The Hill's 12:30 Report

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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 says he's being investigated for firing Comey | Trump allies on offensive against Mueller | Rosenstein weighs recusal from Russia probe | Changes coming to Cuba policy | Amazon buying Whole Foods | National Fudge Day

ALERT -- TRUMP SAYS HE'S BEING INVESTIGATED: President TrumpDonald John TrumpRomney on Trump election tactics: 'Difficult to imagine a worse, more undemocratic action' by president New York expands Trump tax fraud investigations to include writeoffs: report Biden promises federal government will pay for National Guard coronavirus work: 'That should be paid for' MORE tweeted that he was "being investigated" for firing FBI Director James Comey. He tweeted: "I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt." Who he's referring to: It wasn't immediately clear, though it is likely Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Keep in mind: While the president's tweet had the appearance of confirming he is under federal investigation for possible obstruction of justice, it's not clear what information he used to back up comments. http://bit.ly/2ryKaD1

FLASHBACK: The president tweeted last week: "Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!" http://bit.ly/2sGK6B6

TWITTER GAME: Drink every time President Trump refers to a "witch hunt." 

MELANIA, SISTAH GIRL, HELP A NATION OUT. CHANGE HIS TWITTER PASSWORD.: President Trump went on another Twitter tirade this morning about the investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. election. On the economy: "Despite the phony Witch Hunt going on in America, the economic & jobs numbers are great. Regulations way down, jobs and enthusiasm way up!" http://bit.ly/2t9Ytv7 On the media: "The Fake News Media hates when I use what has turned out to be my very powerful Social Media -- over 100 million people! I can go around them." http://bit.ly/2s8OZBV

It's Friday. *collective sigh of relief* 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.

BUSINESS NEWS OF THE MORNING -- COULD THIS MEAN WHOLE FOODS' WINE SECTION COULD BE...DELIVERED? *EYES WIDEN*: Via CNBC, Amazon is buying Whole Foods in a deal valued at $13.7 billion. John Mackey will remain CEO of the grocery stores. Interesting tidbit to keep in the back of your mind: Amazon has been trying to grow its online grocery business. http://cnb.cx/2rnLzZ6

Yikes, this graph: "How Amazon took over the world. A relentless focus on the top line." http://bit.ly/2sAM6LB

NEW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE -- THE DREAMERS CAN STAY: Via The New York Times's Michael D. Shear, "President Trump has officially reversed his campaign pledge to deport the so-called Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as small children." http://nyti.ms/2sjdgn5

LATEST WITH THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION -- FISTS CLENCHING IN MUELLER'S DIRECTION: Via The Hill's Jonathan Easley, "President Trump's legal team and political allies have launched a preemptive strike against special counsel Robert Mueller." Why: "Trump's backers are furious about a story that appeared Wednesday in The Washington Post, in which five anonymous sources alleged that the president is the target of an obstruction of justice investigation for allegedly trying to bury an FBI probe into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn." Timing: That story "which was published on Trump's birthday and a week after the White House believed the president had moved beyond allegations of collusion with Russia in the presidential election, was viewed by Trump's allies as evidence that the story was planted by law enforcement officials to ensure a shadow of suspicion would remain." http://bit.ly/2sji7Vo

NEW DEVELOPMENT -- RECUSAL IS THE NEW 'PEAAAACE, I'M OUT': Via ABC's Mike Levine and Pierre Thomas, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, "the senior Justice Department official with ultimate authority over the special counsel's probe of Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 election has privately acknowledged to colleagues that he may have to recuse himself from the matter, which he took charge of only after Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsAlabama zeroes in on Richard Shelby's future Tuberville incorrectly says Gore was president-elect in 2000 Next attorney general must embrace marijuana law reforms MORE' own recusal." Why this is huge: His comments show that the federal probe is widening. http://abcn.ws/2tvpEjw

Who is third in command: Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand. What to know about her: http://wapo.st/2sj3LUT

A CRYPTIC MESSAGE FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT -- TRUST NO ONE. BELIEVE NOTHING: The Justice Department issued a statement last night warning against believing anonymous sources. Statement: "Americans should exercise caution before accepting as true any stories attributed to anonymous 'officials,' particularly when they do not identify the country -- let alone the branch or agency of government -- with which the alleged sources supposedly are affiliated," Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein wrote Thursday. http://bit.ly/2sxwRSF

Why reporters found this statement bizarre: Many reporters quickly pointed out the statement as bizarre, speculating that the Justice Department was attempting to squash existing leaks, or possibly a story that hasn't yet been reported. It's not immediately made clear if the statement was in reference to a specific story. 

