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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: Debate night in Detroit | Progressive rivals Warren, Sanders take stage tonight | Critical test for mid-tier candidates | What to know for debate | New polls show Biden holding big lead | 'Bachelorette' finale to compete for viewers | DNC rejects Yang poll, leaving him out of September debate | Trump says he is 'least racist person' | Demands Washington Post apologize for calling McConnell a 'Russian asset' | 'Complete chaos' at DCCC | Republicans fear wave of retirements | National Cheesecake Day

HAPPENING TONIGHT

Tonight is the big night! A night of drama and passion and intrigue ... maybe even a fight or two.

...

It's "The Bachelorette" finale!:

...and it's the second round of Democratic presidential primary debates. Twenty candidates are hitting the stage this week in Detroit, split evenly between tonight and tomorrow.

HERE IS WHAT TO KNOW FOR TONIGHT:

Who is debating Tuesday:

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)

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)

Former Rep. John Delaney John DelaneyCoronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Rep. Rodney Davis Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer says Trump right on China but wrong on WHO; CDC issues new guidance for large gatherings The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what 'policing' means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight MORE (D-Md.)

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper John HickenlooperThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Cook Political Report shifts Colorado Senate race toward Democrat Willie Nelson playing at virtual fundraiser for Hickenlooper MORE (D)

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 (D-Minn.)

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)

Rep. Tim Ryan Timothy (Tim) RyanNow's the time to make 'Social Emotional Learning' a national priority Mourners gather outside Supreme Court after passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lincoln Project hits Trump for criticizing Goodyear, 'an American company' MORE (D-Ohio)

Sen. 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.)

Sen. 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.)

Author 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

How to watch: On CNN, CNN.com or CNN's apps. Did I mention CNN?

The good news -- When the debates start: 8 p.m. EDT. Keep in mind: Last month's debates started at 9 p.m.

The bad news -- When the debates end: The debates are expected to end "around 10:30 p.m. ET" compared to NBC's debates ending at the two-hour mark on the dot. Politico's Steven Shepard reminded me this morning of CNN's Republican presidential primary debate in 2015 that lasted for three hours. "By the third hour of CNN's GOP presidential debate, the candidates looked like long-distance runners fading in the final lap." http://bit.ly/2GAWo3N

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Here is CNN's breakdown of how the debates will work: https://cnn.it/2GDWB62

This is pretty cool to watch: Here is a 45-second time lapse of a crew setting up the CNN debate stage in Detroit. https://cnn.it/2GC0wQR

OK and real talk -- tonight is the 'Bachelorette' finale: Here is what to expect in the "Bachelorette" finale. Bachlorette Hannah Brown "says she doesn't know how live finale will play out." http://bit.ly/2ZvtWaE

It's Tuesday. 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

WHAT TO WATCH CONTENT-WISE:

Interesting graphic -- What each candidate needs to accomplish: https://politi.co/2GzIpLC

Six things to watch: Via CNN's Gregory Krieg: https://cnn.it/2GzR8gQ

NEWS TO KNOW LEADING INTO THE DEBATES:

Two new polls show Biden as the front-runner: Emerson's new poll has Biden with 33 percent support of likely Democratic voters, followed by Sanders at 20 percent, Warren at 14 percent and Harris at 11 percent. Morning Consult's poll has Biden with 33 percent, Sanders at 18 percent, Warren at 13 percent and Harris at 12 percent. The full polls: http://bit.ly/2Zu3r5P

Biden just got a big Iowa endorsement: A longtime Iowa congressman, former Rep. Neal Smith (D), endorsed 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 for president. Keep in mind: Smith served in Congress from 1959 to 1995 and overlapped with Biden's tenure on Capitol Hill. http://bit.ly/2Zgv41U

Andrew Yang Andrew YangDoctor 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 Buttigieg launches his own podcast MORE just became the eighth candidate to qualify for the next debate: Businessman Andrew Yang just reached the threshold for the next round of debates. http://bit.ly/2GDlLC1

Who has qualified for debates three and four: Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), 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.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D), and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas). http://bit.ly/2GDlLC1

EXCLUSIVE — THE DNC JUST REJECTED ANDREW YANG’S DEBATE QUALIFIER POLL:

Via The Hill’s Rachel Frazin, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) just rejected a poll that businessman and presidential candidate Andrew Yang submitted to qualify for the September presidential debate. I.e.: Yang still has not qualified for the next debate (!) http://bit.ly/2ZqDDYg

ON CAPITOL HILL

A Monday Night massacre:

Via The Hill's Al Weaver and Julia Manchester, senior staff of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) resigned last night in a mass departure.

Why: Criticism over the lack of diversity within the committee's top ranks.

Who left: Communications director Jared Smith, political director Molly Ritner, deputy executive director Nick Pancrazio, top communications aide Melissa Miller, and the committee's diversity director Van Ornelas.

^Following: The committee's executive director Allison Jaslow announced her resignation on Monday morning.

