memeorandum: Italian MP in Hot Water After His Gun Wounds Guest at NYE Party (Allison Quinn/The Daily Beast)

12:10 PM ET, January 2, 2024

Top Items:

Burgess Everett / Politico:

The GOP's most Trump-skeptical bloc starts falling in line — Its leader has no relationship with the former president. But Senate Republicans are peeling off to endorse him on the eve of the Iowa caucus. — Donald Trump is making serious headway with a bloc of the GOP that's among …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, The Messenger, Raw Story, Digby's Hullabaloo and The Daily Beast

Rolling Stone:

Inside the Trump Plot to Turn His Jan. 6 Trial Into a ‘MAGA Freak Show’ — The ex-president and his lawyers have outlandish plans for his election subversion trial — and it's too much even for some former Trump attorneys. — ATTEMPTS TO DRAG Nancy Pelosi into court to berate her on the stand and, hopefully, on live TV.

Discussion: The Daily Beast, CNN and The Bulwark

Washington Post:

Dec. 14-18, 2023, Washington Post-University of Maryland poll — Keeping up with politics is easy with The 5-Minute Fix Newsletter, in your inbox weekdays.

Discussion: The Messenger and The Hill

Washington Post:

Republican loyalty to Trump, rioters climbs in 3 years after Jan. 6 attack — Three years after the Jan. 6 attack, Republicans are more sympathetic to those who stormed the U.S. Capitol and more likely to absolve Donald Trump of responsibility for the attack than they were in 2021 …

Discussion: The Bulwark, The Messenger, The Hill, Raw Story and Election Law Blog

Tara Suter / The Hill:

Majority in new poll say Jan. 6 was attack on democracy that should never be forgotten — A majority of Americans say the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot was an “attack on democracy that should never be forgotten,” according to a new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll.

Discussion: Washington Post, The Daily Caller, The Guardian and Raw Story

Houston Keene / Fox News:

Trump wins endorsement from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise — Scalise nod comes as former President Trump faces attempts from states to remove him from the primary ballot — FIRST ON FOX: Former President Trump is getting a blessing from the bayou as he seeks a second term in the Oval Office.

Discussion: The Hill, The Messenger, Washington Examiner, New York Post and The Daily Caller

Politico:

Playbook: Two telling new ads, plus border talks latest — With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine — DRIVING THE DAY — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK I — SFA Fund, the pro-NIKKI HALEY Super PAC, is going up on the air in Iowa with a new ad attacking RON DeSANTIS for the years he allegedly spent …

Discussion: The Bulwark, Washington Examiner, The Daily Beast, The Messenger, Raw Story and Human Events

Karen Tumulty / Washington Post:
Is this who we are? — This week, Post Opinions columnists are writing about the biggest questions …

Discussion: Eschaton, Daily Kos and Breitbart

Tal Axelrod / ABC News:
Trump set to appeal Colorado 14th Amendment ballot disqualification case

Discussion: The Hill and Election Law Blog

Edward-Isaac Dovere / CNN:

How the Biden campaign hopes to make 2024 less about Biden and more about a contrast with Trump — The 2024 campaign year for President Joe Biden's inner circle will largely be about carefully ratcheting up the intensity against Donald Trump, wary of voters becoming dulled to what they expect …

Discussion: Associated Press, The Messenger and Althouse

Gavin Bade / Politico:
RIP ‘worker-centered trade’: Biden's global economic agenda stalls

Discussion: Washington Examiner

Wall Street Journal:
Prescription drugs — As a candidate, Biden proposed repealing the law that bars Medicare …

Discussion: Business Insider

Michael Barfield / Florida Center …:

Rape investigation of FL GOP chairman expands to video voyeurism — Sarasota police are investigating whether Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler unlawfully videotaped the sexual encounter at the heart of a rape allegation against him, a third search warrant affidavit obtained by the Florida Trident reveals.

Discussion: Politico, Orlando Sentinel, Talking Points Memo and Raw Story

Judd Legum / Popular Information:

A poisonous campaign — Donald Trump's term as president was chaotic, with an ever-changing cast of characters installed in top positions. But, amidst the mayhem, senior advisor Stephen Miller was a constant. Miller, an anti-immigrant hardliner, started out advising Trump on the 2016 campaign …

Wall Street Journal:

These Voters Will Decide the 2024 Election. They Don't Like What They See. — In counties that backed the past four presidential winners, residents worry America's best days are behind it — Catherine Lucey Eliza Collins Paul Overberg in Washington — Tony Grauslys, a 56-year-old merchandiser …

Charlie Nash / Mediaite:

Steve Bannon Says ‘Big Fight’ Will Soon Take Place Over Direction of Trump Campaign: 'They're Gonna Try To Force Nikki on the Ticket' — Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon claimed on Monday that “a big fight” would take place in Spring to determine whether Nikki Haley becomes …

Discussion: The Hill and The Messenger

Allison Quinn / The Daily Beast:

Italian MP in Hot Water After His Gun Wounds Guest at NYE Party — “I wasn't the one who fired it,” he said, after the firearm was reportedly passed around among guests. — The Italian prime minister's right-wing Brothers of Italy party has found itself at the center of scandal …

Discussion: Reuters, BBC and Agenzia ANSA

New York Times:

Trump's 2024 Playbook … Hosted by Michael BarbaroProduced by Summer Thomad, Luke Vander Ploeg, Rachelle Bonja, Rikki Novetsky and Olivia NattEdited by Rachel Quester, Brendan Klinkenberg and Lexie DiaoOriginal music by Pat McCusker, Dan Powell and Marion LozanoEngineered by Alyssa Moxley

Discussion: Fox News