October 26, 2020 News Brief

Daily infection rates continue to surge to their highest levels and hospitals - especially in the Mountains and Midwest - are overwhelmed. We learned that five people in the Vice President’s office tested positive for the virus, including his body man and Chief of Staff.  

[Infection of Pence Aides Raises New Questions About Trump’s Virus Response - The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/25/us/politics/pence-trump-coronavirus.html)

/They were trying to keep this a secret and Mark Meadows admitted on CNN that the administration is not trying to control the virus but only trying to mitigate the damage./ 

Judge Amy Coney Barrett is expected to be confirmed to the Senate tonight.

Israel and Sudan agreed to form diplomatic relations on Friday. At the same time, there is reporting the Trump administration is considering classifying  the human rights organizations Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Oxfam as anti-Semitic over their criticism of Israel. 

[Trump admin considers branding Amnesty International, other human rights groups as ‘anti-Semitic’](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-admin-considers-branding-amnesty-international-other-human-rights-groups-n1244335)

Pope Francis named Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, a cardinal, making him  the first Black American  to achieve that rank.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/25/us/pope-francis-cardinal-gregory.html