From a House Democrat -- oh wow, this quote: "The idea of all DCCC staff sitting around for hours on Friday and again today to talk about this internal shit enrages me. Shut the f--- up about your feelings and just focus on winning. ... You know how NRCC [National Republican Congressional Committee] spent their day Friday and today? Not sitting around talking about diversity and their feelings." http://bit.ly/2GCJgeg

Tidbit -- if you would like to weigh in:

"The hottest topic at the Capitol today was senators and aides taking bets on when we'll get out of here this week." (Tweet from The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim.) http://bit.ly/2GzH0ok

Spotted at LAX -- this looks like a fun time at the airport:

#TedCruz was at #LAX but folks weren’t so happy about it pic.twitter.com/uSuAiNRc2H — Follow @NPRmageddon for post-apocalyptic NPR memes (@naomimonster1) July 29, 2019

You can't *all* retire!:

Via The Hill's Reid Wilson, "House Republicans plotting to win back their majority in Congress fear they are on the brink of a massive wave of retirements that could force them to play defense in a high-stakes presidential election year."

LATEST WITH IMPEACHMENT TALKS

To quote David Bowie: 'Pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure, pushing down on me':

--> http://bit.ly/2LNYLV9 ;)

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, "Pressure is growing on Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish MORE (D-N.Y.) to endorse the start of impeachment proceedings against 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 as the idea gains support from his leadership, including several of the Senate's most influential women."

How so: "The third- and fourth-ranking Senate Democrats, Sens. Patty Murray Patricia (Patty) Lynn MurraySenate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Trump health officials grilled over reports of politics in COVID-19 response CDC director pushes back on Caputo claim of 'resistance unit' at agency MORE (Wash.) and Debbie Stabenow Deborah (Debbie) Ann StabenowOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump rollbacks could add 1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions over 15 years: analysis | Intensifying natural disasters do little to move needle on climate efforts | Experts warn wildfire smoke could worsen COVID-19 GAO report finds brokers offered false info on coverage for pre-existing conditions Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts MORE (Mich.), are now both backing an inquiry into Trump's possible impeachment." http://bit.ly/2Zvu7Tm

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

That's not a quote you ever want to have to give:

Speaking to reporters this morning, President Trump said he has no regrets over his feud with House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman 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.) and the city of Baltimore. http://bit.ly/2GCmXWl

In Trump's words: "I'm the least racist person there is anywhere in the world." Watch: http://bit.ly/2GCmXWl

ALSO FROM TRUMP'S REMARKS -- APOL *CLAP* IGIZE *CLAP*:

President Trump said The Washington Post should apologize to 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.) for publishing an opinion piece titled, "Mitch McConnell is a Russian asset." The op-ed's reasoning: The op-ed criticized McConnell for opposing election security legislation. http://bit.ly/2GCyi8H

Read the column: https://wapo.st/2GE7m8q

IN OTHER NEWS

Getting traction -- Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Rand Paul says he can't judge 'guilt or innocence' in Breonna Taylor case Overnight Health Care: Health officials tell public to trust in science | Despair at CDC under Trump influence | A new vaccine phase 3 trial starts MORE wanted in on the fun:

Via The Louisville's Courier Journal's Phillip M. Bailey, "Republican Sen. Rand Paul is offering to buy Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar Ilhan OmarOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise MORE a plane ticket to visit her home country of Somalia to learn to be more grateful for living in the United States." http://bit.ly/2GCpFLl

You can't *all* retire!:

Via The Hill's Reid Wilson, "House Republicans plotting to win back their majority in Congress fear they are on the brink of a massive wave of retirements that could force them to play defense in a high-stakes presidential election year." http://bit.ly/2ZgCQZE



Unusual timing: "Three House Republicans said last week they would not seek another term next year, catching party strategists off guard. Those announcements came earlier than in a typical election cycle, when members who are ready to hang up their voting cards usually wait until after the August recess or after the Christmas break." http://bit.ly/2ZgCQZE

NOTABLE TWEETS:

That's not a headline. That's a HEADLINE:

the job of an editor is to sometimes ignore the SEO and just go with your heart pic.twitter.com/06iG1jllFg — Eric Lach (@ericlach) July 29, 2019

ON TAP

The Senate is in. The House is out. President Trump is in Williamsburg, Va., and Vice President Pence is in Columbus, Ohio.

10:10 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence landed in Columbus, Ohio.

10:55 a.m. EDT: President Trump arrived in Williamsburg, Va.

11:30 a.m. EDT: The Senate had three roll call votes. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2GCeFxn

12:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate meets for weekly caucus luncheons.

2 p.m. EDT: President Trump gets back to the White House.

2:10 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence gets back to Washington, D.C.

4 p.m. EDT: President Trump signs the Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service Act.

WHAT TO WATCH

11 a.m. EDT: Vice President Pence spoke at the Magna Seating groundbreaking in Ohio. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2GwNTqn

11:15 a.m. EDT: President Trump gave a speech at the 400th anniversary of the first representative legislative assembly in Williamsburg, Va. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2GCf4zQ

2 p.m. EDT: Senate Republican leaders hold a news conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2GE1ADM

2:30 p.m. EDT: Senate Democratic leaders hold a news conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2GB51LJ

This week: C-SPAN's Steve Scully is interviewing President Trump. When it will air: TBD, sometime this week. http://bit.ly/2ZlStiv

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Cheesecake Day.

And to brighten your Monday, here's a dog with a very important message: http://bit.ly/2ZiYL2t