The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump sparks backlash with nuclear button tweet | Bannon reportedly called Trump Jr. Russia meeting 'treasonous' | Bannon: 'Zero' chance Trump didn't know about meeting | Trump to meet lawmakers on budget, DACA | Latest on winter storm hitting East Coast | Most politically active celebs in Trump era | McDonald's new dollar menu
LATEST WITH NORTH KOREA
This. Guy. Scares. Me. -- clap clap, clap clap clap: North Korea may be preparing for another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test this week or next. What we know about the missile activity: It's at the same site where North Korea launched an ICBM in November. That test was the isolated nation's most advanced to date, capable of reaching the East Coast of the United States, according to analysts. http://bit.ly/2lQttgV
SO HE HAS A STAPLES EASY BUTTON AND A LABEL MAKER: In a New Year's Day speech, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that he had a nuclear launch button on his desk. But he also said that he was willing to engage in dialogue with South Korea to ease military tensions between the two countries ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics. http://bit.ly/2lQttgV
OP-ED: The Center for the National Interest's Defense Studies director, Harry J. Kazianis, on why, despite Kim Jong Un's "peace overture," we should still be on guard during the 2018 Winter Olympics. Why: Kazianis says Kim's goal is quite simple: hold the games hostage. His reasoning: http://bit.ly/2CMmRId
Reaction from Trump...:
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018
Context for this tweet: http://bit.ly/2qdyTb4
HOW THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY RESPONDED: Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen
Kirstjen Michele NielsenTop Kelly aide expected to become new White House deputy chief of staff: report MORE said "the president speaks for himself" in his tweet. She then tried to assure the public: The department is taking steps to prepare for "any possible scenario" that could be a threat to the United States. http://bit.ly/2CAQPCa
Another reaction -- this tweet got a lot of traction:
“A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. The only value in our two nations possessing nuclear weapons is to make sure they will never be used. But then would it not be better to do away with them entirely?”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 3, 2018
Ronald Reagan, 1984 State of the Union
To lighten the mood a little:
N KOREA: happy to launch nuclear war any time fyi
— Tom Rabe (@Rabe9) January 3, 2018
USA: we will also do nuclear war but bigger
AUSTRALIA: pic.twitter.com/Z1kTGnWPvu
It's a painfully cold Wednesday and I'm not pleased. Filing with a mug of hot chocolate in arm's reach, 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@thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.
HAPPENING TODAY
Time to deal with all of those 'tomorrow problems': House and Senate leaders from both parties are meeting with White House officials today on Capitol Hill to discuss the budget (funding runs out on Jan. 19) and a fix for the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals immigration program.
HillCast AM View has a great preview of what to expect from the meeting: http://bit.ly/2ChL2NM
LATEST ON THIS TERRIBLE WEATHER
What did we do to deserve this??: Powerful winter storm Grayson is forming along the East Coast. Here's what to expect:
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Via The Capital Weather Gang, snow is possible tonight and tomorrow, followed by extreme cold and wind. Latest D.C.-area forecast: http://wapo.st/2CMuoHg
FLORIDA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA AND VIRGINIA: Via The Weather Channel, "a mix of freezing rain, sleet then snow will blanket areas from north Florida to the coastal Carolinas and southeast Virginia. This could be one of the heaviest one-day snowfalls on record in both Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina." http://wxch.nl/2lPeXGO
Video of the snow in Tallahassee, Fla.: http://bit.ly/2Aio3QJ
NEW ENGLAND: Via NECN, "Snow [will begin] between 4 and 7 a.m. Thursday, falling heaviest from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., wrapping up around 10 or 11 p.m. and dropping at least half a foot on Eastern New England, with some areas likely closer to a foot. Though we escape the strongest wind, gusts over 50 mph will be possible at the coast, leading to some power outages and the potential for blizzard conditions in some coastal areas." http://bit.ly/2CkGO7Z
NEW YORK AREA: Via WABC, "A winter storm warning has been issued for parts of Long Island and coastal New Jersey, while a winter storm watch has been issued for New York City." http://7ny.tv/2qkRB0F
IN OTHER NEWS
Major tension on the reunion episode of 'The Real World: West Wing": According to a new book by Michael Wolff, former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon called the 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr.
