The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Breaking: ISIS ties to San Bernardino | Trump keeps doing it | #NationalCookieDay

BREAKING — ISIS TIES FOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO SHOOTING: Investigators believe that as the San Bernardino attack was happening, the female shooter, Tashfeen Malik, posted on Facebook a pledge of allegiance to ISIS, according to CNN and other outlets. http://cnn.it/1m1tpJy

{mosads}— The Facebook post was made on an account with a different name, but officials didn’t explain how they knew Malik wrote it. Details from The Hill’s Bradford Richardson as the story develops: http://bit.ly/1SCCFht 

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS: Via The Hill’s Vicki Needham, the U.S. economy added 211,000 jobs in November, slightly above expectations. The unemployment rate held at 5 percent, the lowest since early 2008. http://bit.ly/1YNzmrF

IN CASE ANYONE THOUGHT TRUMP COULDN’T DO ANY BETTER: Thirty-six percent of Republican-leaning voters support Donald Trump for president — up 9 points from October, according to a new CNN/ORC poll. The distant second-place finisher is Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), at 16 percent, followed by Ben Carson, at 14 percent. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) takes fourth, at 12 percent, followed by Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), at 4 percent. http://bit.ly/1N0MAMi

Tweet from The New York Times’s Jonathan Martin: Striking aspect of Trump 36% in CNN: it’s a live-dial (he does better in robos). But will anybody put pts against him when Cruz awaits? http://bit.ly/1leS65c

Tweet from NBC’s Mark Murray: Education divide in CNN poll is stunning. Among college grads: Cruz 22%, Rubio/Carson 19%, Trump 18% Non-grads: Trump 46%, Cruz 12% http://bit.ly/1PEhkqg

It’s 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 story ideas, comments, complaints and chocolate-related cookie recipes (!!) to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com and @CateMartel. 

THAT O-CARE VOTE YESTERDAY: Via The Hill’s Alex Bolton, the Senate approved the bill to repeal ObamaCare in a 52-47 vote. What’s next: The amended bill will go back to the House for a vote. If that happens, the bill goes to Obama’s desk. This is the farthest any ObamaCare repeal bill has gone. http://bit.ly/1lBk4aL

Note: Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) missed the final vote. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both running for the GOP nomination, voted in favor of the repeal. Here’s how each senator voted: http://1.usa.gov/1lBnaf3 

BIG N.H. ENDORSEMENT FOR RUBIO: New Hampshire communications consultant Drew Cline has endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) presidential bid. Why this is big: Cline was the long-time editorial page editor for The New Hampshire Union Leader until he left in September. Along with publisher Joe McQuaid, he was a critical part of deciding who received the coveted endorsement. Cline’s endorsement carries weight in the state. http://bit.ly/1QjXFKG

Facebook post from Rubio adviser Jim Merrill: STARTING THE DAY OFF RIGHT: 1. Waking up knowing you’ve got Marco Rubio in state for the second time this week. 2. Reading the Union Leader to find Marco receiving a fantastic endorsement from Drew Cline — read here. Welcome aboard, Drew!

POLITICIANS ON PLANES: Last night, Bloomberg Politics’s Kendall Breitman spotted Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) as well as Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) on the same flight as her. Any guesses where they were all headed? Iowa! Breitman updated the 12:30 Report in the air that Christie “is currently napping” and sitting “across the aisle” from Paul. Oh, the puns write themselves.

5 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE RJC PRESIDENTIAL FORUM: Via The Hill’s Jonathans (Easley and Swan), #1: Donald Trump can do no wrong; #2: Ben Carson is not getting any better on foreign policy; #3: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) played it safe, keeping his eyes on his notes; #4: Jeb Bush and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) got the warmest receptions; #5: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) doesn’t need to have to filter. http://bit.ly/1SCgw2Y 

SPOTTED LAST NIGHT: First Lady Michelle Obama was spotted downtown last night attending a holiday party at her hairdresser Johnny Wright’s apartment.

