12:30 Report — Haley surges; Supreme Court faces pressure in Trump ballot cases

It's Wednesday. according to comedian larry david, today is the last day You can wish people a Happy New Year. I don't set the rules – think with Larry. 🤷‍♀️ Anyway, let's make a wish and go wild today. Here's what's happening in politics today.

• The Supreme Court is under increasing pressure to give more weight to the opinions of former defendants. president trumpIt was removed from primary election ballots in Colorado and Maine. Keep reading for an explanation of the significance of this potential move.

• speaker mike johnson (R-Louisiana) is leading a group of 60 Republicans toward the U.S.-Mexico border today. He will hold a press conference this afternoon in Eagle Pass, Texas.

• Another House Republican also resigned early, leaving the Republican majority uncomfortably close.

• Starbucks also allows customers to bring their own cups for mobile and drive-thru orders.

I kate martell A quick summary of this morning and what's to come. Send tips, explanations, feedback, and cookie recipes to: cmartel@thehill.com.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.

Former United Nations Ambassador nikki haley Just surpassed the governor of Florida. Ron DeSantis(R) topped the FiveThirtyEight (538) national polling average for the first time this election season. Haley is currently ranked second behind the former player as the top candidate. president trump.

Read the presentation and explanation by Nathaniel Rakich on 538: this is the chart It shows the voting average since the beginning of 2023.

Haley's presidential campaign said it raised $24 million in the last quarter. (The Hill)

numbers: “Haley's campaign said 83,900 new donors gave to her from October to December, and she ended the last fundraising quarter of 2023 with $14.5 million in the bank. In all, 180,000 people have donated to her campaign since Ms. Haley began her bid for the White House, and she has raked in $50 million across all three campaign committees.

What did her rivals raise? : Trump and DeSantis have not yet announced their total fundraising for the fourth quarter.

Haley may only have the support of one person on Capitol Hill — Rep. ralph norman (RC) — But Semafor's Kadia GobaIt has been reported that there is a group of lawmakers secretly supporting the former South Carolina governor. (semaphores)

like? : Representative don bacon (R-Nebraska) and mike lawler (RN.Y.)

Sen. tom cotton(R-Arc) told Fox News he supports the former president trump .

House majority whip Tom Emmer(Minnesota), No. 3 Republican in the House; announced his support Trump story this morning.

please remember :This means that all five of the top Republicans in the House supported the former president, as Emmer was the last holdout.

🎿 When in New Hampshire: governor Chris Sununu(R) The photo has been posted He's seen drinking beer with Haley. In Plymouth, New Hampshire, the Republican candidate wears a sweater with the word “SKI” written in large letters. She knows the audience there!

🙈 oh my god : Fox News jesse wattersHe brought a psychic onto the show and asked him to predict President Trump's year. She randomly pulls out a card that appears to have a Grim Reaper on it. “I recognize that I am [Fox News]” she laughed awkwardly. She said it meant a sense of loss, but she later softens her interpretation. Watch the 40 second clip

Supreme Court under intense pressure to resolve 2024 voting issue after Maine and Colorado removed Trump from their presidential votes over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol exposed to

What just happened?: Trump campaign appealed the decision Tuesday to remove him from the Maine ballot. The appeal will go to Maine's Superior Court, but could end up in the Supreme Court. The former president is also expected to appeal Colorado's decision.

💡 why is this important : The high court will be at the center of political attention, making decisions that could ultimately impact the 2024 presidential election. plus: Courts have never resolved the meaning of the 14th Amendment, which determines whether a state's vote can remove Mr. Trump.

What impact did these cases have on the Supreme Court?via The Hills Zach Schoenfeld and Brett Samuels

^ This is today's most-read article on The Hill.

“CNN Anchor Asks Republican Guest 7 Times Why President Trump's Voting Decision Was Wrong”: the hill

^ This is the second most read article.

How many states have lawsuits underway to remove Trump from the vote?: Besides Colorado and Maine, at least 17 states have pending challenges to their votes. according to New York Times.

• “What kind of ruling is the Supreme Court likely to make regarding President Trump's candidacy?”: new york times

• “Explaining 14th Amendment plan to disqualify President Trump”: BBC

• “What Trump's removal from the ballot means for him – practically and politically.”: NPR

• “Here's what happened in the criminal case last week.” : washington post

The House Republican majority is even smaller after Reps. bill johnson(Republican, Ohio) announced that he would resign on January 21st (!)

why?: He accepted the job as president of Youngstown State University.

new address: There are currently 219 Republicans, 213 Democrats, and 3 vacant seats in the House of Representatives. That means Republicans can only lose two votes on party-line votes if all members are present.

*nervous laughter* : This should make future government funding deadlines interesting. (the hill)

speaker mike johnson(R-Louisiana) and about 60 Republican congressmen are visiting the U.S.-Mexico border.

Why passing border legislation is becoming an increasingly difficult challenge : Immigration and border security are key priorities for the former. president trumpAnd that makes it likely that an agreement between Congressional Republicans and the White House will be nearly impossible in the coming months. “Republicans want to avoid conflict with President Trump over border security agreement.”

and what happens next week : House Republicans to begin impeachment hearings against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas Over his leadership on the border. what to expectvia The Hills Rebecca Beitsch

🍫🍒 celebrate : Today is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day!

🥤 BYO drink containers: Starbucks will allow customers to bring their own reusable cups to drive-thru and mobile orders. (the hill)

🏷️ Useful tips at the grocery store: The Washington Post published a list of nine red flags that indicate if a grocery store item is ultra-processed. (washington post)

🏊 New Olympic commentator Steve Kornacki : NBC News hires rapper snoop doggPart of the Paris Olympics coverage team. (the hill)

🍸 Anyone playing Dry January? : Here we discuss the possible health and psychological benefits of cutting back on alcohol in January. (new york times)

The House and Senate are absent. president biden Located in Washington DC, vice president harrisI'm in Las Vegas this afternoon. (always eastern)

• today : Speaker mike johnson(R-Louisiana) is leading a delegation of 60 Republicans to the U.S.-Mexico border. 💡 what to expect

• 2 pm: Biden receives presidential daily report

• 2 pm : White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre and National Security Council Spokesperson John KirbyShort reporters. 💻 live stream

• 3:30pm: Johnson holds a press conference from the U.S.-Mexico border. 💻 live stream

• 3:35pm : Mr. Harris speaks at Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Las Vegas.second gentleman Doug Emhoff and Acting Secretary of Labor julie sueattend. 💻 live stream

• 10:15pm: Harris and Emhoff return to Washington, D.C.