POLITICO Nightly: What Iowa experts are watching

 

BY MIA MCCARTHY , CALDER MCHUGH AND CHARLIE MAHTESIAN Presented by Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at a campaign event at Bella Love Event Center on Jan. 11, 2024 in Ames, Iowa. | Jamie Kelter Davis for POLITICO COUNTDOWN TO THE CAUCUSES — In three days, America will see the first test in the 2024 Republican nomination fight. The results in Monday’s Iowa caucuses are likely to illuminate the strength of former president Donald Trump’s hold on the GOP, reveal whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ground game is underestimated and demonstrate if former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley’s surge in the polls is occurring outside New Hampshire. With so many questions still left to be answered in Iowa, POLITICO sat down with six of the state’s top political reporters and editors to get their perspective on what’s happening on the ground. They had a lot to say. (If you’re interested in a deeper dive, you can find the entire roundtable discussion here .) Here are five takeaways from our conversation about the first event of the 2024 primary season: The evangelical vote: Iowa is home to a high percentage of conservative Christian voters — 62 percent of Iowa Republican caucus goers were white evangelical or white born again Christians, according to 2016 entrance poll data. In 2016, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won them pretty comfortably over Trump, who still faced a considerable amount of skepticism from evangelical voters. But things have changed quite a bit since then and Christian conservatives have warmed to Trump, especially because of his Supreme Court picks. Our panel noted that DeSantis is trying to peel away some of that support, particularly in conservative northwest Iowa. But perhaps the most interesting observation was the consensus on how much the evangelical vote has changed since 1988, when Pat Robertson surprised the nation with his strong second place finish — ahead of the sitting vice president at the time, George H.W. Bush. “These voters are now in a party that embraces their issues,” said O. Kay Henderson, news director of Radio Iowa . “There are no longer people in the Republican Party like there were in 1988 who supported abortion rights. So it’s a completely different party than it was in 1988.” Ed Tibbetts, a former Quad-City Times reporter and editorial page editor who publishes the Along the Mississippi Substack, said: “I don’t think evangelicals today are the same as evangelicals eight years ago or even further back. I think that makes it very difficult to compare one cycle to another because the definitions that are being used just aren’t the same anymore.” The ground game: A campaign’s field organization is essential to victory in Iowa, a state with 99 counties and a caucus system that requires voters to attend one of the more than 1,600 caucus sites. DeSantis’ super PAC Never Back Down has been on the ground since April and, according to Brianne Pfannenstiel, a reporter at the Des Moines Register , he’s had “the most extensive ground game, most consistently in the state.” DeSantis is betting big here that shifting significant resources to the state will pay off with a surprisingly strong performance. Henderson explains about his team in the state: “I went to a DeSantis event on Saturday night in Ankeny. There were a number of people getting orange hats that say “precinct captain” from the DeSantis campaign. Talking with some of the people [at a DeSantis event], they’re being given names to call in their community, to encourage them to attend. They’re talking to people online. And then they also will be a point person in each precinct, to speak for the campaign.” But he’s not the only one with a humming operation. Unlike in 2016 when his campaign in the state was fairly disorganized, the Trump machine looks well oiled in Iowa. “They’ve got boots on the ground everywhere, you’ve been bombarded by text messages, by mailers, by emails,” Iowa Starting Line reporter Ty Rushing says. “They’re not just relying on Trump’s Twitter account to get the word out there and to fire up people.” Winter weather: Nearly all of the 99 counties in Iowa are scheduled to be under a winter storm warning Monday into Tuesday, which means the weather will undoubtedly have an effect on the caucus. “The people who want to caucus for Donald Trump really want to caucus for Donald Trump. And there’s less excitement for DeSantis and for Haley, and Iowans have thick skin but this is a really serious weather situation,” said Pfannenstiel. “The temperatures are going to be in dangerous territory for people to spend a lot of time outside.” Kathie Obradovich, editor in chief of Iowa Capital Dispatch agreed the weather will have an impact, but disagreed on who it would hurt the most. She said Trump has the most to lose in this scenario. Campaign surrogates: It’s not just the candidates who are traipsing around Iowa in the run-up to the caucuses. They are accompanied by a host of surrogates who are campaigning with them in an effort to generate energy and excitement, amplify the campaign message and provide validation. Trump has brought in a host of surrogates — Pfannenstiel refers to them as “the Trump cinematic universe” — among them Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson and two of Trump’s sons, Don Jr. and Eric, have also appeared in the state on their father’s behalf. “Anytime Roger Stone or Kari Lake or Mike Lindell is at a Trump event,” said Rushing, “there’s a photo line for them, right there on the floor.” Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Thomas Massie of Kentucky are among those who have campaigned for DeSantis; New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu appeared in Des Moines last week for Haley. The Iowa roundtable wasn’t convinced any of the surrogates made a huge difference, though Siouxland Public Media ’s Bret Hayworth noted that one of them made a splash in northwest Iowa when she campaigned there — Noem, who represents a neighboring state and shares a media market. Trump’s hold on Iowa: For all the talk of campaign infrastructure, weather and surrogates, every reliable poll of late has shown that this will not be a particularly competitive contest. The only real question is the size of his winning margin — which will be closely scrutinized. That’s very different from the last competitive Republican primary cycle, when Trump underperformed his poll numbers and lost Iowa by four points to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. In the aftermath of that defeat, Trump cried foul, saying on Twitter, “Ted Cruz didn’t win Iowa, he illegally stole it.” Trump is not taking the state for granted this year. He’s been in Iowa more than he indicated he would in the fall, making multiple appearances at big rallies. Henderson suggests that’s a sign of a change in direction internally, and that “you’ve heard him say on the campaign trail that he wants a thunderous victory here, that he wants a blowout victory here.” The experts had a hard time envisioning any scenario other than a Trump victory. When we asked the room whether anyone thought Trump might not win in Iowa, we were met with dead silence. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com . Or contact tonight’s authors at mmccarthy@politico.com , cmchugh@politico.com and cmahtesian@politico.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Reporter_Mia , @calder_mchugh and @PoliticoCharlie . A message from The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: Congress: Support the highest possible increases for cancer research funding at the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute to make time. Literally. More than 1.9 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2023 alone. But by investing in the research of today, you’re helping prevent, detect, and treat many of the cancers of tomorrow, creating countless moments for patients and their loved ones in the process. Fight Cancer. Make Time.   WHAT'D I MISS? — White House readies more student debt relief as Biden loan plan enrollment nears 7M: President Joe Biden is adding a new tool to his arsenal for canceling student debt in the coming months as his 2024 reelection campaign ramps up. The White House announced today that the administration will implement earlier than planned a provision of Biden’s new loan repayment program that forgives debt for borrowers who initially borrowed less than $12,000 and have made payments for 10 years. — Johnson says bipartisan spending plan ‘remains’: Speaker Mike Johnson defied his right flank this morning, suggesting that he would maintain a bipartisan spending deal that they despise. Delivering a written statement to reporters, Johnson nodded to conservative anger about the agreement that he negotiated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. But he added that “our top line agreement remains.” Conservatives have criticized the speaker both publicly and privately over the deal this week, calling on him to negotiate a new agreement with steeper funding cuts. That fury from his right flank grew this morning, with Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) raising the idea of booting Johnson from the speakership. — Federal prosecutors to pursue death penalty against Buffalo supermarket shooter: Federal prosecutors announced today that they intend to pursue the death penalty against the perpetrator of a 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket. In a court filing, prosecutors argued that the actions of Payton Gendron, the white supremacist who intentionally killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo’s predominantly Black East Side neighborhood, rose to the level warranting the death penalty under federal law. Prosecutors pointed not only to the high level of planning involved with the attack, but also the nature of the attack itself, as grounds for capital punishment.   GLOBAL PLAYBOOK IS TAKING YOU TO DAVOS! Unlock the insider's guide to one of the world's most influential gatherings as POLITICO's Global Playbook takes you behind the scenes of the 2024 World Economic Forum. Author Suzanne Lynch will be on the ground in the Swiss Alps, bringing you the exclusive conversations, shifting power dynamics and groundbreaking ideas shaping the agenda in Davos. Stay in the know with POLITICO's Global Playbook, your VIP pass to the world’s most influential gatherings. SUBSCRIBE NOW .     NIGHTLY ROAD TO 2024 MANCHIN TO MANCHESTER — During an eyebrow-raising visit to New Hampshire today, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia name-checked friends who are elected officials in the Granite State and complimented the discerning nature of its voters, reports the New York Times. He paid homage to the state’s first-in-the-nation primary tradition and swiped at President Biden’s decision to undercut New Hampshire’s power in this year’s Democratic contest. And when pressed on his own ambitions, the conservative Democratic senator offered a message that would-be candidates have often deployed as they flirt with this traditionally influential early-voting state: He declined to rule anything out. AN UNSUSPENSEFUL END — When Nikki Haley walked into an arts district event space in Iowa, with a pared-down version of her stump speech, half a dozen chairs were empty, Semafor reports. When Ron DeSantis rallied with two of his best-known Iowa endorsers in the Des Moines suburbs, two dozen out-of-state college students had grabbed the best seats. And on Thursday, while a “once-in-a-decade” storm pummeled the state, Donald Trump was in New York, on trial, accusing the Biden administration of “cheating” to slow him down. After a year of campaigning, canvassing, and pricey advertising, Iowa’s caucuses are coming to an unsuspenseful end . Public polls show DeSantis and Haley deadlocked for second place as she looks toward New Hampshire, where the race is actually competitive. Snow and freezing temperatures have shrunk crowds and lowered expectations for the Monday vote, when wind chill in some areas will reach the negative 20s. WAITING GAME — The Oregon Supreme Court today declined to hear a bid to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot based on the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban,” saying it’s waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the issue, CNN reports. The ruling comes after Colorado and Maine kicked Trump off the ballot, after judges and officials determined that his role in the January 6 insurrection renders him ineligible for office. However, those decisions have been paused to allow for appeals. The Oregon court did not rule on the merits of the challenge, specifically citing the ongoing litigation at the US Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments in the Colorado case on February 8. PRIMARY PROBLEMS — A federal judge rejected a bid today to require Florida Democrats to hold a presidential primary in March, reports POLITICO. Florida’s Democratic primary was scuttled because President Joe Biden was the lone candidate certified to state election officials. It was a decision that rankled other Democrats, including Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) who is challenging Biden and called it “intentional disenfranchisement.”   