The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The wildcard of the 2016 race  |  N.J.’s scathing response to the Union Leader endorsement  |  Jose Canseco’s tweet for Rosa Parks

HERE. WE. GO. AGAIN.: Via The Hill’s Scott Wong, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has a strategy for avoiding a government shutdown, and it’s a clean break from the divisiveness of ex-Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) tenure.

Although, Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) had to issue a warning to rank-and-file-Republicans that they need to play a constructive role in the process. That doesn’t sound to me like a necessary message to a united group. http://bit.ly/1MU03W9

{mosads}OBAMACARE REPEAL MAY ADVANCE SOON: Via The Hill’s Alexander Bolton, Senate Republican leaders are moving ahead with an ObamaCare repeal package, with fingers crossed that they have the 51 votes needed to pass it. What changed: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) floated the idea of phasing out Medicaid expansion over the next two years, which isn’t included in the House-passed bill. http://bit.ly/1IAkqUn

It’s Tuesday and the first day of December! I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of what you missed this morning and what’s on tap for the rest of the day. Send comments, concerns, complaints and compliments to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com and @CateMartel.

THE 2016 WILDCARD: Via The Hill’s Bob Cusack and Ian Swanson, FBI Director James Comey, respected by Republicans and Democrats alike, is a pivotal figure in the presidential race whom no one is talking about. Why: Comey, a Republican, will have the final say on whether Hillary Clinton did anything wrong or illegal with her emails. http://bit.ly/1IlSDMu

OBAMA MUST HAVE TAKEN THE LAME DUCK COMMENTS PERSONALLY: Via The Hill’s Devin Henry and Julian Hattem, after taking heat for his tepid initial response to the Paris attacks, President Obama is trying to make up for it by going on the offense. How: The administration said it plans to tighten the rules for entering the U.S. without a visa, heeding warnings that an ISIS fighter could enter that way. http://bit.ly/1PYgTXy

NEW THIS AM — OBAMA CLIMATE PLEDGE: Via the Hill’s Timothy Cama, at the international climate conference in Paris, Obama expressed confidence that the U.S. will meet climate pledges, despite threats from Republicans. http://bit.ly/1l5cWDW

CELEBRATING A 60th: 60 years ago today, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus in Alabama. Last night, the Senate passed a resolution honoring her. 

— Former MLB slugger @JoseCanseco: hug for u rosa parks http://bit.ly/1MUifPv

TAPPER AND TRUMP AIDE TANGLE: Via Politico’s Eliza Collins, CNN’s Jake Tapper interviewed Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s lawyer, yesterday, and it gets pretty awkward. “Mr. Trump’s memory is fantastic. I’ve never come across a situation that Mr. Trump has said something that is not accurate,” Cohen said. “Seriously?” Tapper responded unconvinced and almost annoyed. Watch: http://politi.co/21rL11m

EXCLUSIVE FROM THE HILL — CARSON ON SYRIAN REFUGEES: Republican presidential contender Ben Carson published an op-ed for The Hill, diving into his plan for the Syrian refugees. The gist: Syria’s neighbors must solve the refugee crisis, not Europe or of the U.S. http://bit.ly/1Xv27fk

NEWLY RELEASED — WITH SOME INTERESTING REVIEWS: BuzzFeed’s McKay Coppins published his book today of how the GOP plans to take back the White House after a stinging loss in 2012. But the Amazon reviews are the best part: http://amzn.to/1MTMGoX

— “A nervous geek… not fit to tie the Donald’s wingtips.” — Sarah Palin

— “Slimebag… true garbage.” — Trump 

— “There was once a little boy who cried that the emperor has no clothes, causing great consternation throughout the land. McKay Coppins is his reincarnation. He brings an impish, fearless clarity to the job of beholding power in all its naked strangeness.” — Walter Kirn, author of “Blood Will Out”

N.J. PAPER IS NOT PLEASED ABOUT CHRISTIE’S N.H. ENDORSEMENT: The New Jersey Star-Ledger published a scathing editorial criticizing the New Hampshire Union Leader for endorsing N.J. Gov. Chris Christie (R). “The paper knows almost nothing about his record as governor.” Ouch. Tom Moran goes on to elaborate: http://bit.ly/1OtoU5E

 

TWITTER CATCH-UP:

Mike Ricci, Speaker Paul Ryan’s Communications Director (on his boss’s new beard being the first for a House speaker in 90 years)
Learn something new every day. http://bit.ly/1Ti50tG

Politico’s Lauren French
[Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D)] is speaking to the House Democratic Caucus this morning.

Comment from Politico’s Burgess Everett: And [Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.)] is PUMPED http://bit.ly/1Qb5Etn
BEST PART: Swalwell replies with a gif: http://bit.ly/1l53TTy

NYT Opinion’s Emma Roller (re: a Trump representative claiming camera phones didn’t exist around 9/11)
this [clap] election [clap] is [clap] crazy [clap] http://bit.ly/1lso0L1

 

ON TAP 

Know of an event coming up? Email me and I’ll include in future 12:30 Reports.

9 a.m.–4 p.m. EST: The Cato Institute ​is holding a conference on policing in America. Featured speakers include U.S. Department of Justice’s Ronald L. Davis, The Washington Post’s Wesley Lowery and ACLU’s Vicki Gaubeca. Full speaker list: http://bit.ly/1OoXVYN; Live stream: http://bit.ly/1l12y04 

1 p.m. EST: The Congressional Full Employment Caucus is holding a briefing, hosted by Rep. John Conyers, Jr., (D-Mich.), Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio). They topic is how the Federal Reserve can let our wages grow. Details: http://bit.ly/1lr3fiI

2–5 p.m. EST: House votes in this window.

2:30 p.m. EST: Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and The Democratic Members of Republicans’ Select Committee to Attack Women’s Health will hold press availability.

6 p.m. EST: The Embassy of Norway is lighting the Norwegian Christmas tree at Union Station. Info: http://bit.ly/1YEHPgP 

6:45 p.m. EST: The Smithsonian Associates is hosting an evening with former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw. Details: http://bit.ly/1IxLW4Y 

7 p.m. EST: Trump holds a rally in Waterville Valley, N.H. 

Side note: Waterville Valley is a ski resort partially owned by Republican executive councilor and gubernatorial candidate Chris Sununu. He is also the son of former N.H. Governor (and highly-regarded N.H. insider) John Sununu and the brother of former Sen. John Sununu (who is backing John Kasich for president.) http://bit.ly/1NEKYeA

— Extra tidbit: Waterville Valley has four ski trails open today. 

7:30 p.m. EST: Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) speaks about dealing with Iran in a post-deal world at The Westminster Institute. Details: http://bit.ly/1IkXcqC 

9:15 a.m. EST tomorrow: Hillary Clinton speaks at a fundraiser in Tampa, Fla. Interesting to note, over 200 have RSVP’d, but no reporters are allowed. http://bit.ly/1l3bF0g

 

Now for the fun stuff…

THIS KID IS DOING CHRISTMAS CARDS RIGHT: A baby fell asleep while waiting in line to see Santa. Rolling with the punches, Santa made lemonade out of the situation — and it’s better than any standard Santa photos. http://bzfd.it/1Su9kFU

Today is National Pie Day! It’s a few days late in my opinion, but I always support pie.

CHINA’S LEVITATING CARS? NO, REALLY: Camera surveillance footage in China show three cars at a busy intersection lift up in the air and bounce back down. It’s really odd. http://cnn.it/1PYrUYZ

And with that, BuzzFeed has a brutal takedown of the most unproductive members of society … puppies. Yep, puppies. They do make good points. http://bzfd.it/1MTUdnN

 

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