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| Trump won't attend last primary debate before Iowa – as it happened | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 12.09am GMT | |
| 00:09 | |
| Trump's campaign manager: “He’s not participating in Fox News debate.” | |
| Ben Jacobs | |
| Donald Trump’s campaign manager has told the Guardian’s Ben Jacobs that Trump will definitely not participate in Thursday’s debate: | |
| Afterwards, Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told the Guardian matter of factly, “He’s not participating in Fox News debate.” The operative said that this didn’t mean Trump was avoiding press scrutiny. “Look, he’s the clear frontrunner, he’s been in six debates already, answered more questions from the media than any other candidate on the stage combined.” | |
| The press release that irked Trump and led to his withdrawal read, “We learned from a secret back channel that the Ayatollah and Putin both intend to treat Donald Trump unfairly when they meet with him if he becomes president - a nefarious source tells us that Trump has his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with his Twitter followers to see if he should even go to those meetings.” | |
| Trump derided it as “a wise guy press release ... done by some PR person along with Roger Ailes.” After seeing the release, “I said bye bye” to the debate, Trump said. | |
| Trump had long been cagey about participating in Thursday’s debate because of adversarial questioning from anchor Megyn Kelly in the first debate. Her line of questioning regarding his past statements about women led Trump to say that he thought “there was blood coming out of her wherever,” a comment widely believed to refer to menstruation. In his news conference on Tuesday, Trump merely called Kelly a “lightweight.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.32am GMT | |
| 12.07am GMT | |
| 00:07 | |
| Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio has sought to raise questions about the indictment of two anti-abortion activists by drawing a dubious connection between a member of the prosecutor’s office and Planned Parenthood, the Guardian’s Molly Redden and Sabrina Siddiqui report: | |
| “I think it’s pretty outrageous that Planned Parenthood was investigated by some lawyer or district attorney who apparently, according to some news reports, has actually been a board member of Planned Parenthood and donated to them,” Rubio said, responding to a voter question about abortion at an Iowa town hall. | |
| “They investigated Planned Parenthood and they said: ‘We found they did nothing wrong,” he added. “But we’re going to indict the people who filmed them talking about these things.’ That’s outrageous.” | |
| Rubio’s comments referred to a Texas grand jury that concluded its investigation of Planned Parenthood by indicting not the women’s healthcare provider, but two of the anti-abortion activists who prompted the criminal inquiry. The activists, David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, used false identities to film secret videos that accused Planned Parenthood employees of selling fetal tissue in violation of the law. Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast was cleared of any wrongdoing. | |
| Read the full story here: | |
| Related: Rubio launches dubious attack against Planned Parenthood after indictments | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.38am GMT | |
| 12.01am GMT | |
| 00:01 | |
| Awkward Non-Endorsement Season starts earlier every year... | |
| Bernie Sanders and President Obama will meet privately at the White House tomorrow— days after the president heaped praise on Hillary. | |
| 11.34pm GMT | |
| 23:34 | |
| Donald Trump declares that he "probably won’t bother doing the debate” | |
| In a loud press conference in a high school gym in Marshalltown, Iowa, billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump declared that he not join the rest of the candidates on the primetime debate stage on Thursday. | |
| “I probably won’t bother doing the debate,” Trump said. “Most likely, I’m not going to do the debate.” Trump cited “lightweight” Megyn Kelly’s position as the debate’s moderator as the primary reason why he would not join the seven other upper-tier candidates on the debate stage in the final presidential primary debate ahead of the Iowa caucuses. According to the latest poll numbers, Trump is neck-and-neck in Iowa with Texas senator Ted Cruz. | |
| “I don’t know what games Roger Ailes is playing,” Trump said. The real estate tycoon floated the idea of hosting a separate event at the same time as the Fox News debate to raise money for wounded veterans instead. | |
| The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs reports: | |
| Trump made clear that after Fox News sent out a “wise-guy” press release that he viewed as derogatory, he would not participate in the network’s scheduled Republican presidential debate on Thursday. While the Republican frontrunner left some wiggle room, he announced, “I probably won’t bother to do the debate.” Trump added, “I am going to have something else in Iowa, something simultaneously with the debate.” | |
| He added of Fox News, long considered a kingmaker in GOP politics, “they can’t toy with me like they with everyone else.” Trump had long been cagey about participating in Thursday’s debate because of adversarial questioning from anchor Megyn Kelly in the first debate. Her questioning led Trump to say that he thought “there was blood coming out of her wherever,” a comment widely believed to refer to menstruation. In his press conference Tuesday, Trump merely called Kelly a “lightweight.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.02am GMT | |
| 11.21pm GMT | 11.21pm GMT |
| 23:21 | 23:21 |
| With the news that Donald Trump will be joining the rest of the (realistic) candidates on the debate stage on Thursday, Fox News public relations is pulling no punches: | With the news that Donald Trump will be joining the rest of the (realistic) candidates on the debate stage on Thursday, Fox News public relations is pulling no punches: |
| This statement from Fox on Trump is really something. pic.twitter.com/3eRrmY6l9D | This statement from Fox on Trump is really something. pic.twitter.com/3eRrmY6l9D |
| 11.11pm GMT | 11.11pm GMT |
| 23:11 | 23:11 |
| Fox News announces the lineup for the final primary debate before Iowa | Fox News announces the lineup for the final primary debate before Iowa |
| Fox News Channel has announced the lineup for Thursday night’s primetime Republican presidential primary debate - and yes, before you ask, there is an undercard. | Fox News Channel has announced the lineup for Thursday night’s primetime Republican presidential primary debate - and yes, before you ask, there is an undercard. |
| In order to qualify for the final primetime debate before the Iowa caucuses - where Donald Trump is front and center, as he has been in every Republican primary debate since August - the candidates must have placed in the top six spots nationally in an average of the five most recent national polls, or placed within the top five in Iowa or New Hampshire in an average of the five most recent state polls recognized by Fox News. | In order to qualify for the final primetime debate before the Iowa caucuses - where Donald Trump is front and center, as he has been in every Republican primary debate since August - the candidates must have placed in the top six spots nationally in an average of the five most recent national polls, or placed within the top five in Iowa or New Hampshire in an average of the five most recent state polls recognized by Fox News. |
| The lineup for the primetime debate, in order: | The lineup for the primetime debate, in order: |
| In order to qualify for the undercard or “kiddie pool” debate, candidates must have registered at least one percent in a single poll of the five most recent national polls recognized by the cable news network. | In order to qualify for the undercard or “kiddie pool” debate, candidates must have registered at least one percent in a single poll of the five most recent national polls recognized by the cable news network. |
| The undercard lineup is as follows: | The undercard lineup is as follows: |
| That’s right - Jim Gilmore, who hasn’t appeared on a debate stage in months, has been invited to the undercard. Get ready for #GilMentum, people. | That’s right - Jim Gilmore, who hasn’t appeared on a debate stage in months, has been invited to the undercard. Get ready for #GilMentum, people. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.12pm GMT | at 11.12pm GMT |
| 11.01pm GMT | 11.01pm GMT |
| 23:01 | 23:01 |
| Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri was called for jury duty today - and to the delight of bored politicos/weirdly avid fans of small-town judicial proceedings, livetweeted the experience. A few of the best tweets: | Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri was called for jury duty today - and to the delight of bored politicos/weirdly avid fans of small-town judicial proceedings, livetweeted the experience. A few of the best tweets: |
| Yep. Just reported for jury duty.On my bucket list to serve. Betting lawyers boot me...use peremptory challenge. pic.twitter.com/lebEiTiF9Y | Yep. Just reported for jury duty.On my bucket list to serve. Betting lawyers boot me...use peremptory challenge. pic.twitter.com/lebEiTiF9Y |
| As usual Callow has succinct advice. "@publiceyestl Sit near an outlet." Check. pic.twitter.com/QnfertUqZZ | As usual Callow has succinct advice. "@publiceyestl Sit near an outlet." Check. pic.twitter.com/QnfertUqZZ |
| Hiding in corner as judge explains to large juror pool that we get paid only $10 a day. That's #moleg not DC folks. | Hiding in corner as judge explains to large juror pool that we get paid only $10 a day. That's #moleg not DC folks. |
| By rough calculation I count 2 knitters, with rest of the about 150 potential jurors divided equally between reading paper & reading screens | By rough calculation I count 2 knitters, with rest of the about 150 potential jurors divided equally between reading paper & reading screens |
| Are you crazy? No way I want the remote. I work for these people... https://t.co/3j8X28gLbV | Are you crazy? No way I want the remote. I work for these people... https://t.co/3j8X28gLbV |
| OMG. I got called. On my way to courtroom. Yes! | OMG. I got called. On my way to courtroom. Yes! |
| A lawyer I know just walked by me in hallway, did double take, said hello and "they don't want lawyers" 😩 | A lawyer I know just walked by me in hallway, did double take, said hello and "they don't want lawyers" 😩 |
| HOLY X@#*! I am on the jury. Now must go social media silent re:trial. Don't worry, I'll share after verdict. | HOLY X@#*! I am on the jury. Now must go social media silent re:trial. Don't worry, I'll share after verdict. |
| The wheels of justice continue to turn. | The wheels of justice continue to turn. |
| 10.53pm GMT | 10.53pm GMT |
| 22:53 | 22:53 |
| This video of a Maine grade-schooler bursting into tears when told that she’s meeting Donald Trump - tears of joy, we should clarify - is making the rounds. The YouTube comments section beneath the video is... well, a YouTube comments section. | This video of a Maine grade-schooler bursting into tears when told that she’s meeting Donald Trump - tears of joy, we should clarify - is making the rounds. The YouTube comments section beneath the video is... well, a YouTube comments section. |
| 10.29pm GMT | 10.29pm GMT |
| 22:29 | 22:29 |
| Justice Barack Obama isn’t just the name of our new post-punk garage band - it could be the president’s next title, if Hillary Clinton has anything to say about it. | Justice Barack Obama isn’t just the name of our new post-punk garage band - it could be the president’s next title, if Hillary Clinton has anything to say about it. |
