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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: Booker jumps into 2020 race | Trump to suspend nuke treaty with Russia | Economy adds 300K jobs for second month | Roger Stone Roger Jason StoneOur Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Justice IG investigating Stone sentencing: report Romney says Trump's protest tweets 'clearly intended to further inflame racial tensions' MORE headed back to court | Dems find new target in Mnuchin | Pence to meet Venezuelan exiles in Miami | Vice Media hit by layoffs | &pizza opening in House office building | National Bubble Gum Day

TALK OF THE MORNING

My favorite reaction to Booker’s presidential announcement. Credit | @hotpockets

Back story — throwback: Remember when Corey Booker was the mayor of Newark, N.J., and got residents hundreds of free Hot Pockets after Hurricane Sandy? Details: http://bit.ly/2S4fZkC

He should do well with the pizza contingent:

Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) announced this morning that he is running for president in 2020. http://bit.ly/2UyDPBz

From Booker’s announcement video: "The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it.”

Watch Booker’s announcement video: http://bit.ly/2TqlaId

Is Booker’s announcement surprising?: Booker's entry into the race was anticipated and he had been telling lawmakers he would run.

Timing: Booker made the announcement on the first day of Black History Month.

Following the announcement video: Booker talks more about his bid on Instagram Live. The theme: Bringing the country together. “Don’t tell me that’s weak. Don’t tell me you can’t win elections that way.” http://bit.ly/2Rw4zRw Watch the Instagram livestream — click his profile picture on the top left: http://bit.ly/2HKMEa4

Tidbit: “Cory Booker’s the first presidential candidate with a sports-reference page.” Booker played football at Stanford. (Via National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar) His stats: http://bit.ly/2G43oHt

Here’s video of Booker playing college football: Via Sports Illustrated: http://bit.ly/2BepzXA

New Twitter banner, who dis?: “Spotted on Booker's new Twitter banner: ‘South Carolina NAACP’” (Via The New York Times’s Shane Goldmacher) http://bit.ly/2DOD4PC

Throwback: Earlier in January, from CNN’s Rebecca Buck, “I forgot to tweet about this yesterday, but I can't overlook Cory Booker's commitment to going coat-less in South Carolina. It was freezing. Even Bernie (of Vermont) was bundled up. But as any winter bride can relate — gotta get pics in your good outfit no matter what.” She referenced that tweet this morning, adding some context: “Now we know why Booker didn’t wear a coat in SC: His team was filming for his announcement video that day” Photos — he looks cold!: http://bit.ly/2MIFbah

WASTING NO TIME: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) began calling members of Congress yesterday to try to get their support. http://bit.ly/2RyxT9Q

REACTION FROM A COLLEAGUE / 2020 COMPETITOR: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Suburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits MORE (D-N.Y.) tweeted, “Congratulations and welcome to the race to one of my closest friends, [Cory Booker]! I'll be cheering you on—just, you know, not TOO hard.” http://bit.ly/2SfpVHh

Gillibrand linked to a Marie Claire video of the two quizzing each other on ‘How Well Do You Know Your Co-Worker?’ — watch: http://bit.ly/2G3rNgn

Happy Friday! It’s a snowy start to February in D.C.! 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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NEWS THIS MORNING

First Fridays of the month are for jobs:

The economy added a robust 304,000 jobs in January. http://bit.ly/2G30FhA

For context: Economists had predicted 165,000 jobs for January.

Keep in mind: This is the second straight month of growth above 300,000.

The unemployment rate: Ticked up to 4 percent from 3.9 percent. That’s a sign that more people were entering the labor force.

It’s been a bad stretch for media companies:

Via The Hollywood Reporter, Vice Media’s CEO announced this morning that the company is laying off about 10 percent of its employees.

Details: “Around 250 jobs are expected to be cut, a company spokeswoman tells The Hollywood Reporter, as the 2,500-person Vice reduces redundancies internationally and reorients to focus on growth areas like film and television production and branded content. All departments at every level are expected to have layoffs, from IT to finance to television.” http://bit.ly/2GfqLgB

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

This morning — *cue dramatic tearing of the document*:

“The Trump administration announced Friday that it would suspend its obligations under a decades old Cold War arms control pact with Russia on Saturday, citing Moscow's violations of the treaty.” http://bit.ly/2Ggrjmz

From 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: “Russia has refused to take any steps to return to real and verifiable compliance over these 60 days. The United States will therefore suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty effective Feb. 2, and we will provide Russia and the other treaty parties with formal notice that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty effective in six months pursuant to Article 15 of the treaty.”

