New Hampshire Primaries & A PGA Golfer Misses His Payday
January 23, 2024
Hello, readers – happy Tuesday! Today, we’re talking about Nikki Haley, French farmers, North Korean missiles, the Taliban, a robocall in New Hampshire, Texas’ razor wire, and a PGA winner that can’t cash his check.
Here’s some good news: Cameroon began rolling out the world’s first malaria vaccine this week. 662,000 doses will be administered to children. Also, a campaign by animal rights activists has led Benito the giraffe to a transfer to an animal park in Puebla state in central Mexico, where he will join a group of resident giraffes in a more pleasant climate.
Will Another One Bite The Dust In New Hampshire?
Today, Nikki Haley will face the biggest political moment of her career as voters head to the polls in the New Hampshire Republican primary. Haley is the last person – man or woman – standing in the Republican primary race after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew from the race on Sunday.
Things aren’t looking good for the former South Carolina governor heading into New Hampshire. DeSantis took second place ahead of her at the Iowa caucus last week, denying her any momentum heading into this week’s primary, and a CNN poll of New Hampshire voters shows that 62% of former DeSantis voters say that they’ll support Trump at the voting booth, with just 30% saying they would split for Haley.
Haley has campaigned on a more moderate platform than Vivek Ramaswamy (who’s peddled countless conspiracy theories on the campaign trail) or DeSantis (who’s framed himself as Trump-but-not-Trump). She’s gained support from New Hampshire voters in recent months, and her center-right position might make her more appealing to independent voters, who are allowed to vote in the New Hampshire Republican primary thanks to the state’s unique rules. Unfortunately, experts say that a defeat in New Hampshire is likely to spell doom for the rest of Haley’s campaign.
A French Farming Freakout
While rural farmers took to the streets of Germany after the government announced agricultural subsidy cuts last week, French farmers decided that this week was their turn to take the stage. Hundreds of farmers joined nationwide protests on Monday to demonstrate against tractor fuel taxes, water access regulations, and general overregulation.
The nation’s biggest farmers’ union said that protests and roadblocks would continue “for as long as necessary,” blaming “incomprehensible European policy” for the collective action. The president of the union said that increased regulations focused on making European agriculture more sustainable were hampering economic growth in the farming sector.
The mass protests, which are being mirrored in various other E.U. nations, come at a crucial time for European leaders. Elections for the European Parliament will take place in early June, and the center-left incumbents and far-right challengers are looking to secure support from the agricultural sector heading into the summer.
Make Every Day A Little Smarter
- With Brilliant, it only takes minutes a day to master powerful concepts in math, data, technology…you name it. Their app is making it easy to sharpen your mind and expand your mental toolkit fast.
- Even complex concepts just click with Brilliant’s massive library of bite-sized, interactive lessons. Elevate your understanding of everything, from AI and LLMs to data science, programming, and beyond.
- Join over 10 million people around the world and start learning today. Daily Pnut readers can try everything they have free for 30 days. Oh, and you can also get 20% off a premium annual subscription when it’s time to level up.
Russia Reaches For More Rockets
- As Ukraine contends with a long winter, a drop in Western funding, and a rise in Russian airstrikes, a new issue is emerging in its conflict with Russia – the prospect of Moscow using North Korean-supplied missiles to fuel its aerial bombardment campaign. While Russia has deployed outdated North Korean artillery shells on the battlefield to mixed results, defense experts are worried that Moscow will begin firing more modern North Korean missiles at Ukrainian cities in order to overwhelm the country’s Western-provided air defenses.
- North Korea’s sale of missiles to Russia is proving beneficial to both countries, even if the partnership is just starting. Moscow has struggled to keep up its ammunition stores as the war in Ukraine drags on, while Pyongyang receives both cash and a real-world testing ground for its latest missile technology. Russia has also promised to send modern aircraft and other advanced technological knowledge to North Korea in exchange for the missiles.
The Taliban’s On A Terrible Track
- According to a U.N. report published yesterday, the Taliban are further restricting women’s rights in Afghanistan. The group gained power in 2021, and have been imposing increasingly draconian restrictions on Afghan women since then, barring them from upper-level schooling and imposing religious dress codes.
- The U.N. report on new restrictions put forth by the Taliban claims that the organization has begun blocking Afghan women from working, traveling, and accessing healthcare if they’re unmarried or not accompanied by a male guardian. The report touches on multiple instances of restrictions on women, including officials detaining three female healthcare workers for commuting to work without a male guardian. Other women were detained for even seeking healthcare without a guardian, and officials reportedly visit healthcare facilities to ensure compliance with the rules.
