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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: Trump calls for 'intelligent' background checks | Says McConnell is 'totally on board' | McConnell says Senate won't return early to take up gun bills | 2020 Dems flock to Iowa State Fair | Iowans hold corn kernel poll | Twitter unlocks McConnell campaign account | Booker, Harris under fire for ties to pastor who called homosexuality a sin | Trump attending Hamptons fundraiser | Weird Iowa State Fair foods

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Intelligently check them:

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 called for "intelligent" background checks on gun purchases in response to the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. http://bit.ly/2yNq9Kf

Trump told reporters this morning: "Frankly, we need intelligent background checks."

What about McConnell?: Trump said he spoke with 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.) and said McConnell is "totally on board."

Video of Trump then taking off on Marine One: He is headed to the Hamptons for fundraising. http://bit.ly/2OPhhyL

Happy recess 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 -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.

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PROGRAMMING NOTE: The 12:30 Report will be off next week. Enjoy the week!

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Why 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 and Cory Booker Cory Anthony Booker3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility MORE aren't enjoying the news cycle:

Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) are facing backlash for appearances with a pastor who has described homosexuality as a sin that is enough to send someone to hell. http://bit.ly/2OLQp2p

When: Booker and Harris separately attended services last week at Victory Missionary Baptist Church led by the pastor.

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Keep in mind: 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.) held a town hall at the church on July 6 but did not appear with the pastor.

Elaborating on the pastor's comments -- Rev. Robert E. Fowler Sr. told Nevada Public Radio in 2013: "Whether you commit adultery, whether you commit fornication, whether you're a child molester, you gossip, you lie, you cheat on your taxes, you don't pay your tithes, things of that nature -- all of that is wrapped together as sin, along with homosexuality. Any sin, if you break the law in one area, you've broken it in all areas. If you mess up in one area, that's enough to send you to hell -- so any sin is pretty bad for me."

REACTION FROM HARRIS'S CAMPAIGN:

Harris's campaign says it was not aware of Fowler's past remarks. From a spokeswoman: "Senator Harris' support and advocacy for LGBTQ equality has been unwavering throughout her career and will continue when elected President. She will continue to visit houses of worship across the country to address congregants about the pressing issues we face as a nation." http://bit.ly/2OLQp2p

REACTION FROM BOOKER'S CAMPAIGN:

Booker's campaign did not say whether it knew about Fowler's stance. From a spokeswoman: "Cory does not share these views. Throughout his career, Cory has been a consistent fighter for the rights of LGBTQ people and even refused to officiate weddings as Newark mayor until same-sex couples were granted the same rights as everyone. He'll keep fighting to end discrimination as president." http://bit.ly/2OLQp2p

'Tis the season for weird deep-fried marvels:

Keeping with tradition, more than 20 presidential candidates are speaking at the annual Iowa State Fair over the next week.

How long candidates have to speak: Twenty minutes on the Soapbox. https://cbsn.ws/2yLFhrw

Schedule of when each candidate is speaking: https://cbsn.ws/2yLFhrw

Livestream: http://bit.ly/2yNG9vE

WOW, THIS IS AN ENTERTAINING -- AND CALORIC -- LIST:

Here's a list of 69 foods on a stick sold at the fair: http://bit.ly/2yLvJwR

A few notable picks:

"Pecan Pie (Deep Fried, On A Stick, Topped With Caramel & Bacon Bits)"

"Bacon Wrapped Deep Fried Italian Sausage On A Stick"

"Breakfast Sausage In A Waffle On A Stick"

"Slopper, Footlong Hot Dog With Corn Chips, Chili And Cheese Sauce"

Omg: "Mr. Yang says this is his 18th turkey leg. 'I'm a big fan of Renaissance fairs.'" (Via The New York Times's Lisa Lerer) Photo of 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 eating a turkey leg — this is making me hungry: http://bit.ly/2ONm0ks

Iowans are holding a corn kernel poll:

IN CONGRESS

Don't expect the Senate to come back during recess:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated that he will not call the Senate back early to debate gun legislation. http://bit.ly/2yPY7hm

McConnell told Kentucky radio station WHAS: "We're going to have these bipartisan discussions and when we get back hopefully be able to come together and actually pass something. I want to make a law."

