The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Obama calls debate over term ‘radical Islam’ a distraction | Wife tried to talk gunman out of attack | Russian hackers steal DNC’s Trump oppo file | Bernie, Hillary meeting | Orlando donations set GoFundMe record | Oprah, first lady at White House Women’s Summit

JUST NOW – OBAMA GIVES UPDATE ON ORLANDO SUSPECTPresident Obama  called together top administration officials to “review and intensify our campaign to destroy” the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In a press conference that’s just finishing, he confirmed that the gunman was “self radicalized.” Obama also dismissed the debate over the term “radical Islam” as a distraction. http://bit.ly/1UxED22  Here are a few key moments:

The Hill’s Jordan Fabian: POTUS: Orlando shooter “appears to be an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalized.” http://bit.ly/260rg2r

Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui: Obama says there is no indication at this point that a foreign terrorist group directed the attack in Orlando. http://bit.ly/1Yp1zG5

National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar: This Obama speech sounds awfully similiar to the November 2015 version.http://bit.ly/1URuptk

Time’s Zeke Miller: Obama: “So far we have taken out 120 top ISIL leaders and commanders.”http://bit.ly/1Q1lk5a

Time’s Ryan Teague Beckwith: Obama says ISIL had to cut salaries. http://bit.ly/1ZOt3Uv

The Hill’s Jordan Fabian: Obama calls for assault weapons ban: “Enough talking about being tough on terrorism. Actually be tough on terrorism.” http://bit.ly/1UNZGQA

Sirius XM’s Jared Rizzi: POTUS “Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away. This is a distraction.” Saying “radical Islam” does nothing, he argues.http://bit.ly/1UhXcdv

It’s Tuesday, the world is continuing to mourn the victims of the Orlando massacre, and in politics, we’re finally at the last primary of the 2016 election. I’m one of the few that really actually enjoys the election process (yeah, yeah, I know) but even I agree that It. Is. About. Time. 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.

BREAKING – ORLANDO SUSPECT’S WIFE ‘TRIED TO TALK HIM OUT OF THE ATTACK’: Via NBC’s Pete Williams, Tom Winter and Ken Dilanian, the Orlando gunman’s wife has told federal agents she tried to talk her husband out of carrying out the attack.

–– “Omar Mateen’s current wife, Noor, told the FBI she was with him when he bought ammunition and a holster, several officials familiar with the case said. She told the FBI that she once drove him to the gay nightclub, Pulse, because he wanted to scope it out.” Possible charges against her: Authorities are considering filing criminal charges against her, but no decision has been made. http://nbcnews.to/1tum8py

ALSO BREAKING – RYAN SLOWLY STEPS AWAY FROM TRUMP’S LATEST REMARKS: Via The Hill’s Scott Wong, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) pushed back on Donald Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. “I do not think a Muslim ban is in our country’s interest,” Ryan told reporters at GOP national headquarters. “I do not think it is reflective of our principles, not just as a party but as a country.” Soooo, how about that endorsement, Ryan? We’re really talking about this again?: Trump re-upped his Muslim ban plan yesterday. http://bit.ly/1towXZC

GRAHAM’S NOT HAVIN’ IT EITHER: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told CNN just now that Donald Trump‘s take on President Obama over the Orlando shooting is “beyond out of line” and “highly offensive.” Graham said he has never doubted Obama loves his country.  http://bit.ly/1YpHWOz

MORE UPDATES ON THE ORLANDO SHOOTING — WHAT WE NOW KNOW:  

  • Not his first time at Pulse?: The FBI is investigating whether the suspect had visited Pulse before the massacre. Witnesses have said Mateen had used a gay dating app and visited the gay nightclub on other occasions. http://lat.ms/1Q0ZbE8
  • Inside Mateen’s apartment: Univision’s Juan Carlos Agiar went inside the suspect’s apartment. Video: http://cnn.it/1URbgHV Didn’t this not go well when cable networks went inside the San Bernardino suspects’ home? 
  • Victims’ status: Via NBC, as of last night, 43 of the 53 people injured in the shooting remained hospitalized — with five in grave condition. http://nbcnews.to/237qlLI
  • Donation record: Via CNN Money’s Jackie Wattles and Amy Chillag, a GoFundMe campaign for the victims has set a record for the largest GoFundMe campaign ever. So far, it’s pulled in more than $3 million for the victims and their families. http://cnnmon.ie/1Uxroyt

POLITICAL REACTION UPDATES:

  • Trump’s Obama comments: Via BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski, after Donald Trump said yesterday that “something is going on” when President Obama talks about radical Islamic terrorism, it left lots of questions about what Trump meant (implying he’s involved?). Well, later in the day, Trump went on “The Howie Carr Show” and was asked to clarify. He didn’t take the opportunity. “Well, you know, I’ll let people figure that out for themselves, Howie,” Trump said. “Cause, to be honest with you, there certainly doesn’t seem to be a lot anger or passion when he — when we want to demand retribution for what happened over the weekend.” http://bzfd.it/237rrr3 
  • House floor erupts: Via The Hill’s Cristina Marcos, after a moment of silence on the House floor for the Orlando victims, the room erupted as some House Democrats shouted and chanted “Where’s the bill?” urging a vote on gun control legislation. Other Democrats shouted, “Show some respect!”
  • Gun push: Via The Hill’s Alex Bolton, Democrats launched a new effort on guns after the Orlando carnage. Specifics: The measure would bar suspected terrorists from acquiring guns or explosives. http://bit.ly/1sErZrH 
  • NRA Reaction: In a USA Today op-ed, the National Rifle Association blamed “political correctness” for the Orlando shooting. http://bit.ly/1rnRo7C 

ORLANDO SHOOTINGS INFLAME CAMPAIGN TO A NEW LEVEL: Via The Hill’s Niall Stanage, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history has put the contrasting worldviews of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on vivid display. They agreed the United States is facing a challenge of terrorism, but the agreement ended there. Here’s the difference in their views: http://bit.ly/1Usk7E0 

Trump: He defended his earlier, controversial call for a temporary ban on noncitizen Muslims entering the United States (yep, this is back), but also broadened his argument, suggesting that the American way of life is imperiled by large-scale legal immigration. He made a point of noting that the gunman’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from Afghanistan.

