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--> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*

*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha--breaks down crying hysterically.

The Hill's 12:30 Report: Washington braces for Mueller testimony | Trump renews attacks on 'highly conflicted' Mueller | 10 questions for Mueller | Key numbers on Mueller's testimony | Trump hits 'squad' as 'racist group of troublemakers' | Pelosi, Mnuchin 'near' final budget, debt deal | Scientists discover tiny glow-in-the-dark sharks

NEWS THIS MORNING

Trump got in a few jabs this morning:

President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE attacked Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's credibility this morning ahead of the former special counsel's public testimony on Wednesday. http://bit.ly/2YdF0ft

Trump tweeted: "Highly conflicted Robert Mueller should not be given another bite at the apple. In the end it will be bad for him and the phony Democrats in Congress who have done nothing but waste time on this ridiculous Witch Hunt. Result of the Mueller Report, NO COLLUSION, NO OBSTRUCTION! ... But the questions should be asked, why were all of Clinton's people given immunity, and why were the text messages of Peter S and his lover, Lisa Page, deleted and destroyed right after they left Mueller, and after we requested them (this is Illegal)?" http://bit.ly/2Ybi0cF

It's Monday. 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.

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TWO DAYS UNTIL ROBERT MUELLER'S TESTIMONY

Wait, Robert who?:

Former special counsel Robert Mueller is on Capitol Hill this week giving his first public testimony since his 22-month investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. http://bit.ly/2YdF0ft

10 QUESTIONS FOR ROBERT MUELLER:

Reasoning for each: http://bit.ly/2JJ8hXc

A FEW KEY NUMBERS IN THE INVESTIGATION:

Former special counsel Robert Mueller charged 37 people and entities throughout the probe.

charged people and entities throughout the probe. Mueller referred 14 instances of possible criminal activity beyond the scope of his investigation.

instances of possible criminal activity beyond the scope of his investigation. Mueller's only public remarks about the investigation lasted for 9 minutes.

More interesting numbers: http://bit.ly/2JI8s4W

Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2YlvoPI

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

"I wish that I could bake a cake made out of rainbows and smiles and we'd all eat it and be happy...":

--> http://bit.ly/2Gm9nGe;)

This morning, President Trump complained about media coverage in the fallout of his incendiary tweets where he told telling four Democratic congresswomen to "go back" to their countries. http://bit.ly/2Y9raXk

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One of Trump's four tweets: "The Mainstream Media is out of control. They constantly lie and cheat in order to get their Radical Left Democrat views out their for all to see. It has never been this bad. They have gone bonkers, & no longer care what is right or wrong. This large scale false reporting is sick!"

Trump criticized a Washington Post report in particular: "The Amazon Washington Post front page story yesterday was total Fake News. They said 'Advisors wrote new talking points and handed him reams of opposition research on the four Congresswomen.' Now really, does that sound like me?"

The Washington Post report that Trump was referring to: "'He always doubles down': Inside the political crisis caused by Trump's racist tweets." https://wapo.st/2Y41aN2

LATE THIS MORNING -- ARE WE UP TO OCTUPLING DOWN YET?:

President Trump slammed the group of four progressive congresswomen for being a "racist group of troublemakers." http://bit.ly/2Y5iFN2

Trump tweeted: "The 'Squad' is a very Racist group of troublemakers who are young, inexperienced, and not very smart. They are pulling the once great Democrat Party far left, and were against humanitarian aid at the Border...And are now against ICE and Homeland Security. So bad for our Country!" http://bit.ly/2Y5iFN2

Trump paid his respects to the late Supreme Court Justice Stevens:

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power FBI director casts doubt on concerns over mail-in voting fraud Trump: 'We could hardly hear' boos, chanting at Supreme Court MORE traveled to the Supreme Court this morning to pay respects to the body of former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Stevens is lying in repose at the court. Keep in mind: Trump did not make any public remarks. http://bit.ly/2Y5xpeR

IN CONGRESS

*Cue the 'Shark Tank' theme music*

Do we have a deal?:

--> http://bit.ly/2lqk5lR;)

Via The Hill's Jordain Carney, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Trump signs largely symbolic pre-existing conditions order amid lawsuit MORE (D-Calif) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Vulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' Pelosi asks panels to draft new COVID-19 relief measure MORE have reached a "near-final agreement" on a two-year budget deal. http://bit.ly/2Y8Vmlh

What we know about the deal: "The emerging deal includes an increase in top-line defense and nondefense spending numbers for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, which are used to craft government funding bills. It would also suspend the debt limit until July 31, 2021."

Aside from the Robert Mueller testimony this week...:

Budget negotiations: The White House and Congress are hoping to iron out a two-year budget deal before lawmakers leave for August recess.

9/11 victims aid: The Senate is expected to vote to extend the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund that the House passed last week.

