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The Hill's 12:30 Report — Presented by Johnson & Johnson — Trump floats idea of testifying in impeachment inquiry | Says he will 'strongly consider' it | Washington braces for busy week of hearings | High stakes for Sondland testimony | What to watch for | Congress expected to pass short-term funding bill | New poll shows Buttigieg leading in Iowa | Dems prep for Wednesday debate | National Apple Cider Day

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Trump could actually testify in the impeachment inquiry

It would be the perfect, most eloquent, beautiful, terrific testimony you’ve ever heard on Capitol Hill:

This morning, 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 tweeted that he will “strongly consider” testifying in the House impeachment inquiry, despite refusing to cooperate in the investigation. http://bit.ly/2rVJOHQ

How he would testify: Either through written or in-person testimony.

He tweeted: “Our Crazy, Do Nothing (where’s USMCA, infrastructure, lower drug pricing & much more?) Speaker of the House, Nervous 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, who is petrified by her Radical Left knowing she will soon be gone (they & Fake News Media are her BOSS), suggested on Sunday’s DEFACE THE NATION ... that I testify about the phony Impeachment Witch Hunt. She also said I could do it in writing. Even though I did nothing wrong, and don’t like giving credibility to this No Due Process Hoax, I like the idea & will, in order to get Congress focused again, strongly consider it!” http://bit.ly/2QB6QOe

Keep in mind: The White House has been instructing officials not to comply with the probe.

OVER THE WEEKEND — RUDY GIULIANI WEIGHS INTO THE PROCEEDINGS:

The president’s lawyer tweeted, “After 3 witnesses no evidence has been presented of any offense. The first two permanent diplomats had no direct knowledge just overhearing things. The third one had no knowledge not even hearsay. This is a travesty.” http://bit.ly/32Yl1j8

TODAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE:

President Trump met with Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election 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 Vulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' MORE. http://bit.ly/2r3qCHA

He tweeted: “Just finished a very good & cordial meeting at the White House with Jay Powell of the Federal Reserve. Everything was discussed including interest rates, negative interest, low inflation, easing, Dollar strength & its effect on manufacturing, trade with China, E.U. & others, etc.” http://bit.ly/2NVpgrn

It’s Monday. Welcome back! 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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THIS WEEK IN THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

Prepping Thanksgiving menus … and impeachment hearing questioning:

The House Intelligence Committee is gearing up for its second week of impeachment inquiry hearings against President Trump.

THE EIGHT WITNESSES TESTIFYING THIS WEEK:

On Tuesday morning:

– ­Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, the leading Ukraine expert on the national security council

– ­Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Pence,

On Tuesday afternoon:

– Former special envoy to Ukraine 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

– ­Timothy Morrison, a Ukraine and Russia expert on the national security council

On Wednesday:

– ­ 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, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union

– Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian affairs

– Diplomat David Hale

On Thursday:

– ­Fiona Hill, a former top NSC staffer who covered Europe and Russia

THE HEARING TO WATCH:

Gordon Sondland’s testimony. Republicans have been arguing that witnesses have only had secondhand information. “That argument may not work much longer, because lawmakers are about to hear from crucial witnesses who had direct contact with the president, including Gordon D. Sondland, a donor to and an ally of Mr. Trump who served as his liaison to Ukrainian officials while the president withheld — but later released — $391 million in military aid to Ukraine.” https://nyti.ms/2qs76EC

Republicans’ new Trump defense: Trump did nothing wrong because while he tried to have Ukraine dig up dirt on the Bidens, nothing came out of it. Via The New York Times’s Sheryl Gay Stolberg, here is how Republicans are shifting their defense:: https://nyti.ms/2qs76EC

Why the stakes are so high for Sondland’s testimony: Via The Hill’s Cristina Marcos: http://bit.ly/33Y3nNT

WHERE SENATE REPUBLICANS STAND AFTER WEEK 1 OF TESTIMONY:

“Although it is becoming increasingly clear that President Trump attempted to use military aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE, the bottom line for Republicans is that it doesn’t reach the threshold to remove President Trump from office.” How so, via The Hill’s Alexander Bolton: http://bit.ly/33YRQ0G

This morning from Schumer:

“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.) is pushing the Pentagon for details on how its protecting officials from retaliation after they testify as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.” http://bit.ly/2XpKcd5

How so: “Schumer sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper Mark EsperOvernight 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 Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Official: Pentagon has started 'prudent planning' for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May MORE on Monday asking for details on how the department is protecting two officials set to testify this week, as well as requesting the Pentagon formally notify personnel about their ability to share information with Congress.” http://bit.ly/2XpKcd5

Read the letter: http://bit.ly/2r2TtvP

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN CONGRESS THIS WEEK

So close to Thanksgiving, I can almost smell the stuffing:

Government funding extension: “Lawmakers are expected to pass a short-term spending bill this week ahead of Thursday’s deadline to prevent the second shutdown of the year ... The short-term spending bill, which as of Sunday evening had not been released by appropriators, is expected to go through the House first, before being sent to the Senate before Thursday’s deadline.”



Addressing workplace violence: “The House is slated to take up legislation that would require the Department of Labor to ‘address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors.’”

Nominations: The Senate will vote on three nominations before leaving for Thanksgiving. Who: Robert Luck’s and Barbara Lagoa to be judges on the Eleventh Circuit — plus Adrian Zuckerman to be the U.S. ambassador to Romania.

Context and details for each from The Hill’s Jordain Carney and Juliegrace Brufke: http://bit.ly/2Xn7wIH

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Started from the bottom, now we’re here:

Via The Des Moines Register’s Brianne Pfannenstiel, “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 has rocketed to the top of the latest Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll in the latest reshuffling of the top tier of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.” http://bit.ly/33Zyt7N

The numbers: 25 percent of likely caucusgoers in Iowa said they support Buttigieg. Sixteen percent support Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight 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 On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (D-Mass.) and 15 percent back former Vice President Joe Biden.

For context: That is a 16-point increase for Buttigieg since the CNN/DMR September poll.

The full poll: https://cnn.it/2CVCiio

What this means for the 2020 presidential race: https://nyti.ms/2CQHpQW

HAPPENING ON WEDNESDAY:

10 presidential candidates will debate on stage. What to know: http://bit.ly/2qYSE77

SPONSORED CONTENT — JOHNSON & JOHNSON

We're helping to solve America’s urgent health issues by developing a vaccine to prevent HIV, fighting cancer, relieving depression and making personalized joint replacements. Read our latest Health for Humanity Report.

NOTABLE TWEETS

Lol, the coordination isn’t bad!:

Watch: http://bit.ly/2CWoEM0

ON TAP

The House is in. The Senate is meeting this afternoon. President Trump is in Washington, D.C., and Vice President Pence has no public events on his schedule.

Noon: The House meets.

2 p.m. EST: President Trump receives an intelligence briefing.

3 p.m. EST: The Senate meets.

4:15 p.m. EST: President Trump meets with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE.

5:30 p.m. EST: The Senate votes. The Senate’s full schedule today: http://bit.ly/356yWFj

6:30 p.m. EST: The House votes. The House’s full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2Kv35q4

WHAT TO WATCH

Tuesday morning: The House Intelligence Committee is holding the next public impeachment hearing. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2NWhU6Y

9 p.m. EST Wednesday: The next Democratic presidential debate. Details: http://bit.ly/2qYSE77

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Apple Cider Day.

And because you made it to the end, here’s a turtle who is exhausted from the weekend: http://bit.ly/2CWChdS