The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Will government funding bill be released today? | Feds investigating one of the year’s hottest toys | Drones must be registered | D.C.’s cherry blossoms are blooming

IT’S A MAD DASH TO GET OUT OF TOWN: Via The Hill’s Scott Wong and Mike Lillis, lawmakers made progress this weekend in negotiating the government funding bill. Logistics: Text of the $1.1 trillion bill could be unveiled tonight, but glacial negotiations over policy riders could still delay the bill’s release until tomorrow. The deadline is Wednesday. (House Republicans say they will abide by the “three-day rule” to allow members to read it even though they count 48 hours and one minute as three days). http://bit.ly/1NZX9wG

{mosads}– Other year-end congressional issues to watch this week: Via The Hill’s Cristina Marcos and Jordain Carney, a host of nominations and a long-awaited measure for U.S. Customs to crack down on currency manipulation. http://bit.ly/1SWQBD6 

DEVELOPING NOW — STABBING WITH ISIS TIES WAS MADE UP: Via The Hill’s Mark Hensch, a French preschool teacher claimed he was stabbed early Monday morning by a masked assailant who he alleged proclaimed support for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Here’s the kicker: BBC is now reporting the suspect actually made up the story. Why: It’s unclear why; he’s being questioned now. More here as the story develops: http://bit.ly/1QGF6kb

Happy Monday!  The high in Washington, D.C., today is expected to hit 70 and I could not be more thrilled! 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, events, comments and weekend anecdotes (plz … It is Monday after all) to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com and @CateMartel. 

WHAT TO WATCH AT TOMORROW’S DEBATE: Via The Hill’s Jonathan Swan, Tomorrow is the fifth Republican presidential debate and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who occupy the same place in the Republican field, are fighting for leverage and their intensifying feud will be at the center of tomorrow’s debate. Here’s more on why: http://bit.ly/1P22CIh 

Who — debate lineup: Donald Trump will state center stage, with Ben Carson to his right and Cruz to his left.  The remaining candidates will alternate out to the left and right with Rubio, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (promoted back to the main state!), Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) (who just made the cut at the last minute) appearing on the main debate states.  

‘Happy-hour’ debate lineup: From left to right — former New York Gov. George Pataki, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.).

What: CNN is hosting the debate, which will air on CNN and on cnn.com. 

When? The main debate begins at 8:30 p.m. EST; the happy-hour debate starts at 6 p.m. EST: 

Where? The debate will air live from The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Next debates: The next Democratic debate is scheduled for this Saturday in Manchester, N.H. The next Republican debate is set for Jan. 14 (less than three weeks from the Iowa Caucuses!) in South Carolina. 

More info: http://cnn.it/1YeGsDm

IMPORTANT PSA FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING: The federal government has launched an investigation into hoverboards, one of the year’s hottest toys. Why: After receiving multiple reports of hoverboards catching fire and users being treated in the emergency room for injuries. Here’s why (and a video backing up this report): http://bit.ly/1YeNwje   UPDATE: Amazon is removing the hoverboards from its site. http://bit.ly/1m1s6di

SECRET POLICY REVEALED — IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS CAN’T LOOK AT APPLICANTS’ SOCIAL MEDIA: Via The Hill’s Kristina Wong, Immigration officials prohibited from looking at visa applicants’ social media postings and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson decided against ending this secret policy, according to an ABC News report. http://bit.ly/1NldOO1

OUT AT NOON: Via The Hill’s David McCabe, the Mark Zuckerberg-backed immigration group FWD.us has released its second video of their series “11 Million Stories,” highlighting the costs of mass deportation. Watch: http://bit.ly/1IQ6HOF

OBAMA’S HOPING FOR A CUBAN GETAWAY: Yahoo News’s Olivier Knox sat down with President Obama for an interview on the U.S. and Cuba: one year later. Obama told Knox that he “very much” hopes to visit Cuba during his last year in office, but only if he can meet with pro-Democracy dissidents there. Watch the interview: http://bit.ly/1UojyZH 

REGISTER YOUR DRONES, PEOPLE: Via The Hill’s Keith Laing, the Obama administration announced that beginning Dec. 21 drone users must register with the federal government and pay a fee. If anyone has one: You must register by Dec. 19, 2016. http://bit.ly/1P2tCrn

