The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: ​Breaking: ​’Credible’ bomb threat closes Los Angeles schools | Leaders eye Thursday vote on budget | GOP debate tonight

DEVELOPING NOW — L.A. SCHOOLS CLOSED OVER BOMB THREAT: All schools in Los Angeles, Calif., are closed today after a “credible” bomb threat was received. An L.A. school official said that he had received a phone call shortly after 5 a.m. local time from the school’s police chief notifying him of the threat that was placed involving “many schools” in the district. More here as the story develops: http://bit.ly/1P4Z0W7

UPDATE: New York City officials ​say​ they ​have ​received the same threat as Los Angeles, but concluded it was a hoax. http://apne.ws/1ISnocp

{mosads}HITTIN’ THE STRIP — IT’S GAME DAY FOR THE GOP: It’s been an eventful 35 days since the last GOP debate — what with Donald Trump called for banning Muslims from entering the U.S., Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) surge, Chris Christie’s big endorsements bumped him in the polls and Ben Carson’s free-fall in the polls — and this is the second to last debate before the Iowa Caucuses, i.e., it’s show time today. The top tier candidates — Trump, Ted Cruz and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — will likely have to fend off attacks from various rivals. What to keep your eye on: It’s getting near make-or-break time for the mid-tier candidates who desperately want to break out of the pack. How they will probably try to do this: Throwing shots and picking fights with the front-runners. 

— The Hill’s Niall Stanage has a great primer of each candidate on the main stage and each of their goals for tonight: http://bit.ly/1P4KfR9 — and follow The Hill’s @jonathanvswan, who is on the ground in Vegas.

EXPECT BUDGET BILL TO BE RELEASED TONIGHT: Via The Hill’s Alex Bolton and Scott Wong, congressional leaders have agreed to the core components of the $1.1 trillion year-end spending bill and $600–$800 billion tax bill. When will the bill emerge? It’s likely to be released today. So what’s the hold-up? They still have to figure out how to structure it so it can pass the House with strong GOP votes. Big test for Ryan: This is a huge test of newly elected Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) leadership of the party. So far, he’s been getting strong reviews. http://bit.ly/1QqgbCO 

— CBS’s @RebeccaShabad: GOP aide confirms what Dem aide suggested to me: Release of #omnibus “will likely be tonight. Probably late,” GOP aide said.

The Hill’s @ScottWongDC retweeted, adding: Let me guess. 8:30 p.m.? [the time of the debate]

Happy Tuesday! It’s T minus 10 days until Christmas, 30 days until the next Republican debate and 48 until the Iowa Caucuses. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of what you missed this morning — and what’s on tap for the afternoon. Send your story ideas, comments and debate predictions to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com and @CateMartel. 

NOT SO FAST, DONALD: Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) took a clear shot at Trump, calling a ban preventing Muslims from entering the U.S. “un-American.” Durbin is concerned this rhetoric could hurt the relationship between Muslim Americans and law enforcement and that lawmakers “must condemn bias and bigotry aimed at Muslim Americans and make it clear that we will not tolerate religious discrimination.” Shots fired, Durbin — and right before the debate. http://bit.ly/1IRMOH3 

UHHHH….??: Via NBC News Benjy Sarlin, as protesters were removed from a Trump rally yesterday, a few supporters yelled, “Shoot him!” “Kick his ass,” and “Light the motherf—– on fire!” One man in a glittering black suit shouted, “He’s a Muslim! He’s a Muslim!” Oh, and another man yelled “Sieg heil!” — a Nazi Germany-era salute — as one protester was taken away. Literally, what?! http://nbcnews.to/1RPzyET

IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR: Via The Washington Post’s Sean Sullivan, Caitlin Conant is leaving her role as Sen. Rob Portman’s (R-Ohio) communications director to join Rubio’ s presidential campaign team. The fun fact: Conant’s husband, Alex Conant, is Rubio’s communications director. http://wapo.st/1O6QJlw 

NEW – BEN’S PLAYING CATCH-UP: Presidential candidate Ben Carson released a short video, filmed on his campaign plane, saying that he’s hoping for foreign policy questions tonight; calls them a “slam dunk” for him. I.E.: Please forget about the time my foreign policy adviser said, “Nobody has been able to …[give him] one iota of intelligent information about the Middle East.” Watch: http://bit.ly/1O766KH

