12:30 Report — Solar eclipse grips Americans’ attention

Happy eclipse day! I’ll start with the news you can use. If you don’t have any safety glasses, here’s a list of alternatives. And here’s a list of the eclipse’s peak timing by city. If you’re not able to watch it outside, here’s a NASA livestream. OK, now here’s what else is happening today:

• Former President Trump finally declared his abortion stance after avoiding discussing it for months. Anti-abortion advocates are not pleased.
• NASA is launching rockets during today’s eclipse to study its effects.
• The Biden administration announced more student loan forgiveness plans.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to [email protected]. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  

It’s almost time! The highly anticipated solar eclipse is about to cross the sky in the U.S., blocking the sun and causing a collective shriek across the country. Shoutout to CNN’s wall-to-wall eclipse coverage today. I’m very much enjoying watching these segments — especially the live shot from the Dallas zoo monitoring the animals’ reactions.

What time?: The peak times will happen around 2-4 p.m. EDT today.

• 2:40 p.m. EDT: Dallas will experience totality.
• 3:15 p.m. EDT: Cleveland will peak.
• 3:20 p.m.: Washington, D.C., will see an 87.4 percent eclipse.
• 3:25 p.m.: New York City will see 89.6 percent coverage.
• 3:26 p.m.: Burlington, Vt., will see totality.
• 3:29 p.m.: Boston will experience a 92.4 percent eclipse.

NASA is launching three rockets in Virginia this afternoon to study the eclipse. If you’re in or near Virginia, you may be able to see the rockets. (USA Today)

Why launch rockets today?: “[Today’s eclipse] will cast a supersonic cooling shadow on Earth. This will give scientists the opportunity to study how the atmosphere changes and how that affects us down here on earth.” (WUSA9)

🚀NASA livestream of the rocket launches

After side-stepping the issue of abortion for months, former President Trump finally weighed in on abortion debate this morning, arguing that states should decide their own abortion laws.

Specifically: Trump took credit for ending Roe v. Wade by appointing conservative justices but would not call for a national ban on abortion.

Why this is notable: Trump has avoided weighing in on the abortion debate for months. This is the most definitive answer he has given since becoming the presumptive GOP nominee. In February, The New York Times reported that Trump was privately floating a 16-week abortion ban.

💻 Watch Trump’s four-minute video explaining his stance

🔎 Read Trump’s statement

Including the prominent anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which called Trump’s announcement “deeply disappointing.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) broke with Trump’s stance, advocating for a national 15-week ban on abortions (with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.)

‘Donald Trump’s Abortion Announcement Has Pissed Everyone Off’: The New Republic

‘Abortion is a top concern for Trump as he considers his VP pick’: NBC News

“Women voters are set to play a pivotal role in November’s general election as both parties court the key demographic and as reproductive rights emerge as a major motivating issue on both sides of the aisle.” The Hill’s Julia Manchester and Julia Mueller break down several important categories of women voters that could swing November’s election.

“Top Democrats acknowledge that President Biden won’t win this year by the same Electoral College landslide he won by in 2020, conceding that winning in Arizona and Georgia will be tough given Biden’s low approval rating.”

Yes, but: “Democrats are counting on what’s called the ‘blue wall’ in the Midwest: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where Biden has seen an uptick in polling numbers and where his effort to rebuild domestic manufacturing is most likely to pay off.”

Just talk to That Midwestern Mom!

The Biden administration announced its plans this morning to forgive more student loans.

Who will benefit?:

• Borrowers who have been paying their loans for 20 years.
• Borrowers with “runaway interest.”
• Borrowers experiencing hardship.
• Borrowers who attended schools deemed low value by the Department of Education.

How broad is this?: Biden’s plan could cut debt for roughly 30 million Americans, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Any expected hiccups?: Yes, the plans will almost certainly be challenged in court if finalized.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) to-do list is piling up with an especially tricky dynamic of an election year.

What’s on Schumer’s bipartisan wish list?: “Rail safety legislation, a cannabis banking package and potential work on Big Tech, including a kids’ safety bill and on the future of TikTok.”

The must-pass items for 2024: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act renewal and Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization. Plus, Congress is expected to fund some or all of the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild in Baltimore.

Read Al Weaver’s take on Schumer’s complicated to-do list.

🍴 Celebrate: Today is National Empanada Day!

⛹️‍♀️ Yes! This!: The Athletic’s Jim Trotter writes that “South Carolina and Iowa prove if ‘given an opportunity, women’s sports just thrives.’” (The Athletic)

🚗  A casual 700,000 miles in a Porsche: The Wall Street Journal’s A.J. Baime writes: “He Wants to Drive a Million Miles in His Porsche. He’s Not That Far Off.” The full read

The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in Wisconsin and Illinois today, and Vice President Harris is in Pennsylvania. (all times Eastern)

• 2:15 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks in Madison, Wis., on lowering costs for Americans. 💻 Livestream
• 3 p.m.: The Senate returns from recess! 📆 Today’s agenda
• 4:55 p.m.: Harris hosts a roundtable on lowering costs for Americans. 💻 Livestream
• 5:30 p.m.: A Senate cloture vote.
• 5:45 p.m.: Biden attends a campaign reception in Chicago.
• 10:20 p.m.: Biden returns to the White House.