Schumer's Senate Democrats show sharper edge in coronavirus era

Chuck Schumer and his Senate Democrats have found a go-to play in this pandemic: an old-school blockade.

Amid a coronavirus outbreak that's crippling the economy, Schumer's caucus is digging in for longer fights with Republicans and embracing tough tactics that previously made Senate Democrats queasy. But the voluble minority leader argues that his hard line is paying off - and that it hasn't even been that difficult to keep his ideologically diverse party united.

"It was remarkably easy to hold together as a caucus. And some of the most outspoken people were some of our most moderate people," Schumer said in an interview of Democrats' decision to reject Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's initial proposal to quickly approve $250 billion in aid for small businesses.