The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Obama vetoes healthcare repeal bill | Lena Dunham, Abby Wambach campaigning for Hillary in NH today | Steve Israel lets loose in an op-ed — and it’s epic 

JUST NOW – OBAMA SAYS “NOPPPE”: President Obama has vetoed the Republican-passed bill to repeal ObamaCare and defund Planned Parenthood.  What a surprise! (not).  More from The Hill’s Jordan Fabian: http://bit.ly/1n8f9z9

{mosads}RELEASED LATE THIS MORNING — O’MALLEY COULD GET THE AXE: NBC News released the qualifying criteria for the next Democratic Debate on Jan. 17. Candidates must reach an average of 5 percent in the five most recent polls nationally or in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina. It’s going to be a close call for Martin O’Malley, who just barely makes the cut in Iowa, but that could easily change in new polls. Could be the Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) show. More from The Hill’s Ben Kamisar: http://bit.ly/1ZS2fU5 

IT’S JOBS DAY!: Via The Hill’s Vicki Needham, it’s the first Friday of the month, which means the monthly jobs report is released! In December, the U.S. economy added 292,000 jobs, well ahead of expectations, capping off the second-best year of gains since 1999. The unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent, which is still the lowest since early 2008. http://bit.ly/1K2fEzK

Happy FRIDAY! The weekend should be warmer than the week, so get excited. I’m Cate Martel with what you missed this morning — and what’s on tap for the rest of the day. Send your tips, comments, complaints and weekend plans to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com and @CateMartel.

YEP, THIS IS WORTH A READ — STEVE ISRAEL LETS LOOSE AND IT’S BRUTAL: In an op-ed for the New York Times, Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) shares his thoughts on Congress and fundraising: “My new ‘call time’ will be spent waiting for a customer service agent to help me decipher a cable bill. Even that will be more pleasant,” said Israel. http://nyti.ms/1kSnhlK

IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR POLS TO WRITE OP-EDS: 

• Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal titled, “A Republican Cure for Liberal Failures on Poverty.” http://on.wsj.com/1OEBIpw
• President Obama published an op-ed in The New York Times titled, “Guns Are Our Shared Responsibility.” http://nyti.ms/1n83nF9
• Hillary Clinton published an op-ed in The Boston Globe titled, “A make-or-break moment for Supreme Court appointments.” http://bit.ly/1S8sLao

TRUMP WANTS TO END GUN-FREE SCHOOL ZONES: While President Obama was holding his town hall on guns last night, Donald Trump was in Vermont at a rally where he announced he wants to end gun-free zones in schools. “Now, you know what a gun-free zone is to a sicko? That’s bait,” Trump said. http://bit.ly/1OEj0y8

EXCLUSIVE — HOUSE GOP RECRUITED … CARSON FOR SPEAKER: Via The Hill’s Jonathan Easley, when former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced his retirement, House Republicans reached out to presidential candidate Ben Carson as his replacement. How the?: The Speaker doesn’t necessarily need to be a member of Congress. http://bit.ly/1VPSd3i

BUZZING ON SOCIAL — A PROFILE WORTH READING: Politico’s Glenn Thrush profiled President Obama’s fifth, favorite and probably last Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. http://politi.co/1O8MKBN

NOTE FOR TUESDAY, AFTER THE SOTU: Following President Obama‘s last State of the Union address Tuesday, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a rising star in the GOP, has been picked to give the Republican’s rebuttal. Some Republicans think the rebuttal is useless; The Hill’s Scott Wong talks to them: http://bit.ly/1RdpaI1

LIKE (A) BOSS, LIKE STAFF — NUGGET FROM HILLARY’S EMAILS: In an email released by the State Department, Hillary Clinton was surprised that a staffer was using his personal email to send things. Lol. Like boss, like staff. http://bit.ly/1ZRLzvZ