A message from The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:     AROUND THE WORLD An Iranian protester holds a Yemeni flag during a demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people and Iran-backed Yemeni rebels in front of the British embassy in Tehran today. | Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images CHAOS COMING — Western warplanes and guided missiles roared through the skies over Yemen in the early hours today in a dramatic response to the worsening crisis engulfing the region , where the U.S. and its allies are facing a direct confrontation with Iranian-backed militants, reports POLITICO. The strikes against Houthi fighters are a response to weeks of fighting in the Red Sea, where the group has attempted to attack or hijack dozens of civilian cargo ships and tankers in what it calls retribution for Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Washington launched the massive aerial bombardment of the group’s military stores and drone launch sites in partnership with British forces, and with the support of a growing coalition that includes Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, South Korea and Bahrain. Tensions between Tehran and the West have boiled over in the weeks since its ally, Hamas, launched its October 7 attack on Israel, while Hezbollah, the military group that controls much of southern Lebanon, has stepped up rocket launches across the border. Along with Hamas and Hezbollah, the Houthis form part of the Iranian-led ‘Axis of Resistance’ opposed to both the U.S. and Israel. Now, the prospect of a full-blown conflict in one of the most politically fragile and strategically important parts of the world is spooking security analysts and energy markets alike. Houthi leaders responded to the strikes, which saw American and British forces hit more than 60 targets in 16 locations, with characteristic bravado. They warned the U.S. and U.K. will “have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences” for what they called a “blatant aggression.” However, following the overnight operation, Camille Lons, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said there may now be “a period of calm because it may take Iran some time to replenish the Houthis stocks” before they are able to resume high-intensity attacks on Red Sea shipping. But, she cautioned, their motivation to continue to target shipping will likely be unaltered.   POLITICO AT CES® 2024 : We are going ALL On at CES 2024 with a special edition of the POLITICO Digital Future Daily newsletter. The CES-focused newsletter will take you inside the most powerful tech event in the world, featuring revolutionary products that cut across verticals, and insights from industry leaders that are shaping the future of innovation. The newsletter runs from Jan. 9-12 and will focus on the public policy-related aspects of the gathering. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of the show .     NIGHTLY NUMBER $6.6 million The amount that Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown raised in the last three months . Brown now has $14.6 million on hand to fend off an expected tough Republican challenge in a state where he’s now the only statewide elected Democrat. RADAR SWEEP GO FISH — For the first time, researchers have created a global map of human activities in the ocean — only to prove we know less than we thought about our ocean’s surface. The team used AI and satellite imagery to track human activity on the high seas. What they found were untracked “dark vessels” fishing across the worlds’ oceans. Researchers found that roughly 75% of industrial fishing vessels are not being publicly tracked and are not being considered in reports on ocean use. In this deep dive for Smithsonian Magazine, Christian Thorsberg looks at the dark world of fishing and what this study reveals about underreported ocean activity. PARTING IMAGE On this date in 1978: A souvenir shop stands closed on the Atlantic City Boardwalk where some old shops who can't meet sharp new rent increases are giving way to new businesses willing to take a high-priced gamble on the city's future in gambling. After New Jersey voters approved casino gambling in Atlantic City in 1976, Resorts Atlantic City became the first casino to open in the city two years later. | Jerry Mosey/AP Did someone forward this email to you?  Sign up here . A message from The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: Cancer takes away many things, but the most devastating is time. And while policies and federal research investment have helped avert 3.8 million cancer deaths since 1991, the fight against the country’s second most common cause of death is far from over. With over 609,000 deaths and 1.9 million diagnoses last year, there is still work to do in the fight against cancer. And that is where you come in. When Congress prioritizes ending cancer as we know it, you literally make time for patients, loved ones, caregivers, and everybody else affected by 200 diseases known as cancer. By investing in the research of today, you’re helping prevent, detect, and treat many of the cancers of tomorrow, creating countless moments for cancer patients and their loved ones in the process. Fight Cancer. Make Time.     Follow us on Twitter Charlie Mahtesian @PoliticoCharlie Calder McHugh @calder_mchugh Mia McCarthy @Reporter_Mia   FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

