There’s still no legislation, and it now looks like tomorrow’s deadline for congressional action to keep the government from falling apart will get pushed into the weekend, but if the Lone Ranger arrives to save the day, it looks like you might get 50% of a stimulus check in January, the unemployed will get 50% of an enhanced unemployment benefit again, and an extension of regular unemployment benefits for half as long, Republicans will get what they want to help businesses, and there’ll be money for vaccine distribution, schools, and the Postal Service, too.
All at a cost of around half of what Democrats insisted on spending. Looks like Democrats did most of the caving on this, and unless they win both of Georgia’s senate seats next month (possible, but not considered likely), that may be all that millions of desperate Americans get from a party (Republicans) that fought sensible pandemic containment measures, refused to wear masks, and tried to force workers back into unsafe plants and production facilities and take way their right to sue to boot (they, at least, didn’t get that; but Democrats had to trade aid for state and local governments to prevent that, which may translate into police, firefighters, and teachers losing their jobs).