2020 is almost here, and the economy is working in Trump's favor

Your guide to how Washington shapes business and the economy

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE MON, DEC 30, 2019 CNBC POLITICS EDITOR'S NOTE Hello,   This is CNBC.com politics reporter Jacob Pramuk, in for Mike Calia.    Months into the 2020 election campaign, the year 2020 is nearly upon us. Facing a tricky path to reelection, President Trump must like what he sees on the economic front as the calendar flips.    U.S. stock markets, one of Trump's favorite metrics for his success, hover near all-time highs. November's unemployment rate was the lowest since 1969. U.S. gross domestic product continues to grow at a steady rate.    A strong economy normally indicates a good chance of reelection for a president. Trump's time in the White House has, of course, been anything but normal.    Trump still has a relatively poor approval rating, suggesting vulnerability despite the economy. He will soon get a better idea of who he will face. In a little over a month, voters will finally start to choose the Democratic nominee, starting with the Iowa caucuses.   Thanks for reading, and see you in 2020.   Thoughts? Email me at CNBCPolitics@nbcuni.com. And be sure to check out CNBC's "Decade of Disruption" series. Find our coverage here.   Have friends or colleagues who might like this newsletter? They can sign up here. For more on the intersection of business and politics, sign up for the weekly Capital Exchange newsletter here. Mike Calia @Michael_Calia KEY STORIES  Vice Premier Liu He to sign 'phase one' trade deal in Washington this week, Chinese media says Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will visit Washington this week to sign the trade deal, the South China Morning Post reported Monday. Yang campaign expects big fourth-quarter fundraising haul The money "will enable us to keep pace with the establishment campaigns that are likely to outraise us," the spokesman said. Bernie Sanders' doctors say he is fit to serve as president after heart attack Sen. Bernie Sanders' doctors said the 78-year-old presidential hopeful is fit to serve in the White House, about three months after he had a heart attack. All the missiles and nukes North Korea has tested in one chart Since 2011, Kim Jong Un has launched more missiles than his father and grandfather combined. President Trump faces backlash after retweeting post revealing supposed whistleblower's name President Donald Trump is facing backlash for retweeting over the weekend a post that revealed the name of the supposed whistleblower whose report triggered an investigation that eventually led to Trump's impeachment. UK is set to exit the EU next month: Here are some important Brexit-related dates of 2020 The U.K. is set to leave the European Union on January 31, but this will not be the end of the Brexit process.       Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2019 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS