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Ohio police used flash-bangs during raid of home with toddler on a ventilator inside, body camera footage shows Sara Smart By Sara Smart and Dave Alsup, CNN 4 minute read Updated 4:03 AM EST, Wed January 17, 2024 Ohio police used flash-bangs during raid of home with toddler on a ventilator inside, body camera footage shows. A body-worn camera footage still shows Elyria Police Department officers gathered outside a home during a raid on January 10. City of Elyria CNN — Police in Elyria, Ohio, deployed exploding flash-bangs while raiding a home last week while a toddler on a ventilator was inside, newly released body-worn camera footage shows, and the mother says her child was harmed during the incident. Footage from eight officers’ body-worn cameras was released Tuesday by Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker’s office, which has requested an outside investigation into the January 10 incident and how the search warrant for the home was obtained. The warrant was served as part of an ongoing investigation involving multiple stolen guns recovered at a different residence, according to a police report released by the city Tuesday. The mother, who identified herself in the body camera footage as Courtney Price, told CNN affiliate WOIO that her son, Waylon, has been diagnosed with chemical pneumonitis – a form of lung irritation – since the raid. Price said the condition was caused by inhaling chemicals released by the flash bangs. Police, however, said in a release that the devices “do not produce a continuous burn and they do not deploy or contain any pepper gas or chemical agents.” “Any allegation suggesting the child was exposed to chemical agents, lack of medical attention or negligence is not true,” the Elyria Police Department said in its release. Two people were killed in a shooting at a Philadelphia residence overnight. 2 people killed and 4 injured in shooting at suspected speakeasy in Philadelphia In the footage, police officers position themselves outside the house shortly after 2 p.m. and an officer shouts, “Police search warrant, come to the door!” About 10 seconds later, an officer uses a pole to set off a flash-bang outside one of the windows, shattering it. Another flash-bang was also deployed in the driveway, according to the police report, which adds, “This method of delivery was controlled and intended as a deliberate distraction.” Officers then entered the front door with a battering ram and encountered the mother, who exited the house with her hands raised, the footage shows. Her face is obscured in the body camera video. She is then hand-cuffed and can be heard explaining to police that the house belongs to her aunt and uncle and she is staying with them. In one of the videos, the woman explains she and her child are the only people in the home at the time. She tells officers that her child has a pre-existing medical condition and is on a ventilator inside. An officer searching the home finds the child in a baby bouncer near a crib and the sound of medical equipment can be heard, video shows. The woman is later brought upstairs and talks with officers about her child’s condition. Police said in their statement that a woman and her 17-month-old child were found inside the home. Detectives, paramedics and the mother “assessed the condition of the child, confirming that the child did not sustain any apparent, visible injuries,” the statement said. “The child was hooked up to several machines and was a great distance away from the window that was broken,” the police report states, noting the child appeared “not harmed.” The names of the mother and child were redacted in documents released by the city. Price, 25, told WOIO that she is the woman who interacted with police inside the home. Her aunt, Redia Jennings, told the affiliate that she and her husband have rented the home for the past year. Property records obtained by CNN indicate that Jennings lives at the address raided by police. As the raid unfolded, Price said she was stunned as lights flashed, smoke filled the home and police entered through the front door. “I didn’t know what to do because there was guns pointed at me,” Price told the affiliate. “I wanted to run to (my son) but I knew if I ran to him they could’ve shot.” Jennings said the teenager police were looking for hadn’t lived at the house for more than a year, but police have come to the home about five times looking for him. In one of the videos, an officer asks, “Is there just one chick in there and a baby?” and another officer responds, “Guess so. The target was at school.” The mayor has asked the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the incident, as well as how the warrant was obtained. “While the footage captured clearly illustrates what did and did not occur when the search warrant was executed, it does not answer questions of what led to the warrant itself,” Mayor Brubaker said. Jennings told WOIO that the family plans to take legal action against the police department and are moving to a new home this week. CNN has reached out to Mayor Brubaker, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, and Courtney Price.

1. Presidential race Former President Donald Trump won the Iowa Republican caucuses by an unprecedented margin, cementing his front-runner status in the GOP primary field as he vies to be the party’s 2024 nominee and reclaim the White House. Trump received 51% of the vote — despite battling four indictments, including charges tied to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis edged out former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for a distant second-place finish with just over 21% — although the nominating contest now shifts to New Hampshire, where polls show Haley in a much stronger position in next week’s primary. Also on Monday, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who finished fourth in the Iowa caucuses, ended his campaign and immediately endorsed former president Trump. 2. Gaza Israel’s war in Gaza has brought famine with “such incredible speed,” the United Nations relief chief said Monday, as he warned that the “great majority” of 400,000 Gazans are starving in the besieged enclave. Elsewhere in the region, a Houthi ballistic missile struck a US-owned cargo ship on Monday, US Central Command said in a statement. The Yemeni militant group claimed responsibility for the strike against the Gibraltar Eagle, which appears to be the first time the Houthis have successfully struck a US-owned or operated ship, raising the stakes in the Red Sea after Washington vowed that further Houthi launches would be met with a response. Houthis claim attack on U.S. vessel 00:48 - Source: CNN 3. Flight cancellations A treacherous winter storm in the US has caused major flight disruptions across the country this week, creating headaches for thousands of travelers. Southwest topped the list of most-affected airlines for the second consecutive day on Monday with more than 700 flights canceled — about 18% of its schedule. Unlike Southwest’s holiday travel meltdown of 2022, the carrier said the recent cancellations were not due to technical issues and will ease up considerably today. And Southwest isn’t the only airline that has found the weather challenging. United has seen more than 430 flights canceled and American Airlines requested a temporary ground stop in Dallas on Monday due to the icy conditions. 4.Immigration Authorities in Chicago are scrambling to shelter migrants in dangerous cold as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott refuses to stop drop-offs. Illinois’ Democratic governor recently warned in a letter to his GOP counterpart that sending migrants now to the Windy City could cost lives. Over the last few weeks, mayors of New York, Chicago and Denver have been irked by “rogue buses” from Texas dropping off migrants by the thousands. Abbot has vowed to keep sending migrants despite the freezing conditions, saying that “until President Biden steps up and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue transporting migrants to sanctuary cities.” This comes just days after three Mexican migrants drowned near Eagle Pass, Texas, after state authorities blocked the US Border Patrol from accessing miles of the US-Mexico border. Governor walks back suggestion that Texas would shoot migrants if it weren't illegal 02:02 - Source: CNN 5. Apple Apple has received approval to change how its smartwatches function so the company can overcome the Apple Watch ban imposed by a US court. The fix would eliminate the pulse oximeter function, a medical scanner that measures the oxygen concentration in the bloodstream. Apple temporarily stopped selling some of its watch models after the International Trade Commission found the company in violation of a medical company’s pulse oximeter patent. Apple had said it “strongly disagrees” with the ban and pledged to “take all measures” to bring the Apple Watch back to US customers soon. At the same time, iPhone sales are slowing in part because of the Chinese government’s reported efforts to restrict purchases. Beijing, however, denies it has put any restrictions in place. 00:00:00 NASA's Lunar Lander Setback 00:00:16 Trump's Victory in Iowa Republican Caucuses 00:00:33 Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and Escalating Tensions in Yemen 00:00:50 Winter Storm Disrupts US Flight Schedules and Migrant Crisis in Chicago 00:01:08 Apple's Workaround to Court-Imposed Ban 00:01:18 Recap of Recent Events

Iceland volcano eruption begins receding after torching town outside capital Eruption was second reported on Reykjanes Peninsula in 4 weeks. A volcano that erupted in southwest Iceland for the second time in less than a month appeared to be significantly less active on Monday despite indications of magma still flowing underground. "A black day" read the front page headline of Icelandic daily Morgunbladid across an image of bright-orange lava fountains and houses burning in the town of Grindavik, some 25 miles southwest of the capital Reykjavík. Although volcanic activity has eased since Sunday, the eruption centres is a high-risk area and new fissures could open without warning, the Icelandic Metrological Office said. ICELAND VOLCANO ERUPTION DESTROYS HOMES AS PRESIDENT SAYS REGION ENTERING 'A DAUNTING PERIOD OF UPHEAVAL' "It is difficult to estimate how long this eruption will last," it said in a statement. Molten lava flows reached the outskirts of Grindavik around noon on Sunday, setting three houses alight, although the town had been evacuated earlier and there was no immediate danger to people. The crack in the earth's surface that opened close to Grindavik on Sunday was no longer active on Monday, and lava production from the larger fissure north of the town was decreasing, vulcanologist Rikke Pedersen told Reuters. "Activity has dropped significantly overnight," she said. GPS measurements showed that magma continued to move in a southern area of the corridor beneath the town, the Metrological Office said, adding that new cracks might appear within Grindavik in the next few days. Grindavik, Iceland fires This social media screengrab show homes burning as lava creeps across Grindavik, Iceland, January 14, 2024. (Bjorn Steinbekk/@bsteinbekk via Instagram/via REUTERS) It was the second eruption on the peninsula of Reykjanes in four weeks and the fifth since 2021. Live video footage on Monday showed glimpses of orange lava still flowing to the surface but in smaller volumes, and further away from the town. "Unfortunately (the lava) went a little bit more south than we had hoped for," Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland's Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told a press conference late on Sunday. Nevertheless, defensive barriers built to the north of Grindavik had helped divert the flows of lava to the west, away from the town, Reynisson said. Residents of Grindavik, a town of some 4,000 people before it was evacuated in November, said it was difficult to watch televised images of the fires. "This is serious, it's basically as bad as it can possibly get. Although it might get even worse, who knows?" evacuated resident Jon Gauti Dagbjartsson said late on Sunday. "I actually live in the house that I was born in and it's a tough thought to think that this town might be over, and I would have to start all over somewhere else. But if that's the case, then that's exactly what we'll do." The Icelandic government was to meet on Monday to decide on support for the people of Grindavik. "We need to put a lot of extra efforts into finding more housing, suitable housing," Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said.

vek Ramaswamy suspends his 2024 Republican presidential bid and endorses rival Donald Trump Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Monday and endorsed former President Donald Trump after finishing a distant fourth in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses. (Jan. 16) Photos 3 BY BILL BARROW Updated 10:19 AM CET, January 16, 2024 Share Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Monday and endorsed former President Donald Trump after finishing a distant fourth in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses. Ramaswamy said he made the decision after determining there was no path forward for him in the race, “absent things that we don’t want to see happen in this country.” The 38-year-old political novice, who sought to replicate Trump’s rise as a bombastic, wealthy outsider, said he called the former president earlier Monday evening to congratulate him on his victory in Iowa. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in second, with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley just behind in third. Ramaswamy told supporters gathered at a Des Moines hotel that Trump “will have my full endorsement for the presidency.” OTHER NEWS FILE - E. Jean Carroll leaves Manhattan federal court, Oct. 23, 2023, in New York. A federal judge said Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, that former President Donald Trump can wait a week to testify at a New York defamation trial where he could face millions of dollars in damages after a jury concluded that he sexually abused columnist Carroll in the 1990s. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) Ex-President Donald Trump set to face jury over sex abuse and defamation claims Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump greets supporter Blake Marnell as he speaks at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Why AP called Iowa for Trump: Race call explained Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump stands in a back stage area after speaking at a caucus site at Horizon Events Center, in Clive, Iowa, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Trump leads GOP rightward march and other takeaways from the Iowa caucuses He added: “And I think we’re going to do the right thing for this country. And so I’m going to ask you to follow me in taking our America First movement to the next level.” Trump, in his victory speech a few minutes earlier, said Ramaswamy “did a helluva job” in the campaign. Ramaswamy said he would likely appear with Trump in New Hampshire Tuesday night and suggested DeSantis and Haley should “follow suit” in withdrawing from the race. During the campaign, Ramaswamy needled most of his opponents but praised Trump as “the best president of the 21st century.” He argued, though, that Republicans should opt for “fresh legs” while still supporting the America First agenda. The approach, including his call for “revolution,” vaulted Ramaswamy into the mix of candidates vying to overtake Trump — or at least become a viable alternative. His decision to drop out, though, becomes the latest confirmation that the former president, even at 77 years old and under multiple criminal indictments, still dominates Republican politics and remains the overwhelming favorite to win the GOP nomination for the third consecutive time. Ramaswamy’s failure also affirms how difficult it is for any Republican other than Trump to push the bounds of party orthodoxy, as the first-time candidate found little political reward for positions such as his opposition to aid for Israel and Ukraine. Ramaswamy said he would be open to vice presidential consideration. “I’m not somebody who’s going to be able to speak anyone’s convictions but my own,” he said. “So if that’s a role that I can perform from the vice presidency or any other one, I’m going to evaluate whatever is best for the future of this country. But my No. 1 commitment is to truth.” The son of Indian immigrants, Ramaswamy entered politics at the highest level after making hundreds of millions of dollars at the intersection of hedge funds and pharmaceutical research, a career he charted and built while graduating from Harvard University and then Yale Law School. He brought to his campaign the same brash approach he used to coax money from investors even when the drugs he touted never made it to the market. “Do you want somebody who grew up in this system who’s going to deliver incremental reform? Or do you want somebody coming in from the outside?” he said earlier in the campaign, framing his business success as a harbinger of what he could do in the Oval Office. In a rapid-fire presentation on a range of issues, Ramaswamy wowed many GOP audiences by seamlessly mixing his biography and detailed policy positions with conservative talking points. He advocated deporting the American-born children of immigrants who reside illegally in the country. He questioned the government’s account of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and called for firing 75% of the federal workforce. He also called for raising the U.S. voting age. He hammered corporate America for its emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. Ramaswamy called hawkish GOP rivals “Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels” and laughed when one of them called him “scum.” But he always navigated Trump carefully, promising to pardon the former president for any federal crimes, including those related to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Yet alongside the bravado, Ramaswamy often ignored contradictory details, and his confidence sometimes brought him trouble. He did not tell voters that he once described Trump’s denial of his 2020 defeat as “abhorrent” or that he saw Jan. 6 as a “dark day for democracy.” He didn’t say he invested in companies whose diversity, equity, and inclusion programs he calls “woke.” His isolationist views and his assertions that U.S. politicians back Israel because of their personal financial interests drew the ire of influential conservative commentators, including Sean Hannity of Fox News. Ramaswamy insisted he had a nobler purpose: “I’ll keep us out of World War III and then revive national pride in this country.”

Iran launches missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria, claims to destroy Israeli spy base

Iowa caucus results: Trump wins, DeSantis edges Haley for second place, Ramaswamy ends campaign Kevin Breuninger Brian Schwartz Dan Mangan Rebecca Picciotto Republican former President Donald Trump won the Iowa caucus by around 30 points over his closest rival, setting a new record for victory margins in the Iowa Republican caucus. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in a distant second, followed closely by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy ended his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump after coming in fourth. The final results hewed relatively closely to polling averages in recent weeks, but Trump outperformed expectations by crossing the 50% threshold. Haley underperformed, after polls showed her in second place heading into the caucus. Extreme cold and snow blanketed Iowa, tamping down turnout. Total caucusgoers reached around 110,000, down from around 186,000 in 2016, the last time a Republican nomination was competitive. The next contest in the GOP presidential race is the New Hampshire primary, on Jan. 23. With 95% of the ballots counted, Trump appeared to have won around 51% of caucusgoers. He also won 98 of the state’s 99 counties, NBC News projected. By the end of the night, the path for any Trump challenger had grown narrower. And Trump’s hold over the Republican base appeared stronger than ever. 6 HOURS AGO Trump calls for unity in victory speech Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during his caucus night watch party in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during his caucus night watch party in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 15, 2024. Brian Snyder | Reuters Trump called for unity, and even offered a hint of praise for his rivals, in a victory speech that seemed to regard the rest of the primary, and his selection as the Republican nominee, as a foregone conclusion. It’s “time now, for everybody, our country, to come together,” Trump told a crowd of his supporters in Des Moines following NBC News’ projection that he would easily win the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses. “I want to congratulate Ron and Nikki for having a good time together,” he said of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Amb. Nikki Haley. Trump noted that the second-place results were still yet to be determined. Trump then cycled through a generalized laundry list of policies and issues he planned to address if reelected to the White House, including a plan to “seal up” the U.S.-Mexico border and “rebuild our cities.” He also once again gave oxygen to the false conspiracy claim that his 2020 election loss was rigged, as he vowed to “straighten out our elections” and advocate for the use of paper ballots. He had no magnanimity to spare for President Joe Biden, his likely competitor in the 2024 general election, calling him the worst president to ever to hold the office. Trump was joined on the Des Moines stage by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a one-time Republican primary rival who endorsed Trump a day earlier, along with some of his family members and other supporters. — Kevin Breuninger 6 HOURS AGO Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes second in Iowa GOP caucuses, NBC projects Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a "Countdown to Caucus" event at the Never Back Down Headquarters on January 13, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa. Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a “Countdown to Caucus” event at the Never Back Down Headquarters on January 13, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will finish second in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses, NBC News projects. Former United Nations Amb. Nikki Haley will take third place, NBC projects. — Kevin Breuninger 6 HOURS AGO Vivek Ramaswamy suspends campaign, endorses Trump Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy makes remarks during a protest against a planned CO2 pipeline at the Iowa state capitol rotunda in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 10, 2024. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy makes remarks during a protest against a planned CO2 pipeline at the Iowa state capitol rotunda in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 10, 2024. Alyssa Pointer | Reuters Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his GOP presidential candidacy and immediately endorsed Donald Trump. Ramaswamy’s decision came after a fourth-place performance in Iowa’s caucuses. “As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign,” Ramaswamy told supporters. “There is no path for me to be the next president, absent things that we don’t want to see happen in this country.” “We’re going to do our part now going forward to make sure that America First lives on, to make sure that Donald Trump is successful as the next President of the United States,” he said. - Dan Mangan and Rebecca Picciotto 6 HOURS AGO Caucus turnout around 100,000, Iowa Republican party reports Votes are counted during a caucus to choose a Republican presidential candidate, at Fellows Elementary School, in Ames, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Cheney Orr Votes are counted during a caucus to choose a Republican presidential candidate, at Fellows Elementary School, in Ames, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024. Cheney Orr | Reuters Roughly 100,000 Iowans turned out to the Republican caucuses Monday evening in the face of blizzard conditions and subzero temperatures, he Iowa GOP said. NBC News initially expected 150,000 caucusgoers to show up. The 2016 Republican caucus was 186,874. “Iowans braved record-low temperatures after a blizzard blanketed their state just days earlier to deliberate with members of their community about the future of our country and participate in true, grassroots democracy,” the Iowa GOP said in a statement. The Republican caucuses have no remote option so anyone who wanted to participate on Monday evening had to brave the extreme cold to do so. — Rebecca Picciotto 7 HOURS AGO Trump wins Iowa caucus despite spending less than rivals on Meta ads Facebook suspends Donald Trump's account for two years. Facebook suspends Donald Trump’s account for two years. Pavlo Gonchar | LightRocket | Getty Images Donald Trump won the Iowa caucus despite spending only around $44,000 on advertisements targeting Iowa voters on Facebook and Instagram in the week ahead of the caucuses, according to data from the Meta ad library reviewed by CNBC. The sum is slightly less than the $45,000 spent by businessman Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign on Meta ads that same week. Americans for Prosperity Action, a super PAC that has backed Nikki Haley, put up around $43,000 for Meta ads in Iowa starting Jan. 7. This was just a small slice of the $419,000 total that AFP Action spent nationwide that week on Meta ads to help Haley. - Brian Schwartz 7 HOURS AGO 59% of GOP caucusgoers support federal abortion ban Anti-abortion activists hold signs calling for the Supreme Court justices to "affirm the decision of Federal District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk who suspended the Food and Drug Administration's approval of Mifepristone," in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., April 21, 2023. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Anti-abortion activists hold signs calling for the Supreme Court justices to “affirm the decision of Federal District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk who suspended the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Mifepristone,” in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, April 21, 2023. Nathan Howard | Reuters A solid majority of caucusgoers would support a federal law to ban most or all abortions. NBC News’ entrance poll found that 59% of Iowa Republican caucus attendees would be in favor of a “federal law banning most or all abortions nationwide.” Another 36% of respondents said they opposed such a federal law. Nonetheless, only12% of caucusgoers said abortion was the most important issue facing the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned its ruling in the case Roe v. Wade, which for a half-century established a constitutional right to abortion. Since then, the power to restrict or permit abortions has been effectively left up to individual states. But abortion rights since has also proved to be a fraught issue for Republicans politically in a number of states. Voters in favor of abortion rights in seven states, four of them solidly Republican, won ballot initiatives related to abortion restrictions. Support for abortion rights also was seen as a deciding favor in the re-election of Kentucky’s governor, Democrats winning control of both legislative chambers in Virginia, and liberals winning a majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. - Dan Mangan 8 HOURS AGO ‘Stop wasting time and resources,’ pro-Trump PAC tells GOP rivals Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigns in Indianola, Iowa, U.S., January 14, 2024. Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigns in Indianola, Iowa, U.S., January 14, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters A super PAC backing former President Donald Trump is urging his remaining Republican primary rivals to give up, in the wake of Trump’s swiftly projected victory in Iowa. “Every dollar spent by President Trump’s primary losers is a dollar that could be fighting Joe Biden,” said Alex Pfeiffer, communications director for Make America Great Again Inc., in a statement. “Once the DC RINOs are finished crying in their cocktails over tonight’s results, it’s time for Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy to face reality and stop wasting time and resources,” Pfeiffer said. — Kevin Breuninger 8 HOURS AGO Trump flying to New York for Tuesday start of E. Jean Carroll defamation trial Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump (C) leaves a meeting with campaign advisors on caucus day, January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump (C) leaves a meeting with campaign advisors on caucus day, January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images Fresh off his projected victory in the Iowa Republican caucuses, Donald Trump is headed to court, NBC News reported, citing a source familiar with the former president’s travel plans. Trump intends to travel to New York City to attend the start of the civil defamation trial brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll, who accuses Trump of defaming her after she accused him of sexually assaulting her decades earlier. Trump will then head to Atkinson, New Hampshire, to appear at a previously scheduled rally starting at 5 p.m. ET, NBC confirmed. — Kevin Breuninger 8 HOURS AGO Early media projections of Trump’s caucus victory are ‘election interference,’ DeSantis spokesman claims Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis looks on during a campaign event at the Chrome Horse Saloon ahead of the caucus vote in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S., January 14, 2024. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis looks on during a campaign event at the Chrome Horse Saloon ahead of the caucus vote in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S., January 14, 2024. Alyssa Pointer | Reuters Ron DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo called it “outrageous” that media outlets, including NBC News, projected Donald Trump would win the Iowa caucuses. “Absolutely outrageous that the media would participate in election interference by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans even had a chance to vote. The media is in the tank for Trump and this is the most egregious example yet,” Romeo said in a post on X. NBC News has yet to project the second and third place spots. - Brian Schwartz 8 HOURS AGO Republican turnout lower than expected at caucuses Voters participate in a caucus day at Fellows Elementary School to choose a Republican presidential candidate, in Ames, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Cheney Orr Voters participate in a caucus day at Fellows Elementary School to choose a Republican presidential candidate, in Ames, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024. Cheney Orr | Reuters Turnout at the Republican caucus is lower than originally expected, based on NBC News entrance polls and initial vote returns. NBC currently estimates that there will be 130,000 caucus voters. In 2020, when the Democratic caucus was competitive, more than 176,000 people caucused. Turnout was even higher in 2016 for that year’s Republican nominating contest: 186,874 caucusgoers. — Dan Mangan 8 HOURS AGO Nearly two-thirds of caucusgoers say Trump fit to be president even if convicted Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, after his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury following a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, in New York City, U.S., April 4, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, after his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury following a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, in New York City, April 4, 2023. Brendan McDermid | Reuters Sixty-four percent of caucusgoers said Donald Trump would be fit to be president even if he were convicted of a crime, according to NBC News entrance polls. Just 31% of respondents said Trump would not be fit to serve in the White House if convicted of a crime. Trump was indicted in four separate criminal cases last year, two of which relate to his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. In one federal case, Trump is charged with crimes connected to his refusal to return classified government documents after leaving the White House. He also is charged in New York state court in Manhattan with falsifying business records related to a hush money payment his then-lawyer paid porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 election about their alleged sexual tryst years earlier. - Dan Mangan 9 HOURS AGO Immigration is top issue for caucusgoers: NBC entrance poll Migrants walk by a string of buoys placed on the water along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 15, 2023, to prevent illegal immigration entry to the US. The buoy installation is part of an operation Texas is pursuing to secure its borders, but activists and some legislators say Governor Greg Abbott is exceeding his authority. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images) Migrants walk by a string of buoys placed on the water along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 15, 2023, to prevent illegal immigration entry to the US. Suzanne Cordeiro | AFP | Getty Images Iowa Republican Caucus attendees ranked immigration as the most important issue facing the country, followed closely by the economy, according to an NBC News entrance poll. Both issues lead with 37% and 36%, respectively — by over 20 percentage points over abortion and foreign policy, which are top issues for only 11% or respondents each. Donald Trump’s supporters were most likely to name immigration as their top issue at 44%, while 38% said immigration. Among Nikki Haley’s supporters, the economy was the top concern (28%), followed by foreign policy (27%), immigration (26%) and abortion (19%). —Chelsey Cox 9 HOURS AGO Donald Trump wins the Iowa Republican caucuses, NBC News projects Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dances as he campaigns in Indianola, Iowa, U.S., January 14, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dances as he campaigns in Indianola, Iowa, U.S., January 14, 2024. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Former President Donald Trump is the winner of the Iowa Republican caucuses, NBC News projects. The call came less than an hour after the proceedings began. — Kevin Breuninger 9 HOURS AGO 65% of caucusgoers believe Biden did not ‘legitimately’ beat Trump in 2020, early NBC poll shows The stage is set and ready for the caucus night event for Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Iowa Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. The stage is set and ready for the caucus night event for Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Iowa Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images A sizable majority of Iowa Republican caucusgoers said they do not believe President Joe Biden legitimately defeated former President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, an early NBC News entrance poll found. Only 30% of respondents believed Biden won the election fair and square. Another 65% said they think Biden did not win legitimately, according to the survey of 551 GOP caucus attendees. Among respondents who support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, or former United Nations Amb. Nikki Haley, however, more said they believed Biden’s victory was legitimate, the poll showed. — Kevin Breuninger 9 HOURS AGO Haley campaign: Second place would be a ‘thunderclap’ Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event on January 11, 2024 in Ankeny, Iowa. Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event on January 11, 2024 in Ankeny, Iowa. Win Mcnamee | Getty Images Heads she wins, tails she’s still, well, in the game. Nikki Haley’s campaign believes that “second place is a thunderclap and third is still the status quo,” a person familiar with the campaign’s thinking told NBC News. Haley in recent months has risen in public opinion polls in Iowa, while Ron DeSantis, who is battling her for second place to Donald Trump there, has slumped after putting most of his resources in the state. “This is now a two-person race between Nikki and Trump, and we’re ready,” her campaign says. - Dan Mangan 9 HOURS AGO Caucusgoers say candidate who shares their values matters most A caucus worker checks in voters at a caucus site at the Horizon Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Clive, Iowa. A caucus worker checks in voters at a caucus site at the Horizon Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Clive, Iowa. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Caucusgoers said that a candidate who shares their values is the most likely factor in deciding whom to support. Forty percent of respondents to an NBC News entrance poll, when asked about a quality that led them to back a candidate, said someone who “shares my values.” A candidate who “fights for people like me,” was a close second, at 34% of respondents. Just 10% of caucusgoers said a candidate who “can defeat [Joe] Biden” mattered most to them. - Dan Mangan 9 HOURS AGO DeSantis makes last rounds in Iowa alongside Reps. Tom Massie, Chip Roy CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - JANUARY 14: Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is joined on stage by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) (L) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) (2nd-L) during a campaign event at the Chrome Horse Saloon one day before the Iowa caucuses on January 14, 2024 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. DeSantis and fellow Republican presidential candidates have been adjusting their campaign schedules to deal with blizzard-like conditions in Iowa a day before the caucuses, the first primary competition Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is joined on stage by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) (L) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) (2nd-L) during a campaign event at the Chrome Horse Saloon one day before the Iowa caucuses on January 14, 2024 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images Ron DeSantis made his final pitch to Iowa flanked by Republican Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, two hardline conservative House members. Massie and Roy have relentlessly campaigned for DeSantis, issuing strong criticisms of Trump’s legacy along the way. Denouncing Trump while also aligning with Republican hardliners leaves Massie and Roy in a camp of their own. “I know politically it’s dangerous. They’re saying I won’t get elected. I don’t care. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing,” Massie said at one of DeSantis’ final Iowa events on Monday. “This is the guy who needs to be president.” “I’m here because he will offer a future for my son and daughter that we can be proud of, someone they can look up to in the Oval Office. That matters,” Roy echoed. After nearly 200 Iowa events since May 2023, DeSantis on Monday urged caucusgoers to “bring as many people out as you can” to bear the subzero temperatures and cast ballots for him. Along with Massie and Roy, DeSantis has the support of key Iowan figures like Gov. Kim Reynolds and evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats. In recent weeks DeSantis has changed his bullish tone on Iowa, shifting from self-assured declarations that he would win the Hawkeye State to calling himself the “underdog.” For DeSantis, reeling back expectations might be the most effective way to defy them. He currently holds third place behind Nikki Haley and Trump, according to the final NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll. — Rebecca Picciotto 9 HOURS AGO NBC News: Iowa GOP caucus too early to call, Trump is leading INDIANOLA, IOWA - JANUARY 14: Former President Donald Trump leaves a rally at Simpson College on January 14, 2024 in Indianola, Iowa. Tomorrow Iowa Republicans will be the first to select their party's nomination for the 2024 presidential race when they go to caucus. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump leaves a rally at Simpson College on January 14, 2024 in Indianola, Iowa. Scott Olson | Getty Images It’s still too early to project a winner in the Iowa Republican caucuses, but early results show Donald Trump leading, according to NBC News. Results from caucuses around the state will continue streaming in for the rest of the night. - Dan Mangan 9 HOURS AGO Spin alert: Haley, DeSantis push dueling narratives with Trump set to dominate With pre-caucus polls and other indicators signaling an easy victory in Iowa for former President Donald Trump, his two top rivals are laying the groundwork to claim that coming in second, or even third, could still count as a success. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley participate in the Republican presidential debate hosted by CNN at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 10, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Segar TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley participate in the Republican presidential debate hosted by CNN at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters Former United Nations Amb. Nikki Haley’s campaign is looking to leapfrog Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has heavily focused his campaign on Iowa. But even if Haley comes in third in the caucus, she won’t consider it a cause for alarm: Her campaign, which has surged in the polls in recent months, wasn’t widely expected to trounce DeSantis in Des Moines anyway. She also appears to be far ahead of DeSantis in New Hampshire, which will hold its crucial GOP primary election next week. DeSantis, meanwhile, is working to establish that a third-place finish would be a disaster for Haley. His campaign, and the super PACs backing his presidential bid, have sought to wield the nascent hype for Haley as a cudgel, hoping that she will underperform expectations and lose momentum. The governor’s campaign in a press release highlighted hopeful comments from Haley’s supporters, including New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, to argue, “It is 2nd place or bust for Wall Street funded Nikki Haley in Iowa.” Earlier Monday, the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down claimed in a press release, “Anything less than a ‘strong second’ in Iowa for Haley will be an embarrassing loss.” — Kevin Breuninger 10 HOURS AGO Iowa Republicans can still pick Chris Christie, who dropped out last week Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is reflected in a mirror while speaking at a campaign stop at the RiverWoods Retirement Community in Exeter, New Hampshire, U.S., January 10, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is reflected in a mirror while speaking at a campaign stop at the RiverWoods Retirement Community in Exeter, New Hampshire, U.S., January 10, 2024. Brian Snyder | Reuters Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie may have already ended his 2024 presidential campaign, but Iowa Republicans can still cast a ballot for him. The Republican Party of Iowa said in a press release that the forms it is using to tally voters’ presidential preferences “went into production well before Christie suspended his campaign last week.” The caucus will offer seven Republicans to caucusgoers, and tally results for each one: Christie, former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Amb. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Arkansans Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and pastor and entrepreneur Ryan Binkley. The party will also include an “other” column for other names selected. — Kevin Breuninger 10 HOURS AGO Trump spends caucus day at Iowa hotel, urges supporters to bear blizzard CORALVILLE, IOWA - DECEMBER 13: Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign event at the Hyatt Hotel on December 13, 2023 in Coralville, Iowa. Iowa Republicans will caucus on January 15, the first in the presidential nomination process in the 2024 presidential race. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign event at the Hyatt Hotel on December 13, 2023 in Coralville, Iowa. Scott Olson | Getty Images News | Getty Images Donald Trump worked the phones from the Des Moines Hotel on a bitterly cold caucus day, despite urging Iowans to endure the subzero temperatures to caucus for him, campaign sources told NBC News. The Republican frontrunner only stepped outside for lunch, according to the campaign sources. Trump spent the day holding tele-rallies, directly calling caucus chairs and doing radio interviews. Hew told caucus captains to keep an eye out for misinformation, echoing a similar message he posted on Truth Social. Meanwhile, Trump’s chief rivals, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, all left their respective hotels to hold in-person events and pitch themselves as the best alternative to Trump. — Rebecca Picciotto 10 HOURS AGO Eric Trump calls Haley a ‘puppet’ of BlackRock, ignores ex-president’s alliance with CEO Former President Donald Trump's son Eric Trump speaks to media before his father's caucus night event at the Iowa Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Former President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump speaks to media before his father’s caucus night event at the Iowa Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Alex Wong | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump is taking aim at his father’s rival Nikki Haley by arguing the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is a “puppet” of BlackRock, a massive investment advisory firm. The video lacks a key detail: Trump maintained a very public alliance with BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, throughout his presidency. “Larry did a great job for me. He managed a lot of my money, and, I have to tell you, he got me great returns last year,” Trump said at the White House in 2017. Trump later turned to Fink for guidance during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. File: President Donald Trump (C) greets BlackRock CEO Larry Fink at the beginning of a policy forum in the State Dining Room at the White House February 3, 2017 in Washington, DC. File: President Donald Trump (C) greets BlackRock CEO Larry Fink at the beginning of a policy forum in the State Dining Room at the White House February 3, 2017 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images “People like Larry Fink we’re talking to, that’s BlackRock -- we have the smartest people, and they all want to do it,” Trump told reporters at the time. “This, to them, they love this country, they all want to do it, so we’re speaking to people like that and they’ll be able to work it out.” Haley met with Fink and other business leaders last year during a campaign meet and greet. A spokesman for BlackRock did not respond to a request for comment. - Brian Schwartz 11 HOURS AGO After 300 Iowa campaign events, Ramaswamy wraps up ANKENY, IOWA - JANUARY 14: Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (R) arrives for a campaign stop on January 14, 2024 in Ankeny, Iowa. Republicans will be the first to select their party's nomination for the 2024 presidential race when they go to caucus on January 15, 2024. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (R) arrives for a campaign stop on January 14, 2024 in Ankeny, Iowa. Tasos Katopodis | Getty Images Vivek Ramaswamy logged his final Iowa campaign rally on Monday afternoon, punctuating a ground game that has far outpaced his competitors with over 300 events. From May 2023 until now, Ramaswamy has managed to visit all of Iowa’s 99 counties — twice. Ron DeSantis visited all 99 counties once. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley visited 30 counties and Donald Trump visited 15 as of Sunday, according to NBC News. But despite their apparent lag on the retail politics, Trump and Haley currently lead the pack. Joining Ramaswamy at his final event was his wife, Apoorva, and former Iowa Rep. Steve King. “Vote for somebody who’s going to speak the truth,” was Ramaswamy’s final message to Iowans hours before the caucuses began. — Rebecca Picciotto 11 HOURS AGO Corporate leaders are watching Trump’s margin of victory MAQUOKETA, IOWA - SEPTEMBER 20: 2024 Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to guests during a "Commit To Caucus" rally at the Jackson County Fairgrounds on September 20, 2023 in Maquoketa, Iowa. The event is the first of two Trump has scheduled in Iowa today. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Former US President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump delivers remarks at a Team Trump Iowa Commit to Caucus event in Maquoketa, Iowa, on September 20, 2023. Scott Olson | Getty Images Donald Trump is widely viewed as the favorite to win the Iowa caucus by leaders of corporate America. What these executives are watching closely is the margin of Trump’s victory, according to strategists who spoke to CNBC Monday night. “The view from the C-suite is that the cake is already baked in terms of Trump winning, but the question is by what margin he wins by?,” Evan Siegfried, the president of Somm Consulting and a crisis communications advisor, told CNBC. “The bigger it is, the more likely they [corporate leaders] will price in a Trump nomination and factor it into their 2024-2025 plans.” Matt Mackowiak, a Texas corporate consultant, said his clients are keeping an eye on three factors in Iowa: Trump potentially winning by over 50%, where Ron DeSantis ends up and whether Nikki Haley gains any momentum heading into the New Hampshire primary. All of those factors will “affect their [corporate] political and donor strategy,” Mackowiak added. - Brian Schwartz 11 HOURS AGO Iowa Democrats are caucusing, too, but not to cast ballots Caucus-themed merchandise is seen on display at Raygun on January 11, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Caucus-themed merchandise is seen on display at Raygun on January 11, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Both Republicans and Democrats will caucus in Iowa on Monday — but only the GOP side will feature a vote on presidential candidates. Democrats who show up at their Iowa caucus precincts will discuss other party business. Iowa Democrats vote by mail, and results will not be released until Super Tuesday, March 5. Republicans plan to post the results of their caucus Monday night. Delegates will be awarded proportionally to their share of the statewide vote. Biden, the incumbent Democrat, faces little outward resistance from his own party as he seeks its nomination for president. His biggest Democratic challenger in the primary, Rep. Dean Philips of Minnesota, is mounting a long-shot campaign that his little chance of impacting the race. — Kevin Breuninger 12 HOURS AGO Cold, virtual classes could dampen GOP turnout at University of Iowa, organizer says A woman walks in the street in front of Iowa state capitol after a blizzard left several inches of snow, in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 13, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello A woman walks in the street in front of Iowa state capitol after a blizzard left several inches of snow, in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 13, 2024. Marco Bello | Reuters The cold weather, along with a class-scheduling decision could lead to fewer younger caucus goers turning out Monday night, a caucus organizer at the University of Iowa. “I think with younger people, it may be an issue,” Kyle Clare, 21, told NBC News, referring to the frigid temperatures. “I think especially because a lot of us aren’t driving to our locations. A lot of us do have to walk to our caucus locations.” Clare also noted that the university originally scheduled its first classes of the new semester to begin Tuesday, a day after the caucuses. But even those classes were made virtual due to the cold weather. This could mean there will be fewer students physically present in Iowa City to caucus. - Dan Mangan 12 HOURS AGO Here’s how the Iowa Republican caucuses will actually work Ballots for candidates are pictured at the Mineola Community Center before the caucus vote in Mineola, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Scott Morgan Ballots for candidates are pictured at the Mineola Community Center before the caucus vote in Mineola, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024. Scott Morgan | Reuters The first ballots in the 2024 Republican presidential nominating contest will not be cast in a voting booth. The party caucus process is much more communal and more intense. Iowa Republicans will gather at school cafeterias, community centers, churches and other sites Monday evening across 1,657 precincts in the state’s 99 counties. Before recording their choices on ballots, those caucusgoers will hear speeches delivered by candidates’ supporters. The ballots will be collected and counted, and a winner will be announced in the room. The results of the GOP caucuses will be uploaded to the state party’s website. Once they are verified, the results will be posted online. The proceedings start promptly at 7 p.m. CT, and the state GOP urges participants to arrive early. — Kevin Breuninger 12 HOURS AGO Ramaswamy, DeSantis have flooded Iowa with hundreds of events. It might not help. For DeSantis and Ramaswamy, Iowa has been more than the cornerstone of their primary campaign strategies — it’s become their unofficial second home. Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy makes remarks during a protest against a planned CO2 pipeline at the Iowa state capitol rotunda in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 10, 2024. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy makes remarks during a protest against a planned CO2 pipeline at the Iowa state capitol rotunda in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 10, 2024. Alyssa Pointer | Reuters Ramaswamy has held 303 total events in the state since late May, while DeSantis has held 174 events there in the same period, according to NBC News’ tally of the GOP primary field. Both candidates have touted their completion of the “full Grassley,” a reference to Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley’s annual tour of meetings through all of Iowa’s 99 counties. Ramaswamy did it twice, his campaign announced on Jan. 2. It’s far from clear whether those efforts will translate into voter support. Trump, who has held just 38 total events in Iowa since May 23, is heavily favored to win the state. Haley, who has 64 events in Iowa under her belt, is seen as a major threat to DeSantis’ hopes of a strong second-place finish in the Hawkeye State. — Kevin Breuninger 13 HOURS AGO DeSantis turns to finance committee members to help gain support in Iowa Florida Governor Ron Desantis addresses Iowa residents on his second day of campaigning as an official candidate for the 2024 U.S. Republican presidential nomination, at Sun Valley Barn in Pella, Iowa, U.S. May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Scott Morgan Florida Governor Ron Desantis addresses Iowa residents on his second day of campaigning as an official candidate for the 2024 U.S. Republican presidential nomination, at Sun Valley Barn in Pella, Iowa, U.S. May 31, 2023. Scott Morgan | Reuters Ron DeSantis is taking an all hands on deck approach to rallying Iowa caucusgoers to his side, including turning to members of his national finance committee for help on the ground in the Hawkeye State. Roy Bailey, a co-chair of DeSantis’ national finance advisory board, told CNBC that he is among around 50 volunteers from the governor’s fundraising operation, are in Iowa on Monday trying to get out of the vote in support of the Florida governor. The DeSantis fundraisers have been knocking on doors, making calls and speaking at various caucus precincts. Michael McClellan and Nick Iarossi, are two other members of the finance committee volunteering to help DeSantis in Iowa, Bailey said. Iarossi posted on X a picture of him attending a DeSantis rally in the Hawkeye State. - Brian Schwartz 13 HOURS AGO DeSantis scales back expectations Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attends a campaign event ahead of the caucus vote in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S., January 14, 2024. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis looks on during a campaign event at the Chrome Horse Saloon ahead of the caucus vote in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S., January 14, 2024. Alyssa Pointer | Reuters Ron DeSantis, who had long vowed he would win Iowa’s caucuses, has pulled back on those hopes as he set his sights on remaining in the race for what could end up being a last stand in South Carolina. “We’re going on with this,” DeSantis told NBC News in an interview. “We’ve been built for the long haul.” The Florida governor entered caucus day well behind Trump in polls in Iowa, and in what looks like a battle for second place with Haley, the former South Carolina governor. DeSantis plans to head straight to South Carolina right after the caucuses for a campaign event in Greenville, despite the fact that the next Republican contest, on Jan. 23, is the New Hampshire primary. After that comes the Nevada caucus on Feb. 8. South Carolina’s primary is scheduled for Feb. 24. - Dan Mangan 13 HOURS AGO Haley backer hopes ex-governor has ‘a chance,’ predicts Trump will win county ‘by a mile’ TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 06: Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley participates in the NewsNation Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the University of Alabama Moody Music Hall on December 6, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The four presidential hopefuls squared off during the fourth Republican primary debate without current frontrunner and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has declined to participate in any of the previous debates. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Get Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley participates in the NewsNation Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the University of Alabama Moody Music Hall on December 6, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images A Sioux County caucusgoer backing Nikki Haley said there’s “not a chance” she will win the county — and predicted Trump will win Iowa’s caucuses “by a mile.” Still, Douglas VanAarsten is supporting Haley “because I think we need a generational change,” he told NBC News. “And I am totally opposed to Donald Trump being the next president,” VanAarsten said. He hopes that by the end of the night, Haley “will have outperformed expectations, and that she has a chance then in New Hampshire, and even a better chance in South Carolina.” “That might get the ball rolling enough so that there’s a chance,” VanAarsten said. - Dan Mangan 13 HOURS AGO Life-threatening cold blows chaos into caucus A worker uses a snowblower to remove snow from a sidewalk after a blizzard left several inches of snow in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 13, 2024. A worker uses a snowblower to remove snow from a sidewalk after a blizzard left several inches of snow in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 13, 2024. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Iowans will be battling extreme cold and dangerous wind chills as they trudge toward their caucus sites Monday evening for what could be the coldest caucus day on record. Minimum wind chill forecasts as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit are expected around 6 p.m. onward in some corners of the state, according to the National Weather Service in Des Moines. The agency, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, warned of “life-threatening cold” in a notice issued early Monday morning. Frostbite in such temperatures is possible in as little as 10 minutes, according to the agency. The hostile weather could depress turnout, though it is unclear whether that will help or hinder any of the presidential contenders. — Kevin Breuninger 13 HOURS AGO Last time competitive Iowa GOP caucuses winner ended up nominee was 2000 Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush (L) and Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore talk during their third debate at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, 17 October, 2000. Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush (L) and Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore talk during their third debate at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, 17 October, 2000. Tannen Maury | AFP | Getty Images It’s been 24 years since the winner of competitive Iowa Republican caucuses also ended up being the GOP’s nominee that cycle. Former President George W. Bush pulled off that feat in 2000. Since then, three men who won competitive caucuses did so only to see someone else nab the party’s nomination. In 2008, as Bush was in his last year in the White House, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee won the caucuses. The late Sen. John McCain of Arizona went on to win the nomination. Four years later, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum won in Iowa, only to fade in later primaries. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the Republican nominee that cycle. In 2016, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas won the caucuses. But Trump ended up being the nominee that year. - Dan Mangan 13 HOURS AGO Haley lags in Iowa events, compensates with ad spending Nikki Haley has visited fewer Iowa counties and held fewer events than some of her GOP competitors, though she and her super PACs have tried to make up for it with a surge of ad spending. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley delivers her political soapbox speech at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. August 12, 2023. REUTERS/Scott Morgan Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley delivers her political soapbox speech at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. August 12, 2023. Scott Morgan | Reuters Haley had visited 30 Iowa counties as of Sunday, trailing DeSantis who has visited all 99 and Ramaswamy who has visited all 99 two times over. Meanwhile, Trump has only visited 15 counties, holding many events via surrogates. Since May 2023, Haley has held 125 events across the country, 64 of which were in Iowa. Ramaswamy has held 303 Iowa events out of his total 410. DeSantis, who also secured major Iowa endorsements, has held 174 Iowa events out of 264 total. Though DeSantis and Ramaswamy appear to dwarf Haley’s ground game, she has outpaced the entire GOP field in terms of ad spending. Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during the Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during the Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Rachel Mummey | Bloomberg | Getty Images Haley has spent $36.2 million on Iowa campaign ads, according to AdImpact, more than any of the other Republican candidates. Just in the past two weeks, $7.8 million went to pro-Haley ads versus $6.1 million for DeSantis and $3.5 million for Trump. Haley is reaping the benefits of her spending advantage, as a final Iowa poll from NBC News, the Des Moines Register and Mediacom showed her taking over DeSantis’ second place spot with 20% support. That momentum still has not been enough to close the gap with Trump who held 48% in the same poll. — Rebecca Picciotto 12 HOURS AGO Ramaswamy, DeSantis have flooded Iowa with hundreds of events. It might not help. For DeSantis and Ramaswamy, Iowa has been more than the cornerstone of their primary campaign strategies — it’s become their unofficial second home. Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy makes remarks during a protest against a planned CO2 pipeline at the Iowa state capitol rotunda in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 10, 2024. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy makes remarks during a protest against a planned CO2 pipeline at the Iowa state capitol rotunda in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 10, 2024. Alyssa Pointer | Reuters Ramaswamy has held 303 total events in the state since late May, while DeSantis has held 174 events there in the same period, according to NBC News’ tally of the GOP primary field. Both candidates have touted their completion of the “full Grassley,” a reference to Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley’s annual tour of meetings through all of Iowa’s 99 counties. Ramaswamy did it twice, his campaign announced on Jan. 2. It’s far from clear whether those efforts will translate into voter support. Trump, who has held just 38 total events in Iowa since May 23, is heavily favored to win the state. Haley, who has 64 events in Iowa under her belt, is seen as a major threat to DeSantis’ hopes of a strong second-place finish in the Hawkeye State. — Kevin Breuninger 12 HOURS AGO Trump warns Iowa caucusgoers to ‘be on the lookout for dirty tricks’ Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at Simpson College on January 14, 2024 in Indianola, Iowa. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at Simpson College on January 14, 2024 in Indianola, Iowa. Scott Olson | Getty Images Donald Trump warned Iowa caucusgoers to “be on the lookout for dirty tricks,” as he urged supporters to turn out for him, amid concerns that frigid weather in Iowa would dampen turnout. “The Iowa Caucus is 100% on for Monday night, January 15th,” Trump wrote in his TruthSocial post. “It will not be canceled or postponed under any circumstances. Don’t listen to any dishonest RINOS or Globalists that say otherwise!” At a campaign event Sunday in Indianola, Iowa, Trump suggested that there was nothing more important than voting for him. “It has nothing to do with anything but taking our nation back, and that’s the biggest thing there is,” he said. “Even if you vote and then pass away, it’s worth it.”

WORLD Ecuador declares control over prisons, frees hostages after eruption in "war" with drug gangs January 15, 2024 / 7:30 AM EST / AFP Quito — Ecuador's security forces on Sunday took back control of several prisons that had fallen into the hands of gang members, after securing the release of more than 200 officials held hostage inside the jails. The country's simmering security crisis erupted last week as the government and powerful narco gangs declared all-out war on each other, after the prison escape of a dangerous drug lord. Inmates rioted in jails where gangs wield outsize control, taking prison guards and administrative workers hostage, while on the streets a wave of violence has left 19 people dead. Unverified images on social media of looting, brutal murders and other attacks have struck terror into the population. Gunmen in fire shots on live TV as Ecuador hit by gang violence "Thank God we all got out safely" On Sunday the army shared videos of prison walls being blown up, and declared "total control" of a prison in the city of Cuenca where 61 employees had been held hostage, according to the mayor. They also shared images of hundreds of cowed inmates, shirtless and barefoot, lying on the ground at several prisons. Ecuadorian soldiers take control of the prison, in Cuenca Ecuadorian soldiers stand guard over inmates in the courtyard after taking control of the Ceunca prison, in Cuenca, Ecuador, in a handout picture made available on Jan. 14, 2024. ARMED FORCES OF ECUADOR/HANDOUT/REUTERS "We have resumed control of six centers" and are busy taking control of a final prison in Cotopaxi, which has seen brutal massacres in recent years, General Pablo Velasco told Caracol TV. Authorities announced the release of 201 prison guards and administrative officials, from prisons across seven provinces. President Daniel Noboa celebrated the releases in a post on social media. "Congratulations to the patriotic, professional and courageous work of the armed forces, national police and the SNAI... for achieving the release of the prison guards and administrative staff held in the detention centers of Azuay, Canar, Esmeraldas, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, El Oro and Loja," he wrote. Images broadcast by the police showed the guards, many in tears, exhausted and supported by their colleagues shortly after their release. "We are free... Thank God we all got out safely," a prison employee said in a video posted on social media, waving the Ecuadoran flag and standing in front of one prison in southern Cotopaxi province. What happened in Ecuador? Once a bastion of peace situated between major cocaine producers, Ecuador has been plunged into crisis after years of expansion by the transnational cartels that use its ports to ship the drug to the United States and Europe. The latest crisis was triggered by the escape from Guayaquil prison of one of the country's most powerful narcotics gang bosses, Jose Adolfo Macias, known by the alias "Fito," who headed the country's main gang "Los Choneros." The government declared a state of emergency and curfew, infuriating gangsters who declared "war" against civilians and security forces. Noboa in turn said the country was "in a state of war" against 22 gangs. He deployed to the streets over 22,000 security forces, who have frisked and stripped down young men in search of the tattoos identifying them as a member of one of the gangs. ECUADOR-STATE OF EMERGENCY-SECURITY An agent of the Ecuadorian National Police escorts one of several alleged members of the criminal gang "Los Lobos" captured during a police operation after they attacked a police post in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan. 14, 2024. YURI CORTEZ/AFP/GETTY Authorities have reported more than 1,300 arrests, eight "terrorists" killed and 27 escaped prisoners recaptured in the operation. Two police officers have also been killed. "We are going to win," Ecuador's leader vows Noboa has vowed not to bow before the violence, giving orders to "neutralize" the criminal groups responsible. "I believe we are going to win and I will not stop fighting until we do," he told the BBC on Friday. Narco gangs often use prisons as criminal offices, from where they manage drug trafficking, order assassinations, administer the proceeds of crime and fight to the death with rivals for power. It is in the prisons that much of the gang wars are fought, with brutal clashes between inmates leaving more than 460 dead, many beheaded or burned alive, since February 2021. Ecuador's murder rate quadrupled between 2018 and 2022, as the criminal gangs found a foothold in the country. Last year was the worst yet, with 7,800 murders and a record 220 tons of drugs seized. Noboa has announced he plans to build two "super maximum" security prisons with a capacity for more than 3,000 people, with proposals for future "prison ships" also on the table.

BREAKING NEWS - IRAN HAS TARGETED THE US CONSULATE, January 15, 2024

US shoots down Houthi missile aimed at American warship in Red Sea, officials say The missile came from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, U.S. officials said. ByKevin Shalvey January 15, 2024, 8:44 AM US shoots down Houthi missile aimed at warship, officials say The USS Laboon was fired on in the Southern Red Sea at about 4:45 p.m. on Sunday...Show More A U.S. fighter aircraft shot down a missile fired toward an American warship from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, U.S. military officials said. The USS Laboon was fired on in the Southern Red Sea at about 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, U.S. Central Command said on social media. "The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by U.S. fighter aircraft," officials said. "There were no injuries or damage reported." PHOTO: In this file image from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon approaches the oiler USNS Kanawha, on the horizon, for replenishment-at-sea operation in the Red Sea on Dec. 25, 2023. In this file image from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon approaches the oiler USNS Kanawha, on the horizon, for r...Show more Elexia Morelos/US Department of Defense/AFP via Getty Images The missile launch on Sunday appeared to be the first such attack by the Houthi militants since American and British forces unleashed a series of large-scale retaliatory airstrikes against multiple Houthi targets inside Yemen. MORE: US launches another retaliatory airstrike against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen The Houthis, an Iran-backed militant group, have for weeks been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, a gateway to the Suez Canal, one of the world's most heavily traveled shipping routes. There have been at least 27 attacks on international commercial shipping, President Joe Biden said Friday. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, two of the world’s largest shipping companies, have diverted container ships away from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sending them instead on the longer journey around the Cape of Good Hope. More than 2,000 commercial ships have been rerouted to avoid the Red Sea, Biden said. PHOTO: In this file image obtained from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon transits the Suez Canal on Dec. 18, 2023. In this file image obtained from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon transits the Suez Canal on Dec. 18, 2023. Elexia Morelos/U.S. Department of Defense/AFP via Getty Images The retaliatory strikes by the United States and United Kingdom were a "defensive action" following the attacks on commercial vessels, Biden said in a statement issued Thursday. "I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary," he said.

