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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: GOP tired of being caught off-guard by Trump | What's next for Assange | Trump tries to distance himself from WikiLeaks | Trump considered Ivanka for World Bank | Transgender military ban goes into effect | Lyft partners with DC bars | National Grilled Cheese Day

TALK OF THE MORNING

All in the family:

The Atlantic's Elaina Plott published a fascinating profile of Ivanka Trump Ivana (Ivanka) Marie TrumpSpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report Trump, Biden vie for Minnesota Trump luxury properties have charged US government .1M since inauguration: report MORE that involved a sit-down with 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 to discuss his elder daughter.

How the Trump interview came about: "For months, I had tried to secure an on-the-record interview with Ivanka to talk about her White House role and her life in Washington, D.C., but she had repeatedly declined. So I was surprised to receive a call one morning from Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, telling me that the president himself was available to talk about his daughter. We had spent 20 minutes, until Ivanka walked in, doing just that."

Read the full interview: http://bit.ly/2Uy5NBX

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS:

Trump talked about each of his children -- the part about Don Jr. is funny: "Barron is young, but he's got wonderful potential. And Tiffany's doing extremely well. Don is, uh, he's enjoying politics; actually, it's very good. And Eric is running the business along with Don, and also very much into politics. I mean, the children--the children have been very, very good."

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"She would've been great at the United Nations, as an example.""If I did, they'd say nepotism, when it would've had nothing to do with nepotism. But she would've been incredible … I even thought of Ivanka for the World Bank … She would've been great at that because she's very good with numbers."

Tidbit: Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner Jared Corey KushnerAbraham Accords: New hope for peace in Middle East Tenants in Kushner building file lawsuit alleging dangerous living conditions Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing MORE calls her "Ivanks."

AUTHOR ELAINA PLOTT TALKED ABOUT HER REPORTING ON CNN THIS MORNING

Watch: https://cnn.it/2P5XQhl

Video of Plott explaining why it was difficult to write a profile on Ivanka: It involves a Burning Man coffee table book. http://bit.ly/2IutLHh

Happy spring Friday! 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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IN THE WHITE HOUSE

*Cuts to the counseling room*

I just want you to want to tell me things:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, "Senate Republicans are getting tired of being caught off-guard by President Trump on key issues like health care and controversial nominees like Herman Cain, and say there needs to be more consultation from the White House." http://bit.ly/2Kwnm0A

How Republicans tend to find out Trump's plans: On Twitter, like everyone else, making it difficult to offer any advice.

Which Republicans think this?: Well, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (R-S.C.) and Sen. John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas), a member of the GOP leadership team, all agree there needs to be more communication.

The Trump administration's new idea for detained immigrants:

Via The Washington Post's Rachael Bade and Nick Miroff, "White House officials have tried to pressure U.S. immigration authorities to release detainees onto the streets of 'sanctuary cities' to retaliate against President Trump's political adversaries, according to Department of Homeland Security officials and email messages reviewed by The Washington Post." https://wapo.st/2IgFxp8

How and when White House officials suggested the idea: "Trump administration officials have proposed transporting detained immigrants to sanctuary cities at least twice in the past six months -- once in November, as a migrant caravan approached the U.S. southern border, and again in February, amid a standoff with Democrats over funding for Trump's border wall."

LATEST WITH JULIAN ASSANGE'S ARREST

Trump: [shrug emoji]

President Trump distanced himself from WikiLeaks after founder Julian Assange was arrested in London. http://bit.ly/2UdRAFh

Trump told reporters yesterday: "I know nothing about WikiLeaks. It's not my thing."

Why this is newsy: WikiLeaks used to be Trump's thing. In October 2016 Trump said, "I love WikiLeaks." And four days before the election: "Getting off the plane, they were just announcing new WikiLeaks, and I wanted to stay there, but I didn't want to keep you waiting," Trump said. "Boy, I love reading those WikiLeaks."