Informed Comment daily updates (01/12/2024)

 

South Africa at the Int’l Court of Justice: Israel’s Actions in Gaza constitute Genocide Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The historic proceedings against Israel on charges of genocide were almost completely ignored by the U.S. media, in what can only be described as censorship by neglect. The blackout on this crucial event smells of racism. What could be less important to a white nationalist establishment than an African country’s […]

Iran’s “Women, Life, Freedom Movement” is still Resilient Ottawa (Special to Informed Comment) – The term “social movements” typically evoke the idea of political activities in a sphere separate from culture, but social movements are closely related to values, ways of living, ethics, and more broadly culture. Among new social movement scholars, there is a growing recognition that social movements have more cultural […]

How Israel Killed Gaza’s Environment and Created an Unlivable Hellscape By Joshua Frank | – ( Tomdispatch.com ) – On a picturesque beach in central Gaza, a mile north of the now-flattened Al-Shati refugee camp, long black pipes snake through hills of white sand before disappearing underground. An image released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shows dozens of soldiers laying pipelines and what appear […]

Old posts you may have missed

In Blow to Democracy, British Parliament Votes to Outlaw University and Council Boycotts of Israel amid Gaza Genocide Global warming on course for Destabilizing 5.2° F. (2.9° C) Rise, UN report warns The Int’l Court of Justice Case is a Chance to hold Israel and the US to Account for Genocide California’s Great Battery Revolution Allows Closure of Peaker Gas Plants and move to 100% Wind, Solar, Water In Earth’s Hottest Year on Record, an Unprecedented 28 Billion-dollar Disasters struck US Sunsetting the War on Terror — Or Not: The Stubborn Legacy of America’s Response to 9/11 How Israel’s “Send Palestinians to Congo” plan Evokes British Colonial Plans to send Jews to Uganda