North Korea launches solid-fuel missile tipped with hypersonic warhead, state media claims South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch, saying the missile flew approximately 620 miles before landing in the waters Published January 15, 2024 North Korea launches ICBM that could reach any part of US: state TVVideo North Korea launches ICBM that could reach any part of US: state TV North Korean state TV published footage of the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile Monday. (KRT) North Korea claims it launched a new solid-fuel, intermediate-range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead on Monday amid its pursuit of more powerful weapons. Sunday’s launch was aimed at verifying the reliability of the missile’s solid-fuel engines and the maneuverable flight capabilities of the hypersonic warhead, according to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA reported the North Korean military said the successfully flight-tested missile was designed to strike U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan, as well as other remote U.S. targets in the region. It was North Korea’s first ballistic test of 2024. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch, saying the missile flew approximately 620 miles before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. CHINA, NORTH KOREA AGGRESSION DRIVES RECORD JAPANESE MILITARY SPENDING SPLURGE Kim Jong Un watching a rocket launch A TV at Seoul's Yongsan Railway Station shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the launch of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile flew 1,002.3 kilometers for 4,415 seconds at a maximum altitude of 6,518.2 km before "accurately" hitting the East Sea, the KCNA said. (KIM Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) KCNA’s report described the test as a success but did not provide specifics. It came a day after South Korean and Japanese militaries detected the launch from a site near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the military was analyzing the North’s latest test but declined to elaborate. A rocket launching This photo, provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says is a flight test of a new solid-fuel intermediate-range in North Korea on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) The launch also comes two months after North Korea claimed to have successfully tested engines for a new solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile. KIM JONG UN PERSONALLY OVERSEES LAUNCH OF NORTH KOREA’S MOST POWERFUL ICBM YE Hypersonic weapons are harder to detect from traditional missiles as they are designed to exceed five times the speed of sound. If perfected, such systems could potentially pose a challenge to regional missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability. North Korea’s existing intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), including the Hwasong-12 that may be able to reach the U.S. military hub of Guam in the Pacific, are powered by liquid-fuel engines, which are fueled up before launch and cannot stay fueled for long. A photo of a rocket North Korea confirmed it test-fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un saying the launch showed what option he would take "when Washington makes a wrong decision." v More flight tests are likely to come soon and raise the alarm of neighbors. Some experts say North Korea could try to dial up pressure in an election year for Seoul and Washington. North Korea has flown the Hwasong-12 IRBMs over Japan three different times since 2017. North Korea also launched its first military reconnaissance satellite in November and aims to launch three more satellites in 2024. The South’s Defense Ministry demanded the North halt its ballistic testing activities that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Almost half of Haley supporters say they would vote for Biden over Trump: Iowa poll BY RACHEL SCULLY - 01/14/24 10:06 AM ET SHARE TWEET Just under half of likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers who support former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley indicated that they would make a crossover to the Democratic party, saying that they would rather vote for President Biden over former President Trump. A new NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll released just one day before the Iowa caucuses found that 43 percent of Haley backers in the state said they would vote for Biden if Trump is the GOP nominee, while 23 percent say they would vote for the former president. Eight percent said they would vote for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Overall, 71 percent of likely GOP caucusgoers said they would vote for Trump in 2024, while only 11 percent said they would vote for Biden. “Haley is consolidating the anti-Trump vote,” J. Ann Selzer, a pollster who has conducted the Iowa survey over the last three decades, told NBC. “She does well with the people who define themselves as anti-Trump.” The poll also explored likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers’ view of Trump’s legal challenges. Overall, 74 percent said Trump can win a general election despite his legal challenges, while 23 percent said it’s nearly impossible for him to win against Biden. Among Haley’s supporters, 54 percent said the former president wouldn’t be able to win, while 42 percent said they believe he could. The NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll was conducted Jan. 7-12 with 705 likely Republican Iowa caucusgoers. The poll has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

Frederik X is proclaimed the new king of Denmark after his mother Queen Margrethe II abdicates BY JAN M. OLSEN Updated 6:25 PM CET, January 14, 2024 Share COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication, with massive crowds turning out to rejoice in the throne passing from a beloved monarch to her popular son. Margrethe, 83, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years. Many thousands of people gathered outside the palace where the royal succession took place, the mood jubilant as the Nordic nation experienced its first royal succession in more than a half-century, and one not caused by the death of a monarch. Denmark’s monarchy traces its origins to 10th-century Viking king Gorm the Old, making it the oldest in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Today the royal family’s duties are largely ceremonial. Margrethe signed her abdication during a meeting with the government at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that has been the seat of Danish power for centuries. It now houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish Parliament, the prime minister’s office and the Supreme Court. READ MORE FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2018, file photo, Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko, right, greet the guests during the autumn garden party at the Akasaka Palace imperial garden in Tokyo. Akihito abdicated in 2019 at the age of 85, citing age and declining health in his decision to hand over the throne to his son Emperor Naruhito. It was Japan's first abdication in two centuries. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) Denmark’s queen is abdicating the throne. More royals have been doing that lately FILE - Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary present awards in the Concert Hall in the Musikhuset in Esbjerg, Denmark, Saturday Nov. 4, 2023. Thousands of people will gather in downtown Copenhagen on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 to witness a historic moment in one of the world’s oldest monarchies. Around 2 p.m. Queen Margrethe II will sign her abdication and about an hour later her eldest son will be proclaimed as King Frederik X on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in the heart of the Danish capital. (Keld Navntoft/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File) A royal first: Australia celebrates Princess Mary’s historic rise to be queen in Denmark Queen Margrethe II gives a New Year's speech and announces her abdication from Christian IX's Palace, Amalienborg Castle, in Copenhagen, Sunday, Dec. 31 2023. (Keld Navntoft/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II to step down from throne on Jan. 14 FILE - Queen Margrethe II attends the church service in Copenhagen Cathedral to mark the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne in Copenhagen, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Margrethe II, whose half-century reign makes her Europe’s longest-serving monarch, has undergone “extensive back surgery” and the condition of the monarch “is good and stable under the circumstances," the palace said on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File) Danish queen recovering from ‘extensive’ back surgery Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen next proclaimed Frederik king from the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowd. Frederiksen read the proclamation three times, which is the tradition, as Frederik stood beside her wearing a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals. He was then joined on the balcony by the new, Australian-born Queen Mary and the couple’s four children, and the crowd spontaneously sang the national anthem. “My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow,” Frederik said. “It is a task I have approached all my life.” It is the custom for each new sovereign to adopt a royal motto as a guiding principle for their reign, and Frederik’s is: “United, committed, for the kingdom of Denmark.” “I want to return the trust I meet,” the new king said. “I need trust from my beloved wife, you and that which is greater than us.” Denmark's Queen Margrethe II signs a declaration of abdication in the Council of State at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Queen Margrethe II has signed her historic abdication. It's a step that paves the way for her son Frederik X to immediately become king. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II signs a declaration of abdication in the Council of State at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Queen Margrethe II has signed her historic abdication. It’s a step that paves the way for her son Frederik X to immediately become king. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Frederik kissed Mary, the queen, who wore a white dress with a sash over one shoulder, and another great cheer rose from the crowd. They then left Christianborg Palace in a horse-drawn coach as church bells rang out, and headed to their Amalienborg residence, where they once again appeared before people cheering and waving the nation’s flag of a white cross on a red background. Frederik, who was visibly moved, placed both hands on his heart in a gesture of thanks. The abdication document was earlier presented to Margrethe as she sat at a massive table covered in red cloth around which royals and members of the Danish government were seated. Frederik sat beside her. Denmark's King Frederik X and Denmark's Queen Mary wave from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Queen Margrethe II has become Denmark's first monarch to abdicate in nearly 900 years when she handed over the throne to her son, who has become King Frederik X. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Denmark's King Frederik X and Denmark's Queen Mary wave from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Queen Margrethe II has become Denmark's first monarch to abdicate in nearly 900 years when she handed over the throne to her son, who has become King Frederik X. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary travel from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary travel from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) After signing it, Margrethe, dressed in a magenta skirt suit, rose and gestured to Frederik to take her place. “God save the king,” she said as she left the room using a cane for support. The abdication leaves Denmark with two queens: Margrethe keeps her title, while Frederik’s wife becomes Queen Mary. Frederik and Mary’s eldest son Christian, 18, has become crown prince and heir to the throne. Citing health issues, Margrethe announced on New Year’s Eve that she would step down, stunning a nation that had expected her to live out her days on the throne, as is the tradition in the Danish monarchy. Margrethe underwent major back surgery last February and didn’t return to work until April. Even the prime minister was unaware of the queen’s intentions until right before the announcement. Margrethe had informed Frederik and his younger brother Joachim just three days earlier, the Berlingske newspaper wrote, citing the royal palace. People from across Denmark gathered outside parliament, with many swarming streets decorated with red-and-white Danish flags. Several shops hung photos of Margrethe and Frederik, while city buses were adorned with small Danish flags as is customary during royal events. Many others across the kingdom of nearly 6 million people followed a live television broadcast of the historic event. People dressed as kings and queens wait at Christiansborg castle in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) People dressed as kings and queens wait at Christiansborg castle in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) “It was worth the four hours wait,” said Anders Pejtersen, 25. He made the trip from Aalborg, in northern Denmark, to witness Frederik’s proclamation. His mother, Helle Pejtersen, said “it was intense.” Marina Gregovic, 32, a Copenhagen resident, said she believed Frederik “will be fantastic. And we loved his speech.” Royals across Europe sent their congratulations including U.K. King Charles III, whose late mother Queen Elizabeth II and Margrethe were third cousins. Charles said he was committed to working with them “on ensuring that the enduring bond between our countries, and our families, remains strong.” Earlier in the day, the royal guards’ music band made their daily parade through downtown Copenhagen, but wore the red jackets used to mark major events, instead of their usual black. The last time a Danish monarch voluntarily resigned was in 1146, when King Erik III Lam stepped down to enter a monastery. Margrethe abdicated on the same day of January that she ascended the throne following the death of her father, King Frederik IX, on Jan. 14, 1972. Australians also turned out on the streets of Copenhagen to celebrate one of their own becoming queen. A spectator waves Australian flags as they await the arrival of the Danish royals outside of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Queen Margrethe II will become Denmark's first monarch to abdicate in nearly 900 years when she hands over the throne to her son, who will be crowned King Frederik. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) A spectator waves Australian flags as they await the arrival of the Danish royals outside of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Queen Margrethe II will become Denmark's first monarch to abdicate in nearly 900 years when she hands over the throne to her son, who will be crowned King Frederik. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) A picture of Danish Queen Margrethe is seen in the window of a candy store in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) A picture of Danish Queen Margrethe is seen in the window of a candy store in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) “I think it’s good that she’s not from royalty and has a normal Australian background. We can relate more to that, because she’s from a middle-class background, and we are too,” said Judy Langtree, who made the long journey from Brisbane with her daughter to witness the royal event. A survey — commissioned by Denmark’s public broadcaster DR — published Friday showed that 79% of the 1,037 people polled by the Epinion polling institute said that they believed Frederik was prepared to take the reigns and 83% said they thought his wife Mary was ready to become queen. The survey margin of error was 3 percentage points, DR said. Though a hereditary monarchy might seem contradictory to the egalitarian principles of modern-day Denmark, the royal family remains highly popular and the anti-monarchist movement is small. “The republicans in Denmark have no future,” former parliamentary Speaker Pia Kjærsgaard said on public television.

Slowing inflation suggests that Biden's policies are helping, but American voters are still hurting. Sat, January 13, 2024 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden can make an increasingly strong case that he's helped fix inflation — if only he can get voters to believe him. Figures issued this past week reflected a historic level of progress on battling high prices, hinting that inflation could be near the Federal Reserve's 2% target around the time of November's election. The consumer price index posted an an annual increase of 3.4%, but the prices charged by the producers of goods and services rose a meager 1% over the past year. Current and former aides say Biden is eager to do more to bring down inflation, after a price surge in 2021 and 2022 crushed his public approval ratings in a way that is dragging down his reelection efforts. They see reasons for optimism with improving consumer sentiment. “It’s an ongoing effort,” said White House chief of staff Jeff Zients. “Under his leadership, we’ve attacked inflation from every angle.” The question is whether voters are feeling the improvement and will reward Biden. Or will they penalize him because inflation became a problem on his watch as the U.S. emerged from pandemic shutdowns? The answer could hinge on how people feel about the costs of necessities such as gasoline and eggs. Biden can accurately say his policies helped reduce the average price of a dozen eggs to $2.51, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is down from a peak last year of $4.82. But Republicans can counter that a dozen eggs cost $1.47 before Biden became president. Leading GOP lawmakers such as Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, greeted the latest inflation numbers as evidence that voters are still suffering from high prices: “President Biden’s inflation crisis continues to rob the wallets of working families,” he said. Former President Donald Trump has told supporters that the inflation under Biden is how “countries die” and that Trump's return to the White House would mean lower energy costs.

