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--> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*
*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha--breaks down crying hysterically.
The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump signs $8.3B coronavirus funding package | Trump to visit CDC today | Confusion after trip initially canceled | Airlines, cruise ships update cancellation policies | Economy adds 273K jobs in strong February | Biden is expected to make big gains in next primaries | Why Florida is big trouble for Sanders | Warren's dog Bailey goes viral after stealing burrito | 'Hocus Pocus 2' in the works | National Oreo Day
LATEST WITH THE CORONAVIRUS
Signed, sealed, delivered
It's yours:
This morning, President Trump
Donald John TrumpRomney on Trump election tactics: 'Difficult to imagine a worse, more undemocratic action' by president New York expands Trump tax fraud investigations to include writeoffs: report Biden promises federal government will pay for National Guard coronavirus work: 'That should be paid for' MORE signed an $8.3 billion bill in emergency funding to fight the coronavirus outbreak. http://bit.ly/32W
Tidbit about the president's signing ceremony: "Trump was originally expected to sign the bill at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on Friday but abruptly canceled his trip there. He told reporters Friday morning that the trip was canceled because of a suspected coronavirus case at the CDC itself but that it turned out to be negative. The president said he may still visit the headquarters."
^UPDATE -- TRUMP IS BACK TO VISITING THE CDC:
President Trump will visit the CDC in Atlanta this afternoon after the White House initially canceled the trip. http://bit.ly/32XGgDl
New insight -- What to know about the coronavirus mortality rate:
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) made a startling pronouncement by estimating the global mortality rate for the coronavirus as 3.4 percent. Yeah, but: Experts expect that number to drop as untested "mild cases" are counted. http://bit.ly/39Gp5sg
IF YOU HAVE A FLIGHT COMING UP:
Here's a list of the updated cancelation policies for each major airline: https://on.today.com/38tQigo
IF YOU HAVE A CRUISE BOOKED:
Here's a list of the updated cancelation policies for each major cruise line -- plus a list of restrictions: https://on.today.com/2TscK5k
Happy Friday! I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.
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PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Hill's 12:30 Report will be off next week! It will return on Monday, March 16. Enjoy the week and don't forget to celebrate "National Potato Chip Day" on March 14! ;)
NEWS THIS MORNING
That's a monster jobs report:
The U.S. economy adding an astonishing 273,000 jobs in February amid fears of coronavirus. http://bit.ly/2PQS8ll
For context -- what economists predicted: 170,000 jobs would be added in February. "The strong February jobs report indicates a greater level of strength in a labor market that has steadily added jobs for more than a decade."
The unemployment rate: "The unemployment rate ticked down 0.1 percentage points to 3.5 percent while the labor force participation rate held steady at 63.4 percent."
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Aiiight, what's next after Super Tuesday:
Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenRomney on Trump election tactics: 'Difficult to imagine a worse, more undemocratic action' by president Biden promises federal government will pay for National Guard coronavirus work: 'That should be paid for' House committee chairs demand briefing from GSA head on presidential transition MORE is poised for big gains in the next two waves of primaries. http://bit.ly/2PRZ813
WHAT'S NEXT:
March 10: Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota caucus and Washington state
March 17: Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.
Note: Florida has the most delegates at stake coming up, with 219.
THE PROBLEM FOR BERNIE SANDERS:
"The problem for Sanders is simple: when it comes to the big states, he is the clear favorite in only one, Washington. Florida, by contrast, looks like it could be a near-catastrophe for Sanders."
Why Florida could be bad for Bernie: "There are general demographics in Florida that favor Biden at Sanders's expense, including an electorate that skews older, and a significant black population. African-American voters cast 27 percent of the ballots in the 2016 primary, according to exit polls. But the scale of Biden's advantage in Florida could also be amplified by renewed focus on Sanders' comments about former Cuban president Fidel Castro."
Easily the best video I've seen in the past month:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth WarrenOn The Money: Push for student loan forgiveness puts Biden in tight spot | Trump is wild card as shutdown fears grow | Mnuchin asks Fed to return 5 billion in unspent COVID emergency funds Mnuchin asks Fed to return 5 billion in unspent COVID-19 emergency funds Biden says he will announce Treasury secretary pick close to Thanksgiving MORE's (D-Mass.) dog Bailey stole a burrito and wouldn't give it up.
Bailey legit just swiped someone’s burrito. pic.twitter.com/MWr6ZeiJa2
— Gabrielle Farrell President Warren 2020 (her/s) (@FarrellGabriell) March 5, 2020
Watch: http://bit.ly/2VQnNa4
@darth makes an excellent point here: "just a tip if u are trying to get half a burrito out of a dogs mouth the trick is to have another, whole burrito to give the pup instead they will immediately let go trust me this works. give bailey another burrito is what i am saying here" http://bit.ly/3avubYw
NOTABLE TWEETS
Oh dear. This is BAD:
What is wrong with these people? This would be right here if there were 327 people in the US. And this reflects horribly on the NY Times too. Can someone stop and think for two seconds? pic.twitter.com/kZJYYoC6gD
— Michael Salfino (@MichaelSalfino) March 6, 2020
Watch: http://bit.ly/3azBles
Hahaha:
Tito's Vodka has spent the last 24 hours explaining to people that it *cannot* be used as a replacement for hand sanitizer.
— Dom (@DomDiFurio) March 5, 2020
God bless Texas. pic.twitter.com/1J08KlgDPI
ON TAP
The House and Senate are out. President Trump will be in Nashville, Atlanta and Palm Beach, Fla. today. Vice President Pence is in Washington, D.C.
10:55 a.m. EST: President Trump landed in Nashville.
2 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence leads a White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting in the Situation Room.
4 p.m. EST: President Trump visits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
2:30 p.m. EST: President Trump leaves for Palm Beach, Fla.
4:35 p.m. EST: President Trump arrives at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.
8:15 p.m. EST: President Trump holds a roundtable with supporters.
8:45 p.m. EST: President Trump delivers remarks at a joint fundraising committee dinner.
WHAT TO WATCH
3 p.m. EST: The Coronavirus Task Force holds a press briefing. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2IrxvI4
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...
Today is National Oreo Day!
"I'll put a spell on you
and now you'll make 'Hocus Pocus 2'":
Via Variety's Justin Kroll, a sequel to the 1993 film 'Hocus Pocus' is in the works for Disney+. http://bit.ly/2wBGaoE
What about the cast?: "The original 'Hocus Pocus' cast members are not attached to the sequel, but Disney is hopeful that they will become involved in some capacity. Sources say that ideally the trio of actresses will reprise their roles, rather than having to completely reboot the first film."
And because you made it this far, here's an intense fight between a puppy and a balloon: http://bit.ly/32XUHaE