OBAMACARE PLOY IS GETTING IN THE SPIRIT: Hat-tip to The Hill’s Sarah Ferris, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell published an op-ed on Medium of the five holiday characters who wish they were covered by ObamaCare. No. 1: The Grinch, whose heart condition would have been caught with preventative screenings; No. 2: A Christmas Carol, because Ebenezer Scrooge didn’t offer employee health benefits; No. 3: Buddy the Elf (!) for his “questionable eating habits…” Ha, ha. You get the picture. Full article and Burwell’s reasoning here: http://bit.ly/1mlNF8U

Oops: The op-ed only included four holiday characters, not the five they promised.

CARLY PLAYING WITH PUPPIES: Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina plays with dogs and compares puppies to the other presidential candidates in an IJ Review video. Also, she takes a bite of a dog’s milk bone and said she used to eat dog food as a child. Hmm? Watch: http://on.fb.me/1J95Y63 

OUT AT NOON – SHOWTIME WANTS A PART OF THE FUN: Bloomberg’s Mark Halperin and John Heilemann are partnering with Showtime for a new political documentary series inside the human rollercoaster of the 2016 presidential election. The series has a very deserving title, “The Circus.”  

OH YEAH … HEY, JEB!: NBC’s Mark Murray calls Jeb Bush’s $35 million in TV ads “the least effective TV ad campaign in presidential history.” Compare that with: Trump has spent just over $200,000 in advertising. http://nbcnews.to/224D2YC

RIP — I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD SAY A FEW WORDS: The Boston Globe’s James Pindell has a piece about how in this election cycle of outlandish one-liners and sky-high debate viewership, the early states (Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada) have faded into the background. He unfortunately makes good points. http://bit.ly/1MdCIej 

CATCH UP ON SOCIAL:

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.)
My colleague and neighbor down the hall @RepDebDingell sporting some great #Christmas decorations! #RumPumPumPum http://bit.ly/1YbeUUL 

The Huffington Post’s Jennifer Bendery
“Insanity. P90X. CrossFit. Yoga. Cycling.” — Paul Ryan on his gym workout. http://bit.ly/1P4Q9BL 

NBC’s Frank Thorp: Turns out Speaker Ryan’s beard isn’t a playoff beard, it’s a hunting beard. Says he needs to bag another deer (or two) before shaving. http://bit.ly/1Yhzbme 

Matt Whitlock, press secretary for Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) (with incredible photo)
The lengths they’re going to to promote the new Independence Day movie… DC this morning http://bit.ly/1J9cFVy 

ON TAP:

The Senate is in session, but doesn’t have any votes scheduled. 

6 p.m. EST: The “happy hour” presidential debate begins. 

6:30 p.m. EST: The House will vote to combat terrorist use of social media

7 p.m. EST: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is holding a town hall in Hampton, N.H. 

8:30 p.m. EST: The fifth Republican presidential debate begins live from Las Vegas, Nev. Live stream: http://cnn.it/1P38Dmb 

8:30 p.m. EST: The Muslim Public Affairs Council is holding a debate watch party for D.C. area Muslims. They will also offer reactions after the debate. 

Now for the fun stuff…

Today is National Cupcake Day! Georgetown Cupcake locations have free (not on the menu) vanilla peppermint ganache cupcakes today if you order it by name. http://bit.ly/1OtOX8g Again, I’m in Farragut Square if anyone wants to drop one by! 😉 

FEELIN’ FESTIVE? Need more places to wear your ugly Christmas sweaters and drink potpourri-scented beverages? Here’s a list of holiday parties in D.C. you can go to this week: http://wapo.st/1m2dES9 

WELL, THIS IS FRIGHTENING: WEN Shampoo is facing a class action law suit because more than 200 customers claim their products have made them go bald. http://bzfd.it/1I5jHje 

PEOPLE ARE SO SENSITIVE THESE DAYS: Starbucks is getting backlash for its second “War on Christmas” this season. Why, you ask? This time, critics are going after their holiday polar bear cookies adorned with red scarves. So what? Critics are accusing Starbucks for showing the Christmas Coca-Cola polar bear with its throat slit. Check it out yourself: http://bzfd.it/1O0JchM 

Agree or think this is absurd? Vent to me. I want to know what you think!

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