Thread by @JakeSherman

Playbook: They can’t agree what they’re talking about

WE JUST GOT A REALLY GOOD LESSON about the fraught nature of Covid relief negotiations, and the politics that both parties are confronting at the end of this year.

ON THURSDAY MORNING,
@SenSchumer was in upstate N.Y., and he said that Rs had finally agreed to Covid relief negotiations, and they would meet later that day. He positioned this as a breakthrough.

Democratic aides throughout the Capitol echoed the message that it was indeed true that representatives to @SpeakerPelosi , @GOPLeader, @SenSchumer @senatemajldr were meeting to discuss govt funding and covid relief

THIS WAS NEWS TO REPUBLICANS, who immediately said it was B.S. -- the meeting was simply about the end-of-year government funding bill, which is due for renewal on Dec. 11.

NONETHELESS, the market -- that super effective and efficient marker -- popped on the news.

AFTER THE MEETING, DEMOCRATS put it this way: “Staff for the four corners spoke today at 2pm. In the meeting, they discussed COVID relief and omnibus (separately). Democrats look forward to continuing those talks.” REPUBLICANS said bluntly, no. It was a government funding talk.

BUT HERE’S WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. The two sides did in fact discuss the expiration of Covid relief-related items like pandemic unemployment assistance, student loan forbearance and the Paycheck Protection Program -- but they did not talk about a new Covid relief deal.

It’s entirely possible that some existing programs get renewed in or alongside a government funding bill.