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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: Trump gets new press secretary | Kayleigh McEnany takes over for Stephanie Grisham Stephanie GrishamIvana Trump on Melania as first lady: 'She's very quiet, and she really doesn't go to too many places' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump uses White House as campaign backdrop Coronavirus tests not required for all Melania Trump speech attendees: report MORE | Senate aims to approve new aid for small businesses Thursday | Voting underway in Wisconsin despite pandemic | Long lines seen at polls | US death toll tops 11,000 | Officials see signs of curve flattening | Dow jumps as deaths slow | Trump takes heat for ousting intel watchdog amid pandemic | Joe Exotic speaks from prison

NEWS THIS MORNING

OK, before I tell you the news, can you name the White House press secretary?:

Via CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Kate Bennett, Stephanie Grisham is stepping down as White House press secretary without ever holding a press briefing. https://cnn.it/2UQTAXS

How long she has been press secretary: Since June of 2019. Would you recognize her? Here’s a photo: https://nbcnews.to/2UQTtvq

Grisham’s role was a little unusual: “When [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] left the White House in June last year, Grisham kept the title of Melania Trump Melania TrumpWarning label added to Trump tweet over potential mail-in voting disinformation New Melania Trump statue replaces one that burned to the ground in Slovenia The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Latest with the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations MORE's communications director and added two more: press secretary and communications director. But Grisham's three-in-one role was less a juggling act and more a sign of how diminished the public-facing positions have become under a President who often serves as his own spokesman.

Keep in mind about her role during the coronavirus outbreak — *crickets*: “In recent weeks, Grisham stopped regularly attending senior staff meetings and has not played a major role as the administration has dealt with the coronavirus outbreak. After Vice President Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceControversial CDC guidelines were written by HHS officials, not scientists: report Former DeVos chief of staff joins anti-Trump group Scott Walker helping to prep Pence for debate against Harris: report MORE was tasked to lead the task force, his communications team took over as well.”

Tidbit — the C-SPAN video library record of her is empty: “Stephanie Grisham has no speaking appearances in the C-SPAN Video Library...” (Via C-SPAN’s Howard Mortman) Screenshot: https://bit.ly/2xYNNGo

BREAKING — THE NEXT WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY:

Via The New York Times’s 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, Trump campaign spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany is replacing Grisham as the White House press secretary. https://nyti.ms/2XlqrFF

What to know about McEnany: “Ms. McEnany has been a vocal defender of Mr. Trump on television, the main role the president has long believed the press secretary should play, according to current and former advisers.”

It’s Tuesday. 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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WHERE THINGS STAND

Cases in the U.S.: 369,069

Deaths in the U.S.: 11,018

CNN breakdown of the numbers: https://cnn.it/2UAgW3y

The optimistic update — social distancing appears to be working (!): “While US exceeds 11,000 deaths, officials express optimism about early effects of social distancing measures.” Details from CNN: https://cnn.it/3e1vgtN

The stock market jumps as deaths slow: “The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly 900 points (4 percent) in the first minutes of trading, adding to a 1,627-point (7.7 percent) gain on Monday. The S&P 500 rose 92 (3.5 percent), after rising 175 points (7 percent) on Monday.” https://bit.ly/39NtA3D

No new coronavirus deaths today in China: “China Reports No Coronavirus Deaths for First Time Since January.” https://bit.ly/2Rj6kUF

Black and Latino communities are disproportionally affected: According to emerging statistics. https://bit.ly/34tNOP7

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Ironically, the chaos feels normal:

Via The Hill’s Olivia Beavers, 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 is taking heat for firing the intelligence community’s watchdog, a move that critics argue was seeking revenge for his impeachment amid a pandemic. https://bit.ly/2XfQQoh

Back story: “Michael Atkinson was ousted from his post late Friday night, in what was seen as an effort to punish him for acting on a whistleblower complaint last year about Trump’s contacts with Ukraine. The move by Atkinson in 2019 sparked a House impeachment inquiry that culminated with Trump’s acquittal in a Senate impeachment trial.”

A critic — House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffOvernight 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 Overnight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (D-Calif.) accused Trump of “settling scores in the middle of a pandemic.” Schiff said on MSNBC over the weekend: “What is this president doing as thousands of people are dying? He is retaliating against people that are on his enemies list and doing it in the dead of night.”

From Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Gideon leads Collins by 12 points in Maine Senate race: poll Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal MORE (R-Maine): “While I recognize that the President has the authority to appoint and remove Inspectors General, I believe Inspector General Atkinson served the intelligence community and the American people well, and his removal was not warranted.”

Over the weekend: At a press conference on the coronavirus outbreak, Trump slammed Atkinson and the whistleblower complaint. In Trump’s words: “He took a whistleblower report, which turned out to be a fake report -- it was fake. It was totally wrong. He took a fake report and he brought it to Congress, with an emergency.”

