The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Ryan reaffirms support for Trump | Bernie heads to DC to meet Obama | Trump promises to make GOP ‘proud’ | Clinton on Fox News (!) at 6 p.m. | Aaron Schock spotted on House floor

JUST NOW – HONEY, I’M BACK! Via The Hill’s Scott Wong, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) reaffirmed his support for Donald Trump as the GOP presidential nominee during a closed-door meeting Wednesday with rank-and-file Republicans. I’m sorry I yelled: Ryan explained that he’d lashed out at Trump a day earlier to try to put to rest a growing controversy over Trump’s remarks over a Hispanic judge. “Basically, [Ryan] said he did what he did so we could focus on our agenda in the House,” said a GOP leadership aide who attended the closed-door meeting of House Republicans in the basement of the Capitol. http://bit.ly/1UAsrNQ 

BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THERE ISN’T TROUBLE IN PARADISE: Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), chairman of the influential Republican Study Committee, said on Wednesday that he is not endorsing his party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump. Why: Trump’s judge bashing. http://bit.ly/1OdqzOB

Ohhhh, we’re halfway there! Happy Wednesday. Filing from the Heritage Foundation, where Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) spoke with reporters about his coming agenda, 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 comments, story ideas and upcoming events to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

*TURNS TO MAKE DIRECT EYE CONTACT WITH THE DNC* “HEY GUYS…”: Hillary Clinton won New Jersey, New Mexico, California (!) and South Dakota. Bernie Sanders took North Dakota and Montana. Awkward night: Hillary Clinton declared herself the Democratic presidential nominee in her victory speech, while Bernie Sanders on another stage pledged to stay in the race until the convention. U-N-I-T-Y. What does that spell? AWKWAAAARD. And yes, the Democratic National Committee has yet to label Hillary Clinton as the party’s nominee despite recognition from the president and the media. Can someone get Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz a glass of wine, please? http://bit.ly/1t8vBSD

OH YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GETTING RID OF ME? LOL.: Bernie Sanders is holding a campaign rally tomorrow in Washington, D.C. http://bit.ly/1RWZzOg

INCLUDING A SPLASHY STOP AT THE WHITE HOUSE: Well, it sounds like it will be eventful at the very least. Bernie Sanders requested to meet with President Obama tomorrow at the White House. Oh, if I could be a fly on that wall. http://bit.ly/24yZFTs

BUT THAT SHIP MAY HAVE ALREADY SAILED: Hillary Clinton is hoping for an endorsement soon from the golden superdelegate, President Obama. It could come within the next week http://bit.ly/1Y8O0KZ

Tweet from writer Matt Laslo: “We should be a little graceful and give him the opportunity to decide on his own,” VP Joe Biden on Sanders as he walks through Capitol http://bit.ly/1UAcBTh

LOOK, I CAN DRESS THE PART AND I CAN ACT THE PART: Via The Hill’s Jonathan Easley, using a teleprompter, Donald Trump‘s speech last night was designed to reassure Republicans worried about the billionaire’s candidacy after his remarks criticizing a federal judge provoked cries of racism from within his own party. 

“I will make you proud of your party and your movement,” he added. He didn’t mention hot-button issues like building a wall on the southern border, a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S. or his criticism of Mexican-American Judge Gonzalo Curiel. He didn’t even use his nickname for Hillary Clinton: “Crooked Hillary.” http://bit.ly/1XalxoQ

{mosads}SLOWING STEPS BACKWARD LIKE MAYBE NO ONE WILL NOTICE: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is backing away from supporting Donald Trump. “It’s just sad in America that we have such poor choices right now,” Walker, who dropped his own White House bid last September, said in an interview with WKOW-TV in Madison, Wis. Why: the judge comments, obviously. http://bit.ly/1TVSn7j 

NEW CLINTON ENDORSEMENT: Billionaire environmental donor Tom Steyer endorsed Hillary Clinton for president Wednesday, citing her positions on clean energy and the middle class. http://bit.ly/1TVX7tC 

SPOTTED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR — ERRBODY’S FAVORITE DOWNTON ABBEY FAN: Via Politico’s Jake Sherman, former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), who resigned over questionable reimbursements, was spotted on the House floor. http://bit.ly/1UEBTTf

