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--> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*
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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Weekend demonstrations | Sights and sounds | Romney joins BLM protesters | Trump mocks Romney, ‘what a guy’ | Exclusive investigation into Congress’s coronavirus actions in the winter | NYC reopens, 400k workers expected to return today | Bush, Romney won’t back Trump’s reelection | Instant coffee’s viral comeback
HAPPENING TODAY
A visitation for George Floyd in Houston:
Via CNN, Thousands of mourners are expected at George Floyd’s public visitation today in Houston, Texas. https://cnn.it/30iyfJS
Why Houston: “Floyd, 46, grew up in the city's Third Ward and will be buried in Houston next to his mother, according to the Fort Bend Memorial Planning Center.”
What time: Public visitation starts at 1 p.m. EDT and ends at 6 p.m. EDT.
How it will work, via KHOU: “Only 500 people will be allowed in the church at any given time during the visitation. Those 500 people will be socially distanced and mourners will be asked to wear face coverings and gloves. The public will enter from two sides of the church in separate, socially distanced lines and, after viewing, exit the church. The public will not return to the lobby to leave … Everyone will have to enter through metal detectors and each person’s temperature will be checked before they can get in.” https://bit.ly/2BIpbUh
Watch: https://bit.ly/2XGt84y
And in Washington, DC:
House Democrats are introducing legislation to combat systemic racism against African Americans in the United States. https://bit.ly/2BDjWoO
The legislation: “The legislation, while centered around criminal justice reform, will seek to address racial disparities well outside the realm of law enforcement, delving into issues as varied as health care, education and environmental justice.”
Hyperlink https://bit.ly/3cD5k5O
HAPPENING TOMORROW:
A private funeral service for George Floyd in Houston. https://bit.ly/2BIpbUh
It’s Monday. 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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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:
Wow, check out 16th street in Washington, D.C. on Saturday: For people who are not familiar with D.C., this is usually a busy street through the city. Watch: https://bit.ly/3cJjlif
An overhead view of Washington, D.C.: https://bit.ly/2XJtO9l
In front of the White House: https://bit.ly/2ALK80j
An outside the Senate: https://bit.ly/3cGWh3B
Walking from the White House to the Capitol: https://bit.ly/3dLlqvk
And 16th and U Streets NW: https://bit.ly/2zbYFSi
Oh — here’s a sign demonstrators are grabbing: https://bit.ly/2XJjaPW
From NPR’s Tim Mak: “I've been out at the DC protests all afternoon and there is a serious decline in law enforcement presence today. A smattering of National Guard from DC and MO on the perimeter, and some DC police closer to H st, but obviously a de-escalation from previous days this week” Photos: https://bit.ly/30nzQxY
Hyperlink https://bit.ly/2MHv5r7
The crowd in Philadelphia is remarkable: https://bit.ly/3cFT84l
And in Chicago — people seem to be trying to social distance: https://bit.ly/37c5gZv
Some boarded up businesses are using the boards as art canvases: https://bit.ly/2MRQqON
Op-ed: https://bit.ly/37diW6G
GETTING TRACTION — Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyFor Biden, a Senate trial could aid bipartisanship around COVID relief Bipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus relief GOP senator calls Biden's COVID-19 relief plan a 'non-starter' MORE BECAME THE FIRST REPUBLICAN SENATOR TO JOIN THE PROTESTS:
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) marched with Black Lives Matter protesters this weekend. https://cbsn.ws/30jVX8t
Hyperlink https://bit.ly/3f2XN1C
Here’s a video of Romney protesting: Via The Washington Post’s Hannah Natanson: https://bit.ly/30rXTf4
^ Reaction from President Trump
Donald TrumpIran's leader vows 'revenge,' posting an image resembling Trump Former Sanders spokesperson: Biden 'backing away' from 'populist offerings' Justice Dept. to probe sudden departure of US attorney in Atlanta after Trump criticism MORE this morning: “Tremendous sincerity, what a guy. Hard to believe, with this kind of political talent, his numbers would ‘tank’ so badly in Utah!” https://bit.ly/37e9H61
EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION
Where was Congress at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic?:
Via The Hill’s Bob Cusack
Robert (Bob) CusackThe Hill's Morning Report - President Biden, Vice President Harris begin work today Incoming lawmakers stress coronavirus relief, economy as first priority of new session Rep.-elect Issa says Trump should attend Biden inauguration MORE and Rachel Bucchino, “During President Trump's impeachment trial, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump selects South Carolina lawyer for impeachment trial McConnell proposes postponing impeachment trial until February For Biden, a Senate trial could aid bipartisanship around COVID relief MORE (R-Ky.) asked Chief Justice John Roberts if he could make a brief announcement. … McConnell’s remarks represented the first time that the novel coronavirus was mentioned in the Congressional Record this year. At the time, there was one confirmed case in the United States.” https://bit.ly/30kFrVH
The investigation: “The Hill has examined hundreds of statements and hours of congressional testimony to highlight which legislators were the first to raise red flags that the coronavirus presented an imminent danger to the United States.”
