Iowa entrance polls show MAGA fans turned out for caucus: Live updates
Donald Trump holds commanding lead over challengers Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy
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Your support makes all the difference.The 2024 Republican candidates are eagerly awaiting the results of the Iowa caucuses on Monday – though if polling tells us anything, it’s that Donald Trump has a predictable commanding lead over the other candidates.
In a survey, conducted by The Des Moines Register, NBC News and Medicom, 48 per cent of potential voters said the former president was their first choice of Republican presidential candidates.
Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley was behind Mr Trump with 20 per cent support followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with 16 per cent.
Vivek Ramaswamy had just 8 per cent while only 5 per cent of potential voters said they were still unsure.
Of the survey respondents more than half said they had their minds made up regarding who they would cast their vote for.
But for the 32 per cent who could still be persuaded to support a candidate, the presidential candidates are fighting hard to convince them to join their teams.
ICYMI: As Trump Republicans blast spending bill, government shutdown averted yet again
The House and Senate voted to pass a stopgap spending bill, averting a looming government shutdown once again – and prompting pro-Trump Republicans to level fury against House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The continuing resolution will keep the government open until 8 March. The bill came as part of a larger agreement from Mr Johnson, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries as well as the leadership on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to vote on six of the 12 spending bills by 8 March.
The bill passed in the House by 320 to 99 – Republicans being split on the matter and Democrats making up most of the support for the agreement. Only two House Democrats voted against the legislation. Similarly, the Senate voted 77 to 13 on the stopgap funding bill to head to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Eric Garcia and Gustaf Kilander filed this report from Capitol Hill:
Government shutdown averted yet again as Trump Republicans blast spending bill
Texas Republican tells The Independent that the agreement should have been ‘extended it through the end of the year’ to reach ‘one per cent reduction’
Who is Katie Britt, the Republican set to deliver State of the Union response?
The youngest Republican woman to serve in the US Senate will deliver the response to President Biden’s State of the Union address next week.
Alabama Senator Katie Britt is set to give the remarks – a rebuttal speech to the president’s address made by the opposing party – on 7 March, which she has promised will be a “candid discussion about the future of our nation”.
Mike Bedigan reports on the rising star in the Republican Party:
Who is Katie Britt, Republican set to deliver response to Biden’s State of the Union?
The Alabama politician is the youngest Republican woman to serve in the US Senate
Biden challenges Trump to ‘join me’ as he urges Congress to pass border bill
A pair of towns along the US-Mexico border became stages for two presidential candidates on Thursday as President Joe Biden slammed his predecessor and opponent for getting in the way of needed immigration reform and border security legislation.
Andrew Feinberg reports:
Biden urges Trump to back border bill in rival Texas campaign stops
The two men expected to go head-to-head in November’s election were making their pitch on one of the key issues on the same day
How US airdrops can help Gaza and why its so complicated
President Joe Biden on Friday announced that the U.S. will begin airdropping sorely needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Here’s what you need to know:
US to airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza — how it can help and why it's so complicated
President Joe Biden has announced that the U.S. will begin airdropping sorely needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war
Fetterman blames Hamas for deaths of dozens of Palestinians apparently shot by Israeli military
Bevan Hurley reports:
Senator John Fetterman has blamed Hamas for the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians who witnesses say were killed when Israeli forces opened fire as they rushed to get supplies from an aid convoy in Gaza.
The Pennsylvania senator claimed that “Hamas alone owns this calamity” and rejected widespread international condemnation — including from the Biden administration — of the “massacre” in a post on X/Twitter on Friday.
“I reject statements from nations with atrocious human rights records: China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey,” Mr Fetterman wrote.
“Without a doubt, this is a humanitarian tragedy. Hamas alone owns this calamity. We must demand Hamas free the hostages and surrender — ending suffering, death and chaos.”
Continue reading...
Fetterman blames Hamas for deaths of Palestinian civilians
The Pennsylvania Senator has been an unwavering supporter of the Israeli invasion of Gaza
Better late then never — Murkowski endorses Haley
Nikki Haley has won her first Senate endorsement in the Republican primary from Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
The senator is a frequent critic of former president Donald Trump.
“America needs someone with the right values, vigor, and judgment to serve as our next President—and in this race, there is no one better than her,” she says of Ms Haley.
Super Tuesday is just four days away...
Bill to lower minimum age to buy a gun from 21 to 18 passed in Florida
Kelly Rissman reports:
The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow 18-year-olds to buy firearms, lowering the previous age minimum of 21.
The Republican-controlled state House passed the controversial measure that would permit 18-year-olds to purchase rifles and shotguns on 1 March in a 76-35 vote. The state Senate has not yet voted on the bill.
According to gun safety group Everytown, federal law mandates someone be at least 21 to buy a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer, however, it only mandates a person to be 18 to buy a long gun — including an assault weapon.
Opponents of the measure cited the 2018 Parkland shooting, in which a 19-year-old shot up Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others.
Read more...
Florida House passes bill to lower minimum age to buy a gun from 21 to 18
‘We told the citizens of Florida that we were going to protect them,’ a Democratic state represenative said, ‘Shame on us’
Gen Z isn’t sold on Biden but a 26-year-old state party leader is out to change their minds...
Ariana Baio writes:
When Anderson Clayton walks into the room casually dressed in a fun graphic tee, nearly everyone’s head turns and the noisy chatter lulls into excited whispers. Eyes remain locked on her as she begins embracing each of her fellow Democrat leaders.
Clayton is somewhat of a local celebrity in North Carolina, her energy enough to move an immovable object.
The rest of the country doesn’t realise that this 26-year-old is currently leading the Democratic Party in North Carolina, a pretty serious job at any age.
But for those at the Young Democrats of North Carolina Convention, not only is she the state party leader, she is the future.
Continue reading...
Gen Z isn’t sold on Biden but Anderson Clayton is out to convince them
For Democrats, not only is Anderson Clayton a 26-year-old state party leader, she is the future. Ariana Baio headed to North Carolina to meet her
Menendez associate pleads guilty to fresh bribery charges
An associate of embattled New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez pleaded guilty to new bribery charges, changing his previous plea after facing a superseding indictment.
The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York charged Jose Uribe, a New Jersey insurance broker, with seven counts, including conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.
He pleaded guilty to all counts on 1 March, altering his previous not-guilty plea.
Kelly Rissman has the details:
Associate of Senator Bob Menendez pleads guilty to fresh bribery charges
Jose Uribe admits charges including conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice and tax evasion
Biden: US will begin humanitarian aid airdrops into Gaza
Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House for The Independent:
The United States will soon begin airdropping humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis brought on by Israel’s war against Hamas.
President Joe Biden on Friday confirmed that US forces would join the Jordanian Air Force, which has been conducting airdrops of food, medicine and other supplies in recent weeks.
Speaking alongside Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in the Oval Office, Mr Biden referenced the tragic deaths of numerous Palestinians who were gathered near an aid convoy on Thursday, calling the loss of life “heartbreaking”.
“Innocent people got caught in a terrible war unable to feed their families and you saw the response when they tried to get aid,” he said. “We need to do more, and the United States will do more”.
This is a developing story...
Biden says US will begin humanitarian aid airdrops into Gaza
Mr Biden says the US will join Jordanian forces in airdropping supplies into Gaza
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