CNN Inside Politics

First: Last night, Nikki Haley was asked what caused the Civil War. Most would give a one-word answer: slavery. She did not.  Plus: Donald Trump's lawyers have a very busy few weeks ahead. We'll tell you key dates to watch in his civil and criminal trials.  And: Lauren Boebert barely won her red district the last time around. Her solution? Move to an even-redder district.  Learn more about your ad...

First: President Biden is sending two top cabinet officials to Mexico City to meet with the Mexican president. Will a new plan emerge to stop the unprecedented number of illegal border crossings?  Plus: A new survey shows voters associate Donald Trump with words like "revenge" and "dictatorship." And the GOP frontrunner seems to be bragging about it.  And: It's time to say good-bye to 2023. We hav...

First: There are growing fears of a widening war in the Middle East after President Biden orders retaliatory iron strikes on a group in Iraq.  Plus: America's top diplomat is heading to Mexico where thousands of migrants are making the trek to an already overwhelmed US border.  And: Donald Trump spent Christmas day attacking his enemies, including President Biden and special counsel Jack Smith.  L...

First, with the Iowa caucuses just weeks away, the Presidential race heats up as the political and legal calendars are colliding for the GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. The former President now faces the possibility of being kicked off at least one state's ballot. But Trump has used his woes as a rallying cry and is currently sitting on a sizable lead in the polls.  Next, Congress is on holiday as a...

At any moment, the Supreme Court could announce whether it's fast-tracking a decision on Donald Trump's claim he's immune from prosecution for trying to overturn the 2020 election. Prosecutors want a quick decision so they can move forward with the trial. Trump wants to delay it as much as possible. We start things off with Katelyn Polantz in Washington.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po...

First: Donald Trump is on a social media tear, sending dozens of posts and reposts assailing the court decision that kicked him off the ballot in Colorado. his Republican rivals are for the most part standing with him.  Plus: President Biden is grappling with a critical decision on Israel. The security council is set to vote on a resolution to stop the fighting in Gaza. The big question: Will the...

First: Donald Trump's legal team vows to appeal yesterday's 14th-ammenment-based ruling by the Colorado supreme court to kick the former president off the state's ballot.  Plus: Trump is defending his use of Hitler-like language to describe immigrants in the US illegally, saying he's "never read Mein Kampf."  And: President Biden is in a key swing state trying to convince Wisconsin voters that his...

Today's Inside Politics was preempted so we could bring you live coverage of the funeral of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. President Biden delivered a eulogy, calling O'Connor "an American pioneer," and noting how she inspired generations of American women.  We invite to explore CNNs other podcasts and showcasts at cnn.com/audio. Thanks for listening!  Learn more about your ad c...

First: A new poll shows Donald Trump hanging onto a commanding lead, but one of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination is starting to see a narrow path to a major upset.  Plus: Senators are racing to find a way forward on new border security measures. President Biden is facing pressure on one of the toughest-to-solve in American politics.  And: Democrats have never been this nervous...

First, Senators race to find an immigration compromise before Christmas. Aid to Ukraine hangs in the balance while Republicans refuse to approve more aid without tighter immigration restrictions amid a surge of migrants at the southern border. Then, Trump is on the campaign trail where his anti-immigration views and praise for dictators once again is becoming an issue. Plus, an abortion case in Te...

First: Barack Obama and Joe Biden are teaming up again to promote one of their biggest accomplishments. We have details on their rare White House reunion and whether the former president can help the current one get reelected.  Plus: The US and Israel are no longer in lock step on how to prosecute the war against Hamas terrorists.  And: Republican candidates have one month left to make their case...

First: The headline above is how President Biden is describing House republicans' impeachment inquiry. Republicans say they are just following the evidence, though so far, they haven't produced it.  Plus: Donald trump is celebrating after a judge hit pause on the election subversion case against him while appeals play out. It means his scheduled March trial could be delayed potentially for months....

