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The Hill's 12:30 Report — Presented by UANI — Impeachment day edition: House prepares for historic vote | Sights and sounds from Capitol Hill | Trump seethes ahead of vote | Urges supporters to 'Say a PRAYER!' | Today's timeline | GOP tries tactics to slow down vote | Protesters on Capitol Hill | Pelosi, Dem women wear black to mark 'solemn' day | Trump to hold Michigan rally tonight

BREAKING NEWS OF THE MORNING

Wait, is something happening today?:

The House is debating two articles of impeachment against President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE today, setting up a historic final impeachment vote this evening. http://bit.ly/2sJbOi1

Livestream of today's proceedings: https://cs.pn/2sEy9gO

LOGISTICS FOR TODAY:

What is happening now: The House is debating the articles of impeachment for six hours, equally divided between Democrats and Republicans.

What time is the actual impeachment vote: The vote is expected this evening around 7 or 8 p.m. EST.

How many votes are needed to impeach Trump -- 216 votes: Because there are four vacancies in the House, 216 is the magic number for House Democrats.

Which Democrats are expected to vote ~against~ impeachment: Rep. Collin Peterson Collin Clark PetersonKate Schroder in Ohio among Democratic challengers squelching GOP hopes for the House The Hill's Campaign Report: 19 years since 9/11 | Dem rival to Marjorie Taylor Greene drops out | Collin Peterson faces fight of his career | Court delivers blow to ex-felon voting rights in Florida Peterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district MORE (D-Minn.) and Rep. Jeff Van Drew Jeff Van DrewThe Hill's Campaign Report: 19 years since 9/11 | Dem rival to Marjorie Taylor Greene drops out | Collin Peterson faces fight of his career | Court delivers blow to ex-felon voting rights in Florida The Hill's 12:30 Report: First Kennedy to lose a Massachusetts election Ex-Democrat Van Drew speaks at GOP convention MORE (D-N.J.) -- Van Drew is reportedly switching parties. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) is splitting his votes and is voting for one of the two impeachment articles.

FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR:

A ticket to get into the House chamber -- 'I've got the golden ticket!': Via The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim, here is the press gallery ticket for today. It literally is gold. Photo: http://bit.ly/2r3w79y

Speaker Pelosi is wearing black today: "One of her colleagues told me several of the female Democrats did that intentionally to signal it is a somber day" (Via CNN's Dana Bash Dana BashTrump says officials will investigate whether California is using 1619 Project in classrooms Veterans Affairs secretary defends Trump: 'I judge a man by his actions' GOP senator dismisses national intelligence director election security briefings: 'This is blown way out of proportion' MORE): http://bit.ly/2sGN0Hu

Photo of Pelosi arriving on Capitol Hill this morning: http://bit.ly/2r1iSGm

Republicans kicked off the morning with a fight: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) offered a motion to adjourn soon after the House gaveled in this morning. The motion failed but forced a time-consuming vote. http://bit.ly/36LgliQ

Two women in bright red costumes are sitting in the gallery: "This will be fun to watch: Two people dressed in bright red costumes are sitting [in] the public gallery seats. Capitol police and House staff are watching very closely." From Rep. Alcee Hastings Alcee (Judge) Lamar HastingsFlorida Democrat introduces bill to recognize Puerto Rico statehood referendum Poisoning of Putin opponent could test US-Moscow relationship Florida county official apologizes for social media post invoking Hitler MORE (D-Fla.): "They're not pink ladies, are they?" (Via Politico's Sarah Ferris) http://bit.ly/2PCrOvD

Here’s a photo of the women in red: http://bit.ly/2M5gOEv

^ More commentary about what those outfits may be: Via Politico's Sarah Ferris:

"They look like extras from a Dr. Who episode."

"Looks like the Red Guard from Star Wars"

"Is it a Christmas suit?" http://bit.ly/2PCrOvD

It's a historic day on Capitol Hill. And Christmas is one week from today! 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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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY:

No big deal. Nothing to see here. Carry on: "Outside the Capitol , Santa giving interviews about why Trump should be impeached" Photo: http://bit.ly/2Pxv1wc

Pro-impeachment demonstrators: Here's a photo of impeachment supporters on the Senate side of the Capitol: http://bit.ly/2YZDnzQ

Protesters carrying signs to the Capitol: Here's a photo of a few protesters walking up to the Capitol: http://bit.ly/2Z2khZY

What a day to be a student group on a tour: Here's a photo of one of the usual Capitol Hill tours today: http://bit.ly/2Z5hKyi

Here's another photo of a Capitol tour: http://bit.ly/2Z2pAbQ

Lol: "big day for people who like to carry around pocket sized constitutions everywhere" (Via Bullpen Strategy Group's Joe Perticone) http://bit.ly/2sC2P2i

