The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Dems plan late-night ObamaCare protest | Trump vs. Meryl Streep | Confirmation battles preview | What Trump can do on day one | Obama the groomsman

JUST ANNOUNCED — APOLOGIES IF YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION WAS TO GIVE UP COFFEE!: Senate Democrats are planning a late-night protest over Republicans’ push to repeal the Affordable Care Act. How: Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) said Democrats will use the floor and Facebook Live to denounce the GOP plan and accuse them of causing “chaos” by moving forward without a replacement plan. http://bit.ly/2iZZnYN Facebook live stream tonight: http://bit.ly/2iaA5Ge

AT LEAST THEY HAVE ​BEDS!: No, really. Here’s a photo of the cots for the ​senators: http://bit.ly/2iVgJ6K

WHAT TO WATCH DURING THE PROTEST: Schumer will appear on MSNBC’s “All In” during the 8 p.m. hour.

AND ON THE ‘SPOTTED AT TRUMP TOWER’ FRONT: Per the pool reports, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) arrived at Trump Tower for a 10:30 a.m. meeting today. Agenda: Plotting the confirmation schedule and ObamaCare repeal. You know, nothing big! http://bit.ly/2jl7Xhk

It’s a chilly Monday in D.C. But cheer up: It may hit the 50s later in the week! http://wapo.st/2iVXD2d 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.

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WHAT TO WATCH DURING CONFIRMATION HEARINGS THIS WEEK: Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, the Senate will begin a blizzard of confirmation hearings tomorrow for Trump’s prospective Cabinet. Why Dems are mad: The fast-tracking of nominees will make it difficult to be thorough, they say. They also argue the picks deserve extra scrutiny because of the massive wealth of several nominees. Trump’s Cabinet in total is worth more than a third of American households. Who Dems are focusing their attacks this week: Education pick Betsy DeVos; attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.); and Rex Tillerson, Trump’s pick for secretary of State. http://bit.ly/2juEENq Keep reading for a full guide on the hearings!

NEWS TO KNOW — THESE LAWYERS SERIOUSLY EARNED THEIR KEEP: Via Mike Allen in Axios, lawyers have etched out a plan for President-elect Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to serve in the new administration. His title will be “senior adviser.” http://bit.ly/2ivI92d

WHAT TIMING: New York Magazine last night published a feature on Kushner. It’s worth the read: http://nym.ag/2i96uK1

TALK OF THE GOLDEN GLOBES — TAKE THAT, AND THAT!: Actress Meryl Streep delivered an emotional speech railing against President-elect Donald Trump — though never mentioning him by name — during the Golden Globes last night. Streep referred to the time Trump imitated a disabled New York Times reporter on the campaign trail and said that particular, real-life performance broke her heart. Watch: http://bit.ly/2iVI8aT

AND IF 2016 TAUGHT US ANYTHING: …it’s that, well, of course Trump fired back. He called Streep an “overrated” actress and a “Hillary [Clinton] flunky who lost big.” Trump also repeated his assertion, “for the 100th time,” that he never “mocked” a disabled reporter on the campaign trail. http://bit.ly/2j9FV9k

THIS IS A PRETTY FUNNY CLAIM: Responding to Streep’s insults, President-elect Donald Trump said in an interview with The New York Times that all the D.C. dress stores are sold out for inauguration because so many celebs are coming to town: “We are going to have an unbelievable, perhaps record-setting turnout for the inauguration, and there will be plenty of movie and entertainment stars. All the dress shops are sold out in Washington. It’s hard to find a great dress for this inauguration.” http://bit.ly/2j0dZHN

NEWS OUTLETS: “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!”: News outlets checked out Trump’s claim and found many​ inauguration gowns. The gist of their findings: This quote from a Georgetown shop summed it up well: “Unless a thousand people came in today, we’d still have choices.” http://bit.ly/2ja7D5S

DID I PROMISE ALL OF THAT FOR DAY 1? YOU SURE? BETTER MAKE THAT A VENTI, THEN: Via The Hill’s Jordan Fabian and Jonathan Easley, judging by his campaign promises, Donald Trump will be a busy man on his first day in the Oval Office. While he could further detail his first-day plans during a news conference this week, here are five areas where Trump has already promised to act: Immigration, environment, lobbying, trade and healthcare. Specifics for each: http://bit.ly/2iW5Xix

I BET THE PLANNING OF THIS WEDDING WAS CASUAL…LOW-KEY…*COUGH*: Over the weekend, President Obama’s longtime aide Marvin Nicholson got married. The best thing I’ve seen all weekend: President Obama was a groomsman; Secretary of State John Kerry officiated the ceremony. No big deal. Photo of the wedding party: http://bit.ly/2iVOqY3

BEHIND THE SCENES — EVEN IN CONGRESS, FIRST DAYS ARE ROUGH: Via The Tampa Bay Times’s Alex Leary, “Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) said he missed an important vote last night because he didn’t give himself enough time to walk from his office to the Capitol and was ‘detained’ by people in the halls wanting to chat. ‘I’m sorry. It happens. Now I know better. I have to give myself more time,’ the rookie Democrat told the Tampa Bay Times this morning.” The vote he missed: “The vote condemning a UN Security Council resolution aimed at Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.” http://bit.ly/2iVnLuf

ELECTORAL COLLEGE COUNT FUN FACT: When Congress counted the Electoral College ballots on Friday, they were delivered in a dark-wood treasure chest. Best part: The chest had leather belts to hold it shut and protect the ballots. See for yourself: http://bit.ly/2iZKwxC

SPOTTED ON THE ACELA: Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus was spotted on the Acela train to New York this morning, getting off at Penn Station.

