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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: Key White House witness testifying | Army officer says he reported concerns about Trump pressuring Ukraine | Trump questions officer's credibility | House to vote on impeachment procedures | GOP says vote is too little, too late | Impeachment boosts Dem hopes for taking Senate | Judge blocks Alabama abortion law | Dog that aided al-Baghdadi raid goes viral | World Series Game 6 preview | Taco Bell's free tacos

LATEST WITH THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

Happening today -- the testimony is getting personal:

The Ukraine expert on the National Security Council is testifying today that he heard 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 pressure Ukraine 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 that he twice reported his concerns to his superiors. http://bit.ly/32ZgC0i

Who: Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an Army officer and White House official.

Read his opening statement, obtained by The Hill: http://bit.ly/2q5gAoJ

From his opening statement: "I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the U.S. government's support of Ukraine. I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained."

Video of Vindman arriving on Capitol Hill: http://bit.ly/2MVkpWx

Photo of Vindman walking through security: http://bit.ly/2q5kvlr

Photo of Vindman walking into the hearing: http://bit.ly/32YqMhs

FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS MORNING:

The president tweeted, "Supposedly, according to the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call 'concerned' today's Never Trumper witness. Was he on the same call that I was? Can't be possible! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt!" http://bit.ly/31R7JV2

More of his tweets against the impeachment inquiry this morning: http://bit.ly/31XEYpQ

NEW -- THE HOUSE WANTS A MICK MULVANEY AIDE TO TESTIFY:

Via CNN's Jeremy Diamond, "The House committees conducting the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump are seeking testimony from Robert Blair, an assistant to the President and senior adviser to acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, a source familiar with the request told CNN. https://cnn.it/31ZZ7vb

Keep in mind: Blair was on the infamous July 25 call between Trump and the president of Ukraine.

It's Tuesday. 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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Happening on Thursday -- the first House impeachment-related vote:

House Democrats are voting on impeachment procedures on Thursday to cut off Republican arguments about what they call an unfair process. http://bit.ly/36d7Ai4

Why now: Democrats insist that a vote to open an impeachment inquiry is not necessary, but the White House and Republicans argue they do not have to cooperate with the probe because it was never officially opened. Democrats continue to argue that a vote to open the inquiry is not required, so instead, this vote will establish procedures related to the impeachment process.

Reasoning: "As a result, it could be an easier vote for centrist lawmakers who do not want to take a formal vote on launching an impeachment investigation. Pelosi has steadily sought to protect such members. All the same, it could also be used by Democrats to push back at GOP arguments over the process of impeachment."

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' Overnight Health Care: New wave of COVID-19 cases builds in US | Florida to lift all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, bars | Trump stirs questions with 0 drug coupon plan Overnight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds MORE (D-Calif.) explained her reasoning in a letter to House Dems: "We are taking this step to eliminate any doubt as to whether the Trump Administration may withhold documents, prevent witness testimony, disregard duly authorized subpoenas, or continue obstructing the House of Representatives."

When to expect the text of the resolution: House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) plans to introduce the resolution today before tomorrow's committee markup.

REACTION FROM TOP HOUSE REPUBLICANS:

To quote Jojo, "it's just too little, too late." http://bit.ly/2WnXzdg

HOW YESTERDAY'S CANCELED TESTIMONY ESCALATES IMPEACHMENT TENSIONS:

http://bit.ly/338MXl2

NEWS THIS MORNING

Federal judge temporarily blocks Alabama's abortion ban:

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Alabama's near-total abortion ban that would have taken effect next month. http://bit.ly/32YSk6j

Why: Judge Myron Thompson wrote that the law "contravenes clear Supreme Court precedent" and "defies the United States Constitution."

The judge also added: "It violates the right of an individual to privacy, to make 'choices central to personal dignity and autonomy.'"

Keep in mind: The ban would not have excepted cases of rape or incest and doctors who performed the procedure illegally would face up to 99 years in prison.

Read the court documents: http://bit.ly/2Wm7iRo

LATEST WITH ISIS LEADER'S DEATH

Expect a lot of loudly typed angry emails about this:

Via The Hill's Rebecca Kheel, "Democrats are furious they were not told ahead of time about the raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and are now pressing for a full briefing on what happened."

The White House's defense: "Trump and his deputies have defended the decision not to notify Democrats, accusing them of leaking. And two of the president's top Republican allies said Monday they too were not told in advance of the raid."

Democrats are angry about the pattern: "But Democrats say Trump's failure to brief them ahead of the operation is part of a pattern evident since he announced he was withdrawing U.S. troops from northern Syria earlier this month."

