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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: Health watchdog warns of 'severe' shortages of hospital supplies | Surgeon general fears 'hardest' week ahead | Coronavirus task force divided over malaria drug | Trump promotes use: 'I'm not a doctor, but I have common sense’ | Trump lashes out at media | Dems struggle with virus messaging

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Getting traction — an outburst in the White House:

Via Axios’s Jonathan Swan, White House economic adviser Peter Navarro got into a fight with the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci Anthony FauciControversial CDC guidelines were written by HHS officials, not scientists: report Overnight Health Care: Ex-Pence aide backs Biden over virus response | Trump's sharp words put CDC director on hot seat | Trump coronavirus adviser threatens to sue Stanford researchers Trump coronavirus adviser threatens to sue Stanford researchers MORE over the weekend during a Coronavirus Task Force meeting. https://bit.ly/2JIWNSJ

The issue: Whether the Trump administration should recommend the use of an antimalarial drug to help fight the coronavirus. Fauci has stressed that any evidence that the antimalarial drug helps with COVID-19 is purely anecdotal.

“Fauci's mention of anecdotal evidence ‘just set Peter off,’ said one of the sources. Navarro pointed to the pile of folders on the desk, which included printouts of studies on hydroxychloroquine from around the world.”

The full back and forth — it sounds pretty tense: https://bit.ly/2JIWNSJ

THE SENTENCE THAT USUALLY MAKES ME WEARY — ‘I’M NOT A DOCTOR, BUT...’:

President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE touted the use of hydroxychloroquine to prevent or treat COVID-19, even though it puts him at odds with some of his top health advisers. https://bit.ly/2RioTsl

In Trump’s words: "What do you have to lose? I’m not looking at it one way or another. But we want to get out of this. If it does work, it would be a shame if we didn’t do it early … What do I know? I'm not a doctor. But I have common sense."

Meanwhile from Fauci: "The data are really just at best suggestive,” Fauci said yesterday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “There have been cases that show there may be an effect, and there are others to show there's no effect. So, I think in terms of science, I don't think we could definitively say it works."

This morning — Trump lashes out at a familiar foe:

President Trump slammed media outlets over their coverage of the outbreak. https://bit.ly/34gYSyP

He tweeted: “Advertising in the Failing New York Times is WAY down. Washington Post is not much better. I can’t say whether this is because they are Fake News sources of information, to a level that few can understand, or the Virus is just plain beating them up. Fake News is bad for America!” https://bit.ly/39NEAyb

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

Stocks rose:

Via The Hill’s Sylvan Lane, the stock market surged this morning amid small signs of optimism in the coronavirus outbreak. https://bit.ly/3aTlKqM

The numbers: “The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 1,000 points as the market opened, rising nearly 5 percent after a week of heavy losses. The S&P 500 rose 4.6 percent and the Nasdaq composite rose 4.5 percent.”

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK

This is an incredibly sad and scary quote:

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Americans over the weekend to expect a tough week. https://bit.ly/2UNcQp6

In his words: “This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it’s not going to be localized; it’s going to be happening all over the country.”

The optimistic news: Adams said there "is a light at the end of the tunnel if everyone does their part for the next 30 days ... There is hope, but we’ve also got to all do our part.”

WHERE WE STAND

Cases in the U.S.: 337,971

Deaths in the U.S.: 9,655

Breakdown — here’s a helpful chart from The New York Times: https://nyti.ms/2VN1Vwg

What we know about the hospital shortages:

According to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General, hospitals are facing “severe” shortages of tests and “widespread” shortages of protective equipment. https://bit.ly/2UKwjGU

READ THE REPORT:

https://bit.ly/2UMLaAA

IN CONGRESS

Congressional Democrats are in a tough spot:

Via The Hill’s Scott Wong, “Congressional Democrats are facing enormous pressure to show voters they are staying engaged and taking action to combat the deadly coronavirus pandemic during a critical election year.” https://bit.ly/2VjS0Nd

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Overnight Defense: Top admiral says 'no condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' | Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Pelosi must go — the House is in dire need of new leadership MORE (D-Calif.): “[Pelosi] has launched a new special House committee to oversee trillions of dollars in emergency spending, while other top Democrats are pushing legislation to create a separate 9/11-style commission looking into whether the government properly responded to the outbreak.”

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt Schumer lashes out at Trump over 'blue states' remark: 'What a disgrace' MORE (D-N.Y.): “[Schumer] is aggressively pressing President Trump to appoint a ‘czar’ to oversee the production and distribution of coronavirus-related medical supplies — a move that has rankled the president.”

Other Dems: “Rank-and-file Democrats are getting creative to make sure their constituents know they are working on the crisis — even as they hunker down with their families at home.”

What to expect: https://bit.ly/2VjS0Nd

THE LIST OF POSSIBLE CORONAVIRUS CZARS THAT SCHUMER IS SUGGESTING:

https://bit.ly/2JK4Z5a

NOTABLE TWEETS

Well played:

Come on, Annie! You can do it:

Now seems as good a time as any to share with you one of my secret joys in life, which is Greta Van Susteren cyber-shaming her dog, Annie, for her continuous inability to catch a toy. https://t.co/Cr4rIrdI99 pic.twitter.com/NH9QV8cGm2 — DJ Judd (@DJJudd) April 4, 2020

Watch: https://bit.ly/2JHmV0j

ON TAP

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

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

12:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump and Vice President Pence have lunch together.

3 p.m. EST: 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 Cuomo44 percent of high earners have considered leaving New York City: poll Media's anti-Trump coronavirus spin has real consequences In defense of Trump's efforts to quell pandemic panic MORE (D) gave an update on the coronavirus outbreak in the state. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2Rffp0G

5 p.m. EDT: The White House Coronavirus Task Force holds a press briefing. Livestream: https://cs.pn/39OqlZP

IN LIGHTER NEWS

Today is National Caramel Popcorn Day.

Free Nikon photography classes in April!:

Via The Verge, Nikon is offering free photography classes, normally priced between $15 to $50 each, through April 30. https://bit.ly/34j9M7k

What to know about the classes: “Each class is taught by a professional photographer and provides in-depth lessons to help you get better at taking photos. Some courses cover Nikon-specific products, but many of them teach you the fundamentals of photography, such as a course that teaches you how to photograph your children or pets or the basics of making a music video.”

And to brighten your Monday, here’s a dog who is legitimately a good volleyball player: https://bit.ly/2xWQNmA