To view past editions of The Hill's 12:30 Report, click here: http://bit.ly/1M1mIfw

To receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN

--> 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 — Majority of Iowa Caucus results expected by 5 p.m. EST | Campaigns furious over caucus chaos | Officials blame app for delay | Trump mocks Dems over mishap | 2020 Dems shift focus to New Hampshire | Trump to deliver State of the Union before Democrats who impeached him | Trump approval hits new high | Senators look to leave town after impeachment vote

NEWS OF THE MORNING

If this were a plotline on 'Veep,' I would have rolled my eyes and thought the writers had gone too far:

More than 16 hours after the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses, the Iowa Democratic Party has still not released the results and is facing the wrath from infuriated campaigns. http://bit.ly/2Opi72g

Why campaigns are particularly angry: "The unusually long wait, coupled with a lack of transparency during the chaotic night, angered the campaigns, which have spent tens of millions of dollars and countless hours on the ground in the Hawkeye State in the hopes that a strong showing would put their candidate on the path to the Democratic nomination."

When the results are expected: The state party blames a new app used to report results for the delay and says the results will be released "as soon as possible today." From the party this morning: "Precinct level results are still being reported to the IDP. While our plan is to release results as soon as possible today, our ultimate goal is to ensure that the integrity and accuracy of the process continues to be upheld." http://bit.ly/31qBRYO

^ Just now -- we have an update: The Iowa Democratic Party told campaigns to expect results by 5 p.m. EST (4 p.m. in Iowa) http://bit.ly/36V3Yk4

Photo of the worksheet each caucus has to fill out: http://bit.ly/2trIWvx

This took me a second, but is well played

BREAKING: The Iowa caucus. — Matt Viser (@mviser) February 4, 2020

ONE OF THE WILDEST MOMENT'S OF THE NIGHT:

CNN's Wolf Blitzer interviewed a caucus secretary who had been on hold "for over an hour" trying to report his precinct's results. And during the interview, someone in the Iowa Democratic Party picked up and hung up on the caucus secretary. Watch -- it's pretty wild: https://nym.ag/31rZKPv

REACTIONS:

From Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate 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 Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (I-Vt.): Sanders predicts that he will do "very, very well" whenever the Iowa Caucus results come in. http://bit.ly/2uZwVOz

From 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: "The Democrat Caucus is an unmitigated disaster," Trump tweeted. "Nothing works, just like they ran the Country. Remember the 5 Billion Dollar Obamacare Website, that should have cost 2% of that. The only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is 'Trump'." http://bit.ly/37WV3Qd

Trump also blamed Democrats, NOT IOWA: "It is not the fault of Iowa, it is the Do Nothing Democrats fault. As long as I am President, Iowa will stay where it is. Important tradition!" http://bit.ly/396DjSD

Filing from Manchester, N.H., ahead of a weeklong sprint for campaigns to New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary. 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.

Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn

THE RESULTS:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM IOWA:

Getting traction -- Oh come on, people. Party foul:

At one Des Moines precinct tonight, an attendee brought in a concealed bottle of wine, dropped it, and it shattered everywhere pic.twitter.com/qHNMP6NLOH — Iowa Starting Line (@IAStartingLine) February 4, 2020

Interesting photo: "Warren, Sanders, and Buttigieg persuasion captains going after three eligible Gabbard supporters right now. Democracy in real time!!!" (Via The Washington Post's Jacqueline Alemany) Photo: http://bit.ly/371dodW

Photo of the "Presidential Preference Card" that caucus-goers filled out: http://bit.ly/2OsER1E

Video of Bernie Sanders leaving the Capitol on Monday: "I'm on my way to Iowa!" he said. Video: http://bit.ly/2GNNtf1

At the satellite caucus in Washington, D.C.: "Press got kicked out of the DC satellite caucus once it began. We're not allowed to observe. Was told it was up to the precinct chair." (Via The Huffington Post's Amanda Terkel) http://bit.ly/2SiqnlN

Throwback: Here are caucus photos from 2008 from The New York Times's Michael Crowley) Photos: http://bit.ly/2UtugaB

Video of a tie break:

Buttigieg and Warren tie. Coin toss about to happen pic.twitter.com/fJVqDDN5pS — John Pemble (@johnpemble) February 4, 2020

Watch: http://bit.ly/2v4rbTK

Not everyone stays for the entirety of the caucus: "Kathleen Finkenhauer, @Abby4Iowa's great aunt, was for Biden but now she's not going to anyone else 'I'm tired and I want to go home.' She says she'll vote for the nominee though." Photo: http://bit.ly/38YRkBY

A particularly interesting voter: "Bob Wrobel, 68, from Ankeny, is caucusing for @TomSteyer with @AndrewYang as his second choice, but will switch to @PeteButtigieg if neither Steyer or Yang are viable. Wrobel caucused for @realDonaldTrump in 2016, and his wife is currently a @JoeBiden Precinct captain. #unicorn" Photo of Wrobel: http://bit.ly/2uibKXS

BY THE WAY -- HERE'S A 2020 NEWSLETTER TO SIGN UP FOR:

The Hill's Campaign Report newsletter is publishing daily starting today. Click here to sign up: http://bit.ly/2UoupvN

HAPPENING TONIGHT

Meet me in the House, it's goin' down. Meet me on the floor, it's going down:

President Trump is giving his third State of the Union address to Congress tonight.

