Monday morning news - October 26, 2020

Barrett expected to be confirmed to Supreme Court today » The U.S. Senate is expected to vote today to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. 

Over the weekend, one of two Republican holdouts, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, told reporters…

MURKOWSKI: While I oppose the process that has led us to this point, I do not hold it against her as an individual who has navigated the gauntlet with grace, skill, and humility. 

Murkowski agrees with Democrats that the nomination should have waited until after the election, but she said Barrett is fully qualified. 

That leaves Sen. Susan Collins of Maine as the only Senate Republican set to oppose Barrett’s confirmation. The blue state Republican is locked in a tight reelection race. 

GOP leaders now expect to have 53 “yes” votes—more than enough to send Barrett to the nation’s highest court.  

Campaigns in overdrive with election just over a week away » Campaigns are in overdrive this week with just eight days to go until Election Day.

BIDEN: As my high school and college coaches used to say in football, it’s go time! It’s go time now! 

Former Vice President Joe Biden heard there stumping in Pennsylvania.

President Trump will campaign in the Keystone State today, a state he narrowly won in 2016.  

And Trump, who was behind in most polls at this point four years ago, says he’s not troubled by national polls that show him trailing again. 

TRUMP: I think we’re doing just very well. You look at the numbers in Florida, we’re way ahead of where we were four years ago. 

Over the past few days, Trump visited several swing states, including Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. 

Biden’s campaign said he plans to “campaign aggressively” this week, as will the president. 

Pence keeps travel schedule despite virus outbreak among staff » Vice President Mike Pence also has a heavy travel schedule this week. But some are questioning whether he should, after several members of his staff tested positive for COVID-19. 

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN…

MEADOWS: Obviously Marc Short and a couple of the key staff around the vice president have come down with the coronavirus. 

Marc Short is the vice president’s chief of staff. 

But the White House said Pence tested negative on Sunday. And his spokesman Devin O’Malley said Pence decided to maintain his travel schedule “in consultation with the White House Medical Unit” and “in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel.” 

Those guidelines say that essential workers exposed to someone with the virus closely monitor for symptoms and wear a mask around other people.

Italy, Spain announce new coronavirus restrictions » Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced new lockdown measures on Sunday as the virus continues to surge in Europe and around the world. 

AUDIO: [SOUND OF CONTE SPEAKING IN ITALIAN]

As of today, bars, restaurants, and similar businesses will close at 6 p.m. every day, among other limitations. And Conte said it is forbidden to consume food or drinks on public streets after 6.

Gyms, pools, spas, and entertainment venues will close altogether. Conferences and conventions will only be allowed online.

Italy’s one-day caseload of confirmed infections jumped past 20,000 on Sunday. 

AUDIO: [SOUND OF SANCHEZ SPEAKING SPANISH]

Meantime, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared a second national state of emergency on Sunday. 

With that declaration, the government is putting a new overnight curfew in place. 

Sanchez said “The reality is that Europe and Spain are immersed in a second wave of the pandemic.” He added, “The situation we are living in is extreme.”

Sudan and Israel to discuss new agreements » Officials from Sudan and Israel will meet in the coming weeks to discuss a package of cooperation deals. 

The announcement came three days after President Trump announced Sudan would start normalizing ties with Israel. The president said on Friday…

TRUMP: Sudan has great potential on trade and other things. I mean, it could be a very, very successful, wonderful country, and I think it will be. It’s been hampered by what’s going on in the world. 

The statement said the deals would cover agriculture, trade, aviation, and migration.

A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted Sunday that Israel was “sending $5 million worth of wheat immediately to our new friends” in Sudan.

The normalization deal came with another pledge by President Trump to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The light in the cupola of the Capitol Dome signals that the Senate remains in session overnight as 30 hours of time for debate must elapse before the final vote on the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to join the Supreme Court, in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. 

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