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 says he doesn’t like tweeting | Five issues where Dems, Trump could deal | Obama’s final presser today | Latest on confirmation hearings | Bush 41 hospitalized | Inauguration prep | Obama’s snow day pics

YOU CAN TELL ME A LOT OF THINGS, BUT YOU’VE. GOT. TO. BE. KIDDING. ON THIS ONE…: President-elect Donald Trump declared that he dislikes tweeting. “Look, I don’t like tweeting,” Trump insisted during a Fox News interview. I have other things I could be doing. But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press. And it’s my only way that I can counteract. When people make misstatements about me, I’m able to say it and call it out.” http://bit.ly/2k3UChI

Happy Wednesday. T-minus 48 hours until Donald Trump will be inaugurated as president. 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.

BUSH 41 HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED: Former President George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized after experiencing shortness of breath. Keep in mind: He was hospitalized as a precaution and is expected to be released in the next few days. http://bit.ly/2jwUnLI

UPDATE — DOCTOR’S ORDERS: Former President George H.W. Bush sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump saying that he will not be able to attend the inauguration. “My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under.” Read the letter: http://bit.ly/2k4rW8B

{mosads}

“DEFINITE MAYBE” IS BETTER THAN A STRAIGHT “NO,” RIGHT?: Via The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Jordan Fabian, “Democrats on Capitol Hill will try to block much of Trump’s agenda during the next four years. But there are some areas where the incoming administration and minority Democrats could find room for cooperation.” What areas: Infrastructure/transportation, trade deals, the minimum wage, entitlements, Medicare drug-price negotiations and Social Security. What each area may look like: http://bit.ly/2jnhtSa

DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR PLAN: Via The Hill’s Peter Sullivan, President-elect Donald Trump is upending the GOP’s plans on ObamaCare. He’s keeping them on their toes, huh? http://bit.ly/2jwislM

— Trump: Trump over the weekend said the ObamaCare replacement plan should cover everyone.
— Congressional Republicans: That’s a pledge that congressional Republicans have repeatedly declined to make.

— Trump: At his press conference last week, Trump said his administration would put forward a replacement plan for ObamaCare.
— Congressional Republicans: That seemed to catch them off guard. 

— Trump: The president-elect said Congress should repeal and replace ObamaCare almost simultaneously.
— Congressional Republicans: Republican leaders intend to introduce a replacement plan at a later date. 

— Trump: Trump has ripped drug companies and called for allowing Medicare to negotiate prices. 
— Congressional Republicans: They aren’t saying that — Trump is taking a position that has long been held by Democrats. 

IN LOCAL NEWS — A MAN SETS HIMSELF ON FIRE OUTSIDE TRUMP HOTEL: Via The Washington Post’s Martin Weil and Clarence Williams, “A man was burned Tuesday night after apparently setting himself on fire in the street outside the Trump Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue NW … A source … said that arriving rescue personnel found a 45-year-old man who had been using a lighter and an accelerant.” Motive: Still unclear. http://wapo.st/2k0uosw

IF YOU’RE NEAR DIRKSEN CAFÉ TODAY — THIS IS IMPORTANT: “Chef’s Table Will Be Served Today At The Dirksen Cafe Beginning At Noon Today. Chef Alex Has Made It Extra Special.” Details: “Salmon en croutes: stuffed with arugula and Boursin cheese, served with creamy polenta asparagus, roasted red pepper and sherry-glazed mushrooms.” http://bit.ly/2iJkfzn

 

NOTABLE AT THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS:

Meet the family!: During South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley‘s (R) confirmation hearing for United Nations ambassador: “Haley notes her son is wearing a suit, but he’s wearing sneakers: ‘I pick and choose my battles as a mom.'” (From The Hill’s Ben Kamisar) http://bit.ly/2iBlTbj

Free medical advice from one colleague to another!: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) to Tom Price when time was yielded to him: “I should tell you, [Mr. Chairman] that I have never shown a knee, my knee, to any nominee before Dr. Price came to my office, but he gave me some free medical advice. I’m grateful. Free healthcare.” Price smiled: “How are you doing?” Bennet: “It’s terrible! But I’ll talk to you after it’s over.” The crowd chuckled. “It’s not because of you.” Price: “I can’t ask you, but I’m curious as to whether or not you’ve gotten the MRI yet.” Bennet: “Today at 3 o’clock.” Price: “Good luck.”

