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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: Gilead touts ‘positive data’ for possible COVID-19 treatment | Fauci says second wave is ‘inevitable’ | U.S. economy shrinks by 4.8 percent | Early studies show promise in immunity | GOP optimistic about in-person convention, Dems weary | Prince William, Kate Middleton’s wedding anniversary

NEWS THIS MORNING



Some good news from Gilead — and not the Handmaid’s Tale kind:

Gilead Sciences said this morning that it is “aware of positive data” about whether remdesivir can be used as a treatment for COVID-19. https://bit.ly/2W7YrTP

The positive data: The data is from a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ (NIAID) study on the drug.

From the company: "We understand that the trial has met its primary endpoint, and that NIAID will provide detailed information at an upcoming briefing.” https://cnn.it/3cWfJtQ





So… how bad is the damage?:





Via The Hill’s Sylvan Lane, the U.S. economy shrank by 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic that forced thousands of businesses to close and millions of Americans to lose lobs. https://bit.ly/2SiuVtr

For context: This is the first quarter of negative gross domestic product in the U.S. since 2014.

The full data from the Commerce Department: https://bit.ly/2yPMw5d





HAPPENING AT 2:30 P.M. EDT:





Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2KLQKgG





It’s Wednesday — I can’t believe it’s almost 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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WHERE THINGS STAND





Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 1,014,568

Deaths in the U.S.: 58,529

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





WHEN EACH STATE WILL RE-OPEN:





https://abcn.ws/3bQyQp1





Uncle Tony says a second wave is inevitable:





Via CNN’s Christina Maxouris, Anthony Fauci Anthony FauciOvernight Health Care: US coronavirus deaths hit 200,000 | Ginsburg's death puts future of ObamaCare at risk | Federal panel delays vote on initial COVID-19 vaccine distribution White House seeks to change subject from 200K COVID-19 deaths Putin calls on UN to strengthen World Health Organization MORE, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said that a second wave of the coronavirus is “inevitable.” https://cnn.it/2WbUcq6

In Fauci’s words: "If by that time we have put into place all of the countermeasures that you need to address this, we should do reasonably well. If we don't do that successfully, we could be in for a bad fall and a bad winter."





It’s early, but a promising sign about immunity:





Via The Hill’s Reid Wilson, “Scientists examining the coronavirus and the impacts of COVID-19 on the human body are scrambling to understand whether people are at risk of infection even if they have already contracted and recovered from the virus.” https://bit.ly/2W2nsj2

What about “immunity passports?”: “The question [of immunity] was thrown into stark relief over the weekend, when the World Health Organization (WHO) warned governments against issuing ‘immunity passports’ to those who have recovered from the illness so that they could then return to work. The WHO said not enough is known yet about how the virus leaves the human body.”

Keep in mind — even if exposure does give immunity: “Different viruses convey different levels of immunity. Those who contract a common virus like chicken pox can remain immune for life. Vaccines against the measles can give humans immunity for decades. And someone who recovers from a common cold — potentially caused by a different, more ordinary strain of coronavirus — might have some protection against that same virus for a year or so.”

^ I.e.: “Where the coronavirus lands on that broad spectrum is not yet known.”





IN THE WHITE HOUSE



*Cue the Arby’s voice* ... ‘We [will] have the meats’:





--> https://bit.ly/2W6D3hG

President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE signed an executive order yesterday to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to designate meat processing plants as essential infrastructure and to order the plants to stay open. https://bit.ly/2Shh5HR

Why: Meat suppliers are warning of shortages as a number of processing plant employees have been sick with COVID-19. https://cnn.it/2zI4Nll





REACTION FROM THE MEAT AND POULTRY INDUSTRY — GOOD CALL:





Via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano, Meat and poultry groups applauded President Trump for signing the executive order to keep meat processing plants open. https://bit.ly/2YfFWPW





HOW REPUBLICANS ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO GET TOUGHER WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP:





https://bit.ly/35gvOb3





ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL



The GOP convention could look veryyy different than the Democratic convention:





Via The Hill’s Amie Parnes and Jonathan Easley, “Democrats are talking about scaling back their presidential convention or taking it completely online, while Republicans say it’s full steam ahead with their plans for an in-person convention in late August.” https://bit.ly/2KL2Gzq

Keep in mind: Democrats already pushed their planned convention from July to August.

From the RNC Chair: Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel told reporters last week that her party is moving “full steam ahead” with an in-person convention.

Meanwhile: Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' MORE predicted earlier this month that Democrats may have to shift to a “virtual convention.”

How this could play out: https://bit.ly/2KL2Gzq





NOTABLE TWEETS:



Tidbit — remember open air concepts?:

Hyperlink https://bit.ly/3bOjqBJ

For all the fans of ‘The Good Place’ — This is too real…:

Hyperlink https://bit.ly/2W8zFD9







ON TAP:





The House and Senate are out. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C.

10 a.m. EDT: President Trump and Vice President Pence spoke with food and agriculture industry leaders.

11 a.m. EDT: President Trump met with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D).

12:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump has lunch with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight 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 Overnight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill MORE.

1 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence speaks with governors and meat industry leaders.

3 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence leads a White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting in the Situation Room.

4 p.m. EDT: President Trump holds a roundtable with industry leaders to discuss re-opening the country.





WHAT TO WATCH:





10 a.m. EDT: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a news conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2Wd8ebn

2 p.m. EDT: Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare House lawmakers reach deal to avert shutdown Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill MORE (D-Calif.) holds a news conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2Si6KuW

2:30 p.m. EDT: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2KLQKgG





NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:





Today is National Shrimp Scampi Day.





To hide from the news lately — nine years ago today!:





Today is the ninth wedding anniversary of Prince William and Kate Middleton!

Here are photos of the day: https://eonli.ne/3cW93vK

Video from the royal wedding: https://bit.ly/3d1jwG6





And because you made it this far, here’s a cat’s game of 'Mario Cart': https://bit.ly/3f0jIHD