To view past editions of The Hill's 12:30 Report, click here: http://bit.ly/1M1mIfw

To receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN

--> 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: What we learned from first impeachment transcripts | Roger Stone Roger Jason StoneFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. The agony of justice Our Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr MORE trial set to begin | Trump offers to 'wage WAR' on Mexican cartels | Mexican president declines offer | What to watch on Election Day 2019 | Close governor's race in Kentucky | Buttigieg sees more attacks as he enters top tier | Senate Dems unify against Joe Kennedy Joseph (Joe) Patrick KennedyDemocrats see fundraising spike following Ginsburg death Massachusetts town clerk resigns after delays to primary vote count Bogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration MORE's bid | Black cat runs into end zone on 'MNF' | Jimmy Kimmel James (Jimmy) Christian KimmelFauci, Black Lives Matter founders included on Time's 100 Most Influential People list Kimmel-hosted Emmy Awards attract all-time low 6.1M viewers: 'Well, we set a record' Bubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team MORE's annual Halloween candy prank

NEWS THIS MORNING

Trump offers to help Mexico 'wage WAR' on cartels:

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 reacted to the news that at least nine people were killed during an ambush by drug cartels near the U.S.-Mexico border, calling for both countries to "wipe them off the face of the earth." http://bit.ly/2WUGIzn

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump tweeted: "This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth. We merely await a call from your great new president!" http://bit.ly/36Aho5Z

Read his full series of tweets on the attack: http://bit.ly/2WUGIzn

REACTION FROM MEXICO'S PRESIDENT -- THANKS BUT NO THANKS:

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declined the offer, saying, "It's not in agreement with our convictions. The worst thing is war." http://bit.ly/2PRBEtJ

What happened -- at least nine Mormon women and children were killed at the border:

At least nine Americans -- three women, four young children and two infants -- were shot and burned alive in an ambush while driving on the Mexico side of the U.S.-Mexico border. Seven children were also injured and flown to hospitals in Arizona. https://cnn.it/2Chl3b2

What happened: "Willie Jessop, who is related to one victim, told NBC News by phone from Utah that the attack occurred on a motorcade consisting of several families, and that survivors at the scene told him that three cars were shot at and one was set on fire." https://nbcnews.to/33jKVyR

Why: It's still unclear, but "the family members suspect the shooting attack may have been a case of mistaken identity by drug cartel gunmen." https://abc13.co/2pzExoE

Where they were headed: "The families were headed from Sonora state to Chihuahua for a wedding on Monday." https://abc7ne.ws/33l9CuF

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

LATEST WITH THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

Now that we have had enough time to comb through the released transcripts...:

House Democrats released transcripts yesterday from depositions with former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and Michael McKinley, a former top aide to 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. http://bit.ly/32je2Rw

The gist: The transcripts largely describe how Yovanovitch was recalled from her post. "The U.S. ambassador was seen as insufficiently loyal to Trump and was the subject of a campaign by the White House and its allies to undermine her."



Here are five takeaways:

Witnesses describe a heavily politicized environment at State Testimony provides new details on the political probes Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to come under more scrutiny Democrats are seeking to keep pressure on President Trump More shoes to drop – expect more than a dozen transcripts released

HELPFUL GUIDE -- HERE'S A Q&A TO EXPLAIN HOW IMPEACHMENT WORKS:

Via Vox: http://bit.ly/2PV86vD

^ This is actually worth bookmarking for throughout the impeachment process.

STARTING TODAY

Roger Stone’s trial is gearing up:

Via The Hill’s Harper Neidig, jury selection begins today in the trial of longtime Republican operative and President Trump associate Roger Stone who allegedly lied to Congress about his role as a liaison between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks. http://bit.ly/36FzEeq

Stone’s sentence if convicted: Stone could face up to 20 years in prison, though it would likely be less severe.

Back story: “Stone is accused of lying to lawmakers about his contacts with WikiLeaks and the Trump campaign in 2016 as the organization was preparing to release a batch of emails stolen from John Podesta, the chairman of the Clinton campaign. He also faces charges of witness tampering for allegedly pressuring his intermediary with WikiLeaks — believed to be the radio host Randy Credico — to not cooperate with the House Intelligence Committee's investigation into alleged Russian election interference.”

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Today is Election Day:

Via NPR's Jessica Taylor, "These off-year contests may not be as high profile as the 2020 presidential and congressional elections will be a year from now, but they could offer some important hints on how voters are feeling about President Trump, impeachment, guns and more." https://n.pr/36zFNZn

Which states to watch: Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi. Kentucky and Mississippi are electing governors. Virginia is deciding control of the state legislature. https://nyti.ms/2pL9vtJ

Plus: "There are also political offices and referendums on the ballot in Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado on Tuesday." https://nyti.ms/2pL9vtJ

For New York voters: Via The New York Times, here's a cheat sheet to voting today: https://nyti.ms/2rilzU1

It's Don's world:

Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, "New battleground state polls sent tremors through Democratic circles Monday, underlining that President Trump has a fighting chance of reelection despite his mediocre national standing." http://bit.ly/2NlojZb



How so: "The polls, from The New York Times and Siena College, tested the three leading Democratic 2020 candidates -- 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 and Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.) and 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.) -- against Trump in the six states that Trump carried by the narrowest margins in 2016."

