The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Clinton introduces Alzheimer’s plan in Iowa today | Paul pushes to ban gun control legislation | Obama in a car with Jerry Seinfeld

NEW THIS MORNING — TRUMP TOPS A DIFFERENT KIND OF POLL: Half of U.S. voters would be embarrassed by a Donald Trump presidency compared to just 23 percent who said they would be proud. Let’s compare that to Hillary Clinton: 35 percent of voters would be embarrassed if she became commander in chief, with 33 percent proud. http://bit.ly/1YyqYKw

{mosads}WHAT EVERYONE’S TWEETING ABOUT: Trump said Clinton “got schlonged” in her 2008 primary run. Well, turns out the term “schlonged” may be very politically incorrect. The Washington Post’s Justin Wm. Moyer investigates the origins of the word — and now, this discussion is the talk of Twitter today. http://wapo.st/1QERxi5

RAND PAUL — PUMP THE BREAKS ON GUN CONTROL, OBAMA: Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has introduced legislation that would consider any executive action on guns (here’s looking at you, President Obama) just “advisory only” until Congress passes legislation. Why: Obama is reportedly considering action on guns in the near future, potentially expanding background check requirements. The timeline: It’s being fast-tracked, so it’s expected to be placed on the Senate calendar in January when Congress returns. http://bit.ly/1QVHrb4

It’s Tuesday, or Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of what’s happened this morning and what’s going on for the rest of the day. Send your tips, scoops, comments and last-minute holiday shopping ideas to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com and @CateMartel. 

IRAN WARNS THE U.S. — VISA RESTRICTIONS GO AGAINST OUR DEAL: Via The Hill’s Julian Hattem, Iran is warning Obama that the restrictions on Visa Waivers (to heighten security against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) could conflict with the nuclear deal. The U.S. response: Secretary of State John Kerry sent Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a letter promising the Visa Waiver Program wouldn’t prevent the U.S. from meeting our Iran deal commitments. Now look who’s in the driver’s seat. http://bit.ly/1S7VA5M

WHAT’S WITH THIS COFFEE? OBAMA IN A CAR WITH JERRY SEINFELD: Obama will join Jerry Seinfeld for an episode of “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” It will air on Dec. 30 at 11:30 p.m. EST. You’ll be able to watch here: http://bit.ly/1MtDELI 

THIS MORNING — QUICK TRIP TO SPACE, NBD: Last night, SpaceX sent a rocket into space and landed it back down in Florida this morning. The landing was perfect. No big deal. Here’s the video (that’s causing quite the excitement on social media). http://bit.ly/1PkfXfa

RYAN RAILS INTO OBAMA: Via The Hill’s Jesse Byrnes, Obama recently suggested that failed communication (from his administration and the media) is to blame for rising public fears about terrorism. Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) response: Nooo, it’s not about communication — it’s about the failed policies themselves. Even members of your party (Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta) are questioning your strategy. http://bit.ly/1NJg9QN

A NEW (POLITICALLY) ROYAL BABY: Chelsea Clinton announced on Facebook that she and her husband are expecting another baby. They have not announced the due date, but have said it’s “this summer.” What else could possibly be going on this summer? Oh, I don’t know … a convention to nominate the Democratic presidential candidate. Well, the Clintons might have a potentially “quiet” summer. http://bit.ly/1TeVuYr

A HOLY PROMOTION: Pope Francis has named former Fox News correspondent Greg Burke as his new deputy spokesman. Burke has been working as a communications consultant in the Vatican’s secretariat of State since 2012. http://fxn.ws/1mxQqnE

OH. SO THAT’S SLIGHTLY BETTER: Via The Hill’s Caitlin Yilek, Trump reassured journalists that while he hates them, he wouldn’t kill them. Whewwf(?) Where’d this come from? This follows Trump’s praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin when he argued that there is no proof Putin has actually ordered the deaths of journalists. http://bit.ly/1YyqeVN

