The Hill's 12:30 Report: Warren stirs 2020 run | Kerry’s Israel-Palestine speech | Trump takes on Obama in tweets | National Chocolate Candy Day ............MORE

The Hill's 12:30 Report: Warren stirs 2020 run | Kerry’s Israel-Palestine speech | Trump takes on Obama in tweets | National Chocolate Candy Day To view online --> http://bit.ly/2iqRGaU

FRIENDS SHOULDN’T BE TALKING ABOUT FRIENDS IN THIRD PERSON, GUYS: Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday took aim at Israel’s government as he defended the administration's decision to allow the U.N. Security Council to pass resolution condemning the country's settlement activity. “Friends need to tell each other the hard truths and friendships require mutual respect,” Kerry said during a speech at the State Department. http://bit.ly/2i7ELNk Highlights: THROWBACK — Where Kerry got that line: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday: “As I told [Secretary of State] John Kerry on Thursday, friends don’t take friends to the Security Council." http://bit.ly/2hklx2X   Politico’s Nahal Toosi Kerry, to Palestinians: "There is absolutely no justification for terrorism and there never will be." http://bit.ly/2iep7Op Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui Kerry: "If the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or Democratic. It cannot be both." http://bit.ly/2hwEch4 Jerusalem Post’s Michael Wilner "The vote in the UN was about preserving the two-state solution," Kerry says. "This administration has been Israel'a greatest friend.” http://bit.ly/2ihH8hn The Hill’s Jordan Fabian Kerry calls Netanyahu government "the most right-wing in Israeli history with an agenda driven by the most extreme elements.” http://bit.ly/2i7FPRr The Hill’s Jesse Byrnes Despite best efforts, Kerry says, "The two-state solution is now in serious jeopardy" http://bit.ly/2hNLGbG Happy Wednesday of the holiday week! I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of what’s going on this week. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook. OK, EVERY TIME A POLITICIAN TEASES A 2020 RUN, THEY HAVE TO PUT A DOLLAR IN A JAR: Sen. Elizabeth Warren is set to bolster her Senate resume next year, sparking early talk about a 2020 presidential bid. The Massachusetts Democrat will join the Armed Services Committee in 2017, branching out beyond the tough-on-Wall Street message that made her a liberal favorite. Why: Filling the gaps in her resume, according to media speculation. http://bit.ly/2iqJvM3   BUT WHILE WE’RE ON THE TOPIC…: Here are the top 15 Democratic presidential candidates for 2020. http://bit.ly/2ie1zsS   NEW — THESE EMAILS ARE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING, HUH?: A federal appeals court has breathed new life into a pair of cases seeking to force the Justice Department to sue former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to recover more emails from her private server. What they ruled: The State Department’s review of Clinton’s emails was insufficient. Basically, we’re going to continue to hear about this. http://bit.ly/2iEpfpg   SO THE NATURAL QUESTION, WHO’S THE BLACK SHEEP?: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says President-elect Donald Trump is at odds with nearly the entire Senate over whether Russia interfered in the election. “There are 100 United States senators. ... I would say that 99 percent of us believe that the Russians did this, and we’re going to do something about it,” Graham said. We’re dying to know: Who’s the only senator to disagree? http://bit.ly/2iEgifP   TWITTER-PLOMACY OF THE DAY — LET ME AT ‘EM!!: President-elect Donald Trump criticized President Obama early Wednesday for making “inflammatory” statements during the transition period. “Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks. Thought it was going to be a smooth transition — NOT!” Trump tweeted. http://bit.ly/2hovDQo   CRAM IT ALL IN: Via The Hill’s Lydia Wheeler, here are five regulations that the Obama administration could push through in his final days: Occupational safety, forced arbitration, incentive-based compensation, stoves and organic meat. What each mean: http://bit.ly/2iEgADq

NOTABLE TWEETS: IJ Review’s Justin Green (Omg, the article is even worse than the tweet.) This guy couldn't be sure which of his friends voted Trump, so he cancelled his holiday party to be sure none came. http://bit.ly/2iEmUig  Sirius XM Host Eric Alper (This tweet got a lot of traction. Check out the replies.) Without revealing your actual age, what something you remember that if you told a younger person they wouldn't understand? http://bit.ly/2hoD1Ly

ON TAP: President-elect Donald Trump is at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. He will remain there until New Year’s Day.  President Obama is vacationing in Hawaii with his family. Congress is out until Jan. 3.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...: Today is National Chocolate Candy Day! WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE WAY TO HANDLE THIS: A woman at this week’s Cowboys game carried a sign that read: “My fiancé dumped me in a text message. He should have waited until after Christmas.” I.e.: Journalist Alex McDaniel tweeted the moment and added: "Her fiancé dumped her VIA TEXT before finding out she bought him Cowboys tickets for Christmas. She's doing fine.” Photo: http://r29.co/2iqIweL   ALL THE FROLLICKING!: Via NBC Washington, all Virginia state parks will be open for free on New Year’s Day. http://bit.ly/2ie5TZ6   And because you read this far, meet Crusoe, the celebrity daschund puppy who is rocking a raincoat and umbrella. Who needs opposable thumbs to operate an umbrella?! http://bit.ly/2hrAst3   Now, go back to your previously scheduled holiday programming and we’ll be back next week. Happy New Year’s, friends!