Covid-19: Politics blunts Christmas as US government shutdown nears

If the House vote succeeds, the Senate may hold its vote as early as Tuesday.

President Donald Trump spent Christmas Day at his Palm Beach resort as millions of Americans faced the risk of losing jobless benefits on Saturday and a partial government shutdown loomed next week, following his threat to not sign a $2.3 trillion coronavirus aid and spending package.
 
Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, whose victory Trump still refuses to acknowledge nearly two months after the November 3 election, spent the day at his Delaware home and had no public events. Meanwhile, the US Congress, which normally is adjourned the last week of December, will be preparing to return to work.
 
On