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--> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*

*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha--breaks down crying hysterically.

The Hill's 12:30 Report: Impeachment latest — Schumer vows to force votes on witnesses | McConnell gets GOP votes to block Dem demands | Bolton shakes up impeachment debate | Iran crisis threatens to overtake agenda | Trump meets Saudi official | Pompeo clashes with NBC's Mitchell at presser | Trump threat to Iranian cultural sites sparks outrage | US-Iraq ties frayed after strike | Snow in DC this afternoon (!) | National Tempura Day | Starbucks adds plant-based drinks

THIS MORNING

Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep Trump's foreign policy successes confound his detractors It's time for a Jackson-Vanik Amendment for China MORE is here to elaborate:

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a news conference this morning amid escalating tensions in the Middle East after the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike.

Livestream of Pompeo's news conference: https://cs.pn/2ZXi42m

HIGHLIGHTS:

On the threat that Soleimani posed: "We know what happened at the end of last year in December, ultimately leading to the death of an American. So, if you are looking for immanence, you need to look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani." Watch: http://bit.ly/37HNlck

To NBC's Andrea Mitchell: 'You're not really wondering Andrea': Pompeo clashed with Mitchell when she questioned whether the secretary would push back on President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE over his threat to bomb Iranian cultural sites. Pompeo's response: "You're not really wondering Andrea, you're not really wondering. http://bit.ly/2ZZighz

Pompeo continued -- on hitting cultural sites: "I was unambiguous on Sunday. It is completely consistent with what the president has said, every action we take will be consistent with international law and the American people can rest assured that that's the case." http://bit.ly/2ZZighz

TIDBIT -- A TRUMP MEETING THAT WASN'T ON HIS PUBLIC SCHEDULE:

President Trump met with the Saudi vice minister of defense Prince Khalid bin Salman yesterday in the Oval Office amid rising tensions in the Middle East. http://bit.ly/37Iygan

How we know: Khalid posted photos from the meeting. The meeting photos: http://bit.ly/2QUXoE3

Who else attended: National security adviser Robert O'Brien, deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates and senior adviser Jared Kushner Jared Corey KushnerAbraham Accords: New hope for peace in Middle East Tenants in Kushner building file lawsuit alleging dangerous living conditions Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing MORE.

It's Tuesday. 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 -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.

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️️️ ️ ️ : Snow is expected in the Washington, D.C., area this afternoon! According to the Capital Weather Gang, precipitation is expected between noon and 7 p.m. and could slow down the evening commute. The latest forecast from the Capital Weather Gang: https://wapo.st/2sLn91O

LATEST WITH IRAN

'Cultural sites' changes it a bit:

Via The Hill's Morgan Chalfant, President Trump is threatening to target Iran's cultural sites if Tehran retaliates over the killing of a top military official -- but legal experts argue that would violate international law. http://bit.ly/2N2yS2Q

How Trump's advisers are handling the threat: "Top aides have tiptoed around the president's statements, saying the administration would act lawfully and that Trump wasn't definitively saying that he would target Iranian cultural sites if Tehran escalates the current situation."

From Trump all Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Loeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Quinnipiac poll shows Graham, Harrison tied in South Carolina Senate race MORE (R-S.C.): "Cultural sites, religious sites are not lawful targets under the law of war unless they've been weaponized by the enemy. Putting cultural sites on the table as a military target, I think, undercuts what we're trying to do."

Ah ha -- there might be a loophole: White House counselor Kellyanne Conway Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwayGeorge Conway hits Trump on 9/11 anniversary: 'The greatest threat to the safety and security of Americans' Juan Williams: Swamp creature at the White House Oversight Democrats press for probe into possible Hatch Act violations MORE told reporters that "many" of Iran's military sites could also be considered cultural sites.

^ What legal experts have to say about that: "Legal experts said that while there could be exceptions for cultural sites that serve a dual purpose as strategic military sites, they doubted that military officials would carry out an order that goes against international rules."

HOW TRUMP IS RISKING A NUCLEAR CRISIS WITH IRAN:

http://bit.ly/2N4y8tT

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE U.S.-IRAQ RELATIONSHIP:

http://bit.ly/36xNQFB

'Should I stay or should I go now?'

