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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 digs in for battle with House Dems | Vows to fight 'all the subpoenas' | White House weighs blocking McGahn from testifying | Trump says he'll challenge impeachment in court | Report claims Nielsen was warned not to discuss election interference | Trump claims incident between US, Mexican troops was cover for drug smuggling | Biden, Sanders prepare for 'titanic clash' | Trump, first lady to headline opioid summit

LATEST WITH THE MUELLER REPORT

I will demolish you:

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 warned Democrats that he would fight any impeachment attempts in the Supreme Court. http://bit.ly/2GAKKor

He tweeted: “The Mueller Report, despite being written by Angry Democrats and Trump Haters, and with unlimited money behind it ($35,000,000), didn’t lay a glove on me. I DID NOTHING WRONG. If the partisan Dems ever tried to Impeach, I would first head to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Read his full tweets: http://bit.ly/2GAKKor

It’s Wednesday. 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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Doing the cha-cha slide around the subject:

Via The New York Times’s Eric Schmitt, David E. Sanger and 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, former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenMore than million in DHS contracts awarded to firm of acting secretary's wife: report DHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections MORE was told not to discuss possible Russian interference in the 2020 election around President Trump.

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Acting White House chief of staff“made it clear that Mr. Trump still equated any public discussion of malign Russian election activity with questions about the legitimacy of his victory. According to one senior administration official, Mr. Mulvaney said it ‘wasn’t a great subject and should be kept below his level.’ ”

What this means for 2020: https://nyti.ms/2VkTWa9

They’re called ‘presidential perks,’ look them up:

President Trump is considering using executive privilege to prevent former White House counsel Don McGahn from testifying in the aftermath of special counsel 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 Russia report.

How we know: White House counselor Kellyanne Conway Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwaySpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report George and Kellyanne Conway honor Ginsburg Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE told reporters: “Executive privilege is on the table. That’s his right. There’s a reason our democracy and our constitutional government allow for that.”

TRUMP’S REASONING:

In an interview with The Washington Post, Trump said there’s “no reason” to cooperate with congressional Democrats because he sees the probes as "obviously very partisan." More from the interview: https://wapo.st/2GxjnvK

Late this morning — Trump elaborated on his subpoena plan:

President Trump told reporters that he plans to fight “all the subpoenas” issued by House Democrats. http://bit.ly/2UVeqqA

Specifically regarding Don McGahn: Trump called the subpoena for McGahn to testify “ridiculous.” Trump then elaborated: "We have been, I have been the most transparent president and administration in the history of our country by far.”

Trump questioned Dems’ motivations: "Look, these aren't impartial people," Trump said. "The Democrats are trying to win 2020. They're not going to win with the people that I see, and they're not going to win against me ... The only way they can luck out is by constantly going after me on nonsense.” http://bit.ly/2UVeqqA

ON THE BORDER

Mexican soldiers stopped U.S. troops — and disarmed them:

Via Newsweek’s James Laporta, Mexican soldiers stopped two U.S. troops and disarmed the Americans on U.S. soil. http://bit.ly/2GE9uO3

What happened: “The armed [Mexican soldiers] swiftly approached the U.S. service members, crossing over from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande into U.S. territory and ordering the soldiers out of their vehicle at gunpoint.”

Why: The Mexican troops thought the Americans had crossed into Mexico.

When the incident happened: April 13

What this incident shows: The incident “underscores the confusion between the physical location of the border fence and where the geographical U.S.-Mexico border begins and ends. In Texas, the border fence does not align perfectly with the topography of the precise location of the U.S.-Mexico border, and this creates a buffer zone between the actual, often invisible, border and the fence.”

Why it's become news days later:

This morning, President Trump suggested it was a distraction tactic from Mexican troops to help drug cartels. http://bit.ly/2IVgis3

Trump tweeted: “Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!” http://bit.ly/2GuavHc

IN CAMPAIGN NEWS

Same party, two veryyy different people:

Via The Hill’s Alexander Bolton and Amie Parnes, 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 and Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Dimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (I-Vt.) are preparing for what could become a “titanic clash.”

How so: “The elder statesmen who are the two front-runners for the nomination served together in the Senate briefly. Biden was the far bigger star than Sanders on Capitol Hill. But Sanders has been more of a liberal policy visionary, championing policies that were initially regarded by colleagues as fringe ideas.”

How this could play out during the primary season: http://bit.ly/2L2iW23

INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE:

David Gergen, James Piltch and Blythe Riggan co-wrote an op-ed why “Joe Biden should worry about the competition he faces.” https://cnn.it/2Dw4LMv

IN LOCAL NEWS

Check out Rosslyn tomorrow:

Rosslyn is hosting its annual used book sale on Thursday. The event will also include events for children and adults. Details from ARLnow: http://bit.ly/2viSYfV

NOTABLE TWEETS

Getting traction — aw:

“This is my service dog Toli. It’s his birthday so he got to pick out a new toy!” pic.twitter.com/sJdxwb0ZxO — Dogs with Jobs (@dogswitjobs) April 20, 2019

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out until next week.

11:15 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence arrives in Detroit.

12 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence speaks at a Trump campaign lunch in Detroit.

12:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpTrump privately blamed Black Americans for lacking initiative: report The Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose Melania Trump: Ginsburg's 'spirit will live on in all she has inspired' MORE land in Atlanta, where they will headline a summit on opioid addiction.

1:15 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence tours the Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn truck plant.

2:35 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence delivers remarks on trade at Motor City Solutions.

4:25 p.m. EDT: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump get back to the White House.

5 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence gets back to Washington, D.C.

Not on tap today: A White House press briefing. Michelle Cottle of the New York Times editorial board published an op-ed today titled, “Meet the Press? Don’t Bother:

Sarah Huckabee Sarah Elizabeth SandersSarah Sanders on Trump's reported war dead criticism: 'Those comments didn't happen' Sarah Sanders memoir reportedly says Trump joked she should hook up with Kim Jong Un McEnany stamps her brand on White House press operation MORE Sanders, nominally the White House press secretary, has abandoned the custom of briefing the news media.” https://nyti.ms/2vjd4qf

8:30 a.m. EST Friday: FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks at a Council on Foreign Relations event. Details: https://on.cfr.org/2W5aoZ4

April 28 — May 1: The Milken Institute’s Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif. Details: http://bit.ly/2W4CpA6

WHAT TO WATCH

1:15 p.m. EDT: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump deliver remarks at the Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2IFF4gD

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day.