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE LEGAL CASE AGAINST ASSANGE:

Context and details for each: http://bit.ly/2UyY2Mg

IN CONGRESS

Stopping the 'rinse, repeat' cycle:

Via The Hill's Jonathan Easley, "GOP Sen. Mike Braun Michael BraunPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal McConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package Patient Protection Pledge offers price transparency MORE (Ind.) has a stark warning for Republicans: Come up with a viable alternative to ObamaCare or face another rout in the 2020 election." http://bit.ly/2uXQUtE

He blamed health care for Republicans' 2018 losses: "Speaking with The Hill at his office in the Senate Russell Building, Braun described the GOP's push to repeal ObamaCare without a plan of their own as one of the primary reasons for the Democratic wave election in 2018."

MEANWHILE -- WHAT MCCONNELL WANTS 2020 TO BE:

"Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday said he wants to make the 2020 presidential and Senate elections a 'referendum on socialism' by pinning down Democrats on proposals like 'Medicare for all' and the Green New Deal." http://bit.ly/2Gl0oFW

IN OTHER NEWS

Heading for the super PAC:

The former White House aide who left after mocking the late Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainCindy McCain endorses Biden: He's only candidate 'who stands up for our values' Biden says Cindy McCain will endorse him Biden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states MORE (R-Ariz.) has been hired at a pro-Trump super PAC. http://bit.ly/2G2xsRm

Who: Kelly Sadler

Her new job: Communications director for America First Action

Sadler told The Hill: "I'm really excited to do everything in my power to help reelect the president of the United States, by joining the great team at America First. The president is solving the problems the American people elected him to do, and I can't wait to help him win another four years in office, so he can achieve even more."

If you don't remember why she left the White House: Sadler dismissed McCain's opposition to Gina Haspel as CIA director because he was "dying anyway." The full back story: http://bit.ly/2KwXgKU

Trump's transgender military ban goes into effect today:

Via CBS's Emily Tillett, President Trump's new ban on transgender people serving in the military goes into effect today. https://cbsn.ws/2IgvpNl

For context: "The Defense Department says people can serve if they remain their biological sex. They estimate that nearly 15,000 troops identify as transgender and could potentially be impacted by the policy."

The new policy: "Under the new policy, any person who has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and has received medical treatment -- either hormones or surgery -- will not be allowed to join the military. If they have been diagnosed, but have not received medical treatment, they will still be eligible to join."

NOTABLE TWEETS

Getting traction -- oh man that's funny:

I’ve accidentally set up push notifications for the BBC science magazine and it’s like being followed about by an inquisitive but annoying child pic.twitter.com/xVgCR5ivdo — James Colley (@JamColley) April 8, 2019

Because it's Friday and this is adorable:

BABY ON BOARD: An infant got restless aboard a plane—so a flight attendant offered to hold the little girl while completing her pre-flight preparation.



The adorable kid is seen blowing kisses to passengers as they walk up the aisle. https://t.co/vktfBNn2ku pic.twitter.com/mkP523C4B5 — ABC News (@ABC) April 12, 2019

Watch: http://bit.ly/2Z745Gv

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out for two weeks. President Trump is in Washington, D.C., and Vice President Pence is returning from Nebraska this afternoon.

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

12:15 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence visits Lincoln's Ridgeview Farms in Omaha, Neb.

2:25 p.m. EDT: President Trump delivers remarks on United States 5G deployment.

3:15 p.m. EDT: President Trump meets with the Fraternal Order of Police executive board.

4:05 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence gets back to Washington, D.C.

WHAT TO WATCH

6 p.m. EDT: Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Bernie Sanders warns of 'nightmare scenario' if Trump refuses election results Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (I-Vt.) holds a campaign rally in Madison, Wis. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2IuucRN

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Grilled Cheese Day.

If you live in D.C. and like happy hours:

Via PoPville, Lyft has teamed up with several D.C.-area bars offering a free drink and 20 percent off a Lyft rode every Thursday until July. Details: http://bit.ly/2Ue0CCb