The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Graham drops out of the race | Hillary’s secret weapon | Americans killed in Afghan suicide bombing

#LATER-“GRAHAM”: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has dropped out of the presidential race, 50 days before the New Hampshire presidential primary (where he thought he could break out.) Why: In a crowded field, Graham was polling at 0.5 percent nationally and never scored higher than 2 percent in any major national poll during his campaign. What I’ll miss: Graham’s hilarious one-liners, like these. Here’s analysis from The Hill’s Ben Kamisar: http://bit.ly/1meRsVd

The Washington Post’s Dave Weigel: If you don’t think Graham’s move matters, look at the establishment GOP support he locked up in the SC primary http://bit.ly/1TZND0U

Time’s Ryan Teague Beckwith: IDEA: Let Lindsey Graham do color commentary at the next GOP debate. http://bit.ly/1Jox7SJ

JUST EXPOSED – IRAN HACKED AN NY DAM: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Iranian hackers infiltrated a New York dam in 2013. The hackers didn’t take over the system, but probed the system’s defenses. Why this matters: Experts say utility companies are unprepared to cope with the threat of cyberattacks. Devastating consequences: If hackers launch a deliberate attack on public utilities, it would be catastrophic. Example: A blackout across 15 states and D.C. could cost the economy hundreds of billions of dollars, raise mortality rates at hospitals and damage the nation’s water supply. Analysis from The Hill’s Katie Bo Williams: http://bit.ly/1Pjxwwa

{mosads}Happy Monday (before the holiday!) Winter officially beings tonight. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of what you missed during the morning slog and what’s on tap for the afternoon. Send your tips, stories ideas, comments and Christmas cards (plz) to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com and @CateMartel. 

THE SENATE PEACES OUT: Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, the next time the Senate is in session and expected to vote is Monday, Jan. 11, the day before President Obama’s final State of the Union address. http://bit.ly/1TcppAF

DEVELOPING NOW – AFGHAN SUICIDE BOMBING: Via The Hill’s Rebecca Kheel and Kristina Wong, six American troops were reportedly killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. The nationalities of the troops have not been released, but U.S. officials have said that all six of the fatalities were Americans. The Taliban posted a message on Twitter claiming responsibility for the attack. http://bit.ly/1meXWmZ 

JUST IN – BAN ON GAY MEN DONATING BLOOD EASES: Via The Hill’s Sarah Ferris, Feds officially ease blood donation ban for gay men. Though LGBT advocates argue the new policies are still discriminatory because donors must be celibate for a full year. http://bit.ly/1Zlvzlq

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BUDGET BILL: Via Politico’s Jake Sherman, Lauren French and Anna Palmer, The night before the budget bill passed, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) wasn’t at the Capitol. He was eating steak and drinking red wine at BLT Steak with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and a few allies. At one point, he stepped out of the restaurant to take a call, locking down an extra vote. This sounds like the night of someone who’s pretty darn confident. http://politi.co/1J1Nee3

NEW THIS MORNING – CARTER’S GRANDSON PASSES AWAY: Former President Jimmy Carter‘s 28-year-old grandson was found dead at his family’s home in Peachtree, Ga. The cause of death is unclear. http://bit.ly/1YvXBZp

OBAMA OPENS UP ON TRUMP: Via The Hill’s Bradford Richardson, In an interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep airing today, President Obama says Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is “exploiting” the fears of Americans. http://bit.ly/1YvTyfD Here’s the video and transcript of the full interview: http://n.pr/1QBAUnG

OUT AT NOON: Hillary for America has just released a new (animated!) web video, titled “The GOP Grinches Who Steal Progress.” Watch here: http://bit.ly/1UX3zlH

WHAT EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT FROM YESTERDAY: Miss Universe 2015 host Steve Harvey (who also hosts “Family Feud”) named the wrong contestant as the winner.
Whom he named: Miss Colombia. 
Who actually won: Miss Philippines.  
Here’s the intensely awkward clip: http://cnn.it/1TceAP1 

HILLARY’S SECRET WEAPON: Former President Bill Clinton is “vegan-ish” and their daughter Chelsea Clinton is gluten-free. But Hillary Clinton‘s diet routine is just to eat what looks healthy. Her secret: Raw hot peppers. Nope, that’s not a typo. Hillary says she finds eating raw jalapenos “so refreshing.” So, would you like those with a side of metal nails for breakfast? http://apne.ws/1OGbK0V

#NHPOLITICS MOVES: Ovide LaMontagne of the D.C. public policy organization Americans United for Life has joined the law firm Bernstein Shur Manchester’s New Hampshire office. For background: LaMontagne was the Republican nominee for governor in 2012. He also ran against Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) in 2010. Another tidbit: Rubio senior adviser Jim Merrill is the state’s director the Bernstein Shur Group. 

