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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: Biden jumps into 2020 race | Says character of 'America is at stake' | Biden's rollout plans | 'The View' to get first interview | Seven tough questions Biden will need to answer | Trump welcomes 'Sleepy Joe' to the race | Obama offers praise but no endorsement | Trump denies ordering McGahn to fire Mueller | New scrutiny on Buttigieg | Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day | Kit Kat unveiling new flavor

NEWS OF THE MORNING

I have ARRIVED!

*jazz hands*:

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 officially announced he is seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. http://bit.ly/2UV8gXA

BIDEN'S ANNOUNCEMENT:

Biden released a 3 1/2-minute campaign video on YouTube at 6 a.m. today.

Important excerpt: "I believe history will look back on four years of this president and all he embraces as an aberrant moment in time. But if we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation – who we are – and I cannot stand by and watch that happen."

Biden's core message: Trump's presidency has left the country in a state of chaos and he wants to fix it.

Watch Biden's announcement video: http://bit.ly/2Uzv9ux

HIS CAMPAIGN ROLLOUT:

Biden's first campaign stops: Biden will not campaign immediately. His first campaign stop will happen Monday in Pittsburgh, followed by campaign stops in Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada, California and New Hampshire .



Biden's first televised interview: ABC News is reporting that Biden will appear on "The View" on Friday. https://abcn.ws/2GGa91l

Photo of Biden's 2020 logo: http://bit.ly/2Dy4b0C

It's Thursday, April 25. That's the best date, according to Miss Rhode Island in "Miss Congeniality" "because it's not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket."

Today is also Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work 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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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BIDEN'S CAMPAIGN:

Biden's age: Biden is 76 years old. His younger competitors are expected to raise concerns about his age.

The core of Biden's campaign: "Biden plans to resurrect some of his proposals from earlier bids, according to NBC News. In particular, Biden contemplated a $15 minimum wage proposal, higher taxes on investment income, no tuition for students at public colleges and universities, and a major infrastructure overhaul." https://cnb.cx/2UWlpiP

Seven big decisions Biden has to make:

Whether to support impeaching Trump Whether he should announce a running mate early Whether to endorse liberal proposals such as "Medicare for All" and free college Whether to hold high-dollar fundraisers and accept help from super PACs How to handle allegations of inappropriate conduct with women How to defend his record -- his 36 years in the Senate gives him a long record to defend How to handle concerns about his age

Context and details for each: http://bit.ly/2GFhJtg

Biden's baggage: Biden has been facing allegations of inappropriate behavior with women. He argued that he did not think he "acted inappropriately," but "will listen respectfully." http://bit.ly/2IWnYdy

REACTIONS:

Getting a Trump nickname is a rite of passage: 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, "Welcome to the race Sleepy Joe. I only hope you have the intelligence, long in doubt, to wage a successful primary campaign. It will be nasty -- you will be dealing with people who truly have some very sick & demented ideas. But if you make it, I will see you at the Starting Gate!" http://bit.ly/2Vra8GM

Endorsements -- line right up: Biden has already received endorsements from several Democratic senators. Including: Sens. Christopher Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsMurkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates MORE (D-Del.), Bob Casey Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseySecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GAO report finds brokers offered false info on coverage for pre-existing conditions Catholic group launches .7M campaign against Biden targeting swing-state voters MORE Jr. (D-Pa), Tom Carper Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperThe conservative case for phasing out hydrofluorocarbons Democrat asks for probe of EPA's use of politically appointed lawyers Overnight Energy: Study links coronavirus mortality to air pollution exposure | Low-income, minority households pay more for utilities: report MORE (D-Del.) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.). http://bit.ly/2DCaf8l

A progressive group came out against Biden: Justice Democrats, a group with sway in the Democratic Party, announced its opposition to Biden's bid. The group said in a statement: "The old guard of the Democratic Party failed to stop Trump, and they can't be counted on to lead the fight against his divide-and-conquer politics today." http://bit.ly/2Gx9Ch3

Why Biden's video announcement was an interesting choice: http://bit.ly/2IGGoji

How Biden is spending his morning:

It’s an illustration of how political campaigns in America have changed that a few hours after launching his Presidential campaign online, Joe Biden is not at a huge launch party but sitting quietly on a train to New York with just a handful of aides pic.twitter.com/yMHFWsKoA3 — Paul Danahar (@pdanahar) April 25, 2019

Oh wow, check out this throwback:

Joe Biden video: "Today I announce my candidacy for president of the United States of America."



