Reuters: U.S.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

The Hill's 12:30 Report: Obama endorses Biden in video message | Obama says 'Joe has all the qualities we need in a president' | Speculation grows over Fauci's future | Trump lashes out during coronavirus briefing | Growing fears over food supply chain after Smithfield plant closure | Mnuchin, Schumer expected to reach relief deal | Pelosi shows off her chocolate ice cream stash (!)

The Hill 12:30 Report
 
BREAKING

Thanks, Obama! -Joe:

 

Former President Barack Obama just endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign in a video message. https://bit.ly/3chy6cf

 

From Obama's announcement: "Choosing Joe to be my Vice President was one of the best decisions I ever made, and he became a close friend. And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a President right now."

 

Obama on Biden's platform: "Joe already has what is the most progressive platform of any major party nominee in history. Because even before the pandemic turned the world upside down, it was already clear that we needed real structural change."

 

Watch the video message: https://bit.ly/2z15OEJ

 

Obama on Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): "Bernie's an American original. A man who has devoted his life to giving voice to working peoples' hopes, dreams and frustrations. He and I haven't always agreed on everything, but we've always shared a conviction that we have to make America a fairer, more just, more equitable society."

 

Timing: Obama had said he would not endorse until a clear nominee had emerged. Sanders dropped out of the race last week, making Biden the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

 

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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IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Where everyone's favorite Uncle Tony stands:

Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, "Anthony Fauci looks to be skating on thin ice with President Trump, despite -- or perhaps because of -- a growing sense that he is the most trusted expert on the coronavirus crisis." https://bit.ly/2K6Mt7n

 

How the White House is pushing back: The White House has actively dismissed the suggestions that Fauci could be removed from the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Fauci has even walked back his comments from this weekend that earlier social distancing measures could have saved lives. 

 
WHAT SPARKED THIS:

"During a CNN interview on Sunday, Fauci had suggested that mitigation measures would have been more effective had they been put in place earlier, but that there had been 'pushback' against them."

 

Fauci walked back his comments yesterday: "After Trump invited Fauci to the lectern within minutes of beginning Monday's press briefing, the doctor said that his reference to 'pushback' was 'the wrong choice of words.'"

 

Just another manic Mondayyy:

Via The Hill's Brett Samuels, "President Trump on Monday used the White House briefing room to lash out at critics of his response to the coronavirus outbreak, rattling off a litany of grievances about press coverage and airing a reel of cable news footage that portrayed his actions in a positive light." https://bit.ly/2V6gsCI

 

What happened: https://bit.ly/2V6gsCI

 
WHERE THINGS STAND

Cases in the U.S.: 583,330

 

Deaths in the U.S.: 23,654 

 

Breakdown of the numbers: https://cnn.it/2UAgW3y

 
WHAT THE SUMMER MAY LOOK LIKE:

Via The Atlantic's Ed Yonghttps://bit.ly/3bcaMwo

 

Growing worries over the food supply chain:

Via The Hill's Alex Gangitano, "Pork processor Smithfield Foods' decision to shut down a major U.S. plant after a coronavirus outbreak among workers is putting a spotlight on the food supply chain during the pandemic." https://bit.ly/3eo5lfM

 

The worry: "Consumer and worker safety groups say the Smithfield incident highlights that more must be done to ensure the welfare of those working in the industry as well as those buying food. And there are worries that if more plants close, American consumers could be hit by shortages." 

 

What some groups think would help: "Some industry groups say the Trump administration must provide more protections for essential workers, a category that includes food suppliers." 

 
BACK STORY:

One of the U.S.'s biggest pork processing plants is closing after hundreds of employees tested posted for COVID-19. https://bit.ly/3enBBQb

 
TIDBIT -- SHOULD PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT TRANSMISSION THROUGH FOOD?:

The Hill's Alex Gangitano tweeted, "The FDA has said that the food supply is not a source of transmission for the coronavirus. 'The biggest risk about buying a Smithfield ham is going to the grocery store and getting that ham,' a professor of food microbiology at Rutgers University tells me." https://bit.ly/2XyQxVL

 
LATEST WITH CORONAVIRUS RELIEF

A possible deal this week -- You can do it, guys!!:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, "Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) are expected to reach a deal this week on an interim coronavirus relief bill that would provide money to businesses, hospitals and state governments." https://bit.ly/34BT57h

 

Timing once there is a deal: "The deal could lead to legislation being passed quickly through the Senate on Thursday, and through the House no later than early next week." 

 

Think about next year's health insurance premiums...:

Via The Hill's Jessie Hellmann, health insurance companies are warning that without financial help from Congress, COVID-19 treatment and testing may raise premiums next year. https://bit.ly/3aa2ofN

 

Think of it this way -- from Ilyse Schuman, senior vice president for health policy at the American Benefits Council: "Without a doubt, employers are facing significant unknowns with regards to the COVID-19 crisis, while at the same time they themselves are under financial stress ... They'll be left with no option but to pass costs along to employees in the form of higher premiums next year. That's really why we're asking Congress to step in and protect employer-sponsored coverage."

 

Op-ed on ending the lockdown: https://bit.ly/2RC3pXv

 
NOTABLE TWEETS

Respect, Speaker Pelosi. Respect.:

 

This is a very entertaining clip: Here is Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) giving a tour of the chocolate situation in her kitchen. Watch: https://bit.ly/2Ka2WYd

 

^ My favorite line from Pelosi -- this is so relatable: "I don't know what I would have done if ice cream were not invented."

 

*Cue everyone immediately checking their bank accounts*:

 

The full story: https://bit.ly/2yaSRI7

 
ON TAP

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

 

11:30 a.m. EDT: President Trump met with recovered COVID-19 patients in the Cabinet Room.

 

2 p.m. EDT: President Trump receives an intelligence briefing.

 

3:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump meets with health care executives.

 
WHAT TO WATCH

2:30 p.m. EDT: Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley hold a press briefing on the coronavirus. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2ycLxLV  

 

5 p.m. EDT: The White House Coronavirus Task Force holds its daily press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3a5l3sZ

 
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Pecan Day.

 

And to brighten your Tuesday afternoon, here are two chimpanzee brothers reuniting: https://bit.ly/2yfYbts

 
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