To view past editions of The Hill's 12:30 Report, click here: http://bit.ly/1M1mIfw

To receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN

--> 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: Trump sets up clash with governors | Says he has authority to reopen state economies | Trump retweets call for Fauci to be fired | What sparked new tensions | Supreme Court to hear arguments by phone | Justices to make live audio public | How the pandemic is threatening Trump politically | Biden's plan to reopen US | Tornado watch for DC

NEWS THIS MORNING

Attention, older Supreme Court justices. Please mute your audio:

The Supreme Court announced this morning that it will hear oral arguments by telephone conference next month. https://bit.ly/2RP44VN

Including: A big case involving President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE's financial records

When the court will hear cases: May 4-6, and 11-13

The list of 10 cases it will hear by phone: https://bit.ly/2RzaaJL

ALSO NEWSY FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT -- THE LIVE AUDIO WILL BE PUBLIC (!):

"Although the SCOTUS press release states that the live audio feed will be provided to the 'news media,' that feed will be made public. So for the first time the Court will provide real-time live audio of arguments." (Via @SCOTUSblog) https://bit.ly/2V7fAhg

It's Monday. I hope everyone had a peaceful Easter. 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.

Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Trump says he has the power:

President Trump claimed he has the power to reopen states, not governors, amid the coronavirus outbreak. https://bit.ly/2XyUqtU

He tweeted: "For the purpose of creating conflict and confusion, some in the Fake News Media are saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government. Let it be fully understood that this is incorrect...." https://bit.ly/2xf9Bhf

And he then added: "....It is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons. With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue. A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!" https://bit.ly/2RwZtHo

Don't pay attention to Twitter, Anthony. Nothing to see here.:

President Trump retweeted a tweet yesterday that called for National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci Anthony FauciOvernight Health Care: CDC reverses controversial testing guidance | Billions more could be needed for vaccine distribution | Study examines danger of in-flight COVID-19 transmission Trump claims enough COVID-19 vaccines will be ready for every American by April Gates says travel ban made COVID-19 worse in US MORE to be fired. https://bit.ly/3a5ISku

The tweet that Trump shared: "Fauci is now saying that had Trump listened to the medical experts earlier he could've saved more lives. Fauci was telling people on February 29th that there was nothing to worry about and it posed no threat to the US public at large. Time to #FireFauci..." https://bit.ly/34w7Ubn

He then tweeted: "Sorry Fake News, it's all on tape. I banned China long before people spoke up," Trump tweeted, adding praise for the right-wing One America News Network. https://bit.ly/2yczi1M

WHAT SPARKED THIS RETWEET:

During an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" yesterday, Fauci was asked if more lives would have been saved if social distancing guidelines were enacted sooner. https://cnn.it/3cbMumo

Fauci's response: "I mean, obviously, you could logically say that if you had a process that was ongoing, and you started mitigation earlier, you could have saved lives. Obviously, no one is going to deny that."

The tide is high, but he's holding on. He's gonna be your number one:

Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, "the political tide in the coronavirus crisis is threatening to turn against President Trump, who faces what he himself has called the biggest decision of his presidency on how swiftly to recommend a reopening of a nation buckling under the pandemic's economic strain." https://bit.ly/2RORshp

For example -- his approval numbers: "Recent polls have shown public approval of his handling of the crisis ticking downward. His overall approval ratings have followed a similar trajectory, reversing the gains he made at the beginning of the crisis."

Economically: "Trump could also be hurt as the true magnitude of the economic crisis begins to bite. Jobless figures released on Thursday showed an additional 6.6 million people had made new unemployment claims in the previous week, bringing the number of new claims over the past three weeks to around 16 million -- a figure without any remotely close precedent."

And politically: "The political climate is also fragile and feverish, with the nation amid a crisis that is both fast-changing and unparalleled in living memory. Trump's presumed opponent in November, former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Biden says Ginsburg successor should be picked by candidate who wins on Nov. 3 MORE, has a welcome chance to unify Democrats and progressives around his campaign after Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 Biden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security MORE (I-Vt.) suspended his campaign. That could be another piece of bad news for Trump, who likely benefited in 2016 when Sanders took his challenge to eventual Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhat Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE through the summer."

