White House says coronavirus aid talks with Democrats could stretch into weekend

Talks between Trump administration officials and congressional Democrats over a coronavirus aid package could stretch into this weekend, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters on Friday. Speaking at the White House, Meadows said negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will continue Friday and that there would be “perhaps an in-person meeting tomorrow on Capitol Hill.” Meadows spoke a day after Democrats rejected the administration’s offer of a short-term extension of the $600 weekly unemployment benefit. Experts have said the failure to renew the benefit last week meant it was practically impossible for the add-on to be extended without a gap, even if lawmakers acted by formal expiration date of July 31.