-- 32 years ago ... June 9, 1987 pic.twitter.com/qUOZJKZ7o8 — Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) April 25, 2019

Here's Biden's presidential candidacy announcement from 1987.

Watch: http://bit.ly/2DwYLmo

LATEST WITH THE MUELLER REPORT

To quote the poetic Shaggy, 'it wasn't me.'

--> http://bit.ly/2IGEUFE ;)

This morning, President Trump denied that he ordered former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE. http://bit.ly/2IGFFhY

Where that claim originated: The Mueller report on the Russia investigation. https://cbsn.ws/2W5j2qL

Trump tweeted: "As has been incorrectly reported by the Fake News Media, I never told then White House Counsel Don McGahn to fire Robert Mueller, even though I had the legal right to do so. If I wanted to fire Mueller, I didn't need McGahn to do it, I could have done it myself." Trump then added that he allowed Mueller to finish his work despite his opposition to the probe. http://bit.ly/2PwUoge

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

The problem with the fast rise to fame:

Via The Hill's Jonathan Easley, "Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Hillicon Valley: FBI, DHS warn that foreign hackers will likely spread disinformation around election results | Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day | Trump to meet with Republican state officials on tech liability shield MORE's early success in the Democratic presidential primary has prompted scrutiny and rougher treatment from his rivals and the news media, creating new challenges for the rising star and his campaign." How this is playing out for Buttigieg: http://bit.ly/2UC7ERn

Interesting tidbit -- We're all friends here:

On a first-name basis with voters pic.twitter.com/0sfIsyKdgZ — Rebecca Buck (@RebeccaBuck) April 25, 2019

IN OTHER NEWS

That's a big chunk of change:

Via BBC, $835 million has been donated to repair the Notre Dame Cathedral in the aftermath of last week's fire, but French economists are suggesting that number exceeds the cost to rebuild. An estimate of the repair costs: Around $668 million, though that number is still in the air. https://bbc.in/2UHll1n

'Be open for IT':

Via Baltimore Business Journal's Amanda Yeager, Maryland just released a new tourism advertising campaign: "Maryland -- Open For it." http://bit.ly/2GIy68w

NOTABLE TWEETS

Hahaha -- that is so kind:

Today someone sent me hate email in all caps so I told him that I had a disorder where I couldn't read capital letters and he retyped the whole thing in lowercase. — Philip Bump (@pbump) April 25, 2019

Side-by-side screenshots of the hate mail in all caps and in lowercase: Amazing. http://bit.ly/2IGaNOB

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out.

President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C.

11 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence has a phone call with the prime minister of the Iraq Kurdistan Regional Government.

12 p.m. EDT: President Trump received an intelligence briefing.

12:45 p.m. EDT: President Trump and Vice President Pence have lunch with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoTreasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities Navalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE.

4:50 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence participates in the Young Presidents Organization Vision and Values Conference at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C.

April 29: The Hill editor-in-chief Bob Cusack interviews Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for The Hill's Newsmaker series. Details and how to RSVP: http://bit.ly/2Iug5wK

WHAT TO WATCH

4:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump speaks at Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on the South Lawn of the White House. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2W5a64t

9 p.m. EDT: President Trump will be interviewed by Sean Hannity on Fox News. http://bit.ly/2Psafg1

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Zucchini Bread Day.

I'm supportive:

Via Refinery29, Kit Kat is releasing a new flavor for the first time in almost a decade -- Kit Kat Duos Mint and Dark Chocolate. The sad part: They won't be released until December. Photo of the new flavor: https://r29.co/2W4xYFz

If you're in D.C. this weekend, expect to see adults in costumes:

Via The Washington Post's "Going Out Guide," here's a list of events happening in the Washington, D.C., area this weekend. Including: "Awesome Con, Washington's answer to San Diego's Comic-Con, brings more than 70,000 costumed fans to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for a weekend-long celebration of fantasy, science-fiction and pop culture." Details and the full list of D.C. happenings: https://wapo.st/2GxcOsY