Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen billed midterms as all about China ...

Tainan, Taiwan CNN —

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has resigned as the leader of the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, after her party suffered heavy losses in mid-term elections.

The DPP’s losses in Saturday’s vote come as a heavy blow for Tsai as she had tried to frame the election – technically a local affair to choose city mayors, councilors and county chiefs – as a way to send a message against Beijing’s rising bellicosity toward the island.

Beijing has been increasingly assertive in its territorial claims over Taiwan in recent months, and in August launched large-scale military exercises around the island in response to a controversial visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

But Tsai’s appeal to link the issues appears to have done little to boost the fortunes of her party, which is often outperformed by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party in local ballots.

The KMT – which is widely seen as friendlier to Beijing and advocates greater economic ties with mainland China – is expected to win mayoral elections in 13 counties, according to Taiwan’s official Central News Agency. Tsai’s party, by comparison, is expected to win only five – one fewer than in the last local election.

“We humbly accept the results of the election and the decision of the people of Taiwan,” Tsai wrote on Facebook on Saturday night.

She added that she had already resigned as party chief to “fully bear the responsibilities”.

However, Tsai will remain as President. Her presidential term ends in 2024.

Domestic priorities

The result comes despite escalating rhetoric from Beijing. China’s leader Xi Jinping told a Communist Party meeting last month that “the wheels of history are rolling on towards China’s reunification” and that Beijing would never renounce the use of force to take Taiwan.

Analysts said the result showed voters were more focused on domestic issues like the economy and social welfare.

“Taiwanese voters have become desensitized to China’s military threat. And hence there isn’t quite as much of a perceived urgency to making the issue of survival front and center,” said Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australia National University’s Taiwan Studies Program.

“The DPP’s China threat card is facing diminishing marginal returns over time.”

That assessment tallied with the thoughts of voter Liao Su-han, an art curator from the central Nantou county who cast a ballot for the DPP but said Beijing’s recent actions were not a major factor in deciding her vote.

“China’s military threat has always been there, and it did not just begin this year,” she said.

“As Taiwanese, we are pretty used to China’s rhetoric that they want to invade us all the time, so [it] did not have a big impact on who I’m voting for.”

Eric Su, a 30-year-old account manager who lives in New Taipei City, said while he voted for Tsai in the presidential election, he supported a KMT candidate because they are stronger on local issues.

“In a presidential election, I consider more about global issues, because a president can influence our economy and international standing,” he said.

“In a mayoral election, I care more about what a candidate can bring to local residents, such as infrastructure planning and child subsidies.”

KMT: Friendlier to Beijing

The KMT, also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party, ruled over China between 1912 and 1949, when it retreated to Taiwan after losing a civil war to the Chinese Communist Party.

The KMT set up its own government on the island – having taken control of it from Japan after the second world war – while the Communist Party took control of mainland China. Ever since, the Communist Party has harbored ambitions of “reunification” with Taiwan – by force, if necessary.

When the KMT first fled to Taiwan, its then-president Chiang Kai-shek ruled the island with an iron fist and implemented decades of martial law to crack down on political dissent.

After decades of struggle by pro-democracy campaigners, Taiwan was gradually transformed from authoritarian rule into a democracy, and it held the first direct presidential election in 1996.

The KMT is now widely seen as friendlier to Beijing than the ruling DPP, and it accepts a so-called “1992 consensus”, a tacit understanding that both Taipei and Beijing acknowledge they belong to “one China”, but with different interpretations of what that entails.

Tsai, on the other hand, has refused to acknowledge the consensus. The position of her DPP is to defend Taiwan’s status quo as an independent government and expand its international space against an increasingly assertive Beijing.

Among the more notable victories in Friday’s mayoral races was that of Chiang Wan-an – the great-grandson of Chiang Kai-shek. He will become the next mayor of Taipei after beating the DPP’s Chen Shih-chung, who served as Taiwan’s health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement on Saturday night, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said the election results showed that most people in Taiwan valued “peace, stability and a good life”. It said Beijing will continue to “firmly oppose Taiwan independence and foreign interference.”

However, experts said the KMT’s victory did not necessarily reflect a shift in how Taiwan’s public viewed their relationship with mainland China.