Protests aren't just in Washington, D.C.: Here are protests around the country: https://cnn.it/38V16Ga

REACTIONS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP THROUGHOUT THE DAY:

At 7:34 a.m. EST -- Trump asked for prayers: "Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, AND I DID NOTHING WRONG! A terrible Thing. Read the Transcripts. This should never happen to another President again. Say a PRAYER!" http://bit.ly/2YZm1D6

At 8:18 a.m. EST -- Trump tweeted a quote from Rep. Doug Collins Douglas (Doug) Allen CollinsDemocrats ramp up pressure on Lieberman to drop out of Georgia Senate race The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden on Trump: 'He'll leave' l GOP laywers brush off Trump's election remarks l Obama's endorsements GOP, Democrats look to galvanize women with SCOTUS fight MORE (R-Ga.): "It's sad. Here's a gentleman who came to the White House and all they had was never to let him have an easy breath. All they wanted to do is impeach him. They started the day after he was elected, even the day after he was sworn in. But this President came to Washington and...." Read the full quote: http://bit.ly/2Z5kxrg

^ An interesting Doug Collins quote that Trump tweeted: "They couldn't find any crimes so they did a vague abuse of power and abuse of Congress, which every administration from the beginning has done." http://bit.ly/34sujEQ

At 10:49 a.m. EST-- Trump slammed Pelosi: "Will go down in history as worst Speaker. Already thrown out once!" http://bit.ly/2ErVUeP

Keep in mind -- Trump broke his tweets-per-day record last week: Last Thursday, Trump tweeted and retweeted 123 messages, breaking his record of 105 tweets just a few days earlier. http://bit.ly/2qNWhNr

The president has a pretty quiet schedule today until he leaves for his Michigan rally at 4:25 p.m. Let's see if he breaks the record again today.

Throwback -- what Trump said about impeachment in 2014: Via CNN's Andrew Kaczynski, "Here's video of Trump in 2014 saying what being impeached would do to Obama: 'He would be a mess. He would be thinking about nothing but. It would be a horror show for him. It would be an absolute embarrassment. It would go down on his record permanently.'" http://bit.ly/35BtASW

THROWBACK TO 1998:

Here is The New York Times article from former President Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonHarris: Ginsburg 'absolutely' cleared the path for me Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid Barr's Russia investigator has put some focus on Clinton Foundation: report MORE's impeachment in 1998: https://nyti.ms/2PxFiso

Wow, people could park in front of the Capitol then: Here's a photo of the U.S. Capitol from the day Clinton was impeached: http://bit.ly/34E3wWl

NOTABLE TWEETS

Meanwhile on the Senate side:

On the Senate side, David Burnett shows photo-enthusiast @SenatorLeahy his Graflex Super D: pic.twitter.com/YBai4PMDyp — Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) December 18, 2019

Getting traction -- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?:

You've got to be kidding me. After all these years... pic.twitter.com/dhNgjCVzeG — Chuck B (@chUckbUte) December 15, 2019

Watch: http://bit.ly/2Z00Q41

SPONSORED CONTENT - UANI

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ON TAP

9 a.m. EST: First votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/38R46TE

9:30 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence leaves for Saginaw, Mich.

10:30 a.m. EST: The Senate holds a roll call vote. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2S59HA3

11:45 a.m. EST: President Trump received an intelligence briefing.

4:25 p.m. EST: President Trump leaves the White House and flies to Battle Creek, Mich.

9:05 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence gets back to Washington, D.C.

10:35 p.m. EST: President Trump arrives at the White House.

WHAT TO WATCH

11:45 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence spoke at a Workers for Trump event in Saginaw, Mich. Livestream: https://cs.pn/34z5w1V

1:45 p.m. EST: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE and Defense Secretary Mark Esper Mark EsperOvernight Defense: Stopgap spending measure awaits Senate vote | Trump nominates former Nunes aide for intelligence community watchdog | Trump extends ban on racial discrimination training to contractors, military Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Official: Pentagon has started 'prudent planning' for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May MORE hold a joint press conference. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2PzAEdy

7 p.m. EST: President Trump holds a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Mich. Vice President Pence also speaks. Trump could be on stage when Democrats wrap up their impeachment vote. Livestream: https://cs.pn/34y3Jdm

7 p.m. EST: The House is expected to vote on the two articles of impeachment against President Trump. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2sEy9gO

8 p.m. EST Thursday: The next Democratic National Committee presidential primary debate. Logistical details for tomorrow: https://politi.co/38P5upW

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Roast Suckling Pig Day. And more importantly, today is Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day!

This man is my hero:

A man ate Chick-fil-A for 114 days in a row to break the record. Details: http://bit.ly/2PyuhXF

And because it's a weird day for the country, here's a puppy who really, really wants it to be the weekend: http://bit.ly/2PY4189