© The Hill illustration/Samantha Wong, Greg Nash, Adobe Stock

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP on Friday railed against new polling showing his former U.N. ambassador-turned GOP presidential rival Nikki Haley solidly in second behind the former president in a key state — and gaining.

“Fake New Hampshire poll was released on Birdbrain,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, using a nickname he coined for Haley, after a poll showed her within 4 points of himself in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

Trump called it “just another scam!” 

The poll, from the American Research Group, surveyed 600 likely GOP primary voters and found Trump ahead of Haley 33 percent to 29 percent — tighter than other polls and within its 4-point margin of error.

Three of five December polls included in The Hill’s and Decision Desk HQ’s averages show Haley hovering around 30 percent in the Granite State. Her overall average stands at 26.5 percent to Trump’s 43.6 percent.

Decision Desk HQ/The Hill Polling Average

The spate of surveys show Haley steadily rising, though still with a ways to go to close the gap with Trump in the state.

• Haley’s New Hampshire trendline has moved significantly. Two months ago, her average stood at 14.9 percent. Back in April, she had single-digit support in the state.
  
  
• Ron DeSantis‘s campaign said recently the Florida governor will emerge as “the true Trump alternative” in Iowa’s Jan. 15 caucuses and those results will affect what happens in New Hampshire on Jan. 23.
  
  
• Haley’s campaign, meanwhile, said “it’s clear this is a two-person race between Nikki and Donald Trump.” New Hampshire’s popular governor, Chris Sununu (R), endorsed Haley last week.

Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Amee LaTour, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.

Programming note: This newsletter will be off Monday. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! We’ll be back Tuesday.

• The Supreme Court is staying out of the dispute over former President Trump‘s immunity defense in the federal 2020 election interference case for now as a lower appellate court reviews the matter.
  
  

• Amid reports that the pro-DeSantis group Never Back Down is cancelling early-state ads, the group’s chairman told The Hill it’s focusing on grassroots efforts while others cover the airwaves. 
  
  

• President Biden discussed reopening ports of entry and additional enforcement actions with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, as Senate and White House negotiators gear up to continue hashing out a border policy deal over the holiday break.

© AP Photo/John Minchillo, File

After several days of negotiations, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for “urgent steps” to allow humanitarian access to Gaza, for all parties to adhere to international law and for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” among other demands.

The U.S. and Russia abstained from the vote, while the council’s 13 other members voted for the resolution. Learn more about the U.S.’s sticking points and negotiations here.

President Biden announced Friday he’s commuting the sentences of 11 individuals jailed for nonviolent drug offenses and pardoning offenses for marijuana use and possession on certain federal lands.

“Some of those granted clemency were convicted to life in prison for crack cocaine-related offenses,” The Hill’s Cheyanne M. Daniels noted.

The Congressional Black Caucus called Biden’s moves a step toward ending “long-standing racial disparities” in sentencing. 

© Getty Images

Of the 13 presidential primaries since 1972, the GOP winner in New Hampshire went on to win the party’s nomination 11 times.

Eventual nominees were five for seven in GOP primaries that didn’t feature an incumbent Republican president.

• The two exceptions were New Hampshire winners Pat Buchanan (1996) and John McCain (2000).
  
  
• In both elections, New Hampshire’s second-place finishers — Bob Dole and George W. Bush, respectively — ultimately won the party’s nomination.

Reminder: President Biden won’t be on the Democratic primary ballot in New Hampshire. The Democratic National Committee urged candidates not to file there over the primary calendar dispute.

Worth noting: The New Hampshire primary takes place Jan. 23, a week after the first GOP contest in Iowa. Trump’s chief rivals for the nomination, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, are slated to participate in back-to-back town halls in Iowa hosted by CNN on Jan. 4.

© istock

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen put out a video Friday saying, “I know it’s hard, but if you’re feeling sick, please stay home” from holiday gatherings.

“Avoid spreading germs to others, especially your loved ones who are at higher risk of getting very sick,” she said.

Cohen also urged getting tested, saying, “We have treatments for flu, COVID and pneumonia, but you have to know what you have so you can get the right treatment.”

“Delaying the menthol ban is another blow to racial health equity”

“Why investors are upbeat and voters are gloomy about the economy”

17 days until the Senate reconvenes.

18 days until the House is back.

…May your permit applications be light 🎵

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a transit permit for Santa Claus‘s reindeer to enter and exit the country between 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 6 a.m. on Dec. 25.

A statement from Claus in the USDA’s news release read, “It’s important that Gifts and Good Cheer, Inc. take all the right steps and precautions to protect against the potential introduction of pests and diseases.”

You’re all caught up! Stay with TheHill.com for the latest and recommend this newsletter to others: TheHill.com/Evening. See you next week!