Already-grim prospects of a new pandemic aid deal became even more grim as Democrats and Republicans remained at an impasse, said CNBC. While the Speaker of the House and the Treasury Secretary met on Wednesday and spoke on the phone on Thursday, the two parties could not come to an agreement, with aid to state and local governments being a major point of contention.

While there had been some hope earlier this week that a deal could be reached, CNBC said that the Democrats have introduced their $2.2 trillion bill, which will almost certainly be dead on arrival once it reaches the Republican-controlled Senate. It would, though, give Democrats the ability to say they voted on something, even if that something never turned into real policy.

The talks will continue today, but it seems unlikely the gap will be bridged in the course of a single day.