Iowa Poll: Trump 48%, Haley 20%, DeSantis 16%

Republican Nikki Haley has jumped to second place in the final Iowa Poll before Monday’s caucuses.
According to the influential Iowa Poll, Haley has overtaken Ron DeSantis but still trails Donald Trump by a substantial margin. Sponsored by the Des Moines Register, NBC News, and Mediacom, the poll shows Trump with 48 percent of likely Republican caucusgoers. Haley is now in second place at 20 percent, followed by DeSantis in third place at 16 percent. Overall, two-thirds of Iowans say their minds are made up.

Final weekend of campaigning before 2024 voting begins

It’s the final weekend of campaigning in Iowa for Republican presidential hopefuls before 2024 voting begins. Ahead of Monday’s caucuses, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley braved the elements on Saturday, stumping for votes in a state hit by blizzard conditions. Both candidates trail Donald Trump in the polls and are hoping for a solid finish –if not a last-minute surprise– to give them momentum into New Hampshire and beyond. Frigid, wintry weather forced the former president to cancel his two in-person rallies on Saturday. Monday’s weather is expected to be the coldest for any caucus day in history.

Iowa caucus-goers to face bone-chilling cold

It’s shaping up to be a cold caucus day in Iowa. As Iowa kicks off the presidential nominating season, caucus-goers better bundle up. Chad Hahn with the National Weather Service says Monday’s forecast calls for a high temperature of 1 degree. But Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann isn’t worried. He says Iowa is the heartland and he’s still expecting strong voter turnout.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest near White House

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested near the White House this weekend. Washington was one of several cities worldwide that held events calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza. Outside the White House, thousands gathered with people holding signs questioning President Biden’s support for Israel in the nearly 100-day war against Hamas. The president has said Israel has a right to go after the terrorists who attacked on October 7th, but he’s faced increasing opposition from fellow Democrats as the war has dragged on.

US, British militaries launch strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen

Backed by several allies, the U-S carried out military strikes against Houthi rebels because of their repeated attacks against international vessels in the Red Sea. In a White House statement, after the U-S and Britain struck dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen, the president said he “will not tolerate” the militant group’s ceaseless attacks. Mr. Biden said the attacks endangered U-S personnel and civilian mariners and jeopardized trade. The president went on to say, quote: “I will not hesitate to direct further measures” as necessary. A high-ranking Houthi official vowed there would be retaliation. GC, Wash.

Congressional Democrat calls for Sec. Austin’s resignation

A Democrat in Congress is urging President Biden’s defense secretary to resign. Representative Chris Deluzio of Pennsylania is the first Democrat to call for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s resignation. The Pentagon chief is under fire for keeping his cancer diagnosis, surgery, and hospitalization a secret from the White House. Deluzio, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, wrote on social media that he has “lost trust” in Austin’s leadership “due to the lack of transparency.” GC, Wash.

First Lady says Joe Biden’s age is an “asset”

First Lady Jill Biden is speaking out about her husband’s age. As President Biden faces persistent questions and concerns about running for re-election at age 81, the first lady says her husband’s age is an “asset.” In an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Jill Biden said her husband has wisdom and experience and knows every leader on the world stage. Joe Biden is already the oldest American leader in history and polls show most Americans, including a majority of Democrats, believe he’s too old for a second term.

Defense Sec. Austin hospitalized with prostate cancer, infection

Doctors say Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is recovering from prostate cancer surgery and a related infection. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Pentagon have released more details about Austin’s health and his secretive hospitalization. The 70-year-old defense secretary underwent prostate cancer surgery on December 22nd. Then, on January first, he was hospitalized with an infection. Doctors say the cancer was detected early and Austin’s prognosis is excellent. Questions still remain about why the defense secretary failed to notify the White House about his condition and his hospitalization for several days.

DC appeals court skeptical of Trump’s immunity claim

A Washington appeals court raised questions about Donald Trump’s claims that he is immune from criminal charges. Trump was in the courtroom as his legal team sought to convince a panel of three judges that former presidents should not be prosecuted for actions they took in office. The judges appeared skeptical. Trump’s lawyer said a former president could not be charged for conduct unless impeached and convicted by Congress — even if the conduct included selling military secrets or assassinating a political rival.

U.S. has tough talks with Israel about post-war Gaza

The United States is having tough talks with Israel about the future of post-war Gaza. Secretary of State Blinken met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of his war cabinet in Tel Aviv, urging them to avoid civilian harm in the war in Gaza. At the moment, the U.S. and Israel remain deeply divided over how Gaza will be run when — and if — the leaders of Hamas are defeated. Netanyahu has vowed not to allow a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

New Hampshire upset with national Dems in primary flap

New Hampshire’s attorney general has a beef with the national Democratic party leaders. A few days ago, DNC officials called New Hampshire’s presidential primary “meaningless.” That didn’t sit well with the state’s attorney general, who issued a cease and desist notice. John Formella warned that such a statement violates state law. New Hampshire bucked President Biden and the DNC by continuing to hold on to its traditional first-in-the-nation primary status even after the party decided it would begin its primary season in South Carolina.

At SC church, Biden denounces white supremacy as “poison”

Campaigning in South Carolina, President Biden denounced the “poison” of white supremacy.” The president’s second campaign speech of the new year took place at the site of a deadly racist church shooting in Charleston several years ago. As he courted Black voters, Mr. Biden described white supremacy as a “poison.” Last week, the president delivered a stark warning about the threat to democracy as he marked the third anniversary of the U-S Capitol riot.

Trump to attend immunity appeals court hearing in D.C.

White House to review Sec. Austin’s undisclosed hospitalization

The White House says it will review Defense Secretary Austin’s failure to disclose his hospitalization to President Biden and other top officials. The Pentagon chief was in the hospital for several days before the White House and military officials were notified. And National Security spokesman John Kirby says there will be a review. Kirby says President Biden “respects the fact that Secretary Austin took ownership for the lack of transparency” and that the secretary continues to have the president’s confidence.

Biden’s top border official faces GOP-led impeachment effort

House Republicans are moving ahead with efforts to impeach President Biden’s top border official. Later this week, a House committee will hold a hearing related to impeachment allegations against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republicans claim has been derelict in his duty of managing the U-S-Mexico border. Here at the White House, the chief spokesperson said President Biden has confidence in Mayorkas. Karine Jean-Pierre also dismissed the impeachment allegations as a “political stunt.”

White House, GOP blame each other over border crisis

President Biden and House Republicans are blaming each other over the southern border immigration crisis. Even as White House and Senate negotiators try to reach a bipartisan immigration deal, House Republicans are demanding tougher immigration policies. Speaker Mike Johnson and dozens of GOP members traveled to the border in Texas last week, where they blamed President Biden for the thousands of daily illegal crossings. White House officials called it a political stunt and blamed lawmakers for not approving more funding for border security.

U.S. claims Russia is using NKorean weapons in Ukraine war

The United States says Russia is using North Korean weapons in its war with Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says Russia recently fired ballistic missiles into Ukraine that were provided by North Korea. Kirby calls North Korea’s missile support for Russia’s war effort “a significant and concerning escalation.”

Wisconsin’s Dem Gov: Trump should remain on ballot

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor says Donald Trump should remain on the ballot in his state. Governor Tony Evers opposes efforts to keep Trump off the ballot in his battleground state. He says anyone who thinks the former president should be disqualified “can vote against him.” The Wisconsin governor also offers some advice to President Biden’s re-election campaign. He tells the AP that Joe Biden must be a frequent visitor to the state and focus on issues that matter to the middle class, not just the argument about preserving democracy.

Biden says “we nearly lost America” during 2021 Capitol assault

President Biden says “we nearly lost America” during the U-S Capitol riot three years ago. The president marked the third anniversary of the January 6th violence with a speech on Friday. He said it was a dark day for the country. He said Trump rioters who stormed the Capitol building were “insurrectionists, not patriots.” And he warned that “democracy is on the ballot” in this year’s election.

Trump campaigns in Iowa on third anniversary of 1/6 riot

Former President Trump is campaigning in Iowa on the third anniversary of the U-S Capitol riot.
Three years ago, Donald Trump was in the White House fighting to overturn the 2020 election results. Today, he’s holding two campaign rallies in Iowa in his bid to win back the White House. Trump has not ignored the events of January 6th, 2021. In fact, he has described those imprisoned for overrunning the Capitol building as “great patriots” and, at some campaign rallies, he has played a recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by jailed rioters.

Supreme Court to decide Trump presidential ballot case

The Supreme Court will decide whether Donald Trump can be kept off the 2024 presidential ballot. The justices agreed to take a Colorado case, inserting themselves in the presidential campaign. The move came after Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled that Trump should not be on the Republican primary ballot, declaring him ineligible for his role in the January 6th riot three years ago. With arguments to be heard next month, the nation’s highest court will consider for the first time the meaning and reach of the Constitution’s “insurrection” clause.

In campaign speech, Biden warns Trump is threat to democracy

In his first campaign speech of the year, President Biden warned that Donald Trump poses a grave threat to democracy. Speaking near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the president portrayed Trump as a danger to America’s core principles. His campaign speech came one day before the third anniversary of the January 6th Capitol riot — and he criticized Trump’s role in fomenting rioters and calling them patriots. The president said the future of American democracy is on the ballot in November and it’s what the campaign is “all about.”

Biden administration bypasses Congress to sell arms to Israel

Senate Democrats are unhappy with President Biden’s bypassing of Congress to sell emergency weapons to Israel. The president’s request of 14 billion dollars in aid to Israel is stalled on Capitol Hill, but the Biden administration went around Congress twice last month to help arm the Jewish state. Secretary of State Blinken made an emergency determination that allowed for the 148-million dollar sale of equipment to Israel. Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented. Several top Senate Democrats are slamming the White House for keeping Congress out of the process.

Iowa is the focus for GOP candidates as 2024 primary season arrives

Iowa is the focus of most Republican presidential candidates as the 2024 primary season gets ready to kick off.  Ron DeSantis spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day campaigning in Iowa. And the Florida governor has an unrelenting schedule ahead of him this week, with the Iowa caucuses just under two weeks away. And he’s not the only one. Former President Trump plans his own blitz over the final two weeks, including in deeply conservative northwest Iowa. Nikki Haley made stops in eastern Iowa late last week, while Vivek Ramaswamy also has stormed the state.