The Hill’s 12:30 Report

by Cate Martel - 09/29/16 12:29 PM ET

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NEWS OF THE MORNING — TRAIN CRASH IN HOBOKEN: Via NBC New York, a crowded New Jersey Transit commuter train crashed into the Hoboken terminal during Thursday morning’s rush hour commute. What we know: http://bit.ly/2dczfXk

What happened: It appears the train went through a bumper stop at the end of the track. It crashed inside the building. At least one of the train cars appears to be partially inside the building and “chopper footage showed the glass arches atop the building crunched like an accordion over the platform.” Video: http://bit.ly/2doHtZt

Injuries: At least three are dead and 100 wounded.

What caused it: Preliminary reports suggest the crash was accidental or caused by operator error, though officials stressed it’s very early in the investigation.

It’s Thursday, and we’re 40 days from the election! Guys, we can do it. 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 comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

SO, LET. ME. GET. THIS. STRAIGHT. YOU HAD THE PLAYBOOK TO AVERTING A CRISIS ALL ALONG?!: Via The Hill’s Scott Wong, Alexander Bolton and Melanie Zanona, Congressional leaders had the playbook for how to avoid a messy pre-election government shutdown all along. They just had to execute the plays. The key: Attaching aid for the drinking water crisis in Flint, Mich., to a separate water projects bill, which appeased Democrats who had been holding the spending bill up over the issue. Then lawmakers would pass the stopgap funding bill, leave town and get back to the campaign trail. So simple a kid could do it. http://bit.ly/2ddmvhx

{mosads}RELEASED THIS A.M. – THESE ARE THE STATES TO SUCK UP TO: Hillary Clinton now leads Donald Trump by single digits in five critical battleground states, according to post-debate polls from left-leaning PPP. States: Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. http://bit.ly/2dnxM0P

OH MY GOD THIS IS SO CRINGEWORTHY: Ugh, Gary Johnson had another “Aleppo moment” — his words not mine! MSNBC host Chris Matthews asked Johnson to name any foreign leader he admires — yes, anywhere in the world — and Johnson couldn’t. “I am having a brain freeze,” Johnson answered. His running mate Bill Weld jumped in a few times — and looked pretty horrified himself. http://bit.ly/2cEc1KP

SOME ADVICE – WHEN YOU’RE IN A HOLE, STOP DIGGING!: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich on Wednesday defended Donald Trump’s remarks about a former Miss Universe’s weight gain. “You’re not supposed to gain 60 pounds during the year that you’re Miss Universe,” Gingrich said, blaming her. http://bit.ly/2dh7Ylv

MY PROFESSIONAL ADVICE –> http://bit.ly/2dnCeNc

OH AND…: In 2012, Trump allegedly wanted to fire unattractive female employees at one of his golf resorts. http://bit.ly/2durud5

🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 –> http://bit.ly/2cYs4z9: A new Monmouth poll has shown that 7 percent of voters have ended friendships over the 2016 election. Thanks, Donald. And thanks, Hillary. Oh and 7 in 10 voters said the election has brought out the worst in people, while just 4 percent (!) said it has brought out the best in people. http://politi.co/2dov9rV

TRENDING ON FACEBOOK — THOSE BLUE BUBBLE TEXTS: The Intercept obtained a law enforcement document that shows that when a new number is texted on an iPhone, that number is recorded by Apple, which may share them with police. http://bit.ly/2cYkFQj

LOLOLOLOL: Via DCist, a D.C. bartender received 13,000 texts after C-SPAN mistakenly posted her number when asking for comments after the first debate. Lol. Now this woman knows what it’s like to be Steve Scully. http://bit.ly/2cDYLky

NOTABLE TWEETS:

Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon (Yikes.)
“No one reads the story,” Trump said, calling the reporter “that c–t.” “I read the headline and I didn’t like it.” http://bit.ly/2dcBZ7a

ON TAP:

The Senate met this morning but with no votes. The House has peaced out.

12:05 p.m. EDT: President Obama hosts the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams at the White House. Vice President Biden will also attend.

12:45 p.m. EDT: White House press secretary Josh Earnest and Education Secretary John King hold the daily press briefing.

1:30 p.m. EDT: Hillary Clinton holds an Iowa Democratic Party Early Vote Event in Des Moines.

2:30 p.m. EDT: Mike Pence is holding a rally at Penn Waste, Inc. in York, Pa.

2:50 p.m. EDT: President Obama departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Jerusalem.

3 p.m. EDT: Donald Trump holds a rally in Bedford, N.H. — my hometown!

7:30 p.m. EDT: The National Park Service, the National Archives and the Constitutional Accountability Center are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the passage of the 14th Amendment at an event featuring a keynote address by Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.). The event will be held at the William G. McGowan Theater in Washington, D.C. Details here.

3:30 p.m. EDT Friday: Hillary Clinton campaigns in Coral Springs, Fla.

5 p.m. EDT Friday: Donald Trump holds a rally in Novi, Mich.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Coffee Day! Here’s how to score free coffee today: http://usat.ly/2dGJO67

Dunkin Donuts: Medium coffees are $0.66 today — the company is 66 years old. http://bit.ly/2dcuZr1

Krispy Kreme: Free small coffee and a glazed donut today, no purchase necessary. http://bit.ly/2cNRh1z

McDonalds: $0.05 McCafe drinks. http://bit.ly/2dCqG6u

Peets: Free medium drip coffee with any fresh food purchase.

Wawa: Free 24oz cup of coffee all day.

Starbucks: They aren’t offering a discount but will donate a coffee tree for every cup of brewed Mexico Chiapas coffee sold in the U.S. or Mexico.

BEST THING I’VE SEEN ALL DAY: Red Sox slugger David Ortiz dressed up in a wig and drove a Lyft car around Boston under the alias “Donnie.” Passengers’ reactions are so priceless when they realize it’s Big Papi. http://bit.ly/2ddnzSG

And because you read this far, here’s a puppy that is often mistaken for an actual teddy bear: http://bit.ly/2dGVtC1

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Tags Donald Trump Gary Johnson Hillary Clinton Mike Pence