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

Op-ed: https://bit.ly/2V2ZYLB

WHERE THINGS STAND

Cases in the U.S.: 558,526

Deaths in the U.S.: 22,154

Breakdown of the numbers: https://nyti.ms/2VN1Vwg

GETTING TRACTION

'He Could Have Seen What Was Coming: Behind Trump's Failure on the Virus':

Via The New York Times's Eric Lipton, David E. Sanger, Maggie Haberman Maggie Lindsy HabermanBiden, Pence cross paths at NYC 9/11 ceremony The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump floats 0M+ in personal spending for reelection bid The Hill's 12:30 Report: Washington reacts to scathing Trump military story MORE, Michael D. Shear, Mark Mazzetti and Julian E. Barnes, "an examination reveals [President Trump] was warned about the potential for a pandemic but that internal divisions, lack of planning and his faith in his own instincts led to a halting response."

The full report: https://nyti.ms/34vQknM

The theme: "A central theme of our reporting - some who were able to, or trying to, communicate the threat to the president had lost credibility with Trump for other reasons. Some people found themselves stymied when they tried to reach the president." (Tweet from The Times's Maggie Haberman) https://bit.ly/2V7XbAV

REACTION FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP:

The president tweeted, "The @nytimes story is a Fake, just like the 'paper' itself. I was criticized for moving too fast when I issued the China Ban, long before most others wanted to do so. @SecAzar told me nothing until later, and Peter Navarro memo was same as Ban (see his statements). Fake News!" https://bit.ly/3a2PEHO

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Joe Biden has a plan for reopening the U.S.:

Former Vice President Joe Biden published an op-ed in The New York Times, "My Plan to Safely Reopen America: An effective strategy to beat the virus is the ultimate answer to how we get our economy back on track." https://nyti.ms/2XxZTRQ

The gist: "First, we have to get the number of new cases of the disease down significantly ... Second, there needs to be widespread, easily available and prompt testing -- and a contact tracing strategy that protects privacy ... Third, we have to make sure that our hospitals and health care system are ready for flare-ups of the disease that may occur when economic activity expands again."

Read Biden's full op-ed: https://nyti.ms/2XxZTRQ

IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Be prepared for severe storms today. Tornadoes are even possible.:

Via The Capital Weather Gang, "Fierce winds and severe storms likely in D.C. area Monday. Tornadoes cannot be ruled out." https://wapo.st/3ehCsCa

Including a wind advisory: A wind advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. with gusts up to 55 mph (!)

NOTABLE TWEETS

This is pretty impressive:

this poor teacher pic.twitter.com/7YNI1cosjx — Chelsea Cirruzzo (@ChelseaCirruzzo) April 12, 2020

Watch: https://bit.ly/2wxfx4C

It's a little hard to tell, but is the bunny buying carrot cake?:

Things are so weird nowadays no one is even blinking an eye at this sight in the Cayce Walmart checkout aisle pic.twitter.com/FanH0TI7Zu — Avery Wilks (@AveryGWilks) April 12, 2020

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out.

11:30 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence led a teleconference with governors.

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

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

WHAT TO WATCH

This morning: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew CuomoNew York City bus driver knocked out by passenger he told to wear a mask 44 percent of high earners have considered leaving New York City: poll Media's anti-Trump coronavirus spin has real consequences MORE (D) held a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2V2jVlD

2 p.m. EDT: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) gives an update on his state's coronavirus response. Livestream: https://cs.pn/3b6eS9w

5 p.m. EDT: The White House Coronavirus Task Force holds a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2wzG6Gq

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Peach Cobbler Day.

This is big -- here's the famous DoubleTree cookie recipe:

DoubleTree by Hilton just released the recipe for its famous chocolate chip cookies. The recipe: https://bit.ly/2RyElQZ

And to brighten your Monday, here's a dog that could double as a helicopter: https://bit.ly/2Rz1fIh