Spiegel Stuff: The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Biden’s first official trip as president | Visits Milwaukee tonight | Participates in CNN town hall | Extends mortgage relief through June | Biden transitions from post-Trump to his own agenda | How scientists saved FDA from Trump politics | Fauci worried about getting COVID in Trump White House | Pelosi calls for 9/11-style commission for Jan. 6 attack | 2020 tax filing expected to be challenging | Delayed National Pancake Day celebration at IHOP

INTERESTING READ

Fascinating behind-the-scenes look — How scientists intervened to help save the vaccine process from political pressure:

Via The Hill’s Reid Wilson, Remember in August when former President Trump had approved an emergency authorization for blood plasma from recovered COVID patients to be used as a treatment? Scientists worried the authorization was motivated by politics in the Trump administration, not the science.

Why scientists were particularly worried: “They feared it signaled a race to give final approval to a vaccine in the weeks ahead of November’s presidential election, racing through safety checks that could undermine public trust and make a mess of the federal government’s last best hope to end the pandemic.”

“In interviews with The Hill, [former FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn], senior administration officials and half a dozen of the nation’s leading scientists who became members of Hahn’s informal kitchen cabinet described the tense months leading up to the December decisions to authorize two promising vaccine candidates.”

Tidbit: Hahn said that even if he wanted to rush the vaccine approval process to give Trump a win before the November election, there was little opportunity to do that.

The full story — the competing pressures must have been overwhelming: https://bit.ly/3rXnHuf

Meanwhile — this is a little too real:

It’s Tuesday — welcome back from the long weekend! 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.

Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

News this a.m. — Biden extends mortgage relief:

“The White House on Monday announced a program to extend mortgage relief and a moratorium on home foreclosures through June as thousands of Americans continue to struggle to keep up with payments during the coronavirus pandemic.” https://bit.ly/3pqcBfy

Details — read the White House’s announcement: https://bit.ly/3jW6JtC

‘President Biden’ or ‘the president after Donald Trump’:

Via The Hill’s Niall Stanage, “President Biden ran for election as an antidote to his predecessor. Now he faces a different test — whether he can sell his own agenda.” https://bit.ly/3u3jaYW

It still feels a little like the Trump show: “Biden is only just beginning to step out of former President Trump’s shadow, after almost one month in the White House.”

Complicating the mental transition – impeachment: That’s why Democrats decided not to extend the Senate impeachment trial by calling witnesses.

What’s important for the Biden administration: “If Biden gets the COVID relief package through Congress — and does so without having to make compromises liable to disappoint progressives — he will build political capital for the challenges ahead.”

From the weekend — over the river and through the woods:

Watch: https://bit.ly/3qsuk7l

IN CONGRESS

Treating Jan. 6 like 9/11 — Pelosi calls for a commission:

Via Politico’s Kyle Cheney, “Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that Congress must ‘get to the truth’ of the causes of the Jan. 6 insurrection, saying the House will move quickly to establish a 9/11 Commission-style review of the deadly attack and the security failures that allowed a mob to overrun the Capitol.” https://politi.co/2NAFIiU

LATEST WITH THE CORONAVIRUS

Anthony Fauci worried about getting COVID-19 in the Trump White House:

In an interview with “Axios on HBO,” the nation’s leading infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci said he worried about getting exposed to COVID-19 while working in the Trump White House. https://bit.ly/3ppPKRi

In Fauci’s words: “I didn’t fixate on that, but it was in the back of my mind because I had to be out there I mean, particularly when I was going to the White House every day when the White House was sort of a super-spreader location. I mean, that made me a little bit nervous.”

Watch the full clip of Fauci describing his nervousness in the White House: https://bit.ly/3jVqeCr

Keep in mind: Fauci is 80 years old.

CASE NUMBERS:

Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 27,699,644

U.S. death toll: 486,473

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

VACCINATION NUMBERS:

Total number of vaccinations administered in the U.S.: 54.6 million shots have been given.

Seven-day average of doses administered: An average of 1.64 million doses

For context: The U.S. population is roughly 331 million.

Breakdown of the numbers: https://bloom.bg/3iVTPLH

IN OTHER NEWS

Filings taxes may not be a walk in the park this year:

Via The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda, “The tax-filing season is now underway after a delayed start, and it’s expected to bring challenges and confusion as taxpayers and the IRS navigate pandemic-related issues, including some pertaining to stimulus checks.” https://bit.ly/3jVGyDm

When the IRS started accepting 2020 tax returns: Last Friday

Keep in mind if you haven’t received stimulus payments: “People who have not received any or all of the funds that they’re entitled from the two rounds of stimulus payments can reconcile that on their 2020 return.”

It may take longer to receive your tax refunds this year: “The IRS is encouraging people to file their tax returns electronically, and to use direct deposit for refunds. While the agency expects to issue most refunds within 21 days of receiving a return, as is typical, Corbin said people who file by mail should prepare for ‘potential lengthy waits’ on any refunds.”

What to expect: https://bit.ly/3jVGyDm

NOTABLE TWEETS:

All decked out in presidential attire:

I have confirmation — it’s a very good boy:

Watch: https://bit.ly/2Zo3i5a

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are meeting for pro forma sessions today. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. Biden is heading to Wisconsin this evening.

12:30 p.m. EST: President Biden and Vice President Harris receive the President’s Daily Brief.

5:30 p.m. EST: President Biden leaves for Milwaukee, Wis.

9 p.m. EST: President Biden participates in a CNN town hall from Milwaukee.

12:50 a.m. EST Wednesday: President Biden returns to the White House

You’re invited — Thursday: The Hill is hosting a virtual event, “Prioritizing the Patient.” Details and how to RSVP: https://bit.ly/2Zsgo1f

WHAT TO WATCH:

11 a.m. EST: U.S. Election Assistance Commission Chair Benjamin Hovland testifies at a House subcommittee hearing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2Zkk99h

11:30 a.m. EST: White House press secretary Jen Psaki held a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/2Znd3AE

1 p.m. EST: The Hill is hosting a virtual event, “Aspiration & Resilience: The New Space Age.” Details and how to RSVP: https://bit.ly/2Nr0Zf3

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:

Today is National Pancake Day!

Because nothing is normal in COVID — though, you can still get free pancakes!:

Via Delish, “IHOP announced today that it is canceling National Pancake Day this year, citing concerns about the safety of guests and team members as the reason. But there's still a way you can get a free stack of pancakes at IHOP all April long.” Details and how to get free pancakes: https://bit.ly/3qDSITX

And because you made it this far, here’s a dog with its eye on the prize, no matter the cost: https://bit.ly/3jUYCxg