A TEACHING MOMENT “FAAAAILLLL”: Via The Washington Post’s Emma Brown, when trying to make a self-deprecating joke about his academic misfortunes, Ben Carson asked a fifth grade class at a rally to point out their worst student. In literal fashion, the students did, with at least a half-dozen students singling out the same student. Ooof. http://wapo.st/1PiRZfX

SCOTUS PREVIEW — UNION DUES: Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association Monday, the lead plaintiff Rebecca Friedrichs has an op-ed on why she’s fighting the case against union dues. http://nydn.us/1OUrv48

ICYMI – OBAMA’S TOWN HALL ON GUNS: Via CNN’s Eric Bradner, here are five takeaways from President Obama‘s town hall on guns last night. #1: Obama worked so hard to sell so little, #2: He had to admit his limits. Full takeaways: http://cnn.it/1K2Fwva

 

THE SPORTS (Eh, NFL) SECTION:

RELEASED THIS A.M. — RUBIO’S NFL AD: Sen. Marco Rubio‘s (R-Fla.) campaign released an ad stepping away from politics and talking about Rubio’s football picks. It’s different from any campaign ad this cycle; it’s worth watching: http://bit.ly/1MX2uns

WHAT’S DOMINATING MY FACEBOOK FEED (AS A NEW ENGLANDER): The Patriots released a video to hype the playoffs and it’s set To “Star Wars.” New England Sports Network says it “will give you chills.” http://foxs.pt/1RxTSdn

SUPERBOWL BEY-UPDATE: Joining Coldplay, Beyoncé will play during the Super Bowl half-time show. http://abcn.ws/1ORICts

 

NOTABLE TWEETS:

The Hill’s Time Devaney
It appears Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) hasn’t updated his Gmail photo, so it still looks like I’m emailing former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). http://bit.ly/1MXeXaW

The New York Times’s Maggie Haberman
Who had Burlington, VT on their betting card for where the protester baiting would hit a high at a Trump rally? http://bit.ly/1ZdDZPn

Alex Conant, communications director for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) (the photo is something!)
This is an actual screen shot of the New York Times politics section right now. #bootghazi http://bit.ly/1ZRR5yw

 

ON TAP:

This afternoon: Actress Lena Dunham and recently retired U.S. soccer star Abby Wambach are campaigning for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. Stops include Portsmouth, Manchester, Dover, Concord and Salem. 

12:30 p.m. EST: The House finishes voting for the weekend — just in time to read the 12:30 Report! 

4 p.m. EST Monday: Hillary Clinton sits down with Ellen DeGeneres

4:30 p.m. EST: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) campaigns in Columbia, S.C., with Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who endorsed him earlier this week.

5:15 p.m. EST: Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) campaigns in Exeter, N.H.

Sunday: NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Chuck Todd is sitting down with Donald Trump in Iowa Saturday to prepare for Sunday’s show.

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…

Today is National English Toffee Day! And for weekend planning purposes, tomorrow is National Apricot Day; Sunday is National Bittersweet Chocolate (!) Day!

WHY M&M’S ARE TRENDING ON FACEBOOK: M&M’s have released two new flavors for Valentine’s Day. The strawberry shortcake flavor is exclusive to Target — and the strawberry chocolate flavor is exclusive to Wal-Mart. Anyone else think in the M&M world, the two flavors have to taste pretty similar? http://bit.ly/1OEjHHO

FOR THE GoT FANS IN THE ROOM: The new season of Game of Thrones will premier on April 24, 2016. Set your TiVos now. http://bit.ly/1VPKMZZ

PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND — SEE SNL’S PETE DAVIDSON: With Saturday Night Live still on its holiday break, Pete Davidson (who impersonates Marco Rubio on the show) will be performing at the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse. http://bit.ly/1JyPRnQ

And to start your weekend off right, here is Channing Tatum teaming up with Beyoncé for the “Lip Sync Battle” season premiere. http://r29.co/1RdFl82

See you Monday! Same time, same place. 

 

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