WHAT’S BUZZING ON SOCIAL: Novelist and Middlebury College professor Jay Parini has a piece titled, “At Christmas, remember that Jesus was a refugee.” http://cnn.it/1TeYT9K

THIS ELECTION IS GETTING WEIRDER: Trump mocked Clinton’s bathroom break during Saturday’s Democratic debate when she returned to the stage late. “I know where she went, it’s disgusting, I don’t want to talk about it,” Trump said of Clinton’s unplanned delay last weekend. “No, it’s too disgusting. Don’t say it, it’s disgusting, let’s not talk.” http://bit.ly/1NAwB8a

Clinton Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri tweeted this A.M.: We are not responding to Trump but everyone who understands the humiliation this degrading language inflicts on all women should. #imwithher

But isn’t that a response?

SOCIAL CATCH-UP: 

CNN’s Brian Stelter
New Year’s Eve: Fox says “Trump will be live from Florida during the 11 o’clock hour and stay on through midnight” http://bit.ly/1Inzk5K

The Wall Street Journal’s Reid Epstein
​​[Ben] ​Carson [spokesperson] on $$: “I don’t know how much we’ve spent. That’s something I hardly ever track.” http://bit.ly/1NADHta

The New York Times’ Jonathan Martin
NH voter suggests to Jeb every White House shld have a former radical Muslim on staff. Jeb called it “a great idea” http://bit.ly/1NAx6yZ

U.S. Dept of Defense (i.e., parachuting Santas!)
.@USAirforce announces new “sleigh ejection system.” Flight testers from the #NorthPole were the 1st to try it out: http://bit.ly/1TeRmrq

The Baltimore Sun
Baltimore has had more homicides in 2015 than in any year but 1993, when the city had about 100,000 more residents. http://bit.ly/1keGgXd

NBC’s Luke Russert retweeted adding: National security election… 

ON TAP:

12:15 p.m. EST: Clinton hosts a town hall in Keota, Iowa with Agriculture Secretary (and former Iowa governor) Tom Vilsack and his wife Christie Vilsack.

1:30 p.m. EST: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) (who is celebrating his 45th birthday today) finishes the year with a “Take-Off With Ted Cruz Country Christmas Tour” of the South. Why: Super Tuesday states (…y’all).

4:45 p.m. EST: Clinton unveils in Fairfield, Iowa her plan to cure Alzheimer’s disease by 2025. 

6 p.m. EST:  Ben Carson visits a children’s hospital in Charleston, S.C., for “Christmas Caroling with the Carson America Singers.”

7 p.m. EST: Cruz heads to Little Rock, Ark., for another “Take Off with Ted” rally.

WHAT TO WATCH:

5 p.m. EST: Chris Christie joins NH1 News on WBIN TV. 

7 p.m. EST: MSNBC is airing an original documentary, “Citizen Trump with Chris Matthews.” This is part of series of candidate profiles. http://bit.ly/1V286U6

Now for the fun stuff…

VIRGINIANS DON’T HAVE TO TAKE MUG SHOTS ANYMORE! The Virginia DMV has announced it is allowing drivers to smile for their license photos. http://bit.ly/1S5XhRc

Today is National Date Nut Bread Day. Makes sense.

FOODIE CITIES: Via The Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema, here are the 10 best food cities in America. #1: Portland, #2: San Francisco, #3: Los Angeles, #4: New Orleans, #5: Houston, #6: Philadelphia, #7: Chicago, #8: New York, #9: Washington, D.C., (woo!) #10: Charleston. http://wapo.st/1RDktH9

TURNING THE TABLES — MUST-SEE TV: Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is impersonating actress Tina Fey in a new spoof of her show “30 Rock.” Making appearances: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) playing character Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) playing NBC page character Kenneth Parcell. There is NO WAY I’m going to miss this. http://bit.ly/1mxRxnj

And with that, here’s a tutorial of how to take the perfect holiday photos with iPhone cameras. http://bzfd.it/1QIBC27

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