“The election was voted on bread-and-butter issues, and I disagree that it signals a major impact on Taiwan’s cross-strait policies,” said J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based senior adviser for International Republican Institute.

“The outcome of this election is not reflective of what voters will be looking for in choosing the next president.”

Sung at Australia National University said it was too early to speculate over the KMT’s chances of winning the next presidential election in 2024, but felt this result had given it a boost.

“The KMT is now better positioned to be the (party) that unifies the opposition and attracts all the anti-status quo protest votes against the current administration,” he said.

Republican debate recap: Highlights as GOP candidates face off

Eight Republican presidential candidates battled Wednesday over Ukraine, abortion and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot as they gathered in Milwaukee for their first primary debate of the 2024 cycle.

With frontrunner Donald Trump absent, Vivek Ramaswamy took a lot of heat, with Mike Pence calling him a "rookie" and Chris Christie attacking him as an "amateur."

As other candidates criticized Ramaswamy’s lack of experience, the Republican entrepreneur said his business background was a better asset to lead a "revolution” and pitched himself as some who could offer a new generation of leadership.

Nikki Haley ripped into Ramaswamy for saying that the United States should cede eastern Ukraine to Putin. “You have no foreign policy experience and it shows,” she said.

Trump’s name finally came up about an hour into the debate: The candidates were asked : Would you support Trump if he is convicted? Most of the candidates raised their hands, while Christie raised an objection.

Would you support Trump if he is convicted? Most of the candidates raised their hands, while Christie raised an objection. Mike Pence got backup for the issue that has been the biggest weight on his candidacy: his refusal to interfere in the congressional counting of electoral college votes on Jan. 6, 2021 as Trump wanted.

Republican hopefuls make their pitch to voters

During a 14-minute discussion, most of the GOP candidates said they would still support Trump, even if he is convicted of crimes and still wins the Republican nomination. They also said GOP voters are tiring of all the drama surrounding the former president.

"We have to face the fact that Trump is the most disliked politician in America," said former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. "We can’t win a general election that way."

Two GOP candidates, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, again said that Trump's indictments disqualify him from leadership of the party or nation.

"Someone's got to stop normalizing this conduct," Christie said, drawing boos from the crowd at a sports arena in downtown Milwaukee.

On the stage in Milwaukee, most of the attacks went against businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, an upstart who has seen his poll numbers rise. Rivals like former Vice President Mike Pence hit Ramaswamy on his lack of government experience. Ramaswamy called than an asset.

DeSantis, who is second to Trump in many polls, emerged from the debate relatively unscathed, but had no memorable quotes. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum used the debate to promote their own platforms.

Some highlights from debate day:

Mike Pence and Vivek Ramaswamy spar about age on the debate stage

When asked whether an elected president should pass a mental or physical test if above a certain age, Pence, 64, said Americans can make their own judgment. But he added that the country doesn’t need a president who’s too old, or a president who’s too young.

Rather, he said that the country needs a president who’s been there and knows how the government works.

Vivek Ramaswamy, 38 and the youngest candidate on the debate stage, said that there needs to be a person of a different generation leading the country forward, and that he is the only candidate to do that.

−Sudiksha Kochi

Republican candidates push to eliminate Education Department

Several of the Republican candidates showed their support for eliminating the federal Department of Education.

“We need education in this country, not indoctrination in this country,” Ron DeSantis said.

Ramaswamy agreed that the Department of Education should be shut down and said he supports parents choosing where they send their kids to schools. He said he believes high school students should have to pass a civics test, like individuals in the process of becoming American citizens.

Doug Burgum, also in favor of removing the Department of Education, said the country forgets that education differs by state. He emphasized the need for schools to innovate.

Nikki Haley pushed for transparency in the classroom.

“There’s a lot of crazy, woke things happening in schools,” she said, later adding, “Parents need to be deciding which schools their kids go to because they know best.”

- Rachel Looker

'C'mon, man': Chris Christie doesn't like UFO question

The former governor of New Jersey took umbrage at a "lighting round" question on whether presidents should "level" with the American people about UFOs.

"I get the UFO question? C'mon, man," Christie told Fox News' Martha MacCallum.

He did answer the question by saying: “The job of the president of United States is to level with the American people about everything."

− David Jackson

Sparks fly over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence tore into entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy for saying he’d freeze the current lines of control in Ukraine in return for a promise from Russia that it would not form a military alliance with China.

Pence told Ramaswamy “if we do the giveaway that you want to” and give Putin eastern Ukraine, “it's not going to be too long” before he rolls across the border into a NATO nation.

“Ukraine is not a priority for the United States of America,” Ramaswamy argued, raising China as a bigger threat.

Haley argued that a win for Russia is a win for China and said Ukraine is the first line of defense.

“You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows,” Haley told Ramaswamy.

– Francesca Chambers

Other GOP candidates said Pence did the right thing on Jan. 6

Mike Pence got some back up for the issue that has been the biggest anchor on his candidacy: his refusal to interfere in the congressional counting of electoral college votes as Donald Trump wanted.

Asked if Pence did the right thing on Jan. 6, 2021, other candidates said he did – though it took longer for some to get there than others.

After Ron DeSantis tried to dodge the question, Pence said the American people deserve to know if everyone on stage would’ve done what he did.

“Answer the question,” Pence said.

“Mike did his duty,” DeSantis responded. “I’ve got no beef with him.”

Pence got his biggest backing from Chris Christie who said the former vice president stood up for the Constitution and deserves thanks, “not grudging credit.”

– Maureen Groppe

Vivek Ramaswamy says he would pardon Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s indictments over his handling of classified documents and the 2020 election have raised the question among his GOP rivals of whether they would pardon the former president if they're elected.

Vivek Ramaswamy said on the debate stage that he would pardon Trump, a position he has long held. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said she was "inclined in favor" of a pardon in an interview, though Haley noted that the discussions were still premature.

Former Vice President Mike Pence said pardons would only be appropriate to weigh if Trump was found guilty. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Trump’s two most vocal critics, have leaned against a pardon.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Nikki Haley targets Donald Trump's electability

During the 14-minute discussion of Donald Trump's legal problems, Nikki Haley was the only candidate who mentioned a political issue: His ability to win a general election.

"We have to face the fact that Trump is the most disliked politician in America," Haley said. "We can’t win a general election that way."

Trump will no doubt disagree with this assessment, but don't be surprised if other GOP candidates echo Haley's argument in the coming weeks.

− David Jackson

Donald Trump finally comes up: Most candidates will support him even if he is convicted, but not Chris Christie

The first Trump question came at 9:56 p.m., eastern, nearly an hour in: Would you support him if he is convicted?

Most of the candidates raised their hands, while Christie raised an objection.

"Someone's got to stop normalizing this conduct," Christie said, drawing boos from the crowd and criticism from Ramaswamy, who said the Justice Department is being weaponized against Trump.

Scott also criticized the Justice Department. So did DeSantis, though he said the party also needs to stop talking about this and look forward - presumably with him as president.

− David Jackson

Vivek Ramaswamy says we are in a "dark moment;" Mike Pence disagrees

Mike Pence and Vivek Ramaswamy went at it again, this time over the moral climate of the nation.

Pence bashed Ramaswamy over his negativity, saying "we just need government as good as our people."

Ramaswamy's reply: "It is not morning in America. We are living in a dark moment and we have to confront that," an apparent reference to former President Ronald Reagan.

− David Jackson

GOP lacks uniform abortion message

Nikki Haley and Mike Pence’s exchange on abortion shows the hopscotch Republicans have to deal with since the Supreme Court knocked down Roe v. Wade.

Six states have had reproductive rights questions on their ballot since then, and liberals have won all of those.

On the stage, most of the GOP contenders talked about a 15-week national ban being the standard, but Ron DeSantis talked up signing a 6-week ban in Florida. At one point Tim Scott, who often talks about his anti-abortion views, said that Congress should aim for a 15-week ban at least.

But others such as former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, don’t support a federal prohibition at all, saying it should be left up to the states.

Each touted how they are a “pro-life” candidate, but there isn’t a uniform standard.

— Phillip M. Bailey

Nikki Haley, Mike Pence tangle on abortion

Nikki Haley tried to argue to Republicans that they need to be honest with Americans when discussing a national abortion ban. Because any federal legislation will require 60 votes in the Senate, she said, party leaders should be trying to find a consensus on abortion issues, such as banning later abortions and agreeing not to jail women who get them.

