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12:30 REPORT

It's Monday. Can you believe it is *still* January? I swear there are at least 70 days in this month. Anyway, here's what's happening today:

Former President Trump is sabotaging the chances of a border deal. He's reportedly calling Republicans and telling them to oppose a deal. Why? Two reasons: To deny President Biden the victory and so Trump can run on it.
The Kansas City Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. My social media feeds are chock full of photos of Taylor Swift celebrating her boyfriend Travis Kelce on the field after the game.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is increasing her stock as a prospect for former President Trump's running mate, assuming he wins the nomination.

I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. 

🧱 In Congress

Negotiations are especially hard when the goalposts keep moving:

The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports that "Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has made supporting the war in Ukraine a signature policy priority, but his efforts have been complicated by fellow Republicans, including former President Trump, who are moving the goalposts on the issue."

Then and now: Before Thanksgiving, McConnell seemed to be in good shape with negotiations. "But at a special meeting of the Republican conference Wednesday afternoon, McConnell acknowledged, according to a GOP senator in the room, that 'the political situation has drifted.'"

💡 What changed?: "Republican senators say Trump is now telling GOP lawmakers he wants to deny President Biden a victory and run on the issue."

📍Over The Weekend

A drone strike killed three U.S. troops:

Three U.S. troops were killed in an Iranian-backed drone strike in Jordan on Saturday night.

Biden's response: Biden vowed to respond — and held a moment of silence for the killed soldiers.

New this morning — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said "the president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops." Iran has denied involvement in the attack.

Austin made the remarks on his first day back in person at the Pentagon following a hospitalization earlier this month. The Defense chief was hospitalized following an infection stemming from surgery to treat prostate cancer.

🥾 On The Campaign Trail

You may be hearing a lot about Elise Stefanik over the next few months:

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), the No. 4 House Republican, has increasingly positioned herself to become former President Trump's running mate if he wins the GOP presidential nomination.

Just as a few examples: "She's made campaign stops to boost the former president, frequently issues statements and social media messages backing him and at times echoes his controversial language. She's also made political and legislative moves that highlight her loyalty to Trump."

A specific example: "In early January, Stefanik yanked her endorsement of Craig Riedel, a GOP House candidate in Ohio, after leaked audio showed him calling Trump 'arrogant' and saying he did not want the former president's endorsement. In a post on X, she said 'I was very disappointed in his inappropriate comments regarding President Trump.'"

Read more from The Hill's Mychael Schnell and Caroline Vakil — 'Elise Stefanik sees stock rise in Trump 'veepstakes''

➤ HERE ARE OTHER POTENTIAL VP PICKS FOR TRUMP:

The list includes Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) among others. The Washington Post

➤ HEADLINES ON THE CAMPAIGN:

'The 2024 Republican Primary Was Over Before It Began': Read Susan Glasser in The New Yorker

'Why Nikki Haley Has So Few Friends Left in South Carolina Politics': The New York Times

'Get Ready for the Longest Presidential Campaign Ever, Featuring the Oldest Candidates': The Wall Street Journal

'Trump is killing the idea that 'all politics is local.' The GOP primary proves it.': Politico

How Does Biden's travel measure up with his predecessors?: The Boston Globe's Jim Puzzanghera posted: "Despite questions about his age and stamina, a Globe analysis found that Biden's travel in 2023 stacked up comparably with his two immediate predecessors in the third years of their presidencies — and in some measures exceeded them." ( The Boston Globe)

'How did Ron DeSantis fall so far, so fast and so hard?': Op-ed from political adviser Douglas E. Schoen, who served as an adviser to President Clinton and Michael Bloomberg's 2020 presidential campaign.

🧣🏈 Dominating Social Media

The real congratulations goes to CBS:

The Kansas City Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 11. While both of those teams technically won their respective games Sunday night, the real winner is CBS, which will air the Super Bowl that may feature superstar Taylor Swift, who has been cheering on her boyfriend Travis Kelce at games this season.

I can't scroll on social media for more than a few seconds without seeing a reference to this: Swift appeared on the field after the game to celebrate with Kelce after winning on Sunday. 📹 Watch Taylor and Travis celebrate / Another video of them celebrating

Will she be at the Super Bowl?: Swift has a concert in Tokyo the day before the Super Bowl. The change in time zones would help her make the game. 📹 This 'West Wing' clip helps explain whether she can make it. (h/t X user @RohitaKadambi)

This is a nice moment: Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Swift got each other's attention in the postgame celebrations. 📸 Swift and Reid pointing at one another — with 51,000+ likes

OMG, I can't unsee this: @ofthemisery posted side-by-side photos of Swift and Kelce celebrating next to High School Musical's Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez. "spot the difference," the caption reads. 📸 Photo comparison — with 62,000+ likes

Comparing the teams' logos: Pop Base posted side-by-side photos of the two teams' logos. "so basically it's between red and red (taylor's version)," @picturetokurn pointed out. 📸 Photos — with 50,000+ likes

'How Often Is Taylor Swift Actually Shown at N.F.L. Games?': "TV broadcasts are focusing on it less than many seem to think," reports The New York Times's Benjamin Hoffman.

🐝 Internet Buzz

🌽 Celebrate: Today is National Corn Chip Day!

🏥 Princess Kate is out of the hospital: The Princess of Wales has been discharged after having abdominal surgery on Jan. 16. The palace did not give details of the surgery but said it was not cancerous, according to The Associated Press. (AP)

💅 The latest TikTok trend: Hundreds of videos are popping up on TikTok of young women trying out the "mob wife aesthetic." Think: Fur coats, leopard print and heavy makeup. Here's a New York Times explainer on the new fashion trend.

🍸 Some Dry January highlights: The Washington Post's Allison Robicelli rates "the best nonalcoholic gins, rums, whiskeys, tequilas and bitters." (The Washington Post)

🗓 On The Agenda

The House is in. The Senate is out. President Biden is in Washington, D.C., and Vice President Harris is in San Jose, Calif. (all times Eastern)

1:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby brief reporters. 💻 Livestream
3:20 p.m.: Harris participates in a moderated conversation with actress and activist Sophia Bush as part of her nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra also speaks. 💻 Livestream
5:30 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff speak at a campaign reception in Los Gatos, Calif.
6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 🗓️ Today's agenda
3 p.m. Tuesday: The Senate meets. 🗓️ Tuesday's agenda