The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Cruz surpasses Trump in new Iowa poll | New terror alert system | Feds investigating Chicago PD

JUST RELEASED – CRUZ SURGES AHEAD OF TRUMP IN IOWA: Via The Hill’s Jonathan Easley, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has surpassed Donald Trump and Ben Carson in Iowa, a new Monmouth University poll finds. Cruz hits 24 percent, with Trump at 19 percent, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) at 17 percent and Carson at 13 percent. http://bit.ly/1NFNATe

{mosads}DEVELOPING NOW — DOJ INVESTIGATING CHICAGO PD: Via Politico’s Nick Gass, Attorney General Loretta Lynch is opening a civil rights investigation into the Chicago Police Department, amid public outcry over the shooting of a black teenager. Where it gets sticky: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has come under intense scrutiny for fighting to keep the dashboard video of the shooting away from public eyes. The victim’s family reached a $5 million settlement last April (around the time Emanuel won his reelection.) http://politi.co/1m70JPn 

It’s Monday and the attack on Pearl Harbor happened 74 years ago today. 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 story ideas, comments, complaints and clever Christmas present suggestions to cmartel@digital-release.thehill.com and @CateMartel.

SCOTUS WON’T HEAR ASSAULT-WEAPONS BAN CASE: The Supreme Court decided it wouldn’t weigh in on a case over whether cities and states can ban assault weapons. Brief background: A Chicago suburb banned assault weapons. Arie Friedman and the Illinois State Rifle Association challenged the decision, saying it restricts their options for armed self‐defense and infringes on the Second Amendment. What this means: The Supreme Court refusing to hear the case effectively lets the city’s ban on assault weapons stand for now. Why: The court didn’t give a reason for its decision. http://bit.ly/1XWcTGo

EVERYONE TO CONGRESS — SHOW ME THE MONEY: Via The Hill’s Cristina Marcos and Jordain Carney, Congress has until Friday to pass a government spending bill known as the omnibus. What’s holding it up: Controversial add-ons to the bill (called riders) including halting refugee resettlement, blocking environmental regulations and providing benefits to 9/11 first responders.

– Any alternatives? House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has suggested a one-week “Band-Aid” bill to buy some time. But Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) wasn’t a fan of that Debbie Downer talk. “Don’t even say that word. We’re going to get an omnibus bill. Our deadline is Dec. 11,” he told reporters. “Please, let’s keep a positive frame of mind.” http://bit.ly/1XOUSPD

NEW THIS AM — NEW TERROR ALERT SYSTEM: Via The Hill’s Julian Hattem, federal officials are planning to roll out a new terror alert system, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced this morning. Why: The bar for raising the terror alert is too high in the current system. http://bit.ly/1NdMSgR

OBAMA: DON’T BE SCARED, BUT NO CHANGE IN STRATEGY: Via The Hill’s Jordan Fabian, President Obama addressed the nation last night to discuss the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), following the San Bernardino shooting. The purpose: To calm fears of the American people — and to inform the nation of what he’s continuing to do to fight ISIS. What he announced: Obama didn’t announce any major policy changes. Interesting note: Unlike his predecessors, President Obama rarely uses the Oval Office to addresses. It’s the first since 2010 — and the third of his presidency. http://bit.ly/1OPCFd3  

UPDATE TO OBAMA’S SPEECH — OBAMA MISSPOKE: Via The Hill’s Mark Hensch, President Obama incorrectly said that San Bernardino suspect Tashfeen Malik used the nation’s Visa Waiver Program to enter the U.S. Today’s follow-up: The White House sent out an official transcript with the word “waiver” crossed out. Obama intended on saying just “visa program” before the extra word slipped into the final draft. http://bit.ly/1lJ9oH9  

SLOW AND STEADY … WINS THE RACE? The Hill’s Niall Stanage on Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) strategy in New Hampshire. The gist: Rubio’s support in N.H. has been modest but steady behind GOP candidate Donald Trump, as other flavor-of-the-month candidates come and go. http://bit.ly/1R4TrrW

AN ECLECTIC BUNCH — SHORTLIST FOR TIME’S PERSON OF THE YEAR: Here are the eight finalists: ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi(!), Black Lives Matter activists, Caitlyn Jenner, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and GOP front-runner Donald Trump(!). The person of the year will be announced Wednesday morning on NBC’s “Today” show.

