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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: Pelosi says Trump bribed Ukraine | Takeaways from first public impeachment hearing | Who's testifying next | GOP senators back at long impeachment trial | Deval Patrick Deval PatrickRalph Gants, chief justice of Massachusetts supreme court, dies at 65 It's as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process Top Democratic super PACs team up to boost Biden MORE jumps into 2020 run | Dems face prospect of lengthy primary | Police respond to school shooting near Los Angeles | Therapy dogs visit Capitol Hill | Trump to hold Louisiana rally tonight

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

You know what the 2020 presidential race needs? More candidates.:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) announced this morning that he is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. http://bit.ly/2Xd0nup

His reasoning: "I admire and respect the candidates in the Democratic field. But if the character of the candidates is an issue in every election, this time is about the character of the country."

Watch his announcement video on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2NNL7kD

The campaign image he posted on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2CL4Evv

Buckle in, it's gonna be a long ride:

Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, "There is no true front-runner in the Democratic presidential race -- and that opens up the specter of a long and divisive nomination fight within a party desperate to beat 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 in 2020." http://bit.ly/2Xd2NZW



Timing: "At a time when some Democrats hoped that the field was being winnowed down, speculation is instead focused on possible late entrants to the field."

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

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.

Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn

NEWS THIS MORNING

Just now -- Pelosi compares Trump to Nixon:

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.) accused President Trump of "bribery" with Ukraine. http://bit.ly/2QpWkJA

In her words: "The bribe is to grant or withhold military assistance in return for a public statement of a fake investigation into the elections. That's bribery."

On whether bribery will be an impeachment article: "We haven't even made a decision to impeach. That's what the inquiry is about. And when the committees decide that, then they will decide what the articles are."

On Nixon: Pelosi said Trump's offenses by comparison make Nixon's "look almost small."

A shooting at a Los Angeles area school:

Via The Los Angeles Times, "At least five people were injured-- two critically -- in a shooting at Saugus High School when a gunman opened fire on the Santa Clarita campus early Thursday, authorities said." https://lat.ms/2QiNqxF

What happened: "The shooting was reported at the campus at 21900 Centurion Way about 7:40 a.m., prompting a massive law enforcement response. Paramedics treated the wounded at the school while authorities searched for a 15-year-old boy suspected in the shooting. After a roughly hour-long search, authorities confirmed that the shooter is no longer a threat to the campus."

Everything we know so far: https://lat.ms/2QiNqxF

THE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS

Two down, lots to go:

William Taylor, the acting ambassador to Ukraine, and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, testified yesterday in the first public impeachment hearing in 20 years.

FIVE TAKEAWAYS:

William Taylor was a credible witness-- "The former West Point graduate and decorated Vietnam War veteran with the booming baritone voice proved to be an authoritative and credible witness, demonstrating a command of facts and providing detailed testimony based on his personal notes full of names, dates and places."

GOP questioning has mixed results-- Republicans tried to portray the witnesses as unreliable, but their performance got mixed results.

Surprises are possible-- Democrats didn't expect any new revelations, but Taylor had new information.

Testimony seems unlikely to move needle-- There were no real fireworks, and both are obscure figures.

Context and details for each from The Hill's Scott Wong and Mike Lillis: http://bit.ly/2qPyuwi

REACTIONS:

Check out the covers of the New York Post and the New York Daily News this morning: Photos: http://bit.ly/2OaUGZU

From President Trump this morning: "[Rep. John Ratcliff (R-Texas)] asked the two 'star' witnesses, 'where is the impeachable event in that call?' Both stared straight ahead with a blank look on their face, remained silent, & were unable to answer the question. That would be the end of a case run by normal people! - but not Shifty!" By the way: "Shifty" is Trump's nickname for Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). http://bit.ly/2O9UVUU

The read on Fox News: CNN's chief media correspondent Brian Stelter tweeted, "These are some of the descriptions of George Kent and Bill Taylor from Fox's prime time shows: 'Two homeless guys.' They 'looked like people who sat by themselves at recess.' And 'self-important' bureaucrats." http://bit.ly/2KlvH4S

UP NEXT:

Testifying tomorrow:

Former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. Livestream of the hearing: https://cs.pn/2OaT7eh

Testifying next Tuesday:

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman Alexander VindmanImpeachment witness Alexander Vindman calls Trump Putin's 'useful idiot' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Strzok: Trump behaving like an authoritarian MORE, a top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council (NSC)

Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Pence

Kurt Volker Kurt VolkerGOP senators request details on Hunter Biden's travel for probe Yovanovitch retires from State Department: reports Live coverage: Senators enter second day of questions in impeachment trial MORE, former special envoy to Ukraine

Tim Morrison, a top NSC official

Testifying next Wednesday:

U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland Gordon SondlandGOP chairman vows to protect whistleblowers following Vindman retirement over 'bullying' Top Democrat slams Trump's new EU envoy: Not 'a political donor's part-time job' Trump names new EU envoy, filling post left vacant by impeachment witness Sondland MORE

Laura Cooper, a Defense official

David Hale, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

Testifying next Thursday:

Fiona Hill, former NSC senior director for Europe and Russia

What to expect if impeachment goes to the Senate:

Via The Hill's Jordain Carney, "With House Democrats aiming to vote on articles of impeachment by Christmas, Republicans view a trial as all but guaranteed but are warning they don't want to drag it out."

How long the trial would last: "How long a trial could last is a rolling point of debate. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr Richard Mauze BurrHillicon 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 Rep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy MORE (R-N.C.) raised eyebrows by suggesting it could last six to eight weeks, longer than the proceedings against former President Clinton, which lasted just over a month."

What we know: http://bit.ly/2NNvR77

ON CAPITOL HILL

I'll join your squad any day!:

During yesterday's first public impeachment hearing, Pet Partners and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) brought therapy dogs to Capitol Hill for members and staffers to pet -- and to love.

The timing was a coincidence!: Via NBC's Haley Talbot, "'Just a happy coincidence' these therapy dogs are on Capitol Hill the same day as impeachment hearings begin we are told!" http://bit.ly/2Xlwp7C

WHAT A SQUAD pic.twitter.com/4lJ65t5ny3 — Cate Martel (@CateMartel) November 13, 2019

And because this is the content I know you want to see today, here are some of the dogs on the job...

Meet Cedric. Cedric has so much love to give. Photo: http://bit.ly/375tSCP

Meet Remy. Remy is working on his selfies. Photo: http://bit.ly/32Mzte7

Meet Panda. Panda is hoping for head scratches. Photo: http://bit.ly/33O5mEn

And here is Patti. Patti is just happy to be here. Photo: http://bit.ly/2ObqygL

I'VE NEVER SEEN PEOPLE SO HAPPY:

I got a sticker to prove it: I love how similar this is to the "I voted" sticker. Photo: http://bit.ly/2qTwe74

Cheri Bustos Cheryl (Cheri) Lea BustosThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally DCCC dropping million on voter education program Clark rolls out endorsements in assistant Speaker race MORE gave head scratches: Here is Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), the chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), playing with one of the dogs. Photo: http://bit.ly/32KpmX1

And so did Rep. Peter DeFazio Peter Anthony DeFazioHouse Democrats to include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid Airline CEOs, union leaders implore Congress and the administration to avoid Oct. 1 furloughs MORE (D-Ore.): Here's a photo from Politico's Sarah Ferris: http://bit.ly/32MdsMn

NOTABLE TWEETS

So satisfying to watch:

Some last-minute vacuuming of the red carpet pic.twitter.com/wg8L8hz8R8 — Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) November 13, 2019

Watch: http://bit.ly/2XcD2Jn

ON TAP

The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington, D.C., and is leaving for Louisiana for a campaign rally later today. Vice President Pence is in California.

1:30 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence toured NASA's Ames Research Center.

1:30­­ ­­– 2:30 p.m. EST: The House votes. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/32FUJC8

1:45 p.m. EST: The Senate votes on a confirmation. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2XcYDRT

2 p.m. EST: President Trump meets with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

3:05 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence leaves Moffett Field, Calif., and heads back to Washington, D.C.

4:10 p.m. EST: President Trump leaves for Bossier City, La.

8:45 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence lands in Washington, D.C.

12:30 a.m. EST: President Trump gets back to the White House.

WHAT TO WATCH

2:45 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence delivers remarks to NASA's Amex Research Center employees and guests. Livestream: http://bit.ly/33LbD3u

8 p.m. EST: President Trump holds a campaign rally in Bossier City, La. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2XdKgg5

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Pickle Day.

Um, *click*?!:

Via The Washington Post's Antonia Noori Farzan, "[T]hree cows vanished during Hurricane Dorian. Months later, they've been found chilling on an island miles from shore." Details: https://wapo.st/2QjHAvP

And because you made it to the end, here's dog following along during yoga. Such a talented pup!: http://bit.ly/352A8ta