From 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.): "For almost a month now, we've been requesting an all-senators briefing from the administration on its Syria policy. And according to reports, the Trump administration gave Russia and Turkey some kind of advanced notice of the raid of al-Baghdadi but, seemingly by deliberate choice, neglected to notify the leaders of Congress as is custom in this case."

¯\_(ツ)_/¯:

Yesterday, a top Pentagon official said he did not know where President Trump got the details about Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's death that he shared during his news conference. http://bit.ly/2q3S8UM

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley told reporters: "I know the president had planned to talk down to the unit and unit members. But I don't know what the source of that was. I assume it was talking directly to unit and unit members."

What this means for President Trump:

Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, "President Trump scored a significant success with the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on Saturday. But political experts on both sides of the partisan divide say it is unlikely to reshape his domestic fortunes." http://bit.ly/368ieXk

Analysis from Republicans and Democrats: http://bit.ly/368ieXk

Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2MUi6Dl

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

The Senate could be in play next year:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, "Impeachment is raising the likelihood that the Senate will be a real battleground next year, and that Democrats could regain the majority." http://bit.ly/2JwYwuO

What would need to happen party control to switch: "Much will need to go right for Democrats to take back control. They would need to net three seats and the White House, and that's with many in the party expecting to lose Sen. Doug Jones's (D) seat in Alabama. Yet Democratic hopes are rising given the steady series of negative headlines surrounding President Trump, which have put Republicans on the back foot."

Why it's a tough time for Republicans: "GOP senators are likely to have to vote on Trump's impeachment before voters go to the polls next November, which could be a problem for vulnerable incumbents such as Sens. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' Poll: 57 percent of Americans think next president, Senate should fill Ginsburg vacancy On The Trail: Making sense of this week's polling tsunami MORE (Maine), Cory Gardner Cory Scott GardnerBreaking the Chinese space addiction Trump dumbfounds GOP with latest unforced error Billionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden MORE (Colo.), Martha McSally Martha Elizabeth McSallyOn The Trail: Making sense of this week's polling tsunami The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (Ariz.), Joni Ernst Joni Kay ErnstOn The Trail: Making sense of this week's polling tsunami Tillis appears to reinforce question about COVID-19 death toll The power of incumbency: How Trump is using the Oval Office to win reelection MORE (Iowa) and Thom Tillis Thomas (Thom) Roland TillisOvernight Energy: Trump officials finalize plan to open up protected areas of Tongass to logging | Feds say offshore testing for oil can proceed despite drilling moratorium | Dems question EPA's postponement of inequality training On The Trail: Making sense of this week's polling tsunami Feds say offshore testing for oil can proceed despite drilling moratorium MORE (N.C.). Four of them were outraised by their Democratic opponents in the third quarter of 2019 and all five have higher disapproval than approval ratings in their home states, according to a Morning Consult tracking poll."

NOTABLE TWEETS

12/10 would give all my treats to:

ON TAP

The House and Senate are in.

10 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence meets with veterans in Fort Hood, Texas.

12:30–2:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate meets for weekly caucus luncheons. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/34620My

12:45 p.m. EDT: President Trump has lunch with 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.

1:45 p.m. EDT: President Trump meets with the 2019 recipients of the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking.

1:45 p.m. EDT: First votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/34935mT

2:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump receives an intelligence briefing.

2:45 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence speaks at a fundraising luncheon in Austin, Texas.

4:45 p.m. EDT: Last votes in the House.

6:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump participates in a roundtable with supporters at Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C.

6:50 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence gets back to Washington, D.C.

7:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump speaks at a joint fundraising committee reception.

2 a.m. Sunday: The clocks turn back one hour. http://bit.ly/2pmWPcr

WHAT TO WATCH

10:40 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence delivers remarks to service members and veterans at Fort Hood. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2MZnpS5

2 p.m. EDT: State Department officials testify before a House subcommittee on the policy in the Middle East. Livestream: https://cs.pn/34gieD3

8:07 p.m. EDT: Game 6 of the World Series. MLB.com game preview: https://atmlb.com/2BP7y1U

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Oatmeal Day.

Taaaaaacos:

Taco Bell is giving away free Doritos Locos Tacos Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m. EDT. http://bit.ly/2WmmjCQ

Why: "Washington Nationals Trea Turner stole second base during game one of the series... hence everyone getting a taco."

And to break up your Tuesday afternoon, here's a high tech way to keep your dog out of the kitchen: http://bit.ly/322gnAk