Sunday shows preview: Trump ballot bans threaten to upend 2024 as GOP vies for Iowa

As the calendar turns to 2024, the presidential election is set to take the spotlight in Sunday news shows.

The first vote of the 2024 cycle, the Iowa caucus, is just over a week away. There, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), who will be on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, hopes to upset former President Trump and kick-start his struggling presidential campaign. 

Trump leads polling in Iowa by a large, 34-point margin, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of polls. DeSantis trails with 18 percent support.

In recent weeks, a flurry of states have begun legal attempts to take former President Trump off their primary ballots, citing the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection clause.”

The most notable of those efforts, in Colorado, is now headed to the Supreme Court. The justices are set to decide whether Trump’s actions surrounding the Jan. 6 Capitol riots violate the 14th Amendment and disqualify him from office.

Democratic activists in Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Illinois also filed similar 14th Amendment challenges this week, after the Maine Secretary of State also barred Trump from its ballot last week. The upcoming Supreme Court case will likely be the most significant electoral case since Bush v. Gore, and determine who will be on the 2024 ballot.

Saturday marked the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, sparking widespread calls for action from activists and warnings from lawmakers about the threat of future political violence.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), one of the most vocal about the Jan. 6 riots, is set to appear on ABC’s “This Week,” and former Vice President Mike Pence — whom rioters chanted about hanging — will be on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

President Biden gave a harrowing speech Friday evening warning about the future of democracy and Jan. 6. 

“Democracy is on the ballot. Your freedom is on the ballot,” he said, in a speech that also directly attacked Trump. “Donald Trump’s campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future. He’s willing to sacrifice democracy to put himself in power.”

Biden campaign official Quentin Fulks is set to appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Immigration is set to be the focus for “Fox News Sunday,” with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) both facing off.

Abbott came under fire again this week for a migrant transportation program that has moved thousands of people from Texas to so-called “sanctuary cities” like New York City, Chicago and Denver.

New York City sued over a dozen transportation companies responsible for the migrant transports this week, claiming they broke state law. Johnston joined New York City and Chicago leaders in criticizing Abbott last week.

“All we want is a system that is humanitarian for both the new folks that are arriving and for our cities and our city employees. And so, we understand there will be an inflow, we have already had 35,000 migrants arrive to Denver, we’ve successfully helped them integrate into the country here,” Johnston said. “What we don’t want is people arriving at 2:00 in the morning at a city and county building with women and children outside in 10-degree weather and no support.”

Here’s the complete lineup for the Sunday news shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); Rep. Tony Gonzales, (R-Texas).

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.); Israeli President Isaac Herzog; Biden campaign official Quentin Fulks.

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.); Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md).

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Former Vice President Mike Pence; Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.).

“Fox News Sunday” — Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas); Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D); Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” — Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio); Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake (R); former Trump adviser Stephen Miller; former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe; Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).