The results: "The polls showed Warren defeating Trump only in Arizona, Sanders doing so in three of the states and Biden doing so in four. All of the Democrats lost to Trump in North Carolina, which President Obama carried narrowly in 2008. Even in Biden's case the results were hardly conclusive. His edge was 5 points in Arizona and smaller everywhere else: 3 points in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and just 2 points in Florida."

How this could play out: http://bit.ly/2NlojZb

Welcome to the top tier. You're going to hate it here:

Via The Hill's Reid Wilson in Indianola, Iowa, now in the top tier of Democratic presidential contenders, 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 has become a target of attacks. http://bit.ly/2JQDNSE

Senate Democrats seem to all agree -- not yet, Joe Kennedy:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, "Senate Democrats are nearly united in their opposition to Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), the scion of their party's most fabled family, in his bid to unseat Sen. Ed Markey (D)." http://bit.ly/2qqKKTC

What Kennedy running for Senate would mean: "Kennedy, a 39-year-old graduate of Harvard Law School, is putting his political career on the line by taking on a Democratic incumbent who has been a fixture in Congress since 1976. His campaign also marks the best hope of putting a Kennedy back in the Senate or White House in the foreseeable future."

IN CONGRESS

What we're hearing from Graham

*clap* Investigate *clap* Biden. *clap* Investigate *clap* Biden.:

During an interview with Fox News's Laura Ingraham Laura Anne IngrahamTrump assails Black Lives Matter in appeal to Black voters Ex-Pence aide: Trump spent 45 minutes of task force meeting 'going off on Tucker Carlson' instead of talking coronavirus Sean Hannity and Lou Dobbs to be deposed in Seth Rich lawsuit: report MORE, Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamLincoln Project mocks Lindsey Graham's fundraising lag with Sarah McLachlan-themed video The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election Trump dumbfounds GOP with latest unforced error MORE (R-S.C.) called for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to investigate any ties between the Bidens and Ukraine. http://bit.ly/36xGD9b

In Graham's words: "We need to look at whether or not Hunter Biden corruptly engaged in lobbying. Did Joe Biden ask the prosecutor to be fired because he was investigating his son?"

Watch Graham's full comments: http://bit.ly/34CqOfz

Op-ed: http://bit.ly/33k31R9

THE TALK OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Are we calling cat interference on this touchdown?:

A black cat ran across the field during "Monday Night Football" yesterday. http://bit.ly/2rfGxmm

Video of the incident: Omg, the audio is hilarious. http://bit.ly/2PO0DhG

This attracted other cats: Here are three black cats who are anxiously following the developments. Watch: http://bit.ly/2PO4paX

Where's the cat now?: Via ESPN, MetLife Stadium tweeted out that the black cat is still at large. https://es.pn/36tLEiO

On Air Force One: "the back cabin of af1 erupted in cheers when the [Monday Night Football] cat crossed the goal line" (Via Bloomberg's Justin Sink) Photo: http://bit.ly/2WJc0sI

Lol:

Let’s check in with our friends in the booth pic.twitter.com/d0x8Z02tDQ — Dave Jorgenson (@davejorgenson) November 5, 2019

NOTABLE TWEETS

I repeat: The jersey has arrived.:

The Nats 45 jersey for ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ has arrived at the White House. pic.twitter.com/sAD8cIq0KW — David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) November 4, 2019

ON TAP

The Senate is in. The House is out.

President Trump has no public events on his schedule. Vice President Pence is in Washington, D.C.

12:30 p.m. EST: Senators meet for weekly caucus luncheons. Vice President Pence participates in the Republican lunch.

2:15 p.m. EST: A roll call vote in the Senate. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2Ned18T

5:30 p.m. EST: Two roll call votes in the Senate.

WHAT TO WATCH

2 p.m. EST: Senate Republicans hold their regular press conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2JOX2Mw

2:30 p.m. EST: Senate Democrats hold their regular press conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/34w2r2V

2:30 p.m. EST: FBI Director Christopher Wray and acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee about security threats. Livestream: https://cs.pn/36yoVlM

6:30 p.m. EST: NBC News's Harry Smith sits down with South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) for a new series, "What Matters."

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Doughnut Day! Yes, there are two National Doughnut Days. The other is on June 5. http://bit.ly/34wZFdN

It's that time of year when Jimmy Kimmel makes children cry:

Here are the results of Jimmy Kimmel's annual, "I told my kids I ate all their Halloween candy." Watch: http://bit.ly/36BolDT

And because you made it to the end, here's a baby and a husky puppy hanging out: http://bit.ly/2pJ8CC6