Hi, this is Paula calling from Maywood, Illinois, where I'm about to get my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

This podcast was recorded at 205 PM on Thursday, December 17.

Things may have changed by the time you listen, but even after I'm fully vaccinated,

I'll still be wearing a mask and maintaining distance from other people to keep my community safe.

Alright, here's the show.

Love to hear people getting vaccinated.

Man, I am jealous.

That is awesome.

I am ready for that vaccine.

Stick it in my veins.

I know, I know exactly where Maywood is, and that's very exciting.

Hey there, it's the MPR Politics Podcast. I'm Susan Davis, I cover Congress.

I'm Kelsey Snally, I also cover Congress.

And I'm Frank O'Ardonia as I cover the White House.

And congressional leaders are nearing an agreement on a roughly $900 billion COVID-19 relief package.

Negotiations, again, are ongoing, and nothing is final.

But leaders say they're feeling pretty optimistic.

So, Kelsey, what do we know about what's likely to be in this deal?

We do know that the package is supposed to look a lot like a bipartisan proposal that came out earlier this week.

We've talked about it a little bit here, but that includes things like more money for the Paycheck Protection Program,

extended unemployment insurance that federal weekly benefit that expired back at the end of July.

They want to bring back some of it. We don't know exactly how much right now that is still up for debate.

...