McConnell added: "If we did that, we would just have people scoring points and nothing would happen. There has to be a bipartisan discussion here of what we can agree on. ... If we do it prematurely it will just be another frustrating experience. ... I think this is the best way to get a result."

The McConnell vs. Twitter battle is turning into a war:

Via The Hill's Jordain Carney, "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his allies are embracing a fight with the media and Twitter that has struck a nerve among Republicans." http://bit.ly/2yNY3P5

What happened: The McConnell campaign was locked out of Twitter after sharing a video of protesters outside of McConnell's house with a woman saying someone should "just stab the mother---- in the heart." Twitter said it violate its violent threats policy.

Reaction from McConnell's campaign: "Instead of backing down, and regaining access to the social media platform, the campaign has dug in, arguing the decision is the latest example of what conservatives see as double standards practiced by the tech giant and media."

From campaign manager Kevin Golden: "We firmly believe that if a platform allows #MassacreMitch to trend but locks our account because we posted threats made against him, there is something deeply wrong with that platform."

BOYCOTT GROWS:

The Trump campaign just announced it will boycott Twitter advertising in solidarity with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) http://bit.ly/2P4pDCP

Read the statement (on Twitter lol) from campaign manager Brad Parscale Bradley (Brad) James ParscaleMORE: http://bit.ly/2P4pDCP

BREAKING -- TWITTER UNLOCKS THE MCCONNELL CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT:

"After multiple appeals from affected users and Leader McConnell's team confirming their intent to highlight the threats for public discussion, we have reviewed this case more closely ... Going forward, the video will be visible on the service with a sensitive media interstitial and only in cases where the Tweet content does not otherwise violate the Twitter Rules." Read Twitter's full statement: http://bit.ly/2OXGkQi

NEWS THIS MORNING

The UK's economy has shrunk:

Via CNN Business's Julia Horowitz, for the first time since 2012, the economy in the United Kingdom has shrunk. https://cnn.it/2ONtpQw

By how much: 0.2 percent compared to the last quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Why this is important: "The contraction comes as the global economy slows and fears rise that Britain could crash out of the European Union, dealing a gut punch to an already-weak economy. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has committed to leaving the bloc on October 31 even without an exit agreement in place to protect trade. That would plunge the economy into recession, according to government forecasts."

Details: https://cnn.it/2ONtpQw

NOTABLE TWEETS

We don't deserve Princess Charlotte:

Princess Charlotte is too funny! pic.twitter.com/hShuy1pkAa — People (@people) August 8, 2019

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





ON TAP

The House and Senate are out for the month.

President Trump is in Long Island, N.Y. Vice President Pence has no public events on his schedule.

11:50 a.m. EDT: President Trump participates in a roundtable with supporters in Southampton, N.Y.

12:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump speaks at a fundraising committee luncheon in Southampton, N.Y.

2:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump speaks at a fundraising committee reception in Water Mill, N.Y.

4:50 p.m. EDT: President Trump arrives in Bedminster, N.J.

Today–Aug. 18: The Iowa State Fair. Expect lots of presidential candidate visits. Fair details: http://bit.ly/2yLvsKl

WHAT TO WATCH

Sunday: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Michael BloombergDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida Bloomberg pays fines for 32,000 felons in Florida so they can vote Top Democratic super PAC launches Florida ad blitz after Bloomberg donation MORE will appear on CBS's "Face the Nation." http://bit.ly/2OXvMRc

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Rice Pudding Day.

And to get your weekend off to the right start, here's a dog who is making his disdain for the heat abundantly clear: http://bit.ly/2OK1bWW