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--> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*

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The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump leaves for North Korea summit | Busy week for Congress with vote on emergency declaration | Memorable political moments at the Oscars | Trump knocks Spike Lee for 'racist hit on your President' | Trump delays China trade deadline | Treasury hits Venezuela with new sanctions | Pence in Colombia for talks | New fight over Trump judicial picks | Painting pig goes viral

HAPPENING TODAY

It's show time!:

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 just left for Hanoi, Vietnam, for his second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. http://bit.ly/2NuwHUO

Trump's mood: Optimistic. Trump buttered up Kim Jong Un a little in a tweet yesterday. He tweeted: "Chairman Kim realizes, perhaps better than anyone else, that without nuclear weapons, his country could fast become one of the great economic powers anywhere in the World. Because of its location and people (and him), it has more potential for rapid growth than any other nation!" http://bit.ly/2NuwHUO

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Officials in Vietnam are promising "maximum level" security this week.

Keep in mind: Vietnam only had 10 days (!) to prepare. http://bit.ly/2GK5nRE

Op-ed: Nicholas Eberstadt writes, "Trump Meets Kim Jong-un This Week. There'll Be One Winner. One wants to make North Korea safe for the world, while the other wants to make the world safe for North Korea." The full op-ed in The New York Times: https://nyti.ms/2tA2CtE

It's Monday. 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

New Washington Post investigation

A former campaign staffer alleges Trump kissed her without consent:

Via The Washington Post's Beth Reinhard and Alice Crites, "A staffer on Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign says he kissed her without her consent at a small gathering of supporters before a Florida rally, an interaction that she alleges in a new lawsuit still causes her anguish." https://wapo.st/2tDqOLF

The staffer: Alva Johnson, an event planner and former Trump campaign staffer who lives in Madison County, Ala.

Johnson's full account: https://wapo.st/2tDqOLF

REACTION FROM WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: Sanders called the allegations "absurd on its face." Sanders said in a statement: "This never happened and is directly contradicted by multiple highly credible eye witness accounts." The two Trump supporters Johnson said were witnesses have also denied seeing the kiss.

Just now -- Treasury announces new Venezuela sanctions:

Via The Hill's Rafael Bernal, "The Treasury Department announced Monday it was imposing new sanctions on Venezuelans connected to embattled President Nicolas Maduro's government." Details: "The sanctions target the governors of four Venezuelan states that Treasury alleges are involved in 'endemic corruption' and the blocking of critical humanitarian aid to the country." http://bit.ly/2Su1zWo

Getting closer to a China deal:

This morning, President Trump said the U.S. and China are "very, very close" to a trade deal with China. http://bit.ly/2tCG9Ms

In Trump's words: "I told you how well we did with our trade talks in China, and it looks like they'll be coming back quickly again," Trump said. "And we're going to have another summit. We're going to have a signing summit, which is even better."

THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS

It's going to be A WEEK:

Trump's national emergency: The House is expected to vote (and pass) a resolution to block President Trump's national emergency declaration to build a border wall. It's unclear whether it would be brought to a Senate vote, where Democrats would need at least four Republican votes. Yeah, but: Even if it passes both chambers, Trump would almost certainly veto it. Supporters appear to be far from having the support needed to override a veto. http://bit.ly/2VhLAwb

Likely voting to block the emergency declaration: GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Pence defends Trump's 'obligation' to nominate new Supreme Court justice MORE (Alaska). In her words: "I want to make sure that the resolution of disapproval is exactly what I think it is, because if it is as I understand it to be, I will likely be supporting the resolution to disapprove of the action." http://bit.ly/2BQ9iZ8

THIS MORNING -- 24 FORMER GOP LAWMAKERS URGED REPUBLICANS TO OPPOSE TRUMP'S EMERGENCY DECLARATION: Via Politico, five former Republican senators and 19 former Republican members of Congress signed a letter urging Republicans to block Trump's declaration to build a wall. Why: They say it hurts constituents by allowing presidents to ignore and bypass Congress's authority. http://bit.ly/2E9V7i1

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK:

Michael Cohen is here: President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen is testifying before three congressional committees. What he will be grilled on: Trump's conflicts of interest, his business practices and his campaign finance violations.

Background checks for firearm purchases: "The lower chamber is scheduled to bring two bills to the floor aimed at strengthening background checks on those looking to purchase firearms."

