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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: Mulvaney defies House subpoena at last minute | Trump rails against public impeachment hearings | Details from White House tell-all book | Anonymous says officials considered 'midnight self-massacre' | Trump allies sound alarm over Dem gains | Trump mocks potential Bloomberg 2020 run | Trump not sure if he'll endorse Sessions | Spending, voting rights top House agenda for November | How Buttigieg eats a cinnamon roll | National Cappuccino Day

TALK OF THE MORNING

Xoxo, Gossip Girl:

Via The Washington Post's Philip Rucker, the writer of the infamous anonymous New York Times op-ed last year is claiming in a new book that senior White House officials considered resigning together last year in a "midnight self-massacre." https://wapo.st/32tAcR1

Why they decided against it, according to the anonymous author: Because they were afraid it would destabilize the government.

What we know about the anonymous writer: He or she is "a senior official in the Trump administration."

The writer on why he or she is remaining anonymous: "I have decided to publish this anonymously because this debate is not about me. It is about us. It is about how we want the presidency to reflect our country, and that is where the discussion should center. Some will call this 'cowardice.' My feelings are not hurt by the accusation. Nor am I unprepared to attach my name to criticism of President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE. I may do so, in due course."

When the book goes on sale: Nov. 19

What we know about the book: https://wapo.st/32tAcR1

REACTION FROM WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY STEPHANIE GRISHAM:

"The coward who wrote this book didn't put their name on it because it is nothing but lies. Real authors reach out to their subjects to get things fact checked -- but this person is in hiding, making that very basic part of being a real writer impossible. Reporters who choose to write about this farce should have the journalistic integrity to cover the book as what it is -- a work of fiction." https://wapo.st/32tAcR1

THROWBACK -- READ THE ANONYMOUS NEW YORK TIMES OP-ED FROM 2018:

"I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration: I work for the president but like-minded colleagues and I have vowed to thwart parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations." https://nyti.ms/2CmL60u

Happy Friday! 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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LATEST WITH THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

One minute before Mulvaney’s testimony — It’s a no from me:

Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney Mick MulvaneyOn The Money: House panel pulls Powell into partisan battles | New York considers hiking taxes on the rich | Treasury: Trump's payroll tax deferral won't hurt Social Security Blockchain trade group names Mick Mulvaney to board Mick Mulvaney to start hedge fund MORE defied a congressional subpoena for testimony this morning, one minute before the impeachment deposition was scheduled to start. http://bit.ly/2Q6dziW

Mulvaney’s reason for defying the subpoena: He asserted immunity.

From an official working on the inquiry: “This morning, one minute before his scheduled deposition was to start, Mr. Mulvaney’s outside counsel informed us that his client had been directed by the White House not to comply with the duly authorized subpoena and asserted 'absolute immunity’ ... If the White House had evidence to contest those facts, they would allow Mr. Mulvaney to be deposed, as three chiefs of staffs of President Clinton were during his impeachment proceedings.”

Back story: Last night, the House Intelligence Committee subpoenaed acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to testify in the impeachment inquiry. http://bit.ly/2qx32CS

THIS MORNING FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP:

President Trump told reporters that there should not be public hearings in the impeachment probe. http://bit.ly/36OsiF9

In Trump’s words: "They shouldn’t be having public hearings. This is a hoax.”

Why this is newsy: It’s a big break from his allies who have been arguing for weeks that the closed-door hearings are not transparent.

And on why his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney would not appear: Trump said he did not want to “give credibility to a corrupt witch hunt ... I’d love to have Mick go up, frankly.” http://bit.ly/2Q6dziW

'The key is Joe and Hunter'

*All look in other directions like they didn't hear*:

Via The Hill's Jordain Carney, President Trump is pushing for conservatives to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE and his son Hunter Biden as part of the impeachment trial, but congressional Republicans are not on board. http://bit.ly/2NvUi8U

For example -- Sen. John Cornyn John CornynHillicon Valley: Productivity, fatigue, cybersecurity emerge as top concerns amid pandemic | Facebook critics launch alternative oversight board | Google to temporarily bar election ads after polls close Lawmakers introduce legislation to boost cybersecurity of local governments, small businesses On The Trail: Making sense of this week's polling tsunami MORE (R-Texas) told The Hill: "His lawyers, I presume, can ask for any witnesses they want. But I think we ought to keep focus on the articles of impeachment and not go down any rabbit trails."

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Hello and what can I interest you in today?

You got your state-of-the-art Democrat. You got your new Democrat...:

According to a New York Times/Siena College poll, a majority of voters in battleground states prefer a moderate Democrat who would work with Republicans over a candidate with a "bold progressive agenda." http://bit.ly/2qvXMzw

Which states: Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona and Florida

The number: 55 percent of those polled said they would rather the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee be more moderate than most Democrats. 39 percent said the nominee should be more liberal.

