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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 steps up attacks over Baltimore | Rips Al Sharpton | Sharpton fires back from Baltimore, saying Trump has 'particular venom' for 'people of color' | Trump allies defend attacks | Trump signs bill for 9/11 victims | Senators return for last week before recess | Budget deal tops to-do list | 2020 Dems prep for Detroit debate | High-stakes moment for lower-tier Dems | National Chicken Wing Day deals

TALK OF THE MORNING

Days since the news cycle has not involved a racial controversy: Zero

"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 spent the weekend excoriating Rep. Elijah Cummings Elijah Eugene CummingsBlack GOP candidate accuses Behar of wearing black face in heated interview Overnight Health Care: US won't join global coronavirus vaccine initiative | Federal panel lays out initial priorities for COVID-19 vaccine distribution | NIH panel: 'Insufficient data' to show treatment touted by Trump works House Oversight Democrats to subpoena AbbVie in drug pricing probe MORE (D-Md.), inflaming racial tensions once again by taking aim at a top African American Democratic lawmaker and parts of the majority-black district he represents." http://bit.ly/2ZhAs4N

The gist of the tweets: Trump referred to Baltimore as a "very dangerous & filthy place" and a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess" where "no human being would want to live." Trump called Cummings a "brutal bully." Read the full tweets that started this controversy: http://bit.ly/2ZhBIF3

Reaction from Democrats: Dems rallied around Cummings and denounced Trump's tweets as racist.

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Reaction from Republicans: Allies of Trump defended Trump's comments. For example, 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 insisted that Trump's tweets were about immigration and that Trump would have said the same thing had it been a white lawmaker. Mulvaney's full comments: http://bit.ly/2ZjiGy9

AND TRUMP ATTACKS AL SHARPTON:

The Rev. Al Sharpton is headed to Baltimore: Sharpton tweeted a photo of his trip to Baltimore, captioning it, "Arrived in DC from Atlanta, headed to Baltimore. Long day but can't stop." http://bit.ly/2GyHCuk

And Trump used that opportunity to slam Sharpton: "I have known Al for 25 years. Went to fights with him & Don King, always got along well. He 'loved Trump!' He would ask me for favors often," Trump tweeted. "Al is a con man, a troublemaker, always looking for a score. Just doing his thing. Must have intimidated Comcast/NBC. Hates Whites & Cops!" http://bit.ly/2GB5ayw

Reaction from Al Sharpton: "He attacks everybody. I know Donald Trump, he's not mature enough to take criticism ... he's like a child. But he has a particular venom for blacks and people of color." Watch Sharpton's full reaction: http://bit.ly/2GzCB4O

It's Monday, July 29. Wow, where did July go? 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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ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

It's a battle week:

Twenty Democratic presidential candidates will meet in Detroit Tuesday and Wednesday for the second round of primary debates.

Why this debate is so important: It will be the last chance for candidates to break out of the lower tiers. Debates three and four have much tougher qualifications. http://bit.ly/2ZhuK2N



The lineups for the two nights: Sens. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns 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 Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) will debate on Tuesday; former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE will debate on Wednesday. https://nyti.ms/2Gxecww

LOOKING AHEAD -- WHICH CANDIDATES HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE THIRD DEBATE:

Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHundreds of lawyers from nation's oldest African American sorority join effort to fight voter suppression Biden picks up endorsement from progressive climate group 350 Action 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing MORE (D-Calif.), 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 (D) and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE (D-Texas).

^And as of this morning (!): Via CNN's Rebecca Buck, Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony Booker3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) has reached the threshold for the third debate. https://cnn.it/2ZiJP4r

HELLO, HI, SHINY OBJECT OVER HERE:

This morning, President Trump seized on comments Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made in 2015 after he toured Baltimore following the Freddie Gray riots. http://bit.ly/2GB6OjG

Trump tweeted: "Crazy Bernie Sanders recently equated the City of Baltimore to a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY! Based on that statement, I assume that Bernie must now be labeled a Racist, just as a Republican would if he used that term and standard! The fact is, Baltimore can be brought back, maybe even to new heights of success and glory, but not with King Elijah and that crew. When the leaders of Baltimore want to see the City rise again, I am in a very beautiful oval shaped office waiting for your call!" http://bit.ly/2GB6OjG

Released this morning -- Kamala's health plan:

"Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) on Monday unveiled details of a health plan on Monday that would seek to expand coverage while preserving a role for private insurance companies, which would be ended through the 'Medicare for All' proposal backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)." Details: http://bit.ly/2GAxvVD

THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS

The extra twinkle in their eyes:

Senators are leaving for August recess at the end of the week after completing a large to-do list of measures. http://bit.ly/2GAxfWP

THE LAUNDRY LIST BEFORE THEY LEAVE:

Two-year budget deal: Senators will vote on the House-passed two-year budget deal that also lifts the debt ceiling through July 2021. When: As soon as Tuesday. Details of the budget deal: http://bit.ly/2M9dCZl

Saudi arms deal override: This evening, the Senate is set to attempt to override President Trump's vetoes of bills preventing arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Ehh, but: "The Senate's override attempts are expected to fall short after the resolutions initially passed the Senate with 51 and 53 votes -- well short of the 67 votes needed to override a veto."

Immigration: The Senate Judiciary Committee is fighting over an asylum bill put forward by Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Key Democrat opposes GOP Section 230 subpoena for Facebook, Twitter, Google MORE (R-S.C.). What the bill would do: It "would increase the number of days a family can be held together from 20 days to 100 days." More on that debate: http://bit.ly/2Zehegu

Nominations: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance 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 The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power MORE (R-Ky.) has teed up votes on at least 19 nominations this week.

Context and details for each from The Hill's Jordain Carney: http://bit.ly/2GAxfWP

IN OTHER NEWS

I bet Nancy is feeling pretty smug right now:

Via The Hill's Scott Wong, "Call them the 'I Told You So' Caucus. Democrats who argued during the Speaker race last fall that 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 was the right -- and perhaps only -- person who could lead the caucus in the tumultuous Trump era say they have been vindicated." http://bit.ly/2ZiMhrF



How so: "The California Democrat, these people say, deftly negotiated a two-year budget deal with President Trump that averted deep cuts to domestic programs beloved by Democrats. She steered her caucus through this week's historic Mueller hearings, helping to ensure that a tidal wave of new impeachment calls never materialized."

Out with the Dan, in with the John:

President Trump's director of national intelligence, Dan Coats Daniel (Dan) Ray CoatsFBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Former Intel chief had 'deep suspicions' that Putin 'had something on Trump': book MORE, is resigning. http://bit.ly/2GDlmzw

His nominated replacement: 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), who has been a staunch ally of President Trump. What to know about Ratcliffe: https://cnn.it/2Zozios

Keep in mind about Coats: "Coats has held the role of director of national intelligence for more than two years, shepherding the intelligence community through a crucial period in the wake of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. His tenure has at times been punctuated by controversy, as his public statements have put him at odds with the president."

Read Dan Coats's resignation letter: http://bit.ly/2ZdDjvH

NOTABLE TWEETS

Throwback -- oh wow:

Watch: http://bit.ly/2ZidMS8

ON TAP

The Senate meets at 3 p.m. The House is out until September.

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

11:45 a.m. EDT: President Trump received an intelligence briefing.

12:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence.

3 p.m. EDT: The Senate meets.

5:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate holds four roll call votes. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2ZjMCdx

WHAT TO WATCH

10 a.m. EDT: President Trump signed the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund bill. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2ZdhCff

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Chicken Wing Day.

To celebrate, here's a list of chicken wing specials today: http://bit.ly/2ZhAlGl

He did ... what now?:

A professional surfer was bit by a shark on Saturday, but decided to go to a bar instead of the hospital. http://bit.ly/2GzUQH8

Oh man, this quote: "He immediately went to the bar, because he was like, 'Hey, I got bit by a shark,'" the man's friend said. "And people were like, 'I'll buy you drinks.' So he hung out at the pier."

The bite: The man was bit in the elbow. He was bloody and had deep tooth marks.

And to add some ~mystery~ to your Monday, help this family figure out what happened to the four missing cookies: http://bit.ly/2GNs1av