The EPA: The Senate will take up the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be the next Environmental Protection Agency administrator.

Nominations: The Senate will also vote on nominations including for the IRS.

Abortion: "The Senate is set to take an initial vote on legislation from Sen. Ben Sasse Benjamin (Ben) Eric SasseGovernment watchdog recommends creation of White House cyber director position Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection Ben Sasse is mistaken with idea for the election of senators in America MORE (R-Neb.) after comments from Democrats about 'late-term abortion' legislation in Virginia sparked a political firestorm. Sasse's bill would penalize doctors who fail to 'exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.'

Context and details for each via The Hill's Jordain Carney and Juliegrace Brufke: http://bit.ly/2VhLAwb

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS ADMINISTRATION: Republicans are expected to vote on a Trump judicial pick without the support of either of the nominee's home-state senators. http://bit.ly/2SX4rAb

IN OTHER NEWS

Everything is political these days:

Here are the six most memorable political moments from the Oscars:

Context and details for each: http://bit.ly/2Th4Z2Z

THIS MORNING -- REACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT: President Trump slammed director Spike Lee for using his acceptance speech to mention the 2020 presidential election.

He tweeted: "Be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit on your President, who has done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts, etc.) than almost any other Pres!" http://bit.ly/2IAVuaW

THE TALK OF THE OSCARS -- YEP, THAT WAS NOTICEABLE: Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga sang "Shallow" from "A Star is Born," and viewers couldn't help but notice their natural chemistry. Watch: https://wapo.st/2tBfwrn

NOTABLE TWEETS

55 years ago this month:

Beatles in front of US Capitol, on day of their first concert in America, Washington, DC, this month 1964: pic.twitter.com/GsrsqZ7PbP — Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) February 25, 2019

Pigs may not be able to fly, but this is pretty impressive:

photo from yesterday:



Pigcasso, a rescued pig, paints on a canvas at the Farm Sanctuary in Franschhoek, South Africa.



(Reuters/Sumaya Hisham) pic.twitter.com/k9YS7h2gJ3 — Colin Campbell (@colincampbell) February 22, 2019





ON TAP

8 a.m. EST Tuesday: Sen. Ben Cardin Benjamin (Ben) Louis CardinCongress must finish work on popular conservation bill before time runs out PPP application window closes after coronavirus talks deadlock Congress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help MORE (D-Md.), Rep. Doug Collins Douglas (Doug) Allen CollinsTrump, Biden tied in Georgia: poll Loeffler paints herself as 'more conservative than Attila the Hun' in new campaign ad Vulnerable GOP incumbents embrace filling Supreme Court seat this year MORE (R-Ga.), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Del. Stacey Plaskett Stacey PlaskettDOJ rejects statehood for Puerto Rico — so do Puerto Ricans Bottom line Biden rolls out over a dozen congressional endorsements after latest primary wins MORE (D-Virgin Islands) speak at an event for The Hill, "Leadership in Action: Criminal Justice Reform." Details and how to RSVP: http://bit.ly/2Ip4yzj

9 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence arrived in Bogota, Colombia.

9:55 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence met with the president of Colombia, followed by a larger meeting with Venezuelan officials.

11:25 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence met with Venezuelan migrant families.

12:30 p.m. EST: President Trump leaves for Hanoi, Vietnam, for his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

6:40 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence gets back to Washington, D.C.

No longer March 1: President Trump delayed the March 1 deadline for a trade deal with China. Why: Trump cited "substantial progress" in ongoing negotiations. http://bit.ly/2VjEveq

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President Trump's former campaign chairmanhas his first of two sentencing hearings. The second hearing is five days later.

Just announced -- April 22: The 2019 White House Easter Egg Roll at the White House. Details and how to apply to attend: http://bit.ly/2T332rT

July 4: President Trump announced yesterday, "HOLD THE DATE! We will be having one of the biggest gatherings in the history of Washington, D.C., on July 4th. It will be called 'A Salute To America' and will be held at the Lincoln Memorial. Major fireworks display, entertainment and an address by your favorite President, me!" Psssst: This happens every year. http://bit.ly/2GJWqb9

WHAT TO WATCH

10:35 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence spoke to the Lima Group in Bogota, Colombia. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2UeAEPG

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day. It's also National Clam Chowder Day.