The Hill’s 12:30 Report

If you’d like to subscribe to The Hill’s midday political newsletter, please click here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN

 

The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump floats punishments for flag burning | Elaine Chao likely Transportation chief | Trump to begin ‘thank you tour’ | Paul Ryan’s awkward radio interview

BREAKING — SECRETARY OF PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: President-elect Donald Trump is announcing former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao as his Transportation secretary nominee later Tuesday, according to multiple reports. Her deal: Chao, who ran the Labor Department under President George W. Bush, is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). She was also a member of Trump’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Council during his presidential campaign. http://bit.ly/2gS9VIN

This gif sums it all up: “TFW your wife is transportation secretary and earmarks are probably coming back” (From The Huffington Post’s Eliot Nelson) –> http://bit.ly/2gFtFMZ

It’s Tuesday. 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 events for our radar to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

{mosads}ONE MORE IN THE CABINET: President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to be Health and Human Services secretary. His deal: Price has spent more than a decade in Congress. As a member of the House GOP Doctors Caucus, Price helped shape the healthcare plan that House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) now pitches as his alternative to ObamaCare. http://bit.ly/2gRITRR

Helpful graphic –> CNN outlines which Cabinet positions have been named, rumored and still left to choose. http://cnn.it/2gsOIld

TODAY MUST FEEL LIKE THE “MONDAY OF ALL MONDAYS” FOR HOUSE DEMS: Yes it’s technically Tuesday, but it’s the first day back for House members after the holiday. They are coming back to a big to-do list, including a tense vote for Democratic Party leadership. House Democrats will vote using a secret ballot (!) tomorrow for either Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has kept her leadership position for 14 years, or her challenger, Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio). What to expect: http://bit.ly/2gFkXhO

WHAT’S DOMINATING CABLE NEWS — CONTROVERSY DU JOUR: President-elect Donald Trump tweeted early this morning that anyone who burns the American falg should face harsh punishments, mentioning loss of citizenship or a year in jail. Legal ramifications: Burning the American flag is protected speech under the First Amendment, as first established in the 1989 Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson. Why this is newsy: While Trump has supported revoking citizenship of babies born to undocumented workers, this is the first time he’s proposed revoking citizenship as punishment. http://bit.ly/2fy5T86

Catalyst: It began with a 7 a.m. tweet from Trump. And via The Daily Beast, that 7 a.m. tweet seems to coincide with a Fox & Friends segment about students at Hampshire College burning the flag as a protest against the president-elect. http://thebea.st/2fI9ATU

Pushback from his side of the aisle: Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) on CNN Tuesday: “I don’t think we want to make this a legal issue.” http://bit.ly/2gCczlr

Throwback: “In 2005 a bill was introduced that would outlaw burning the American flag. That bill was introduced by: Hillary Clinton & Sen. [Bob] Bennett (R-UT)” (h/t NBC’s Frank Thorp V) http://bit.ly/2gESg3o 

EITHER WAY, IT’S NO BUENO: Via The New York Times’s Matt Apuzzo and James Risen, Trump campaigned on a promise to bring waterboarding, an interrogation method banned as torture, and allow other unspecified practices “a hell of a lot worse.” Well, if Trump sticks to that promise, he will face a number of federal legal battles, internal pressure and pushback from the CIA. http://nyti.ms/2gRP34l

IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS: A charter plane carrying 81 people — including 22 players from a championship-bound soccer team and 22 journalists — crashed in Colombia. At least six passengers have survived, but the rest died. http://wapo.st/2gFoBrK

HEADLINE OF THE DAY: From The Wall Street Journal’s Drew Hinsaw, “Estonian Troops Have Never Fought a Cold War–Thanks to Pop-Up Saunas: Saunas are marched into war zones, even in hot spots; no towels.” http://on.wsj.com/2gFcCuw

SPOTTED AT TRUMP TOWER: MSNBC “Morning Joe” host Mika Brzezinski. From the pool report: “She told the reporters in the lobby she’s here for a ‘meeting.’ She was asked if the meeting was with PEOTUS and the response was unclear. Brzezinski did not respond to a question from your pooler about whether she will be seeing Kellyanne Conway.” 

EXCLUSIVE — THERE SHALL BE A WALL!: Via The Hill’s Rebecca Savransky, a majority of Americans trust that Trump will fulfill his campaign promises on immigration and other issues, according to a new survey by Harvard University’s Center for American Political Studies and the National Research Group. Breakdown by issue: http://bit.ly/2fMM0IY

 

NOTABLE TWEETS:

Bloomberg’s Sahil Kapur
Spotted: Ted Cruz and Elizabeth Warren chatting in a Capitol elevator. http://bit.ly/2g2dp7D

The Huffington Post’s Jennifer Bendery retweeted adding: “Hell hath officially frozen over. 11/29/16” http://bit.ly/2fIp7U1

CNN’s Deirdre Walsh
Awkward – WI radio host answers call from “Paul” and Speaker Ryan on the line waiting for interview that the host forgot was scheduled http://bit.ly/2gCdNxi

Politico’s Shane Goldmacher
Chris Christie announces renovations to the NJ state capitol…which means…his successor will have to work outside the building. http://bit.ly/2gSn7O0

 

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are in. 

1 p.m. EST: The Federation for American Immigration Reform is laying out an immigration reform blueprint for the Trump transition team at the National Press Club.

3:10 p.m. EST: President Obama visits the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

4 p.m. EST: The American Enterprise Institute is holding an event titled “Conservativism: What Now?” Live-stream: http://bit.ly/2fMsSLm

6 p.m. EST: Cornell Belcher, president of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies, is holding a reception and book signing at Charlie Palmer Steak in D.C. for his latest publication, “A Black Man In The White House: Barack Obama and the Triggering of America’s Racial-Aversion Crisis.”

6:30 p.m. EST: The House votes on a series of suspension bills.

Tonight: President-elect Donald Trump has dinner with Mitt Romney. To pick him for secretary of State or to humiliate him for his refusal to back his campaign? That is the question.

Thursday: President-elect Donald Trump begins his “Thank you tour” to celebrate his victory. His first rally is 7 p.m. in Cincinnati. (h/t Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs) http://bit.ly/2gRMYFJ

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Chocolates Day!

TRENDING ON FACEBOOK — THIS IS MESMERIZING: Via Mashable, OK Go’s new music video captures hundreds of small events that took place over just 4.2 seconds for a very cool effect. Watch: http://on.mash.to/2fygO1Q

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY, TELL YOUR CONGRESS MEMBER, LA, LA, LA, LA: Here’s a photo of the Congressional Christmas Tree in transit to the Capitol. http://bit.ly/2fMUMXz

And because I kept you this long, here’s an adorable pig chomping away on some pineapple: http://bit.ly/2g1Vy0q

 

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