NFL wild-card round playoff game picks, schedule, guide play. Jan 13, 2024, The NFL playoffs' wild-card round schedule for the 2024 season is stacked with great matchups, and we've got you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game and a bold prediction for each matchup. Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a game projection. Analytics writer Seth Walder picks out each matchup's biggest X factor, Matt Bowen identifies a key game-planning matchup to watch in every game, and Kevin Seifert tells us what to know about the officiating. Finally, Walder and Eric Moody give us final score picks for every game. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL playoff football. ADVERTISEMENT Let's get into the full wild-card slate, including Matthew Stafford's return to Detroit and three great rematches of regular-season matchups (Browns-Texans, Eagles-Bucs and Dolphins-Chiefs). Jump to a matchup: CLE-HOU | MIA-KC | PIT-BUF GB-DAL | LAR-DET | PHI-TB Byes: SF, BAL (5) Browns at (4) Texans Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | NBC | Spread: CLE -2 (44.5) What to watch for: The last time these two teams played, Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper finished with a team-record 265 receiving yards in Cleveland's 36-22 win. The Texans didn't have their starting quarterback, C.J. Stroud, who was in concussion protocol, and Case Keenum stepped in and threw two interceptions. The Texans have the utmost confidence that they can beat any team when they have Stroud, so expect this matchup to be much different now that he's healthy. -- DJ Bien-Aime Bold prediction: The Browns will win the turnover battle for only the third time this season. This is the first playoff matchup since the 1970 merger featuring a team that committed the league's most turnovers (Cleveland, 37) against the team that committed the fewest (Houston, 14). The Browns have been emphasizing ball security in their building ahead of this matchup, so that should play in Cleveland's favor. -- Jake Trotter EDITOR'S PICKS Game-plan keys for every NFL wild-card matchup: Mapping each team's path to victory 4hMatt Bowen Barnwell predicts the NFL playoff bracket: Score picks for all 13 games 4hBill Barnwell Our guide to the NFL playoffs: Reasons for hope -- and concern -- for all 14 teams 3dNFL Nation Stat to know: Stroud's weakness is solving man coverage. While he has the highest QBR in the league against zone coverage (74), he ranks 27th against man (39). His QBR decline of 35.1 is the largest from zone to man coverage this season. This weekend, Stroud will face a Browns defense that runs man coverage at the 10th-highest rate (47%) and has the best man defense in the league. Matchup X factor: Browns cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson Jr. -- whenever they are lining up on Nico Collins. The Texans wideout had an incredible season, ranking second in yards per route run behind only Tyreek Hill. If the Browns' corners can shut him down on any given play, that seriously depletes Stroud's options. Emerson and Ward are good players, and this strength-on-strength matchup could decide the game. -- Walder Game-plan key: I'm looking for the Browns to scheme some deep shots for quarterback Joe Flacco. He had five completions on passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield when Cleveland met Houston in Week 16. Can the Texans contain the Browns' vertical passing game? Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Browns | Texans Officiating note: This game will feature two of the NFL's most penalized teams. The Browns were flagged 138 times, second most in the NFL, while the Texans were No. 5 with 132 flags. And Browns opponents were flagged 133 times, most in the league. However, referee Clay Martin's regular-season crew threw the fourth-fewest flags in the league at 12.4 per game. -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Texans are 9-3 against the spread (ATS) in their past 12 meetings against the Browns. Moody's pick: Texans 24, Browns 21 Walder's pick: Texans 23, Browns 16 FPI prediction: CLE, 50.5% (by an average of 0.2 points) Matchup must-reads: Garrett won't be denied as Browns begin playoff journey ... How Slowik has helped Stroud excel as a rookie ... Ward injures knee in practice, status in question ... How Ryans helped turnaround the Texans (6) Dolphins at (3) Chiefs Saturday, 8 p.m. ET | Peacock | Spread: KC -4.5 (43.5) What to watch for: The Chiefs defended wide receiver Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins about as well as they could have during their Week 9 meeting, but doing it a second time will be a challenge. Kansas City played a season-high 61% zone coverage in deference to Miami's speed and quickness. The Chiefs held Hill to 62 yards and made him fumble, returning it for the decisive touchdown. A similar performance would give the Chiefs a great chance for victory, but can they repeat it? -- Adam Teicher Bold prediction: Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will throw a pair of touchdowns without turning the ball over. The temperature at Arrowhead Stadium is projected to feel like it's well into the negatives by Saturday night. Tagovailoa has faced criticism for his performance in cold weather -- he has lost all four of his starts in sub-45-degree weather, completing just 55% of his passes. But he will snap out of it, along with his late-season funk. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques Stat to know: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six straight postseason games and enters this weekend looking to tie Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Drew Brees for the third-longest streak in postseason history. Matchup X factor: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. He hasn't been the same player, and at this point, it has become blindingly clear that wide receiver help isn't coming for the Chiefs. They need someone to be a dominant receiving threat, and Kelce is likely the only player on the roster who can become that if he can find his 2022 form again. -- Walder play 1:32 Stephen A.: 'I'm not giving Miami any hope' against Kansas CityStephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe agree that Miami could struggle on the road against Kansas City this week. Game-plan key: How will the Chiefs slow down Hill? Getting some two-deep coverage variations into the game plan will be key to containing Miami's explosive pass game. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Dolphins | Chiefs Officiating note: The Chiefs were flagged more often for offensive holding (33) than any other team, a big reason why they ranked No. 6 overall in penalties (126). This aspect of the game would be under more scrutiny had the Dolphins not suffered a series of injuries to their top pass-rushers, but it's still worth noting that referee Brad Rogers' regular-season crew threw the second-most flags for offensive holding (48). -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Dolphins were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with overs going 9-8. The Chiefs were 9-8 ATS in the regular season with unders going 11-6. Moody's pick: Dolphins 27, Chiefs 21 Walder's pick: Dolphins 27, Chiefs 23 FPI prediction: KC, 52.6% (by an average of 0.9 points) Matchup must-reads: How Tagovailoa met his goal of 17-game season ... How Reid unlocked Kelce ... Dolphins sign Houston, Irvin for playoffs (7) Packers at (2) Cowboys Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: DAL -7 (50.5) What to watch for: Playoff games between the Cowboys and Packers have been memorable, from the Ice Bowl (better known as the 1967 NFL championship), to the 2014 divisional round when Dez Bryant didn't -- or did -- catch it, to the 2016 divisional round when Aaron Rodgers' 35-yard completion set up the game-winning field goal. In that game, quarterback Dak Prescott was making his first playoff start. In this game, quarterback Jordan Love is making his first playoff start. Dallas coach Mike McCarthy was on the Packers' sideline for those last two games, but now he gets a chance to end his former team's season and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs for the second straight season. -- Todd Archer Bold prediction: In a game that features the quarterbacks who ranked first and second in the NFL in touchdown passes this season (Prescott with 36, Love with 32), both Packers running back Aaron Jones and Cowboys running back Tony Pollard will top 100 yards. Jones ended the season with three straight games over 100 yards. And Pollard is coming off his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and will face a Green Bay defense that allowed a 28th-ranked 128.3 rushing yards per game this season. -- Rob Demovsky Stat to know: The Packers are 5-0 at AT&T Stadium all time, including playoffs (4-0 versus the Cowboys, plus a Super Bowl XLV win against the Steelers). Matchup X factor: Love. In theory, this should be Dallas' game, and it shouldn't be that close. But since Week 10, the top players in QBR have been Prescott and Love, respectively. If Love can pull out an exceptional game, Green Bay has a real chance. -- Walder Game-plan key: I'm excited to see if Dallas can scheme some interior pass-rushing plays for Micah Parsons. He led the NFL in pass rush win rate this season (35.4%), and there will be opportunities when he kicks inside. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen play 2:34 Stephen A.: Cowboys under more pressure to reach Super Bowl than 49ers.Stephen A. Smith and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo disagree on whether the Dallas Cowboys or San Francisco 49ers are under more pressure to reach the Super Bowl this season. Injuries: Packers | Cowboys Officiating note: The Cowboys have been exceptional this season at drawing coverage penalties from opponents, who have been flagged an NFL-high 31 times for defensive pass interference, defensive holding or illegal contact. It's a big reason why the Cowboys led the league with 43 first downs via penalty. The Packers' shell coverage, however, was only flagged 16 times for coverage fouls, the NFL's seventh fewest. -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Packers were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with overs going 10-7. The Cowboys were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with unders going 9-8. Moody's pick: Cowboys 34, Packers 21 Walder's pick: Cowboys 31, Packers 24 FPI prediction: DAL, 73.6% (by an average of 9.1 points) Matchup must-reads: How Love is staying 'level' for playoff debut ... If not now, when for Prescott and a Cowboys Super Bowl? ... How Love outdid Rodgers, Favre in Year 1 ... Cowboys' McCarthy: Revisiting Packers tenure 'won't help us win' (6) Rams at (3) Lions Sunday, 8 p.m. ET | NBC | Spread: DET -3 (51.5) What to watch for: Matthew Stafford against Jared Goff. It's the Lions' first home playoff game since the 1993 season, as the two former No. 1 overall pick quarterbacks face off for the second time since being traded for each other in 2021. There is no shortage of suspense as Lions coach Dan Campbell will try to lead Detroit to its first postseason victory since the 1991 season, while Rams coach Sean McVay is looking to improve his 7-3 career record in playoff games. -- Eric Woodyard Best of NFL Nation • McCarthy-Prescott bond spurs Cowboys • Bills gain rep for clutch play • Ryans brings energy to Texans • Packers' Love ready for playoff debut • Giants have solid options for DC job Bold prediction: Stafford will throw for at least 350 yards. It isn't a mark he has hit yet this season, but the matchup could be a high-scoring one. Stafford, who played for the Lions for 12 seasons, has a career average of 277.7 pass yards per game at Ford Field, the fourth highest by any quarterback at a single stadium in NFL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. -- Sarah Barshop Stat to know: The Lions went for it on fourth down 34% of the time this season, the highest of any team this century. The Rams went for it 17% of the time, which ranked 20th this season. But Los Angeles might consider being more aggressive on fourth down as it has missed 16 combined field goals and extra points this season, the most by any team since the 2001 Steelers (17). Matchup X factor: Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. He finished the regular season red hot with 5.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a 19% pass rush win rate at edge in his final two games. If he keeps that up, that would be huge for the Lions' defense. -- Walder Game-plan key: Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs could see volume on Sunday night, especially out of 11 personnel. The Rams allowed 4.9 yards per carry against such alignments this season. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Rams | Lions Officiating note: The Lions' challenge in covering the Rams' passing game will be enhanced by their proclivity to commit coverage penalties. They were flagged 29 times for defensive pass interference, defensive holding or illegal contact, the fifth most in the NFL. They were also flagged six times for roughing the passer, tied for the fourth most. Referee Craig Wrolstad threw four flags for roughing the passer during the regular season, tied for sixth fewest. -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Rams were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with overs going 9-8. The Lions were 12-5 ATS in the regular season, the best record in the NFL. Their overs went 11-6, also tied for the highest over percentage in the NFL. Moody's pick: Rams 28, Lions 24 Walder's pick: Lions 24, Rams 20 FPI prediction: DET, 53.9% (by an average of 1.4 points) Matchup must-reads: Stafford built his resiliency in Detroit -- now he hopes to topple the Lions ... Goff: Chip on shoulder from Rams trade will never leave me ... Morris has drive to be an HC again ... Untold stories of Campbell as a player (7) Steelers at (2) Bills Monday, 4:30 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: BUF -10 (35.5) What to watch for: The roads that the Bills and Steelers took to this game contain an eerie number of similarities, from losing key players to injury for stretches to putting together season-ending winning streaks despite low playoff odds. Both teams also fired their offensive coordinators at midseason, becoming the first playoff teams to have an in-season coordinator change since the 2012 Ravens. The Steelers are looking for the team's first playoff win since 2016, while the Bills are 13-2 in home playoff games since 1970. Limiting quarterback Josh Allen in the postseason will pose a challenge for Pittsburgh, as Allen is the only player in NFL playoff history to average 250 passing yards and 50 rushing yards per game (min. five games) and has the highest combined average yardage (343.9). -- Alaina Getzenberg Bold prediction: Steelers running back Najee Harris will have his third consecutive game of at least 100 rushing yards. The Bills' rushing defense is arguably the toughest the Steelers have faced in at least a month, allowing opponents an average of 103 rushing yards per game in their past three contests. But Harris is on a roll with back-to-back games of 100-plus rushing yards. With the temperature expected to be below freezing, wind gusts of 50 miles per hour and possible light snow, the Steelers will lean heavily on their ground game. Sharing the backfield with Jaylen Warren, Harris had just 255 touches in the regular season, his fewest in his three-year NFL career, making him as fresh as possible for the playoffs. -- Brooke Pryor 2023 NFL Playoffs • Barnwell's playoff predictions (ESPN+) » • Our guide to all 14 playoff teams » • What to know for wild-card games » • Wild-card matchup keys (ESPN+) » • Full playoff bracket and schedule » Stat to know: The Steelers had nine wins in one-score games during the regular season, which led the NFL and are the most in a single season in franchise history. Matchup X factor: Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins. With edge rusher T.J. Watt out, Alex Highsmith is even more crucial to the Steelers' pass rush. If Dawkins -- who has had a really nice season and ranked fourth in pass block win rate among tackles -- can shut down Highsmith, that should set up Allen for a pretty smooth day. -- Walder Game-plan key: Pittsburgh has to run the ball well between the tackles. Harris and Warren finished the regular season hot, and Buffalo allowed 4.6 yards per carry on inside runs this season, 30th in the NFL. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Steelers | Bills Officiating note: This game will benefit from one of the NFL's most trusted referees. Carl Cheffers has been the Super Bowl referee in two of the past three years and three times in the past seven. His regular-season crew threw the third-fewest flags in the league (12.1 per game). -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Steelers were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with unders going 11-6. The Bills were 7-10 ATS in the regular season with unders going 11-6. Moody's pick: Bills 34, Steelers 20 Walder's pick: Bills 30, Steelers 13 FPI prediction: BUF, 76.6% (by an average of 10.4 points) Matchup must-reads: How Tomlin inspired the battered Steelers' unlikely playoff push ... Have the Bills shed their shaky late-game reputation? The playoffs will decide ... Who's to thank for Steelers' playoff push? Start with guys claimed 'off the couch' (5) Eagles at (4) Buccaneers Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ | Spread: PHI -3 (43.5) What to watch for: This is a Week 3 rematch that Bucs inside linebacker Devin White so accurately predicted after the Bucs' 25-11 home loss on "Monday Night Football." But these two teams have headed in opposite directions. The Bucs won five of their past six games, while the Eagles have lost five of their past six. The Bucs will also see a different looking defense since senior assistant Matt Patricia took over in Week 15. Both quarterbacks are dealing with injuries, as Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has not only a rib injury but also an ankle injury, while Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a finger injury on his throwing hand in Week 18. -- Jenna Laine Bold prediction: Bucs running back Rachaad White will eclipse 125 all-purpose yards. The last time these two teams met, the Eagles held Tampa Bay to 41 rushing yards. But the run defense has fallen off a cliff since then, yielding 142 yards per game on average over their past seven games. A banged-up Mayfield could lean on White in both the ground and short passing game. -- Tim McManus Stat to know: Hurts has struggled with ball security against the blitz this season, throwing five touchdown passes with eight interceptions. Those eight turnovers were the most by any quarterback when blitzed this season. This weekend, Hurts will face a Tampa Bay defense that blitzed at the third-highest rate during the regular season. Matchup X factor: Hurts' finger. He said on Thursday that he hadn't thrown a ball since injuring his finger in Week 18. If that injury hampers his ability to throw the ball on Monday night, then this is an entirely different ballgame. -- Walder play 1:40 Is Nick Sirianni's job on the line if Eagles lose to the Bucs?Andrew Hawkins and Dan Graziano weigh in on whether Nick Sirianni's job is at stake if the Eagles lose early in the playoffs. Game-plan key: Can Philly get the run game going with D'Andre Swift? He ran for 130 yards against Tampa Bay back in Week 3, and feeding him in the run game could help the Eagles get into a rhythm. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Eagles | Buccaneers Officiating note: For all of the public discussion the Eagles endured over their offensive linemen lining up offsides on "tush push" plays, the bigger story is that their offensive line was flagged an NFL-low eight times for offensive holding. The Buccaneers' defensive front drew 22 such flags, tied for 16th-most. -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Eagles were 7-10 ATS in the regular season with overs going 9-8. The Buccaneers were 11-6 ATS in the regular season with unders going 11-6. Moody's pick: Buccaneers 28, Eagles 21 Walder's pick: Eagles 21, Buccaneers 16 FPI prediction: PHI, 57.3% (by an average of 2.6 points) Matchup must-reads: Is the Eagles' pass rush as fearsome as it seems? ... Buccaneers clinch third straight NFC South title with win by TaboolaSponsored You May Like Detta spelet är så vackert så det är värt att installera Raid: Shadow Legends If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted. Combat Siege Spelutvecklare: Varför män inte kan sluta spela det här spelet BuzzDaily Winners Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsEU Privacy RightsCookie PolicyManage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett won't be denied play Marcus Spears details why Myles Garrett is the second best defensive player in the NFL right now. (0:52) Jake Trotter, ESPN Staff Writer Jan 12, 2024, 06:00 AM ET Share LikeLike Open Extended Reactions LikeFireFunny 128 MYLES GARRETT COULDN'T lift his left arm high enough to put on a shirt. After wincing through several attempts, the Cleveland Browns' All-Pro defensive end went searching the Denver Broncos visitors locker room for help. He finally found a trainer, who pulled the long-sleeved white shirt over Garrett's head before placing his ailing shoulder -- the cause of his troubles -- in a sling. Five days later, Garrett walked across UCLA's practice field, able to lift the shoulder enough to sip on a protein shake. He hadn't missed a game all season. And he wouldn't miss the next one against the Los Angeles Rams, either, despite the pain he was experiencing. "Don't find an excuse, find a way," Garrett told ESPN. "At the end of the day, there's going to be a winner and a loser. No one's going to look back and say, 'Oh, he was hurt, or he felt like this, or he was going through that.' All they see is the box score and who came out on the right side of things." 2023 NFL Playoffs • Barnwell's playoff predictions (ESPN+) » • Our guide to all 14 playoff teams » • What to know for wild-card games » • Wild-card matchup keys (ESPN+) » • Full playoff bracket and schedule » This year, the Browns have taken on Garrett's resilience, shaped by a string of promising seasons thwarted -- from the notorious 2019 helmet swing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, to the car accident that left him with a shoulder sprain that never fully healed last season. Garrett had been derailed enough. He wasn't about to allow it to happen again. And he vowed that this season, he wouldn't be denied, no matter what. "Not allowing anything to stop me," Garrett said of his mindset this season. "It's all about being relentless." One snag after another prevented Garrett from reaching his ultimate potential in past seasons. But Garrett also came to the realization that, in some ways, he was holding the Browns back from reaching theirs, too. Sacking the quarterback alone wasn't enough. Past teammates grumbled about Garrett's lack of leadership, both privately and publicly. He showed up late to meetings, which affected his ability to lead. To become a true contender, the Browns needed their introverted and laidback superstar to set the tone off the field, as well: Mentor younger players; become a vocal leader; be the example for the locker room; show up on time; speak up in the meeting room; elevate the play of teammates. He knew he had to be relentless in that, too. On Saturday, the Browns will make their third postseason appearance in three decades when they visit the Houston Texans (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC). After season-ending injuries to several key players, including Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb and quarterback Deshaun Watson, and while starting five different quarterbacks, Cleveland finished with 11 regular-season wins, tied for the most by the franchise since 1986. Ask nearly anyone in the organization -- players, coaches, front office personnel -- and they will say Garrett is the biggest reason the Browns are in this position and have been able to overcome so much. Garrett had always been a dominant individual pass-rusher. But according to those same people in the organization, this year he's grown into that leader who has helped transform the Cleveland defense into a dominant unit. In turn, the Browns have emerged as a legitimate threat to reach their first Super Bowl. "He's taken that next step as a leader and foundational piece for this franchise," said linebacker Anthony Walker, whom, along with Garrett, the players voted a defensive captain in the preseason. "You see it now. A lot of guys stepping up and making plays. That's a testament to him. ... That's the difference. "And nothing stopping him now." Garrett closed the regular season as the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year. Michael Owens/Getty Images IN JULY, RETIRED defensive tackle Malik Jackson called Garrett out on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football." "I don't think his leadership skills were the best," said Jackson, who played for the Browns in 2021. "He needs to take that bull by the horns and just lead more by example as far as in the classroom because we all know what he can do on the field. But to be able to go in the classroom, command that respect, and tell guys what to do is really where I think he really needs to take that jump. ... [But] some guys just don't have it." Leading into last year's final game, then-Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney told Cleveland.com he wouldn't be re-signing because the team was "trying to get [Garrett] into the Hall of Fame instead of winning games." According to multiple sources, Garrett was late to meetings, which irked veterans like Jackson. He once blew off a meeting altogether, which especially bothered Clowney and Jackson. Garrett's casual approach ultimately affected his ability to lead. "I didn't have a mentor to teach me how to lead, and most of the guys I talked to were out of the league or upper management, and they were trying to tell me that there was a certain way to lead," Garrett said. "They had this picture in their mind of how a leader should go about his business. I was like, 'Well, that's not me.' It really took me time. ... [Finding] the wisdom to understand what kind of leader that I am and how to elevate others in a way that suits me." Early in his career, Browns left guard Joel Bitonio, now an offensive captain, had Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas to apprentice under. Garrett didn't have anyone like that on the defensive side. "People look up to Myles because he's such an elite player," said Bitonio, a six-time Pro Bowler who is the only current Brown who's played for Cleveland longer than Garrett. "I don't know if he ever needed to be that vocal leader because he just was like, 'I play good. I'm a good player for us.' And when he came in the league. ... we never really had a guy be his leader." As a rookie, Garrett led the Browns with seven sacks, but Cleveland finished 0-16. "He was so dominant from Day 1. ... that we just automatically said, 'Oh, well, you're the best player on the team. You should be a leader,'" said Thomas, who played with Garrett in 2017 before retiring. "And sometimes you're just not ready for that role right away." This year, Garrett was ready. Multiple sources said Garrett is never late anymore. More than that, he's the one now holding others accountable and trying to enhance team chemistry. Garrett helped put together a weekly defensive line dinner, either at restaurants or players' houses. "An amazing guy," defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson said. "Off the field, you could say he's blossomed out of his shell a little bit more." Players also say Garrett is teaching and speaking in position meetings, the way former Browns say Thomas once did. Garrett has also taken younger players under his wing, most notably rookie defensive end Isaiah McGuire, who recorded his first career sack in Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. McGuire told ESPN that Garrett is constantly working with him, whether watching film or practicing technique. "I've seen Myles mature over the time that I've been with him," said Kevin Stefanski, in his fourth season as Cleveland's head coach. "Obviously a very intelligent player and intelligent person, great off the field. But I think in his leadership is where I've seen a huge jump. And I think his teammates would tell you that, as well. "We're very fortunate to have really good leadership on this team. When it comes from Myles, and the caliber of player that he is, that's just a greater driver." Myles Garrett has become the leader the Browns needed to propel them into the postseason. Michael Owens/Getty Images PAST SETBACKS HAVE added fuel to Garrett's desire to not be denied this season. In 2019, his third season, Garrett seemed on his way to winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett had 10 sacks and Cleveland was on the verge of defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers to keep its postseason hopes alive. But in the waning seconds, an enraged Garrett tore the helmet off Mason Rudolph and smashed it into the Pittsburgh quarterback's head. Garrett later said Rudolph incited him by using a racial slur. Rudolph called the allegation "totally untrue." The NFL suspended Garrett six games, ending his season -- and, effectively, Cleveland's playoff hopes. Garrett doesn't like to relive that moment. But he admits it hurt knowing he let the team down. "The years I didn't win Defensive Player of the Year, or something derailed me or took me out [of] the game or for multiple games off the field, it wasn't that I wasn't winning the trophy that hurt," he said. "It was more I wasn't there for my teammates. I didn't have the opportunity to give my all to them or give my best for them. I wanted to be there for them to give us the best chance to win and bring success back to Cleveland. Those are the things that really mean a lot to me." Best of NFL Nation • McCarthy-Prescott bond spurs Cowboys • Bills gain rep for clutch play • Ryans brings energy to Texans • Packers' Love ready for playoff debut • Giants have solid options for DC job Garrett was making a case for Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, but he was never the same after catching COVID-19. When he returned after two games, he struggled to breathe and suffered from constant coughing fits. Later that season, Cleveland won its first playoff game in 26 years by upsetting Pittsburgh but couldn't knock off the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round. Then last September, Garrett was speeding on his way home from practice when he flipped his Porsche in a single-car crash. Garrett, who was cited for failure to control a motor vehicle, suffered shoulder and biceps strains that forced him to sit a Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He had to play through the shoulder injury the rest of the season and the Browns missed the playoffs again. Garrett doesn't want to revisit those experiences, either. But he said he's learned from them. "Molded me into the man I am," Garrett said. "Fighting through adversity really kind of shapes who you are and the kind of player you will be. How you choose to react to those things and those obstacles in life, it really is telling who the man is inside." Garrett has been there for his teammates all season. Despite being hurt, he played in Week 13 against the Rams, though failed to record a tackle in a game for the first time in his career with the shoulder injury clearly hampering him. But he roared back the following week. In the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Stefanski grabbed Garrett and told him, "Let's go eat. It's time, OK?" Garrett, who was wearing a microphone, responded, "I'm going to end this game for us." Moments later, he fought through two Jaguars to sack quarterback Trevor Lawrence and foil Jacksonville's 2-point conversion try. The Browns would go on a four-game winning streak, culminating with a playoff-clinching victory over the New York Jets on Dec. 28. During that stretch, Garrett was dominant, delivering 35 pass-rush wins; only one other edge rusher had more than 20 (Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt had 26). "Go put the tape on and watch how [opposing teams] try to block him," Stefanski said. "He won't be denied." Myles Garrett has traveled a long road back from the 2019 incident with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images GARRETT'S NEWFOUND DEDICATION has prompted comparisons to some of the NFL's all-time greats. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said he's coached only two other players who are comparable difference-makers -- former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. "The definition of a great player is when an opponent starts their game plan with, 'We're going to take care of this guy, right? Like, we're not going to let this guy beat us, right?" Schwartz, who's in his first year in Cleveland, said. "And every week that player still makes plays. Myles fits in that category. A lot of guys can make plays when they don't see attention. He affects the game and helps other people make plays." Garrett ranks sixth in the league with 14 sacks, his lowest total since 2020 when he had to sit the two games with COVID-19. Garrett, however, is second in pass rush win rate (30.5%) despite facing the third highest double-team rate (28.8%). With Garrett commanding attention, the rest of the Browns' defense has thrived. Cleveland leads the league in defensive efficiency, yards per game allowed (267 yards) and three-and-out rate (32.9%), among numerous other categories. "Say whatever you want about sack numbers," Schwartz said. "We're the best third-down defense in the league by a pretty good chunk, and he has everything to do with that. Our corners [Pro Bowler Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II] are really high in their coverage percentages. Every single one of them can attribute some of that to Myles Garrett." Shortly after taking the job with the Browns, Schwartz, who won a Super Bowl in 2017 as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, met with Garrett and set "very strong" expectations for him, according to one team source. In 2022, Garrett was selected to a third straight All-Pro team, but the Browns' defense struggled on the way to a 7-10 finish. Schwartz wouldn't detail his early conversations with Garrett. But he did note that Garrett "has been everything that we expected." Garrett's drive for greatness has extended to his diet and exercise program as well. This offseason, he added Pilates and yoga to his routine. Despite his love for big breakfasts, he gave up pancakes, waffles, French toast and, most begrudgingly, Cap'n Crunch cereal. That commitment has paid off at the line of scrimmage. According to Next Gen Stats, Garrett on average is getting off the line in 0.66 seconds, the quickest jump of any player in the league and best of his career. The added burst was evident from the first week of Browns training camp. Though he wasn't allowed to touch Watson or the other quarterbacks, he repeatedly blew up plays, blowing past Cleveland's offensive linemen. "He was locked in," Bitonio said. Led by Garrett, the Browns ranked first in the NFL in total defense in 2023. Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images In a harbinger of what was to come, Garrett didn't produce the first sack of the year in Cleveland's opener against Cincinnati. But he forced it. Mimicking a basketball crossover, Garrett juked Bengals center Ted Karras and forced quarterback Joe Burrow to scramble into the arms of Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, wrecking Cincinnati's only promising drive of the day in a 24-3 Cleveland win. "Now it's more about, how can I elevate my teammates?" Garrett said. "If they're going to send two or three [blockers] my way, that means I've got to make sure that those two, three [blockers] are continuously occupied, continuously fighting me. That allows those other guys to get one-on-ones, that helps them make a play." Garrett has still found ways to make the play himself, too. Welcome to the NFL offseason • Team-by-team offseason guide (ESPN+) • Tracking coach openings, hirings • NFL draft order: Top 18 picks set • Ranking top 25 free agents (ESPN+) On Oct. 22, he became the first player this century, according to ESPN Stats & Info, to force two fumbles and block a field goal in a single game. All three plays led to 17 points, propelling Cleveland to a 39-38 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Browns have won five games with a winning score in the final two minutes of regulation this season -- a franchise record. A key defensive stop set up each of those comebacks. The Browns put other teams away with overwhelming fourth quarter defense. "The reason why they've been able to overcome all the injuries they've had is because I've yet to see anybody able to block Myles," said Thomas, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. "If you get any sort of lead towards the end of the game, he's going to close the game for you. It's kind of like in baseball, having a dominant relief pitcher who as soon as he comes in, the game's over." Buoyed by Cleveland's team success, Garrett ended the regular season as the betting favorite to win his first Defensive Player of the Year award. Garrett, who turned 28 last month, confessed that it would've consumed him in his younger years. Now, he's fixated on another goal: finishing his career with the Browns and delivering Cleveland a title. "I want to be viewed as the best. I want to be respected as the best," Garrett said. "But that's not as much on my mind anymore. The opinions of my peers or analysts or experts, those things don't really weigh on me anymore. It's all about wins and losses. You want to be the last winner at the end of the year. That's who's remembered. ... and I want to make Cleveland a winner." As he took another sip of the protein shake, Garrett admitted that after seven seasons in the NFL, he's begun to ponder legacy. Garrett grew up in the Dallas area, where Basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki played his entire career. In 2011, Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to their first and only NBA title. Garrett can't think of a sports legacy any better. "I'm not judging or trying to demean anyone else on their journeys. But for me, being with the team that drafted you your entire career and winning a championship with them is the most special thing you can do in your career," he said. "That's why I'm always going to be committed to this city. As long as they have me, I'm going to be here trying to do my best to elevate this team, elevate this community, this city. ... and bring it all home." by TaboolaSponsored You May Like Om du har en dator, är detta spelet ett måste Raid: Shadow Legends You will never turn off your computer, if you have a mouse Combat Siege De 15 farligaste broarna som någonsin byggts TRAVEL CARIBOU Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsEU Privacy RightsCookie PolicyManage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. How DeMeco Ryans' energy helped lead Texans to playoffs play C.J. Stroud joins "The Pat McAfee Show" ahead of the Texans' wild-card matchup with the Browns. (1:27) DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN Jan 12, 2024, 06:00 AM ET Share LikeLike Open Extended Reactions LikeCelebrate 90 HOUSTON -- Brevin Jordan jogged off the field in frustration. The Houston Texans tight end had just run the wrong route, and when he reached the sidelines, he screamed. The echoing expletive was loud enough to catch coach DeMeco Ryans' attention. "DeMeco turned around and was like, 'Next play. It's over with. We're coming right back to you,'" Jordan told ESPN. Best of NFL Nation • McCarthy-Prescott bond spurs Cowboys • Bills gain rep for clutch play • Ryans brings energy to Texans • Packers' Love ready for playoff debut • Giants have solid options for DC job During the following series, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik called the same play. This time, Jordan ran the correct route and quarterback C.J. Stroud found him as he bolted into the end zone untouched to put the Texans up 10-0 against the Tennessee Titans. "For me, I don't know if coaches understand how much that means to a player. To hear that, [it shows] my coach trusts me. He's done that multiple times with me," Jordan said. "He goes out of his way to talk to us to build our confidence. Dudes need that. When you hear that from the head man, you're like, 'Man, I'm about to go bust these boys ass.'" The first-year coach created a leadership council -- led by Stroud, running back Devin Singletary, wide receiver Robert Woods and others -- to keep a pulse on the team and make weekly adjustments. The changes come in all forms. It could be as easy as fixing the showerheads in the locker room because the water pressure was too intense. The council brought this concern to Ryans, and he took care of it, proving to the players he's listening. "It might seem small, but that's just the type of guy he is," Singletary told ESPN. From the beginning, Ryans made it clear his coaching style would be engulfed with positivity. That approach is why the Texans (10-7) are AFC South champs for the first time since 2019 and hosting a playoff game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC) at NRG Stadium. He is the 27th first-year coach to win their division since the 1970 merger. Eric Christian Smith/AP That moment of affirmation from Ryans to Jordan has been a common occurrence. "I told the guys they were going to be treated like men. We're going to be respectful as a coaching staff," Ryans, a 39-year-old former linebacker, told ESPN. "We're going to tell you the truth, and everything we do is going to be positive. It's going to be positive reinforcement and positive feedback. I let them know that. I don't want my coaching staff cussing out players or demeaning players because that isn't helpful." RYANS' COACHING STYLE has captured buy-in from his team. The defense improved from the 27th-ranked scoring defense (24.7 points) last season to 11th (20.8). He helped improve a run defense that allowed the sixth-most total rushing yards (2,894) in history in 2022 to having the sixth-best run defense, allowing 1,643 yards in 2023, and the second-fewest yards per rush (3.5). In addition, Ryans built a staff to develop his rookie quarterback, who finished the season with 4,108 passing yards -- the third most for a rookie behind Andrew Luck (4,374 in 2012) and Justin Herbert (4,336 in 2020). Stroud's six 300-yard passing games were tied with Luck and two behind Herbert for the most all time by a rookie, and he became the first rookie to lead the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio (23:5). Ryans' infectious energy permeates the organization, giving it belief that Houston can avenge a Week 16 loss to the Browns (11-6) -- this time in the wild-card round of the playoffs -- with the season on the line. "The energy that I feel from our team right now. Everybody's calm. Everybody's confident. Everybody has positive energy," Ryans said. "Our team is together. And I was hoping we could get to [this] because I know when you get a tight team like this, you get the best team. You see the smiles. The guys enjoy working with each other. That's what I was searching for. That's what I was trying to instill, and it's here now." Two weeks prior to the Browns game, the Texans could have folded. They were 7-6 coming off a loss in which Stroud was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion. The concussion would keep Stroud out of the Browns game and that Week 15 matchup with the Titans, leaving Ryans with a decision to make on who would start at quarterback -- Davis Mills or Case Keenum. 2023 NFL Playoffs • Barnwell's playoff predictions (ESPN+) » • Our guide to all 14 playoff teams » • What to know for wild-card games » • Wild-card matchup keys (ESPN+) » • Full playoff bracket and schedule » Many assumed Mills would get the nod, but Ryans was coy all week, saying, "Davis has done a good job with everything that we've asked him to do." But behind closed doors, Ryans was leaning toward starting Keenum -- who hadn't started a game since 2021. Ryans demanded that his team keep the information inside the building to gain a competitive advantage. "I want you to know at the last possible second," Ryans said, "so you're not strategizing to practice for Case Keenum and then go back and look at all his film. No, that's going to be at the last minute. ... So, for me, keep it as tight as possible to [help us] get the win." The news that Keenum would start broke Saturday morning, but it still left Tennessee with little time to game-plan. The Texans defeated the Titans, 19-16, as Keenum threw for 226 yards with a pick-six but tossed the game-tying touchdown to wide receiver Noah Brown to send it into overtime. He led the game-winning drive in the extra period highlighted by a 41-yard completion to Singletary. "It's competition. It's strategy," Ryans said. "For me, when it comes to who's available, what are we doing, why do we do this? I don't feel like you should give the opponent anything. They're searching all the interviews. ... I just like to keep everything tight and keep everything in-house. And let's just go out and do our thing. I was never in the mindset that you got to do all this talking about what you're going to do. Just show up." RYANS WAS MAKING calls and connecting with his players and the rest of the Texans' organization after he took over in late January. Fast forward to the days shortly after Houston made Stroud the No. 2 overall pick, Ryans met with his future face of the franchise in his office. The coach, as he has been able to do with many of his players, was able to connect with Stroud through faith. "It was just about staying steadfast and just staying on your course," Stroud said. "And it just resonated with what I was going through at the time, so it was just cool to see a coach open up about his faith, you know, and not shy away from it. It was cool to bond over that." Throughout the season, Ryans also provided a comforting space for wide receiver John Metchie III. Welcome to the NFL offseason • Team-by-team offseason guide (ESPN+) • Tracking coach openings, hirings • NFL draft order: Top 18 picks set • Ranking top 25 free agents (ESPN+) Metchie made his NFL debut this season in Week 2, but he had an uphill battle to get there. Metchie heard his name called in late April during the second round of the 2022 draft, but come July, he was diagnosed with leukemia, causing him to miss his entire rookie season which he said led to "a lot of frustration." As a decorated college player coming out of Alabama, he found himself dwelling on his lack of production this season. It simply wasn't something to which he was accustomed. "DeMeco being open with me and talking to me and showing me how to take things step-by-step, day by day and things like that, that's something I needed to hear in times like that. "It's been great having DeMeco, especially in my process." Personal connections were one thing, instilling a winning culture similar to the one he learned in his six-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers in various coaching roles was another. He poured that teaching into the Texans, who went 11-38-1 from 2020 to 2022 when they fired three coaches in a row: Bill O'Brien, David Culley and Lovie Smith. Ryans' daily message centered on consistency and improving on the little things, as he held everyone accountable and wouldn't play favorites. Even Stroud. But it's all strategic. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans are set to host Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns on Saturday in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Tim Warner/Getty Images During OTAs Stroud missed a read, and it was something Ryans pointed out during a team meeting. The next day Stroud adjusted, and when the play was called, he threw a touchdown. "He's not trying to embarrass nobody," safety Jalen Pitre said. "He understands the end goal and that we're all trying to do this together. Nobody is intentionally out there just messing stuff up. "He's going to make sure that he lets you know that you did wrong and makes you understand how to fix it. But it's no belittling or anything like that. You can do nothing but respect that and just try to get better." Ryans is relatable, but he's not a pushover -- with one player calling those long summer days the "hardest training camp of my life." He also made his players earn their spots. Stroud competed with Mills throughout camp to be the starting quarterback. The competition went through training camp and extended until the former Ohio State standout was named the starter after the final preseason game. These principles of accountability, focusing on the small details to improve, not playing favorites, daily consistency and positive reinforcement factored in helping the Texans dig out of an 0-2 hole to start the season, where they were outscored 56-29. There were times throughout the season when he saw the team failing to execute in practice. He would make them repeat plays until they got it right, and sometimes that would extend to the next day. "Some people will say, 'We'll get it later.' But [Ryans] is coming back right at the end of the practice, letting us know that's not good enough," Singletary said. "Letting us know we got to get on that now and don't let it linger 'til game day." ALL OF THESE things are testaments and examples of what Ryans has brought, but defensive end Jerry Hughes, who was a part of last season's team that went 3-13-1, made it all sound so simple: "We got a head coach." "You got somebody that's invested in the team and the organization and somebody who wants to win," Hughes said. "He's always got a smile, always wanting to teach guys." One of Ryans' most recent motivation tactics came the Wednesday before their Week 18 win over the Indianapolis Colts that clinched the division and punched their ticket into the playoffs. The magnitude of the game was great, so he summoned rap mogul 50 Cent to speak to the team on Zoom. "I ain't gonna lie, that was hard. I ain't never seen 50 in person," Texans leading receiver Nico Collins said. "That was cool to see. He had a great message for us, and [we] took that and built on it. That was big time." Four quarters later, the Texans came out on top, 23-17. They finished the season 7-3 in one-score games, and only the Pittsburgh Steelers (nine) and Philadelphia Eagles (eight) had more wins in close games. A loss would have ended the season. A loss would have meant all of the momentum Ryans created in a year's span would have left them in the same position they'd been in for the past three seasons -- out of the playoffs. Instead, his first visit to Lucas Oil Stadium as the head coach of Houston, an organization that he starred for as a player from 2006 to 2011, resulted in a high. "For us to accomplish what we set out to accomplish, of getting that spot in the playoffs, I know what it meant to each and every one of our players, each and every one of our support staff," Ryans said. "It meant a lot to everyone in our entire organization." by TaboolaSponsored You May Like Ta reda på varför män är besatta av detta otroliga spel BuzzDaily Winners Helt ny liten elbil för seniorer - priset kan överraska dig Elbilar | Sökannonser Bärbara trapphissar är enklare och billigare än du tror. Bärbara trapphissar | Sponsorlänkar Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsEU Privacy RightsCookie PolicyManage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. The 2023 NFL playoffs, as explained by Usher's catalog play Stephen A. Smith thinks this could be the Cowboys' best chance at winning the Super Bowl. (1:19) Kalan Hooks, ESPN Jan 13, 2024, 08:20 AM ET Share LikeLike Open Extended Reactions LikeFireInteresting 292 The NFL playoffs kick off this weekend as 14 teams embark on their journey to fulfill every squad's dream -- playing in the Super Bowl. EDITOR'S PICKS Game-plan keys for every NFL wild-card matchup: Mapping each team's path to victory 4hMatt Bowen Back to Foxborough: Taylor Swift in attendance at Chiefs-Patriots 27dTory Barron While the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, face another challenging voyage to reach the big game, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens seem to be the favorites to win it all. And all eyes will be glued to the screens of televisions during halftime of Super Bowl LVIII to watch award-winning singer Usher. The R&B singer was announced as the headliner of the show, with announcements from different iconic figures such as Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders and Skims founder Kim Kardashian, with a reenactment of the conversation from his "Confessions" music video. However, we have an entire playoff run to spectate before Usher takes the stage. Through his 516-song catalog -- nine of which were Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles -- each team can relate to Usher in some way. Here's the playlist, from ESPN Music, with full descriptions below.

