1. Trump jumps ship
Seems he wasn’t kidding – maverick mogul Donald Trump went nuclear in his war with Fox News, ducking out of a Republican debate to be hosted by the network on Thursday night.
Summary
Instead, Trump has planned a competing event, described as a benefit for military veterans. “The ‘debate’ tonight will be a total disaster…” he tweeted. “I hate to see this.” Hates it!
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Summary
Will Trump pay for turning his back on Fox, the conservative media powerhouse? Or do they need him more than he needs them? Up to now, his every offense has boosted him in polls.
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2. Republican gig goes on
The rest of the conservative field, including Texas senator Ted Cruz, Florida senator Marco Rubio and former Florida governor Jeb Bush, went ahead with the debate plan.
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Summary
It’s the last, best chance for a non-Trump to break through before Iowa caucuses on Monday. But a new poll showed how far they had to go, with Trump up 3 and his closest rival, Cruz, down the same.
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2. Sanders hits Washington Post
After the storied journal published a blistering editorial accusing Bernie Sanders of “selling his own brand of fiction” to voters, the Democratic hopeful hit back – hard.
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Summary
Check out where all the geniuses on the editorial page were with regard to the invasion of Iraq,” Sanders said.
Hint: They thought it sounded smart.
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3. Clinton up for more debates
In a nod to the surprising strength of the Sanders campaign, the Hillary Clinton camp came out behind the idea of extending the Democratic debate calendar through late spring.
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Summary
We have always been willing to add additional debates beyond the six that had been scheduled,” the Clinton campaign said in a statement.
They look forward to it!
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4. Sanders backs gun bill
The Vermont senator announced he would co-sponsor legislation to repeal protections for gun manufacturers and dealers – protections he voted for in 2005.
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Summary
Clinton has been hitting Sanders hard on the issue. And the Brady campaign, the prominent gun safety group backing Clinton, was skeptical: “Forgive us for not buying it.”
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5. Cruz crashes?
As the senator’s numbers fell in Iowa, a survey found that only 32% of Iowa Republicans think someone born outside the United States could be president. Cruz was born in ... Canada.
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Lagniappe
Just got back from a weekend in New Orleans to see my old friend @TomCruise and discuss a little Top Gun 2. pic.twitter.com/vA2xK7S7JS
— JERRY BRUCKHEIMER (@BRUCKHEIMERJB) January 26, 2016
