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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: Trump pushes to question whistleblower | Pompeo rejects Dem demands over impeachment inquiry | Barr asked other countries to help with Russia inquiry | Red-state Dems worry about impeachment fallout | Schiff becomes public face of impeachment drive | Third quarter fundraising – Sanders raises $25M, Buttigieg brings in $19.1M | Watchdog says DEA allowed opioid production to increase despite overdoses | Mouse falls from White House ceiling | National Homemade Cookies Day

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

I just wanna talk:

This morning, 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 said he wants to meet with the whistleblower whose complaint started a House impeachment inquiry. http://bit.ly/2oSU026

Trump tweeted: "So if the so-called 'Whistleblower' has all second hand information, and almost everything he has said about my 'perfect' call with the Ukrainian President is wrong (much to the embarrassment of Pelosi & Schiff), why aren't we entitled to interview & learn everything about the Whistleblower, and also the person who gave all of the false information to him. This is simply about a phone conversation that could not have been nicer, warmer, or better. No pressure at all (as confirmed by Ukrainian Pres.). It is just another Democrat Hoax!" http://bit.ly/2p0vKLF

Rejected:

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE rejected demands from House Democrats for five current and former State Department officials to testify. http://bit.ly/2nx8FQd

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Pompeo's reasoning: Pompeo said there is "no legal basis" for the committee's threat for the officials to testify and said it raised "significant legal and procedural concerns."

Pompeo wrote in a letter: "I'm concerned with aspects of your request that can be understood only as an attempt to intimidate, bully and treat improperly the distinguished professionals of the Department of State, including several career Foreign Service Officers."

SEB? AS IN SEB GORKA?:

Former White House aide Sebastian Gorka Sebastian Lukacs GorkaSunday shows preview: Trump, lawmakers weigh in on COVID-19, masks and school reopenings amid virus surge Trump taps Gorka for national security advisory board Sunday shows preview: Coronavirus poses questions about school safety; Trump commutes Roger Stone sentence MORE is traveling with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on his trip to the Vatican. How: NBC News is reporting that Gorka is traveling as a member of the media. http://bit.ly/2p0BvsF

Literally ~in the White House~ this morning:

In other news: A mouse literally fell out of the ceiling in our White House booth and landed on my lap. — Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) October 1, 2019

Insert rat jokes here.

Here's a photo of the mouse hunt that ensued: This is pretty funny. http://bit.ly/2ogW2c0

It's Tuesday. It is officially October! 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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DEVELOPMENT IN THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

It wasn't just Ukraine

William Barr Bill BarrFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Why a backdoor to encrypted data is detrimental to cybersecurity and data integrity FBI official who worked with Mueller raised doubts about Russia investigation MORE asked other countries to help:

Via The Washington Post's Devlin Barrett, Shane Harris and Matt Zapotosky, "Attorney General William P. Barr has held private meetings overseas with foreign intelligence officials seeking their help in a Justice Department inquiry that President Trump hopes will discredit U.S. intelligence agencies' examination of possible connections between Russia and members of the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the matter." https://wapo.st/2ocgNFR

Which countries: Italy, Australia and the U.K.

Read the full Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/2ocgNFR

FOR EXAMPLE:

During a recent phone call, President Trump asked Australia's prime minister to assist Attorney General William Barr in gathering information to help the president dispute the special counsel's Russia investigation. https://nyti.ms/2obJgf7

And after the call: "The White House curbed access to a transcript of the call -- which the president made at Mr. Barr's request -- to a small group of aides, one of the officials said. The restriction was unusual and similar to the handling of a July call with the Ukrainian president that is at the heart of House Democrats' impeachment inquiry." https://nyti.ms/2obJgf7

RIGHT AFTER THE REPORT CAME OUT:

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said President Trump contacted foreign countries at the request of Barr to ask for help with the origins of the Russia investigation. http://bit.ly/2oekASW

From Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec: "As the Department of Justice has previously announced, a team led by U.S. Attorney John DurhamJohn DurhamSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Barr's Russia investigator has put some focus on Clinton Foundation: report Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE is investigating the origins of the U.S. counterintelligence probe of the Trump 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Durham is gathering information from numerous sources, including a number of foreign countries. At Attorney General Barr's request, the President has contacted other countries to ask them to introduce the Attorney General and Mr. Durham to appropriate officials."

Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamLincoln Project mocks Lindsey Graham's fundraising lag with Sarah McLachlan-themed video The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election Trump dumbfounds GOP with latest unforced error MORE IS ASKING COUNTRIES TO COOPERATE:

During an interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity Sean Patrick HannityFormer Florida attorney general calls Kyle Rittenhouse 'a little boy out there trying to protect his community' Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Cruz: Trump should nominate a Supreme Court justice next week MORE yesterday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he is sending a letter to ask other countries to cooperate with the Justice Department's probe. http://bit.ly/2mCgkMI

In Graham's words: "Barr should be talking to Australia. He should be talking to Italy. He should be talking to the U.K. to find out if their intelligence services worked with our intelligence services improperly to open up a counterintelligence investigation of Trump's campaign. If he's not doing that he's not doing his job. So I'm going to write a letter to all three countries ... asking them to cooperate with Barr."

Watch Graham's appearance: http://bit.ly/2nvAmJb

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW AS THE UKRAINE FALLOUT WIDENS:

Context and details for each: http://bit.ly/2ojsScf

IN THE HOUSE

Playing the role of punching bag for the right ... Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffSchiff to subpoena top DHS official, alleges whistleblower deposition is being stonewalled Schiff claims DHS is blocking whistleblower's access to records before testimony GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power MORE:

Via The Hill's Morgan Chalfant, "House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has become the public face of the House Democratic impeachment drive, making him a focal point of President Trump's attacks on the effort." http://bit.ly/2oREq6T

For example: Trump called on Schiff to resign for "treason" after paraphrasing part of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Schiff is in the center of the drama: Schiff has had a key role in making the whistleblower complaint public.

How many times Trump has tweeted about Schiff since Thursday: Roughly a dozen.

IN THE SENATE

Why Senate Democrats are getting worried about the impeachment inquiry:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, Senate Democrats who represent red states are worried the House's impeachment inquiry will hurt any chance of the Democratic Party winning the Senate next year. http://bit.ly/2njIzAm

Democrats' reasoning: "These Democrats hope the House keeps its impeachment focus on the Ukraine controversy, and that Democrats act relatively quickly. If they do not, the red-state Democrats warn Trump could turn the tables on them."

IN OTHER NEWS

Opioid production increased as overdoses rose:

"The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) allowed drug makers to increase production of opioids even as overdose deaths were skyrocketing, according to a government watchdog's scathing report released Tuesday." http://bit.ly/2odc4DQ

Details: "While opioid overdose deaths grew by 71 percent per year between 2013 and 2017, the DEA authorized manufacturers to produce 'substantially larger amounts of opioids,' reads a report from the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General."

Read the report: http://bit.ly/2o9WFEv

A net neutrality ruling:

"A federal appeals court on Tuesday delivered a mixed ruling for net neutrality supporters and opponents alike, allowing the Federal Communications Commission's 2017 repeal to stand but striking down a provision blocking states from implementing their own open internet rules." http://bit.ly/2nsOX8c

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Show us the money:

Presidential campaigns have started releasing third quarter fundraising numbers.

HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:

Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.) raised $25.3 million in the third quarter. http://bit.ly/2njqUZz

South Bend, Ind., Mayor 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 raised $19.1 million in the last three months. http://bit.ly/2p2Nmqf

KEEP IN MIND ABOUT THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE NOT RELEASED THIS FUNDRAISING TOTALS YET:

“Campaigns have until Oct. 15 to file their fundraising and spending reports with the Federal Election Commission, though many candidates are expected to release fundraising totals beforehand.” http://bit.ly/2njqUZz

NOTABLE TWEETS

This video is a wild ride:

Crazy event at ORD. Heads up safety move by a ramp worker! pic.twitter.com/SQi5zB0Ooz — Kevin Klauer DO, EJD (@Emergidoc) September 30, 2019

It already has more than 10 million views.

Watch: http://bit.ly/2nsr4ha

I'm sorry, what?:

The Washington Post article: https://wapo.st/2og5tsc

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out.

President Trump is in Washington, D.C.

Vice President Pence has no public events on his schedule.

2 p.m. EDT: President Trump receives an intelligence briefing.

4 p.m. EDT: President Trump meets with Defense Secretary Mark Esper Mark EsperOvernight Defense: Stopgap spending measure awaits Senate vote | Trump nominates former Nunes aide for intelligence community watchdog | Trump extends ban on racial discrimination training to contractors, military Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Official: Pentagon has started 'prudent planning' for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May MORE.

Today: The 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Homemade Cookies Day.

Billy McFarland is behind this. I just know it:

This weekend's Nova Mac and Cheese Festival has been canceled due to "challenges that would have impacted the overall quality of the event." Details: http://bit.ly/2nuS93b

And because you made it this far, here's an alpaca in the mood to dance: http://bit.ly/2ohAH25