| At a campaign event in Iowa, an audience member asked Clinton whether she “would you consider appointing Obama,” a former constitutional law professor and president of the Harvard Law Review, to the US supreme court. After admitting that she’d never been asked that particular question before, Clinton responded with great enthusiasm: “I tell ya, that’s a great idea!” | At a campaign event in Iowa, an audience member asked Clinton whether she “would you consider appointing Obama,” a former constitutional law professor and president of the Harvard Law Review, to the US supreme court. After admitting that she’d never been asked that particular question before, Clinton responded with great enthusiasm: “I tell ya, that’s a great idea!” |
| It’s not the first time the possibility of Obama joining the nation’s highest court has been floated - his cerebral affect, preference for compromise and equanimitous disposition has had pundits positing a potential second act to Obama’s service in the federal government since his first term. | It’s not the first time the possibility of Obama joining the nation’s highest court has been floated - his cerebral affect, preference for compromise and equanimitous disposition has had pundits positing a potential second act to Obama’s service in the federal government since his first term. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.40pm GMT | at 10.40pm GMT |
| 10.00pm GMT | 10.00pm GMT |
| 22:00 | 22:00 |
| Reporting from the snow-dusted cornfields of Iowa, the Guardian’s Dan Roberts writes that a growing number of Iowa union chapters are ignoring national leadership and backing Vermont senator Bernie Sanders: | Reporting from the snow-dusted cornfields of Iowa, the Guardian’s Dan Roberts writes that a growing number of Iowa union chapters are ignoring national leadership and backing Vermont senator Bernie Sanders: |
| Sanders still only has formal backing from a handful of national unions – but increasingly it does not matter. | Sanders still only has formal backing from a handful of national unions – but increasingly it does not matter. |
| In a stark illustration of his argument that revolutionary political change can only come from below, a growing number of local union chapters are choosing to ignore their national leadership and back Sanders on the ground instead. | In a stark illustration of his argument that revolutionary political change can only come from below, a growing number of local union chapters are choosing to ignore their national leadership and back Sanders on the ground instead. |
| “We have had quite a few visits here from all the different candidates and staffers,” says Steve Vonk, local president of the United Steelworkers, as he introduces Sanders to an enthusiastic meeting opposite a Bridgestone tire factory in Des Moines. | “We have had quite a few visits here from all the different candidates and staffers,” says Steve Vonk, local president of the United Steelworkers, as he introduces Sanders to an enthusiastic meeting opposite a Bridgestone tire factory in Des Moines. |
| “We’ve had a lot of visits from Bernie’s folks. They have been very persistent. We’ve asked them all [the presidential campaigns] to bring their candidates, but we’ve only had one taker and he’s right at home in the union hall. | “We’ve had a lot of visits from Bernie’s folks. They have been very persistent. We’ve asked them all [the presidential campaigns] to bring their candidates, but we’ve only had one taker and he’s right at home in the union hall. |
| “I am going to caucus for Bernie,” he adds to loud cheers. “I can’t remember in my lifetime a public servant who truly cares as much about the poor, the middle class, working men and women as Bernie Sanders.” | “I am going to caucus for Bernie,” he adds to loud cheers. “I can’t remember in my lifetime a public servant who truly cares as much about the poor, the middle class, working men and women as Bernie Sanders.” |
| Read the full piece here: | Read the full piece here: |
| Related: Local union chapters disregard national leadership to endorse Bernie Sanders | Related: Local union chapters disregard national leadership to endorse Bernie Sanders |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.12pm GMT | at 10.12pm GMT |
| 9.30pm GMT | 9.30pm GMT |
| 21:30 | 21:30 |
| The Guardian’s Daniel Hernandez reports from Las Vegas, where Donald Trump’s scathing rhetoric about Latin American immigrants is galvanizing a movement in the community to pursue American citizenship - and to register to vote in key battleground states: | The Guardian’s Daniel Hernandez reports from Las Vegas, where Donald Trump’s scathing rhetoric about Latin American immigrants is galvanizing a movement in the community to pursue American citizenship - and to register to vote in key battleground states: |
| In what campaigners are calling a “naturalization blitz”, workshops are being hosted across the country to facilitate Hispanic immigrants who are legal, permanent residents and will only qualify to vote in the 2016 presidential election if they upgrade their immigration status. | In what campaigners are calling a “naturalization blitz”, workshops are being hosted across the country to facilitate Hispanic immigrants who are legal, permanent residents and will only qualify to vote in the 2016 presidential election if they upgrade their immigration status. |
| Citizenship clinics will take place in Nevada, Colorado, Texas and California later this month, with other states expected to host classes in February and early March in order to make the citizenship deadline required to vote in November. | Citizenship clinics will take place in Nevada, Colorado, Texas and California later this month, with other states expected to host classes in February and early March in order to make the citizenship deadline required to vote in November. |
| Several labor unions and advocacy groups are collaborating on the project. In Las Vegas, organizers also intend to hold mock caucuses to educate new voters on the state’s complicated primary process. Nevada is the first early voting state to feature a large Latino population, and that group is eager to make itself known. | Several labor unions and advocacy groups are collaborating on the project. In Las Vegas, organizers also intend to hold mock caucuses to educate new voters on the state’s complicated primary process. Nevada is the first early voting state to feature a large Latino population, and that group is eager to make itself known. |
