The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Huckabee attending Trump event | Biden launches cancer ‘moonshot’ effort | What to watch in GOP debate | No let up in FBI’s Hillary probe | Barbie’s new body types

BREAKING – HUCKABEE GOING TO TRUMP’S EVENT: Via CNN’s Jim Acosta, Mike Huckabee will be attending Donald Trump’s “anti-debate” event tonight. http://bit.ly/1TpY4gx 

WHAT TO KNOW FOR TONIGHT’S SHOWDOWN: Tonight is the final Republican presidential debate before the Iowa caucuses Monday. Here’s what to watch for this evening:

Donald Trump’s alternative programming: His capacity to grab the headlines and suck up airtime at the expense of his rivals is unsurpassed. While there’s a chance he’ll show up at the debate, it’s low because of the alternative event he’s planned. But expect some fiery rhetoric and probably a surprise or two at his “anti-debate.” 

Does Ted Cruz become a target? Cruz will stand at center stage. He’ll be the target of attacks. Whether he can stand his ground or gets clobbered could decide how he performs in the caucuses.

Can Marco Rubio seize the moment? His campaign has been talking up the idea that he has momentum in these closing days in Iowa, and a good debate performance could help his cause enormously.

The question for all, including Fox: Ignore Trump or blast him? Trump’s rivals need to decide whether they want to try to bring him down, or instead maximize the opportunity to talk about their own agendas in his absence. 

More from The Hill’s Niall Stanage on the ground in Iowa: http://bit.ly/1PkZEP1

JUST IN — MAN WITH GUNS AND QURAN ARRESTED AT DISNEYLAND PARIS: Guards at Disneyland Paris stopped a man carrying two guns, a box of ammo and a copy of the Quran inside the park’s hotel. No one was injured. http://bit.ly/1PDeNXV

{mosads}THIS MORNING — HASTERT SENTENCING: Via NBC Chicago, a judge has delayed sentencing of former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), rescheduling the date from Feb. 29 to April 8. Hastert’s lawyers sought the delay as he recuperates from a stroke and other ailments. http://bit.ly/20v2mVM

Happy Thursday! The Iowa caucuses are four days away and the New Hampshire primary is 12 days from 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 tips, comments, story ideas and happy thoughts to cmartel@digital-release.thehill.com and follow me on Facebook. 

NEW TODAY — BIDEN LAUNCHES CANCER MOONSHOT: Via The Hill’s Sarah Ferris, President Obama has officially launched a cancer-fighting task force that he said will double the rate of progress in the U.S.’s fight against the disease. Vice President Biden will lead the effort, along with five Cabinet secretaries and top economic advisers. http://bit.ly/1QGuti6

HOW TO INSULT POLITICIANS BY USING THE E-WORD: RealClearPolitics’s Rebecca Berg has a fascinating explainer of the word “establishment” and all of its meanings on the campaign trail. Excerpt: “As voters in this election cycle have rallied behind political outsiders, the word ‘establishment,’ adjective or noun, has emerged as a particularly popular and searing diss. It can be shorthand for any number of qualities: moderate policy stances, deference to Republican Party officials, robust fundraising, support from elected officials, a long career in politics, or a short career in politics.” http://bit.ly/1KcPAam

DOMINATING HEADLINES TODAY — TRUMP AND THE DEBATE: Donald Trump is boycotting Thursday’s debate in Iowa, a calculated move to slam the host network, Fox News. Here’s the latest on the scuffle:

WELL, ONE THING IS CLEAR — TRUMP SUPPORTERS DO. NOT. LIKE. KELLY: Vox’s Emily Crockett has a chart that shows just how many sexist slurs Donald Trump supporters are tweeting at Megyn Kelly. http://bit.ly/1PTYDJW

FIERY O’REILLY VS. TRUMP INTERVIEW: Bill O’Reilly and Donald Trump faced off in an awkwardly tense interview where O’Reilly pushed Trump to participate in the debate. It’s worth watching this clip: http://bit.ly/1PD2kDs

“ME, ME, ME” SAY THE OTHER CANDIDATES: A super-PAC supporting Ted Cruz has offered to donate $1.5 million to Trump’s charity if he agrees to debate with him mano a mano. Carly Fiorina upped the ante, offering to donate $2 million if they can debate solo. It’s the Trump show now… http://bit.ly/1RP2uxV

BANDWAGON FANS: Donald Trump hinted that two other candidates might join him instead of attending the debate. “Wow, two candidates called last night and said they want to go to my event tonight at Drake University,” he tweeted without naming the candidates.

