Pelosi, Mnuchin continue COVID talks amid dwindling odds for deal | TheHill

The top negotiators fighting for a deal on emergency coronavirus relief spoke again on Wednesday as they face increasingly dismal odds to secure an agreement before Election Day.The hourlong phone call between Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOn The Money: Pelosi, citing 'leverage' over Trump, holds strong to .2T in COVID-19 aid | McConnell to force vote on 'targeted' relief bill next week | Trump again asks court to shield tax records Pelosi spars with CNN's Blitzer over COVID-19 aid: 'You really don't know what you're talking about' Pelosi, citing 'leverage' over Trump, holds strong to .2T in COVID-19 aid MORE (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Pelosi, citing 'leverage' over Trump, holds strong to .2T in COVID-19 aid | McConnell to force vote on 'targeted' relief bill next week | Trump again asks court to shield tax records Pelosi spars with CNN's Blitzer over COVID-19 aid: 'You really don't know what you're talking about' OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump creates federal council on global tree planting initiative | Green group pushes for answers on delayed climate report | Carbon dioxide emissions may not surpass 2019 levels until 2027: analysis MORE was a "productive" one, according to Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill, citing a focused effort to find "clarification on language" — a reference to assurances sought by Democrats that new funding allocated by Congress will be spent on intended programs.But a deal remains a long shot, as Democrats have held firm to their $2.2 trillion demand; Senate Republicans have balked at even the $1.8 trillion proposal from the White House; and President TrumpDonald John TrumpLabor secretary's wife tests positive for COVID-19 Russia shuts down Trump admin's last-minute push to strike nuclear arms deal before election Trump makes appeal to suburban women at rally: 'Will you please like me?' MORE has confused the debate with a stream of mixed messages regarding what he supports."One major area of disagreement continues to be that the White House lacks an understanding of the need for a national strategic testing plan," Hammill tweeted.