Author: Nicholas Wu and Christal Hayes, USA TODAY

Democrats hope to pass the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package by the middle of March and plan to forge ahead without Republicans.

The federal government is set to run out of money at the end of the week, teeing up a possible government shutdown if Congress does not act swiftly.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett becomes the fifth woman to join the Supreme Court, filling the vacancy left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The bill reauthorizes another round of the small business loans but is likely to be blocked by Democrats, who oppose standalone relief bills.