CLINTON PROBE SHOWS NO SIGNS OF LETTING UP: Via The Hill’s Julian Hattem, former FBI officials said the length of the investigation into Hillary Clinton‘s use of a private server while she was secretary of State is not unusual. And they speculated that a decision on whether to file charges against Clinton or her top aides could come later this year, during the heat of the general election campaign. As you’d expect, this makes Democrats anxious and Republicans gleeful. http://bit.ly/1OZWNHL

BARBIE’S GETTING REAL: Mattel is unveiling new body types for Barbie dolls including curvy, tall and petite. http://bit.ly/23vVGJF

 

NOTABLE TWEETS:

The Huffington Post’s Matt Fuller
A trusted source tells me Bernie Sanders was just spotted in the Capitol doctor’s office. A checkup? Or is Sanders finally #FeelinTheBern? http://bit.ly/1UsRXXd

IJ Review’s Benny Johnson (haha this photo!)
Hi there Martin O’Malley http://bit.ly/1KcSCLR

CNN’s Chris Moody
This old lady messed with us during an interview in Iowa. She’s my new favorite person. http://bit.ly/1PIbZik 

 

ON TAP:

12–1:45 p.m. EST: The Senate votes. Lawmakers will debate an energy overhaul bill, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) saying votes on amendments could come as early as Thursday afternoon.

1 p.m. EST: The FCC hosts its January open meeting. 

2:30 p.m. EST: U.S. Justice Action Network’s conservative partners are holding a press call to highlight momentum for justice reform in Congress.

2:35 p.m. EST: President Obama participates in an ambassador credentialing ceremony in the Oval Office.

7:10 p.m. EST: President Obama delivers remarks at House Democrats’ retreat in Baltimore. 

10 a.m. EST tomorrow: Donald Trump is holding a rally in Nashua, N.H.

 

WHAT TO WATCH:

5 p.m. EST: former Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) joins MSNBC’s “MTP Daily.”

7 p.m. EST: Republican candidates who did not qualify for the main debate stage participate in the “happy hour” debate, live from Des Moines, Iowa. Candidates include Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Jim Gilmore.

8 p.m. EST: Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich joins MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes.”

9 p.m. EST: Republican candidates participate in their last debate before the Iowa Caucuses. Candidates include Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Ben Carson, Rand Paul and John Kasich. Notably missing: ding ding, Donald Trump. 

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…

Today is National Blueberry Pancake Day!

A HEART-WARMING STORY: Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is known for giving the football to a fan in the stands after he scores a touchdown. In this week’s game, he handed it to 6-year-old Colin Toler. Newton didn’t know this, but Toler just lost his dad, who had promised to take him to a Panthers game but died before he had the chance. http://bit.ly/1NASD74

CELEB-ON-CELEB TWITTER BRAWL: Wiz Khalifa and Kanye West got into an intense Twitter fight. Here’s what happened: http://bzfd.it/20tXJeQ 

COLBERT’S TAKE ON BERNIE’S ICE CREAM FLAVOR: Stephen Colbert had a good laugh at the ice cream flavor Ben and Jerry’s created for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, “Bernie’s Yearning.” Well, by “equal churning time,” Colbert believes each candidate deserves a flavor, i.e. Mike Huckabee‘s “Life Begins at Confection.” http://bit.ly/1SltRhJ

And with that, here is an amethyst-inspired cake made with edible crystals that has gone viral. It’s seriously impressive. See here: http://bzfd.it/1PVdHHj 

 

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