| “This is a big deal,” said Jocelyn Sida of Mi Familia Vota, a partner in the Nevada event. “We as Latinos are always being told that we’re taking jobs or we’re anchor babies, and all these things are very hurtful. It’s getting to the point where folks are frustrated with that type of rhetoric. They realize the only way they can stop this is by getting involved civically.” | “This is a big deal,” said Jocelyn Sida of Mi Familia Vota, a partner in the Nevada event. “We as Latinos are always being told that we’re taking jobs or we’re anchor babies, and all these things are very hurtful. It’s getting to the point where folks are frustrated with that type of rhetoric. They realize the only way they can stop this is by getting involved civically.” |
| Read the whole article here: | Read the whole article here: |
| Related: Donald Trump's remarks spur Latino 'naturalization blitz' before election | Related: Donald Trump's remarks spur Latino 'naturalization blitz' before election |
| Trump, for his part, is clearly not worried. | Trump, for his part, is clearly not worried. |
| "Minorities Line Up Behind Donald Trump" #Trump2016 https://t.co/ClcvOgWOMy | "Minorities Line Up Behind Donald Trump" #Trump2016 https://t.co/ClcvOgWOMy |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.12pm GMT | at 10.12pm GMT |
| 9.01pm GMT | 9.01pm GMT |
| 21:01 | 21:01 |
| Ted Cruz can add another conservative media endorsement to his collection: radio host, political commentator, bestselling author and Twitter gadfly Dana Loesch. | Ted Cruz can add another conservative media endorsement to his collection: radio host, political commentator, bestselling author and Twitter gadfly Dana Loesch. |
| In a statement released by the Cruz campaign, Loesch cited the Texas senator’s efforts to repeal Obamacare, protect second amendment rights and reduce the size of the federal government as the inspiration for her support. “I have said that I will pull for the most conservative in the race,” Loesch said. | In a statement released by the Cruz campaign, Loesch cited the Texas senator’s efforts to repeal Obamacare, protect second amendment rights and reduce the size of the federal government as the inspiration for her support. “I have said that I will pull for the most conservative in the race,” Loesch said. |
| As one of the original founders of the modern-day Tea Party movement, I watched grassroots conservatives support Ted Cruz’s David and Goliath success against Dewhurst and the Republican establishment. Cruz has fought to repeal Obamacare, shrink the size of government; he has defended our gun rights, our right to privacy, our sovereignty and borders. I personally feel that Ted Cruz is the best choice to reverse America’s road to ruin and am proud to support him in the 2016 Republican primary.” | As one of the original founders of the modern-day Tea Party movement, I watched grassroots conservatives support Ted Cruz’s David and Goliath success against Dewhurst and the Republican establishment. Cruz has fought to repeal Obamacare, shrink the size of government; he has defended our gun rights, our right to privacy, our sovereignty and borders. I personally feel that Ted Cruz is the best choice to reverse America’s road to ruin and am proud to support him in the 2016 Republican primary.” |
| Cruz is “thrilled” to have Loesch on board. “Dana is a fearless conservative who is not afraid to confront the liberal media bias head on,” the Cruz campaign released in a statement. “She is a passionate fighter for liberty and an important voice for conservatives. I am thrilled to have Dana on our team and work together to win the White House in 2016.” | Cruz is “thrilled” to have Loesch on board. “Dana is a fearless conservative who is not afraid to confront the liberal media bias head on,” the Cruz campaign released in a statement. “She is a passionate fighter for liberty and an important voice for conservatives. I am thrilled to have Dana on our team and work together to win the White House in 2016.” |
| Loesch’s endorsement comes on the heels of National Review’s publication of her “Against Trump” essay - flanked by 22 others - in which she stated that the current Republican frontrunner’s conservative bona fides “raises serious questions.” | Loesch’s endorsement comes on the heels of National Review’s publication of her “Against Trump” essay - flanked by 22 others - in which she stated that the current Republican frontrunner’s conservative bona fides “raises serious questions.” |
| 8.05pm GMT | 8.05pm GMT |
| 20:05 | 20:05 |
| Sheriff Joe Arpaio endorses Donald Trump | Sheriff Joe Arpaio endorses Donald Trump |
| Another – big? – endorsement for Trump comes in, in the form of Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff Joe Arpaio, the New York Times reports. | Another – big? – endorsement for Trump comes in, in the form of Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff Joe Arpaio, the New York Times reports. |
| Arpaio is to campaign for Trump in Iowa in the 6-day blitz to the caucuses. | Arpaio is to campaign for Trump in Iowa in the 6-day blitz to the caucuses. |
| To say that Arpaio is an immigration hard-liner is to understate it, and to fail to capture the sheriff’s Draconian methods, which the federal court system has deemed abusive and unconstitutional. | To say that Arpaio is an immigration hard-liner is to understate it, and to fail to capture the sheriff’s Draconian methods, which the federal court system has deemed abusive and unconstitutional. |