LET THE PEOPLE CHOOSE: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wins the readers’ poll for Time person of the year. Second place was Pakistani female education activist Malala Yousafzai, followed by Pope Francis. http://ti.me/21JiN2t

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SHARING ON SOCIAL TODAY: In The Washington Post, Eli Saslow has the powerful story of 16-year-old Cheyeanne Fitzgerald — who was shot in the October massacre at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore. — discussing what it’s like to be a mass shooting survivor. It’s remarkably well written. http://wapo.st/1N69t0P

IT’S A SAD WORLD WE LIVE IN: Parents can now buy bulletproof blankets for their kids to use during school shootings. Here they are: http://bit.ly/1QkUfrg

THE CRUZ FAM, BEING NATURAL AND STUFF: Gawker has a montage of outtakes from a campaign commercial. It’s awkward, as you would expect. http://bit.ly/1O8hvEa

JUST ANNOUNCED — GRAMMY NOMINATIONS: To sound informed quickly: Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar were among the top picks. http://cnn.it/1PPXuIK

 

CATCH-UP ON SOCIAL:

Paulette Aniskoff, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement (with stunning photo)
I gasped when I saw the amazing @WhiteHouse holiday decorations this year. These snowflakes are my favorite! http://bit.ly/21C8vkw

The Hill’s Kristina Wong: Snowflakes in the White House representing each of the 50 states. http://bit.ly/1NOts7U

BuzzFeed’s John Stanton (re: the D.C. streetcar not opening soon):
DC will be celebrating its statehood centennial before the goddamn streetcar is running

MSNBC’s Alex-Seitz-Wald (with photo of Sanders in a reindeer hat!): Bernie Sanders dons a reindeer hat at a holiday festival in Plymouth, NH. http://bit.ly/1N3FDu7

 

ON TAP:

12 p.m. EST: The House is in, but no votes are expected today.

3 p.m. EST: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is holding a pen-and-pad press briefing in the Capitol.

3:30 p.m. EST: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will speak at the Education Department’s Teach to Lead Supporter Summit. Details:  http://1.usa.gov/1XOYgtW

2:30 p.m. EST: GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina holds a town hall in Waterloo, Iowa.

4 p.m. EST: Cato Institute is holding a discussion on whether the Supreme Court will end affirmative action (on the eve of the oral arguments). Live stream: http://bit.ly/1l12y04

5:30 p.m. EST: The Senate will vote on a judicial confirmation.

6 p.m. EST: Politico is hosting a New Hampshire insiders’ event at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. Speakers include WNHN Radio Host Arnie Arnesen; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Jared Bernstein; Center for American Progress’s Heather Boushey; NHDP’s Raymond Buckley; Harvard Kennedy School’s David Gergen; American Action Forum’s Douglas Holtz-Eakin; NHGOP’s Jennifer Horn; Hamilton Place Strategies’ Kevin Madden; and AEI’s James Pethokoukis. Live stream: http://politi.co/1HLQt97

6:35 p.m. EST: President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend the Congressional Ball.

10 a.m. EST tomorrow: The Conservative Reform Network and Americans for Tax Reform present a debate on 2016 Republican candidates’ tax policy, hosted by Americans for Tax Reforms’ Grover Norquist. Campaigns represented include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) More info: http://bit.ly/1TSO11S

 

Now for the fun stuff…

SMILING’S MY FAVORITE (because I’m going to sneak as many “Elf” quotes in here as possible over the next few weeks): The most festive “Christmas pop-up bar” just opened in Shaw. Anyone want to go? Email me. http://bit.ly/1NMrBQN

Today is National Cotton Candy Day! I know most of us just met, but I have a confession: I unfortunately love cotton candy. It’s a problem.

SORRY TO SPRING THIS ON YOU, BUT: Here’s a list of the concerts and events that have been announced in Washington, D.C., for New Year’s Eve. Yep, it’s almost that time of year again. http://wapo.st/1NBcwzF

And with that, here’s a Monday morning observation: I passed at least four dogs in sweaters this morning during my commute. It’s a good look.

 

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