Additional World News
- Two US Navy SEALs missing off the coast of Somalia are dead, officials say (CNN)
- At least 8 dead after landslide buries dozens in southwest China in freezing winter temperatures (CNN)
- Spanish police arrest suspect in killing of 3 siblings over debts reportedly linked to romance scam (CBS)
- Iran is ‘directly involved’ in Houthi ship attacks, US Navy’s Mideast chief says (ABC)
- Liberia’s president ‘OK’ after heat curtails inauguration ceremony (Guardian)
Middle East Reads
- Israeli forces storm hospital as Khan Younis hit by bloodiest fighting of 2024 (Reuters)
- US targets Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad, its CEO and Hamas cryptocurrency financiers for sanctions (ABC)
- Hamas official says ‘no chance’ hostages will return to Israel after Netanyahu rejects deal (Guardian)
- Families of hostages held in Gaza storm Israel’s parliament meeting demanding deal for release (AP)
- Scoop: Top Biden adviser to visit Egypt and Qatar to discuss hostage talks (Axios)
- Pressure mounts on Israel over its rejection of two-state solution (WaPo, $)
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein
That’s Not The Voice Of The People
- Well, this isn’t exactly what you want heading into an election year. A robocall, in which a voice impersonates President Biden and tells those on the other end of the line not to vote in today’s presidential primary in New Hampshire, is being investigated by the New Hampshire attorney general’s office. The “unlawful attempt” at voter suppression appears to use technology to recreate Biden’s voice.
- The AG’s office said in a statement that “New Hampshire voters should disregard the content of this message entirely.” The recording calls the primaries “a bunch of malarkey” – a favorite phrase of Biden’s – before telling voters, “Voting this Tuesday only enables the Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again. Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday.” The message concludes with a phone number belonging to Kathy Sullivan, a former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair.
- The call is extra interesting given that Biden’s name isn’t on the ballot in New Hampshire – state elections officials set the date of the state’s primary ahead of South Carolina’s, the first sanctioned contest of the 2024 nominating race under the new Democratic National Committee rules. There is a massive write-in effort to make voter support for Biden clear, so hopefully the robocall hasn’t discouraged too many people from showing up.
Turns Out Texas Can’t Control Our Borders
- Yesterday, the Supreme Court decided 5-4 to allow Border Patrol agents to cut through or move the razor wire Texas has installed on the U.S.-Mexico border. Installing the razor wire, in addition to bussing migrants to sanctuary cities as a political stunt, was an attempt by the state to stem the flow of people crossing the border.
- The Biden administration argued that the razor wire was preventing the agents from carrying out their duties. The state also placed buoys in the Rio Grande to prevent crossings, another issue over which the administration has sued. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh all sided with Governor Abbott.
Additional USA Reads
- Nearly 30,000 California State University workers set to strike (ABC)
- After endorsing Donald Trump, Tim Scott proposes to his girlfriend (USA Today)
- California Dems spend big on Senate race, when House seats are at risk (Politico)
- Trump hints at possible vice presidential pick (Axios)
- With Trump’s case in the balance, judge delays Fani Willis’ deposition in divorce case (ABC)
- Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina backs Donald Trump over Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican primary (AP)
Dunlap Dun Lost A Lot Of Money
- On Sunday, the PGA Tour announced a new champion – unfortunately, the new champ won’t be able to collect his $1.5 million prize pool. Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Alabama, won the American Express tour on Sunday, becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson’s 1991 win at the Northern Telecom Open, and the youngest to score a tour win since Chick Evans at the 1910 Western Open.
- The 20-year-old won the 72-hole tournament by just one stroke over Christiaan Bezuidenhout, a 29-year-old pro. But because he’s officially an amateur golfer, Dunlap won’t be able to collect the $1.5 million pot for winning first place – instead, all his winnings will go to Bezuidenhout.
- Regardless, the rising star was just happy to be there and celebrated his historic victory with friends and family at the event. “I went over a scenario for today probably a million times and it’s never going to go how you planned, and it didn’t,” Dunlap said. “I’m so happy to be standing here.”
Additional Reads
- Retrial set to begin for man who fatally shot ex-Saints star Will Smith after traffic collision (NBC)
- The effort behind getting the Blackfeet language taught on the tribe’s reservation (NPR)
- Winning images from 2023 Travel Photographer of the Year contest reveal world’s beauty and tragedy (CNN)
- Japan shuts down its SLIM moon lander in hopes it will restart someday (NPR)
- Former Upscale Hotelier Tries Comeback With New Brand Aimed at Gen Z (WSJ, $)
- $2.59 for burritos? Taco Bell receipt from 2012 has customers longing for bygone era (USA Today)