Democratic debate: Winners, losers, protests, arguments and all the key moments from Las Vegas

Follow the latest updates, as they happened

Buttigeig slams Trump and Limbaugh over family values

The six leading Democratic presidential candidates have have sparred on stage in Las Vegas last presidential primary debate before the Nevada caucuses, marking the most heated clash yet in the primary season

Finally joining the candidates who have been vying for a shot at unseating Donald Trump in the key early voting states is Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire White House hopeful who has gotten under the president’s skin in recent weeks thanks to a heavily-funded advertising spree. Mr Trump attacked the former New York City mayor as a “pathetic debater” ahead of tonight’s event, to which Mr Bloomberg replied: “Impeached president says what?”

But Mr Bloomberg's fellow Democrats all saw him as an apparent obvious target, and repeatedly attacked him for his wealth, and his decision to bankroll his own campaign and to skip the first few nominating states altogether (including Nevada).

Enjoying his status as front-runner, Bernie Sanders steered through the night with relatively few attacks on his campaign, and reliably stuck to his general message arguing against billionaires — including Mr Bloomberg.

It was Elizabeth Warren who may have stolen the show, though, with a heated attack on Mr Bloomberg early on for his use of NDAs in his business, which he refused to pull from women who might have accusations to be made against him.

The president wasn’t the only one lobbing attacks against Mr Bloomberg before the debate, either: as the Democrats prepared to spar, Ms Warren warned the billionaire she would use the debate to show how she handles an “egomaniac billionaire", along with several other candidates who said they would take on the former mayor.

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Key Points

• Warren slams Bloomberg over sexist remarks, and compares billionaire to Trump
• Klobuchar and Buttigieg spar over experience
• Biden is interrupted by protesters: 'You deported 3 million people'
• Sanders seeks to maintain front-runner status heading into Saturday caucuses

[19 February 2020 23:34 · Clark Mindock]

Trump delivers remarks in California

Watch live now:

[19 February 2020 23:50 · Clark Mindock]

'You're a disgrace to my country'

Neil Young didn't mince words in a recent open letter to Donald Trump.

The American-Canadian singer is among many outspoken critics of the president in entertainment, media and Hollywood.

[20 February 2020 00:15 · Clark Mindock]

Trump's remarks in California

Take a gander at our write up on the president's remarks in California, courtesy of our Washington DC bureau chief John T Bennett:

[20 February 2020 00:35 · Clark Mindock]

'Expelling hot air'

Our very own Andrew Buncombe is in Las Vegas ahead of the debate tonight.

Here's a glimpse at the famed spin room, where candidates and their surrogates will crowd after the debate and try to steer the media narrative.

[20 February 2020 00:45 · Clark Mindock]

Bloomberg says he 'loves' Trump

The Democratic presidential candidate has been seen in a video talking about his affinity for the president, in a recently unearthed video.

Take a look:

[20 February 2020 00:55 · Clark Mindock]

Trump is ready for another 'love fest'

Official words from the man himself:

[20 February 2020 01:05 · Clark Mindock]

Please, don't do this...

After cowboy hats were seen recently affixed to pigeon heads in Las Vegas, it appears as though some Trump supporters have done the same.

The practice is particularly bad for the pigeons — also, can we just ask, why? — and the MAGA hat wearing pigeons were released ahead of his trip to the city on Tuesday.

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

[20 February 2020 01:15 · Clark Mindock]

Hillary Clinton weighs in on the vice president rumors

Clinton has been floated as a potential running mate for Michael Bloomberg. Here's what she thinks about that:

[20 February 2020 01:22 · Clark Mindock]

40 minutes until showtime

Tonight's debate starts at 9pm EST, and we're counting down the minutes.

Stay tuned for updates as the candidates face off for the final time before the Nevada caucuses this Saturday (and for the first time with Bloomberg in their midst).

[20 February 2020 01:29 · Clark Mindock]

Trump delivers confirmation to the masses

After news leaked that he had chosen a new head of intelligence, he has now tweeted about it: