It’s Wednesday. The temperature in Washington, D.C., is dropping, but thankfully, the sun is shining today. Here’s what’s coming up:
Former President Trump was barred from the Colorado primary ballot by the state Supreme Court Tuesday. We dive into the why and what’s next as the 2024 primaries inch closer. Key election dates to know in the new year.
President Biden travels to Wisconsin to tout growth of Black businesses in Milwaukee.
I’m Elizabeth Crisp, filling in for Cate, with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. Send me your tips: ecrisp@thehill.com and follow me on X @elizabethcrisp.
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Colorado could be one candidate lighter in 2024:
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The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that President Trump would be removed from the state’s Republican primary ballot under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause. The court decision cites his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, as a potential breach of the clause — which prevents those who take an oath of office from engaging in insurrection or launching a rebellion against the U.S. government. But, whether he can officially be barred is expected to ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
What’s next: Trump’s inevitable appeal, which his campaign vowed is coming, to the U.S. Supreme Court will pause his disqualification for the time being. It will be up to the justices to decide whether to take up the case.
Colorado’s primary is March 5, and because the state law requires ballots to be printed early next month, his name likely will likely still appear among his GOP rivals.
The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee have a comprehensive explainer of how this could all play out here.
Trump card: “A SAD DAY IN AMERICA!!!” Trump posted to Truth Social after the court’s decision, calling it “A SHAME FOR OUR COUNTRY!!!”
His campaign quickly began fundraising off the decision with an “urgent” plea for donations as he plans to “take this fight all the way to the UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.” |
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North Carolina’s election board has dismissed a voter’s challenge to Trump’s candidacy on the primary ballot there, citing a lack of authority to consider the challenge.
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The Michigan Court of Appeals earlier this month blocked a series of challenges to Trump’s candidacy related to Jan. 6.
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Minnesota’s state Supreme Court ruled last month that Trump’s name should remain on the ballot, amid a 14th Amendment challenge there.
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➤ 2024 GOP RIVALS WEIGH IN:
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: “The Left invokes ‘democracy’ to justify its use of power, even if it means abusing judicial power to remove a candidate from the ballot based on spurious legal grounds. SCOTUS should reverse.”
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley: “I want to see this in the hands of the voters. … We’re going to win this the right way, we’re going to do what we need to do, but the last thing we want is judges telling us who can and can’t be on the ballot.”
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: “I do not believe Donald Trump should be prevented from being President of the United States, by any court. I think he should be prevented from being the President of the United States by the voters of this country.”
Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy: “[The] decision is the latest election interference tactic to silence political opponents and swing the election for whatever puppet the Democrats put up this time by depriving Americans of the right to vote for their candidate of choice. … The Framers of the 14th Amendment would be appalled to see this narrow provision — intended to bar former U.S. officials who switched to the Confederacy from seeking public office — being weaponized by a sitting President and his political allies to prevent a former President from seeking reelection.”
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Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) will introduce legislation that would bar federal funds for election administration from states “misusing” the 14th Amendment, in the wake of the ruling.
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Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb thinks the U.S. Supreme Court could rule “9-0” in Trump’s favor.
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New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, often referred to as the “Trump whisperer” because of her deep insight into the former president, says Trump’s allies see the Colorado ruling as a “gift.”
The Colorado Republican Party on Tuesday threatened to switch its presidential nominating process from a primary to a caucus system
Biden on Wednesday said there’s “no question” former President Trump supported an insurrection after the Colorado court decision.
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Another temporary cease-fire could be brewing for Israel, Hamas: |
Israeli President Isaac Herzog says the country may be working toward another temporary cease-fire against Hamas for the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza if the militant group agrees to release more hostages who were taken during the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the ongoing conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also has acknowledged that Israel is working to restart negotiations with Hamas.
“There is an effort by brokers,” Herzog said during a virtual discussion held by the Atlantic Council this week. “I don’t know much more than that because I’m not involved in the details.” (The Hill) |
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited service members stationed on the USS Gerald R. Ford this week during his trip to the Middle East.
The USS Ford aircraft carrier ship was sent to the eastern Mediterranean along with the USS Eisenhower after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. (The Hill) |
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Biden heads to Wisconsin to tout Black business growth: |
President Biden is in Milwaukee today to highlight what the White House is calling a Black small business boom.
The Hill’s Alex Gangitano has more on the effort here.
Why it matters: While not technically a campaign event, it’s no coincidence that Biden’s heading to crucial battleground Wisconsin to promote his administration as he seeks a second term.
Black business ownership has seen a sharp increase since Biden took office —the share of Black households owning a business doubled between 2019 and 2022, according to the White House.
Gangitano reports: “The White House, ahead of the president’s visit, took aim at Republicans for wanting to ‘dismantle the President’s small business agenda’ and noted that every Republican voted against the 2021 American Rescue Plan, which provided funding to support small businesses.” Read more here and watch Biden’s address here. |
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Primaries are just a blink of an eye away: |
It’s almost 2024, which means crunch time for the presidential election.
The Iowa caucuses jumpstart primary voting season, and Jan. 15 is the magic day for the GOP hopefuls. While former President Trump remains the clear front-runner, despite his legal woes, his rivals are turning up the heat in early voting states, particularly Iowa and New Hampshire.
DeSantis and Haley are neck-and-neck for second place in Iowa, according to recent polling averages (The Hill). But, Christie is largely banking on New Hampshire. |
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The House is out, and the Senate convened at noon. President Biden is in Milwaukee and Vice President Harris is in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern) |
9 a.m.: Biden received the Presidential Daily Briefing. 9:35 a.m.: Biden departed the White House for his trip to Milwaukee.
10:35 a.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and national security spokesperson John Kirby gaggled aboard Air Force One en route to Milwaukee. (Listen here) 11:45 a.m.: Biden arrived in Milwaukee.
Noon: The Senate convened for leader remarks; no votes are expected for the rest of 2023.
1:45 p.m.: Biden will deliver remarks at the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce. ? (Watch here) 2 p.m.: Harris will chair a meeting of the U.S. National Space Council.
3:55 p.m.: Biden will depart Milwaukee to return to D.C. 5:30 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will host a holiday reception at the Naval Observatory. 6 p.m.: Biden is scheduled to arrive back at the White House.
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? ✨ Today is National Sangria Day! Here’s a roundup of some winter sangria recipes (perfect for a holiday party!) via Delish.
? Texas lawmakers love X, a new analysis of Congress members’ use of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
✍️ Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) posted to the platform more than any other House member this year, Quorum’s analysis found, while Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was the most prolific poster in the upper chamber.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) was the only female lawmaker to crack the top 10 most active legislators on X.
Others rounding out the top 10 (Read the full report here): - Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.)
- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)
- Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.)
- Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)
- Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.)
- Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.)
- Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.).
?️ Sticking around D.C. this Christmas, but don’t feel like cooking? DCist has compiled a big roundup of restaurants offering Christmas eve and Christmas day take-out and dining options. |
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