MOVE OF THE DAY — DEMS’ FAKE RYAN PRESS RELEASE: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi‘s (D-Calif.) office sent out a fake media advisory on behalf of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). “Speaker Ryan to Hide from Reporters Today.” Pre-set time: “Don’t even think about it.” Lol. Note: Ryan is hosting the prime minister of India today. _http://bit.ly/1TVSn7j 

SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE UPDATE — LAWMAKERS APPALLED: Via The Hill’s Cristina Marcos and Lydia Wheeler, female lawmakers expressed outrage Tuesday over the sexual assault case at Stanford University that resulted in what critics said was a light sentence for the convicted attacker. For example: Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who used to prosecute sexual assault cases as a lawyer, said, “Typically, that would be considered an inappropriate sentence.” http://bit.ly/1U7rY8D

ANNOUNCED TODAY — HHS STEPS TO STENGTHEN O-CARE MARKETPLACES: Via The Hill’s Peter Sullivan, the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday announced a range of steps aimed at improving the health of the ObamaCare marketplaces. Specifics: One step cracks down on the use of short-term insurance policies. HHS is also announcing a start date for new measures to prevent people from gaming the system by using extra sign-up periods to enroll only after they get sick. Full changes: http://bit.ly/1rd5714

 

NOTABLE TWEETS:

Politico’s Jake Sherman
[Speaker Paul Ryan’s] office says he’s not holding press conf because of joint session. They said Boehner did same. Not true. He gave speech day of Ukraine speech. http://bit.ly/1rd2kVz

He gave presser on 10/13/11 day of S. Korea joint session. and had joint presser on 5/24/11 with Netanyahu. Boehner did it. Ryan isn’t http://bit.ly/1UEAjkh

NBC’s Luke Russert
Just rode an elevator in Cannon with some distillery lobbyists. They smelled like bourbon. It was 11am on a Wednesday. #Strong http://bit.ly/1UAf2oV

 

ON TAP:

Bernie Sanders returns to Burlington, Vt., today.

11 a.m. EDT: A joint meeting of the House and Senate to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tweet from C-SPAN’s Craig Caplan: Public galleries above the House floor are at full capacity for India PM joint meeting. Only 2/3rds of House seats are filled. http://bit.ly/1TVJ7QA

1 p.m. EDT: CreativeFuture and the Creative Rights Caucus are hosting a script-to-screen event on the film “Spotlight” in Hart 216. It’s featuring “Spotlight” producers Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust, The Boston Globe’s Ben Bradlee, Jr. and Mike Rezendes, actor John Slattery, production designer Stephen H. Carter and Liz Biber of Open Road Films.

1:30 p.m. EDT: The House votes on a bill delaying the EPA’s ozone rule.

2 p.m. EDT: The House Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Health is holding a hearing on Medicare reform legislation.http://1.usa.gov/289hrB6 

5:20 p.m. EDT: President Obama participates in a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee roundtable in New York City.

7:50 p.m. EDT: President Obama delivers remarks and takes questions at a DNC event in New York City.

9:30 a.m. EDT tomorrow: The House Budget Committee is holding a hearing on controlling automatic and unauthorized spending. http://1.usa.gov/1RTdswN 

10 a.m. EDT tomorrow: The House Education and the Workforce Committee is holding a hearing on the administration’s overtime rule and its consequences for workers, students, nonprofits and small businesses.

2 p.m. EDT tomorrow: The House Armed Services is holding a hearing titled “Stopping the Money Flow: The War on Terror Finance: A Joint Hearing with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism Nonproliferation and Trade.”

7 p.m. EDT tomorrow: Bernie Sanders holds a rally at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. 

 

WHAT TO WATCH:

6 p.m. EDT: Hillary Clinton will be a guest on Fox News’s “Special Report” with Bret Baier (!)

11:35 p.m. EDT tomorrow: President Obama will make his first ever appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” Note: The segment is being taped today at 4:15 p.m. EDT in New York. 

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Jelly-filled Doughnut Day!

NO LONGER JUST FOR THOSE PAINFUL IKEA TRIPS: Via DCist’s Rachel Sadon, Zipcar, which requires users to return the loaned car to the same location, is launching a one-way service, including to Baltimore. The new program costs $5 for every half hour. http://bit.ly/1YewR2V

And with that, here are some of the best-trained dogs I’ve ever seen. http://bit.ly/1t95X08

 

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