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: AOC unveils Green New Deal measure | Pelosi leaves Ocasio-Cortez off of climate panel | Trump hits Virginia Dems | House Dems begin hearings to get Trump tax returns | Why Pelosi doesn't expect another shutdown | Trump eases gun export rules | 2020 Dems walk fine line on 'Medicare for all' | Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE spotted at White House | Pats' Belichick mic'd up during Super Bowl

THE LATEST IN VIRGINIA

Yeah, I wouldn't say this is Virginia's ~best~ look:

This morning, President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE ripped into top leaders Virginia as the state's Democratic leaders are embroiled in controversies. http://bit.ly/2RLZhkS

Trump tweeted: "Democrats at the top are killing the Great State of Virginia. If the three failing pols were Republicans, far stronger action would be taken. Virginia will come back HOME Republican) in 2020!" http://bit.ly/2WK4iON

NEW DEVELOPMENT: A DEM LAWMAKER LEARNED OF THE FAIRFAX ALLEGATIONS A YEAR AGO: Via ABC's Kaitlyn Folmer and John Verhovek, "Virginia Democratic Congressman Bobby Scott Robert (Bobby) Cortez ScottCongress must finish work on popular conservation bill before time runs out House passes bill to allow private lawsuits against public schools for discriminatory practices Pelosi: House will stay in session until agreement is reached on coronavirus relief MORE was made aware of allegations of sexual assault against now-Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax over a year ago by the alleged victim herself, ABC News has learned." https://abcn.ws/2GhsanC

EDITORIAL FROM THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH: "Virginia's leaders are not serving its citizens" Read the editorial: http://bit.ly/2MT1iuK

It's Thursday! 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

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

This morning -- gun rules eased for manufacturers:

Via NBC's Josh Lederman, "Semi-automatic weapons, flamethrowers and even some grenades will become easier for U.S. weapons manufacturers to export overseas under new rules being put in place by the Trump administration and obtained by NBC News."

How so: "Under the new rules, set to take effect in just under a month, gun makers will no longer need licenses from the State Department to sell dozens of types of weapons to other countries, including the popular AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle that's been employed in many of America's worst mass shootings." What sellers will need instead: A no-fee license from the Commerce Department. https://nbcnews.to/2Dkjlpp

Spotted — look who's back!:

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was just seen outside the White House. "No tie, no suit. Beard." Photo: http://bit.ly/2GslQZS

#BanJanuary:

A new Morning Consult poll shows that President Trump had his worst approval rating of his presidency last month. Approval: 40 percent. Disapproval: 55 percent. How many Republicans said they approved of Trump: 83 percent (!), but that's lower than it's been in months. Full breakdown: http://bit.ly/2WOIIZm

IN CONGRESS

Oh good!:

Via Politico's Heather Caygle, Sarah Ferris and John Bresnahan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiTrump puts Supreme Court fight at center of Ohio rally CDC causes new storm by pulling coronavirus guidance Overnight Health Care: CDC pulls revised guidance on coronavirus | Government watchdog finds supply shortages are harming US response | As virus pummels US, Europe sees its own spike MORE (D-Calif.) predicted there won't be another government shutdown. Pelosi sounded confident: "There will not be another shutdown. ... No, it's not going to happen." Other highlights from the interview: https://politi.co/2BqkgEs

WILL THE SENATE WILL TRY TO PASS A BUDGET THIS YEAR?:

http://bit.ly/2GvtMJN

AOC's new climate resolution:

Via The Hill's Miranda Green, "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezThe Memo: Dems face balancing act on SCOTUS fight Ocasio-Cortez hits back at Marjorie Taylor Greene over 'dumb blonde' joke on Twitter Ocasio-Cortez to voters: Tell McConnell 'he is playing with fire' with Ginsburg's seat MORE (D-N.Y.) on Thursday introduced a new climate change resolution with aims to bring the progressive Green New Deal to life legislatively and push the U.S. to take a lead role in reducing carbon emissions through the economy." Details: http://bit.ly/2Dfi2YO

ALSO THIS MORNING -- SHE DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday named eight Democrats to the new special climate change committee, but Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) was not among them." http://bit.ly/2SiH8QW

Happening at 2 p.m. -- Dems are foaming at the mouth:

The House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee is holding a hearing today to try to secure the tax returns of President Trump and Vice President Pence. What to watch: http://bit.ly/2Ss97gn

Hearing details: http://bit.ly/2RNJBxA

AND HAPPENING AT 2 P.M.: The Senate Judiciary Committee is voting on William Barr's nomination to be attorney general. Details: https://wapo.st/2UFZZlw

Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz:

Via The Hill's Lisa Hagen and Max Greenwood, after one of the best-received State of the Union rebuttals, Democrats are buzzing over whether Stacey Abrams should run for Senate. Keep in mind: Abrams has appeared to close the door on a 2020 presidential run. http://bit.ly/2MSyfYg

REACTION FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP: Via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Trump said, "I think it's a mistake for her to run against him because I don't think she can win. David Perdue is an incredible senator, if you remember, and will be very hard to beat." https://on-ajc.com/2TAq4lP

^ ABRAMS HAS THOUGHTS: "I do not take political advice from Donald Trump." Watch: http://bit.ly/2MR5wDh

How far *clap* can you go? *clap clap* How far *clap * can you go?:

Via The Hill's Peter Sullivan, 2020 Democratic presidential contenders have to walk a fine line on how far to go in "Medicare for all." How so: "Stopping short of Sen. Bernie Sanders's fully government-run system risks alienating progressives but embracing the Vermont Independent's bill opens up lines of attack around eliminating the private insurance coverage most people already have." The delicate dance for each candidate: http://bit.ly/2GbQVlr

NOTABLE TWEETS

You are correct, NYPD:

We recognize the slice of pizza on the right, but what’s the one on the left? Is there pasta in it? https://t.co/uHo9a7No2w — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 6, 2019

Wow:

Fyi AOC is on big enough to make the front page of free London newspapers these days pic.twitter.com/EpDlYlFo02 — Julian Hattem (@jmhattem) February 6, 2019

ON TAP

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

12:45 p.m. EST: President Trump has lunch with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill US issues Iran sanctions to enforce UN action ignored by international community MORE.

12:45 p.m. EST: The Senate Judiciary Committee votes on William Barr's nomination to be the next attorney general. Details: https://wapo.st/2UFZZlw Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2MSOJQc

1:45 p.m. EST: President Trump participates in a signing to launch the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative.

1:45 -- 2:45 p.m. EST: First and last votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2Ms1W2e

11 a.m. EST Saturday: Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenJudd Gregg: The Kamala threat — the Californiaization of America GOP set to release controversial Biden report Biden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? MORE (D-Mass.) makes a 2020 announcement in Lawrence, Mass. Details: http://bit.ly/2Dg1z6v

WHAT TO WATCH

This morning: President Trump spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2Bq5Hkf

This morning: Vice President Pence delivered remarks about drug trafficking. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2UKcjBe

1 p.m. EST: Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks at Purdue University. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2MUEHhl

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Fettuccine Alfredo Day.

This is pretty interesting:

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and a few players were mic'd up during the Super Bowl on Sunday. The highlights: https://cbsloc.al/2DmlrVA