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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: Team Biden feeling confident after Detroit test | Dems scramble to make next debate | Klobuchar qualifies for round three | GOP shaken by Hurd retirement | Trump weighs in on Cummings's break-in: 'Really bad news!' | Strong July jobs report despite economic worries | Republicans push back on election security bills | Trump to begin 10-day summer vacation | French's releases ... mustard ice cream (?)

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Add another podium on the stage:

Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy Klobuchar3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE's (D-Minn.) presidential campaign said that she has qualified for the fall presidential primary debates. http://bit.ly/2My1IIN

The Democratic National Committee criteria: Candidates need at least 2 percent in four recent polls and 130,000 unique donors.

Klobuchar's criteria: Klobuchar has already met the polling requirement, and according to her campaign she has now met the donor threshold.

Happy summer Friday! 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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Post-debate -- The Biden campaign is cheesin':

Via The Hill's Jonathan Easley and Amie Parnes, Team 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 is feeling confident after his last debate performance. http://bit.ly/2MANfvI

How so: "Biden had several shaky moments, and the ferocious attacks against the 76-year-old's record on civil rights, immigration and health care portends the fights ahead. Biden's rivals view him as a rickety front-runner who will at some point collapse under pressure. But that hasn't happened yet, and Team Biden feels the former vice president weathered a major test this week, steadying his candidacy after a poor first debate performance raised questions about whether he could rise to the challenge."

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And in polling: "Biden is dominating the field with older voters and black Democrats, two constituencies critical to the primary and general election."

But Democrats are worried about Wednesday's negative debate:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, "Democratic lawmakers were left shaken and worried by Wednesday night's bruising presidential debate, which left some fearing the fight will hurt the party and result in a damaged nominee." http://bit.ly/2KcPcwL



How so: "Senate Democrats are frustrated that candidates are spending too much time and effort attacking each other for relatively small policy differences, while not focusing their ire on 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."

Which Democrats are nervous: http://bit.ly/2KcPcwL

Op-ed from a Dem strategist: http://bit.ly/2Kd9ZAt

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Just who 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 wants tweeting about his burglary:

This morning, President Trump responded to reports that Rep. Elijah Cummings's (D-Md.) house was reportedly broken into last Saturday. http://bit.ly/2MBdLFs

Trump tweeted: "Really bad news! The Baltimore house of Elijah Cummings was robbed. Too bad!" Trump's tweet: http://bit.ly/2MAz5Li

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE BURGLARY:

Via CBS Baltimore, Cummings's Baltimore home was broken into Saturday at 3:40 a.m. EDT. It's still unclear if anything was stolen. Details: https://cbsloc.al/2MBh7IC

What timing: The robbery reportedly happened just a few hours before President Trump first tweeted that Cummings is a "brutal bully" and that his Baltimore district was "rat and rodent infested" and a "very dangerous & filthy place" where "no human being would want to live."

NEWS THIS MORNING

It's the first Friday of the month. You know what that means?!:

The Labor Department announced that the U.S. economy added 164,000 jobs in July. http://bit.ly/2MFtqTU

For context: This is a good sign amid worries about the economy in the long term.

The unemployment rate: It remained steady at 3.7 percent.

IN CONGRESS

Have ya Hurd?:

Rep. Will Hurd William Ballard HurdHillicon Valley: Oracle confirms deal with TikTok to be 'trusted technology provider' | QAnon spreads across globe, shadowing COVID-19 | VA hit by data breach impacting 46,000 veterans House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats House Democrats' campaign arm reserves .6M in ads in competitive districts MORE (R-Texas), the only African American Republican in the House, announced he will not seek reelection in 2020.

From Hurd: I "have made the decision to not seek reelection for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas in order to pursue opportunities outside the halls of Congress to solve problems at the nexus between technology and national security."

Read Hurd's announcement on Twitter: http://bit.ly/2KdOxuU

Democrats pushed Republicans' buttons:

Via The Hill's Maggie Miller, Republicans are finally punching back after a week of attacks from Democrats over stalled election security bills. http://bit.ly/2KbnqRb

What Republicans are being accused of: Stopping all efforts to secure the 2020 elections. Senate Democrats have tried to force votes on election security legislation but have been blocked by their GOP counterparts.

How the GOP is responding: Republicans are "arguing instead that Senate Democrats are abandoning the legislative process, treading on states' rights and misleading voters about what their legislation would do."

For example -- from Sen. James Lankford James Paul LankfordMcConnell works to lock down GOP votes for coronavirus bill Charities scramble to plug revenue holes during pandemic Warren calls for Postal Service board members to fire DeJoy or resign MORE (R-Okla.): "When they talk about federalizing elections, or having to have a central D.C. location to be able to give certification to every vendor or Voter ID laws or federal funding for elections, those are not election security items, that's a completely different thing," Lankford told The Hill.

NOTABLE TWEETS

White House renovations:

Building a new wall (fence)... around the White House pic.twitter.com/KMA1o9MfnF — Patricia Zengerle (@ReutersZengerle) August 2, 2019

ON TAP

The Senate is officially off for August recess. The House is out.

President Trump is in Washington, D.C., and is leaving for vacation in Bedminster, N.J. Vice President Pence is in Georgia today.

4 p.m. EDT: President Trump leaves for his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., for a 10-day vacation. Details: http://bit.ly/2Mv8kb3

5:05 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence gets back to Washington, D.C.

Aug. 15: President Trump holds a campaign rally in Manchester, N.H. http://bit.ly/2MyJWFn

Sept. 9: The Senate returns. http://bit.ly/2MA6VzV

WHAT TO WATCH

11:20 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence spoke at the second annual Resurgent Gathering in Georgia. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2KcPc00

1:45 p.m. EDT: President Trump makes an announcement on trade with the European Union. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2Kb5kPt

Sunday morning: Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), who just announced he will not seek reelection, will appear on CBS's "Face the Nation."

Sunday morning: Two 2020 presidential candidates, 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.) and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock Steve BullockMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency Pence seeks to boost Daines in critical Montana Senate race MORE (D), appear on NBC's "Meet the Press."

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is International Beer Day! It's also National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!

How to celebrate: Here's where to celebrate International Beer Day in Washington, D.C.: http://bit.ly/2KcHJxF And here's a list of ice cream sandwich specials today: http://bit.ly/2Kf0xwp

Must we ruin EVERYTHING?:

French's has unveiled a mustard-flavored ice cream for National Mustard Day tomorrow. https://cnn.it/2MBiRRY

Where to find it -- ugh, just don't tell me if you do want it: Coolhaus ice cream stores.

Ummm, what an amazing idea:

Via Thrillist, "This Hotel Will Deliver Puppies and Prosecco Right to Your Room." Details -- because I would never tease you like that: http://bit.ly/2MzandX

And to get your weekend off to the right start, here's a memorizing video of ice cream and popsicles melting in the sun: http://bit.ly/2Kda6fn