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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: China retaliates with $60B in tariffs | Trump doubles down on tariffs | Justices rule Apple users can sue over App Store prices | O'Rourke looks to reboot campaign | House to vote on LGBTQ discrimination bill this week | DC's shelter dog happy hour | National Apple Pie Day

LATEST WITH THE CHINA TARIFFS

Tit for tat:

Via Bloomberg News, "China announced that it will impose additional tariffs on some American goods in retaliation for the latest increase of U.S. duties on $200 billion of Chinese imports." https://bloom.bg/2WFdO5e

The new Chinese tariffs will be at different levels: "25% tariffs on 2,493 items, 20% tariffs on 1,078 items, 10% tariffs on 974 items, 5% tariffs to continue on 595 items."

When China's new tariffs will take effect: June 1

The White House contradicted itself over the weekend:

Yesterday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow Larry KudlowMORE contradicted 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 by arguing that China isn't paying for tariffs on goods coming into the United States. http://bit.ly/2JjoROg

Fox News's Chris Wallace Christopher (Chris) WallaceNearly 40 Democratic senators call for climate change questions in debates Webb: Political Reality Check The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November MORE: "It's not China that pays tariffs. It's the American importers, the American companies that pay what in effect is a tax increase and oftentimes passes it on to U.S. consumers."

Larry Kudlow: "Fair enough. In fact, both sides will pay in these things, and of course it depends."

Wallace cut in: "If it's a tariff on goods coming into the country, the Chinese aren't paying."

Kudlow: "No, but the Chinese will suffer [gross domestic product] losses and so forth with respect to a diminishing export market and goods that they may need."

Watch the back and forth on "Fox News Sunday": http://bit.ly/2YmJqgr

Reaction from Trump -- say it louder for the people in the back:



President Trump doubled down on his assertation that China pays for the newly imposed tariffs. http://bit.ly/2HkBDc9

Trump tweeted: "Their is no reason for the U.S. Consumer to pay the Tariffs, which take effect on China today," Trump wrote in post on Twitter. "This has been proven recently when only 4 points were paid by the U.S., 21 points by China because China subsidizes product to such a large degree." Gah, he meant "there" not "their." :(

Read Trump's full series of tweets: http://bit.ly/2E5E0OW

It's Monday -- welcome back! 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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ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Beto 2.0:

Via The Associated Press's Will Weissert and Steve Peoples, former Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE (D-Texas) was expected to be a front-runner with lots of momentum, "but since his mid-March campaign launch, the buzz surrounding the former congressman has evaporated."



O'Rourke plans a do-over: "O'Rourke is planning to try again, taking a hands-on role in staging a 'reintroduction' ahead of next month's premier Democratic presidential debate. As he finalizes his plans, O'Rourke has entered an intentional 'quiet period' to build out campaign infrastructure ... that will end soon."

For example: O'Rourke will appear on MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Rachel Anne MaddowMichael Cohen: Trump hates Obama because he's everything he 'wants to be' The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump floats 0M+ in personal spending for reelection bid Feehery: Unconventionally debunking the latest political conventional wisdom MORE Show" tonight and ABC's "The View" tomorrow.

What to expect: http://bit.ly/2HgSGgn

WHY THE EARLY STATE CONTESTS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN 2020:

Via The New York Times's Shane Goldmacher: https://nyti.ms/2VA8iEy

THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS

LGBTQ discrimination: "House Democrats are set to move forward with legislation to expand the Civil Rights Act--a top legislative priority that faces an uphill battle in the Senate. The bill, which would expand the 1964 law to ban discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender, is set to get a vote in the House as soon as Thursday."

Rod Rosenstein Rod RosensteinDOJ kept investigators from completing probe of Trump ties to Russia: report Five takeaways from final Senate Intel Russia report FBI officials hid copies of Russia probe documents fearing Trump interference: book MORE's replacement: "The Senate is expected to vote on Trump's nominee to succeed former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who stepped down from his post on Friday." Who: Jeffrey Rosen.

Prescription drugs: The House is expected to work on the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act this week.

Tribal bills: "House Democrats are slated to place two bills related to Native American land rights on the floor this week after pulling them at the eleventh hour after President Trump tweeted encouraging Republicans to vote against one of the measures."

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's report: House Democrats are still negotiating to have special counsel Robert Mueller testify before the House Judiciary Committee. Keep in mind: Mueller is still an employee of the Justice Department, meaning Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Hillicon Valley: DOJ proposes tech liability shield reform to Congress | Treasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities | House Republican introduces bill to set standards for self-driving cars McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE can still prevent him from testifying.