--> http://bit.ly/2upb9mR:

Defense Secretary Mark Esper Mark EsperOvernight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Oldest living US World War II veteran turns 111 Overnight Defense: US marks 19th anniversary of 9/11 attacks | Trump awards Medal of Honor to Army Ranger for hostage rescue mission | Bahrain, Israel normalizing diplomatic ties MORE denied that U.S. troops are leaving Iraq, claiming that a circulated letter implying that troops are leaving was a "draft" and a "mistake." http://bit.ly/2ZZHCft

Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters: "That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released. Poorly worded, implies withdrawal. That's not what's happening."

LATEST WITH THE IMPEACHMENT

'Annnnnd we're done here.':

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE (R-Ky.) has enough votes to block Democrats' demands to have additional witnesses testify in President Trump's impeachment trial. http://bit.ly/2s2Lj7v

The tipping point: Moderate Sens. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Gideon leads Collins by 12 points in Maine Senate race: poll Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal MORE (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiGOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing filibuster OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week MORE (R-Alaska) are supporting McConnell's stance to defer the decision of calling more witnesses until later in the process. I.e.: Follow the precedent of former President Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonD-Day for Trump: September 29 Trump job approval locked at 42 percent: Gallup If Trump doesn't know why he should be president again, how can voters? MORE's impeachment trial.

^ Chuck Schumer Chuck SchumerDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Pelosi, Schumer 'encouraged' by Trump call for bigger coronavirus relief package Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE disagrees:

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Pelosi, Schumer 'encouraged' by Trump call for bigger coronavirus relief package Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (D-N.Y.) said he will force votes on witnesses at the beginning of the impeachment trial, even as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has enough votes to delay the decision. http://bit.ly/2FseeEX

In Schumer's words: "Make no mistake, on the question of witnesses and documents, Republicans may run but they can't hide. There will be votes at the beginning on whether to call the four witnesses we've proposed and subpoena the documents we've identified."

Schumer also added: "If every Republican senator votes for a rigged trial that hides the truth, the American people will see that the Republican Senate is part of a large and awful cover-up."

HOW JOHN BOLTON HAS SHAKEN UP THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE:

http://bit.ly/2QAc8JL

INTERESTING READ -- WILL THE IRAN CRISIS SIDELINE THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS?:

Via The Hill's Niall Stanage: http://bit.ly/2T2ohsC

NOTABLE TWEETS

Happening this afternoon:

Nothing like a tiny bit of snow to shut down the capital of the free world https://t.co/pyu4IHSRMq — Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) January 7, 2020

ON TAP

The House and Senate are in. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C.

12:15 p.m. EST: The Senate holds a confirmation vote on Jovita Carranza to lead the Small Business Administration. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/35w1Zlt

12:30 ­– 2:15 p.m. EST: Senators meet for weekly caucus luncheons.

2 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpNew Melania Trump statue replaces one that burned to the ground in Slovenia The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Latest with the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations Ivana Trump on Melania as first lady: 'She's very quiet, and she really doesn't go to too many places' MORE meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece and his wife at the White House.

2 p.m. EST: The House meets.

2:40 p.m. EST: President Trump holds an expanded bilateral meeting with Greece's prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Vice President Pence also attends.

6:30 p.m. EST: Postponed votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2tAW2Xe

WHAT TO WATCH

2 p.m. EST: Senate Republican leaders hold a news conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2MYhTi7

2:30 p.m. EST: Senate Democratic leaders hold a news conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2QTzLf9

6:30 p.m. EST: Lester Holt interviews former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden National postal mail handlers union endorses Biden MORE on "NBC Nightly News."

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Tempura Day.

More ways to complicate your Starbucks order ;)

Starbucks is adding new plant-based milk alternative drinks to its permanent menu. Details: http://bit.ly/2T0k1tq

The new drinks: Almondmilk Honey Flat White and Coconutmilk Latte

And to break up your Tuesday afternoon, here's a dog and a cat who are the best of friends: http://bit.ly/2FvrU2e