Daily Briefing: Trump's quick win in Iowa
Nicole FallertFormer President Donald Trump clinched a fast victory in the Iowa Caucuses on Monday. Also in the news: It's still likely to be really, really cold (and also snowy and rainy) across the U.S. and "Beef," "Succession" and "The Bear" enjoyed Emmys gold last night.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. These secrets lie inside sunken cars in Florida.
Now here is the news to know Tuesday.
Trump defeats his Republican rivals in pivotal Iowa race
Former President Donald Trump scored a record-setting win in the Iowa caucuses, leaving his Republican rivals far behind in the race to be the 2024 presidential nominee. He is on track to smash the record for a contested Iowa Republican caucus with a margin of victory.
Trump took on a conciliatory approach in his reaction to the victory, complimenting his opponents and saying "we want to come together."
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis secured second place ahead of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who was dropping out of the presidential race as of Monday night.
- Trump was declared the victor less than one hour after doors closed, enraging some fellow Republicans who cried foul on the early call.
- The coldest caucuses in Iowa history: Iowans experienced life-threatening wind chills as low as minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the state is under a windchill warning into Tuesday.
Related: Goodbye Iowa. Hello New Hampshire. Trump scores huge comeback but it's not over yet.
Severe cold clutches US, closing schools and disrupting travel
Dangerously cold wind chills are continuing to affect much of the Rockies, Great Plains and Midwest, with wind chills below minus 30 degrees being recorded Tuesday in many parts of the central U.S. Most of the stretch from Virginia to Maine is expected to receive one to three inches of snow from Monday night into Tuesday, forecasters say. Air travel has been disrupted and schools will be closed across the country Tuesday, including in Chicago, which has the nation's fourth-largest district, as well as in Denver; Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas, and Portland, Oregon. Read more
More news to know now
- Joe Biden's reelection campaign raised $97 million in the 4th quarter, giving him a record war chest.
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from the hospital amid probes on his secrecy.
- Four people were killed in an Arizona hot air balloon crash.
- Two children and a woman died in the Rio Grande as the government and Texas debate border control.
- For subscribers:Is being a sports fan bad for your health?
- On today's The Excerpt podcast, a new approach to drug addiction. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Georgia DA breaks silence about Donald Trump case prosecutor
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has defended her hiring of private attorney Nathan Wade as lead prosecutor in the election fraud case against former President Donald Trump and 14 others, suggesting that those who have questioned his ability are being unfair and possibly racist. Willis made her remarks days after one of Trump’s 14 remaining co-defendants accused her of having an improper romantic relationship with Wade that was serious enough to have them both thrown off the case. Read more
Zelenskyy to make case for Ukraine support in Davos
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is headlining a frenzied first full day Tuesday of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Zelenskyy will endeavor to keep his country’s long and largely stalemated defense against Russia on the minds of political leaders in attendance. This year’s conclave has a particular focus on geopolitical conflicts, while also touching on topics such as the dangers of artificial intelligence and the importance of decarbonization. Read more about the WEF.
- This visual guide explains the two separate U.S. retaliatory airstrikes against Houthis in Yemen.
- John Kerry, the U.S. climate envoy, is leaving the Biden administration.
Keep scrolling
- Here's how Tyre Nichols' parents stood strong in their public grief in the year after fatal police beating.
- Miss America 2024 is an active-duty Air Force officer and a Harvard student.
- What do you do if someone in your house has COVID?
- Elton John now has an EGOT.
- From Hot Priest to "All of Us Strangers," Andrew Scott is ready to "share more" of himself.
- You need a visa for these 80+ countries.
The biggest moments of the 2024 Emmy Awards
The 75th annual Emmy Awards broadcast started on a high note Monday night thanks to an emotional, self-deprecating address by actor Christina Applegate, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021. More tears came when Quinta Brunson, creator and star of “Abbott Elementary,” won her first Emmy for best comedy actress, moments after friend Ayo Edebiri brought home best supporting actress for “The Bear.” Kieran Culkin collected his first Emmy for best drama actor for the final season of “Succession,” which also took home best drama. The best comedy win went to “The Bear.” Read more
- Here's the full list of winners (and losers) from the night.
- From Ayo Edebiri to Suki Waterhouse, here are the 12 best dressed stars at 2024 Emmys
Photo of the day: Bills fans brave waist-deep snow
The Buffalo Bills are moving along on the road to Super Bowl 58. In a wild-card game delayed more than 24 hours by lake effect snow and wind conditions, Josh Allen passed for 203 yards and three TDs as the Bills withstood a late comeback by the Pittsburgh Steelers to win 31-17 on Monday afternoon. With so much snow still in the stands, Buffalo fans threw snow up in the air to celebrate, creating quite the scene inside Highmark Stadium. Read more
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.