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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: Trump adds Dershowitz, Starr to impeachment defense team | Trial poses challenging test for John Roberts | Republicans threaten to call controversial witnesses if Bolton testifies | Pompeo says he never heard about efforts to surveil Yovanovitch | Trump accuses Dems of 'rigging' election against Sanders | How Biden could benefit from Warren, Sanders feud | Trump meets champion LSU football team | Women's March on Saturday

NEWS THIS MORNING

Calling O.J.'s 'Dream Team':

President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE's defense team is adding Ken Starr and Alan Dershowitz Alan Morton DershowitzDershowitz suing CNN for 0 million in defamation suit Bannon and Maxwell cases display DOJ press strategy chutzpah Ghislaine Maxwell attorneys ask for delay to unseal court documents due to 'critical new information' MORE for the upcoming Senate impeachment trial. http://bit.ly/38rNlh9

Who else will be involved in the trial: "[T]he team will also consist of former attorneys Jane Raskin and Robert Ray, as well as former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi." Ray followed Starr as independent counsel and wrote the final report on former President Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonBarr says Ginsburg 'leaves a towering legacy' Trump reacts to Ginsburg's death: 'An amazing woman who led an amazing life' Jimmy Carter remembers Ruth Bader Ginsburg as 'a beacon of justice' MORE after his impeachment trial. The team was first reported by The New York Times Maggie Haberman Maggie Lindsy HabermanBiden, Pence cross paths at NYC 9/11 ceremony The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump floats 0M+ in personal spending for reelection bid The Hill's 12:30 Report: Washington reacts to scathing Trump military story MORE. https://nyti.ms/2RoJOsQ

What to know about Alan Dershowitz: He is a Harvard law professor who has defended clients such as Jeffrey Epstein and O.J. Simpson.

What to know about Ken Starr: He led the investigation into Bill Clinton.

REACTION FROM MONICA LEWINSKY:

"this is definitely an 'are you f**** kidding me?' kinda day." http://bit.ly/2tqIXzO

Happy Friday! 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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PROGRAMMING NOTE: The 12:30 Report will be off on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Enjoy the long weekend!

LATEST WITH THE IMPEACHMENT

Walking across the street to the loud playground:

Via The Hill's John Kruzel, "Chief Justice John Roberts will soon discover firsthand that while the Supreme Court and the Senate sit on adjacent Washington city blocks, the two institutions occupy separate worlds." http://bit.ly/366FGmt

How so: "Roberts on Thursday appeared in the Senate in his black robes to preside over President Trump's impeachment trial, leaving the collegiality of the court for a chamber marked in recent years by partisan fighting ... There he raised his right hand and swore to do "impartial justice" -- the kind of oath he is more accustomed to hearing from advocates before the Supreme Court."

How this will be the toughest test yet for Roberts: http://bit.ly/366FGmt

Republicans are threatening that two can play this game:

Via The Hill's Jordain Carney, Republicans are warning that if Democrats fight to have former national security adviser John Bolton John BoltonDiplomacy with China is good for America The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep DOJ launches probe into Bolton book for possible classified information disclosures MORE testify in the impeachment trial, they will force a slew of controversial witnesses in retaliation. http://bit.ly/2TzIZAm

Why: "The pressure tactics are the latest shift in strategy as Republican leaders try to navigate the factions in their caucus, where moderates want to leave the potential for witnesses on the table and conservatives are anxious to quickly acquit President Trump."

How this could play out: http://bit.ly/2TzIZAm

TIDBIT FROM A SWING VOTE IN THE SENATE:

Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg Democratic senator calls for eliminating filibuster, expanding Supreme Court if GOP fills vacancy What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies MORE (R-Maine) said she will "likely" support calling witnesses in the impeachment trial. http://bit.ly/2TxzcdP

Collins said in a statement: "While I need to hear the case argued and the questions answered, I tend to believe having additional information would be helpful. It is likely that I would support a motion to call witnesses at that point in the trial just as I did in 1999."