| In 2012, the federal government filed a lawsuit against Arpaio, accusing him of racial profiling and numerous civil rights violations for allowing (and encouraging) his deputies to make broad sweeps of Latino neighborhoods and rounding up anyone who they suspect might be in the US illegally or who cannot produce papers on request. | In 2012, the federal government filed a lawsuit against Arpaio, accusing him of racial profiling and numerous civil rights violations for allowing (and encouraging) his deputies to make broad sweeps of Latino neighborhoods and rounding up anyone who they suspect might be in the US illegally or who cannot produce papers on request. |
| A year later, a federal judge ordered the appointment of an independent monitor to watch Arpaio after finding that his office engaged in racial profiling. | A year later, a federal judge ordered the appointment of an independent monitor to watch Arpaio after finding that his office engaged in racial profiling. |
| Can Arpaio help persuade Iowans to vote for Trump? The real estate mogul has chalked up a real TriFecta today, with Falwell-Rocker-Arpaio. | Can Arpaio help persuade Iowans to vote for Trump? The real estate mogul has chalked up a real TriFecta today, with Falwell-Rocker-Arpaio. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.06pm GMT | at 8.06pm GMT |
| 7.54pm GMT | 7.54pm GMT |
| 19:54 | 19:54 |
| Lauren Gambino | Lauren Gambino |
| A new Hillary Clinton ad says there’s more than one lifelong do-gooder in this race, reports Lauren Gambino: | A new Hillary Clinton ad says there’s more than one lifelong do-gooder in this race, reports Lauren Gambino: |
| Bernie Sanders has won praise for his steadfast dedication – over decades in public service – to fighting income inequality. In a new campaign ad, Hillary Clinton reminds voters that she, too, has kept up a decades-long commitment to protecting children and families.The new 60-second spot features a montage of archival footage of Clinton speaking about children and families throughout her five decades in public life. | Bernie Sanders has won praise for his steadfast dedication – over decades in public service – to fighting income inequality. In a new campaign ad, Hillary Clinton reminds voters that she, too, has kept up a decades-long commitment to protecting children and families.The new 60-second spot features a montage of archival footage of Clinton speaking about children and families throughout her five decades in public life. |
| The ad, which is set to air in the days leading up to Monday’s Iowa caucuses, opens with a clip from a 1979 interview in which Clinton, then the bespectacled first-lady of Arkansas, says that she is interested in the “area of children”.It continues with clips of the candidate speaking about children and families as a first lady, a state senator, a presidential candidate, secretary of state and presidential candidate again.The ad ends: “I’m Hillary Clinton, and I’ve always approved this message.” | The ad, which is set to air in the days leading up to Monday’s Iowa caucuses, opens with a clip from a 1979 interview in which Clinton, then the bespectacled first-lady of Arkansas, says that she is interested in the “area of children”.It continues with clips of the candidate speaking about children and families as a first lady, a state senator, a presidential candidate, secretary of state and presidential candidate again.The ad ends: “I’m Hillary Clinton, and I’ve always approved this message.” |
| 7.45pm GMT | 7.45pm GMT |
| 19:45 | 19:45 |
| Fox mocks Trump for debate jitters | Fox mocks Trump for debate jitters |
| Donald Trump has been threatening to boycott Thursday night’s Republican debate over the presence of Fox News co-host Megyn Kelly, Trump’s top media bugbear. | Donald Trump has been threatening to boycott Thursday night’s Republican debate over the presence of Fox News co-host Megyn Kelly, Trump’s top media bugbear. |
| Fox has smacked back at Trump in a statement obtained by CNN: | Fox has smacked back at Trump in a statement obtained by CNN: |
| Fox News knocking Trump with a very Foxy statement https://t.co/p6Gwa4iZWY pic.twitter.com/nVgNeZ12FC | Fox News knocking Trump with a very Foxy statement https://t.co/p6Gwa4iZWY pic.twitter.com/nVgNeZ12FC |
| 6.59pm GMT | 6.59pm GMT |
| 18:59 | 18:59 |
| Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, can’t catch a break on this blizzard thing. All he wants to do is run for president of New Hampshire. | Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, can’t catch a break on this blizzard thing. All he wants to do is run for president of New Hampshire. |
| But there were tragic deaths at the weekend in New Jersey, and flooding, and tens of thousands of people lost power, and he is the governor, but the storm’s over now, and what is he supposed to do, go down there with a mop? | But there were tragic deaths at the weekend in New Jersey, and flooding, and tens of thousands of people lost power, and he is the governor, but the storm’s over now, and what is he supposed to do, go down there with a mop? |
| Or, as Christie put it in a stop on his resumed New Hampshire campaigning schedule Monday night, | Or, as Christie put it in a stop on his resumed New Hampshire campaigning schedule Monday night, |
| I don’t know what you want me to do, you want me to go down there with a mop?” | I don’t know what you want me to do, you want me to go down there with a mop?” |
| It’s true, it is not for those who hold elected office to fill the heroic role of first responder in times of crisis. Unless, of course, you’re New Jersey senator Cory Booker: | It’s true, it is not for those who hold elected office to fill the heroic role of first responder in times of crisis. Unless, of course, you’re New Jersey senator Cory Booker: |
| On the topic of mops, @CoryBooker is in New Jersey right now helping constituents and Snapchatting the flood damage pic.twitter.com/8KqtcPsBl3 | On the topic of mops, @CoryBooker is in New Jersey right now helping constituents and Snapchatting the flood damage pic.twitter.com/8KqtcPsBl3 |
| Booker, a Democrat, declined to draw a contrast: | Booker, a Democrat, declined to draw a contrast: |