What time: 9:10 p.m. EST

Livestream of Trump's address tonight: https://cs.pn/2Op8Wiw

WHY THIS COULD BE AN AWKWARD ADDRESS:

Via The Hill's Scott Wong and Cristina Marcos, "After sitting impatiently on the sidelines for months, President Trump on Tuesday night will finally get a chance to address -- face to face -- the House Democrats who impeached him and the senators who will soon vote on whether to end his presidency. It could prove to be an awkward State of the Union address." http://bit.ly/2vGNEX1

MEANWHILE – TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATING HITS A HIGH:

According to a new Gallup poll, President Trump's approval rating hits 49 percent. http://bit.ly/394DI8c

IN CONGRESS

How Trump's acquittal could have an enormous impact on presidential power:

Via The Hill's John Kruzel, "President Trump's acquittal at the end of his Senate trial could set a new bar for future impeachment trials, according to experts and historians interviewed by The Hill." http://bit.ly/2GVXfMe

How so: "It may take years or even decades to truly determine what kind of mark Trump's trial leaves, but historians and legal experts say an acquittal will likely lower the bar for permissible presidential conduct and give the executive branch more power in the face of congressional oversight -- if the decision is based in part on the Trump legal team's expansive view of presidential power."

TIDBIT FOR AFTER THE SENATE IMPEACHMENT VOTE ON WEDNESDAY:

Via The Hill's Alexander Bolton, "Senate GOP Whip John Thune John Randolph ThunePowell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise MORE says the expectation is for the Senate to recess for the week after Wednesday vote on articles of impeachment." http://bit.ly/31pghnq

ON THE TRAIL IN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire is proud of its role:

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Cynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenSenate Democrats introduce bill to sanction Russians over Taliban bounties Trump-backed candidate wins NH GOP Senate primary to take on Shaheen Democratic senator urges Trump to respond to Russian aggression MORE (D-N.H.) called into "NH Today with Jack Heath" and reacted to the debacle in Iowa.

Shaheen told Heath: "Well, it's not the first time that Iowa has had some issues with their caucuses. I've always maintained that the New Hampshire primary is a far better way to determine how people feel about the race because it's a direct vote."

She continued: "It's unfortunate that we don't have the results. I'm sure we'll get them later and again, I think it reinforces how important the New Hampshire primary is."

WHERE TO FIND THE CANDIDATES TODAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE:

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: Nashua, Concord and Manchester

Former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq A socially and environmentally just way to fight climate change MORE (D): Manchester, Hampton, Portsmouth, Laconia and Concord

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tulsi GabbardRepublicans call on DOJ to investigate Netflix over 'Cuties' film Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Gabbard says she 'was not invited to participate in any way' in Democratic convention MORE (D-Hawaii): Nashua and Litchfield

Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (D-Minn.): Concord, Portsmouth and Nashua

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick Deval PatrickRalph Gants, chief justice of Massachusetts supreme court, dies at 65 It's as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process Top Democratic super PACs team up to boost Biden MORE (D): Manchester and Durham

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): Milford and Manchester

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenNo new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE (D-Mass.): Keene

Businessman Andrew Yang Andrew YangDoctor who allegedly assaulted Evelyn Yang arrested on federal charges The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden weighs in on police shootings | Who's moderating the debates | Trump trails in post-convention polls Buttigieg launches his own podcast MORE: Manchester, New London, Laconia and Lebanon

Interesting read from a veteran campaign adviser:



In New Hampshire Business Review, Bernstein Shur's Jim Merrill explains how New Hampshire is the center of the American political world for the next week. http://bit.ly/398EdOI

Excerpt: "I've worked for and advised presidential candidates since 1999. There's no question the primary has changed. Bumper stickers are virtually gone, yard signs are greatly diminished (notwithstanding Tulsi Gabbard's single-handed effort to bring them – and billboards – back into vogue) and suggesting a sign wave today will cause campaign staff to question your sanity. Big data, analytics, targeted social media and use of text and digital-based messaging platforms among a variety of new tools are in. Yes, the primary is changing. But it isn't dying. It's alive and well, right in front of you."

The full piece: http://bit.ly/398EdOI

NOTABLE TWEETS

Lol -- responding to Sen. Chris Murphy Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyGOP chairman to release interim report on Biden probe 'in about a week' This week: House returns for pre-election sprint Battle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy MORE's (D-Conn.) tweet:

My 11 year just nearly had a heart attack when he saw the exit polls in Iowa saying health care was the number one issue.



"Not climate change?" he moans. "It's like the the house is on fire and all people care about is doing renovations." — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 4, 2020

Check out this photo:

.@TeamTrump headed home after CRUSHING it in Iowa.



Record turnout for an incumbent president.



So much winning.



Didn't have time to pay attention, so how'd it go for the Democrats?



Everything go off without a hitch? pic.twitter.com/gQsiyRQvry — Tim Murtaugh - Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TimMurtaugh) February 4, 2020

Full sized photo: http://bit.ly/36WhhR6

ON TAP

The House and Senate are in.

9:30 a.m. EST: The Senate meets. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/31nrftx

Noon: The House meets, with no votes scheduled for today. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2RVUnoT

8:30 p.m. EST: President Trump and FLOTUS 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 leave the White House and head to the U.S. Capitol for the State of the Union.

10:40 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady FLOTUS get back to the White House.

WHAT TO WATCH

9:10 p.m. EDT: President Trump delivers his State of the Union address. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2Op8Wiw

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Homemade Soup Day.

And because you made it this far, here's a dog trying to pet a cat: http://bit.ly/3bamCYi