The Hill's 12:30 Report -- Sponsored by Better Medicare Alliance -- McCain lies in state at US Capitol | Leaders honor him at ceremony | Why its been a brutal summer for Republicans | Trump's future hinges on midterms | Manafort associate charged with illegal lobbying | Kavanaugh's doing hearing prep with fake protesters | Trump gives himself an 'A-plus'

Sponsored by Better Medicare Alliance | View in Browser   HAPPENING TODAY Honoring John McCain in Washington, D.C.:   Lawmakers and leaders gathered at the U.S. Capitol this morning for a memorial service to honor the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).   TODAY'S SERVICES: 11 a.m. EDT: A ceremony at the U.S. Capitol to honor McCain. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Vice President Pence are speaking. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2MIZKqv   1 p.m. EDT: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol for mourners to pay their respects. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2wsjVPm   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS DURING THIS MORNING'S SERVICE: Video of the hearse arriving at the Capitol: http://bit.ly/2wAqRJq   Wow...: Watch: http://bit.ly/2PUAwTV   Mourners lining up: "People are already lining up outside the Capitol -- more than three hours in advance -- to go in and pay final respects to John McCain." Photo: http://bit.ly/2MHg9vx   The casket arriving in the Capitol Rotunda: http://bit.ly/2LLEyLf   This image is powerful: Here's a shot taken from the top of the rotunda: http://bit.ly/2NBCUgC   Photo of McCain's good friend, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), standing at the casket: http://bit.ly/2PnWPAa   Tidbit: "If you zoom in, you can see Lindsey Graham is in the section with what appears to be family, friends and other officials rather than standing with the group of sitting senators to the left." (Via Politico's Nolan McCaskill) Photo: http://bit.ly/2MEsn85   From Speaker Ryan: "We share your anguish in losing this great man," Ryan says to the McCain family. And a little lighter: "He really does talk like a sailor," Ryan also said during his remarks. http://bit.ly/2MI9EIL   From Senate Majority Leader McConnell: "He had America's fighting spirit.  I will miss a dear friend whose smile reminded us that service is a privilege. We thank God for giving this country John McCain."    From Vice President Pence: "The president asked me to be here on behalf of a grateful nation to pay a debt of honor and respect to a man who served our country throughout his life, in uniform and in public office," Pence said. "As President Trump said yesterday, we respect his service to the country." http://bit.ly/2C6gFyp   More live updates from CNN: https://cnn.it/2MEsT61   SERVICES THIS WEEKEND: 10 a.m. EDT Saturday: A memorial service for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at Washington National Cathedral. 2,500 guests are expected to attend. Who will speak: Former Presidents George W. Bush and Obama; former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.); former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; McCain's children Meghan, Jimmy and Sidney; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). https://usat.ly/2Pjw8wG   1:45 p.m. EDT Sunday: A private ceremony and burial for McCain at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Md. Keep in mind: McCain will be buried next to his lifelong friend Adm. Chuck Larson, who passed away in 2014.   D.C. ROAD CLOSURES: A few streets around the Capitol closed Thursday evening and will remain closed through 11 p.m. EDT Saturday. The list: https://wapo.st/2PRgoC9   WHAT IT MEANS TO LIE IN STATE: Here's the difference between lying in state, honor and repose: https://nyti.ms/2ooZSwF   It's Friday and today is the last day of August. 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.   PROGRAMMING NOTE: The 12:30 Report will be off Monday for Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend!    SPONSORED CONTENT - BETTER MEDICARE ALLIANCE   NEWS THIS MORNING JUST POSTED -- a possible Don McGahn replacement: Via The Washington Post's Carol D. Leonnig, "President Trump is eying Washington litigator Pat Cipollone to replace outgoing White House counsel Donald McGahn, according to two people familiar with the president's thinking." Full report: https://wapo.st/2N8dhqI   I mean, I get it. I give myself A-pluses all the time: During an Oval Office interview with Bloomberg's John Micklethwait, Margaret Talev and Jennifer Jacobs yesterday, President Trump gave himself an A-plus because "the level of love" at his campaign rallies is "just a beautiful thing to watch." https://bloom.bg/2MDIqD2   OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: On trade: Trump called the European Union "almost as bad as China, just smaller."    