Context and details for each: Via The Hill's Jordain Carney and Juliegrace Brufke: http://bit.ly/30fM6hK

AT THE SUPREME COURT

Carry on, iPhone users:

The Supreme Court just ruled that iPhone users can sue Apple over app store prices, a blow to the tech company. http://bit.ly/2E7fHAg

Back story: "A group of consumers had sued Apple, claiming that the company's monopoly over its App Store led to inflated app prices. Apple disputed the legality of the suit, arguing the consumers could only sue the app developers."

The deciding opinion was a surprise: "Justice Brett Kavanaugh Brett Michael KavanaughHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Feinstein 'surprised and taken aback' by suggestion she's not up for Supreme Court fight MORE wrote the opinion for the 5-4 decision, surprising many by breaking with his conservative colleagues and siding with the court's liberal justices."

Context and details: http://bit.ly/2E7fHAg

It's decision time:

Via The Hill's Jacqueline Thomsen, the Supreme Court is returning today to start issuing some of its biggest decisions of the year. http://bit.ly/2w4v9sN

HERE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER BIGGEST CASES TO WATCH:

Census citizenship question: "The Trump administration's efforts to add a question about citizenship landed in front of the justices last month, just weeks before the deadline to get the query added to the census."

Partisan gerrymandering cases: "The justices appeared to be divided in their approach to a pair of partisan gerrymandering cases, pointing back to their past struggles to address the issue."

Race's role in jury selection for a death penalty case: "The justices have signaled that they are willing to rule in favor of an inmate who claims that racial discrimination during the jury selection process tainted his murder trials."

Separation of church-state: "The court is again tasked with taking up a case over the separation of church and state, this time over a state commission's caretaking of a large cross as part of a memorial for veterans."

Context and details for each of the big cases: http://bit.ly/2w4v9sN

NEWS THIS MORNING

I wouldn't say a friendship is forming:

This morning, President Trump accused Rep. Rashida Tlaib Rashida Harbi TlaibTrump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' George Conway: 'Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand' Pelosi endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary challenge MORE (D-Mich.) or harboring "tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people." http://bit.ly/2vVSYmo

What sparked this: "Tlaib said in a recent interview that she has a 'calming feeling' when she thinks about the genocide because her Palestinian ancestors 'lost their land' and 'lost their lives' amid an effort 'to create a safe haven for Jews' in the Middle East, even though it was 'forced on them' and took away their 'human dignity.'" http://bit.ly/30fQ4qx

NOTABLE TWEETS

I know the pain of Gate 35X all too well:

Presidential candidates, they’re just like you: Sen. Warren piling onto the bus — Dunkin’ in hand — to the plane at DCA’s Gate 35X. pic.twitter.com/IseuvuiGbq — Ali Vitali (@alivitali) May 9, 2019

A sweet tidbit from the White House:

a personal note for a gesture that doesn’t often make it onto WH twitter but should be recognized: a dear family friend is battling brain cancer — she received this letter from @realDonaldTrump and @flotus today and her mom says it brought her much joy after a very tough week pic.twitter.com/8OjrtT16Zj — Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) May 10, 2019

ON TAP

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

Today: 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 canceled his planned trip to Moscow and is heading to Brussels instead. He will still travel to Sochi, Russia, tomorrow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinNavalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Ex-Trump national security adviser says US leaders 'making it easy for Putin' to meddle The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting MORE. http://bit.ly/2YuX5Ch

11:30 a.m. EDT: President Trump received an intelligence briefing.

12:15 p.m. EDT: President Trump signed an executive order on the economic empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

12:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence.

2 p.m. EDT: President Trump meets with the prime minister of Hungary.

3 p.m. EDT: The Senate returns. The Senate's full schedule: http://bit.ly/2VSCABx

5:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate votes to invoke cloture on a nomination.

WHAT TO WATCH

12:30 p.m. EDT: 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 campaigns in Hampton, N.H. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2JkhUwn

8:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump participates in the White House iftar. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2JwW5cu

9 p.m. EDT: Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) will appear on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show."

11 a.m. EDT Tuesday: Beto O'Rourke will appear on ABC's "The View."

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Apple Pie Day. It's also National Crouton Day.

How to play with pups for a few hours:

Via Washingtonian's Mimi Montgomery, the Human Rescue Alliance introduced a new program in Washington, D.C., to let volunteers take shelter dogs for a few hours at a time. How it works: http://bit.ly/2HhjTiW