NEW FROM @CBSNewsPoll: Confidence about containing the coronavirus is hitting new highs as more vaccines roll out, and Americans say they're also "grateful" and widely optimistic about the coming months. cbsnews.com/news/pandemic-…
In the next few months, Americans are optimistic about their local job market, their local economy and that businesses can reopen safely, as well for the stock market's prospects.
A majority of Americans believes the newly signed relief bill will help them, personally, as well as help the economy overall — particularly for working-class and lower-income people more so than the wealthy.
What are Americans looking forward to doing as the pandemic ends? Family and friends are the top priority:
But what are Americans willing to do *right now* as the end of the pandemic grows closer? There’s still plenty of hesitancy:
There is no consensus about whether states should be reopening and lifting restrictions at their current rates. Nearly half say their state is doing it right, according to @CBSNewsPoll.
HOW IS @POTUS BIDEN DOING WITH CORONAVIRUS? His ratings are strong for handling both the outbreak and the vaccine rollout. Even 4 in 10 Republicans — a bit striking in an era of sharp partisan splits — approve of how Mr. Biden is handling the rollout.
NEW: On a press call officially about #COVID19 matters, @NYGovCuomo says again: “I am not going to resign.”
Notably, @NYGovCuomo said on the call: “People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture, and the truth. ... Let the review proceed. I am not going to resign."
Cuomo reiterates he’s focusing on the toughest state budget negotiations in history and will@avoid “distractions” as he awaits “the facts” and the results of two ongoing investigations.
Here comes even more political pressure for @NYGovCuomo: In addition to @RepJerryNadler, @AOC and @JamaalBowmanNY are calling on him to step down in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct.
@NYGovCuomo@RepJerryNadler@AOC@JamaalBowmanNY#Context when it comes to NY lawmakers calling on @NYGovCuomo to resign: They have virtually no relationship with him. Privately, NY Dem members have said for years he doesn't reach out, doesn't coordinate federal asks. And remember: AOC and Bowman beat Cuomo-backed candidates.
Per @RebeccaRKaplan: As of Friday AM, 11 of the 19 House Democrats from New York have called on @NYGovCuomo to step down. (Updated/corrected)
NEW FROM @CBSNewsPoll: Three in four Americans approve of Congress passing the American Rescue Plan. Large majorities of Democrats and independents, along with nearly half of Republicans, approve of passage.
ALSO FROM THE POLL: Two-thirds of Americans give him positive marks for his handling of the outbreak overall.
This includes the percentage who thinks he is doing a *very* good job handling it, which has jumped 11 points since last month.
People are becoming less critical of the speed of the vaccine distribution in their state than they were last month. While 47% feel distribution is moving too slowly, that’s down from 61%. This drop is seen across demographic groups, according to @cbsnewspoll.
TODAY: The Biden administration is launching a two-week period starting Wednesday for small businesses with fewer than 20 employees to apply for Paycheck Protection Program assistance. The exclusive period for these small business applicants to apply will end on 3/9. (1/)
The special period for really small firms is especially designed to help independent contractors, and self-employed individuals with PPP funding. White House notes that many of these businesses are owned by women and people of color.
Administration also making it easier for certain biz owners to apply: it’ll allow small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions to obtain PPP funds. And allow owners delinquent on federal student loans to apply. (3/)
NEW from @CBSNewsPoll: Large majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents, as well as Americans of all income levels, would approve of a new COVID relief package.
Percentage who say they’d take the vaccine if eligible is up from last month in @cbsnewspoll. The number waiting and seeing what happens before getting one has dropped. But 22% of Americans still have no intention of getting vaccinated, and that percentage remains unmoved.
Though six in 10 Americans think the vaccine rollout has been too slow in their states, 73% of Americans think the process has been nonetheless fair, including majorities of both non-white and lower income Americans.
NEW THIS AM FROM @CBSNewsPoll: A majority of Americans would like the Senate to vote to convict former president Trump, and the same percentage say he encouraged violence at the Capitol. cbsnews.com/news/donald-tr…
Most Republicans still broadly value loyalty to Trump. Many current Republicans say they might even join a new party headed by him if he starts one. Most Republicans feel that efforts by Mr. Trump and some Republicans to overturn the 2020 results were justified.
Most Republicans call any GOP Senate vote to convict disloyal versus those who'd call it principled. By 3 to 1, Republicans say it's at least somewhat important to them the party remains loyal to Mr. Trump, generally, rather than not.