Today's show comes to you live from New Hampshire, where Governor Chris Sununu is going all in on Nikki Haley weeks before his state's pivotal primary here. It's an endorsement every challenger to Donald Trump wanted. The big question now: Can it help Haley overcome Trump's commanding lead - not just in New Hampshire but in every early voting state? Dana speaks with both Haley and Sununu about thi...

Volodymyr Zelensky just left Capitol Hill after meeting with the entire Senate. The Ukraine president is trying desperately to secure the critical funding his country needs to defend itself against Russia, but time is running out. Our coverage begins with CNN's Manu Raju on Capitol Hill. He's followed by Nick Paton Walsh in Ukraine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...

First: New CNN polls out today show President Biden trailing Donald Trump in critical battleground states, places that Biden won in the last election and needs to win again.  Plus: With just five weeks until the first votes are cast, Republican presidential hopefuls are stepping up their attacks as a new poll in Iowa shows Donald Trump's lead is only getting bigger.  And: Following the resignation...

First, Nikki Haley takes advantage of fresh momentum, but does she have the time and strategy in place to overcome the clear frontrunner, Donald Trump? Next, House Republicans find their narrow majority getting even narrower amidst the resignation of US Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Will this discourse open old wounds?  Then, House Republicans prepare to turn up the heat on President Biden as his son faces...

First: Sex clubs, escorts, and a rented Lamborghini. That's what prosecutors say the president's son spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on instead of paying his taxes. His lawyers and his father's campaign say this is all about politics.  Plus: Donald Trump is preparing to testify in his civil fraud trial. Why does he keep choosing the courthouse over the campaign trail?  And: The president of...

Nikki Haley was the target of attacks from the men around her on the debate stage last night in Alabama. She says they are just jealous as she collects new endorsements and climbs in polls. But she is still 20 or 30 points behind Donald Trump, who was once again a debate no-show. How did the former president make out? Jeff Zeleny is still in Tuscaloosa, and he kicks off our extensive analysis of t...

As today's show begins, we're standing by for President Biden to speak on the dire situation in Congress if it fails to approve more money for Ukraine. An agreement on Capitol Hill is looking quite grim right now as the White House is already warning about the dangerous stakes for the US. Priscilla Alvarez starts our in-depth coverage.  Also on today's show: The results of a brand-new CNN poll on ...

First: The stage is set for the fourth GOP presidential debate, with four candidates taking the stage - minus (again) the front-runner. Get ready for some fireworks between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley but will either take on Donald Trump?  Plus: Ukraine President Zelensky is preparing to make a direct plea to US senators for more money. With just days left to act and the world watching, will they...

First: The first test of the 2024 presidential election is just six weeks away. Will the crucial caucuses propel a Trump challenger towards the nomination, or push him to a second term?  Plus: As Israeli forces expand their fight against Hamas, we're learning even more of the gruesome, terrifying details of the way Hamas terrorists savagely raped women on October 7 before killing them.  And: "A de...

First, as fighting picks up in Gaza, the US ramps up their warnings to Israel. Democrats call for a shift, but can President Biden contain the Political fallout? Our panel will discuss. Then, as Donald Trump faces legal trouble, Presidential Candidates descend on Iowa. But is it too little too late? And, the speaker of the House struggles to keep Republican hard-liners happy. Can the speaker overc...

First: The House votes to kick George Santos out of Congress. His response to the historic move: "To hell with this place."  Plus: Airstrikes, combat and bloodshed as the Israel-Hamas pause collapses. What can we expect next?  And: We remember Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman Supreme Court justice, who died today at the age of 93.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...

First: Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on the ground in Israel right now trying to extend the pause as both Israel and Hamas say they are gearing up to resume combat at a moment's notice.  Plus: George Santos is describing tomorrow's vote to kick him out of Congress as "bullying" and "theater." Will his fellow Republicans keep him in his seat so they can keep their majority?  And: What did Ke...

Negotiators are racing to try to extend the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas. The current deal will expire in a matter of hours. A top official tells CNN he's hopeful they will be able to continue this pause. It comes as we are standing by for Hamas to release the final group of hostages as part of the current deal. CNN is covering this fast-moving story from all angles. We begin today wit...