Tom Price character reference: Tweet from Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) chief communications adviser, Brendan Buck: “True story: I worked for Price for a long time — he made sure his broker, not him, was is [sic] control of his portfolio…for just this reason.” http://bit.ly/2jnLEsF

Back story: Via CNN’s Maju Raju, “Rep. Tom Price last year purchased shares in a medical device manufacturer days before introducing legislation that would have directly benefited the company, raising new ethics concerns for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services secretary.” Counter: Trump’s team says a broker made the investment and that Price was not aware of it until after he introduced his legislation. http://cnn.it/2jZVhwT

Tah-maytow, tah-mahtow: From Betsy DeVos’s Tuesday confirmation hearing. “Sen. Al Franken discovers Trump Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos doesn’t know the difference between proficiency and growth.”(From CNN’s Keith Boykin) http://bit.ly/2iAJ31g

The $200 million question: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to DeVos: “Do you think that if your family had not made hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the Republican Party that you would be sitting here today?” DeVos paused: “I do think there would be that possibility. I have been working hard to be a voice for students and to empower parents to make decisions on behalf of their children, primarily low-income children.” http://bit.ly/2j8EO9k

More from the contentious DeVos hearing: http://bit.ly/2jnOuhr

 

INAUGURATION LOGISTICS:

If you’re going to the Women’s March Saturday: Here’s a list of where to charge your phone, use the restroom, warm up and get free food during the Women’s March: http://bit.ly/2j94aDY

Latest road closures: http://bit.ly/2iICODE

Weather forecast: Via Capital Weather Gang, expect a mild and breezy day Friday with steady rain. Highs in the mid-40s to 50s. http://wapo.st/2iIKjdN

Latest Dem boycott count — 56: Keep checking this page. The number of Democratic lawmakers boycotting the inauguration keeps increasing: http://bit.ly/2jsR2Ny

 

NOTABLE TWEETS:

WSJ’s Steven Perlberg
tonight on the train I saw a woman eating saltines, but instead of one by one, she opened the entire pack and ate it like corn on the cob http://bit.ly/2iQ4yK1

The Atlantic’s David A. Graham
Buried in the pardon/commutation release: Obama pardons baseball legend Willie McCovey for tax evasion http://bit.ly/2jIrjOs 

 

ON TAP:

2:15 p.m. EST: President Obama gives the final press conference of his presidency. Live-stream: http://bit.ly/2iQ4kmc

3 p.m. EST tomorrow: The Mead Center for American Theater is hosting a “Thanks, Obama” event in Washington, D.C. Info: http://bit.ly/2iIMGgO

Noon Friday: Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. 

 

WHAT TO WATCH:

Now released: “Embeds,” the new sitcom based on reporters embedded in presidential campaigns, has debuted. How to watch: “Go90” — a new streaming service from Verizon. Interesting read: The New York Times’s Sopan Deb, a former embed, explains what the show got right and wrong: http://nyti.ms/2jyle9N

 

SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING SCHEDULE:

Happening now: Wilbur Ross, Trump’s pick for Commerce secretary, testifies in his confirmation hearing. Live-stream: http://cs.pn/2jv7EE1

Happening now: South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) testifies during her confirmation hearing for United Nations ambassador. Live-stream: http://cs.pn/2jUJOyk

Happening now: Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt testifies at his Senate confirmation hearing for EPA administrator. Live-stream: http://cs.pn/2jUwtpN

Happening now: Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary, testifies in his Senate confirmation hearing. Live-stream: http://cs.pn/2ixhaHs

10 a.m. EST tomorrow: Senate confirmation hearing for Rick Perry, Trump’s pick for Energy secretary.

10 a.m. EST tomorrow: Senate confirmation hearing for Steve Mnuchin, Trump’s nominee to lead the Treasury Department.

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Peking Duck Day!

WHERE TO RUN INTO THE NEW FIRST FAM: Kate Bennett in Washingtonian has an interesting read about the likely presence of each member of the Trump family in D.C. The gist: Not much from Melania Trump, not much from Barron Trump, but a good amount of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. http://bit.ly/2iIJ7HD

PLAYING IN THE SNOW IS SUCH AN EQUALIZER: Chief White House photographer Pete Souza shared photos that have never been published of President Obama playing with his daughters in the snow after a blizzard in 2010. They’re adorable: http://bit.ly/2jnLSzV

COLLEGE BASKETBALL — THERE’S AN “AIR BALL” AND THEN THERE’S THIS…: Via ESPN, Rider’s basketball team skipped out on the handshake line after a scuffle with Siena College. Best part: Siena’s coach did his own handshake line in the air. http://es.pn/2jKCpCJ

And because you read this far, here’s a cat raised by huskies. Now the cat actually thinks it is a husky. Look at that strut! http://bit.ly/2j8QFEq

 

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