It’s Thursday. A major winter storm may hit the East Coast this weekend. The Washington, D.C.-area probably won’t get much snow, but I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that we do! ❄️🤞 Here’s what we’re covering today:

• GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley told New Hampshire voters that she trusts they will “correct” the results of the Iowa caucuses. That has definitely ruffled some feathers, but I’m sure Granite Staters are loving this.
• Former President Trump asked the Supreme Court to overturn Colorado’s ruling to remove him from the state’s Republican primary ballot. The timing of these pending cases is adding a lot of tension.
• Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman posted a video of migrants crossing the border into the U.S. just a few feet away from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and a group of Republican lawmakers.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  

©  GIPHY/The Office

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley told a group of New Hampshire voters that “trusts” them to “correct” the results of the Iowa caucuses. 

Haley’s quote: “We have an opportunity to get this right. And I know we’ll get it right and I trust you. I trust every single one of you. You know how to do this. You know Iowa starts it. You know that you correct it. And then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home. That’s what we do.”

How this played in Iowa: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), who endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), reacted by posting, “I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No ‘corrections’ needed!”

Why Granite Staters are probably chuckling: New Hampshire voters famously say, “Iowa picks corn. New Hampshire picks presidents.”

💡 Why this matters: In both states, former President Trump is dominating, but the real race is for second place. DeSantis is leading Haley in Iowa, so this comment is her attempt to tamp down expectations in Iowa and energize Granite Staters — who heavily favor Haley over DeSantis.

Polling: Here are the latest polling and predictions from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ.

Breakdown of where things stand: FiveThirtyEight’s Nathaniel Rakich breaks down polling and trends in the early states.

Happening tonight: DeSantis and Haley are participating in back-to-back CNN town halls.

We keep talking about Haley and DeSantis, but…: Former President Trump has a significant lead in the early states. The Hill’s Julia Mueller has an interesting read on how DeSantis and Haley have very limited time to change momentum.

📺 A sign that Trump is nervous about Haley: Trump released a new ad in New Hampshire, equating Haley’s immigration policies to President Biden’s. Watch the 30-second ad

😶 Omg, Nikki renamed her husband: Vox’s Andrew Prokop posted an excerpt from Haley’s 2012 book, “Can’t Is Not an Option,” where she writes how she started calling her husband “Michael” when he went by “Bill.” Read the excerpt

©  Credit

Former President Trump asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on Colorado’s ruling to kick him off the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot. (The Hill)

Was this a surprise?: No, this appeal was expected.

Important note about timing: Colorado’s ballot will be finalized on Friday. It’s very unlikely the Supreme Court would resolve this appeal by then, so Trump’s name will appear on the ballots regardless.

What could happen if the Supreme Court rules on the Colorado case: “Though the ruling from Colorado only applies to that state, a potential decision from the US Supreme Court could settle the matter for the entire nation.” (CNN)

💡 Why this matters: Regardless of how this case is resolved, it will impact the November election. It was an extraordinary move for Colorado’s Supreme Court to bar Trump from appearing on the ballot, and if the Supreme Court decides the case, it also has major implications — Trump did nominate three of the nine justices.

Aside from Colorado and Maine, at least 17 states have pending lawsuits to remove Trump from the ballot, according to The New York Times. Here’s a quick breakdown of where those cases stand

Some of the sealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex crimes were released Wednesday. (The Hill)

Did we know this was coming?: Yes, a judge ordered the release of 150 previously-redacted names included in a related civil suit. Social media users have been *actively* speculating about who would be included.

Some of the named names: “There were mentions of Epstein’s past friendship with [former President] Bill Clinton — who is not accused of any wrongdoing — and of Britain’s Prince Andrew, who previously settled a lawsuit accusing him of having sex with a 17-year-old girl who traveled with Epstein. Epstein accuser Johanna Sjoberg testified in a newly released deposition that she once met Michael Jackson at Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida, home, but that nothing untoward happened with the late pop icon.” More details from AP

©  GIPHY/Election 2020

“Former President Trump took in at least $7.8 million from foreign entities in 20 countries, according to a new report from Democrats on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, payments to his various businesses that critics say could violate a constitutional prohibition on accepting funding from foreign governments.”

What we know: “The lion’s share of the foreign money — some $5.6 million — flowed from China, which, along with other countries, primarily patronized three properties: Trump hotels in Washington and Las Vegas and Trump Tower in New York.”

💡 Why this matters: “The report comes as the GOP is seeking to highlight the extent relatives of President Biden, mainly his son Hunter Biden, conducted business with foreign governments, including China.”

More context to this report and its significance, via The Hill’s Rebecca Beitsch

Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman posted a video of migrants crossing into the U.S. right in front of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and a group of a Republican lawmakers. Watch the footage 

🍝 Celebrate: Today is National Spaghetti Day!

🍕 What are your thoughts on New Haven pizza?: The New York Times has an interesting read on how the famous pizza from New Haven, Conn., is getting more attention nationally. (The New York Times)

📝 Getting traction: Harvard’s former president Claudine Gay, who was ousted on Tuesday over recent controversies, wrote an op-ed in The New York Times. “What just happened at Harvard is bigger than me,” she writes. Read Claudine Gay’s op-ed

🤸🏿‍♀️ Paris is trying something funky for the Olympic opening ceremonies: The Washington Post’s Les Carpenter writes how Paris wants to use the Seine River for the 2024 Summer Olympics. ‘The Paris Olympics’ Seine River plan is bold, audacious … and risky’

⚖️ I’ve been seeing this clip everywhere on social media: A man attacked a Las Vegas judge during his sentencing hearing. The judge hit her head, but is reportedly OK. (8 News Now) Video of the incident

The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern)

• 12:30 p.m.: State Department spokesperson Matt Miller briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
• 1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby brief reporters. 💻 Livestream
• 9 p.m.: CNN is hosting a town hall event with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
• 10 p.m.: CNN is hosting a town hall event with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
• 10: Former Rep. Liz Cheney(R-Wyo.) makes her first appearance on ABC’s “The View.”

Because you made it this far, here’s a kitchen table that comes with absolute ~best~ view. 😉

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