Nevah heard of it:

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoHouse panel halts contempt proceedings against Pompeo after documents turned over Outgoing ambassador to China slams Beijing over coronavirus: 'Could have been contained in Wuhan' Hillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers MORE said he had not heard of any efforts to surveil former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch Marie YovanovitchGrand jury adds additional counts against Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and and Igor Fruman Strzok: Trump behaving like an authoritarian Powell backs Biden at convention as Democrats rip Trump on security MORE. http://bit.ly/2TyKajb

In Pompeo's words: "Until the story broke ahead, to the best of my recollection I had never heard of this at all," Pompeo said. Pompeo also said he plans to look into the allegations.

Keep in mind: This is the first comment from Pompeo about allegations that Rudy Giuliani Rudy GiulianiGrand jury adds additional counts against Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and and Igor Fruman Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates Giuliani criticizes NYC leadership: 'They're killing this city' MORE's associates surveilled Yovanovitch as they pushed for the diplomat's removal. Pompeo had faced pressure to address anything he knew about potential threats to her safety.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Donald J. Trump, campaign pundit:

President Trump accused Democrats of trying to keep Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 Biden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security MORE (I-Vt.) off the campaign trail by forcing him to serve as a juror. http://bit.ly/3ajonSL

Trump tweeted: "They are rigging the election again against Bernie Sanders, just like last time, only even more obviously. They are bringing him out of so important Iowa in order that, as a Senator, he sit through the Impeachment Hoax Trial. Crazy Nancy thereby gives the strong edge to Sleepy ... Joe Biden Joe BidenSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Biden says Ginsburg successor should be picked by candidate who wins on Nov. 3 MORE, and Bernie is shut out again. Very unfair, but that's the way the Democrats play the game. Anyway, it's a lot of fun to watch!" http://bit.ly/376fsSz

Meet the beneficiary of the Warren-Sanders fight -- Joey B!:

Via The Hill's Amie Parnes, Former Vice President Joe Biden may benefit from the dispute between Sens. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenBiden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon MORE (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). http://bit.ly/2uchvpr

What could happen in Iowa: "Biden, who after downplaying expectations in Iowa is now signaling he believes the state's caucuses are in play for his campaign, could end up benefiting if voters in the state are turned off by the fight between his two progressive rivals."

What the fight could mean for Sanders: "Allies of Biden say that while Sanders has been ascending in the polls, the fight could bring down his popularity -- particularly with women who see his fight with Warren as petty and sexist. They also think it could provide a nice contrast for Biden."

Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2NCXcZc

NOTABLE TWEETS

Tidbit:

Senators have been given a flashcard with suggested phrases to use to avoid reporters, per @caitlinconant and @Grace_Segers https://t.co/RVocWmrgq5 pic.twitter.com/1ANboUSVvB — Melissa Quinn (@MelissaQuinn97) January 16, 2020

What we know about the flashcards: http://bit.ly/2NBLQEQ

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C. Trump is heading to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., later today.

2:30 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - You might want to download TikTok now Warning label added to Trump tweet over potential mail-in voting disinformation New Melania Trump statue replaces one that burned to the ground in Slovenia MORE leave for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.

6:30 p.m. EST: President Trump holds a roundtable with supporters in Palm Beach.

7 p.m. EST: President Trump speaks at a closed press joint fundraising committee dinner.

Saturday: The Women's March. Details and logistics: http://bit.ly/2sy1bz0

WHAT TO WATCH

11 a.m. EST: President Trump and Vice President Pence met with the 2019 College Football National Champions, the Louisiana State University Tigers. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2Tyheb3

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Hot Buttered Rum Day.

The deal with the new DCA:

Via Washingtonian's Andrew Pressman, "How Excited Should We Be About Reagan National Airport's Upcoming New Terminal? Nobody will miss the current setup. Our take on what's replacing it." http://bit.ly/30xqUE9

And to get your holiday weekend off to the right start, here's a dog who wants to make sure his owners are getting enough rest: http://bit.ly/2NCWF9E