Mike Pence, the strongest anti-abortion advocate on the stage, wasn’t having it.

“Nikki, you’re my friend,” Pence said, “but consensus is the opposite of leadership.”

Pence said abortion is not an issue for the states to decide.

“It’s a moral issue,” he said.

– Maureen Groppe

More than 45 minutes in − and no discussion of Donald Trump

After more than 45 minutes, the debate moderators, and the candidates, have yet to discuss a big campaign issue: Donald Trump.

Mike Pence made passing references to the president who put him on the ticket in 2016, but neither he nor his rivals mentioned Trump's indictments or big poll leads.

− David Jackson

Vivek Ramaswamy falsely claims climate change agenda is a hoax

Vivek Ramaswamy during the debate claimed that climate change is a hoax, but that is inaccurate.

There is a wide range of proof that climate change is real, including research on increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels and and decreasing Antarctic ice sheets.

Scientific data show warming has accelerated since the mid-20th century and that human activities have contributed to that trend.

− Sudiksha Kochi

Chris Christie on Vivek Ramaswamy: ‘A guy who sounds like ChatGPT’

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie didn’t hesitate to attack entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy after the candidates were asked whether they believe in climate change.

“I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like Chat GPT stand up here…” Christie said, interrupting Ramaswamy.

“The last person at one of these debates who stood in the middle of the stage and said, 'what’s a skinny guy with an odd last name doing here' was Barack Obama, and I’m afraid we’re dealing with the same type of amateur,” Christie added.

- Rachel Looker

Tim Scott tells opponents to stop being childish

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott sought to bring order to all the noise, telling colleagues that "going back and forth" and "being childish" will not help the American people.

His opponents are likely to continue being feisty.

− David Jackson

Haley draws attention to being sole woman on stage

As several of the candidates traded insults, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley saw a chance to draw attention to her status as the only woman on stage.

“This is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said, `If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman,’” Haley said.

– Maureen Groppe

No one has 'the sway': South Carolina young Republicans on the GOP debate

Pedro Mateo, 29, said he thinks the debate will be more about setting the stage for determining a vice president or even 2028 candidate.

“I don’t think anyone on the stage really has the sway to upend Trump,” Mateo said.

Mateo is the chairman of the political engagement committee for Young Greenville, a Republican club in South Carolina. He said regardless of who ultimately wins the nomination, he’ll support any candidate over the Democratic opponent.

− Savannah Kuchar

Vivek Ramaswamy takes heat from Mike Pence

So far, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is getting the most heat, with former Vice President Mike Pence attacking him for a lack of government experience.

After Pence called the rising Republican a "rookie," Ramaswamy said his business background is a better asset to lead a "revolution."

"We're just going to have some fun tonight," he said.

Later, several candidates hooted at Ramaswamy for claiming he is the only candidate not "bought and paid for." Chris Christie compared him to another guy with a "funny name:" Barack Obama.

− David Jackson

Nikki Haley comes out swinging

Whereas the other candidates played nice when they first spoke, Nikki Haley wasn’t having it.

The former South Carolina governor, who is the lone women running for the GOP nomination, drew first blood by attacking her rivals for supporting COVID-19 stimulus spending.

“The truth is that Biden didn't do this to us, our Republicans did this to us too,” she said.

Haley mentioned multiple candidates on the stage by name and Trump when slamming Republicans for raising the U.S. debt and supporting earmarks.

“You tell me who are the big spenders,” she said. “I think it’s time for an accountant in the White House.”

– Phillip M. Bailey

Ron DeSantis starts with an attack on Joe Biden

The moderators opened with a question about a song that bemoans the state of the nation. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used it as an excuse to bash President Joe Biden, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie followed suit.

The eight candidates on stage were quick to criticize Biden over a slate of economic issues, from inflation to job opportunities.

– David Jackson

The lineup: The candidates' positions on the stage - and the polls

The candidates were introduced in the order of their place in political polls: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

DeSantis and Ramaswamy are first and second, so they are in the center. They are flanked by Pence, Haley, Christie, Scott, Hutchinson and Burgum.

