memeorandum: Science is revealing why American politics are so intensely polarized (Joel Achenbach/Washington Post)

6:30 PM ET, January 20, 2024

Top Items:

Michael Gold / New York Times:

Trump Confuses Haley and Pelosi, Accusing Rival of Jan. 6 Lapse — Donald Trump has often accused former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of failing to provide adequate security for the Capitol. On Friday, he inexplicably substituted Nikki Haley's name for Ms. Pelosi's.

Discussion: NBC News, The Hill, New York Magazine, Mediaite, Raw Story, Vanity Fair, Boing Boing, The Messenger, PoliticusUSA, Mother Jones, Washington Examiner, ABC News, The Daily Beast and Politico

Allan Smith / NBC News:

Nikki Haley questions whether Trump is ‘mentally fit’ after he confuses her with Nancy Pelosi — Haley told supporters in New Hampshire that “we can't have someone else that we question whether they're mentally fit to do this.” — MANCHESTER, N.H. — Nikki Haley questioned whether Donald Trump …

Adam Wren / Politico:

Trump's feral close to the New Hampshire primary — The former president was magnanimous after winning Iowa. He quickly returned to form. — For all of 17 minutes in Iowa, Donald Trump was magnanimous. He thanked his campaign managers by name. He praised Iowans for delivering him a victory.

Discussion: The Bulwark, Washington Examiner, Daily Kos, New Republic, Fox News, The Hill, National Review, CBS News, The Messenger and New York Times

Filip Timotija / The Hill:

DeSantis to New Hampshire voters: I'll bring ‘Live Free or Die’ motto to White House — Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis relayed a message to New Hampshire voters ahead of next Tuesday's primary that he will bring the “Live Free or Die” motto if elected president.

Discussion: NH Journal and Washington Examiner

Dan Balz / Washington Post:

Haley needs a New Hampshire jolt to stop Trump. But where's the energy? — Historically, New Hampshire has been abuzz in the final days before the presidential primary. But not this time, with Trump on an apparent glide path to the nomination. — MANCHESTER, N.H. — Something is missing in New Hampshire.

Discussion: USA Today, The Hill, 24sight, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Axios, Fox News, Lee Fang, The Daily Beast and NPR

Jillian Frankel / NBC News:

Trio of South Carolina Republicans to attend Trump rally tonight — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and two Republican members of the state's congressional delegation, Reps. Russell Fry and William Timmons, will attend Trump's rally tonight in Manchester, according to three sources familiar with their travel plans.

Discussion: NH Journal, NewsNation and Political Wire

Marc Fortier / NBC Boston:
Trump maintains 17% lead over Haley in latest NH poll

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, New York Post, Florida Politics, National Review and NBC News

Jeff Stein / Washington Post:

Biden advisers brainstorm best policy pitch to halt Trump's rise — Prescription drug caps, taxing the wealthy and reining in corporate price-gouging eyed as potent advantages in president's reelection bid — In private conversations over the past several weeks, aides to President Biden …

Politico:
Playbook: N.H.'s frigid finish, Louisiana's big payback

Discussion: Washington Examiner and NOLA.com

David Corn / Mother Jones:
The Absurdity of No Labels — A dangerous date for politics in the United States is approaching: March 5.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine and Daily Kos

Wall Street Journal:
Stefanik's Fierce Support for Trump Puts Her in the VP Conversation

Discussion: Business Insider, The Messenger, New York Post, BizPac Review, Israpundit, The Guardian, Washington Examiner and New York Times

Olena Goncharova / The Kyiv Independent:

Zelensky invites Trump to Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended an invitation to Donald Trump to visit Kyiv, with a specific condition attached. — Speaking with U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 News, Zelensky said that Trump would be warmly received in the capital under one stipulation …

Discussion: The Messenger, The Guardian, Associated Press, The Hill, KRDO, Interfax-Ukraine, Washington Examiner and Politico

Joel Achenbach / Washington Post:

Science is revealing why American politics are so intensely polarized — Political psychologists say they see tribalism intensifying, fueled by contempt for the other side — ATKINSON, N.H. — They stood in line for hours, in steady snow that became steady sleet, to hear the leader of their tribe.

Discussion: Althouse

Julia Frankel / Associated Press:

Israel-Hamas war: Hostage families protest outside Netanyahu's home — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that he “will not compromise on full Israeli control” over Gaza and that “this is contrary to a Palestinian state,” rejecting U.S. President Joe Biden's suggestion …

Discussion: Reuters, New York Post, The Guardian, CNBC, New York Times, ArabAmericanNews, Semafor, KSDK-TV, Los Angeles Times, MyNorthwest.com and KRDO

Washington Post:
Growing number of Senate Democrats question Biden's Israel strategy

Discussion: HotAir, The Daily Caller and Sputnik News

Associated Press:
Biden and Netanyahu have finally talked, but their visions still clash for ending Israel-Hamas war

Discussion: HotAir, NPR, KUSA-TV, The Guardian, Reuters, WWL-TV, KRDO, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, The Times of Israel, Breitbart, Al-Monitor, New York Times, Slate, The Forward, Washington Examiner, Politico, The Messenger, Axios, The Hill, The Japan Times, Bloomberg, PBS NewsHour and Israpundit

Jason Wilson / The Guardian:

Revealed: far-right figures try to create Christian nationalist ‘haven’ in Kentucky — Venture fund and real estate startup linked to far-right groups promote residential development as community for rightwingers — A venture fund and a real estate startup - both with links to far-right organizations …

Amy Gardner / Washington Post:

Top Fani Willis ally calls for lead prosecutor Nathan Wade to step aside — A key ally of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) said Saturday that the lead prosecutor of the election interference case against former president Donald Trump should step aside amid allegations …

Discussion: The Messenger, The Daily Beast, New York Times, Political Wire and USA Today

Geoff Mulvihill / HuffPost:

Ohio Poised To Become 2nd State To Restrict Gender-Affirming Care For Adults — The changes would add bureaucratic hurdles to receiving care, trans advocates say. — LOADING — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced proposals this month that transgender advocates say could block access …

Discussion: HotAir, KRDO and LGBTQ Nation

Catherine Caruso / The Intercept:

After House Speaker Mike Johnson Pushed Through Israel Aid Package, AIPAC Cash Came Flowing In — The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, donated around $95,000 to Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., in November, according to The Intercept's analysis of Federal Election Commission records.

Politico:

Trump, Rosendale, Sinema: The big decisions shaping the Senate GOP's odds — Republicans are feeling confident they can win back the Senate majority next year. Some last-minute choices could still muddle their chances. — Senate Republicans have a solid shot in the battle for Senate control …

Discussion: Washington Examiner

Reuters:

Iranian and Hezbollah commanders help direct Houthi attacks in Yemen — Commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters.