Evening Report — Total eclipse of the sun

Did you see her? The total solar eclipse crossed through parts of the United States this afternoon — with a 87.4 percent total solar eclipse crossing over Washington, D.C. at around 3:20 p.m. — with millions of Americans gathering to view the rare celestial event.

Those in the path of totality — where the entirety of the sun is eclipsed by the moon — experienced about four and a half minutes of darkness and briefly lower temperatures before the sun began to reemerge.

There won’t be another eclipse for 75 years. 

The Hill kept up with all of the eclipse news this afternoon. Catch up below (and see some great pics here!) 

❗President Biden had a special safety reminder ahead of the eclipse: “Don’t be silly, folks.” 

📺 Former President Trump had a special message for eclipse watchers, too.

👋 It’s all happening: The eclipse came just as lawmakers were returning from their Easter recess.

🕶️ What to do with your eclipse glasses after it’s over. (The Hill)

💒 Total eclipse of the heart(s): Russellville, Ark., hosted more than 300 couples who said their “I Dos” as the moon blocked the sun.

• The event, dubbed “Elope at the Eclipse,” featured country singer Craig Wayne Boyd, who served as officiant for the hundreds gathering in the path of totality. Thirty bands joined the festivities, which was free for couples who wanted to tie the knot. (People)

📅  In case you missed it: The Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Ohio advised that if the weather was bad or people had to miss the eclipse where they were for any reason, “the museum has set an alternate rain date for Monday, September 14, 2099.” So be sure to mark that on your calendars…

Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Liz Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.

Shares in Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of former President Trump’s Truth Social platform, continue to fall. The stocks dipped another 10 percent at the start of the trading week Monday.

Trump Media’s shares were around $36 as of Monday morning, after closing at about $40 Friday. It’s been a steep fall after shares initially hit above $79 after going public just weeks ago.

The downward slide began last week, following a reported $58 million loss in 2023, and, according to regulatory filings, Trump Media generated nearly $4.1 million in revenue last year and spent about $16 million on operating expenses and $39.4 million on interest expenses.

Devin Nunes, Trump Media CEO, claimed in a Sunday interview on Fox News that the company is “well positioned” to turn profitable.

“Even if you take the ridiculous cost that it took us to get to this point, we are well positioned,” Nunes told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo.

(The Hill)

It’s a busy Monday for the Biden campaign as President Biden, first lady Jill Biden and Vice President Harris are all on the campaign trail.

Biden’s campaign is focusing on the Midwest states, or “the blue wall,” where he has seen an uptick in poll numbers due to his stance on abortion and bringing more manufacturing jobs to the U.S.

According to The Hill’s Alexander Bolton, “Democratic presidential candidates have carried Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in every election going back to 1992 with the glaring exception of 2016, when Trump won all three states by narrow margins — fewer than 80,000 voters across the three.”

If Biden were to sweep all three states, he would could essentially count on being reelected.

If Biden sweeps Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin again, he would be virtually assured The president started in Wisconsin, where he announced his newest student loan relief plan. He will then travel to Chicago for a campaign reception before returning to the White House tonight. Jill Biden will be in St. Louis headlining a fundraiser.

Harris is in Philadelphia, where she joined sky-gazers in watching the solar eclipse and will participate in a roundtable discussion on the administration’s efforts to lower costs for Americans this afternoon.

Former President Trump will be in Pennsylvania this weekend.

President Biden announced his newest plan to tackle student loan relief, outlining steps he wants to take after Congress has rejected efforts to pass legislation.

“The Biden-Harris Administration plans to release proposed rules on these plans over the coming months. If these plans are finalized as proposed, this fall the Administration would begin canceling up to $20,000 in interest for millions of borrowers and full loan forgiveness for millions more,” the administration said in a statement.

The proposal would grant $20,000 in loan forgiveness for balances that have grown due to unpaid interest. Those who qualify would get the full balance of their unpaid interest forgiven. (The Hill)

“It’s beginning to look a lot like 2016,” writes Becket Adams, writer and program director for the National Journalism Center.

“The West is failing to rise to the challenge of Russia’s threat,” writes Alexander J. Motyl, political science professor at Rutgers University-Newark. 

98 days until the Republican National Convention. 

133 days until the Democratic National Convention.  

210 days until the 2024 general election.

11:35 p.m. Monday: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is slated to be on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”