The Hill’s 12:30 Report

by Cate Martel - 10/06/16 12:30 PM ET

If you’d like to subscribe to The Hill’s midday political newsletter, please click here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN

RELEASED THIS A.M. — HOW’S IT FEELING UP THERE?!: President Obama‘s job approval rating is 55 percent in a new CNN/ORC poll — the highest it’s been in that poll at any point during his second term. Context: The president’s job approval is up 4 points from last month’s edition of the poll, and 11 points from this time last year. http://bit.ly/2dNnEvW

Happy Day-Before-Friday! 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, story ideas and weekend plans to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

ISN’T IT IRONIC, DONTCHA THINK?: Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) are making their first appearance together, campaigning in Ryan’s Wisconsin district. To put it lightly: Ryan has had an uneasy relationship with Trump. Ryan has rebuked him multiple times over the last year for, among other things, proposing a ban on Muslims and failing to promptly disavow support from a white supremacist. http://bit.ly/2d6a34p

{mosads}ALERT SNACK VENDORS IN THESE STATES — POT IS A-COMIN’: Via The Hill’s Reid Wilson, four more states are likely to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, while voters are split in a fifth state. States: California, Maine, Massachusetts and Arizona. The fifth state in question is Nevada. http://bit.ly/2dH9jnB

NO PRESSURE, BUT DO. NOT. MESS. THIS. UP. MAN.: Via The Hill’s Niall Stanage, Donald Trump must win Sunday’s debate to keep the momentum up from Mike Pence’s performance Tuesday. Why: Trump had a rough time following the last debate. I.e.: Miss Universe, polling and taxes.

LET’S NOT FORGET: This is the first debate since the New York Times published his 1995 tax returns. There’s your silver platter, Hillary. http://bit.ly/2d5HdB2

ANYONE WANNA TAKE BETS ON THIS PROMISE??: Donald Trump said he won’t bring up Bill Clinton’s past and infidelity during the debate because he wants “to win the election based on his policies for the future.” http://bit.ly/2e59jOC

IN FOX NEWS TERMS, THIS IS ABOUT AS BIG AS AN INSULT CAN GET: Fox News’s Sean Hannity accused Megyn Kelly of supporting Hillary Clinton. Why: Both candidates are avoiding hard-hitting interviews. Kelly called out Clinton for only being on entertainment-based shows and Trump for often appearing on Hannity’s show. Keep in mind: Hannity has been advising Trump’s campaign. http://bit.ly/2d5NjBm

LATEST ON HURRICANE MATTHEW: Two million people in the Southeast U.S. have been ordered to evacuate. The Fort Lauderdale airport has also closed as of 10:30 a.m. this morning. State of emergency in: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. http://wapo.st/2e5kwPh Latest track from NOAA.gov: http://bit.ly/2dxlPEO

PEOPLE. ARE. CRAZY.: Check out this sign about the hurricane outside a Florida steakhouse. http://bit.ly/2dV3pwI

THROWBACK TO 2012: Via The Hill’s Jordan Fabian, just like Superstorm Sandy when it hit the Northeast, Hurricane Matthew could have political implications. The bipartisan embrace between President Obama and N.J. Gov. Chris Christie (R) after Sandy helped the president. Watch how this storm plays out, it could matter in the 2016 race. http://bit.ly/2cUV130

BREAKING — NOT TODAY, DONALD. NOT TODAY.: Via The Hill’s Jonathan Easley, a group of 30 former Republican (!) lawmakers signed a blistering open letter to fellow Republicans, warning that Donald Trump lacks the “intelligence” and temperament to be president. Included: former committee chairmen, lawmakers from swing-states with decades of experience on Capitol Hill, one of the first openly gay members of Congress and one member who led investigations on Capitol Hill into scandals involving the Clintons. http://bit.ly/2e5ChOt

UPDATE — I’M SORRY IF YOU DON’T FIND ME FUNNY: Fox News’s Jesse Watters responded to criticism of his Asian-American voter video. Watters tweeted: “As a political humorist, the Chinatown segment was intended to be a light piece, as all Watters World segments are. … My man-on-the-street interviews are meant to be taken as tongue-in-cheek and I regret if anyone found offense.” http://bit.ly/2dxwsra Video in question –> http://bit.ly/2cUM6OU

NOTABLE TWEETS:

The Daily Beast’s Nancy Yousef
Overheard at the Pentagon: “It’ll be an awkward moment at the NSC Halloween party this yr when everyone shows up as N. Chamberlain” #Syria http://bit.ly/2dvfsmd

KTNV’s Jon Ralston
In non-Trump news, Mitt Romney will be in Vegas on Saturday to do a rally for Joe Heck and Cresent Hardy. Steve Wynn will be there, too! http://bit.ly/2d5LWCR

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are long gone.

12 p.m. EDT: President Obama welcomes the Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins to the White House.

12:30 p.m. EDT: The Wall Street Journal is interviewing Gary Johnson on Facebook Live. Live-stream: http://bit.ly/2dAZ3uW

1 p.m. EDT: Bernie Sanders campaigns in Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:15 p.m. EDT: Tim Kaine holds a rally in Pittsburgh.

3:45 p.m. EDT: Bernie Sanders campaigns in East Lansing, Mich.

4:38 p.m. EDT: The Blue Jays play the Rangers in the MLB playoffs.

6 p.m. EDT: Mike Pence campaigns in Johnstown, Pa.

6:45 p.m. EDT: Bernie Sanders campaigns in Grand Rapids, Mich.

7 p.m. EDT: Donald Trump is holding a rally in Sandown, N.H.

7 p.m. EDT: National Geographic is holding the exclusive world-premiere screening of “Killing Reagan.”

7:30 p.m. EDT: Tim Kaine holds a voter registration event in Las Vegas.

8:08 p.m. EDT: The Red Sox play the Indians in the MLB playoffs.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Noodle Day!

THE MOST AWKWARD STORY YOU’LL READ TODAY: Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner won a $5 million settlement against Hasbro over a toy hamster she claimed looked like her. But get this: Hasbro claims the hamster … ALSO NAMED HARRIS FAULKNER … is a coincidence. Oh and get this: The anchor is especially angry the packaging declares that “Harris Faulkner is a choking hazard.” Ouch. While Hasbro denied the claims, they still settled. Photos and story: http://dailym.ai/2cUEdJr

And because you read this far, here are pig best friends having a blast together — in all sorts of matching outfits: http://bit.ly/2e5vJQ2

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