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The Hill's 12:30 Report — Presented by Farm Credit — Mueller fallout | Testimony fails to move impeachment needle | Trump takes victory lap | Dems weigh next move | Winners, losers from hearing | Trump DOJ to resume federal executions | House panel approves subpoenas for WH communications on private email | House to vote on budget, debt deal today | Trump urges GOP to back deal | Amtrak adds nonstop DC-NYC train | Baby born on 7/11 at 7:11 weighing 7 lbs, 11 ounces

MUELLER'S TESTIMONY

I believe the technical term is a 'nothing burger':

Former special counsel 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 testified for seven hours on Capitol Hill yesterday with hardly any new revelations.

Here are the highlights:

WHAT WE LEARNED YESTERDAY

Veryyyy little new info. Mueller meant it when he said the 448-page report is his testimony. http://bit.ly/2Gtg9Kt

How many questions Mueller did not answer: 198, according to NBC News. NBC's breakdown: https://nbcnews.to/2ZapDlh

How Mueller's demeanor made the hearing underwhelming: "But the former special counsel, who sometimes appeared confused or at a loss for words and frequently responded to questions with one-word answers -- 'no,' 'true,' 'that's accurate' -- was a reluctant witness whose deflections sucked some of the punch out of his most damning findings, especially as Republicans sought repeatedly to undermine him and his investigation." https://nyti.ms/30Wv8V3

Here is a list of major moments compiled by The New York Times: https://nyti.ms/30Wv8V3

Five takeaways from the hearing: http://bit.ly/2ZakvNL

THE SCOREBOARD:

Winners: 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, Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Bipartisan representatives demand answers on expired surveillance programs YouTube to battle mail-in voting misinformation with info panel on videos MORE and Rep. John Ratcliffe John Lee RatcliffeHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Bipartisan representatives demand answers on expired surveillance programs Democrats call for declassifying election threats after briefing by Trump officials MORE (R-Texas). Ratcliffe is on both committees and had a lot of screen time as he questioned Mueller.

Losers: Democrats.

Mixed: Former special counsel Robert Mueller and 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.)

Reasoning for each: http://bit.ly/2GtBX8D

It's Thursday after what felt like 2-3 days yesterday. 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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WHAT THIS MEANS FOR IMPEACHMENT:

It did not move the needle on impeachment: "Unlike Mueller's May remarks on his report on Russia's election meddling, his testimony Wednesday did not spark any new major wave behind the movement to oust the president." How this changes the debate over impeachment: http://bit.ly/2GtzbAd

REACTIONS:

Trump took a victory lap: Speaking to reporters shortly after Mueller's testimony, President Trump called it "a great day for me" and said Mueller performed "very poorly." https://nbcnews.to/2GqzCve

^ Trump on exoneration: "He didn't have the right to exonerate. That was something where he totally folded, because he never had the right to exonerate." Why this is newsy: Trump has insisted for months that Mueller's report was a "total exoneration." https://nbcnews.to/2GqzCve

From Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): Pelosi praised Mueller but still rejected impeachment. Pelosi told reporters: "My position has always been [that] whatever decision we make in that regard would have to be done with our strongest possible hand, and we still have some outstanding matters in the courts." http://bit.ly/2Gu2LWr

From House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power McCarthy claims protests in Louisville, other cities are 'planned, orchestrated events' MORE (R-Calif.): "There was no collusion, so how do you get to obstruction?" McCarthy told reporters. "This president has not done anything wrong in this process, so no, I do not have a problem with this president." https://washex.am/2GtHrQW

From a veteran journalist: "Concerns about Mueller's performance are not mere theatre criticism. He was unable to defend his report and its findings beyond referring to the text, over and over again. He needed to explain in clear terms the conclusions he reached and why. He didn't." (Via The New Yorker's Susan B. Glasser) Her full analysis: http://bit.ly/2Zb2iQn

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:

Mueller fake out: "Mueller ends the day faking out the press corps & leaving through a back door" (Via journalist Matt Laslo) Video: http://bit.ly/2GtX8rh

An arrest: Here are photos of a protester getting arrested outside of the hearing room: http://bit.ly/2GtGAzv

This makes me want tacos: Here's a man caught on C-SPAN eating tacos outside the Mueller hearing room. Watch: http://bit.ly/2ZaLFnJ

Oh. Come. On.: A misspelled version of Robert Mueller, "Muller," trended on Twitter yesterday. Screenshot of the trend: http://bit.ly/2Z9REJu

ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING

Federal executions are back:

The Department of Justice announced this morning that it will resume capital punishment for the first time in almost two decades. http://bit.ly/2GvsttD

The first executions: Attorney General William Barr called for five death-row inmates to be executed. All five inmates were convicted of murdering children.

