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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: Breaking -- Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerDHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility Black Voters Matter Fund deploying voter outreach caravans in 12 states to drive turnout MORE drops out of 2020 race | Trump trolls Booker: 'Now I can rest easy' | Trump says it doesn't matter if Soleimani posed imminent threat | Trump reportedly approved Soleimani killing in June | Senate set for war powers debate | Impeachment focus shifts to Senate | Why Dems are voicing concerns over Sanders | Justices won't hear appeal in texting suicide case | Queen calls Prince Harry for emergency meeting | DC tops NY Times' 52 places to visit list

BREAKING

Cory's booking it:

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced that he is dropping out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. http://bit.ly/2QOrDO7

Booker wrote in an email to his supporters: "I will carry this fight forward -- I just won't be doing it as a candidate for president this year. It's with a full heart that I share this news -- I've made the decision to suspend my campaign for president."

Booker tweeted his announcement. Watch: http://bit.ly/36PyqfX

Keep in mind: "Booker's unrelentingly positive campaign leaves him on largely good terms with every candidate left in the race. He's likely to be in consistently in the running mate discussion" (From The New York Times's Nick Corasaniti) http://bit.ly/380EBxX

Timing: The Iowa caucuses are 21 days from today. The New Hampshire primary is 29 days from now.

That leaves us with...:

2020 DEM STATUS UPDATE



Biden✅

Buttigieg✅

Klobuchar✅

Sanders✅

Steyer✅

Warren✅



Bennet☑️

Bloomberg☑️

Delaney☑️

Gabbard☑️

Patrick☑️

Yang☑️



Booker❌

Bullock❌

Castro❌

deBlasio❌

Gillibrand❌

Harris❌

Hickenlooper❌

Inslee❌

O’Rourke❌

Ryan❌

Williamson❌



✅=debate-qualified — Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) January 13, 2020

REACTION -- TRUMP HAS A FEW THOUGHTS HE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE CLASS:

"Really Big Breaking News (Kidding): Booker, who was in zero polling territory, just dropped out of the Democrat Presidential Primary Race. Now I can rest easy tonight. I was sooo concerned that I would someday have to go head to head with him!" http://bit.ly/30fmjq6

It's Monday. 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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THE LATEST WITH IRAN

Doesn't matter:

This morning, President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE argued that it does not matter if Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani posed an imminent threat to the United States. Why: Because of his "horrible past." http://bit.ly/36SoYsy

Trump tweeted: "The Fake News Media and their Democrat Partners are working hard to determine whether or not the future attack by terrorist Soleimani was 'imminent' or not, & was my team in agreement. The answer to both is a strong YES., but it doesn't really matter because of his horrible past!" http://bit.ly/30jtqOd

Trump approved Soleimani's killing a while ago:

Via NBC's Carol E. Lee and Courtney Kube, President Trump approved the killing of Soleimani last June if an American was killed as a result of his aggression. https://nbcnews.to/36QIJRd

That connects some dots: "That decision explains why assassinating Soleimani was on the menu of options that the military presented to Trump two weeks ago for responding to an attack by Iranian proxies in Iraq, in which a U.S. contractor was killed and four U.S. service members were wounded, the officials said."

LATEST WITH THE IMPEACHMENT

Senators, you're up.:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Overnight Defense: Top admiral says 'no condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' | Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Pelosi must go — the House is in dire need of new leadership MORE (D-Calif.) is slated to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate this week, setting the stage for a trial starting as soon as Wednesday. http://bit.ly/30iU0r6

What we know about Pelosi's timing: "Pelosi didn't specify in her letter what day she will send the articles, but indicated that Democrats will discuss next steps during their caucus meeting on Tuesday. That leaves the door open to sending the articles anytime between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday; the House is not expected to be in session on Friday."

Once the articles are sent, here's what happens: "Under the Senate's impeachment rules, the trial will start the day after the articles are sent to the Senate, unless that's a Sunday, by 1 p.m. It's expected to run six days a week and likely last between two to four weeks. The first few days of the trial are expected to be focused on swearing in Chief Justice John Roberts, a reading of the charges and administering an oath to all 100 senators."

NEWS THIS MORNING

It's a no from us:

The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from the case of Michelle Carter, a woman who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend to commit suicide in 2014. http://bit.ly/2QPMZut

What this means: Carter will have to serve her 15-month jail sentence.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN CONGRESS THIS WEEK

Trump's war powers: "A debate over President Trump's war powers could come to the floor as soon as Tuesday morning. Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineBiden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states Second GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE (D-Va.) introduced a resolution earlier this month that would require Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from any hostilities against Iran within 30 days without congressional approval. Under the War Powers Act, Democrats can force a vote on discharging it from the Foreign Relations Committee, which will require a simple majority."

Trade deal: "Five committees are set to sign off on President Trump's trade deal with Canada and Mexico, paving the way for the agreement to be taken up by the full Senate."

FEMA nomination: The Senate will take up Peter Gaynor's nomination to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator.

Congressional Review Act resolution: "The House is slated to take up a Congressional Review Act resolution introduced by Rep. Susie Lee Suzanne (Susie) Kelley LeeMORE (D-Nev.) showing disapproval of a Department of Education rule that critics argue will hinder student loan borrowers' ability to seek loan forgiveness from predatory institutions."

Context and details for each from The Hill's Jordain Carney and Juliegrace Brufke: http://bit.ly/30iU0r6

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Not feeling a 'berning' sensation:

Via The Hill's Amie Parnes, "Democrats who believe Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) had a negative influence on the 2016 general election against President Trump are increasingly expressing worries he'll hurt the party again in 2020."

How so: "The Democrats complaining about Sanders ... argue the rhetoric being employed by the Vermont senator in some cases goes too far in damaging his rivals. They say it will make it harder for the party to unify around a nominee, and they're particularly worried that supporters of Sanders won't back any nominee who isn't their favored candidate."

How this could play out: http://bit.ly/3a6xUMQ

LATEST WITH THE ROYAL CRISIS

For some reason, I'm picturing this meeting as more of a scene from 'Succession' than 'The Crown':

The Queen has called a meeting for senior royals today to discuss Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Meghan MarkleDoes Kamala Harris's music matter? Prince Harry and Meghan sign Netflix production deal 'The West Wing' cast to reunite for Michelle Obama's voter registration initiative MORE's new roles. https://bbc.in/35N99BV

Who is attending: Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will join by phone from Canada.

What to expect: https://bbc.in/35N99BV

JUST NOW FROM THE QUEEN — SHE IS SUPPORTIVE OF HARRY AND MEGHAN’S DECISION:

Queen Elizabeth II just said in a statement: “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the royal family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family ... Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.” https://nyti.ms/383n0FE

NOTABLE TWEETS

Getting traction -- the White House tweeted this on the same day that D.C. hit 70 degrees:

First snow of the year! ❄️ pic.twitter.com/kgSLQX6QxK — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 13, 2020

What to know about the tweet: https://wapo.st/35OuOcT

ON TAP

The House is in. The Senate meets this afternoon. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C. Trump is heading to New Orleans later today for the Clemson-LSU game.

Noon: The House meets.

12:30 p.m. EST: President Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence.

2 p.m. EST: President Trump receives an intelligence briefing.

3 p.m. EST: The Senate meets.

4:10 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpWarning label added to Trump tweet over potential mail-in voting disinformation New 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 MORE leave the White House and head to New Orleans, La.

5:30 p.m. EST: The Senate holds a cloture vote. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/35IbcXM

6:30 p.m. EST: Votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/3a7skKc

8 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the College Football Playoff National Championship in New Orleans, La.

1 a.m. EST Tuesday: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump get back to the White House.

WHAT TO WATCH

8 p.m. EST: The College Football National Championship Game between the Clemson Tigers and the Louisiana State University Tigers. Details: http://bit.ly/2NmwpAd

9 p.m. EST Tuesday: The next Democratic National Committee primary debate. Details: http://bit.ly/36Qa1Hm

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Peach Melba Day.

Places to go and things to do:

The New York Times unveiled its list of 52 places to visit in 2020.

No. 1 on the list: Washington, D.C.!

No. 2: British Virgin Islands

No. 3: Rurrenabaque, Bolivia

No. 4: Greenland

No. 5: Kimberley Region, Australia

The full list and reasoning for each: https://nyti.ms/2Nmp3wB

And because you made it to the end, here's a doggo who loves clementines: http://bit.ly/3a4XQIH