Top Political Stories This Week: Iowa’s Surprising Outcome, Houthis’ Accountability, and Pro-Life Rally in D.C
Top Political Stories of the Week
After another week of headlines, it can be hard to parse through and find the most important political stories of the week. Many stories slip through the cracks as the media pulls Americans’ attention elsewhere. The following list of the week’s top stories is far from expansive, but just in case you missed them, here are some of the biggest stories The Daily Wire covered from Sunday, January 14, to Friday, January 19, 2024.
Trump Wins Iowa Caucuses
Former President Donald Trump cruised to a win in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night, taking 98 of the state’s 99 counties and winning over 50% of the vote. Of the state’s 40 delegates that were up for grabs in the caucuses, Trump received 20 of them. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who took 21% of the vote, received nine delegates, and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley who placed third with 19% of the vote walks away from Iowa with eight delegates. Candidates must reach 1,215 delegates to win the Republican nomination.
Voters braved below-zero temperatures on Monday night, making it the coldest Iowa Caucuses since its beginning in 1972. Around 110,000 voters went out to caucus, far lower than the record 187,000 voters that came out to vote in the 2016 caucuses. The 110,000 Iowa voters, which also included some Democrats, who voted in the Republican caucuses make up under 15% of the state’s registered Republican voters.
While Trump was the clear winner in Iowa and cemented his position as the frontrunner in the GOP primary, the night didn’t pass without some controversy. The race was called for Trump with an unusually low percentage of the vote counted, as multiple outlets — including Fox News, CNN, NBC News, and the Associated Press — made their decision on the race with just 1% of the vote counted. The quick decision was slammed by many people, including Iowa voters, reporters, and political commentators.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP
Trump congratulated his GOP opponents in a speech following his win in Iowa, saying they all did “very well.”
“I want to congratulate Ron and Nikki for a good time together. … I think they both actually did very well. I really do,” Trump said.
“I also want to congratulate Vivek because he did a hell of a job,” Trump added. “He came from zero … and he got probably 8%.”
U.S. Continues Strikes On Houthi Targets, Houthis Redesignated As Terrorists
U.S. forces launched another round of strikes against the Houthis earlier this week as the Iranian-backed group continues to attack merchant vessels, and even targets U.S. forces, in the Red Sea.
The U.S. military targeted 14 Houthi missiles that were being prepared to be fired from Yemen, threatening merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region. The Houthis have ramped up attacks in the Red Sea following Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and the group’s leaders have said its attacks on ships in the region will end as soon as “Israeli aggression” stops in Gaza, according to The Guardian.
President Joe Biden removed the Houthis from the U.S. list of designated terrorist groups shortly after taking office, but his administration redesignated the Houthis as a terrorist group this week.
“The Houthis must be held accountable for their actions, but it should not be at the expense of Yemeni civilians,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “As the Department of State moves forward with this designation, we are taking significant steps to mitigate any adverse impacts this designation may have on the people of Yemen.”
DOJ Confirms Hunter Biden’s Laptop
In a court filing on Tuesday, the Department of Justice confirmed what most Americans already knew. The infamous Hunter Biden laptop is, in fact, real and did belong to the president’s son. New York Post reporter wrote in a post on X that in addition to the Bidens and the Justice Department being fully aware that the laptop was Hunter’s, they had even been able to match the contents discovered on the laptop to content stored on the cloud under his account.
“In a new court filing today, the DOJ confirms Hunter Biden’s laptop is real, that he left it at a computer store, and that the contents matched what they obtained from a search warrant of his iCloud. Don’t hold your breath for a retraction from Joe Biden (‘It’s a Russian plant’), the #Dirty51 or myriad dishonest media operatives. They blamed Russia when the Bidens knew it was Hunter – and so did the FBI. Hunter also blamed Russia when he was caught using adultery site Ashley Madison,” Devine posted.
The New York Post’s initial story on Biden’s laptop in October 2020 was labeled as Russian disinformation by more than 50 former intelligence officials who signed onto a letter that attempted to discredit the Post’s report.
Congress Passes Short-Term Spending Bill To Conservative Members’ Chagrin
The House and Senate on Thursday passed a short-term spending bill to get the federal government through early March while avoiding a shutdown. The stop-gap bill was opposed by many conservatives in the House who wanted Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to hold out on any deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) until Democrats agreed to pass expansive border security and immigration reform.
In the House, 207 Democrats joined with 107 Republicans to achieve the two-thirds majority vote necessary to pass the bill. Two Democrats and 106 Republicans, including House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), voted against the measure while 11 members did not vote. The Senate then overwhelmingly passed the spending bill.
Before the measure was passed, the House Freedom Caucus warned against it, calling the spending bill a “surrender” to the Left.
“The @HouseGOP is planning to pass a short-term spending bill continuing Pelosi levels with Biden policies, to buy time to pass longer-term spending bills at Pelosi levels with Biden policies,” the Freedom Caucus said in a post on X.
The hardline conservative opposition to the short-term deal ultimately didn’t stop Johnson from moving forward with it, setting up the House for a future showdown on a larger spending bill.
March For Life
The 51st annual March for Life took place in Washington, D.C., on Friday as tens of thousands of people braved the snowy, cold conditions to voice their support for the pro-life cause. Main speakers for this year’s March for Life included House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson, and Focus on the Family President and CEO Jim Daly.
In his speech, the House speaker said that he was the product of an unplanned pregnancy and was grateful that his parents chose life.
“We have to build a culture that encourages and assists more and more people to make that same decision. This is a critical time to help all moms who are facing unplanned pregnancies, to work with foster children, and to help families who are adopting, to volunteer and assist our vital pregnancy resource centers and our maternity homes, and to reach a renewed hand of compassion and to speak the truth in love,” he said.
University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh, who led his team to a national championship victory earlier this month, also addressed the crowd, telling those gathered, “It’s a great example that you’re setting.”
“It’s a testimony to the sanctity of life,” he added.
* * *
Some more of this week’s biggest political stories include:
- READ: Milei Rips Western Elite In Speech At WEF Conference
- READ: Trump Back In Court For E. Jean Carroll Case
- READ: Vivek Ramaswamy Drops Out Of GOP Race, Endorses Trump
Why is the March for Life considered the largest pro-life event in the United States?
Norable Mike Johnson emphasized the importance of standing up for the rights of the unborn. He stated, “We are here today because we reject the notion that some lives are disposable—that a child in the womb is inconvenient, or unwanted, or unworthy of love. We believe every human life has inherent dignity and deserves protection.”
The March for Life is the largest pro-life event in the United States and is held annually to protest against the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in 1973. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the march attracted a significant turnout this year, highlighting the continued dedication of pro-life advocates.
While these are just a few of the top political stories from the week, they shed light on some of the key developments shaping the political landscape. From Trump’s victory in the Iowa caucuses to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, these stories have captured the attention of the public and sparked debates among experts and political commentators.
It is crucial to stay informed and engaged with political news, as it shapes the policies and decisions that affect our lives. By understanding the current events and issues, individuals can make informed decisions and actively participate in the democratic process.
In a world inundated with news and information, it can be challenging to sift through the noise and identify the most important stories. However, by staying informed and seeking out reliable sources of news, individuals can stay up to date with the latest political developments and deepen their understanding of the issues at hand.
Whether it is through traditional media outlets, online news platforms, or social media, individuals have numerous avenues to access news and information. It is essential to approach these sources critically and verify the accuracy and credibility of the information conveyed.
As we navigate the complex world of politics, let us not overlook the significance of each story, as it contributes to the broader political landscape. By staying informed and engaged, we can actively participate in shaping the future of our nation.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
