Earlier this week, after a number of women came forward to make allegations against Joe Biden for “inappropriate behavior” that ranged from smelling their hair to a hug that lasted “for a beat too long,” the former V.P. released a video saying that he understands “social norms are changing,” and while politics for him has “always been about making connections,” he will “be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future.” In pondering whether or not to weigh in, a normal person with an ounce of self-awareness who happens to be closely associated with a phrase like “grab ’em by the pussy” and 23 allegations of sexual misconduct would probably choose to sit this one out. But Donald Trump, of course, is not a normal person. And that, coupled with a debilitating neurological disease in which every dumb thought that comes into his head must come out of his mouth, meant he had to wade in, re-tweeting a doctored version of Biden’s video in which Biden appears to touch his own shoulders and kiss his own neck:

Perhaps worried that some of his supporters might miss the clip, Trump pinned the video to the top of his Twitter feed for most of Friday morning, until other issues like The Wall, vilifying the press, and simply typing “jobs!” over and over took precedence.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for California, Trump was asked to specify what he finds offensive about the former V.P.’s behavior, and if he’s “the right messenger for that,” given all of the women he’s “moved on like a bitch.” To which Trump responded, essentially, Hell yeah, I’m the right messenger for this—you’ve seen all the disgusting things I’ve been accused of, right?

“I think I’m a very good messenger,” Trump said, adding about the video: “People got a kick out of it . . . We’ve got to sort of smile a bit.”

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Trump continues to insist the Fed take advice from a guy famous for declaring bankruptcy

Continuing in his attempt to bend the Federal Reserve to his will—which now includes a campaign to stack its board with his own personal goon squad, Trump repeated his demand on Friday that the central bank cut interest rates so he can ride the short-term, shortsighted growth explosion to a second term. “I personally think the Fed should drop rates. I think they really slowed us down,” he told reporters on his way to California. “There’s no inflation. I would say in terms of quantitative tightening, it should actually now be quantitative easing.” Laying the groundwork to blame Jerome Powell in the event his lofty economic promises don’t pan out, Trump claimed that if the Fed heeded his guidance, “You would see a rocket ship. Despite that, we’re doing very well.”

Trump’s lawyer warns letting Dems see his taxes would set dangerous precedent wherein lawmakers could find out if anybody had committed tax fraud

In a letter sent to the U.S. Treasury Department and the I.R.S. Friday, attorney William Consovoy insisted the agencies keep Trump’s tax returns under lock and key until Attorney General William Barr—who recently did the president a solid with that whole Mueller report business—can determine if House Democrats’ request is legal. (In fact, a 1924 provision in the Internal Revenue Code gives the chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee the authority to request the president’s—or anyone’s—tax returns from the I.R.S. in order to conduct an investigation.)

Claiming that the Dems have no “legitimate” reason to see Trump’s tax returns, the release of which “would set a dangerous precedent,” Consovoy claimed the request by House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal “is a transparent effort by one political party to harass an official from the other party because they dislike his politics and speech. Chairman Neal wants the president’s tax returns and return information because his party recently gained control of the House, the president is their political opponent, and they want to use the information to damage him politically.” Or, because they want to know if claims that the president spent years engaging in fraud, both from investigative reporters and his former lawyer, are accurate. It’s one of two things!

Praise be the gods of finance apparel

A terrifying report that Patagonia would no longer clothe the finance and tech bros of America, for whom the company’s fleece vests have become second skin, has turned out to be a false alarm:

According to Corley Kenna, senior director of global communications at Patagonia: “Several customers and some members of the press have asked us whether we’ve changed our policy regarding group sales—and whether we’re leaving ‘bros out in the cold.’ Bros, their sisters, mothers, and fathers need not go cold. We continue to sell to, and welcome the business of, the B-to-B companies and nonprofits who have been short- or long-term loyal customers—including those who order co-branded vests or other items that feature the group’s logo as well as ours.”

Elsewhere!

Rage within the machine: Brexit headline blizzard overloads FX algos (Reuters)

Man Who Bribed Son into Penn Guilty in $1.3 Billion Health Fraud (Bloomberg)

Trump Threatens Car Tariffs Unless Border Is Secured (W.S.J.)

The I.R.S. Tried to Take on the Ultrawealthy. It Didn’t Go Well. (ProPublica)

Where Rudy Giuliani’s Money Comes From (Bloomberg)

How U.S. college bribery scandal shattered a private-equity executive’s image (Financial Times)

First-quarter earnings are expected to be lousy, but the stock market may not care (CNBC)

Man Admits Ghost Did Not Plant Meth in His Home, Court Records Show (The Smoking Gun)

—The Ivanka e-mail bombshell

— The key to understanding the dark heart of the Mueller report is counter-intelligence

— Why some of the biggest names in publishing are resisting Apple’s pull

— The art world’s ultimate cage match

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