Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report.

Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the daily co-creators, so find us @asimendinger and @alweaver22 on Twitter and recommend the Morning Report to your friends.

coronavirus deaths reported each morning this week: Monday, 97,722.

fatalities from COVID-19 approach 100,000 this week, the focus has shifted from how Americans are dying from the contagion to how they live with a virus in the absence of an effective vaccine and amid fear and defiance.

State of Small Business Report: Insights from 86,000 businesses and employees.

A new report from Facebook and the Small Business Roundtable looks at how small and medium-sized businesses are dealing with the impact of COVID-19  — and what they need on the road to recovery.

Go further: Read the full report!

CONGRESS: In an interesting bit of intrigue in the Senate, Alexander Bolton reports that Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocratic leaders say Trump testing strategy is 'to deny the truth' about lack of supplies Stakes high for Collins in coronavirus relief standoff House members race to prepare for first-ever remote votes MORE (R-Ky.) may feel he should do a favor for Sen.

Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsStakes high for Collins in coronavirus relief standoff GOP faces internal conflicts on fifth coronavirus bill The other dangerous virus infecting our country MORE (R-Maine), a four-term incumbent who is in the reelection race of her career.

McConnell has taken a hard line against more federal assistance to states in the next installment of coronavirus relief legislation the two parties may negotiate.

And as The Hill’s Maggie Miller reports, state and local governments experiencing budget shortfalls during the pandemic are begging Congress for funding to shore up network security as hackers exploit the crisis to target overwhelmed government offices.

The Associated Press: Months before the November elections, Congress is at a crossroads: “Go big” on more virus aid or “pause.” House Democrats passed a $3 trillion assistance measure; Republicans want to wean Americans off unemployment benefits to nudge people back to work and provide liability protections for businesses.

MORE caused a stir on Monday simply by venturing out of his house for the first time since mid-March to lay a wreath on Memorial Day at the Delaware Memorial Bridge Veterans Memorial Park (The Washington Post).

As Amie Parnes reports, Biden wants to make a bold argument to voters that he is best equipped to lead the nation to recovery from an economic crisis that Trump’s own advisers predict will be measured by unprecedented 20 percent or higher unemployment by June. .

The Associated Press: Can Biden be a progressive and a centrist for the next five and a half months.

The Morning Report is created by journalists Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver.

Taking care of small business: Congress can fix Treasury’s mistakes on paycheck protection, by The Wall Street Journal editorial board.

Stop expelling and separating immigrant children and parents during the COVID-19 crisis, by Suzan Song, opinion contributor, The Hill.

Resources and tools to help you and your small business.

Facebook’s Business Resource Hub offers resources to help you manage your business and support your customers and employees through the COVID-19 crisis

The president participates in a ceremonial swearing-in of John RatcliffeJohn Lee RatcliffeThe Memo: Trump agenda rolls on amid pandemic Grenell to step down as US ambassador to Germany: report Grenell says intelligence community working to declassify Flynn-Kislyak transcripts MORE as director of the national intelligence

At 1 p.m., Pence will lead a video teleconference with governors to discuss ongoing COVID-19 responses

The Hill’s Coronavirus Report has updates and exclusive video interviews with policymakers emailed each day

At least two of five Iranian tankers carrying fuel moored on Monday at a port that serves a major Venezuelan refinery, the oil minister said on Monday (Reuters)

… Export markets have collapsed in Mexico, which posted its largest trade deficit on record on Monday (Reuters)

âž” Medical research: The World Health Organization on Monday suspended its testing of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients due to safety concerns, even as its trials with other potential treatments continue

Hydroxychloroquine is linked to higher mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published by the medical journal, The Lancet. 

âž” Crime: The Justice Department is investigating the shooting death in Georgia of Ahmaud Arbery as a possible hate crime, CBS News reported on Monday

Shares rose on Monday (MarketWatch)

And finally … Plenty of intrepid people greeted the sunrise in Arizona on Monday with a particular vista that catches one’s breath (for some, because of or in spite of the risks)