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: In Belichick they trusted

BY KELLY GARRITY AND LISA KASHINSKY PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook won’t publish on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We’ll be back on Tuesday. END OF A LEGENDARY ERA — Bill Belichick’s last play with the Patriots was uniting New England politicians from across the aisle. Tributes to the Hoodie, the Yoda of football, the Grumpy Lobster Boat Captain and now-former New England Patriots coach and general manager flooded in following the news that Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways after 24 years and six Super Bowl rings. “The best team in the best state with the best coach ,” Sen. Ed Markey posted on X . “A legend, an icon, a mastermind. Bill, thank you for sharing your greatness. We will be forever indebted.” “Eternally grateful,” New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu posted . “In the 104 year history of the National Football League , no coach has been more dominant than Bill Belichick,” Rep. Richard Neal added . “Coach, thank you for bringing another winning franchise to New England.” Bye, bye, Bill Belichick. | Matt Slocum/AP Now, Belichick claims he’s “not a political person.” But there's always a political connection to be found. And in Belichick's case, that came in 2016. The coach penned a laudatory letter to his friend, Donald Trump, who read it aloud at an election-eve rally in New Hampshire. Belichick said the letter was “not politically motivated.” That didn't matter to Trump — he won. Trump played up their connection, saying years later that he would turn to Belichick for military advice . Belichick told WEEI at the time that he was “flattered,” but would stick to football. (A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about whether he ever did seek such counsel.) But Belichick later distanced himself from Trump, in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. When Trump offered Belichick the Presidential Medal of Freedom on his way out the White House, he turned it down — amid some political pressure from some of Massachusetts’ top pols. Even Belichick’s departure from the Patriots carries some potential political implications. The team’s no-good, very-bad season — its worst in three decades — changed the game for presidential hopefuls campaigning in New Hampshire by freeing fans from their couches. But the Patriots could become must-see TV again in the post-Belichick era — even if it’s just to watch whether the team can redeem itself under a new coach. While Belichick is leaving at a low point, he’s being remembered for the highs — and possibly as “a cultural hero to the State of Massachusetts,” as the MassGOP put it. There’s no word yet on whether he’ll get any official commendations from Gov. Maura Healey. But she did call him a “legendary coach with an unparalleled legacy,” in a post on X . That’s close enough. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. We're onto the next coach. TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have no public events. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. THIS WEEKEND — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Former MassGOP Chair Jennifer Nassour and Black Lion Strategies’ Samuel Gebru are on NBC10’s “At Issue” at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com . DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Top Senate Democrat expresses reservation with Maura Healey’s shelter funding plan,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “The Senate’s top budget writer again expressed reservation Thursday toward Gov. Maura Healey’s plan to use surplus dollars from the pandemic to pay down massive shelter costs and a deficit this fiscal year. Growing doubt in the Legislature around handing more money to the shelter system comes before the governor has officially filed a bill with the Legislature, though she did lay out detailed ideas in a report to top Democrats in December. Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues said he is 'very protective' of reserve funds.” SENATE GUN BILL ‘ON TRACK’ — Senate President Karen Spilka is “very optimistic” the House and Senate will be able to hash out their differences over gun regulations and send a bill to the governor’s desk before the end of the session, she said during an interview on WBUR’s “Radio Boston .” Senators are “on track” to release their version of how to tighten the state's gun laws in the next two weeks. Spilka said there should be “some overlap” with the House’s bill, citing ghost guns and red flag laws. — “Activists push back on Gov. Healey's budget cuts to social services,” by Carla Rojo, NBC10 Boston: “Chanting ‘rescind the cuts!’ the Lift our Kids Coalition called on the governor to rethink the plan and the impacts it will have on social services that residents rely on. About $13 million will be cut from the transitional aid to families with dependents program and more than $4 million from the emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children program.” — “Nearly three dozen cities and towns lose money for fire departments after Gov. Healey’s budget cuts,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald. — “Lawmakers urged to favor bill requiring financial education for high school graduation,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette. FROM THE HUB — “Auchincloss blasts Boston City Council for rejecting $13M anti-terror grant,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss blasted the Boston City Council for voting to block a $13.3 million counter-terrorism grant for the metropolitan region amid heightened threats of terror that he says have been ‘fueled by antisemitism and anti-Zionism.’ Auchincloss, a Democratic Jewish congressman who represents Brookline, one of the nine communities that would have received the funding, sent a letter to Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune on Thursday, urging the body to pass the U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant upon its refiling by the mayor." — “Mass. AG sues Boston Housing Authority over mice-and-mold-infested Dorchester apartment,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe. DAY IN COURT — “No life without parole for those under 21, SJC rules,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: “The Supreme Judicial Court declared it unconstitutional to sentence anyone under the age of 21 to life without the possibility of parole, citing brain development science and ‘contemporary standards of decency.’ The closely watched 4-3 ruling, released Thursday morning, extended protections that have been in place for the better part of a decade for juveniles to slighter older ‘emerging adults.’ It makes Massachusetts the first state in the nation to categorically reject life without parole for young adults, and comes through a sharply divided ruling by a court often known for its unanimous decisions.” — “EBay settles criminal charges over harassing Natick couple as new details emerge,” by Aaron Pressman, The Boston Globe: “As part of the agreement, eBay will pay a $3 million penalty, improve its legal compliance program and monitor corporate compliance for three years. In return, Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy agreed to indefinitely defer prosecuting the company on six criminal charges related to the 2019 harassment of Ina and David Steiner, who publish a website covering eBay called EcommerceBytes.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “MBTA workforce grew by 730 over last year,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “Fueled in large part by labor agreements that boosted wages and rolled out retention bonuses, the MBTA hired 1,480 new employees in 2023 and promoted 511 others to boost its workforce, long viewed as key to addressing some of the agency's deep-rooted problems. After accounting for 750 employee departures over the course of the year — which was also the highest amount in several years —the MBTA added a net 730 new full-time employee equivalents to its roster, pushing the total headcount above 7,000.” — “Chamber CEO confident MBTA starting to turn a corner,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon. FROM THE 413 — “Arrest warrant issued for former Holyoke city councilor, Wilmer Puello-Mota,” by John Pantalone, Springfield Republican: “Former Holyoke City Councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota has a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear Tuesday at a disposition hearing in Rhode Island. Facing a variety of charges, including possession of child pornography, Puello-Mota was scheduled for the disposition hearing in Superior Court in Warwick.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Arrests made at encampment outside emergency shelter in Worcester,” by Veer Mudambi, Telegram & Gazette: “Three people were arrested Wednesday night after refusing to leave a homeless encampment that sprung up outside the new emergency winter shelter at 611 Main St. Early Wednesday morning, demonstrators began setting up tents and heaters in the parking lot of the shelter, protesting the lack of available space for the homeless population, particularly women, in the city.” — “Jasiel Correia moved to a 6th federal prison. It might be 'cushier' than the last site,” by Ashley Schuler, The Herald News: “As of Jan. 11, Correia can be found at Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland in eastern Kentucky, according to the online Bureau of Prisons inmate tracker.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE COURTING CHRISTIE’S CAMP — Nikki Haley may have barely mentioned Chris Christie ’s exit while campaigning in Iowa Thursday, but her allies back in New Hampshire are racing to lock up his supporters. At least one more member of the former New Jersey governor’s steering committee is now backing the former South Carolina governor, Lisa and Natalie Allison report . HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr is now a Senate co-chair of the Massachusetts Food System Caucus. Here’s him on a fishing boat. — Auditor Diana DiZoglio has appointed Renee Harper to the Federal Funds Equity and Accountability Review Panel. — Emily Oken has been appointed the new president of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Zelda MacGregor . Happy belated to Jerome E. Groopman and Senate President Karen Spilka, who celebrated Thursday. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Gina Christo and GBH’s Paul Singer , who celebrate Saturday; Yael Sheinfeld and Nick Murray , who celebrate Sunday; and to Monday birthday-ers state Rep. Kate Hogan , former Pittsfield city councilor Helen Moon, Omar Sedky and Bruce Schneier . Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA