It’s Good Friday. Happy early Easter! 🐰🌷🥚🍫 Beyoncé finally released her new, country-inspired album “Cowboy Carter” at midnight! (Here’s the link to listen) Here’s what’s in today’s edition:

• It’s been one year since Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained in Russia. Keep reading for articles and statements on today’s milestone.
• President Biden held a glitzy fundraiser in New York City last night with former Presidents Obama and Clinton. He raised a whopping $26 million — and cracked a joke about his dog Commander.
• Former President Trump has been directing his latest attacks onto the judge’s daughter in his hush money case.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  

©  AP

A year ago today, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was put into a Russian prison on charges of espionage. “He was a fully accredited journalist on a reporting trip and was detained on an allegation of espionage, which he, his employer and the U.S. government vociferously deny.” Read the Journal’s story today

Here’s today’s front page of The Wall Street Journal — it’s very powerful.

And here’s the print version.

Read the letter from the Journal’s editor in chief

The Journal sent out a news alert: “This alert should have gone to a story by Evan,” it reads. Screenshot

If you’re wondering how you can help: Social media is a powerful tool. Readers can also write a message for Gershkovich and his family. How you can help

Politico’s Ryan Lizza spoke with Almar Latour, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, for an interesting read: “Inside the WSJ’s ‘Very Intense’ Effort to Free Evan Gershkovich.”

The New York Times spoke with Gershkovich’s parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich. “Every day is very hard — every day we feel that he is not here,” Milman said. “We want him at home, and it has been a year. It’s taken a toll.”

Senate leaders Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) released a joint statement today on Gershkovich.

“On the anniversary of Evan Gershkovich’s captivity, we reaffirm the importance of his work. Journalism is not a crime, and reporters are not bargaining chips. The Kremlin’s attempts to silence Evan and intimidate other Western reporters will not impede the pursuit of truth.” Read their full statement

©  AP

President Biden campaigned Thursday in New York City for a star-studded event at the Radio City Music Hall, featuring former Presidents Obama and Clinton — and comedian Stephen Colbert. Here are some of the highlights:

This photo is getting a lot of attention: The New York Times’s Doug Mills posted a photo of Obama walking with Biden to the car. I find the body language interesting.

📸 Biden and Obama walking off Air Force One

Just a casual $26 mil’: The fundraiser brought in roughly $26 million.

Some of the event prices: “A photo with all three is $100,000. A donation of $250,000 earns donors access to one reception, and $500,000 gets them into an even more exclusive gathering. ‘But the party doesn’t stop there,’ according to the campaign. First lady Jill Biden and DJ D-Nice are hosting an after-party at Radio City Music Hall with 500 guests.” (AP)

Biden had jokes: Biden joked that “Harry Truman said if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. I got one and it bit a Secret Service agent.” 💀

📹 Crowds lined up in the streets to see the motorcade

Yelling in the crowd: Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the event.

The Hill’s Alex Gangitano reports that “the media coverage of polls that show President Biden lagging behind former President Trump appears to be getting under the president’s skin.”

How so?: “While campaigning around the country, Biden has often complained to rooms full of donors about the coverage of polls, including how often the press focuses only on low survey numbers while ignoring more favorable ones.”

“The White House and the Biden campaign maintain that it’s too far out from Election Day to rely on polls, but the president has clearly shown he’s annoyed with how the press has handled surveys of voters.” (The Hill)

Former President Trump has not held back in slamming the families of the judges who are overseeing his criminal cases.

For example: Trump slammed the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan (who is overseeing the hush money case) for working for a progressive political consulting firm. Read Trump’s Truth social post

Didn’t Judge Merchan issue a gag order?: Yes, so Trump couldn’t go after witnesses, prosecutors, etc. But the gag order didn’t explicitly bar Trump from attacking the judge and his family.

Read more from The Hill’s Ella Lee: ‘Trump aims his ire at spouses, children of judges at heart of legal troubles’

The annual inflation rate rose to 2.5 percent in February, up 0.1 percentage points from January.

And consumer spending soared: “The slight February increase in inflation was in line with economist forecasts, but a 0.8 percent jump in consumer spending last month far exceeded expert projections. Analysts expected consumer spending to rise 0.3 percent in February. When adjusting for inflation, spending rose 0.4 percent in February after dipping 0.2 percent in January.” (The Hill)

• ‘Getting over high inflation is going to take some time’: Axios
• ‘Gold Is Rallying. It Isn’t About Inflation This Time.’: The Wall Street Journal
• ‘How retailers are profiting from inflation question gains new urgency from FTC report’: The Hill
• ‘What’s keeping egg prices high for Easter? It’s not just inflation’: AP

🍰  Celebrate: Today is National Chiffon Cake Day and National Pita Day.

🏓  Pickleballin’ Doug: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff posted a video, captioned: “Pickleballers for Biden-Harris.” 📹 Watch

☄️  I’m sorry, what did you say?: Space.com reports that “massive explosions may be visible on the sun during the April 8 total solar eclipse.” Space makes my head hurt.

✈️  This is both hilarious and absurd: Politico’s Eli Stokols, Lauren Egan and Ben Johanson report that Washington, D.C., journalists have been stealing items from Air Force One. What stuff?: Anything with the insignia on it — wine glasses, tumblers, etc.

Excerpt: “‘On my first flight, the person next to me was like, ‘You should take that glass,’’ one current White House reporter told West Wing Playbook. ‘They were like: ‘Everyone does it.’’ And they do.” The full reporting on the pilfering

The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in New York City for campaign events, and Vice President Harris is in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern)

• 12:10 p.m.: Biden and first lady Jill Biden leave New York and fly to Camp David.
• April 8: The Senate returns.
• April 9: The House returns.

To get your weekend off to a dramatic start, sit with this dog while he contemplates life.