Turkey launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, destroying bunkers, shelters and oil facilities The defense ministry said fighter jets destroyed bunkers, shelters and oil facilities 'to eliminate terrorist attacks against our people. 2024

Warehouse in St. Petersburg catches fire, over 500,000 square feet in flames 9:01 am, January 13, 2024Source: Meduza A warehouse in St. Petersburg belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, has caught fire, according to Russia’s Emergency Services Ministry. Initially, the ministry reported that the fire covered an area of 1000 square meters (about 10,800 square feet), but within half an hour, emergency workers said that the fire had spread to an area of 50,000 square meters (about 538,200 square feet). A message on the Wildberries Telegram channel said that people in the warehouse had been evacuated and that customers and sellers would be compensated for lost goods. A source told RBC that investigators are considering arson as one possible cause of the fire. RBC noted that on January 10, a mass fight broke out near the warehouse and two migrants, one of whom worked at the warehouse, were injured. In the two days following the incident, police conducted raids at the warehouse.

US carries out new strike in Yemen after Biden vows to keep pressure on By Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Mohammed Ghobari January 13, 20249:40 AM GMT+1Updated 2 hours ago Summary LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: U.S. carries out an additional strike in Yemen U.S., British assault targets Houthis' missile, drone capabilities Yemeni movement vows to strike back Conflict raises specter of rising oil prices, inflation WASHINGTON/ADEN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The United States carried out an additional strike against Yemen's Houthi forces on Friday, after President Joe Biden's administration vowed to protect shipping in the Red Sea. The latest strike, which the U.S. said targeted a radar site, came a day after dozens of American and British strikes on the Iran-backed group's facilities. The guided missile destroyer Carney used Tomahawk missiles in the follow-on strike early on Saturday local time "to degrade the Houthis' ability to attack maritime vessels, including commercial vessels," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The Houthi movement's television channel Al-Masirah reported that the United States and Britain were targeting the Yemeni capital Sanaa with raids. Intensifying concerns about a widening regional conflict, U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines on Thursday launched missiles against targets across Yemen controlled by the group, which has cast its maritime campaign as support for Palestinians under siege by Israel in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Even as Houthi leaders swore retaliation, Biden warned on Friday that he could order more strikes if they do not stop their attacks on merchant and military vessels in one of the world's most economically vital waterways. "We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior," Biden told reporters during a stop in Pennsylvania on Friday. Witnesses confirmed explosions early on Friday, Yemen time, at military bases near airports in the capital Sanaa and Yemen's third city Taiz, a naval base at Yemen's main Red Sea port Hodeidah and military sites in the coastal Hajjah governorate. Advertisement · Scroll to continue White House spokesperson John Kirby said the initial strikes had targeted the Houthis' ability to store, launch and guide missiles or drones, which the group has used in recent months to threaten Red Sea shipping. The Pentagon said the U.S.-British assault reduced the Houthis' capacity to launch fresh attacks. The U.S. military said 60 targets in 28 sites were hit. The Houthis, who control Sanaa and much of the west and north of Yemen, said five fighters were killed, but they vowed to continue their attacks on regional shipping. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad The UK Maritime Trade Operations information hub said it had received reports of a missile landing in the sea around 500 meters (1,600 feet) from a ship about 90 nautical miles southeast of the Yemeni port of Aden. The shipping security firm Ambrey identified it as a Panama-flagged tanker carrying Russian oil. Drone footage on the Houthis' Al-Masirah TV showed hundreds of thousands of people in Sanaa chanting slogans denouncing Israel and the United States. "Your strikes on Yemen are terrorism," said Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council. "The United States is the Devil." Biden, whose administration removed the Houthis from a State Department list of "foreign terrorist organizations" in 2021, was asked by reporters if he felt the term "terrorist" described the movement now. "I think they are," he said. SPILLOVER The Red Sea crisis is part of the violent regional spillover of Israel's war with Hamas, an Iran-backed Islamist group, in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. [1/6]RAF Typhoon aircraft is pictured at RAF Akrotiri following its return after striking military targets in Yemen during the U.S.-led coalition operation, aimed at the Iran-backed Houthi militia that has been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea, in Cyprus, in this handout picture... Acquire Licensing Rights Read more Hamas militants rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing 240 hostages. Israel has responded by laying waste to large sections of Gaza in an effort to annihilate Hamas. More than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed. Tobias Borck, a Middle East security expert at Britain's Royal United Services Institute, said the Houthis wanted to portray themselves as champions of the Palestinian cause but were mainly concerned about retaining power. At the United Nations Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield defended the Yemen strikes, saying they were intended to "to disrupt and degrade the Houthis' ability to continue the reckless attacks against vessels and commercial shipping." Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said earlier that the U.S. and Britain "single-handedly triggered a spillover of the conflict (in Gaza) to the entire region." In Washington, Kirby said, "We're not interested in ... a war with Yemen." In a poor country only just emerging from nearly a decade of war that brought millions to the brink of famine, people fearing an extended new conflict queued at gas stations. OIL PRICE JUMPS The price of Brent crude oil rose more than $2 on Friday on concern that supplies could be disrupted, but later gave up half its gain. Biden said on Friday he was "very concerned" about the impact of war in the Middle East on oil prices. Commercial ship-tracking data showed at least nine oil tankers stopping or diverting from the Red Sea. The strikes follow months of raids by Houthi fighters, who have boarded ships they claimed were Israeli or heading for Israel. Many of the vessels had no known connection to Israel. The United States and some allies sent a naval task force in December, and recent days saw increasing escalation. On Tuesday, the United States and Britain shot down 21 missiles and drones. However, not all major U.S. allies chose to back the strikes inside Yemen. The Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Bahrain provided logistical and intelligence support, while Germany, Denmark, New Zealand and South Korea signed a joint statement defending the attacks and warning of further action. But Italy, Spain and France chose not to sign or participate, fearing a wider escalation. A senior U.S. official accused Tehran of providing the Yemeni group with military capabilities and intelligence to carry out their attacks. Iran condemned the strikes but there has been no sign so far that Iran is seeking direct conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the White House could "restore security across the region" by stopping its "all-out military and security cooperation" with Israel. Houthi attacks have forced commercial ships to take a longer, costlier route around Africa, creating fears of a new bout of inflation and supply chain disruption. Container shipping rates for key global routes have soared this week. Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Nandita Bose in Washington, and Mohammed Ghobari and Reyam Mukhashef in Aden; Additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Jonathan Landay and Kanishka Singh in Washington, Andrew Mills in Doha, Maher Hatem in Dubai; Elizabeth Piper in London; Writing by Matt Spetalnick and William Mallard; Editing by Cynthia Osterman.

Israel defends itself at the UN’s top court against allegations of genocide in Gaza Accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, Israel insisted at the U.N.’s highest court that its war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and said instead that Hamas was guilty of genocide. (Jan. 12) Photos 10 BY MIKE CORDER AND RAF CASERT Updated 12:22 AM CET, January 13, 2024 Share THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, Israel insisted at the United Nations’ highest court Friday that its war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. Israel described the allegations leveled by South Africa as hypocritical and said one of the biggest cases ever to come before an international court reflected a world turned upside down. Israeli leaders defend their air and ground offensive in Gaza as a legitimate response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, when militants stormed through Israeli communities, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker told a packed auditorium at the ornate Palace of Peace in The Hague that the country is fighting a “war it did not start and did not want.” “In these circumstances, there can hardly be a charge more false and more malevolent than the allegation against Israel of genocide,” he added, noting that the horrible suffering of civilians in war was not enough to level that charge. ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR A person waves a palestinian flag while passing a pro-israel protest outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. The United Nations' top court opened hearings Thursday into South Africa's allegation that Israel's war with Hamas amounts to genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israel strongly denies. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) Live updates | Israel rejects genocide case as Mideast tensions rise after US-led strikes in Yemen Protestors carry a giant Palestinian flag, with dolls wrapped to represent dead and injured children, during a demonstration outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. The United Nations' top court opens hearings Thursday into South Africa's allegation that Israel's war with Hamas amounts to genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israel strongly denies. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) Palestinian viewers are captivated and moved by case at UN’s top court accusing Israel of genocide A Palestinian child holds a lit candle as he prays in front of a poster of late South African leader Nelson Mandela, during a special service in his honor at the Holy Family Church, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File) Nelson Mandela’s support for Palestinians endures with South Africa’s genocide case against Israel On Friday afternoon, Germany said it wants to intervene in the proceedings on Israel’s behalf, saying there was “no basis whatsoever” for an accusation of genocide against Israel. “Hamas terrorists brutally attacked, tortured, killed and kidnapped innocent people in Israel,” German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement. “Since then, Israel has been defending itself against the inhumane attack by Hamas.” Under the court’s rules, if Germany files a declaration of intervention in the case, it will be able to make legal arguments on behalf of Israel. A person waves a palestinian flag while passing a pro-israel protest outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. The United Nations' top court opened hearings Thursday into South Africa's allegation that Israel's war with Hamas amounts to genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israel strongly denies. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) A person waves a palestinian flag while passing a pro-israel protest outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) Germany would be allowed to intervene at the merits phase of the case to address how the genocide convention, drawn up in 1948 following World War II, should be interpreted, according to international lawyer Balkees Jarrah, associate director of the international justice program at Human Rights Watch. “That would come after the court issues its decision on South Africa’s request for urgent measures to protect the Palestinian people in Gaza,” Jarrah told The Associated Press from The Hague, where she attended the ICJ hearings. Germany’s support for Israel carries some symbolic significance given its Nazi history. Hebestreit said Germany “sees itself as particularly committed to the Convention against Genocide.” He added: “We firmly oppose political instrumentalization.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the announcement, saying the gesture “touches all of Israel’s citizens.” South African lawyers asked the court Thursday to order an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in the besieged coastal territory that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. A decision on that request will probably take weeks, and the full case is likely to last years — and it’s unclear if Israel would follow any court orders. On Friday, Israel focused on the brutality of the Oct. 7 attacks, presenting chilling video and audio to a hushed audience. “They tortured children in front of parents and parents in front of children, burned people, including infants alive, and systematically raped and mutilated scores of women, men and children,” Becker said. South Africa’s request for an immediate halt to the Gaza fighting, he said, amounts to an attempt to prevent Israel from defending itself against that assault. Even when acting in self-defense, countries are required by international law to follow the rules of war, and judges must decide if Israel has. As two days of hearings ended Friday, ICJ President Joan E. Donoghue said the court would rule on the request for urgent measures “as soon as possible.” Israel often boycotts international tribunals and U.N. investigations, saying they are unfair and biased. But this time, Israeli leaders took the rare step of sending a high-level legal team — a sign of how seriously they regard the case and likely their fear that any court order to halt operations would be a major blow to the country’s international standing. Still, Becker dismissed the accusations as crude and attention-seeking. “We live at a time when words are cheap in an age of social media and identity politics. The temptation to reach for the most outrageous term to vilify and demonize has become, for many, irresistible,” he said. In a statement from New York, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the case a “new moral low” and said that by taking it on, “the U.N. and its institutions have become weapons in service of terrorist organizations.” Becker said the charges Israel is facing should be leveled at Hamas, which seeks Israel’s destruction and which the U.S. and Western allies consider a terrorist group. “If there have been acts that may be characterized as genocidal, then they have been perpetrated against Israel,” Becker said. More than 23,000 people in Gaza have been killed during Israel’s military campaign, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory. That toll does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Nearly 85% of Gaza’s people have been driven their homes, a quarter of the enclave’s residents face starvation, and much of northern Gaza has been reduced to rubble. South Africa says this amounts to genocide and is part of decades of Israeli oppression of Palestinians. “The scale of destruction in Gaza, the targeting of family homes and civilians, the war being a war on children, all make clear that genocidal intent is both understood and has been put into practice. The articulated intent is the destruction of Palestinian life,” said lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, adding that several leading politicians had made dehumanizing comments about people in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry welcomed the case, saying in a written statement that South Africa “delivered unequivocal evidence that Israel is deliberately and systematically violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention.” Malcolm Shaw, an international law expert on Israel’s legal team, rejected the accusation of genocidal intent and called the remarks Ngcukaitobi referenced “random quotes not in conformity with government policy.” Israel also says that it takes measures to protect civilians, such as issuing evacuation orders ahead of strikes. It blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll, saying the group uses residential areas to stage attacks and for other military purposes. Israel’s critics say that such measures have done little to prevent the high toll and that its bombings are so powerful that they often amount to indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks. If the court issues an order to halt the fighting and Israel doesn’t comply, it could face U.N. sanctions, although those may be blocked by a veto from the United States, Israel’s staunch ally. In Washington, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called the allegations “unfounded.” The White House declined to comment on how it might respond if the ICJ determines Israel has committed genocide. The extraordinary case goes to the core of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts — and for the second day protesters rallied outside the court. Pro-Israeli demonstrators set up a table near the court grounds for a Sabbath meal with empty seats, commemorating the hostages still being held by Hamas. “We want to symbolize the empty chairs, because we are missing them,” said Nathan Bouscher from Center for Information and Documentation on Israel. Nearby, over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters waved flags and shouted protests. The case also strikes at the heart of both Israel’s and South Africa’s national identities. Israel was founded as a Jewish state in the wake of the Nazis’ slaughter of 6 million Jews during World War II. South Africa’s governing party, meanwhile, has long compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its own history under the apartheid regime of white minority rule, which restricted most Black people to “homelands.” The world court, which rules on disputes between nations, has never judged a country to be responsible for genocide. The closest it came was in 2007, when it ruled that Serbia “violated the obligation to prevent genocide” in the July 1995 massacre by Bosnian Serb forces of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica. ___ Casert reported from Brussels. Associated Press journalists Aleksandar Furtula and Ahmad Seir in The Hague, Netherlands, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

US warns ships to stay out of parts of Red Sea as Houthi rebels vow retaliation for US, UK strikes The Associated Press explains the details of the U.S.-led strikes that targeted Yemen’s Houthi rebels over their ongoing assault on shipping in the Red Sea (Jan 12.) Videos 3 Photos 7 BY JON GAMBRELL AND AAMER MADHANI Updated 11:44 PM CET, January 12, 2024 Share DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy on Friday warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours after the U.S. and Britain launched multiple airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels. The warning in a notice to shippers came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed fierce retaliation for the U.S.-led strikes, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israel’s war in Gaza. U.S. military and White House officials said they expected the Houthis to try to strike back. And President Joe Biden warned on Friday that the group could face further strikes. The U.S.-led bombardment — launched in response to a recent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the vital Red Sea — killed at least five people and wounded six, the Houthis said. The U.S. said the strikes, in two waves, took aim at targets in 28 different locations across Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. READ MORE In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Aug. 9, 2023. The top commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East says Yemen’s Houthi rebels are showing no signs of ending their “reckless” attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. But Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an Associated Press interview on Saturday that more nations are joining the international maritime mission to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic is beginning to pick up. (Mass Communications Spc. 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/U.S. Navy via AP) US and British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen Houthi supporters chant slogans as they attend a rally marking eight years for a Saudi-led coalition, on March 26, 2023, in Sanaa, Yemen. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) Who are the Houthis? And why did the US and UK retaliate for their attacks on ships in the Red Sea? This is a locator map for the Gulf Cooperation Council member states: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo) Iran’s navy seizes oil tanker in Gulf of Oman that was at the center of a major US-Iran crisis “We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior along with our allies,” Biden told reporters during a stop in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Asked if he believes the Houthis are a terrorist group, Biden responded, “I think they are.” The president in a later exchange with reporters during a stop in Allentown, Pennsylvania, said whether the Houthis are redesignated as such was “irrelevant.” Biden also pushed back against some lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, who said he should have sought congressional authorization before carrying out the strikes. This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo) A map showing Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo) “They’re wrong, and I sent up this morning when the strikes occurred exactly what happened,” Biden said. The Pentagon said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the military action from the hospital where he is recovering from complications following prostate cancer surgery. The White House said in November that it was considering redesignating the Houthis as a terrorist organization after they began their targeting of civilian vessels. The administration formally delisted the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” and “specially designated global terrorists” in 2021, undoing a move by President Donald Trump Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, director of the Joint Staff, said that the new U.S. strikes were largely in low-populated areas, and the number of those killed would not be high. He said the strikes hit weapons, radar and targeting sites, including in remote mountain areas. ADDS COUNTRY TO SOURCE - In this photo provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, taken from the operation room of HMS Diamond, Sea Viper missiles are prepared to be fired in the Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, forcing the United States and British navies to shoot down the projectiles in a major naval engagement. (UK Ministry of Defence via AP) In this photo provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, taken from the operation room of HMS Diamond, Sea Viper missiles are prepared to be fired in the Red Sea. (UK Ministry of Defence via AP) As the bombing lit the predawn sky over multiple sites held by the Iranian-backed rebels, it forced the world to again focus on Yemen’s yearslong war, which began when the Houthis seized the country’s capital. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade and energy shipments. The Houthis’ military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a recorded address that the U.S. strikes would “not go unanswered or unpunished.” Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and former U.S. intelligence official, welcomed the U.S. strikes but expressed concern Iran was aiming to draw the U.S. deeper into conflict. “We should be worried about regional escalation,” Slotkin wrote on X. “Iran uses groups like the Houthis to fight their battles, maintain plausible deniability and prevent a direct conflict with the U.S. or others. ... It needs to stop, and my hope is they’ve gotten the message.” Biden told reporters that Iran has received a clear message. “I already delivered the message to Iran. They know not to do anything,” he said. Though the Biden administration and its allies have tried to calm tensions in the Middle East for weeks and prevent any wider conflict, the strikes threatened to ignite one. Saudi Arabia — which supports the government-in-exile that the Houthis are fighting — quickly sought to distance itself from the attacks as it seeks to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire it has in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more. It remained unclear how extensive the damage was from Friday’s strikes, though the Houthis said at least five sites, including airfields, had been attacked. The White House said the U.S. military was still assessing the extent the militants’ capabilities might have been degraded. U.S. Air Forces Central Command said the strikes focused on the Houthi’s command and control nodes, munition depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defense radar systems. The strikes involved more than 150 precision-guided munitions including air-launched missiles by F/A-18 Super Hornets based on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Tomahawk missiles from the Navy destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason, the Navy cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and a U.S. submarine. The United Kingdom said strikes hit a site in Bani allegedly used by the Houthis to launch drones and an airfield in Abbs used to launch cruise missiles and drones. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced it imposed sanctions on two firms in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for allegedly shipping Iranian commodities on behalf of Iran-based Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal. Four vessels owned by the firms were also identified as blocked property. In a separate development, Iran released footage of its seizure of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that once had been at the center of a dispute between Tehran and Washington. In the footage, a helicopter hovers over the deck of the St. Nikolas. Iran’s navy seized the vessel Thursday. The vessel had been known earlier as the Suez Rajan. The U.S. seized 1 million barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil off the vessel last year. In Yemen, Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, said that “America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression.” The Red Sea route is a crucial waterway, and attacks there have caused severe disruptions to global trade. Benchmark Brent crude oil traded up some 4% Friday at over $80 a barrel. Tesla, meanwhile, said it would temporarily halt most production at its German factory because of attacks in the Red Sea. In Saada, the Houthis’ stronghold in northwest Yemen, hundreds gathered for a rally Friday, denouncing the U.S. and Israel. Another drew thousands in Sanaa, the capital. Houthis now control territory that is home to some two-thirds of Yemen’s population of 34 million. War and misgovernment have made Yemen one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, and the World Food Program considers the vast majority of Yemen’s people as food-insecure. Yemen has been targeted by U.S. military action over the last four American presidencies. A campaign of drone strikes began under President George W. Bush to target the local affiliate of al-Qaida, attacks that have continued under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched raids and other military operations amid the ongoing war in Yemen. That war began when the Houthis swept into Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates launched a war to back Yemen’s exiled government in 2015, quickly morphing the conflict into a regional confrontation as Iran backed the Houthis with weapons and other support. The conflict, however, has slowed as the Houthis maintain their grip on the territory they hold. In March, Saudi Arabia reached a Chinese-mediated deal to restart relations with Iran in hopes of ultimately withdrawing from the war. Iran condemned Friday’s attack in a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani. “Arbitrary attacks will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region,” he said. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on nations not to escalate tensions in the Red Sea. And Russia on Friday condemned the strikes as “illegitimate from the point of view of international law.” ___ AP writer Aamer Madhani reported from Washington. AP writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Jill Lawless in London, Nasser Karimi in Tehran; Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Fatima Hussein, Ellen Knickmeyer and Chris Megerian in Washington, and Seung Min Kim in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.

