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The Hill's 12:30 Report — Presented by Johnson & Johnson — Impeachment testimony shifts to Fiona Hill, David Holmes | Diplomat says he heard Trump ask about Biden 'investigation' | Fiona Hill knocks GOP's 'fictional narrative' of Ukraine meddling | Dem debate takeaways | Sights and sounds from Atlanta | Buttigieg's rise targets Biden | Congress faces spending deadline today | Netanyahu indicted on corruption charges | United unveils 'Star Wars'-themed plane

HAPPENING THIS MORNING

Next two, you may enter:

Fiona Hill, the former National Security Council senior director for Europe and Russia, and David Holmes, an embassy staffer in Kyiv, are testifying on Capitol Hill today in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

Hearing livestream: https://cs.pn/35iLfyc

Live blog of hearing highlights: http://bit.ly/2qpHTei

NEWS FROM THE HEARING:

Hill on Rudy Giuliani Rudy GiulianiThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting CIA found Putin 'probably directing' campaign against Biden: report Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate MORE: "[Fiona Hill] says John Bolton John BoltonJudge appears skeptical of Bolton's defense of publishing book without White House approval Maximum pressure is keeping US troops in Iraq and Syria Woodward book trails Bolton, Mary Trump in first-week sales MORE told her 'Rudy Giuliani was a hand grenade going to blow everyone up.' [Daniel Goldman, the lead counsel for Democrats]: 'Did you understand what he meant?' Hill: 'I did.' " http://bit.ly/2KX6rT1

Holmes says he heard Trump asking about the investigation: "I sat directly across from Ambassador Sondland. The president's voice was loud and recognizable." The full back-and-forth: http://bit.ly/2rdPKvk

Holmes says Ukraine felt pressure to stay in Trump's good graces: "Whether the security systems hold continued or not, the Ukrainians understood that was something the president wanted, and they still wanted important things from the president, and I think that continues to this day," Holmes said. "I think they're being very careful, they still need us now going forward." http://bit.ly/2qpHTei

Read Fiona Hill's opening statement: The interesting part starts on page 5. Read: http://bit.ly/2O8LupT

From her opening statement: "Based on questions and statements I have heard, some of you on this committee appear to believe that Russia and its security services did not conduct a campaign against our country--and that perhaps, somehow, for some reason, Ukraine did. This is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves." The comments are a reference to Republican claims that Ukraine and not Russia interfered in 2016. http://bit.ly/2O6zUM8

Read David Holmes's opening statement: http://bit.ly/349wQV8

It's Thursday of a busy, busy week in Washington. 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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BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM YESTERDAY:

New York Magazine's Jonathan Chait tweeted, "I watched cable news from 9:00 am to 11:15 PM, how does Trump do this every day?" http://bit.ly/343zgo9

Here's the cover of today's New York Times: http://bit.ly/2OxsTTv

And here's today's cover of The Washington Post: http://bit.ly/33532aD

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT HEARING:

Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesOvernight 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 Trump nominates former Nunes aide to serve as intel community inspector general Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election MORE is not having it: "Like clockwork, @DevinNunes exits the hearing room as Dem counsel begins his questioning. (Just missed photo of him walking out the door)" (Via Vice's Cameron Joseph) Photos: http://bit.ly/2XB5Mf5

Watching the hearing: "The chairs of the other two committees leading the #impeachment probe – Rep. Engel of Foreign Affairs and Rep. Maloney of Oversight - attend today's hearing." Photo from Reuters's Patricia Zengerle: http://bit.ly/35qR1ya

I cannot keep up with the Kardashians...: "Words just uttered at an impeachment hearing: 'You can tell the Kardashians you tried.' " https://cs.pn/35iLfyc Details: http://bit.ly/2D6mcmc

FROM YESTERDAY'S HEARINGS:

Here are five bombshells from 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's testimony:

Sondland refutes Trump: Clear quid pro quo Instruction came from Trump himself Everyone was in the loop Diplomats saw Giuliani as toxic Sondland airs frustration with higher-ups

Details for each: http://bit.ly/2r9Zeb9

David Hale did not have a prepared opening statement: The Hill's Olivia Beavers noted that, "Hale is the first witness we've seen who did not come prepared with an opening statement." http://bit.ly/2XC3f3X

Hot mic: During the hearing, 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) asked what the U.S. can do to help Ukraine. Another person was overheard on the microphone saying, "that's a good question." http://bit.ly/2D7YcyM

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

The famous 'if the debate happened in the woods and no one listened, did it really happen?':

After a long day of impeachment hearings against 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, 10 Democratic presidential candidates took the stage in Atlanta for the next presidential primary debate. http://bit.ly/2O6Y34Z

TAKEAWAYS:

Context and details for each from The Hill's Niall Stanage: http://bit.ly/2O6Y34Z