How unusual is this: Only three federal executions have taken place since 1988, none of which have happened since 2003.

IN CONGRESS

Just now — and a subpoena for you:

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee just voted to subpoena White House records related to an investigation into aides’ use of personal email and texts for official work. http://bit.ly/2GtBmE5

Happening today -- money, money, money:

The House is voting on the budget deal negotiated between the White House and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) before leaving town for its six-week August recess. http://bit.ly/32GYUPc

And assuming it passes: The Senate will vote on the bill next week before it leaves for August recess.

The budget deal: It would add $320 billion to the federal budget over the next two years.

THIS A.M. -- TRUMP WEIGHS IN ON THE BUDGET VOTE:

"House Republicans should support the TWO YEAR BUDGET AGREEMENT which greatly helps our Military and our Vets. I am totally with you!" http://bit.ly/2ZatZsw

A Saudi fight in the Senate:

Via The Hill's Jordain Carney, "Tensions are boiling over in the Senate amid a deep divide over Saudi Arabia and how much pressure to put on the Trump administration to get tough with Riyadh."



What's happening:" "The conflict between Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch James (Jim) Elroy RischWhy the US should rely more on strategy, not sanctions Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump Senators blast Turkey's move to convert Hagia Sophia back into a mosque MORE (R-Idaho) and Sen. Bob Menendez Robert (Bob) MenendezKasie Hunt to host lead-in show for MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' Senators ask for removal of tariffs on EU food, wine, spirits: report VOA visa decision could hobble Venezuela coverage MORE (N.J.), the panel's top Democrat, is threatening to sour the committee's long-standing bipartisan nature, with one aide describing the standoff as 'World War III.' "

The dispute: "The source of the dispute stems from a decision by the chairman to schedule committee votes for Thursday on two competing measures related to the U.S.-Saudi relationship -- one from Risch, the other from Menendez."

How this could play out: http://bit.ly/2Gwytm2

IN LOCAL NEWS

A faster route between D.C. and New York:

Amtrak announced it is adding a nonstop Acela route between New York City and Washington, D.C. starting on Sept. 23. http://bit.ly/2GsHlsT

How long it will take: Two hours and 35 minutes. It cuts 15 minutes off the old route.

What to know about the new service: http://bit.ly/2GsHlsT

Taylor Gourmet fans, this is your time:

Taylor Gourmet announced it is reopening three sandwich shops this summer (!) after abruptly closing last September.

The three shops reopening: Dupont Circle, North Bethesda and by the White House.

Addresses of the three Taylor Gourmet shops: http://bit.ly/2ZaKTHl

NOTABLE TWEETS

As one does:

Chaos outside the Mueller hearing room as a guy tries to barge into the hearing and is promptly arrested while yelling unintelligibly pic.twitter.com/8ZEVqVu44z — Daniel Newhauser (@dnewhauser) July 24, 2019

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



ON TAP

The House and Senate are in. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C.

1:30 p.m. EDT: First votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2ZkuUqx

1:45 p.m. EDT: The Senate votes on General Mark A. Milley, to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2ZaeqAV

WHAT TO WATCH

11:15 a.m. EDT: President Trump welcomes new 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 at the Pentagon. Vice President Pence also attends. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2Gue6Wo

11:15 a.m. EDT: The National Governors Association's summer meeting in Salt Lake City. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2ZamLov

3:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump and Vice President Pence participate in a celebration of American workers. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2GsHGfc

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Hot Fudge Sundae Day.

This 11-year-old had a better day than most:

A young boy brought a soccer ball to the beach on vacation. FC Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi happened to be at that beach with his family and invited the boy to play. Photos and video: https://cnn.it/2ZkztBb

This is an OCD work of art:

A baby was born on July 11 (7/11) at 7:11 p.m. and weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces. https://on.today.com/2Z9ZK4J

7-Eleven obviously caught wind of this: "7-Eleven has pledged $7,111 to the newborn's college fund to honor her entry to the world on such a special day!" the company told TODAY in a statement. "Along with this pledge, the brand has also provided the family with diapers, 7-Eleven onesies and other newborn goodies to help her parents along the way."

Photos of the baby -- lol, she is wearing a 7-Eleven onesie: https://on.today.com/2Z9ZK4J

And because it's been a long week, here's a lizard playing catch: http://bit.ly/2ZeLQ1q