Republican Candidates Head to Iowa

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Good morning!

We hope you enjoyed the long weekend, and took some time to honor the military personnel who gave the ultimate sacrifice defending the United States.

Also happening this past weekend: a tentative debt ceiling deal was sealed in Washington — just days before America was set to run out of money to pay its bills.

Now comes the hard part— convincing both parties to move forward and pass the legislation. Lawmakers vote later this week.

Stay tuned!

Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney

🗞 ALL THE 2024 ACTION IN IOWA

The 2024 presidential race kicks into higher gear today as former President Donald Trump’s and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ campaigns collide in Iowa — one of the most important states for gauging the strength of a presidential candidate.

IMPORTANCE OF IOWA
Iowa is small but mighty. It’s a state of just about three million people known for its cold winters and cornfields. But winning the Iowa caucus is a BFD… so much so that Barack Obama called it the highlight of his entire political career.

For decades, the Hawkeye state has played a big and important role in America’s presidential primaries. In 1972, Iowa became the first state to hold its Democratic caucus, and four years later, it held the first Republican caucus. That’s why it’s considered the first test of a candidates’ ability to win over votes. It can easily become a campaign’s launch site (or its crash landing).

Reshuffling the playing field: This election cycle will be the first in history that Iowa is not the first state to vote on the Democratic side. More on that in a minute. Let’s get back to the GOP field.

Historically, candidates who fare well in Iowa gain the momentum needed to propel their campaigns to success. Just as easily, losing ground in Iowa can result in a domino effect of reduced media coverage, fewer donors, and less people eager to volunteer.

DESANTIS IN DES MOINES
So it’s no surprise DeSantis picked Des Moines, Iowa’s capital city, as the host city for his formal campaign launch today. He’s kicking off what he’s dubbed “Our Great America Comeback Tour” — and will make 12 stops in four days throughout the state.

LATER THIS WEEK, TRUMP….
Trump is trailing close behind. The former president plans to meet voters on Thursday in Urbandale. Fox News announced he’ll then do a town hall with Sean Hannity.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The GOP field knows they have to impress in Iowa, but winning the Iowa Caucus is especially important to DeSantis because it was Trump’s weak spot in 2016 (Senator Ted Cruz pulled off the win). In a high-stakes rivalry like this, Iowa could make or break each of their campaigns. A handful of other contenders will be there next week for Republican Senator Joni Ernst’s annual Roast and Ride fundraiser on June 3rd — a can’t miss stop on the Iowa political tour.

PULSE OF THE PEOPLE
Iowa voters still favor former President Trump over Ron DeSantis by 42 points, according to the latest poll taken last week. That’s no small margin. DeSantis can use all the inroads he can get with Iowa’s faith-focused, conservative stronghold.

BTW: South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott held his first town hall as a declared Republican presidential candidate in Sioux City, Iowa, last week.

⏳ SPEED READ

📌 Impeachment trial of Texas’ Ken Paxton to begin no later than August 28 (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

📌 Russia launches rare daytime attack on Kyiv (NEW YORK TIMES)

📌 Venice police investigate bright green liquid in Grand Canal (AP)

📌 Peak flash flood season in U.S. begins in Thursday (FOX WEATHER)

📌 For the first time, the majority of the public agrees the Covid-19 pandemic has passed as America enters a Covid-free summer mindset (AXIOS)

📌 The share of young people who are seeking higher education has slipped since the pandemic began - more high school grads are now forgoing college and entering the labor market (WSJ)

📌 Senior military official says the U.S. is “ready to fight in space if we have to” (THE GUARDIAN)

📌 Groundbreaking Israeli cancer treatment has 90% success rate (THE JERUSALEM POST)

📌 4 great white sharks detected in waters off New York and New Jersey ahead of Memorial Day (CNN)

📌 A pair of chefs reveal what they consider to be the correct way to use a colander — but they left many people divided (NEW YORK POST)

📌 Indy 500 star Kyle Kirkwood involved in horror crash as car flips over and tire flies toward crowd (INDY STAR)

🗓 ON THIS DAY: MAY 30

• 1854: The U.S. territories of Nebraska and Kansas were established through the Kansas-Nebraska act

• 1868: Memorial Day was observed widely for the first time in the U.S.

• 1911: The first Indianapolis 500 automobile race was run in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ray Harroun was crowned champion in about 6 hours, 42 minutes

• 1922: The Lincoln Memorial honoring 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and “the virtues of tolerance, honesty, and constancy in the human spirit” was dedicated in Washington, DC

• 1942 (May 29): Singer and actor Bing Crosby recorded the iconic holiday classic White Christmas which went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time