NEW THIS A.M. NEW RUBIO AD: Rubio has released a new ad airing in Iowa and New Hampshire. The gist: A 30-second monologue of Rubio (without any other video!) giving a big-picture outline of where the country stands now. Watch: http://bit.ly/221S413 

SANDY HOOK: Today is the third anniversary of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Newtown schools are open today, which is the first anniversary of the massacre that they have been in session. http://cour.at/1QoK5Y0

TRUMP VS. CRUZ:

@realDonaldTrump I was disappointed that Ted Cruz would speak behind my back, get caught, and then deny it. Well, welcome to the wonderful world of politics! http://bit.ly/1NZyjg9
@tedcruz: In honor of my friend @realDonaldTrump and good-hearted #Maniacs everywhere (linking to the music video of Maniancs by Flashdance) http://bit.ly/1J6QDms

 

SOCIAL CATCH-UP:

Former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio)
Visited @HouseBenghazi Select Committee [Friday] to thank @TGowdySC and team for working to bring Americans the truth. 

NBC’s Luke Russert retweeted, adding: Still has a lease on his Hill apartment http://bit.ly/21VpBdq 

Lauren Collins, media specialist at Eversource NH, posted on Facebook:
Blooming rose. On the vine. In December. In New Hampshire.

Comedian Hari Kondabolu
ONE DIRECTION FANS: @realDonaldTrump won’t let @zaynmalik into America because he’s Muslim. Let Donald Trump know how you feel! http://bit.ly/1Y7FMVI

John Calipari, University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball Coach (with family photo):
With @jmartNYT and his family. Jonathan is a New York Times reporter. http://bit.ly/1RkdcMs

 

ON TAP:

The House is out today, but back in session tomorrow.

1 p.m. EST: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City on U.S. leadership and involvement in the Middle East. Live stream: http://on.cfr.org/1SVZ0XB 

1 p.m. EST: Deputy Assistant Energy Secretary for Transportation Reuben Sarkar speaks at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute on protecting public health through cleaner fuels and lower emissions. Live steam: http://bit.ly/1QeNEAu 

2 p.m. EST: Rubio hosts a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada — the day before the Las Vegas debate.

2 p.m. EST: First lady Michelle Obama will tour the Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C. 

3 p.m. EST: Vice President Biden speaks at the 100,000 Strong in the Americas event.

3:30 p.m. EST: The Atlantic Council is hosting an event, “The Wisdom of a Grand Nuclear Bargain with Pakistan” Info: http://bit.ly/1RJ97Ay

5 p.m. EST: The Senate votes on nominations. Here’s a list of whom they’re nominating: http://1.usa.gov/1mjNJWG 

5:30 p.m. EST: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will hold a town hall in Hollis, N.H. 

7:30 p.m. EST: Trump is also holding a rally in Las Vegas. Note, the rally will be held at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino — not the Trump International Hotel.

8 a.m. EST tomorrow: Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnnell (R-Ky.) will speak at a Politico event. Live stream: http://politi.co/1QmU4Ny 

 

Now for the fun stuff…  

THE MAGIE OF LIVE T.V.: Here’s a reel of the best news bloopers of 2015. Side note: it’s laugh-out-loud funny, so I don’t recommend watching this in your office if it’s quiet — not suggesting this out of personal experience or anything… http://bit.ly/1lBiTc1 

Today is National Bouillabaisse Day (??)

A NEW WAY TO IDENTIFY CANCER: Via CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen and John Bonifield,meet the dogs who can sniff out cancer better than some lab tests: http://cnn.it/1OrgEyD

UH-OHHH — SPRING, ERR… DECEMBER CHERRY BLOSSOMS: December’s heat wave is causing Washington’s cherry blossoms to bloom. But good news: It apparently won’t affect them blossoming again in the spring. I really hope that’s right. Here’s a photo: http://bit.ly/1m1odoH

And to make your Monday just a little bit better, here’s a video of an orangutan that loves magic tricks: http://bit.ly/1Mc0NCm

 

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