United States surpasses 200,000 COVID-19 deaths; Trump: “Very close” to picking nominee, announcement Saturday; Washington Post: CIA assessment says Putin “probably directing” influence campaign against Joe Biden; One-on-one with Trump’s former National Security Adviser; Kanye West’s ties to GOP operatives increases suspicion he’s running to take votes from Biden; “Veep” star Julia Louis-Dreyfus on election & getting involved;

Fauci: Reaching 200,000 deaths is “stunning” & “very sobering”; NFL fines 3 coaches $100,000 for not wearing masks; World’s largest vaccine maker: Vaccinating entire world against COVID-19 won’t happen until 2024; U.S. averaging more than 800 virus deaths per day; New virus cases rising in 24 states, steady in 20, declining in 6; Fauci: Reasonable to assume virus spread by aerosol; Source: Confidant told Trump Supreme Court pick so critical that she will effectively “be your new running mate”; Sources: Trump “very enthusiastic” after meeting with Judge Amy Coney Barrett for several hours Monday; GOP Source: “Things are falling into line – and fast”; Pence: Trump to take executive action on health care “in days ahead”; GOP has support to pursue election year confirmation; McMaster talks about the politicization of the military; Wash Post: FDA to announce tougher COVID vaccine standards, making clearance unlikely by election; Poll: 60% of Americans unlikely to get first version of vaccine; Rapper Kanye West shelling out millions on ill-fated campaign; Kanye West paid $1.5 million to GOP operative with a history of fraud allegations;

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