‘I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school...':

--> Remember the reference?: https://bit.ly/39SAF2Q

Via The Hill’s Niall Stanage, “the nation’s response to the coronavirus crisis is being complicated by political polarization in general and the divisiveness of President Trump in particular.” https://bit.ly/2Vd3x0D

How so: “The gravest public health crisis in at least a century could be more effectively addressed if there was widespread agreement as to the basic facts at issue. But, instead, Trump’s history of misstatements dogs every claim he makes, even as his critics are prone to dismiss anything he says. Trump’s most loyal supporters are equally likely to disregard any dissenting view.”

TIDBITS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFINGS

Did you notice 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 giving finger guns on his way out of the briefing?: Here’s a video, via Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs. Watch: https://bit.ly/3bRcFyG

Spotted out jogging during yesterday’s press briefing: CNN’s Betsy Klein tweeted, “Today marks the third time in the last few weeks I’ve passed by @IvankaTrump on a run (at an appropriate distance). Neither of us are watching the briefing live but happy to report it’s really nice out.” https://bit.ly/2RdXbgj

An underreported story — Birx’s scarf game is STRONG:

My new favorite Instagram account in a long time pic.twitter.com/cr09cJXk9A — Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) April 7, 2020

Check out the photos of her scarves: https://bit.ly/2xd0k9b

HAPPENING TODAY

When your two civic duties clash:

Via The New York Times’s Astead W. Herndon and Jim Rutenberg, “Wisconsin voters will face a choice between protecting their health and exercising their civic duty on Tuesday after state Republican leaders, backed up by a conservative majority on the state’s Supreme Court, rebuffed the Democratic governor’s attempt to postpone in-person voting in their presidential primary and local elections.”

What happened: “The governor had issued an executive order postponing in-person voting and extending to June the deadline for absentee ballots. But Republican leaders succeeded in getting the state’s top court to stay the decree.”

And then last night: “In a decision late Monday capping the election-eve chaos, the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative-leaning majority dealt its own blow to Wisconsin Democrats. In a 5-4 vote, the majority ruled against their attempt to extend the deadline for absentee voting in Tuesday’s elections.”

The full back and forth: https://nyti.ms/34he4Mc

WHAT IT’S LIKE AT THE POLLS — LONG LINES:

https://bit.ly/34hfk1S

Oh wow:

A voter just sent me this video of the line outside a polling location at Riverside High School in Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/osT7mQtUQx — Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) April 7, 2020

Watch: https://bit.ly/2Xo9A4W

YIKES — CHECK OUT THE ONLY POLLING LOCATION IN WAUKESHA, WIS.:

Here’s a short video of the long polling line. Watch: https://bit.ly/2Xo9ESe

IN CONGRESS

Everyone’s looking at you, Congress. What’s next?:

Via The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Scott Wong, lawmakers are under pressure for the next phase of coronavirus relief legislation after passing a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus. https://bit.ly/2UNOlYJ

The problem with the last legislative package: “The delivery of the aid to its intended targets has been hobbled by administrative and other logistical pitfalls, causing delays in distribution and sparking widespread anxieties about when the assistance will reach businesses, families and workers hardest hit by the swift-moving pandemic.”

Plus: Officials have warmed that the next few weeks will be the worst in the coronavirus outbreak.

New — Aid to small businesses could be approved this week:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky.) just said he is working with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Hillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers On the Money: Pelosi draws line at .2T | Jobless claims dip | Swing-state jobless numbers an issue for Trump MORE and 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.) to quickly pass aid for small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus. https://bit.ly/2JNPWHW

How it would work with Congress on recess: “Senators are currently dispersed across the country as part of a three-week recess. But the Senate is scheduled to hold a brief session on Thursday, where a single senator could try to pass the additional small business funding.”

What we know: https://bit.ly/2JNPWHW

NOTABLE TWEETS

Ah ha! I knew it!:

CORONAVIRUS BRINGS OUT THE TRUTH pic.twitter.com/CMoYBfSSda — Sam Baker (@sam_baker) April 7, 2020

The full crosswalk sign: https://bit.ly/2yIIgnZ

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 participated in a call with the National Federation of Independent Business to discuss the response to COVID-19.

3 p.m. EDT: President Trump participates in “America CARES: Small Business Relief Update” in the Roosevelt Room.

WHAT TO WATCH

11 a.m. EDT: 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 state’s coronavirus outbreak. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2JMiSjp

5 p.m. EDT: The Coronavirus Task Force holds its daily press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3caA9PB

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Beer Day!

Joe Exotic couldn’t stay away — his hair looks a little different nowadays:

Joe Exotic was interviewed from prison on March 22.



Here's what he told us pic.twitter.com/ueqTeWfKxh — Netflix (@netflix) April 3, 2020

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

And to lighten your Tuesday afternoon, here are gorillas avoiding the rain: https://bit.ly/2yze8v1

This is so relatable.