On the Mueller investigation: The president called the investigation into Russian election interference "illegal." He also said his impeachment isn't possible because Congress can't "impeach somebody that's doing a great job.''    Some who worked with Paul Manafort might be a little nervous: Via Bloomberg's Tom Schoenberg and Andrew M. Harris, a former associate of Paul Manafort, Sam Patten, has been charged with failing to register as a foreign agent in the United States. Why: Prosecutors say he was lobbying for a Ukrainian political party. https://bloom.bg/2Pp1m5v   HAPPENING NEXT WEEK How I imagine Brett Kavanaugh trying to have a relaxing long weekend -- > http://bit.ly/2Poyydd ;) Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will sit for three days of confirmation hearings next week with the Senate Judiciary Committee. http://bit.ly/2PRmXEF   Tuesday: Opening statements by Kavanaugh and members of the committee. It will start at 9:30 a.m. and will likely end around 2:15 p.m.   Wednesday: Senators will have 30 minutes each to grill Kavanaugh. It will start at 9:30 a.m. and is expected to wrap around 9:30 p.m. (!)    Thursday: Senators will have an additional 20 minutes to ask Kavanaugh questions. It will start around 9:30 a.m. and is expected to end around 6 p.m.   Friday: 28 outside witnesses are scheduled to testify.      WHAT TO EXPECT -- EH, DON'T GET TOO EXCITED: "Nominees know they do not have much to gain from discussing how they would rule on particular cases, and senators largely know how they will vote before the hearing ever starts." https://cnb.cx/2C5knIu   NEW TIDBIT -- OOH, OOH, ARE THEY LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE TO PLAY THE PROTESTERS?! THAT SOUNDS FUN: Via Politico's Andrew Restuccia, Elana Schor and Lorraine Woellert, Judge Kavanaugh is undergoing a series of rigorous mock hearings and fake protesters to prepare for next week. Details of the mock hearings: https://politi.co/2PjPjXc   IN OTHER NEWS 'It's been a brutal summer for the GOP' ^You can say that again: Via The Hill's Scott Wong and Alexander Bolton, "President Trump's secret meeting, and stunning press conference, with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Felony convictions for Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and a guilty plea from his longtime personal fixer, Michael Cohen. Returning flags atop the White House to full-staff less than 48 hours after Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) death." http://bit.ly/2N0TKZx   Why this could be worrisome for the party: "Some Republicans say the president's actions these past few months amount to a series of costly errors that distract from the party's strong economic message and raise more doubts about whether the GOP can keep control of the House -- and perhaps the Senate -- in the upcoming midterm elections." http://bit.ly/2N0TKZx     JUST POSTED -- HOW TRUMP'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON THE MIDTERMS: Via The Hill's Niall Stanage: http://bit.ly/2orGi2Z   NOTABLE TWEETS This seems pretty stressful to me!:   Watch -- it's pretty cool: http://bit.ly/2PsjjQT   *face palm*:   New update: Here's a statement from the White House Correspondents' Association. Excerpt: "The [Trump] campaign has taken him off the road, and promises that this will not happen again." Full statement: http://bit.ly/2MDXsbW   ON TAP The House and Senate are out.   12:45 p.m. EDT: President Trump leaves the White House for Charlotte, N.C.   2:35 p.m. EDT: President Trump participates in a signing event on strengthening retirement security in America.   3:40 p.m. EDT: President Trump participates in a roundtable with supporters in Charlotte, N.C.   4:40 p.m. EDT: President Trump speaks at a joint fundraising committee reception in Charlotte, N.C.   7:25 p.m. EDT: President Trump gets back to the White House.   This weekend: Funeral services for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) Op-ed from former deputy Undersecretary of the U.S. Navy Seth Cropsey: http://bit.ly/2NBEpvg    Noon Tuesday: The House returns.    WHAT TO WATCH Today: The funeral for singer Aretha Franklin. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2ong0ii   Sunday morning: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) will appear exclusively on NBC's "Meet the Press." Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor of Florida, will also appear.   NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF... Today is National Trail Mix Day.   And to get your weekend off to a funny start, here's a dog who really can't stand humans. I didn't think it was possible, but we have found one: http://bit.ly/2onBNpQ   To view past editions of The Hill's 12:30 Report, CLICK HERE. To receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE. 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