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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 — Presented by UANI — House Judiciary debates impeachment articles | Lawmakers clash at contentious hearing | Senate Democrats seek leverage over trial rules | Five takeaways from Horowitz's testimony | Pelosi, Trump trade deal sparks debate on left | Warren, Buttigieg duking it out | Buttigieg meets Lizzo | The Hill's Top Lobbyists for 2019 unveiled | Best 27 dishes in DC right now

HAPPENING THIS MORNING

Impeachment articles! Come and get your impeachment articles! Get 'em while they're hot:

The House Judiciary Committee is debating the two articles of impeachment against President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE.

Livestream: https://cs.pn/2PcNgHc

Live blog of hearing highlights: http://bit.ly/38x6WwW

FROM THE HEARING:

Ranking member Rep. Doug Collins Douglas (Doug) Allen CollinsDemocrats ramp up pressure on Lieberman to drop out of Georgia Senate race The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden on Trump: 'He'll leave' l GOP laywers brush off Trump's election remarks l Obama's endorsements GOP, Democrats look to galvanize women with SCOTUS fight MORE (R-Ga.) requested a day for the Republican minority to hold their own hearings: Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Schumer: 'Nothing is off the table' if GOP moves forward with Ginsburg replacement Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-N.Y.) said no and Collins strongly objected. The committee voted on the motion and the Republican minority obviously lost.

From Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz Matthew (Matt) GaetzSunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election Trump faces tricky choice on Supreme Court pick Florida attorney general scrutinizing Bloomberg paying fines for felons to vote MORE (R-Fla.): "To accept the Democrats' theory of the case, you've got to believe the Ukrainians are lying to us. That they're so weak and they're so dependent on the United States that we can't believe a word they say. Well, again, where were you during the Obama administration when this weak ally didn't get Javelins [missiles] that were then withheld?"

It’s a no from us: “Democratic staff on the House Judiciary Committee objected Thursday after Rep. Mark Meadows Mark Randall MeadowsSunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election White House chief of staff knocks FBI director over testimony on election fraud Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE (R-N.C.) went on the dais to pass along a note to one of GOP members participating in the panel’s markup of impeachment articles into President Trump.” http://bit.ly/38tBaRL

Photo of the room: From the view of the C-SPAN crew: http://bit.ly/2RKztJv

Tidbit: "After what appeared to be a tense exchange with Democratic staff, Meadows leaves and returns to his seat in the crowd." (Via CNN's Manu Raju) Photo: http://bit.ly/2YGI15H

REACTIONS:

President Trump is watching: He tweeted at 10:40 a.m. EST: "Dems 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 and Jackson Lee purposely misquoted my call. I said I want you to do us (our Country!) a favor, not me a favor. They know that but decided to LIE in order to make a fraudulent point! Very sad." http://bit.ly/2LLVxj2

HOW LAST NIGHT'S COMMITTEE DEBATE WENT:

"The historic launch of the two-day markup of impeachment articles – while rife with partisan finger-pointing – was also uniquely disciplined; lawmakers from both parties largely shed the impromptu barbs that had marked earlier hearings and instead moved swiftly through prepared statements invoking the Constitution, the Bible and the founding fathers to advance their conflicting arguments over the gravity of Trump's pressure campaign on Ukrainian leaders." Details: http://bit.ly/2qK9UgC

It's Thursday. 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

Tit for tat:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, "Senate Democrats are quietly talking about asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election Will Democrats attempt to pack the Supreme Court again? MORE (D-Calif.) to hold articles of impeachment in the House until Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHawley warns Schumer to steer clear of Catholic-based criticisms of Barrett Senate GOP set to vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick before election Harris slams Trump's Supreme Court pick as an attempt to 'destroy the Affordable Care Act' MORE (R-Ky.) agrees to a fair rules package for a Senate trial." http://bit.ly/2RRnhXH

Why now?: Democratic senators are worried that Republicans will push through with a speedy trial with no witnesses and Dems will lose all of their leverage in how a trial is run.

From one Democratic senator: "If we don't agree on a set of rules before the articles arrive over here, I think we're cooked. I think McConnell has his people totally in line. It will be a procedural thing."

