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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 insists he can tweet about cases after Barr complains | Stone case brings rare break between AG, Trump | DOJ won't charge McCabe | Sanders surges to 10-point lead in national poll | South Carolina becomes must-win for Biden | Super Tuesday looms large for 2020 Dems | Coronavirus death toll spikes in China | Pentagon prepping for potential pandemic | Trump heading to Mar-a-Lago for long weekend

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

It's my party, and I'll tweet if I want to:

President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE argued that he has "the legal right" to weigh in on the Justice Department's handling of criminal cases after Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrBarr says Ginsburg 'leaves a towering legacy' Republicans call for DOJ to prosecute Netflix executives for releasing 'Cuties' Trump doesn't offer vote of confidence for FBI director MORE urged him not to tweet. http://bit.ly/2vzem3I

Trump tweeted: "'The President has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case.' A.G. Barr This doesn't mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!" http://bit.ly/31S9hQa

WHAT SPARKED THIS:

In an interview with ABC News, Barr said Trump never asked him to do anything in a criminal case, but also said Trump's tweeting makes it "impossible for me to do my job." Trump on Twitter had criticized the initial sentencing recommendation for his former adviser Roger Stone Roger Jason StoneOur Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Justice IG investigating Stone sentencing: report Romney says Trump's protest tweets 'clearly intended to further inflame racial tensions' MORE. The Justice Department reversed course and asked a judge for a "far less" sentence than the seven to nine years they first sought but claimed Trump's criticism did not impact the decision. http://bit.ly/37uMuuW

Watch Barr's full explanation: http://bit.ly/2Spw9DE

Just now — no charges for Andrew McCabe Andrew George McCabeGraham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe MORE:

Via The New York Times’s Adam Goldman, former FBI Director Andrew McCabe will not be charged in an investigation about whether he lied to investigators. https://nyti.ms/3bzlOwB

Keep in mind: "The president’s relentless criticism of the Justice Department likely complicated the prosecution of Mr. McCabe. His supporters viewed the investigation as politically motivated and inextricably tainted by Mr. Trump’s relentless attacks."

This settles it: This case has been up in the air for nearly two years (!)

Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2SqRxbr

It's Friday. Happy Valentine's Day! 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 12:30 Report will be off from Monday through Wednesday next week. We will return on Thursday. Have a great weekend!

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

New poll -- it's Bernie's world, we're just living in it:

Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 Biden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security MORE (I-Vt.) has a double-digit lead over his rivals, according to a new Morning Consult poll. http://bit.ly/2Sq5tTa

THE NUMBERS:

Sanders: 29 percent support, up 3 points since the New Hampshire primary

Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Biden says Ginsburg successor should be picked by candidate who wins on Nov. 3 MORE: 19 percent, down 3 points since N.H.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Michael BloombergTop Democratic super PAC launches Florida ad blitz after Bloomberg donation The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Latest with the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations The Memo: 2020 is all about winning Florida MORE: 18 percent

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Bogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq MORE: 11 percent

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenBiden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon MORE (D-Mass.): 10 percent

Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill EPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE (D-Minn.): 5 percent

The full poll: http://bit.ly/31Uxrtg

MEANWHILE IN FLORIDA:

Bloomberg is leading a new St. Pete Polls survey. http://bit.ly/2HqHlK2

WHY SANDERS IS FACING RARE UNION OPPOSITION IN NEVADA:

http://bit.ly/31SHAqF

The most Super of Tuesdays:

Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, even as candidates campaign in Nevada and South Carolina, Super Tuesday is looming large over the Democratic presidential candidates. http://bit.ly/2tTpxDY

Why: Fourteen states vote on Super Tuesday, including California with 415 delegates and Texas with 228 delegates.

How many delegates are up for grabs on Super Tuesday: 1,357 (!)

Oh and!: Super Tuesday will be the first time that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be on a ballot.

Breakdown of what to keep your eye on: http://bit.ly/2tTpxDY

HOW SOUTH CAROLINA HAS BECOME A MUST-WIN FOR JOE BIDEN:

Via The Hill's Max Greenwood: http://bit.ly/38wTwkg

INTERESTING OP-ED -- 'WILL BLOOMBERG BUZZ SURVIVE CONTACT WITH VOTERS?:

Via The Washington Examiner's Byron York: https://washex.am/37xr9kR

NEWS THIS MORNING

Coronavirus cases spike:

Via The Associated Press's Ken Moritsugu, China's National Health Commission reported another 5,090 new cases of the coronavirus and 121 new deaths in China. http://bit.ly/2vuvmbw

For context: "There are now 63,851 confirmed cases in mainland China, of which 1,380 have died."

Keep in mind about the virus numbers: "The acceleration in the number of cases does not necessarily represent a sudden surge in new infections of the virus that causes COVID-19 as much as a revised methodology."

"Experts also saw it as a reflection of a chaotic crush of people seeking treatment and the struggle to keep up with a backlog of untested samples in Hubei province and its capital city, Wuhan, where the disease first surfaced in December."

The U.S. is getting its ducks in a row:

Via The Military Times's Patricia Kime, Defense Secretary Mark Esper Mark EsperTop admiral: 'No condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Oldest living US World War II veteran turns 111 MORE approved an executive order to deal with a coronavirus pandemic. http://bit.ly/31VYUes

Details: "U.S. Northern Command said Wednesday it has directed the Joint Staff Feb. 1 to commence 'prudent planning' in their assigned role synchronizing the department's plans for pandemic flu and disease. But in no way 'does the planning indicate a greater likelihood of an event developing. As military professionals, planning for a range of contingencies is something we owe the American people,' Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mike Hatfield said."

NOTABLE TWEETS

Ouch:

Someone is holding a sign that says “endorse Bernie already” in the audience. pic.twitter.com/y4Cyai1OoU — Daniella Díaz (@DaniellaMicaela) February 14, 2020

Check out the scoreboard: Here's a photo: http://bit.ly/2SrDxhN

This took me a minute to see, but wow:

omg look at this studio in San Francisco



THE BED FALLS FROM THE CEILING pic.twitter.com/WeGYfr22Wb — Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) February 14, 2020

By the way, this studio is renting for $3,300 a month.

More photos of the apartment: http://bit.ly/38EtueM

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C. Trump leaves for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida later today.

11 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence speaks at the National Association of Manufacturers Winter 2020 Board of Directors Meeting.

11:45 a.m. EST: President Trump received an intelligence briefing.

2:30 p.m. EST: President Trump speaks to National Border Patrol Council members.

4 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - You might want to download TikTok now Warning label added to Trump tweet over potential mail-in voting disinformation New Melania Trump statue replaces one that burned to the ground in Slovenia MORE leave for the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

Feb. 21: The Senate returns. The Senate's full schedule: http://bit.ly/37p0jLq

WHAT TO WATCH

Thursday: Warren held a town hall in Arlington, Va. Livestream: https://cs.pn/31RwjXA

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day. Makes sense.

And to get your weekend off to the right start, here's an astronaut reuniting with her dog after a year in space: http://bit.ly/2vvH99u

(h/t The Hill's Niall Stanage)