| .@CoryBooker: I can't speak to where @GovChristie wants to be; partnerships are so impt right now, I don't want to strain them w/ politics. | .@CoryBooker: I can't speak to where @GovChristie wants to be; partnerships are so impt right now, I don't want to strain them w/ politics. |
| 6.37pm GMT | 6.37pm GMT |
| 18:37 | 18:37 |
| David Smith | David Smith |
| Wait, if this is true, then how come a single Republican candidate today alone has won endorsements from both Jerry Falwell and John Rocker? | Wait, if this is true, then how come a single Republican candidate today alone has won endorsements from both Jerry Falwell and John Rocker? |
| Robert Gates, a Republican stalwart and former US defence secretary who served under eight presidents, has derided the party’s election candidates for a grasp of national security issues that “would embarrass a middle schooler”, Guardian Washington correspondent David Smith reports: | Robert Gates, a Republican stalwart and former US defence secretary who served under eight presidents, has derided the party’s election candidates for a grasp of national security issues that “would embarrass a middle schooler”, Guardian Washington correspondent David Smith reports: |
| An ex-CIA director who first joined the White House under Richard Nixon, Gates joked that if frontrunner Donald Trump wins the presidency, he would emigrate to Canada. He condemned the media for failing to challenge candidates from both parties on promises he believes are unaffordable, illegal or unconstitutional. | An ex-CIA director who first joined the White House under Richard Nixon, Gates joked that if frontrunner Donald Trump wins the presidency, he would emigrate to Canada. He condemned the media for failing to challenge candidates from both parties on promises he believes are unaffordable, illegal or unconstitutional. |
| “The level of dialogue on national security issues would embarrass a middle schooler,” Gates said of the Republican contenders at a Politico Playbook event in Washington on Monday. “People are out there making threats and promises that are totally unrealistic, totally unattainable. Either they really believe what they’re saying or they’re cynical and opportunistic and, in a way, you hope it’s the latter, because God forbid they actually believe some of the things that they’re saying.” | “The level of dialogue on national security issues would embarrass a middle schooler,” Gates said of the Republican contenders at a Politico Playbook event in Washington on Monday. “People are out there making threats and promises that are totally unrealistic, totally unattainable. Either they really believe what they’re saying or they’re cynical and opportunistic and, in a way, you hope it’s the latter, because God forbid they actually believe some of the things that they’re saying.” |
| Read the full piece here: | Read the full piece here: |
| Related: Robert Gates: Republicans' grasp of national security is at a child's level | Related: Robert Gates: Republicans' grasp of national security is at a child's level |
| 6.20pm GMT | 6.20pm GMT |
| 18:20 | 18:20 |
| Trump threatens debate boycott over Kelly | Trump threatens debate boycott over Kelly |
| Here’s more Donald Trump coverage for those Trump-famished politics watchers among you. | Here’s more Donald Trump coverage for those Trump-famished politics watchers among you. |
| Trump has threatened to boycott Thursday’s Republican presidential debate because co-hosting for Fox News will be Megyn Kelly, Trump’s improbable and sort of inexplicable media nemesis. | Trump has threatened to boycott Thursday’s Republican presidential debate because co-hosting for Fox News will be Megyn Kelly, Trump’s improbable and sort of inexplicable media nemesis. |
| You may remember that the last time the two met in a debate, last August, Kelly asked Trump about his history of negative comments about women, and afterwards he freaked out and seemed to accuse her of menstruating. | You may remember that the last time the two met in a debate, last August, Kelly asked Trump about his history of negative comments about women, and afterwards he freaked out and seemed to accuse her of menstruating. |
| So now Trump claims to be considering boycotting Thursday’s debate. He’s just launched a Twitter poll to answer the question. So far 1,344 people have voted and it’s about half-half. | So now Trump claims to be considering boycotting Thursday’s debate. He’s just launched a Twitter poll to answer the question. So far 1,344 people have voted and it’s about half-half. |
| Should I do the #GOPdebate? https://t.co/cjTywwIl85 | Should I do the #GOPdebate? https://t.co/cjTywwIl85 |
| In addition to his Twitter poll, the would-be-next-president has also taken to bitching on Instagram: | In addition to his Twitter poll, the would-be-next-president has also taken to bitching on Instagram: |
| “Make America Great Again and Also Safe from Meanie Megyn Kelly” would not fit on a hat. | “Make America Great Again and Also Safe from Meanie Megyn Kelly” would not fit on a hat. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.21pm GMT | at 6.21pm GMT |
| 6.07pm GMT | 6.07pm GMT |
| 18:07 | 18:07 |
| John Rocker, the former Major League Baseball pitcher and late-1990s avatar of cinched ignorance, has scanned the Republican presidential field and identified a candidate he can get behind: Donald Trump. | John Rocker, the former Major League Baseball pitcher and late-1990s avatar of cinched ignorance, has scanned the Republican presidential field and identified a candidate he can get behind: Donald Trump. |
| “I think [Trump] has really woken America up,” Rocker told The Daily Caller, saying he was “absolutely” endorsing the mogul. | “I think [Trump] has really woken America up,” Rocker told The Daily Caller, saying he was “absolutely” endorsing the mogul. |
| Rocker was temporarily suspended from baseball after he was asked by Sports Illustrated in 1999 whether he would ever play for a New York City team. | Rocker was temporarily suspended from baseball after he was asked by Sports Illustrated in 1999 whether he would ever play for a New York City team. |
| “I’d retire first,” Rocker said: | “I’d retire first,” Rocker said: |