 

NOTABLE TWEETS:

Journalist Jim Roberts
10 years after launch of iPhone, it’s worth watching Steve Jobs’ keynote and seeing the accuracy of his vision. http://bit.ly/2iVCMfr 

NBC’s Frank Thorp (Keep in mind: this was within an hour after the shooting in Fort Lauderdale.)
Spotted in the Capitol Rotunda Friday: Sen Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) chats with [Retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly] and [former] Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) Photo: http://bit.ly/2i5ZzGk

 

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are in. President Obama is attending meetings at the White House. President-elect Trump is at Trump Tower in New York City.

Noon: The House meets.

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

2 p.m. EST: The Senate meets.

3 p.m. EST: Vice President Biden speaks about his cancer “moonshot” initiative at a J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Calif. Note: He will then leave for Detroit, where he will stay overnight. 

5:30 p.m. EST: The Senate will vote on Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) balanced-budget amendment. It’s the first vote to the budget resolution on repealing ObamaCare.

6:30 p.m. EST: The House votes on a series of suspension bills. Their schedule: http://bit.ly/2ivrPOX

 

CONFIRMATION HEARING SCHEDULE: 

9:30 a.m. EST Tuesday and Wednesday: Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) for attorney general. http://bit.ly/2ivpRxM

3:30 p.m. EST Tuesday: Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly for secretary of Homeland Security. http://bit.ly/2iZxDDC

9:15 a.m. EST Wednesday and Thursday: Rex Tillerson for secretary of State. http://n.pr/2i8QDuX

10 a.m. EST Wednesday: Betsy DeVos for Education secretary. http://bit.ly/2iZGOnN

10 a.m. EST Wednesday: Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) for CIA director. http://politi.co/2iZQqyB

10:15 a.m. EST Wednesday: Elaine Chao for Transportation secretary. http://bit.ly/2juFV7i

9:30 a.m. EST Thursday: Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis for Defense secretary. http://bit.ly/2iUGh3W

10 a.m. EST Thursday: Wilbur Ross for Commerce secretary. http://bit.ly/2jkPOQD

10 a.m. EST Thursday: Ben Carson for secretary of Housing and Urban Development. http://bit.ly/2juFMAL

Jan. 17: Andy Puzder for Labor secretary.

Jan. 18: Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) for secretary of Health and Human Services.

Jan. 18: Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) for United Nations ambassador.

KEEP IN MIND: Via The New York Times’s Jennifer Steinhauer and Eric Lichtblau, the confirmation hearings will begin despite some of Trump’s appointees not having completed all the background checks required. http://nyti.ms/2iVnqrC

UPDATE FROM TEAM TRUMP: “[Incoming White House Press Secretary] Sean Spicer says all Cabinet nominees facing Congress this week have their ethics paperwork turned in (not necessarily completed).” (From USA Today’s Heidi Przybyla) http://bit.ly/2i6CQKb

 

WHAT TO WATCH:

1 p.m. EST: Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell speaks about the potential ObamaCare repeal at a National Press Club luncheon. Live-stream: http://bit.ly/2juqVGB

8 p.m. EST: Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) will appear on MSNBC’s “All In.”

11 a.m. EST tomorrow: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.)and Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint will speak at a Heritage event on understanding “The Principles of Trumpism.” Live-stream: http://bit.ly/2jkKXz8

9 p.m. EST Tuesday: President Obama gives his farewell address in Chicago. Live stream: http://bit.ly/2i5UFcs

11 a.m. EST Wednesday: President-elect Donald Trump gives a news conference in New York.

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Apricot Day!

SWAG TO MATCH YOUR COMMEMORATIVE LANYARD, TUMBLER, LAPEL PIN, ORNAMENT, PEN, ETC.: After releasing a limited edition presidential inauguration fare card without including Donald Trump’s name or image (ouch!), D.C. Metro said Friday that it will distribute free commemorative sleeves featuring the president-elect. Popville’s sassy headline: “6% of District Metro Riders are Gonna be Psyched” http://bit.ly/2iaxzzG

HOW TO MAKE SMALL TALK WITH THAT BASKETBALL-CRAZED CO-WORKER: In NCAA basketball news, “Nevada trailed New Mexico 90-76 with just over a minute left last night. What happened next was one of the most insane comebacks you’ll see.” The video is actually insane: http://bit.ly/2jkYJS8

And because you read this far, here’s a golden retriever playing with a stuffed animal golden retriever. It is pure bliss. http://bit.ly/2i6iVuW

 

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