That Democratic senator elaborated: "They'll pass whatever rules they want, and so we need to determine for a fair trial what witnesses we want, what documents we want. Are we going to allow videos? Are you going to allow boards that go up with votes so you explain things to the audience that is watching out there in a really powerful way? I think our maximum leverage of getting what we want is now, before the articles come over."

What to expect coming up: http://bit.ly/2RRnhXH

IN CONGRESS

Getting grilled for six hours sounds fun:

Via The Hill's Morgan Chalfant and Brett Samuels, "Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz delivered scathing testimony Wednesday about the FBI's missteps in applying for a warrant to surveil a former Trump campaign adviser."

FIVE TAKEAWAYS:

It was a bad day for the FBI The hearing provides fodder for Trump, allies There were rare agreement for reform of the process Horowitz resists a political fight Spotlight on internal Justice Department disagreements

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

LATEST WITH THE NEW TRADE DEAL

Liberals: Working with the enemy, we see?:



Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, "Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) decision to strike a trade deal with President Trump has given a new and sharp edge to a key tactical debate in Democratic circles." http://bit.ly/2PRjMhl

The debate: "The central question is whether vigorous, blanket opposition to Trump is the best approach for the party or whether it is also necessary to show an ability to work across the aisle on some issues."

The pros and cons for the left: http://bit.ly/2PRjMhl

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Who would win in a fight, 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 or Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight 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 On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE?:

Via The Hill's Max Greenwood, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg are duking it out in the final stretch before 2020. http://bit.ly/38uNUY8

The tensions are on display now: "Simmering tensions between the two burst out into the open this month amid a back-and-forth over transparency; he demanded that she release her tax returns from her time as a legal consultant, while she pressed him to open his private fundraisers to the press and disclose his past clients during his tenure at the global consultancy McKinsey & Company."

What to expect: http://bit.ly/38uNUY8

Hahaha, such a good caption:

Pete Buttigieg is gonna talk to his manager and see what he can do to get you in that 2015 Camry today. pic.twitter.com/jSkFdT7sQz — Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) December 12, 2019

By the way: That is Lizzo with Pete Buttigieg. Video from "CBS This Morning": https://cbsn.ws/38zeek0

UNVEILED THIS MORNING

The best in the biz:

The Hill's annual Top Lobbyists list is out this morning.

Who made the list: http://bit.ly/2LOzrN1

SPONSORED CONTENT - UANI

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NOTABLE TWEETS

This is devastating:

There appears to be a casualty in Longworth. @HeardontheHill is at the scene of the crime. pic.twitter.com/quKf9E5o93 — Kathryn Lyons (@KathHL) December 12, 2019

Siri, you can expect a subpoena soon:

Just witnessed Sen. Wicker asking Siri several times to call someone, and Siri not working. Damn it, Siri! — Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) December 11, 2019

ON TAP

The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington, D.C. Vice President Pence has no public events on his schedule.

11:45 a.m. EST: The Senate votes on two nominations. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/38ynWmw

Noon: President Trump received an intelligence briefing.

12:30 ­– 1:30 p.m. EST: First and last votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/36qH04k

1:45 p.m. EST: The Senate votes on a nomination.

7 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Ginsburg becomes the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol Rabbi memorializes Ginsburg: Her dissents were 'blueprints for the future' MORE attend the Congressional Ball.

WHAT TO WATCH

10:45 a.m. EST: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) held her weekly news conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2YGv7Vj

11:15 a.m. EST: President Trump spoke at the White House Summit on Child Care and Paid Family Leave. Livestream: http://bit.ly/38wHuIc

11:30 a.m. EST: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthySunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election House to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Ginsburg becomes the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol MORE (R-Calif.) held his weekly conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2LPJqlb

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Gingerbread House Day.

This is making me hungry:

Via Washingtonian, "These are the 27 best dishes in Washington right now." The list: http://bit.ly/2qI8raJ

And because you made it this far, here are goldendoodles chilling and eating snacks. Nothing to see here: http://bit.ly/2tc1GyO