Example -- tweet from Buzzfeed's legal editor Chris Geidner: "Great to hear the White House and Donald Trump admin is going to do all briefings on the record from now on. Bravo, Justice Department." http://bit.ly/2sAn9Qc

SPOTTED AT THE CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME: Anheuser-Busch/Buffalo Wild Wings co-hosted a watch party at the PNC Diamond Club for last night's Congressional Baseball Game. Spotted: Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta; White House press secretary Sean Spicer and Rebecca Miller Spicer; deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders; Doug Bailey, vice president of industry affairs for Anheuser-Busch; Sen. John BoozmanJohn Nichols BoozmanBusiness groups scramble to forge ties amid race for House Agriculture chair Romney calls first Trump-Biden debate 'an embarrassment' COVID-19 relief talks look dead until September  MORE (R-Ark.); Reps. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), John Delaney (D-Md.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Virginia FoxxVirginia Ann FoxxFederal watchdog finds escalating cyberattacks on schools pose potential harm to students House approves .2T COVID-19 relief bill as White House talks stall House passes bill to allow private lawsuits against public schools for discriminatory practices MORE (R-N.C.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), David Joyce (R-Ohio), Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Ted YohoTheodore (Ted) Scott YohoHere are the 17 GOP women newly elected to the House this year Ocasio-Cortez after Yoho confrontation: 'I won't be so nice next time' Overnight Defense: US, India to share satellite data | Allegations of racism at Virginia Military Institute | Navy IDs 2 killed in Alabama plane crash MORE (R-Fla.); Roland Foster, senior policy adviser for Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeProfiles in cowardice: Trump's Senate enablers McSally concedes Arizona Senate race The Hill's Morning Report - ObamaCare front and center; transition standoff continues MORE (R-Ariz.); and Katie Pointer, floor manager for Speaker Paul RyanPaul Davis RyanDemocratic anger rises over Trump obstacles to Biden transition Feehery: A possible House Speaker conundrum for Democrats McCarthy faces pushback from anxious Republicans over interview comments MORE (R-Wis.).

Overheard in the concourse: "Oh my god! There's beer and hotdogs here! It's a real American ball park!" 
Me: ... (http://bit.ly/2sxLHIM)

HAPPY TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY, ERRBODY: Two years ago, Donald Trump rode down a Trump Tower escalator to "Rockin' In The Free World" and into everyone's hearts. Lol, he announced his bid for president two years ago today. Oh how time flies... Throwback to that day: http://abcn.ws/2s93GVm  

  

NOTABLE TWEETS:

Hanna De Castro (This photo has gone viral.)
My mom was told to give me a half up half down hairstyle. She didnt know what that meant so she did this. Photo: http://bit.ly/2rnMEQs

Politico's Ben Schreckinger (Oh wow. This Smirnoff ad.)
SPOTTED in London http://bit.ly/2sA5ZlN 

 

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are both out.

5:30 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence speaks at a fundraiser for his political action committee at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. Details: https://usat.ly/2rnMqc5

4 p.m. EDT Monday: The Senate is back in.

 

WHAT TO WATCH:

1 p.m. EDT: President Trump speaks at the Manuel Artime Theater in Miami and makes an announcement on United States' policy towards Cuba. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2tafp4v

What to know about Trump's Cuba policy: http://bit.ly/2s8C6aO

Photo of Trump's backdrop: http://bit.ly/2tvjAat

Sunday: Sens. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioTrump's cyber firing stirs outrage Warnock hit by Republicans over 'cannot serve God and the military' comment Republican senators urge Trump to label West Bank goods as 'Made in Israel' MORE (R-Fla.) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersYoung conservatives won't back down from the climate conversation under Biden Democrats must turn around The Memo: Democrats see warning signs beyond 2020 MORE (I-Vt.) appear on CNN's "State of the Union."

Sunday: Jill Abramson, David Blankenhorn, Edward Luce, Padraig O'Malley, Ruchir Sharma and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani of Qatar will appear on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS."

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:

Today is National Fudge Day!

CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS TO BECOME A 'MADE FOR TV' TLC HORROR MOVIE: Two teenagers were rescued after being lost for three days in the Paris catacombs. Yikes. http://cnn.it/2siKSSd

IT'S LIKE AN ADULT TOY STORE: Artist Lucy Sparrow has opened an all-felt bodega in New York. Basically, it's an entire convenience store of plush items for sale. The photos look pretty cool: http://bit.ly/2s8R3Kb

And to get your weekend off to a good start, here's a woman who captured video of her UPS driver taking a selfie with her dogs: http://bzfd.it/2sGS513

 

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