Donald (Don) John TrumpTrump files paperwork to transfer businesses MORE and a group of Russians "treasonous" and "unpatriotic." "They're going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV," Bannon reportedly said. When the full book will be released: Next week. http://bit.ly/2ERAE15
YIKES -- BANNON ON WHETHER TRUMP KNEW: Via NBC's Peter Alexander, "Here's the Bannon quote regarding the July 2016 Trump Tower meeting: 'The chance that Don Jr. did not walk these Jumos up to his father's office of the 26th floor is zero." http://bit.ly/2CAzVTK
Everyone's an activist these days: Via The Hill's Ben Kamisar, here's a list of the seven most politically active celebrities in the era of President Trump
Donald John TrumpHouse Democrat slams Donald Trump Jr. for ‘serious case of amnesia’ after testimony Skier Lindsey Vonn: I don’t want to represent Trump at Olympics Poll: 4 in 10 Republicans think senior Trump advisers had improper dealings with Russia MORE and how much each has donated: http://bit.ly/2lNyYOa
The hatch opens: Longtime Sen. Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant HatchMcConnell names Senate GOP tax conferees Ryan pledges 'entitlement reform' in 2018 Utah governor calls Bannon a 'bigot' after attacks on Romney MORE (R-Utah) announced yesterday that he would retire from the Senate after 41 years, which made him the longest currently serving senator. When he will step down: After 2018. Where everyone's attention immediately turned: To former presidential nominee Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyJeb Bush trades Derek Jeter for Tagg Romney in Miami Marlins bid: report Rubio: Romney endorsement report ‘false’ Report: Romney to endorse Rubio MORE. Hatch's retirement cleared the way for Romney to mount a political comeback and take the seat. http://bit.ly/2E1yoTr
REACTION FROM TEAM ROMNEY:Romney praised Sen. Hatch for his service. He remained tight-lipped about running for the seat immediately after Hatch's announcement, but is widely expected to run. Oh and: Yesterday Romney switched his Twitter location from Massachusetts to Holladay, Utah.
If you're on Capitol Hill: The coffee shop "Cups is sort of reopened (serving drinks but not food)." http://bit.ly/2E31xhj
NOTABLE TWEETS:
Lol, oh...:
The first guess from one of my 1st graders was “death” and such an awed, somber, reflective hush fell over the class that I didn’t want to tell them that actually the answer is the letter e, which just seemed so banal in the moment pic.twitter.com/7sYFxHNcZk
— Bret Turner (@bretjturner) January 2, 2018
I'd love to know what they’re talking about:
3 Vice Presidents: @VP Pence, @JoeBiden & Walter Mondale catch up on Capitol Hill. pic.twitter.com/5YSTbA7OAV
— Alyssa Farah (@VPPressSec) January 3, 2018
Ouch:
Overheard from Senate's mock swearing in ceremony. Someone mocking Roy Moore
— Jordain Carney (@jordainc) January 3, 2018Roy Stewart MooreSeth Meyers mocks Roy Moore riding a horse to vote: ‘Two animals not allowed in the mall’ Colbert on Jones victory: 'It's a Christmas miracle!' Virginia gov on Alabama race: 'America wins. Pedophiles lose!' MORE: "Wait! Wait! New information has come to light. Turns out she was 15 after all."
ON TAP:
The Senate met at noon. The House is out until next week. President Trump and Vice President Pence are both in Washington, D.C.
12:30 p.m. EST: President Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
Rex Wayne TillersonOvernight Defense: Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital | Mattis, Tillerson reportedly opposed move | Pentagon admits 2,000 US troops are in Syria | Trump calls on Saudis to 'immediately' lift Yemen blockade Trump has yet to name ambassadors to key nations in Mideast Mattis, Tillerson warned Trump of security concerns in Israel embassy move MORE and Defense Secretary James Mattis
James Norman MattisOvernight Defense: Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital | Mattis, Tillerson reportedly opposed move | Pentagon admits 2,000 US troops are in Syria | Trump calls on Saudis to 'immediately' lift Yemen blockade Trump has yet to name ambassadors to key nations in Mideast Mattis, Tillerson warned Trump of security concerns in Israel embassy move MORE.
5:30 p.m. EST: The Senate votes.
WHAT TO WATCH:
12 p.m. EST: New Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) were sworn in. Livestream: http://cs.pn/2qhXvzB
1 p.m. EST: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) delivers a state of the state address. Livestream: http://cs.pn/2EOpPww
3 p.m. EST: White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders gives a press briefing. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2CuZVjh
5 p.m. EST Thursday: Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer
Sean Michael SpicerSpicer: CNN 'doing a disservice' by boycotting White House Christmas party DNC attorneys allowed to depose Spicer over election night presence in Trump Tower Sean Spicer to judge DC dance-off MORE appears on HLN with SE Cupp for a full hour.
Just announced -- April 15: A new season of Showtime's "The Circus" begins.
Keep in mind: CBS News anchor Alex Wagner will replace longtime host Mark Halperin following the sexual harassment allegations leveled against Halperin. http://nyti.ms/2qhfMNf
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:
Today is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day.
Well, Snapchat did help create this issue, so it's hard to feel bad for them here: Via The Daily Beast's Taylor Lorenz, Snapchat held a lavish New Year's Eve party where they ironically blocked guests from posting on Snapchat. The hosts plastered "no photos" signs around the event, told guests to leave phones at home and even covered the lenses of attendees' smart phones. Well: Guests found a way around that. The 'secret' photos: http://thebea.st/2ChFsuO
Another day. Another dollar (menu): McDonald's is launching a new dollar menu tomorrow. Here's the new menu: https://usat.ly/2CN0kuX
And because we could use some happy thoughts today, here's a viral video of a dog who figured out how to sled by herself. She went up and down that hill maybe 50 times. I can't. http://bit.ly/2lP89sK
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