The full poll: https://nyti.ms/34J1ggS

Meanwhile on the Trump campaign -- wee woo, wee woo

--> http://bit.ly/33vAxEj ;)

Via The Hill's Jonathan Easley, "Senior members of President Trump's 2016 campaign are sounding the alarm, warning that Democratic enthusiasm for impeachment and Republican weakness in the suburbs could spell trouble for the president as he embarks on his reelection campaign." http://bit.ly/2NtdoMW

From former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon: "Trump has nationalized politics, he's now popular culture, these are votes on Trump, you have to face that fact ... There's time to turn that around but this is the reelect right here. What happens [with impeachment] in the next six weeks is the reelect, and it has to be treated like that. And everybody's got to get to the f----- ramparts."

Keep in mind about Bannon: He launched a radio show focused on defending President Trump in the impeachment process.

What did the poor cinnamon roll do to deserve this, Pete?!:

i don't care what your politics are, it is illegal to cut a cinnamon roll into pieces with a knife and then eat it like a chicken wing pic.twitter.com/x1GFl1HNz1 — Liz Charboneau (@lizchar) November 7, 2019

Make sure to really zoom in to see the remnants of this former cinnamon roll: http://bit.ly/2qxwrgc

TIDBIT:

Via Eater's Gary He, here is a look at Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE's campaign trail diet: http://bit.ly/2X5zOY9

New candidates to watch:

– Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Michael BloombergBloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida Democratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida Bloomberg pays fines for 32,000 felons in Florida so they can vote MORE has signaled interest in jumping into the 2020 presidential race. https://nyti.ms/2NRXfzN

REACTION FROM TRUMP -- THERE IT IS:

President Trump commented on reports that Michael Bloomberg may jump into the race. "There's nobody I'd rather run against than little Michael," Trump said. (Via The New York Times's Annie Karni) http://bit.ly/2NuN4lD

-- Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsRoy Moore sues Alabama over COVID-19 restrictions GOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs MORE announced yesterday that he is running for his old Senate seat in Alabama. http://bit.ly/34GKUFf

REACTION FROM TRUMP -- WE WILL SEE:

When asked about endorsing Sessions's Senate bid, President Trump said, "well I haven't gotten involved. I saw he said very nice things about me last night. But we'll have to see. He then added: "I haven't made a determination," but admitted that Sessions has "tough competition" in the Alabama Senate race. http://bit.ly/2rsmC3J

IN CONGRESS

Those are November problems:

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton HoyerHouse to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power 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 Vulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' MORE (D-Md.) announced this morning that the House will take up government funding and voting rights over the next two weeks. Details: http://bit.ly/2qzyVuu

PACs are trendy:

Via The Hill's Alex Gangitano, "a third of progressives in Congress's freshman class have formed leadership PACs, a move that has helped lawmakers raise their profile within the party but also drawn scrutiny from outside liberal groups decrying the influence of money in politics." http://bit.ly/32sJQU9

For comparison: "Seven out of the 21 first-year lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) have leadership PACs, compared with three at this point in the previous Congress."

NOTABLE TWEETS

Dads on social media...:

Watch: http://bit.ly/2CoHx9V

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out. President Trump and Vice President Pence are both in Georgia for the afternoon.

9 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence participates in a moon tree planting.

9:45 a.m. EST: President Trump leaves for Georgia.

11:35 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence leaves for Georgia.

12:45 p.m. EST: President Trump participates in a roundtable with supporters in Atlanta, Ga.

1:25 p.m. EST: President Trump speaks at a fundraising committee luncheon.

2:40 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence speaks at the "Black Voices for Trump Coalition" rollout.

5:25 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence gets back to Washington, D.C.

6:15 p.m. EST: President Trump gets back to Washington, D.C.

WHAT TO WATCH

9 a.m. EST: Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie Robert Leon WilkieAtlantic editor: Reporting on Trump comments about fallen service members has only just begun Sunday shows - Stimulus, election preparations dominate Veterans Affairs secretary defends Trump: 'I judge a man by his actions' MORE held a press briefing. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2zl0CZY

1 p.m. EST: Former Vice President Joe Biden holds a campaign rally in New Hampshire. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2NW2ApR

3 p.m. EST: President Trump speaks at the "Black Voices for Trump Coalition" rollout. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2JXenmD

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Cappuccino Day.

Looking for plans?:

Via Washingtonian's Catherine P. Lewis, here's a list of activities in the Washington, D.C. area this weekend: http://bit.ly/34Fxb1A

And to get your weekend off to the right start, here's a duckling who needs a little extra help with the stairs: http://bit.ly/2NtuF8V