Can White House and Congressional leaders come to an agreement on a comprehensive aid bill before the election on Nov. 3? What about smaller bills designed to help specific areas, such as the airline industry? As of Thursday, both sides were open to additional aid in both small and larger packages, including a second direct payment if everything lines up.

“We’re happy to review what that standalone bill would look like as part of a bigger bill,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday, “If there is a bigger bill.”

The whiplash started Tuesday morning with President Donald Trump, currently being treated for COVID-19, calling a halt talks to pass a comprehensive stimulus package. He then turned around and urged Congress to focus on stand-alone rescue bills for airline bailout aid, small businesses and a second stimulus check for $1,200— later in the day. By Thursday, Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were meeting again on both smaller and larger packages.

According to a Washington Post report, the issues still under discussion include a stimulus payment of up to $1,200, a reinstatement of the extra unemployment benefits that expired on July 31 and an allocation of $75 billion for coronavirus testing and contract tracing.

There’s still an acute need for financial aid in the United States, where first-time unemployment claims once again topped over 800,000 last week and companies across industries continue to struggle through the coronavirus-induced recession. Financial leaders across the country, including Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, caution against the dire consequences that will affect economic recovery and livelihoods if little or no aid arrives.

That’s all quite a lot to follow, but we’ve simplified matters below. Check back on this story for regular updates.

Why did Trump first stop stimulus talks?

Earlier this week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said negotiators would reach a deal on a comprehensive package “one way or another,” despite sticking points. So why did Trump initially pull the plug?

With Election Day just over three weeks away, the reasoning Trump shared included his belief that a deal on a stimulus package wouldn’t be reached and that he wanted the Senate to turn its attention to the nomination of Supreme Court associate justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett, the president’s pick. It’s been suggested Trump and fellow high-ranking Republicans who tested positive for COVID-19 acquired the coronavirus on Barrett’s nomination day, at events where mask wearing was not universal.

“The President is, shall we say, in an altered state right now, so I don’t know how to answer for his behavior,” Pelosi said Thursday.

The Senate, which paused in-person floor votes until Oct. 19 after three Republicans tested positive with COVID-19, is already moving forward on Barrett’s nomination in committee meetings, which can take place remotely. Prior to Trump’s tweets, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had said his chamber would reconvene to vote on a stimulus package if a deal was made.

And a tweet from Trump early Tuesday expressed a desire for more aid clearly: “When, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,” he tweeted.

On Thursday, however, in an interview on Fox Business, Trump said, “We are starting to have very productive talks” on more fiscal aid, specifically pointing to airline assistance and $1,200 stimulus checks.

When could a new relief bill pass if talks pick up?

Pelosi said Tuesday evening that Congress could pick up the thread on another economic rescue package following the election. Trump, however, is urging action now. We’ve suggested five possible dates, based on the new timeline, both before and after the November election. These are speculative only. In the case of a second stimulus check, here’s how quickly we think the IRS could send one.

When could a stand-alone stimulus bill or package pass?

House votes	Senate votes	President signs
Oct. 26	Oct. 27	Oct. 28
Nov. 9	Nov. 10	Nov. 11
Nov. 16	Nov. 17	Nov. 18
Nov. 23	Nov. 24	Nov. 25
Feb. 1, 2021	Feb. 2, 2021	Feb. 3, 2021

Didn’t the House just pass a new stimulus bill? What’s the story?

On Oct. 1, the House of Representatives passed a revised Heroes Act that includes a second stimulus check and additional benefits such as enhanced unemployment benefits for tens of millions of Americans. The new House bill, endorsed primarily by Democrats, has little chance of advancing through the Republican-controlled Senate, though.

According to Pelosi, the vote on the revised Heroes bill was independent of ongoing negotiations with Mnuchin. If Pelosi and Mnuchin do agree on a new proposal, a new bill would need to be separately drafted and voted on in both the House and Senate before being signed into law. The total cost of the package and funding allocations like a child tax credit have remained chief sticking points.

Why did the House vote on Heroes 2.0 if talks were continuing?

The vote is thought to provide cover for House Democrats as they campaign without a new relief bill, much as the Senate did earlier in September for Republican members with its $650 billion skinny bill. Like the skinny Senate bill, this new House proposal has little chance of advancing in the other chamber.

Where do Democrats and Republicans agree?

Proposals from both sides include another stimulus payment of up to $1,200 for individuals who meet the requirements, among topics like aid for airlines, coronavirus testing and extending the Paycheck Protection Program for businesses.

With talks stopped, could the president take executive action?

After talks originally collapsed on Aug. 7, Trump signed an executive order and three memoranda the following day. It’s possible more executive actions could be forthcoming if this final attempt at negotiations fails before the election, though there’s been no development after Trump first suggested his administration might consider another executive action to bypass Congress.

It’s unclear if Trump would pursue more unilateral action at this point.

Pelosi expressed doubt about Trump’s ability to use executive orders for additional relief funding.

“No. No. He can’t do this by executive order,” she said Oct. 5. “He can’t do the money without the Congress of the United States. The power of the purse begins in the House.”

Trump’s previous COVID-19 relief executive actions address trying to slow evictions, extending unemployment benefits to a lesser degree and deferring payroll taxes until next year.

So what happens now?

The situation is still in flux. For now, we wait to see if there are any developments. Anything could still happen.

For more information, here’s how soon you might get your second stimulus check and what to know about the HEALS, CARES and Heroes stimulus bill proposals that could help inform a final package.