Yeeeea, that’s awkward. I’d cancel that briefing, too...:

The White House abruptly canceled 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’s daily intelligence meeting on Wednesday after CIA Director Gina Haspel and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, the top intelligence officials in the United States, contradicted the White House’s foreign policy in front of Congress. http://bit.ly/2S3PgEM

How Haspel and Coats contradicted the Trump administration: They testified that Iran has been complying with the Obama-era nuclear deal, said that North Korea likely won’t give up its nuclear weapons and said that ISIS is still a threat. Trump has publicly disagreed with each of these policies. http://bit.ly/2S3PgEM

ON CAPITOL HILL

Raise a glass to more lunch options!:

Via Roll Call’s Katherine Tully-McManus, a new &pizza is opening in the Rayburn House Office Building on Feb. 6. Details: http://bit.ly/2S6bqGB

IN OTHER NEWS

Democrats smell fresh meat:

Via The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant and Olivia Beavers, “Democrats have a new investigative target: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinShutdown clash looms after Democrats unveil spending bill Lawmakers fear voter backlash over failure to reach COVID-19 relief deal United Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE. The leaders of three powerful House committees are requesting a trove of documents related to the Treasury Department’s decision to lift sanctions on companies tied to Oleg Deripaska, a prominent Russian oligarch linked with Russian President Vladimir Putin.” http://bit.ly/2G4bwb4

Enough of this cold!:

An 18-year-old pre-medicine student at the University of Iowa froze to death this week. The temperature: “Temperatures at the university plunged to about minus 21 degrees, with a windchill as low as 51 degrees below zero, this week amid an Arctic front that has hit large parts of the country.” What we know: http://bit.ly/2GmpNzt

NOTABLE TWEETS

This is pretty bad acting...:

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: This man is accused of throwing ice on the floor of his workplace and faking a slip-and-fall in 2018 before filing a false insurance claim. https://t.co/JcGpd0C6Lx pic.twitter.com/cc1y0Cpi1i — CBS News (@CBSNews) February 1, 2019

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out. President Trump is in Washington, D.C., and is heading to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Vice President Pence is in Miami.

8:30 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence and Karen Pence Karen Sue PenceThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden, Pence elbow bump at NYC Sept. 11 ceremony The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill Pentagon, Trump, Biden to mark 9/11 anniversary MORE leave Washington, D.C., for Miami.

11:40 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence holds a roundtable with Venezuelan exiles in Miami.

11:45 a.m. EST: President Trump had a meeting in the Cabinet Room to discuss human trafficking on the southern border.

12:30 p.m. EST: President Trump has lunch with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

2 p.m. EST: Roger Stone will be in court. “Judge Amy Berman Jackson is expected to discuss and possibly rule on motions before her in which prosecutors have asked for more time to prepare for trial, citing ‘voluminous and complex’ evidence in the case.” (Via The Hill’s Lydia Wheeler) http://bit.ly/2UywtxU

4 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpMelania Trump: Ginsburg's 'spirit will live on in all she has inspired' The 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 MORE leave for the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. Keep in mind: This is the president’s first trip since Thanksgiving.

WHAT TO WATCH

12:35 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence speaks at a Venezuela solidarity event in Miami. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2zl0CZY

6:30 p.m. EST Sunday: The kickoff for Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. Preview from ESPN's Bill Barnwell: https://es.pn/2CZNkml

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Bubble Gum Day.

Wow, he got Bill Belichick to smile!:

For a segment on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' Kimmel's sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez went to the Super Bowl LIII Media Night and asked players and coaches some pretty weird questions. Watch -- the reactions from NFL players and coaches are hilarious: http://bit.ly/2BhpaUa

Including -- lol: Guillermo asked defensive tackle Aaron Donald, "If you guys win the Super Bowl, what fast food do you think Donald Trump will serve to you guys?" Watch his reaction: http://bit.ly/2Sg2iOR

Does anyone want a low-key wedding on, say, March 14, 2019?:

You can get married at &pizza on Pi Day. Here are details and the form to apply: http://bit.ly/2Wzwy6x

And to get your weekend off to the right start, here are ducks reacting to snow similarly to most people in Washington, D.C. I laughed out loud at this: http://bit.ly/2sZVE0E

Can’t you just hear the ducks quacking, “nope, nope, nope, nope?”