Clinton: Clinton, who revels in her reputation as a deliberative problem-solver, laid out a three-point plan (<– Clinton campaign in a nutshell) to address the terrorist threat during a speech. Like Obama, she made the argument that tighter gun controls would help ameliorate the threat from homegrown terrorists. 

INTERESTING DESCRIPTION: Tweet from Time’s Ryan Teague Beckwith: Republicans will argue about why the Orlando shooting happened; Democrats will argue about how. http://bit.ly/1UstUdv

 

IN OTHER POLITICAL NEWS:

BREAKING – RUSSIAN HACKERS CLEARLY WANTED TRUMP OPPO: Russian government hackers have infiltrated Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) computer networks, gaining access to its entire trove of opposition research on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, The Washington Post reports. Dayummm: The hackers were so deep into the DNC’s network that they were able to read all email and chat communications. Weirdest part: No personal, financial or donor information was taken – they only wanted oppo on Trump?! More network problems: Russian spies also targeted the networks of Hillary Clinton and Trump. http://bit.ly/1WMJYc5

{mosads}WHAT TO WATCH TODAY — BERNIE/HILLARY MEET: Via The Hill’s Ben Kamisar, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are meeting in Washington, D.C., today during the Democratic primary there. Three big questions come to mind when Sanders eventually drops out from Mo Elleithee, the executive director of the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service: No. 1: Whether or not and how quickly Sanders endorses Clinton, No. 2: How quickly he starts campaigning with or for the ticket and No. 3: What he and his supporters are trying to get into the platform. Sanders has already given hints: Sanders has already set the stage for an endorsement by promising to do whatever it takes to deny Trump the White House. http://bit.ly/24Onyq9

A LIGHTER (BUT FASCINATING) READ — CUE UP *CHRISTIE INTERNALLY SCREAMING VIDEO*: In Ryan Lizza‘s The New Yorker piece, he describes how New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) essentially did errands for Donald Trump.

“Governor Chris Christie, of New Jersey, another of Trump’s opponents early in the campaign, has transformed himself into a sort of manservant, who is constantly with Trump at events. (One Republican told me that a friend of his on the Trump campaign used Snapchat to send him a video of Christie fetching Trump’s McDonald’s order.)”

 

NOTABLE TWEETS:

MSNBC’s Alex Seitz-Wald (He’s referring to Trump revoking The Washington Post’s credentials at his events because he doesn’t like their coverage of him.)
Even Nixon didn’t revoke the Washington Post’s press credentials during Watergate, Bob Woodward tells me. http://bit.ly/1WMyLrY  

The Huffington Post’s Jennifer Bendery
White House Correspondents’ Assn reminds Donald Trump how the First Amendment works: http://bit.ly/21jW8Yx  

CBS’s Sopan Deb
Trump meeting with several Republican governors today at Trump Tower, including OK governor Mary Fallin, per GOP source. http://bit.ly/1URgZxr

 

ON TAP:

Now until 7 p.m. EDT: The White House Women’s Summit. Live stream: http://nbcnews.to/1UxqkKX

President Obama speaks at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

First lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey speak at 5 p.m. EDT.

10 a.m. EDT: The Senate is in. They began the day by passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

10 a.m. EDT: The House is in with votes at 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. 

12:15 p.m. EDT: Hillary Clinton campaigns in Pittsburgh.

12:45 p.m. EDT: White House press secretary Josh Earnest gives the daily press briefing.

5 p.m. EDT: Vice President Biden delivers remarks at a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee event in New York City.

6:45 p.m. EDT: President Obama delivers remarks at a picnic for members of Congress on the South Lawn of the White House.

7 p.m. EDT: Donald Trump is holding a rally in Greensboro, N.C.

8 p.m. EDT: The polls close in the District of Colombia’s Democratic primary. Note: this is the last presidential primary of the cycle!

Tomorrow: The House Energy and Commerce Committee marks up a long-delayed mental health bill from Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.). Back story: http://bit.ly/1Xeo5lY 

10 a.m. EDT tomorrow: A Foreign Affairs subcommittee will hold a hearing on U.S. policy in Egypt. Info: http://1.usa.gov/22YG2oG 

10 a.m. EDT tomorrow: A Senate Foreign Relations Committee subpanel will have a hearing on girls’ access to education around the world. Info: http://1.usa.gov/1thnfbB 

10 a.m. EDT tomorrow: The House Homeland Security Committee will hear industry perspectives on the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015. Info: http://1.usa.gov/1Q0urDa 

2 p.m. EDT tomorrow: The Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing titled, “Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Businesses in the Digital Age.” Infohttp://1.usa.gov/1Oh2Ihh 

 

NOW STEPPING AWAY FROM POLITICS…:

Today is National Strawberry Shortcake Day.

And with that, here are photos of how cities across the world are honoring the victims of Orlando: http://theatln.tc/1URhAz9

 

To view past editions of The Hill’s 12:30 Report, click here: http://bit.ly/1M1mIfw

To receive The Hill’s 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN

Tags Bernie Sanders Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Lindsey Graham Michelle Obama Paul Ryan

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