SHKRELI’S TWITTER ACCOUNT HACKED: Via Lewis Krauskopf of Reuters, hours after he pleaded his innocence on Twitter, Martin Shkreli, the pharmaceutical executive facing federal charges of securities fraud, lost control of his Twitter account to hackers. Why Shkreli is infamous: He hiked the price of an AIDS drug overnight by 400 percent. http://reut.rs/1kcDulj

N.H. SCHOOLS GET DETAILED THREATS: Schools in Nashua, N.H., (where your author went to high school) are closed today because of credible, specific threats. Note, several Republican presidential candidates are speaking in the state today. Details below. I wonder if they’ll bring it up. http://bit.ly/1TcAQrU

DEBATE TWEETS: Journalists and influencers’ tweets during the presidential debates can be very telling and often contain small takeaways you won’t read in the formal analysis pieces. Below are some interesting tweets during Saturday night’s Democratic presidential debate in Manchester, N.H.  

Fusion’s Kelsey McKinney (Seriously, guys. Start noticing. It made my eyes water trying to compete.)
Someone tell Martin O’Malley to blink more. http://bit.ly/1MoqHmk 

The Hill’s Ben Kamisar retweeted adding: I cannot unsee this. 

Ana Marie Cox, The Daily Beast and New York Times Magazine
O’Malley having a little one-man undercard debate, I guess. http://bit.ly/1TZtJTG

Politico’s Kevin Robillard
More like Martin YOLO’Malley
http://bit.ly/1mtXEcg

Bills and Brews’ Matt Laslo
This is holiday party season, which means no one is sober and watching this #demdebate. PLEASE GIVE US A BATHROOM BREAK ALREADY!
http://bit.ly/1UPO9zL

The Hill’s Megan Wilson
YOU’RE an example of how the campaign finance system is broken. No, YOU ARE. Anybody have any solutions or anything? No? OK. http://bit.ly/1J1L1Pz

Edward Snowden (!)
Aaaaaaaaand Hillary just terrified everyone with an internet connection. #DemDebate http://bit.ly/1PhPRcK 

The Huffington Post’s Jennifer Bendery
Yeeeowza. Clinton slams O’Malley for fundraising for Dem Governors Assn from corporate America. http://bit.ly/1TccsGX

Time’s Ryan Teague Beckwith
I dare one of the candidates to say: “You can find it on my website. Just Google my name and you’ll find it.”http://bit.ly/1k9B5HX 

NBC’s Alex Moe
Bernie Sanders gives a shout out to Sen. Gillibrand and Rep. Delauro for their Family And Medical Insurance Leave Act http://bit.ly/1Pjv88u

Time’s Zeke Miller
Hillary dropping the mic: “Thank you, good night, and may the force be with you http://bit.ly/1RwSnxg 

Politico’s Michael Grunwald
Tune in for the next #DemDebate at an undisclosed location at an undisclosed time on an undisclosed network. http://bit.ly/1S4rJex

ON TAP: (I’m going to be completely honest with you. It’s a slow week.)

Congress is out of session.

President Obama remains in Hawaii with his family for a vacation. 

2 p.m. EST: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) continues his New Hampshire bus tour with a town hall in Pelham. In New Hampshire fashion, he then heads to New London for another town hall followed by a restaurant visit in Portsmouth tomorrow morning. http://bit.ly/1OForcd 

5 p.m. EST: Carly Fiorina holds a town hall in Pawleys Island, S.C.

5:30 p.m. EST: John Kasich holds a town hall in Concord, N.H. 

7 p.m. EST: Ben and Candy Carson join a Christmas celebration at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Manchester, N.H. 

7:30 p.m. EST: Donald Trump holds a … you guessed it … rally! …  in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Now for the fun stuff …

Today is National Hamburger Day!

BECAUSE MINI-DESSERTS ARE ADORABLE: Here’s a list of 11 precious mini-desserts you can make for the holidays. Chocolate peppermint bites, I’m lookin’ at you. http://bzfd.it/1UW87ZE

UGH, PEOPLE. – OVERHEARD IN DC: Here’s a list of the best things overheard in D.C. this week. My favorite: Woman in her 60s to her husband as they admire the Capitol: “Isn’t the White House so beautiful, dear! Obama is so lucky. The dome even shimmers in the night!” http://bit.ly/1OG8mD4

TODAY IN FREE CUPCAKES: Georgetown Cupcake is giving out free Vanilla Chocolate Peppermint cupcakes (not on the menu!) at every location. You just have to order it by name. 

And because you made it this far, here’s the real reason parents bring their children to aquariums: the off chance this type of glorious moment would happen. http://bit.ly/1QBE6j9

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