It’s Monday. Christmas is a week from today (!), and the Iowa caucuses are four weeks from today. 🤯 But as Buddy the Elf would tell us, treat every day like Christmas! Here’s what we’re covering today:

• Negotiators worked all weekend but still haven’t reached a deal for border security in exchange for aid to Ukraine and Israel.  At this point, it would take a heroic effort to pass anything this week… 

• Southwest Airlines was fined a record $140 million for last year’s holiday flight debacle.
• Pope Francis made a big step today by allowing priests to bless same-sex relationships.
• I asked members of Congress to tell me their favorite holiday movies. A few correctly responded with “Elf,” and only one member said “Die Hard.”

Filing with a peppermint mocha in hand, 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.  

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I’m taking off some time for the holidays, so Liz Crisp will be writing The Hill’s 12:30 Report for the rest of the week! Happy holidays and THANK YOU for reading! I can’t wait to experience all of the chaos *nervous laugh* in 2024 with you all. 🎄🎅🍾

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^ Here’s a deep cut for all the 80s and 90s kids reading this. Remember the Nickelodeon show "Figure It Out?" Here’s a clip from the show.

Senate negotiators worked through the weekend on a deal to fund Ukraine and Israel in exchange for border security measures, but they still have not reached an agreement.

Where does the package stand?: No deal has been reached. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told colleagues on Thursday that he plans to set up a vote for this week.

The immigration portion: The package will reportedly include new authority to expel migrants without asylum screenings and expand detention and deportation policies. This is a priority for Republicans.

^ The emerging deal is causing some strife among Senate Democrats: Some Democrats, including Latino caucus members, worry the immigration provisions will be too harsh. But on the other hand, some Democrats acknowledge the problem at the border and think President Biden should address the issue. More on the Dem-on-Dem tensions

A logistical problem: In order to pass the bill this week with a short turnaround, Schumer could advance the legislative vehicle for the package before the details are hashed out. That concerns his Democratic colleagues, who worry the bill could move too quickly without them having enough time to understand the details.

How this process is putting Biden in a bind: The Hill’s Alexander Bolton points out that President Biden is already having problems with young Democrats over his Israel-Palestine policies. And now, this emerging food fight is adding tension within his Latino base.

“Biden’s readiness to embrace a deal appears to be part of a calculation that he needs to appeal more to moderate and independent voters to win reelection, given the persistent skepticism among many younger progressives about a second Biden term.” (The Hill)

🥯 Tidbit from the weekend negotiations: White House staff brought a big bag of Call Your Mother bagels to the morning meeting on Saturday. Photo

If these border talks stretch into January — which they very likely could — Congress is looking at a brutal start to 2024. Aside from this package, lawmakers have two looming government funding deadlines in January and February.

‘Congress stares down brutal January,’ from The Hill’s Al Weaver

How Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s wartime ambassador to the U.S., has had to advocate for her country’s needs, via Laura Kelly. (The Hill)

✈️ Southwest’s record fine for the chaos last Christmas: The U.S. Department of Transportation fined Southwest Airlines $140 million in the settlement over the holiday travel debacle in 2022. Most of the settlement will go to passengers; a $35 million fine will go to the government. (AP)

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⛪️ Pope Francis approved same-sex blessings: The Vatican announced this morning that priests can bless same-sex relationships. This is a big deal for the Catholic Church. (The New York Times) 

🚔  A car crashed into Biden’s motorcade: A car crashed into an SUV that was part of President Biden and first lady Jill Biden’s motorcade in Delaware on Sunday night. The Bidens were not injured. (The Hill)

🕊️ Happening at the Supreme Court: The late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is lying in repose at the Supreme Court today. Her funeral is Tuesday. (NBC News) / Video of her casket’s arrival

☔️ A powerful rainstorm is pounding the northeast: More than 450,000 customers lost power. (CNN)

In a working forest, we’re guided by a simple principle: plant more trees than we harvest. That’s why we plant over one billion trees in the U.S. every single year. Learn more. 

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I’ve been glued to the “25 Days of Christmas” movies lately, and I know I can’t be the only one. I’ve been asking members of Congress to tell me their favorite holiday movies. I mostly agree with their responses, though I hadn’t heard of one of the movies. Here are their responses:

Reps. Anne Kuster (D-N.H.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.): “A Christmas Story.” Tidbit: The movie is set in Young's home state!

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) and Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.) all ~correctly~ answered: “Elf.” I deem these lawmakers are *not* cotton-headed ninnymuggins. Scott said he also loves watching “The Muppets Christmas Carol” with his grandkids.

Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) gave easily the most controversial answer: “Die Hard.” So, 12:30 readers, do we consider it a holiday movie? Let me know.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has a tradition to watch “Casablanca” with her husband Bruce every New Year's Eve.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) had the most classic answer possible: “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) likes “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Home Alone.”

Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.):  “It’s a Wonderful Life,” with an honorable mention for “The Muppet Christmas Carol.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s (D-Ill.): “Love Actually.”

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.): “White Christmas.”

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.): “Going My Way.” At the risk of getting roasted by all of you, I have to admit — I hadn’t heard of that movie.

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.): “A Christmas Prince.”

Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) will be watching “his new favorite Christmas classic: ‘Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour (Extended Version).’” I’m not sure I would consider that a holiday movie, but I also plan to watch it!

And finally, Rep. Buddy Carter’s (R-Ga.) favorite: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” YES. It’s a beaut, Clark, it’s a beaut.

For full disclosure, your author’s husband works for Sen. Markey.

🖍️ Celebrate: Today is National Roast Suckling Pig Day. But more importantly, it’s National Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day. If you need a tutorial, click here.

🎅 Is that Skinny Santa?!: Former President Obama showed up at a school in Chicago to read a book. He referred to himself as “Skinny Santa.” Lol. Watch

🎤 Spotted in the White House press briefing room: Conan O’Brien — photo

🍦 This is so wholesome: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) posted: “Windsor Heights Dairy Queen is good for u kno what: ICE CREAM even in the winter (year round too.)” Photo of Grassley smiling with his DQ ice cream

🌲 ‘It Took 10 Years to Grow This Christmas Tree. The Price? $105’: (The New York Times)

The House is out. The Senate is in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C., with light schedules. (all times Eastern)

• This morning: The Supreme Court held a tribute ceremony for the late Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. C-SPAN video
• 5:30 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff host another holiday reception.
• 5:30 p.m.: The Senate holds a confirmation vote on Martin O’Malley to be commissioner of Social Security. 🗓️ Today’s agenda
• Jan. 15: The Iowa caucuses. 🗓️ Details

To leave you feeling cheery, here’s a litter of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeers.

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