Sunday shows preview: Haley, Trump set eyes on Super Tuesday; race to replace McConnell

The battle between former President Trump and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley for the GOP presidential nomination on Super Tuesday will likely be the focus of this week’s Sunday shows.

A new NewsNation show, “The Hill Sunday,” launches this week, featuring guests including Reps. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Ken Buck (R-Colo.). Host Chris Stirewalt will talk about topics including election security with the guests.

Stirewalt told The Hill that the goal for the new show is to avoid partisan screaming matches, calling that “doing it the hard way.”

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

Haley is set to appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this week, two days before Super Tuesday, when fifteen states and one territory including Alabama, California, Texas, Maine and Virginia are holding presidential contests. 

Despite the large gap in a nationwide The Hill/Decision Desk HQ GOP presidential primary poll average between her and the former president, 15.8 percent versus 81.1 percent, and a recent loss in the GOP primary in her home state of South Carolina, Haley has said she “will continue” in the race.

“I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president,” Haley said following South Carolina being called early for Trump.

“I’m a woman of my word,” she added. “I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”

Trump and President Biden both made trips to the southern border Thursday in the midst of political debates about how to handle border security and foreign aid after a bipartisan border security that was part of a larger foreign aid package to fund the war in Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific security fell apart early last month. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas joined Biden on his trip to Texas.

“Though Congress has not yet provided the resources we need, [the Department of Homeland Security] will continue to enforce the law and work to secure our border,” Mayorkas, who is set to appear on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and CNN’s “State of the Nation” this week, said while in Texas.

Republicans in the Senate are set to experience a leadership shakeup, as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who recently turned 82, gave a speech Wednesday announcing his plan to leave his leadership post in November.

“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter. So I stand before you today … to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate,” McConnell said.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), who will make an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” this week, said it is “a good thing” when asked about McConnell stepping down.

“Hopefully we get a Republican leader a little more in tune with the preferences of our voters, but we’ll see,” he said.

The Senate also passed a short-term spending bill Thursday to maintain funding for the departments of Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Justice, Commerce, Energy and other offices through March 8, pushing a shutdown threat to next week. 

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.); World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley; Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Steve Dettelbach; Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska); Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Mayorkas; Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).

“Fox News Sunday” — Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.); Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).

NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt” — Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.); Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.).

Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” — Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.); president of the Government Accountability Institute and host of “The Drill Down” podcast Peter Schweizer; Republican California Senate candidate Steve Garvey.

Updated March 3, 9:48 a.m.