NEW — CARLY LAUNCHES BIG AD CAMPAIGN: CARLY for America, the super-PAC supporting Fiorina’s presidential bid, has launched a million-dollar ad campaign in New Hampshire and Boston. The gist: She’s the only conservative Washington outsider. Watch: http://bit.ly/1NLAkTx 

FLASHBACK THAT’LL MAKE YOU LAUGH: To get around the FEC rules last June, the super-PAC supporting Carly Fiorina had to change its name from ‘Carly for America’ to ‘CARLY for America.’ — Conservative, Authentic, Responsive, Leadership for You and (for America) super-PAC. Lol. http://wapo.st/1SCkM2z

JON STEWART MAKING THE D.C. ROUNDS: Via The Hill’s Julian Hattem, comedian Jon Stewart was seen on Capitol Hill yesterday to push for 9/11 responders benefits. http://bit.ly/1XNsurJ

AUTOBIO OF A REPORTER WITH AUTISM: On his last day at National Journal, Eric Garcia has a powerful first-hand account of what it’s like to have autism and be a Washington political reporter.  It’s seriously worth reading. http://bit.ly/1QkpZfT

 

SOCIAL CATCH-UP

USA.gov
Everyone can enjoy #NationalCookieDay! Learn more about the sweets astranauts take to space

Politico’s Blake Hounshell retweeted, adding: America can’t spell ‘astronauts’ anymore. http://bit.ly/1NwhdX5

CNN’s Brenna Williams (with photo!)
White House gingerbread house has >775,000 cal. More than a year’s worth. http://bit.ly/1OKWsuh

Washington Post’s Philip Rucker
Dilemma for @ChrisChristie; Spend Jan. 31, eve of Iowa caucuses, in Des Moines or in Newark with @springsteen? http://bit.ly/1QkgHAM

The Blaze’s Leigh Munsil (lol to the imagery here)
Idea: Each presidential candidate has to go on a special episode of The Price is Right to prove they’re in touch w/ the American consumer http://bit.ly/1lflvMA 

 

ON TAP

Congress is out.

12:30 p.m. EST: Jordanian Prince Ali Al Hussein is speaking at the National Press Club on “how FIFA can create a governing body worthy of the ‘World’s Game’ of soccer in the wake of the organization’s recent corruption scandal.” Details: http://bit.ly/1NtLgD4 

3 p.m. EST: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is rolling out a ‘Second Amendment Coalition’ in Johnson, Iowa. http://dmreg.co/1IIBJTc

10 a.m. EST tomorrow: Planned Parenthood is holding a day of solidarity nationwide. Supporters and allies in Washington, D.C., are meeting at 10 a.m. EST in the district. Details: http://bit.ly/1OKLhBR

The Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution is hosting its 12th annual Saban Forum, titled “Israel and the United States: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”  Live stream and a full list of speakers: http://brook.gs/1OL0t1N 

Featured speakers:

7:30 p.m. EST: Moshe Ya’alon, Minister of Defense of Israel

10 a.m. EST tomorrow: Stephen J. Hadley, National Security Adviser to President George W. Bush

2:15 p.m. EST Saturday: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

12:15 p.m. EST Sunday: Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

 

FUN THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Saturday: Glen’s Garden Market opens a store in Shaw. The original DuPont restaurant and market has great food. The new Shaw location will have a beer garden twice the size of the original store — and will have $4 local beers. Side note: Danielle Vogel, wife of Politico’s Ken Vogel, owns both stores. http://bit.ly/1YNBDTA

6–8 p.m. EST Saturday: Boats dress up in their holiday attire and join in the 24th annual parade of lights on the Potomac River. The event kicks off at the docks of Old Town Alexandria and concludes at the District’s Southwest Waterfront. It’s free and open to the public! http://on.fb.me/1QXFThU

Sunday: Georgetown Cupcake is holding holiday cupcake decorating events in Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Atlanta. http://bit.ly/1jCkZ9u

Holiday shopping: If you’re shopping for original gifts, these holiday markets in D.C. are where to find them: http://wapo.st/1lfe5sN

 

Now for the fun stuff….

CEL-EBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON! Today is National Cookie Day! Because I would never lead you astray in the cookie department, here is a list of 14 festive holiday cookies to celebrate: http://fxn.ws/1NuPcnh

WOW MOMENT IN SPORTS LAST NIGHT: One 61-yard throw last night saved the Green Bay Packers’s season. It’s insane. http://es.pn/1N7SOIf

KIND OF AN AGGRESSIVE HEADLINE BUT…: USA Today College has a list of “40 things to eat in Washington, D.C., before you die.” I accept your challenge, USA Today. http://usat.ly/1m1k4l5

Have a great weekend, y’all!​

  

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