The gist: “The results show a number of lawmakers were asking the right questions early on in the crisis, and that members called attention to shortages of masks and other protective gear that would become a national outrage. The public record also shows that even when lawmakers were asking the right questions, they did not always get the right answers as the federal government, the media and the larger health community struggled to understand COVID-19.”
Breakdown: https://bit.ly/30kFrVH
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
It’s a ‘no’ from them:
Via The New York Times’s Jonathan Martin, former President George W. Bush and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) will not support President Trump’s reelection campaign. https://nyti.ms/3dKY5Ke
Why this is especially newsy: “It was one thing in 2016 for top Republicans to take a stand against Donald J. Trump for president: He wasn’t likely to win anyway, the thinking went, and there was no ongoing conservative governing agenda that would be endangered. The 2020 campaign is different: Opposing the sitting president of your own party means putting policy priorities at risk, in this case appointing conservative judges, sustaining business-friendly regulations and cutting taxes — as well as incurring the volcanic wrath of Mr. Trump.”
MEANWHILE — MOST REPUBLICANS ARE STICKING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP:
WHERE THINGS STAND WITH THE CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 1,946,144
Deaths in the U.S.: 116,929
Breakdown of the numbers: https://cnn.it/2UAgW3y
For context: This time last week, 1,792,512 Americans had tested positive for the coronavirus and 104,435 Americans had died. https://bit.ly/30mhWLV
New York City is starting to reopen:
Via The New York Times’s J. David Goodman, “Exactly 100 days since its first case of coronavirus was confirmed, New York City, which weathered extensive hardship as an epicenter of the worldwide outbreak, is set to take the first tentative steps toward reopening its doors on Monday.” https://nyti.ms/3eZGcYv
Since the outbreak: “More than 205,000 [New Yorkers] have been infected, and nearly 22,000 have died.”
Happening today: Around 400,000 workers are returning to their jobs.
What to expect: https://nyti.ms/3eZGcYv
NOTABLE TWEETS:
Remember ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’:
Watch: https://bit.ly/3h6IWoQ
ON TAP:
The Senate meets this afternoon. The House is out. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C.
11 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence led a teleconference with governors to discuss the COVID-19 response.
1 p.m. EDT: President Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence.
3 p.m. EDT: President Trump participates in a roundtable with law enforcement. Vice President Pence also attends.
3 p.m. EDT: The Senate meets.
5:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate holds a cloture vote. The Senate’s full schedule today: https://bit.ly/2Uhc7vI
WHAT TO WATCH:
11:30 a.m. EDT: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Andrew CuomoThree National Guardsmen killed after military helicopter crash in New York New York City reschedules 23,000 vaccination appointments due to supply issues Pence delivers coronavirus task force report to Biden MORE held a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2Ae0yOY y
2 p.m. EDT: White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany holds a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2AdEOTl
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:
Today is National Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day.
Instant coffee is having its moment:
Via The Wall Street Journal’s Frances Yoon, “People are spending a long time making instant coffee: A creamy concoction that includes the once-maligned crystals has become a worldwide hit with people creating drinks at home.” https://on.wsj.com/37bLflS
How to make the trendy dalgona coffee. Via Delish: https://bit.ly/2XG1qF2
And to give you a Monday afternoon distraction, here’s a dog working on its problem-solving skills: https://bit.ly/2YaKVQs
