By Nolan D. McCaskill (nmccaskill@politico.com or @NolanDMcCaskill) and Heather Caygle (hcaygle@politico.com or @heatherscope)

JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP’S DACA WIND-DOWN — A San Francisco-based federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s wind-down of an Obama-era program that provides quasi-legal status and work permits to Dreamers, young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup ordered the administration to continue accepting renewal applications, ruling that Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ conclusion that the program was illegal appeared to be “based on a flawed legal premise.”

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“Unless halted by a higher court, the ruling will allow former DACA recipients who failed to renew by an October 5 deadline a chance to submit renewal applications and will also require the administration to allow renewal of applications expiring in the future,” Josh Gerstein reports. “If the judge’s order remains in place, it could also roil ongoing legislative efforts on DACA by undercutting the urgency many advocates have expressed, calling for legislation to be passed before large numbers of Dreamers begin losing their protected status in March.” More: http://politi.co/2mdNOwB

LAWMAKERS ALMOST AGREE TO AGREE ON IMMIGRATION PARAMETERS — It’s unclear how the federal court ruling will impact DACA talks on the Hill. Before the federal judge’s decision, Republicans emerged from Trump’s bipartisan White House immigration summit Tuesday with at least one thing: progress. “Numerous attendees of the highly anticipated White House meeting left assured that a deal to address the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program would include four main parts: legal status for Dreamers, more robust border security, an overhaul of family-based immigration laws and a change to a controversial visa lottery program,” Seung Min, Heather, Ted Hesson and Rachael report.

“But some House Democrats say they won’t accept those parameters,” they report, noting that some Democrats are insistent that debates over chain migration and the diversity visa lottery program come after a deal to legalize Dreamers. “Meanwhile, there’s also a restive faction of House Republicans pushing their leadership to take a hard line early in the immigration fight, worried that the more moderate Senate will ultimately jam their chamber with a Dreamer deal they can’t accept.” Much more: http://politi.co/2FkQSQh

Related read: No invite? No problem. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) successfully crashed the White House meeting, according to Heather and Seung Min: http://politi.co/2mcvKDa

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CONSIDER LIFTING EARMARKS BAN — The House Rules Committee will hold its first hearing for members on reinstating earmarks on Jan. 18, with another hearing set for Jan. 19 to bring in outside groups. The resuscitated debate over earmarks is looming even as fellow Republicans criticize the banned practice of designating money for pet projects back home as a symbol of the Washington swamp Trump pledged to drain, Sarah Ferris reports.

But Trump seemingly endorsed the practice during Tuesday’s immigration meeting, insisting that lawmakers got along in the era of earmarks. “Maybe all of you should start thinking about going back to a form of earmarks,” the president suggested. “Maybe that brings people together. Our system the way it is set up will never bring people together.” More: http://politi.co/2mkCLCF

Still, as the Washington Post’s Paul Kane points out, there’s a laundry list of ideas Trump has endorsed in the past that went nowhere on the Hill: ending the debt limit and raising the gas tax, among many others.

WOOHOO, IT’S WEDNESDAY! Thanks for reading Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Jan. 10.

TUESDAY’S MOST CLICKED: Sen. Angus King’s (I-Maine) Instagram display of bipartisan-shop with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) was by far the winner.

TRUMP ADMIN HANDS SCOTT A WIN ON FLORIDA COASTAL DRILLING — The Trump administration no longer intends to allow oil and gas drilling to the waters off the coast of Florida, granting a political win to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a potential GOP Senate candidate against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Zinke’s surprise announcement “outraged environmentalists and Democrats who insist the decision was a political ploy that unlawfully gave preferential treatment to Florida,” Marc Caputo, Ben Lefebvre, Matt Dixon and Bruce Ritchie report. “Zinke made sure that the term-limited governor got all the credit.” Much more: http://politi.co/2D1evQA

SCALISE HAVING SURGERY TODAY — House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) will undergo “a planned surgery” today as he continues to recover from June’s congressional baseball practice shooting. Scalise said he has made “tremendous progress” despite Wednesday’s scheduled surgery. “I will remain fully engaged in my work as I heal from this procedure, and I look forward to returning to the Capitol as soon as I can within the coming weeks,” he added. More: http://politi.co/2Fk3R4Q

DEMS STEP UP RUSSIA PUSHBACK — Democrats, tired of what they see as GOP efforts to undercut the Russia investigations, are going on the offensive. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, is releasing a report today detailing Russian election meddling around the world — an effort to ramp up pressure on the administration to slap new sanctions on the Kremlin. And yesterday, Senate Judiciary ranking member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) unexpectedly released the transcript of the panel’s August 2017 interview with Glenn Simpson, the co-founder of Fusion, the firm behind the Trump dossier, angering Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Elana with more: http://politi.co/2CYZOgQ

Details from the Simpson interview: Simpson told congressional investigators that “the FBI found the dossier credible because an undisclosed ‘human source’ associated with Trump had offered the bureau corroborating information,” Kyle Cheney reports. “Simpson's attorney also said it was dangerous to discuss the dossier's sources because its public release last year had already led to murder.” More: http://politi.co/2CXzVhh

PHOTO DU JOUR: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J) was a bit late returning to the Hill from the immigration meeting because Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) “had a little car trouble” — a Tester aide said his car battery died — and “[f]riends don’t leave friends at the White House.” “When something breaks down—whether it’s in Washington or a wheat field—I fix it,” Tester tweeted. See the senators under the hood: http://bit.ly/2mcNJJT

ROMNEY’S WIFE ALL-IN FOR SENATE BID — Mitt Romney’s closest ally, his wife Ann, is fully behind a Utah Senate bid and is encouraging the former presidential nominee to jump in the race. “One reason Ann Romney is behind the bid, the people said, is that she, like her husband, is alarmed by President Trump’s style of politics and his rapid takeover of the Republican Party,” Matt Viser reports for the Boston Globe. Romney is expected to run, but his announcement was delayed after longtime Mormon Church President Thomas Monson died Jan. 2. More: http://bit.ly/2ALpDef

NEW YEAR, NEW SENATE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, FOR SOME — Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) made history as the first pair of black senators to sit simultaneously on the Judiciary Committee. “Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones will sit on the Banking, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Homeland Security and Aging panels,” Roll Call’s Niels Lesniewski reports. “Sen. Tina Smith, Minnesota’s new appointed senator, has received assignments to the Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources, HELP and Indian Affairs committees.” More on committee reshuffling: http://bit.ly/2qOIKob

Related: “Womack clinches endorsement for House Budget chairmanship,” via Rachael, Sarah and Jennifer Scholtes: http://politi.co/2mg41l1

PARDON ME: SHERIFF JOE ENTERS ARIZONA SENATE RACE — Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, 85, is running to replace retiring Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. President Donald Trump pardoned Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt in a racial profiling case, in August. “The polarizing yet iconic former Maricopa County sheriff, beloved by many conservatives for his hawkish immigration policies, presents an alternative to the unimpressive Kelli Ward and a potential obstacle to Rep. Martha McSally,” who is expected to announce a Senate bid, David Drucker reports for the Washington Examiner. Much more: http://washex.am/2AJz3Xy

JUDGES TOSS N.C. CONGRESSIONAL MAP — In a unanimous decision Tuesday, a three-judge panel struck down North Carolina’s congressional map as “an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander, giving the state legislature only two weeks to adopt a new map and potentially throwing this year's elections into chaos,” Elena Schneider reports. The candidate filing deadline is Feb. 28, with the primary election set for May 8. In the meantime, Republican legislative leaders are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. The state also had to redraw its congressional map in 2016 “after a previous version was ruled unconstitutional for illegally using race to draw two seats.” More: http://politi.co/2CX2POG

FEMALE DEMS TO WEAR BLACK AT TRUMP’S FIRST SOTU — A group of congresswomen plans to wear black at Trump’s Jan. 30 State of the Union address in solidarity with victims of sexual misconduct. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) told NBC News that there’s a lot of support for the symbolic protest within the Democratic Women’s Working Group, which comprises every female House Democrat. Other men and women of both parties are invited to join in the echo of actions at Sunday’s Golden Globes. More: http://nbcnews.to/2ErBws0

FOR YOUR RADAR — Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) will meet with Attorney General Jeff Sessions on federal marijuana policy today. Gardner “is prepared, if he doesn’t get his way, to block all nominees related to the Department of Justice, including U.S. marshals and U.S. attorneys from other states,” Mark K. Matthews reports for the Denver Post: http://dpo.st/2AK8WQC

Driverless Cars and the Future of Mobility — At the 2018 North American International Auto Show, POLITICO will host a live panel conversation on the future of transportation and autonomous vehicles: What are the sticking points? Will there be a mobility revolution for older Americans and people with disabilities? Speakers include: Joan Claybrook, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety; Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio); Sherif Markaby, Ford Motor Company; Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.); Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) Jan 16, 2018 – Doors open 10:45 a.m. – Main Stage, Cobo Center - One Washington Blvd. Detroit, MI. RSVP: here.

MOVING ON UP — Rob Friedlander joined Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-Texas) office last week as communications director and senior adviser.

TODAY IN CONGRESS — The House gavels in at 10 a.m. with first votes around 2:15 p.m. and last votes around 4:30 p.m. Today’s agenda: http://bit.ly/2EsSWEM. The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. to resume consideration of judicial nominee Thomas Lee Robinson Parker. The upper chamber will hold a roll call vote on Parker’s confirmation at 2:30 p.m., followed by a vote related to Michael Lawrence Brown’s judicial nomination.

AROUND THE HILL — House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will hold his weekly pen and pad at 10 a.m. in H-144. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) will hold a news conference with a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers to discuss support of reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act at 10 a.m. in 2247 Rayburn.

Democratic Caucus Chairman Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chairwoman Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) will hold a media availability at 10:30 a.m. in HVC-Studio A.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez (R-P.R.) will hold a news conference with seven members of the Puerto Rico Statehood Commission “to demand to be seated in the” House and Senate “as the legitimate lawmakers of America’s 51st state” at noon in 121 Cannon.

Reps. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.), Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) and several other lawmakers will hold a news conference on the release of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force’s 2018 legislative agenda for the 115th Congress at noon in HVC-Studio A.

Hoyer and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) will join more than 100 Dreamers with FWD.us to call for passage of a permanent solution to allow Dreamers to remain in the U.S. at 2:15 p.m. at the House Triangle.

TUESDAY’S TRIVIA WINNER — Jon Deuser was first to correctly guess two Division I football programs that graduated a U.S. president and a Super Bowl-winning quarterback: Michigan — Gerald Ford and Tom Brady; and Navy — Jimmy Carter and Roger Staubach. An honorable mention goes to Conaway B. Haskins III, who was first to name those and the remaining two: Miami (Ohio) — Benjamin Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger; and Stanford — Herbert Hoover and John Elway/Jim Plunkett.

TODAY’S TRIVIA — Arizona Senate candidate Joe Arpaio will turn 86 in June. Who is the oldest Senate freshman ever? The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: nmccaskill@politico.com.

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