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: Hearings put Russian hacks in the spotlight | Ryan says ObamaCare replacement plan coming this year | Tucker Carlson gets Megyn Kelly’s time slot | An embarrassing front-page goof | Latest snow forecast

LATEST FROM THE RUSSIA HEARING — The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the Russian hacks this morning. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that “Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election consisted of hacking, as well as the spreading of traditional propaganda and ‘fake news.’ ‘Whatever crack, fissure, they could find in our tapestry… they would exploit it.” http://wapo.st/2jeUwDB

Check out The Hill’s live blog of the hearing: http://bit.ly/2hVlIlA

Fun fact: “Did you know Lindsey Graham wears glasses sometimes? They look like reading glasses and they have fashionably thick frames.” (From The Post and Courier’s Emma Dumain) http://bit.ly/2iLSWIB

This line could be directed to Trump: The goal of investigating Russia “is not to question the outcome of the election, nor should it be,” says Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.).

T-Minus: Director of National Intelligence James Clapper: “Happily I just got 15 days left.” The Washington Post’s Max J. Rosenthal reacted on Twitter: “Wouldn’t be a cyber hearing without Clapper counting down to his retirement.” http://bit.ly/2iLS8DA

On retaliation: Clapper: “As I say, people in glass houses need to think about throwing rocks. This was an act of espionage. And we and other nations conduct similar acts of espionage.”

It’s Thursday and Capitol Hill is bustling with hearings on Russia. In other news, D.C. may get its first dusting of snow tonight — get your boots, hats and panic buttons out! I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

{mosads}

TRUMP’S REACTION — RAAAAWR: Earlier today, President-elect Donald Trump pushed back on claims he’s siding with Julian Assange over the intelligence community. “The dishonest media likes saying that I am in Agreement with Julian Assange — wrong. I simply state what he states, it is for the people … to make up their own minds as to the truth. The media lies to make it look like I am against ‘Intelligence’ when in fact I am a big fan!” Deep breaths. http://bit.ly/2hWfcOQ

MUST READ — I’M DA BOSS NOW: Via The Wall Street Journal’s Damian Paletta and Julian E. Barnes, “President-elect Donald Trump, a harsh critic of U.S. intelligence agencies, is working with top advisers on a plan that would restructure and pare back the nation’s top spy agency, people familiar with the planning said. The move is prompted by his belief that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has become bloated and politicized, these people said.” Plus: One source said Donald Trump is planning to also restructure the CIA. http://on.wsj.com/2iTH0C0

UPDATE — IT’S A HE SAID, SHE SAID: Via Politico, “These reports are false,” said Sean Spicer, the incoming White House press secretary. “All transition activities are for information-gathering purposes and all discussions are tentative. The president-elect’s top priority is to ensure the safety of the American people and the security of the nation and he is committed to finding the best and most effective ways to do it.” http://politi.co/2hVuULZ 

IN OTHER NEWS…:

JUST NOW — “2017” IS THE NEW “2016”: Republicans will put forward their plan to replace ObamaCare sometime this year, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) just said. The timing: Republicans are planning to pass a repeal bill quickly without having a replacement ready, but Ryan said that the replacement would follow this year. He said he did not yet know when the repeal bill and replacement bill would take effect, because Republicans are still working out how long to make the transition period. Buckle up, everyone!  http://bit.ly/2j8z6Ut​

BEING INSULTED IN A TRUMP TWEET IS THE NEW “POLITICIAN’S BADGE OF HONOR”: President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday blasted ObamaCare and Democrats. “The Democrats, lead by head clown Chuck Schumer, know how bad ObamaCare is and what a mess they are in.” “Instead of working to fix it, they.do the typical political thing and BLAME.” Full series of tweets: http://bit.ly/2iFG0Uh

BREAKING IN THE MEDIA WORLD — TUCKER IS THE NEW MEGYN: Tucker Carlson will take over Fox News’s 9 p.m. slot vacated by the departing Megyn Kelly. How the Fox lineup will change: Carlson’s newish show “Tucker Carlson Tonight” is moving to 9 p.m., with Martha MacCallum taking over Carlson’s current 7 p.m. spot. http://bit.ly/2iM3KXx

ONE SMALL ERROR FOR EXPRESS, ONE GIANT ERROR FOR HUMANITY: The Washington Post Express published a cover previewing the Women’s March on Washington. However, their pink graphic happens to feature the male symbol. This has to be some kind of record. See for yourself: http://bit.ly/2iFfXMT

Apology issued by The Washington Post Express: http://bit.ly/2j8e7RX

PSA: GET ENOUGH BREAD AND MILK TO LAST THREE, MAYBE FOUR WEEKS: Via NBC Washington, the Washington, D.C., area may get up to an inch of snow by the end of the week. But don’t get your hopes up: While it could be an inch, it’s more likely to be half an inch. Which in the D.C. area means –> http://gph.is/2hVcmX1 Full forecast: http://bit.ly/2iI6Zwm

WHAT WE’RE ALL THINKING — OH, MY TICKET MUST HAVE JUST GOTTEN LOST IN THE MAIL: Here’s what the ticket for the presidential inauguration looks like: http://bit.ly/2hWFWyD

NOTABLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

ABC’s Ali Rogin
Sens. Durbin and Sessions are meeting. They’re talking college football http://bit.ly/2hWvGGD

CNBC’s Steve Kopack
Why does Gene Simmons wear sunglasses all day? 
He tells CNBC: “Because the sun never sets on planet cool, folks. And that’s where I live.” http://bit.ly/2hWhkpO

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are in. President Obama is in Washington and President-elect Donald Trump is holding meetings at Trump Tower.

Today–Saturday: The American Bar Association is holding their 2016 Banking Law Committee Meeting in Washington, D.C. Details: http://bit.ly/2hVfG9q

12:30 p.m. EST: White House press secretary Josh Earnest gives the daily press briefing.

1:15 p.m. EST: The House votes. Their schedule: http://bit.ly/2iFpZh7

2:20 p.m. EST: Local television hosts interview President Obama for “Live from the White House.”

5:45 p.m. EST: The House votes.

8:30 a.m. EST tomorrow: The December jobs report is released.

Tomorrow: President Obama is reportedly throwing a star-studded goodbye party at the White House. Possible guests: Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Samuel L. Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Academy Award-winner Bradley Cooper. http://wapo.st/2iTR7XA

WHAT TO WATCH:

PBS Frontline has a must-watch documentary on key moments in President-elect Donald Trump‘s life that shaped him. Watch online: http://to.pbs.org/2j8eEDj

5 p.m. EST: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will appear on MSNBC’s “MTP Daily” with Chuck Todd.

11 a.m. EST tomorrow: Vox interviews President Obama on the future of ObamaCare. It will air live on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2iTp4HK

Jan. 11: First lady Michelle Obama will appear on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Whipped Cream Day!

I ASPIRE TO BE THIS KID: Via CNN, a 6-year-old girl from Texas used the voice-activated speaker on the Amazon Echo to order herself a giant dollhouse and some cookies. Props. http://cnn.it/2hWgYzF

And to make you feel a little better about your life, here’s a penguin that is terrified of water: http://bit.ly/2hV1atH

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