Microsoft Tops Apple to Become Most Valuable Public Company The shift is indicative of the importance of new artificial intelligence technology to Silicon Valley and Wall Street investors. Share full article $3.0 trillion in market capitalization 2.5 2.0 Apple Microsoft 1.5 1.0 0.5 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Note: Data from 2000 to 2023 is plotted monthly and adjusted for inflation.Source: LSEG Data and AnalyticsBy The New York Times By Tripp Mickle and Karen Weise Tripp Mickle has covered Apple since 2016. Karen Weise has covered Microsoft since 2018. Jan. 12, 2024 Updated 5:55 p.m. ET Sign up for Your Places: Extreme Weather. Get notified about extreme weather before it happens with custom alerts for places in the U.S. you choose. Get it sent to your inbox. For more than a decade, Apple was the stock market’s undisputed king. It first overtook Exxon Mobil as the world’s most valuable public company in 2011 and held the title almost without interruption. But a transfer of power has begun. On Friday, Microsoft surpassed Apple, claiming the crown after its market value surged by more than $1 trillion over the past year. Microsoft finished the day at $2.89 trillion, higher than Apple’s $2.87 trillion, according to Bloomberg. The change is part of a reordering of the stock market that was set in motion by the advent of generative artificial intelligence. The technology, which can answer questions, create images and write code, has been heralded for its potential to disrupt businesses and create trillions of dollars in economic value. When Apple replaced Exxon, it ushered in an era of tech supremacy. The values of Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and Google dwarfed former market leaders like Walmart, JPMorgan Chase and General Motors. ADVERTISEMENT SKIP ADVERTISEMENT The tech industry still dominates the top of the list, but the companies with the most momentum have put generative A.I. at the forefront of their future business plans. The combined value of Microsoft, Nvidia and Alphabet, Google’s parent company, increased by $2.5 trillion last year. Their performances outshined Apple, which posted a smaller share price increase in 2023. “It simply comes down to gen A.I.,” said Brad Reback, an analyst at the investment bank Stifel. Generative A.I. will have an impact on all of Microsoft’s businesses, including its largest, he said, while “Apple doesn’t have much of an A.I. story yet.”

Justice Department to pursue death penalty against Buffalo supermarket shooter Payton Gendron Gendron pleaded guilty on state charges of killing 10 people in May 2022. ByAaron Katersky, Alexander Mallin, and Meredith Deliso January 12, 2024, 9:27 PM Saving ourselves: A community committed to change Struggling to heal following the Tops supermarket shooting, Buffalo families vow...Show More The Justice Department said Friday in a court filing it will seek the death penalty for Payton Gendron, the then-19-year-old who killed 10 people in a racially motivated shooting at a Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in May 2022. "United States believes the circumstances in Counts 11-20 of the Indictment are such that, in the event of a conviction, a sentence of death is justified," the filing said. Lawyers for Gendron previously said he would consider pleading guilty to the federal charges if the death penalty was taken off the table. PHOTO: Payton Gendron, center, listens as he is sentenced to life in prison without parole for domestic terrorism motivated by hate and each of the 10 counts of first-degree murder, in an Erie County court room, in Buffalo, N.Y., Feb 15, 2023. Payton Gendron, center, listens as he is sentenced to life in prison without parole for domestic terrorism motivated by hate and each of the 10 counts of first-degree murder, in an E...Show more Derek Gee/The Buffalo News via AP, Pool, FILE Grendron was not in court on Friday when prosecutor Joe Tripi formally notified the judge of the government's intent to seek the death penalty. The defense waived Gendron's appearance, but Judge Lawrence Vilardo said he would have to show up in court soon. Recent Stories from ABC News "There's going to come a point in the relatively near future when he's going to need to be here," Vilardo said. Assistant federal defender Sonya Zoghlin responded, "I'm sure the court is completely confident we are communicating with him appropriately." The next court date is Feb. 2. Federal prosecutors outlined the reasons why they believe a death sentence is warranted in their filing, saying, "Gendron intentionally killed Roberta Drury, Pearl Young, Hayward Patterson, Ruth Whitfield, Celestine Chaney, Aaron W Salter Jr., Andre Mackniel, Marcus Morrison, Katherine Massey and Geraldine Talley." The Justice Department also cited Gendron's intentional infliction of bodily injury, intentional participation in an act resulting in death and the blatant racism associated with the shooting. "Payton Gendron expressed bias, hatred, and contempt toward Black persons and his animus toward Black persons played a role," the filing said. The defense said they were "deeply disappointed" in the DOJ's decision to pursue the death penalty. "Rather than a prolonged and traumatic capital prosecution, the efforts of the federal government would be better spent on combatting the forces that facilitated this terrible crime, including easy access to deadly weapons and the failure of social media companies to moderate the hateful rhetoric and images that circulate online," Zoghlin said in a statement. MORE: Buffalo: Healing from Hate: Saving Ourselves A federal grand jury returned a 27-count indictment against Gendron in July 2022 charging him with 14 violations of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act: "10 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, three counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill three injured individuals, and one hate crimes count alleging that Gendron attempted to kill additional Black people in and around the Tops grocery store," according to a statement from the Department of Justice. He was also charged with 13 firearms offenses. Gendron was motivated by a racist, far-right conspiracy known as replacement theory and he wanted to "inspire others to commit similar attacks," according to a criminal complaint. Markings on the rifle used in the shooting included the phrases "here's your reparations" and "the great replacement," the complaint said. Recent Stories from ABC News Garland has pursued two death penalty cases under his tenure -- one against Sayfullo Saipov, who killed eight people with a truck on a Manhattan bike path in October 2017, and the second against Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people in a shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in October 2018. A jury decided not to sentence Saipov to death, while Bowers was given the death penalty. Both of those cases were carried over from the previous administration, however, and Garland instituted a moratorium on the death penalty in July 2021. The moratorium remains in place. MORE: Son of Buffalo mass shooting victim fears death penalty will make suspect 'a martyr' The decision to seek the death penalty follows more than a year of deliberations inside the Justice Department. Garland has been open in previous public appearances about his concerns regarding the death penalty, and President Joe Biden campaigned on formally abolishing it at the federal level. But in the absence of a formal policy instituted by the Biden administration, DOJ officials have debated over a so-called "worst-of-the-worst" threshold for when recommending a death sentence is appropriate in some of the most egregious cases of hate-fueled mass acts of terror. The family members of victims said they met with prosecutors earlier Friday, where they learned the DOJ was seeking the death penalty. PHOTO: Mark Talley, the son of victim Geraldine Talley, speaks to reporters outside the Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse in Buffalo, New York, Jan. 12, 2024. Mark Talley, the son of victim Geraldine Talley, speaks to reporters outside the Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse in Buffalo, New York, Jan. 12, 2024. ABC News Mark Talley, the son of shooting victim Geraldine Talley, told reporters the decision made some happy, though he felt Gendron is "getting off the hook" if sentenced to death. Recent Stories from ABC News "For me, I want something worse than that," Mark Talley said outside the federal courthouse in Buffalo. "I want him to torture, I want him to suffer, I want everything he ever loved to suffer. I want friends and family that he loved to suffer. I want possibly the worst thing that I can ever imagine to possibly happen to him." "As far as I'm concerned, I think he's getting off the hook getting the death penalty because he won't get that suffering that I want," he continued. "As long as I'm alive, whether God gives me 20, 30 or 60 years, I wanna be able to see him to suffer." Wayne Jones, whose mother, Celestine Chaney, was killed in the attack, also said he was not in favor of seeking the death penalty. "I just wanted him to suffer as much as we've had to suffer," Jones told ABC News. "But I know in our group, there were people who didn't want anything else but death." Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said he supported the DOJ's decision to pursue the death penalty, saying it should act as a "deterrent for this type of terrible crime." "I think it is the right decision," Brown said during a press briefing Friday. "Ten innocent lives in this community were taken, three other members of the community were injured and the shooter traveled more than three hours away from Buffalo to commit this heinous crime." New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also said she supported the DOJ's decision. "This complies with the DOJ requirements for what constitutes a death penalty offense," she said during an unrelated press briefing on Friday. "This community is still reeling from the atrocity of 10 innocent people on May 14 in 2022, simply going about shopping and were targeted -- targeted because of the color of their skin by a white supremacist who was radicalized online." PHOTO: A "Memorial Garden" filled with flowers, photos and mementos sits outside the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue on July 14, 2022 in Buffalo. A "Memorial Garden" filled with flowers, photos and mementos sits outside the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue on July 14, 2022 in Buffalo. John Normile/Getty Images, FILE Gendron was sentenced to life in prison without parole on state charges in February 2023 after pleading guilty to 15 charges, including domestic terrorism motivated by hate, murder and attempted murder. Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan imposed a sentence of life in prison without parole for each of the 10 victims he killed on May 14, 2022, at the Tops market and 25 years for each of the three victims he shot and wounded. During the sentencing hearing, Gendron offered a brief apology, saying he was "very sorry for all the pain" he caused "for stealing the lives of your loved ones." "I did a terrible thing that day. I shot people because they were Black," Gendron said. 2024

Russia warns UK that troop deployment in Ukraine would be 'declaration of war' Dmitry Medvedev made the warning as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was arriving in Kyiv to announce a major funding package for Ukraine By Michael Dorgan Fox News Published January 12, 2024 26 people injured after explosion during council meeting in Ukraine

State Department: Arab nations will partner with US on Gaza if Israel gets on board BY LAUREN IRWIN - 01/12/24 3:13 PM ET SHARE TWEET Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned from a seven-day trip in the Middle East, where he visited nine countries to discuss the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and the conflicts that threaten a wider regional war. According to his spokesperson, Matt Miller, the Arab nations are ready to partner with the U.S. on short-term and long-term solutions for Palestinians in Gaza, but only if Israel is willing to get on board. “We’ve traveled through to nine countries and met with leaders in each of those, and was able to secure agreements with all of these Arab partners, as well as with Turkey, that they were ready to have those conversations, they were ready to coordinate with the United States and they were ready to take real steps to improve the lives of the Palestinian people in Gaza and to look at how to rebuild Gaza and establish Palestinian-led governance in Gaza,” Miller told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell on Friday. “But they were only willing to do that if they had a partner on the other side in Israel and if Israel was ready to take real concrete steps to establish an independent Palestinian state,” Miller continued. Blinken traveled to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt and the West Bank to continue diplomatic discussions as tensions in the region have spiked surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. The most recent trip was Blinken’s fourth visit to the region since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7 in a surprise attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages. In the months since, Israel has pursued a deadly and destructive counteroffensive that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly all of the region’s population. Miller said during the most recent trip, there “really was a difference” because the Arab partners they spoke with after the initial attacks were not ready to discuss the reconstruction, security and governance in Gaza, but now they are. Blinken reportedly had a “very candid conversation” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli government officials about the partners the country would gain in the Arab world if it were to agree on the future of Gaza. “But look, it’s going to require tough choices, and not just tough choices from Arab partners in the region, but really tough choices from Israel,” Miller said. “And so, the United States can’t make those tough choices for Israel. We can’t make those tough choices for any of these countries.” Miller said the U.S. plans to play a leadership role in presenting its vision on the reconstruction of Gaza, and that Blinken will “continue to present” and “continue to press” in upcoming trips to the region in the next weeks and months.

China calls Taiwan's 2024 election a choice between peace and war. Here's what to know. By Elizabeth Palmer, Lucy Craft January 12, 2024 / 7:34 AM EST / CBS News Taipei, Taiwan — On Saturday, the people of Taiwan will elect a new president. For weeks, the leading candidates have staged boisterous campaign rallies across the small island off China's east coast. Addressing cheering supporters, they've made promises, ridiculed the opposition and worked the crowds — all visible proof of Taiwan's vibrant, thriving democracy. But one sobering presence loomed large over the campaign: Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi claims Taiwan belongs to China, and he's vowed to assert control over it — leaving open the option of using force. In his 2024 New Year's address, he insisted that reunification after more than seven decades was a "historical inevitability." As Taiwan's strongest ally, the U.S. is watching both the election and China's rhetoric very closely. What to know as the U.S. grapples with soaring China-Taiwan tension "Every election in Taiwan is significant because of the potential for Beijing reacting in a way that could contribute to further instability in the region," Taipei-based political analyst Michael Cole told CBS News. At a meeting between Presidents Biden and Xi in the U.S. last fall, the Chinese leader called Taiwan "the biggest, most potentially dangerous issue in U.S.-China relations" and said he would prefer a peaceful reunification, but again refused to rule out the use of force, according to a U.S. official's account of the conversation. Who is running in Taiwan's election? Taiwan's presidential race pits current Vice President Ching-te Lai, 64, a Harvard-educated physician-turned-politician who also goes by William, against challenger Hou Yu-Ih, a former police officer of the conservative Kuomintang party. Ahead of Taiwan presidential election 2024 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te holds a campaign rally in Taipei, Taiwan, Jan. 11, 2024, ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 13, 2024. MAN HEI LEUNG/ANADOLU/GETTY There's also a dark horse rival, Ko Wen-Je, a former mayor of Taipei, of the Taiwan People's Party. It's a close race, but before polling was suspended more than a week before the vote, as required by Taiwanese law, Lai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was running a few points ahead of its rivals. Where the candidates stand, and China's warning All the parties advocate different approaches to dealing with Beijing. The Kuomintang favors dialogue and closer but unspecified ties with China in order to avoid a war, but none of the parties support a reunification that would see Taiwan swap its democracy for Beijing's one-party communist rule. That reflects the conviction of an overwhelming majority of the Taiwanese people. "Hong Kong's experience in recent years is something that the Taiwanese most assuredly do not want for themselves," said Cole, of the International Republican Institute in Taipei. Supporters of all parties in Taiwan, Cole said, "have this thing in common called freedom and democracy." About 200 miles south of the capital, two military veterans monitor the skies above the island, tracking the planes of Taiwan's military as they roar overhead — along with radio chatter from Chinese pilots who fly their fighter jets close to, or into Taiwanese airspace. "They think Taiwan is part of their country, that the airspace in the Taiwan Strait and to the east of Taiwan are part of their territory," Taiwan Air Force veteran Eric Chan, a 55-year-old YouTuber, told CBS News. Chan and his fellow vloggers said the Chinese flights were intimidation meant to influence voters to cast ballots for Taiwanese politicians who favor closer ties with China. China accuses frontrunner Lai and his DPP, which has governed Taiwan for the last eight years, of promoting separatist sentiment in Taiwan. If Lai wins, China's government warned Thursday that he "would continue to follow the evil path of provoking 'independence,'" taking Taiwan "ever further away from peace and prosperity, and ever closer to war and decline." "China meddles every time Taiwan holds elections, but this time it is the most serious we have ever seen," said Lai in the runup to the election. "No matter if it is propaganda or military intimidation, cognitive warfare or fake news, they are employing it all." The risk of war in the Taiwan Strait While Xi has threatened to use force to reunify China and Taiwan, the plane watchers wryly dismiss the prospect - while making it clear they would never accept being ruled by the authoritarian Chinese Communist Party. "I've got a joke for you," says radio afficionado Robin Hsu, 52, who blogs on Facebook. "In Taiwan, the people are free to criticize the president. And in China, the people are also free to criticize the president — of Taiwan." Untold numbers of military aircraft now patrol the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China — not just from China and Taiwan, but from the militaries of the U.S., Japan, Australia and other countries. Tense encounters, with accusations of "trespassing," have become a more common occurrence. YouTuber Chan said that was making a potentially disastrous mid-air miscalculation ever more likely, "because if any one side fails to control themselves, then it might lead to a war." "Trusting in Taiwan or trusting in Xi" In the days ahead of the election, in Miaoli, southwest of capital Taipei, several thousand of the ruling DPP party's faithful crowded into a public park, where workers had neatly arranged rows of red plastic stools. As bombastic music filled the town square, they politely waved flags reading: "Choose the right person, walk the right path." wm-lai-rally.jpg Supporters of Taiwan's ruling DPP party hold a rally for the party's presidential candidate, Lai Ching-te, in Miaoli, southwest of Taiwan's capital Taipei, days before Taiwan's Jan. 13, 2024 presidential election. LUCY CRAFT/CBS NEWS Of course, this election is about local issues — from the cost of housing to better care for the elderly. But underpinning it all is Taiwan's relationship with China. "It's a choice between choosing a president, as opposed to a chief executive like Hong Kong has had to do," said Lai. "Embracing the world or staying hemmed in by China. Trusting in Taiwan or trusting in Xi." No matter which party wins, the Taiwanese will not be voting to trust in Xi.