The border: The House is expected to work on legislation by Rep. Veronica Escobar Veronica EscobarHispanic caucus report takes stock of accomplishments with eye toward 2021 Races heat up for House leadership posts Ahead of a coronavirus vaccine, Mexico's drug pricing to have far-reaching impacts on Americans MORE (D-Texas) to add more oversight to the Department of Homeland Security.

Nominations: The Senate is expected to vote on the confirmation of Mark Esper to be Defense secretary.

Context and details for each from The Hill's Jordain Carney and Juliegrace Brufke: http://bit.ly/2YhwV9l

TIMING FOR CONGRESS:

The House is expected to leave town for August recess this Friday. The Senate is scheduled to leave next week. http://bit.ly/2YhwV9l

Over the weekend -- field trip!:

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish MORE (D-N.Y.) led a group of Senate Democrats to visit the U.S.-Mexico border and inspect migrant detention facilities. http://bit.ly/2Yi0WpO

REACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT:

President Trump called Schumer's trip a "GREAT thing." Trump also said he will set up a meeting with Schumer after the trip. http://bit.ly/2YhpUp1

Trump tweeted: "Senator Chuck Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish MORE has finally gone to the Southern Border with some Democrat Senators. This is a GREAT thing! Nearby, he missed a large group of Illegal Immigrants trying to enter the USA illegally. They wildly rushed Border Patrol. Some Agents were badly injured. Based on the comments made by Senator Schumer, he must have seen how dangerous & bad for our Country the Border is. It is not a 'manufactured crisis,' as the Fake News Media & their Democrat partners tried to portray. He said he wants to meet. I will set up a meeting ASAP!" http://bit.ly/2YgpcbL

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Warren makes an economic prediction:

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) warned that an "economic crash" is coming. http://bit.ly/2YdJqmw

She wrote in an essay on Medium: "I warned about an economic crash years before the 2008 crisis, but the people in power wouldn't listen. Now I'm seeing serious warning signs in the economy again -- and I'm calling on regulators and Congress to act before another crisis costs America's families their homes, jobs, and savings."

Read her post: http://bit.ly/2YdJqmw

Why this is newsy: Warren's message is a stark contrast from President Trump, who is touting the strong economy as a central theme of his reelection campaign.

IN OTHER NEWS

Everything is political these days:

Via The Hill's Jordan Fabian and Jacqueline Thomsen, "the nation's courts have become a central battleground for President Trump's policy agenda, posing challenges for the third branch of government that has long sought to insulate itself from partisan politics." http://bit.ly/2YoiOiy

Why the courts are getting more partisan: "As more of the president's policies fail to gain traction in Congress, he has increasingly turned to executive actions to set them in place. Outside groups have filed lawsuit after lawsuit challenging those measures, leaving their fate in judges' hands. Courts have long played a role in sorting out messy policy fights, but legal experts who spoke to The Hill believe the growing polarization in Washington has increasingly thrust the courts into the political realm."

NOTABLE TWEETS

I mean, she has a point:

You can’t put a bear on a state flag and then act surprised when it shows up for a town hall meeting https://t.co/fr0cvcvG2g — Dragana (@draganakaurin) July 19, 2019

ON TAP

The Senate meets this afternoon. The House is out until tomorrow. President Trump is in Washington, D.C., and Vice President Pence is in Colorado.

Noon–2:15 p.m. EDT: President Trump meets with the prime minister of Pakistan and holds an expanded bilateral working lunch.

1:40 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence speaks at the Gardner Victory luncheon in Windsor, Colo.

3 p.m. EDT: The Senate meets. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2JIOg2X

4:35 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence speaks at a Trump campaign reception in Aspen, Colo.

5:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate votes.

July 24: The Hill is hosting the third annual "Latino Leaders Summit." Details and how to RSVP: http://bit.ly/2lKv6jR

July 25: The Hill interviews Sens. Sens. Mike Braun Michael BraunPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal McConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package Patient Protection Pledge offers price transparency MORE (R-Ind.) and Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne BaldwinSenators introduce bipartisan bill to mandate digital apps disclose country of origin Keep teachers in the classroom Cher raised million for Biden campaign at LGBTQ-themed fundraiser MORE (D-Wis.) during an event on lowering drug prices. Details and how to RSVP: http://bit.ly/2Yn2RJq

WHAT TO WATCH

This morning: Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy Klobuchar3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE (D-Minn.) spoke at an event hosted by The Washington Post. https://cs.pn/2Y4ye7v

Today: The body of former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens lies in repose at the Supreme Court. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2Yi1Na0

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Penuche Fudge Day.

Getting traction -- *Click*:

Via CNN, "Scientists discovered a new species of tiny sharks that glow in the dark." Details and photo: https://cnn.it/2YdGciU

And because this made me laugh, here's a dog caught on camera being a total drama queen: http://bit.ly/2YrRbpb

This is exactly how I felt whenever I had to go outside this past weekend.