It’s Wednesday. The Washington, D.C. area got completely pummeled in rain and wind yesterday. So by that incredibly low bar, it’s a beautiful day today! Here’s what’s happening in politics today: 

• Things got testy at a House Oversight Committee hearing this morning when Hunter Biden, President Biden's son, made a surprise appearance. However, he abruptly stood up and left when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) spoke. Oh and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) called for the younger Biden to be “arrested right here, right now.” Yes, there’s video.

• GOP presidential hopefuls Nikki Haley and Gov. Ron DeSantis (Fla.) are the only two candidates participating in tonight’s pre-Iowa debate.  

• Former President Trump is ditching the debate for a Fox News town hall, which doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it’s Fox’s first *live* interview with the former president in nearly two years. 

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.  

Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at the House Oversight Committee this morning as the panel considered a resolution to hold him in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena. 

Keep in mind: Biden offered to testify in a public hearing, but would not agree to testify behind closed doors as Republicans had requested. (The Hill) 

C-SPAN video of the hearing — you can see Hunter at the 9-minute, 26-second mark. 

Live blog with important highlights from the hearing 

Bruuuutal: When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) spoke, Hunter Biden stood up and walked out. Watch the clip 

^ Here’s another video of Hunter Biden exiting, from a different angle 

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) slammed Biden: “You are the epitome of white privilege. Coming into the Oversight Committee, spitting in our face, ignoring a congressional subpoena to be deposed. What are you afraid of? You have no balls to come up here.”  

And Mace called for Hunter to be arrested: “I think that Hunter Biden should be arrested right here, right now, and go straight to jail.”  

Omg, I’m cringing ????: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) misspoke while mentioning the insurrection. “Let’s talk about how President Trump incited an erection.” She catches herself and bursts out laughing, as does the whole hearing room. Then she added, “maybe that too.” Watch the clip 

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) asked colleagues if they want Hunter to testify today: “Let's take a vote. Who wants to hear from Hunter right now, today? Anyone?" Watch the clip 

Former President Trump made Republican senators uneasy by referring to people convicted of Jan. 6-related crimes as “hostages.”  

Trump said in Iowa: “They ought to release the J6 hostages. I call them hostages. Some people call them prisoners. I call them hostages. Release the J6 hostages, Joe [Biden]. Release them, Joe. You could do it real easy, Joe.” 

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton spoke to GOP senators to get a feel for their reaction.

Here are a few responses:

• From Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.): “I don’t condone that characterization at all, no.”  

• From Sen. John Cornyn (Texas): “Somebody who’s been duly convicted of a federal crime is not a hostage.”  

• Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said he stands by his previous characterization: McConnell was referring to denouncing Trump and the “criminals” who “were carrying his banners, hanging his flags and screaming their loyalty to him.”  

• From Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.): “That’s like calling drug traffickers unlicensed pharmacists. At the end of the day, they’re J6 convicts to me.”  

• Have any high-ranking Republicans agreed with Trump’s ‘hostage’ comments?: Yes, House Republican Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) said she has “concerns about the treatment of Jan. 6 hostages.” (The Hill) 

Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) is wearing a tie with his son’s face on the body of a superhero. 

From The Hill’s Mychael Schnell: “He tells us that his 14-year-old son gave it to him for Christmas and said he wouldn’t wear it — so now he’s going to preside over the House floor while wearing it.” Photo of Molinaro sporting the tie 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley will face off tonight in a one-on-one debate before Monday’s Iowa caucuses. 

Why just them?: GOP presidential candidates Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy didn’t qualify for this CNN debate.  

When is the debate?: 9 p.m.  

How do I watch it?: On CNN, CNN.com, CNN Max and CNN’s apps — did I mention it’s CNN? ???? 

Who is moderating?: CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash 

Why this debate matters so much: The Iowa caucuses are five days away (!), and DeSantis and Haley are neck-and-neck in Iowa as the alternative to former President Trump. A particularly good or bad showing for either could shift the dynamic. 

The Hill’s Niall Stanage wrote a great primer of what DeSantis and Haley each need to accomplish. 

• In Iowa: Trump has a 34.8 percent lead based on 43 polls. Full Iowa polling 
• In New Hampshire: Trump has a 11.0 percent lead based on 36 polls. Full N.H. polling 
• Biden vs. Trump nationally: Trump has a 1.2 percent lead based on 516 polls. Biden vs. Trump polls 
• Biden’s approval: Biden has a 42.4 percent approval rating based on 1005 polls. Biden approval polls 

Former President Trump, who is skipping the debate once again, will instead participate in a Fox News town hall at 9 p.m., moderated by hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. 

Why this is notable: This is the first time in nearly two years that Fox News is airing a live interview with Trump. It has been a rocky and dramatic few years for Fox News and Trump.  

Trump has been on Fox during that time, but the interviews were all pre-taped: It was “a notable precaution for a network that paid $787.5 million to settle a defamation lawsuit fueled by the former president’s mendacious claims about the 2020 election.” 

It took some convincing to get Trump to participate: Baier had to coax former President Trump into participating in tonight’s town hall. Baier said it wasn’t easy to get Trump to agree to the town hall, but said, “this is getting to the playoffs. This is a time when voters need to see him live...”  

The New York Times’s Michael M. Grynbaum explains the drama and beef between Fox and Trump. 

The Washington Post’s Jeremy Barr writes how the Fox News moderators will have to rebut former President Trump’s false claims in real time. What to expect 

Politico’s Jonathan Martin wrote a column on why he thinks Nikki Haley “won’t break through.”  

The gist: “[Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis] aren’t competing against Trump. They’re vying against one another for the pre-Trump GOP stub that’s overwhelmingly college-educated. It’s an intense race — but not one for the nom of today’s party,” Martin summed it up. 

In Iowa: “Haley and DeSantis are largely competing for the votes of Iowa’s upscale voters — DeSantis was in Waukee last week — while Trump is on course to roll with the overwhelming support of blue-collar Iowans.” 

Vs. New Hampshire: “And the reason why Haley has such high hopes in New Hampshire, particularly if Chris Christie drops out, is because the state is an outlier in the modern party: less religious, more educated and wealthier. She and Christie are sitting on the votes of a heavily upscale demographic, which if combined could make for a competitive race.” (Politico) 

ABC News and The Associated Press report that former President Trump is planning to personally deliver his closing arguments in the New York civil fraud trial later this week. 

Read the AP report / Read the ABC report 

???? Celebrate: Today is National Bittersweet Chocolate Day! 

???? Please no one ever explain to a salmon fish why the color ‘salmon’ is pink, not silver: The New York Times published an interesting explainer on how healthy salmon actually is. The gist: Wild and farmed salmon are both great. (The New York Times) 

???????? Katie Ledecky is a national treasure: Olympic gold medal swimmer Katie Ledecky balanced a glass of milk on her head while swimming laps. This clip is from 2020 but it is still worth watching if you haven’t seen it. Watch the video 

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

• 12:30 p.m.: Biden and Harris have lunch together. 

• 1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby brief reporters. ???? Livestream 

• 1:30 p.m.: First House votes. Last votes are scheduled around 4 p.m. ????️ Today’s agenda 

• 5:35 p.m.: Harris ceremonially swears in Nathalie Rayes as Ambassador to Croatia.

To leave you with a smile, here’s a giraffe playing with a baby giraffe.  

A friend forward this to you? Subscribe here.

View past issues of 12:30 Report here and check out other newsletters from The Hill here. See you next time!