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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: McConnell, Pelosi at odds over next relief bill | Trump backs infrastructure spending | McConnell taps brakes on more stimulus | Trump, Dems battle over implementing $2T deal | CNN's Chris Cuomo Chris CuomoCNN's Lemon: 'We're going to have to blow up the entire system' if Democrats win back White House, Senate Giuliani criticizes NYC leadership: 'They're killing this city' CNN's Don Lemon calls on Biden to 'stand at a podium' in addressing violence MORE tests positive | CDC considers urging Americans to cover faces in public | Why Fauci, Birx face growing pressure | Meadows heads to new role in White House | Empire State honors health workers | John Krasinski debuts new show with 'Office' reunion

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Think of the enormous pressure on Fauci and Birx:

Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, "Experts are worried that scientists and other key public health figures are facing increasing political pressure as the coronavirus crisis deepens." https://bit.ly/2R0l7DJ

How so: "The near-daily press briefings at the White House have seen tense moments between 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 and Dr. 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 and Dr. Deborah Birx, the two main public faces of the crisis from the scientific community."

The difficult balance for Fauci and Birx: "For public health purposes, they want to have influence with Trump and not be sidelined. But they also need to retain their credibility amid Trump's penchant for misstatements and dislike of being contradicted. That balance is made all the more difficult when he casts doubt on whether hospitals need as many ventilators as they're requesting, or rails against media coverage that he deems unfair."

How this could play out: https://bit.ly/2R0l7DJ

Welcome, Mark.:

Rep. Mark Meadows Mark Randall MeadowsHouse moves toward spending vote after bipartisan talks House Democrats mull delay on spending bill vote Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE (R-N.C.) is joining President Trump's team as chief of staff at a critical time when the White House is in crisis mode with the coronavirus pandemic. https://bit.ly/2wHmWyD

Why it's an especially tough transition: "The former House Freedom Caucus chairman, who gained a reputation for engaging in political gamesmanship in the lower chamber, now faces the challenge of effectively handling a national emergency as the White House hopes to project preparedness and competence. The job is a difficult one, even without the coronavirus or an election just months away, but Meadows's former House colleagues and staffers say he is up to the task of implementing the president's vision."

Hey all you cool cats and kittens, it's Tuesday. 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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BREAKING

Chris Cuomo has COVID-19:

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, the brother of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew CuomoThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Fearless Girl statue in NYC dressed in lace collar to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg NYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' MORE (D), has tested positive for the coronavirus. https://bit.ly/2JvqnLk

He posted on Twitter: "I just found out that I am positive for coronavirus. I have been exposed to people in recent days who have subsequently tested positive and I had fever, chills and shortness of breath."



On what he plans to do now: "I am quarantined in my basement (which actually makes the rest of my family seem pleased!) I will do my shows from here."

Read his full Twitter post: https://bit.ly/33Xv6Pk

NEWS THIS MORNING

We may start covering our faces in public:

Via The Washington Post's Joel Achenbach, Lena H. Sun and Laurie McGinley, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is considering recommending that Americans wear cloth face masks in public to protect against COVID-19. https://wapo.st/2wQr0fS

Why cloth: "The official said the new guidance would make clear that the general public should not use medical masks -- including surgical and N95 masks -- that are in desperately short supply and needed by health-care workers. Instead, the recommendation under consideration calls for using do-it-yourself cloth coverings, according to a second official who shared that thinking on a personal Facebook account. It would be a way to help 'flatten the curve,' the official noted."

What we know: https://wapo.st/2wQr0fS

LATEST WITH THE STIMULUS PACKAGE

What to expect in the next stimulus:

President Trump called on Congress this morning to pass a $2 trillion infrastructure bill as the next phase of a stimulus to boost the economy. https://bit.ly/2Js5AZl

Trump tweeted: "With interest rates for the United States being at ZERO, this is the time to do our decades long awaited Infrastructure Bill. It should be VERY BIG & BOLD, Two Trillion Dollars, and be focused solely on jobs and rebuilding the once great infrastructure of our Country! Phase 4"

MCCONNELL HIT THE BRAKES ON THAT PLAN THOUGH:

"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) hit the brakes Tuesday on 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's (D-Calif.) plan to move ahead with a phase-four stimulus package that would include major infrastructure spending and other Democratic priorities." https://bit.ly/39AGnq2

McConnell said on "The Hugh Hewitt Show": "I think we need to wait a few days here, a few weeks, and see how things are working out ... Let's see how things are going and respond accordingly. I'm not going to allow this to be an opportunity for the Democrats to achieve unrelated policy items that they would not otherwise be able to pass."

Stimulus battles post-bill signing:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, Democrats and President Trump are set to battle over the implementation of the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package that was passed and signed last week. https://bit.ly/3axEOKT

The expected fight: "President Trump and Democratic leaders are already jockeying over the management of a massive direct lending and credit facility program that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of emergency loans | House seeks to salvage vote on spending bill | Economists tell lawmakers: Kill the virus to heal the economy Economists spanning spectrum say recovery depends on containing virus Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs MORE will run with the Federal Reserve. It will have more than $4 trillion at its disposal."

Op-ed: https://bit.ly/3bJCYqx

WHERE THINGS STAND

Which states have stay-at-home orders: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The specifics, via CNN: https://cnn.it/3bFUQ5F

What it's like in New York right now: "This has been a hard story to tell on tv because there haven't been many pics to illustrate what health care workers and hospitals are going thru. But [CNN's Miguel Marquez] got into Brookdale hospital for a must- watch report." (Tweeted by CNN's Dana Bash Dana BashTrump says officials will investigate whether California is using 1619 Project in classrooms Veterans Affairs secretary defends Trump: 'I judge a man by his actions' GOP senator dismisses national intelligence director election security briefings: 'This is blown way out of proportion' MORE). The segment: https://bit.ly/2JufwkY

What to know about the coronavirus in D.C.: https://bit.ly/2WWyOaD

IN LIGHTER NEWS

Listen to Oscar the Grouch:

SCRAM. GO HOME. AND STAY THERE!!! — Oscar the Grouch (@OscarTheGrouch) March 30, 2020

'A barrel of oil is now cheaper than a pint of beer in Canada': Via CNBC: https://cnb.cx/39u9hbh

NOTABLE TWEETS

This is pretty powerful:

The @EmpireStateBldg reminding us that the city is in the middle of an emergency. pic.twitter.com/50TjEjOogN — Rita J. King (@RitaJKing) March 31, 2020

Tidbit in Central Park: A field hospital is being built in the park. Photo: https://bit.ly/39qesZW

Oh.:

this pics are extra wild when you realize that what they are all gawking at and taking pictures of is THE EMERGENCY MILITARY HOSPITAL BOAT https://t.co/KKTdvo7bAb — Amanda Mull (@amandamull) March 30, 2020

ON TAP

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

2:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump speaks with network service providers in a teleconference.

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

WHAT TO WATCH

5 p.m. EDT: The White House Coronavirus Task Force holds a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2Uxlgka

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Clam Day.

Jim Halpert and Michael Scott reunited, and it feels so good:

Actor John Krasinski launched his new YouTube channel, "Some Good News" with an episode featuring Steve Carrell. https://bit.ly/2V3Az3l

Watch: https://bit.ly/2UNPkqQ

Because you made it this far, here are some toys who can't deal with the quarantine anymore: https://bit.ly/3az4k2b

And because there are no rules anymore, here's another cute photo. Meet Scarlet the pup, sent in from The Hill's Al Weaver: https://bit.ly/2w2pqXX