| I’d retire first. It’s the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark looking like you’re riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It’s depressing... | I’d retire first. It’s the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark looking like you’re riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It’s depressing... |
| “The biggest thing I don’t like about New York are the foreigners,” Rocker continued: | “The biggest thing I don’t like about New York are the foreigners,” Rocker continued: |
| You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country? | You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country? |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.08pm GMT | at 6.08pm GMT |
| 5.49pm GMT | 5.49pm GMT |
| 17:49 | 17:49 |
| And they’ve all, come, to look for Ameerrrriiicca | And they’ve all, come, to look for Ameerrrriiicca |
| Gray and flat Iowa landscape today. pic.twitter.com/e45u52QqjU | Gray and flat Iowa landscape today. pic.twitter.com/e45u52QqjU |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.49pm GMT | at 5.49pm GMT |
| 5.40pm GMT | 5.40pm GMT |
| 17:40 | 17:40 |
| The Bern. Are you feeling it? Do you feel it now? | The Bern. Are you feeling it? Do you feel it now? |
| Bernie Sanders in 1988, on C-SPAN, as mayor of Burlington pic.twitter.com/yjdlSbkfVa | Bernie Sanders in 1988, on C-SPAN, as mayor of Burlington pic.twitter.com/yjdlSbkfVa |
| 5.39pm GMT | 5.39pm GMT |
| 17:39 | 17:39 |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| Vermont senator Bernie Sanders does not think his campaign will match the historic momentousness of Barack Obama’s 2008 run, reports Guardian Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts in Des Moines: | Vermont senator Bernie Sanders does not think his campaign will match the historic momentousness of Barack Obama’s 2008 run, reports Guardian Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts in Des Moines: |
| An upbeat Sanders was enjoying the support of the Des Moines steelworkers union this morning. But there was one comparison he wasn’t going to make when pressed on parallels between his recent Iowa surge and that of a certain senator from Illinois eight years ago. | An upbeat Sanders was enjoying the support of the Des Moines steelworkers union this morning. But there was one comparison he wasn’t going to make when pressed on parallels between his recent Iowa surge and that of a certain senator from Illinois eight years ago. |
| “Obama in 2008 ran a campaign which is really going to stay in the history books,” replied Sanders when asked if he could reach similar levels of support here. “It was an unbelievable campaign. In places they ran out of ballots, as I understand. The [Iowa caucus] turnout was so extraordinary nobody expected it. Do I think in this campaign we are going to match that? I would love to see us do that. I hope we can. Frankly, I don’t think we can.” | “Obama in 2008 ran a campaign which is really going to stay in the history books,” replied Sanders when asked if he could reach similar levels of support here. “It was an unbelievable campaign. In places they ran out of ballots, as I understand. The [Iowa caucus] turnout was so extraordinary nobody expected it. Do I think in this campaign we are going to match that? I would love to see us do that. I hope we can. Frankly, I don’t think we can.” |
| At least he was getting asked the question, though. The press pack following Sanders has mushroomed in recent days after months of sparse attendance at his events. | At least he was getting asked the question, though. The press pack following Sanders has mushroomed in recent days after months of sparse attendance at his events. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.43pm GMT | at 5.43pm GMT |
| 5.23pm GMT | 5.23pm GMT |
| 17:23 | 17:23 |
| Video: highlights from the Democratic town hall meeting in Iowa | Video: highlights from the Democratic town hall meeting in Iowa |
| 5.20pm GMT | 5.20pm GMT |
| 17:20 | 17:20 |
| From the comments / Trump's endorsement | From the comments / Trump's endorsement |
| We asked you who you thought would be the “very powerful endorsement” unveiled today by Donald Trump. You did not have much time to answer, and yet answer you did. We did not identify any correct “Falwell” guesses – but there were strong entries otherwise. Viz.: | We asked you who you thought would be the “very powerful endorsement” unveiled today by Donald Trump. You did not have much time to answer, and yet answer you did. We did not identify any correct “Falwell” guesses – but there were strong entries otherwise. Viz.: |
| "I'm thinking of somebody verrrrrrry powerful" | "I'm thinking of somebody verrrrrrry powerful" |
| Since he's doing a Vulcan mind meld, it would have to be Mr. Spock. | Since he's doing a Vulcan mind meld, it would have to be Mr. Spock. |
| Jesus Christ? | Jesus Christ? |
| please be Clint Eastwood, please be Clint Eastwood.... | please be Clint Eastwood, please be Clint Eastwood.... |
| George W Bush | George W Bush |
| And... reaction: | And... reaction: |
| Jerry Falwell. No surprise there. Christian fundamentalist siding with the hate monger. | Jerry Falwell. No surprise there. Christian fundamentalist siding with the hate monger. |
| 5.10pm GMT | 5.10pm GMT |
| 17:10 | 17:10 |
| “Tonight’s rally” for Trump would be at the University of Iowa field house in Iowa City, Iowa, beginning at 7.30pm ET. Falwell will be there. | “Tonight’s rally” for Trump would be at the University of Iowa field house in Iowa City, Iowa, beginning at 7.30pm ET. Falwell will be there. |
| NBC embed @alivitali confirms Jerry Falwell Jr., chancellor of @LibertyU, is Trump's "very special guest" and endorser at tonight's rally | NBC embed @alivitali confirms Jerry Falwell Jr., chancellor of @LibertyU, is Trump's "very special guest" and endorser at tonight's rally |
