The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: DNC race heating up | Trump’s latest Twitter storm | DC Metro approves late-night cuts | GOP Rep. Zinke tapped for Interior | DC’s best dishes

BREAKING — LESLIE KNOPE IS OUT OF THE RUNNING FOR TRUMP’S CABINET: President-elect Donald Trump announced that Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) would be his nominee for Interior secretary. The job: As head of the 70,000-employee Interior Department, Zinke would oversee most of the United States’ federal land, along with wildlife, parks, offshore drilling, American Indian tribal relations and more. His deal: Zinke is a freshman congressman and a former Navy SEAL. He is an avid hunter, fisherman and hiker, and said he is committed to both properly caring for public lands and making the best use of them. http://bit.ly/2hoPVNh

It’s Thursday. Filing from the icy cold tundra (ugh) that is Washington, D.C. — Speaker Ryan disagrees, but he’s just trying to show off his Wisconsin roots — 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 holiday cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

​JUST ANNOUNCED — ​DON’T KILL THE MESSENGER, ALRIGHT??: But I have some bad news. Late-night service on Washington’s Metrorail system will be reduced for at least two years, starting next July. ​Details:​ Under the proposal, Metro will close at 1 a.m. on weekends and 11:30 p.m. on weeknights. On Sundays, the subway will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. Ahh, get ready for at least​ two more years of Metro-related chants at D.C. sporting events… http://bit.ly/2gNPGwu

{mosads}

THIS COULD GET UGLY — FAST: Via The Wall Street Journal’s Damian Paletta, President-elect Donald Trump‘s Cabinet picks may face extra-tough vetting from the Senate. Why: People involved with the transition process have said that Cabinet picks have been named without an extensive review of their background. One step further: “In many cases, Mr. Trump has announced his prospective nominees without requiring a review of extensive paperwork about their background and financial records, including tax returns.” This is giving me anxiety for early 2017. http://on.wsj.com/2gP18Gk

BREAKDOWN: And from The Hill’s Niall Stanage, here’s a breakdown of the unorthodox nature of Trump’s cabinet. “While his picks are not anti-establishment in any real sense, it’s also hard to imagine many of them being nominated for similar positions by Mitt Romney or John McCain, had they won the White House.” http://bit.ly/2gFnuH6

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER TWITTER FIRESTORM: This morning, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted, “The media tries so hard to make my move to the White House, as it pertains to my business, so complex — when actually it isn’t!” and “If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?” http://bit.ly/2gOYYXu

FLASHBACK: Remember when Trump was scheduled to have his news conference on how he would handle his business dealings today? Must be complex enough to need to postpone! http://bloom.bg/2hRxbD8

ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING — PEACE OUT: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler announced that he will step down early next year, ending months of speculation about his plans. What this means: His departure and another from Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel leaves Republicans with a 2-1 majority in the FCC. http://bit.ly/2hAq9Do

A WAY TO HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO: A bill extending sanctions on Iran for a decade will go into law without President Obama’s signature. How: The deadline passed last night. Backstory: After the Iran Sanctions Extension Act passed the Senate 99-0 earlier this month, there was speculation Obama would veto it. The White House, though, later also indicated that the president might sign it. http://bit.ly/2gETCdS

SPOTTED AT TRUMP TOWER: Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), who lost his bid for reelection last month (h/t The Hill’s Scott Wong) http://bit.ly/2gOYQad

WE’RE GETTING TO THE POINT OF NEEDING AN IOWA CAUCUS TO SETTLE THIS: Labor Secretary Tom Perez is expected to jump in to the race for Democratic National Committee chair. He’s been receiving encouragement from Obama’s orbit. His deal: He’s the highest-ranking Hispanic in the executive branch. The Buffalo-born son of Dominican immigrants has become a leading figure within the party and made Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential shortlist this summer. http://bit.ly/2h4xw5E

SHOT: Donald Trump tweeted: “Has anyone looked at the really poor numbers of Vanity Fair Magazine. Way down, big trouble, dead! Graydon Carter, no talent, will be out!” http://bit.ly/2hzKeu1

CHASER: Context from NBC’s Brad Jaffy: “Vanity Fair, yesterday: ‘Trump Grill could be the worst restaurant in America.'” http://bit.ly/2gOXuwk

Context: The editor of Vanity Fair, Graydon Carter, repeatedly referred to Trump as a “short-fingered vulgarian” in Spy magazine, something Carter says Trump still holds a grudge over.

NOTABLE TWEETS:

Jennings Brown
Once you see Trump’s hair in the New York Times’ typeface you can’t ever unsee it (I’m so sorry) http://bit.ly/2hRJijM

BuzzFeed’s Alexis Levinson
Paul Ryan says the weather in DC “isn’t cold” and I feel strongly that that is a false statement. http://bit.ly/2gNfCIB

ON TAP:

Not happening today: Donald Trump’s news conference to discuss his business dealings as president. He now says it will happen before inauguration in January. http://bloom.bg/2hRxbD8

Today: The American Enterprise Institute is holding a daylong event titled “This way up: Economic mobility for poor and middle-class Americans.” Full agenda: http://bit.ly/2ht0ZqL 

9 a.m. EST tomorrow: The Washington Post is hosting former House Speaker and Donald Trump campaign surrogate Newt Gingrich for a live interview with James Hohmann.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Gingerbread Latte Day! It’s also National Lemon Cupcake Day!

THIS WILL BE PAINFUL TO READ IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD LUNCH YET: The Washingtonian’s Jessica Sidman, Ann Limpert and Anna Spiegel have a list of the 25 best dishes they ate in D.C. in 2016. http://bit.ly/2gF90XS

BAD NEWS FOR YOUR INCREASED PUMPKIN PIE INTAKE: Via The Washington Post’s Ben Guarino, an industry-wide whipped cream shortage is coming, unfortunately right around the holidays. Why: “A tragic accident in August triggered the whipped cream shortage. Two gas tankers, as well as a nitrous oxide holding tank, exploded at a loading dock in an Airgas chemical plant in Florida.” http://wapo.st/2hzDc8L

And because it’s freezing outside, here are photos of dogs sporting different types of cozy pajamas. http://bzfd.it/2gP9I87

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