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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: Another 3.8M file unemployment claims | Trump defends Michael Flynn in Twitter spree | Businesses worry about liability | Republicans’ optics advantage in returning to Washington | Pence visits Indiana | Dems confront Biden sexual assault allegation | Pelosi is ‘satisfied’ with Biden’s response | Dictionary adds ‘work from home’ abbreviation

IN THE WHITE HOUSE



Why Michael Flynn is making regular appearances on Trump’s Twitter feed:

This morning, President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE tweeted his support for his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, calling him a ‘war hero,’ after documents were unsealed in his criminal case. https://bit.ly/2SjvEKH

Trump tweeted: “What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!” https://bit.ly/2SotTMr

He also tweeted: “DIRTY COP JAMES COMEY GOT CAUGHT!” https://bit.ly/2W67R1W

More from Trump’s Michael Flynn tweetstorm: https://cnb.cx/2zKJAHq

Back story: “New documents unsealed late Wednesday in Flynn’s case [show] FBI agents debating how to approach Flynn for an interview in January 2017, when he was serving as White House national security adviser. In one handwritten note, an unnamed FBI agent asks whether it is their goal to ‘get him to lie.’”

Read the FBI field note: https://bit.ly/3f7zMrh





It’s Thursday — today is the last day of May. 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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NEWS THIS MORNING



These days, Thursdays mean more depressing numbers on unemployment claims:





Another 3.8 million Americans filed unemployment claims last week amid the coronavirus pandemic. https://bit.ly/2KS637v

For context: Over the past six weeks, 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits.





WHERE THINGS STAND





Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 1,042,874

Deaths in the U.S.: 61,187

Breakdown of the numbers: https://cnn.it/2UAgW3y





WHICH STATES ARE RE-OPENING:





https://nyti.ms/2W60Jmc





Free testing. Come and get your free testing:





Via CNN’s Madeline Holcombe, Los Angeles has become the first city to provide free, unlimited coronavirus testing to its residents. https://cnn.it/3cZi33e

Do patients need to be symptomatic: Mayor Eric Garcetti said priority will be given to symptomatic residents, but asymptomatic residents can be tested, as well.

Details: https://cnn.it/3cZi33e





LATEST WITH RE-OPENING



Businesses are worried about liability:





Via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano and John Kruzel, “The business community is pressuring the White House and Congress to shield companies from lawsuits as they seek to reopen, setting up a politically charged battle as coronavirus restrictions around the country are beginning to ease.” https://bit.ly/2KKVnHM

Expect to hear about this issue in the coming weeks: “The debate over liability protections has quickly emerged as a new sticking point as Congress weighs another round of coronavirus relief aid. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFEC flags McConnell campaign over suspected accounting errors Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ky.) has said the GOP-controlled Senate won’t pass a bill providing more assistance to state and local governments if it doesn’t include those legal protections.”

How this could play out: https://bit.ly/2KKVnHM







LATEST WITH CORONAVIRUS RELIEF



Democrats are in the passenger’s seat:





Via The Hill’s Cristina Marcos and Mike Lillis, “House Democrats are facing a disadvantage in the political battle over the coronavirus pandemic, with the one chamber controlled by their party delaying its return to Washington while Senate Republicans come back in session next week.” https://bit.ly/2KS70N7

The optics game: Even though Democrats are working on relief proposals and communicating with constituents virtually, Senate Republicans have the advantage of being in Washington.





ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL



Democrats are starting to confront the Biden allegations:





Via The Hill’s Jonathan Easley and Amie Parnes, “Top Democrats are defending former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Democratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida Harris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle MORE against allegations made by Tara Reade, a former aide who says the then-senator sexually assaulted her in 1993.”https://bit.ly/2KLTXwL

For example — defending Biden: “Two powerful Democratic women – Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a former rival to Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination, and Stacey Abrams, a top candidate to be Biden’s running mate, have come to Biden’s defense, saying that women have the right to be heard but that they do not believe Reade’s allegations against Biden.”

Where the Biden campaign stands: The campaign denied the allegations. Biden has not addressed the allegations himself.





A FEW DAYS AGO — READE’S FORMER NEIGHBOR CORROBORATED HER STORY:





Via Business Insider’s Rich McHugh, “A former neighbor of Joe Biden's accuser Tara Reade has come forward to corroborate her sexual-assault account, saying Reade discussed the allegations in detail in the mid-1990s.” The full story: https://bit.ly/2KIPLhk





READ THE ORIGINAL STORY OF WHAT TARA READE IS ALLEGING:





https://n.pr/3bR503N

Op-ed: https://bit.ly/2SnwCpl





This morning — Pelosi is ‘satisfied’ with Biden’s response:





In an interview on CNN’s “New Day,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.) said she is “satisfied” with how former Vice President Joe Biden responded to the allegation of sexual assault.

In Pelosi’s words: “I have great sympathy for any women who bring forth an allegation. I’m a big strong supporter of the 'Me Too' movement. I think it’s been a great contribution to our country. And I do support Joe Biden. I’m satisfied with how he has responded. I know him. I was proud to endorse him on Monday.”

Watch Pelosi’s full reaction: https://bit.ly/3bTacUD





Interesting read — Justin wants to create A-mess:





Via Politico’s Tim Alberta, “Justin Amash Justin AmashInternal Democratic poll shows tight race in contest to replace Amash Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill On The Trail: How Nancy Pelosi could improbably become president MORE [I-Mich.] wants to destroy the system that created Trump: But critics fear his third-party White House bid will only serve to reelect the president.” https://politi.co/3ffAjrc

Who is Amash?: An independent congressman who left the GOP last summer after clashing with President Trump and congressional Republicans. Earlier this week, he launched an exploratory committee for a third-party presidential bid. https://bit.ly/3f6J9HC





NOTABLE TWEETS:



Oh. Yup. That’s him. — this is pretty cringeworthy:





Watch: https://bit.ly/3aSvNv4







The abbreviation for ‘work from home’ is now in the dictionary:





Watch the gif from Merriam-Webster: https://bit.ly/2KM8kBd

By the way, here’s a list of the words Merriam-Webster added to the dictionary: https://bit.ly/2yT0enU





ON TAP:





The House and Senate are back. President Trump is in Washington, D.C. Vice President Pence is in Indiana today.

11 a.m. EDT: President Trump met with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) in the Oval Office.

12:50 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence lands in Kokomo, Ind.

1:45 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence tour the GM/Ventec Ventilator Production Facility in Indiana.

5:30 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence lands in Washington, D.C.





WHAT TO WATCH:





This morning: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) held a press conference. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2ygaCG5

This morning: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew CuomoOn The Money: House panel pulls Powell into partisan battles | New York considers hiking taxes on the rich | Treasury: Trump's payroll tax deferral won't hurt Social Security OVERNIGHT ENERGY: California seeks to sell only electric cars by 2035 | EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities | House energy package sparks criticism from left and right EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities MORE (D) gave an update on his state’s COVID-19 response. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3f6I3vu

1 p.m. EDT: The Senate’s pro forma session. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2Yo4M03

2:25 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence holds a roundtable discussion with GM and Ventec Life Systems employees. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3bQSiSL

4 p.m. EDT: President Trump delivers remarks on senior citizens. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3aSEwxm





NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:





Today is National Oatmeal Cookie Day. It’s also National Raisin Day. Justice for oatmeal cookies who always have to be associated with raisins. Even their holidays are combined!?





And because you made it this far, here are puppies chilling in hammocks: https://bit.ly/2VOjRX2