’s ever found, to pay $12 million to his victims, as well as over $650,000 in a civil penalty. Additionally, a federal criminal complaint charged him with mail fraud. Burns is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. 

Last week, the Justice Department indicted him on several other charges including 10 counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud. 

“Burns is charged for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from clients in an illegal investment fraud scheme,” Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, said in a statement to The Daily Beast. “Financial crimes of this nature can cause significant disruptions to the lives of those who are victimized, and the FBI is dedicated to holding these criminals accountable.”

His family maintains that they knew nothing of Burns’ schemes. His wife reportedly returned over $300,000 that he had given to her. 

She and their eldest son, who is now 19, told The Daily Beast they just want Burns to turn himself in, take responsibility for his actions, and try to help the people he hurt. 

“Do what is best, not for yourself, for once. Think about everyone else,” Burns’ son said in a message to his father via The Daily Beast. 

See what others are saying: (The Daily Beast) (Fox 5) (Wealth Management)

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