Interesting read -- How Biden is still the target of Buttigieg's rise: Via The Hill's Reid Wilson. http://bit.ly/2rcKWGz

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM ATLANTA:

The most awkward moment of the night: "Former Vice President Joe Biden claimed ... that his 2020 bid had been endorsed by the only black woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate." The problem: Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), another black woman and rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, was standing just a few feet away from him. And she certainly hasn't offered Biden her endorsement." http://bit.ly/2XHhtAU

Harris-Booker selfie before the debate: http://bit.ly/3386OjR

Throwback to this incredible gif of The Washington Post's Ashley Parker, who co-moderated the debate last night: http://bit.ly/2OKGRlh

Lol, this behind-the-scenes video of the debate setup: http://bit.ly/335Wl8n

What a practical takeaway for the evening: The Huffington Post's Matt Fuller tweeted, "Gonna start using Maddow's 'I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need you to answer the question' on Members of Congress." http://bit.ly/35omTU4

CNN's Betsy Klein put it well: "me at the beginning of this debate vs me at the halfway point" Video to explain: http://bit.ly/2OwNnMj

Yes, this: " 'My friend' -Joe Biden referring to people he hates." http://bit.ly/2XBA4yk

What Trump's team Snapchatted during the debate: http://bit.ly/2XwP68o

Did you notice the Fox News ad?: "A Fox News ad just played on MSNBC during the Democratic debate." (Via The Hill's Joe Concha) http://bit.ly/2O95g4P

Marianne Williamson Marianne WilliamsonMarianne Williamson discusses speaking at People's Party Convention Fewer people watched opening night of Democratic convention compared to 2016 Marianne Williamson: Democratic convention 'like binge watching a Marriott commercial' MORE, who did not qualify for the debate, tweeted at 11:53 p.m. last night: "Miss me?" http://bit.ly/34akBHF

From Andrew Yang Andrew YangBiden's latest small business outreach is just ... awful Doctor who allegedly assaulted Evelyn Yang arrested on federal charges The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden weighs in on police shootings | Who's moderating the debates | Trump trails in post-convention polls MORE this morning:

Parking attendant: “Hey you’re Andrew Yang!”



Me: “Yes.”



Him: “That’s great!”



Me: “Thanks!” — Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) November 21, 2019

OMG -- MEANWHILE AT 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'S CAMPAIGN EVENT:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), who recently announced his bid for president, canceled a campaign event yesterday because only two people showed up. Photo of the empty venue: http://bit.ly/35t53zj :(

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

LATEST WITH THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING VOTE

Let's make this a Christmas problem:

The Senate is voting today on a measure today to fund the government through Dec. 20, punting the spending fight until the holidays. https://cnn.it/2DgACAl

Is it expected to pass?: Yes.

What next: The House already passed the continuing resolution, so it will head to President Trump's desk for a signature.

Livestream of the Senate vote: https://cs.pn/2qycG8F

NEWS THIS MORNING

Netanyahu is indicted:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE has been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. https://nbcnews.to/2rhSOGE

From Netanyahu: "Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and said he is the victim of a politically orchestrated "witch hunt" by the media and the left."

What this means: https://nbcnews.to/2rhSOGE

GETTING TRACTION

Gordon Sondland made his flight!:

Via CNN, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland made his flight to Brussels right after his congressional testimony in the impeachment inquiry. https://cnn.it/2KIWurX

The funny part: When Sondland boarded his flight, he put his luggage in the wrong overheard bin and when he realized the mix-up, he admitted, "My whole day has been like this."

Photo to prove it:

Gordon Sondland put his luggage in the wrong overhead bin, then said "my whole day has been like this" https://t.co/kjw0DAiC9n pic.twitter.com/gPi36EO6ir — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 21, 2019

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NOTABLE TWEETS

A must-have for the holiday season:

I saw this in the window of the Senate gift shop today and have added it to my Christmas wish list. pic.twitter.com/Zp7NGrTjGR — Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) November 21, 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 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST: Votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2O6pA6Q

11:30 a.m. EST: Roll call votes in the Senate. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2rfRILC

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

3:30 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 present the National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal in the East Room of the White House.

WHAT TO WATCH

10:45 a.m. EST: 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.) held a press conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2D30PlB

11:30 a.m. EST: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyHouse to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Ginsburg becomes the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins MORE (R-Calif.) held a press conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/34kJlgo

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Gingerbread Cookie Day.

This is brilliant:

United just launched a "Star Wars"-themed plane to celebrate "The Rise of Skywalker."

Where it flies: Around the U.S., Central America and the Caribbean

How to find a Star Wars flight: "Passengers can book a flight by looking up the aircraft's tail number, N36272."

Photos of the decked-out plane -- it looks pretty cool: http://bit.ly/2KHiyDr