It’s Wednesday. Washington, D.C., is covered in a beautiful blanket of snow that hasn’t yet become gross and slushy. Just check out these photos of the sunset last night.
Here’s what’s happening in politics today:
ABC News and CNN canceled the two scheduled New Hampshire debates after former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said she wouldn’t participate. Former
President Trump easily won in Iowa, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will have a smooth path to victory in the Granite State. In fact, it’s a much harder state for him to win.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, had planned abdominal surgery Tuesday and will be in the hospital for the next 10-14 days. King Charles III is also seeking medical attention for a benign prostate condition.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-release.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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GOP presidential candidates Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are tied in New Hampshire, according to a new American Research Group Inc. poll.
The numbers: Trump and Haley are tied at 40 percent. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) polled at just 4 percent support. The full poll |
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New Hampshire ain’t Iowa:
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Former President Trump easily won the Iowa caucuses — so easily, in fact, that many outlets called the race in just 30 minutes — but winning New Hampshire is an entirely different animal.
Trump has a much smaller lead in N.H. polling: The former president is leading Haley by 8 percent in the state, according to election data from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ. The latest New Hampshire polls A few factors that could make it much harder for Trump to win N.H.: - Independents and undeclared voters can vote in the primary.
- The state is much more moderate than Iowa’s conservative and evangelical electorate.
- Haley has been climbing the state’s polls.
- Haley has been spending a lot of time in the state.
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New Hampshire’s primary often does not have the same result as the Iowa caucuses.
The Hill’s Brett Samuels wrote a very good explainer on the difference between the two states. |
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➤ WHERE THE CANDIDATES ARE CAMPAIGNING IN N.H. TODAY:
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Trump is campaigning in Portsmouth. Haley is campaigning in Rochester with New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R). DeSantis is campaigning in Jackson, Hampton and Derry. (NECN) |
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➤ INTERESTING TIDBIT FROM IOWA:
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NBC News’s Steve Kornacki pointed out that “by a margin of 1 vote Nikki Haley appears to have won Johnson County (Iowa City), leaving Donald Trump that close to a 99-county sweep.” The graphic |
Nikki Haley bowed out of the debates: |
GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley pulled out of the two Republican presidential debates this week, saying she would only attend if former President Trump participated.
Trump declined to participate, and because that would only leave Gov. Ron DeSantis (Fla.) on the debate stage, ABC News canceled Thursday’s GOP presidential debate, and CNN also scrapped Sunday’s debate.
Instead: CNN will host a town hall Thursday with Haley in Henniker, N.H. CNN’s Jake Tapper will moderate. |
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➤ MORE HEADLINES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL:
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‘For President Biden, another nomination for former President Trump would present opportunity — and great risk.’: The New York Times
‘New Hampshire to give Trump’s rivals best chance to stall his momentum’: The Washington Post
‘How Iowa Turned the Caucuses Into a Gold Mine’: The Wall Street Journal
‘Here are the issues we are all going to be fighting about in 2024’: Politico
‘How Quickly Donald Trump Could Clinch the Republican Nomination’: The Wall Street Journal
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Feel better, Kate and Charles: |
Kate, the Princess of Wales, had planned abdominal surgery Tuesday and will remain in the hospital for 10-14 days. “Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter,” the palace said in a statement. (The Hill) / Read the statement
Plus: King Charles III is planned to undergo a “corrective procedure” for a benign prostate condition next week. (The Hill) OK, this made me laugh: @ZackBrownDC posted: “With Kate Middleton and King Charles out for medical procedures, Patrick McHenry is now acting King and acting Princess of Wales.” |
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Yeah, yeah, we hear you. It’s a no. *wink*: |
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) reportedly told his members over the weekend that a border deal will not happen without a Republican in the White House. Yes, but: The Hill’s Al Weaver reports that senators don’t seem to be taking Johnson’s message too seriously. Why?: “According to three Senate GOP sources, Johnson backtracking on several items since taking the gavel in late October — including his initial opposition to another stopgap spending bill — is giving them hope about an eventual border bill.” Read: ‘Senate Republicans forge ahead on border bill over Speaker Johnson’s opposition’ |
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Mike Johnson is the new Kevin McCarthy: |
“Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) decision to support a short-term stopgap spending bill marks the latest instance of the new Speaker rejecting tactics favored by hard-line conservatives as he navigates a bare-bones GOP majority,” report The Hill’s Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell. Where the funding plan stands: Congressional leaders have agreed to a bipartisan plan to extend government funding through March 1 and March 8. Government funding has been divvied up into two deadlines to avoid a full shutdown, hence the two dates.
💡 Why this matters: Johnson is experiencing the same challenges and demands from hardline conservatives that got former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) ousted from his position in the fall. Johnson ultimately agreed to a bipartisan funding, just like McCarthy, showing just how difficult it is to be Speaker in the current Republican House. Read: ‘Speaker Johnson rejects hard-line tactics in move to avoid shutdown’ |
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President Biden is hosting congressional leaders at the White House to discuss national security spending.
Who’s expected to attend?: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) (The Hill)
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Oh no, this should go well:
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Accusations are swirling that Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis (D) hired a romantic partner as a top prosecutor in former President Trump’s criminal case.
Where the accusation first surfaced: In court papers filed last week by an attorney for one of Trump’s co-defendants. But keep in mind that court papers didn’t include any hard proof of the relationship.
What has Willis said about the accusations?: Willis and the prosecutor have not denied the claims. She didn’t reference attorney Nathan Wade by name, but called him a “great friend” and a good lawyer with “impeccable” credentials. What now?: The judge in the case, Scott McAfee, said there will be a hearing, but not until February at the earliest. The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee have a helpful explainer on how the accusations put the case in jeopardy. |
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🍭 Celebrate: Today is National Hot Buttered Rum Day!
🦅 Check in on your Eagles fans: ESPN reports that Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce told his teammates this week that he is retiring from football. “Kelce, 36, was visibly emotional at the end of the Eagles’ 32-9 wild-card playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.” (ESPN)
🟣 Interesting read: “Ultraviolet light can kill almost all the viruses in a room. Why isn’t it everywhere?” (Vox) |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden is in Washington and Vice President Harris is in New York City for an interview on ABC’s “The View.” (all times Eastern) |
This morning: Senate Democrats, including Patty Murray (Wash.), Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), held a press conference ahead of the upcoming anniversary of Roe v. Wade. 💻 Watch
12:30 p.m.: Senators meet for weekly caucus luncheons. 🗓️ Today’s agenda
1:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and national security spokesperson John Kirby brief reporters. 💻 Livestream
1:30 p.m.: First House votes. Last votes are expected around 4:30 p.m. 🗓️ Today’s agenda
3:15 p.m.: Biden hosts congressional leaders at the White House to discuss his national security supplemental request.
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