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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.

LATE THIS MORNING



Get in, loser. We’re going to Paris

—> http://bit.ly/2JQl74v ;)

Before President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE departed for his trip to Paris, he spoke to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. http://bit.ly/2z1F4AV

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS

On Sessions’s temporary replacement, Matthew Whitaker: Trump stressed he does not know Whitaker personally, but repeatedly said he is "highly thought of.” Why this is newsy: Whitaker is an outspoken critic of the special counsel investigation, which he now runs. http://bit.ly/2z1F4AV

Trump threatened to pull more press credentials: When asked how long the credentials of CNN’s Jim Acosta will be suspended, Trump said he could take away other journalists’ passes. He then went after reporter April Ryan as a "loser" who "doesn't know what the hell she is doing." Watch — it was pretty tense: http://bit.ly/2PWaAKF

And yelled at a reporter for a ‘stupid question’: CNN reporter Abby Phillips asked the president, "Do you want [acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker] to rein in Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE?" Trump’s response: "What a stupid question that is. What a stupid question. But I watch you a lot. You ask a lot of stupid questions." Video of the interaction: http://bit.ly/2Dd1CS9

TIDBIT — OH THIS SHOULD GO SWIMMINGLY!

CNN’s Jim Acosta is in Paris to cover the president’s trip. The selfie Acosta just posted: http://bit.ly/2Fe2h8N

It’s finally 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, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

LATEST IN THE CALIFORNIA SHOOTING



The names of the victims have started to emerge

At least 12 people were killed Wednesday evening at a bar in Thousand Oaks, Calif. https://cnn.it/2PMaPYt

The victims who have been named so far: Ron Helus, Noel Sparks, Dan Manrique, Justin Meek, Cody Coffman, Alaina Housley and Telemachus Orfanos. Photos and what we know about each of the victims: https://cnn.it/2PMaPYt

One of the 12 victims survived the Route 91 shooting in Las Vegas

Via BuzzFeed’s Stephanie K. Baer, Susan Orfanos, the mother of victim Telemachus Orfanos, said her son attended the Route 91 music festival in Las Vegas last year, where 58 people were killed and hundreds more injured. An emotional interview with her: http://bit.ly/2SThbUJ

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE SUSPECT SO FAR

https://ti.me/2z2ANNN

THE SUSPECT’S WEAPON





The suspected shooter had a Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun, which is legal. https://abcn.ws/2FaMh7e Yeah, but: It was equipped with a high-capacity magazine that was outlawed by voters in 2016, but the ban hasn’t been implemented because of a lawsuit. http://bit.ly/2PhjLpg

NEW DEVELOPMENT — AUTHORITIES MAY HAVE FOUND A FACEBOOK POST FROM THE SHOOTER

The post that was published right around the time of the attack reads, "I hope people call me insane... (laughing emojis).. wouldn't that just be a big ball of irony? Yeah.. I'm insane, but the only thing you people do after these shootings is 'hopes and prayers'.. or 'keep you in my thoughts'... every time... and wonder why these keep happening..." https://cnn.it/2AUqBbv

Reaction from the suspects friend: “That does not sound like Ian to me at all. I don't know what was going through his head when he wrote this. It must have been terrible." https://cnn.it/2AUqBbv

LATEST WITH THE MIDTERMS



I hope Ted Mosby still has his hanging chad costume. It’ll be a festive throwback





—> http://bit.ly/2yZqMB2:

Florida is bracing for recounts in the Senate and gubernatorial races. What to expect: https://abcn.ws/2PnqMFj

LAST NIGHT — SCOTT SUED

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) is suing the Broward County elections supervisor for allegedly withholding crucial voter information. Like what?: How many people voted, how many ballots have been counted and how many more voted remain uncounted in the county. What the lawsuit is calling for: An emergency hearing before an important deadline noon Saturday. http://bit.ly/2zIBvPB

THEN TRUMP WEIGHED IN

The president tweeted last night, “Law Enforcement is looking into another big corruption scandal having to do with Election Fraud in Broward and Palm Beach. Florida voted for Rick Scott!” http://bit.ly/2POykjH

At this rate, ‘mock government’ will become a pre-school club

A small Oregon town elected an 18-year-old as its mayor. The race: Ben Simmons won 41 percent of the vote and beat two other candidate. How many people are in the town: Around 1,000. http://bit.ly/2qCi7Qg

Lol, The Hill’s Reid Wilson as the peanut gallery: “Don't build any winter sports complexes, kid.” http://bit.ly/2JSFdem

WHAT TO EXPECT IN CONGRESS



In the coming weeks — I’ll take ‘border wall’ for $1,000, Alex

Via The Hill’s Alexander Bolton, “The biggest fight looming for lawmakers in the lame-duck session is over President Trump’s request to fully fund his proposed border wall, which he made a top priority while campaigning for GOP candidates this fall.” What Republicans are weighing: “Republican leaders, leery of a partial government shutdown, are hesitant to push Trump’s demand to the brink. But lawmakers acknowledge it will be tough to resist the president if he insists on a hard-line position given his popularity with the GOP base.” http://bit.ly/2AWwPri

After the new year — gimme, gimme, gimme

Via The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda, House Democrats are expected to make President Trump’s tax returns as a big part of their agenda once they take the majority in January. http://bit.ly/2yZRklH

IN OTHER NEWS



You know when that calm teacher you had in school finally got angry? That’s Michelle Obama Michelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaMichelle Obama: 'Don't listen to people who will say that somehow voting is rigged' Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez exchange Ginsburg memories Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day MORE in this book

Via The Washington Post’s Krissah Thompson, former first lady Michelle Obama is publishing a new memoir on Tuesday, where she rips into President Trump.

Excerpt: “The whole [birther] thing was crazy and mean-spirited, of course, its underlying bigotry and xenophobia hardly concealed. But it was also dangerous, deliberately meant to stir up the wingnuts and kooks. What if someone with an unstable mind loaded a gun and drove to Washington? What if that person went looking for our girls? Donald Trump, with his loud and reckless innuendos, was putting my family’s safety at risk. And for this I’d never forgive him.” https://wapo.st/2OzmHIs

Hm, there are so many Ruperts. I wonder which Rupert this could be

The U.S. Capitol is still empty before Congress comes back, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) is in Washington, D.C., having meetings. Spotted walking into McConnell’s office: Rupert Murdoch. Photo: http://bit.ly/2zHDLGO

NOTABLE TWEETS



This is pretty funny











Trending video — I’m so invested in this

Update — we have an answer!: That man is the girl’s dad. She responded to the tweet, "Lol hi it's just my dad talking about a woman he wants to date.” It’s pretty disappointing, tbh. http://bit.ly/2DeoAsq







ON TAP

The House and Senate are out.

9 a.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpMelania Trump: Ginsburg's 'spirit will live on in all she has inspired' The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - You might want to download TikTok now Warning label added to Trump tweet over potential mail-in voting disinformation MORE left for Paris.

4:25 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive in Paris.

Sunday: Veterans Day.







WHAT TO WATCH

Sunday morning: Rep. Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffChris Matthews ripped for complimenting Trump's 'true presidential behavior' on Ginsburg Trump casts doubt on Ginsburg statement, wonders if it was written by Schiff, Pelosi or Schumer Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, will appear exclusively on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

8 p.m. EST Sunday: Fox News Channel is airing, “Modern Warriors: A Veterans Day Special.” Featured interview: With former Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill, who killed Osama bin Laden.





NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Greek Yogurt Day.

And because you made it to the weekend, here’s a viral video of a dog who tries to steal a smaller dog. Good try, doggo: http://bit.ly/2ATKl