| Ted Cruz, who launched his campaign at Falwell’s Liberty University, wanted to be the one hosting Falwell this week in Iowa. But Cruz did not get Falwell, and he did not get senior Iowa senator Chuck Grassley, who appeared at a Trump rally at the weekend (without officially endorsing Trump). | Ted Cruz, who launched his campaign at Falwell’s Liberty University, wanted to be the one hosting Falwell this week in Iowa. But Cruz did not get Falwell, and he did not get senior Iowa senator Chuck Grassley, who appeared at a Trump rally at the weekend (without officially endorsing Trump). |
| Which endorsement matters most in Iowa? Do any of them? | Which endorsement matters most in Iowa? Do any of them? |
| But in superheated campaign context, Grassley appearance may be more valuable to Trump than to others. https://t.co/1uv23mF1NY | But in superheated campaign context, Grassley appearance may be more valuable to Trump than to others. https://t.co/1uv23mF1NY |
| 4.54pm GMT | 4.54pm GMT |
| 16:54 | 16:54 |
| Donald Trump: the candidate evangelicals choose when evangelicals choose a candidate. | Donald Trump: the candidate evangelicals choose when evangelicals choose a candidate. |
| Great honor- Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr. of Liberty University, one of the most respected religious leaders in our nation, has just endorsed me! | Great honor- Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr. of Liberty University, one of the most respected religious leaders in our nation, has just endorsed me! |
| Jerry Falwell Jr is the third Corinthian. | Jerry Falwell Jr is the third Corinthian. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.01pm GMT | at 5.01pm GMT |
| 4.49pm GMT | 4.49pm GMT |
| 16:49 | 16:49 |
| Rumors of a Falwell endorsement of Trump had percolated last week, before it turned out that it was former Alaska governor Sarah Palin who was getting behind the Donald. | Rumors of a Falwell endorsement of Trump had percolated last week, before it turned out that it was former Alaska governor Sarah Palin who was getting behind the Donald. |
| Who’s Jerry Falwell Jr? The son of an influential, late televangelist by the same name, who was famous for jeremiads against homosexuality and for organizing “faith voters” to bring political pressure to bear under the banner of his “Moral Majority.” | Who’s Jerry Falwell Jr? The son of an influential, late televangelist by the same name, who was famous for jeremiads against homosexuality and for organizing “faith voters” to bring political pressure to bear under the banner of his “Moral Majority.” |
| Fallwell, Jr, is more a second amendment guy. | Fallwell, Jr, is more a second amendment guy. |
| In December, Falwell urged Liberty University students, staff and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campus to counter any possible armed attack like the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. The AP reported: | In December, Falwell urged Liberty University students, staff and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campus to counter any possible armed attack like the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. The AP reported: |
| Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here,” President Jerry Falwell Jr told an estimated 10,000 students at the weekly convocation held on Friday in Lynchburg. | Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here,” President Jerry Falwell Jr told an estimated 10,000 students at the weekly convocation held on Friday in Lynchburg. |
| The call-to-arms was met with rousing applause from students, but some said Falwell went too far when he appeared to be referring specifically to Muslims, the News & Advance reported. | The call-to-arms was met with rousing applause from students, but some said Falwell went too far when he appeared to be referring specifically to Muslims, the News & Advance reported. |
| “I’ve always thought if more good people had concealed carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in,” Falwell said. The final words of his statement could not be clearly heard on a videotape of the remarks. | “I’ve always thought if more good people had concealed carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in,” Falwell said. The final words of his statement could not be clearly heard on a videotape of the remarks. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.52pm GMT | at 4.52pm GMT |
| 4.38pm GMT | 4.38pm GMT |
| 16:38 | 16:38 |
| Falwell endorses Trump: Washington Post | Falwell endorses Trump: Washington Post |
| Jerry Falwell, Jr, the president of Virginia-based Liberty University, the country’s biggest evangelical university, has endorsed Donald Trump six days before the caucuses in Iowa, a state with a goodly share of evangelical voters, the Washington Post scoops: | Jerry Falwell, Jr, the president of Virginia-based Liberty University, the country’s biggest evangelical university, has endorsed Donald Trump six days before the caucuses in Iowa, a state with a goodly share of evangelical voters, the Washington Post scoops: |
| BREAKING w/ @wpjenna: Jerry Falwell Jr. endorses Trump, gives blessing days before caucuses https://t.co/q5jEuvbGqo | BREAKING w/ @wpjenna: Jerry Falwell Jr. endorses Trump, gives blessing days before caucuses https://t.co/q5jEuvbGqo |
| Falwell called Trump “a successful executive and entrepreneur, a wonderful father and a man who I believe can lead our country to greatness again.” | Falwell called Trump “a successful executive and entrepreneur, a wonderful father and a man who I believe can lead our country to greatness again.” |
| Trump responded: | Trump responded: |
| It is truly an honor to receive Jerry’s endorsement. Not only is he a high-quality person, with a wonderful family, whom I have great respect for – I also consider him a very good friend and his support means so much to me.” | It is truly an honor to receive Jerry’s endorsement. Not only is he a high-quality person, with a wonderful family, whom I have great respect for – I also consider him a very good friend and his support means so much to me.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.40pm GMT | at 4.40pm GMT |