– David Jackson

Brian Kemp chides Donald Trump for skipping debate

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp remains one of the few popular Republicans who won’t spare Donald Trump a criticism.

Kemp, who is mentioned as a possible 2024 contender, trekked to Wisconsin for the first GOP debate. He said the former president, who remains the clear front-runner, is making a big mistake by not joining the discussion.

“Fight it out,” Kemp said on a podcast appearance.

— Phillip M. Bailey

New Hampshire voters turn to Republican debate: ‘I’d like to see how everybody conducts themselves’

Even though Kenneth Biel has narrowed down his vote for a few specific candidates in New Hampshire’s crucial first-in-the-nation primary, the debate he said, could sway him.

“I’m open to hearing somebody change my mind,” said the 47-year-old software engineer from Chester. Biel said he is eyeing former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. But if a different candidate has a standout performance, the debate could change his mind.

“I’d like to see how everybody conducts themselves,” Biel said, adding he’s open to “people who I disagree with.”

− Ken Tran

Will Donald Trump attend the Republican debate?

Former President Donald Trump will be skipping the first Republican primary debate, citing his lead in GOP polls.

The former president had previously hinted he would not attend the event in Milwaukee, saying he did not want to give trailing rivals free shots at him on a debate stage.

“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had," Trump said Sunday on his Truth Social platform, before adding: "I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”

Meanwhile, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson posted his taped interview of Trump on the X social media site at 8:55 p.m., eastern.

– Rachel Looker and David Jackson

Joe Biden's campaign mocks Donald Trump for ‘softball’ interview with Tucker Carlson

Ahead of Wednesday’s debate, the Biden campaign mocked former President Donald Trump for taking part in a “softball” interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that will air online simultaneously.

“In his softball 'interview' posting tonight, Donald Trump will again make clear that he’s running on the same extreme and deeply unpopular MAGA agenda the American people have rejected time and time again,” Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz said in a statement.

Munoz said that instead of explaining his “broken promises” to bring manufacturing jobs to Wisconsin, Trump will likely “double down on his most out-of-touch positions, including his support for wild, debunked conspiracy theories and a national abortion ban.”

The Biden campaign has circled the first Republican primary debate as an opportunity to ramp up their attacks against the GOP field after staying mostly quiet since Biden announced his reelection bid in April.

– Joey Garrison

Where do the Republican candidates stand on student loan forgiveness?

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive $400 billion in student loan debt, a move 2024 GOP candidates applauded.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley wrote on X that a president “cannot just wave his hand and eliminate loans for students he favors.” South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has supported legislation prohibiting Biden from cancelling student loan debt.

Likewise, biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also supported the court’s decision, sharing at the time: "We have a bad habit in America of paying people to do the exact opposite of what we want them to do."

− Sudiksha Kochi

Follow along as we fact-check the first Republican debate

Was that fair criticism or cherry-picked data? An accurate description or a baseless conspiracy theory?

The USA TODAY Fact Check Team will dig into key claims from the candidates as they make them during tonight’s Republican primary debate. Follow our live fact-check file as we dig through the data, documents and transcripts to sort fact from fiction.

Fact-checking the GOP debate: What the Republican candidate hopefuls get right and wrong

− Eric Litke

Bashing Biden: Democrat likely to be a GOP punching bag

GOP candidates will be eager to demonstrate they have the best chance of beating President Joe Biden in the general election.

A strategy memo put together by Ron DeSantis’ political action committee, which the candidate and his campaign have denounced, suggested the Florida governor focus his attacks on the Democratic president.

Debaters will need little prompting to criticize Biden, although entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and several others have said they intend to use the primetime event to introduce themselves to voters and make the case for their own candidacies. Vice President Kamala Harris is also likely to be a target. DeSantis has been sparring with Harris over slavery, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has been critical of the vice president’s record. Haley has made a point of arguing that if anything happens to Biden, who is 80, Harris would succeed him as president.

– Francesca Chambers

A crowd gathers in Milwaukee for Republican debate night

It's party time in Milwaukee: the Republican Party. As the debate approaches, ticket holders, Republican supporters and curious bystanders are enjoying the restaurant-and-bar areas near the city's sports arena.

Others have more organized activities.

More than 100 union members marched behind the arena, promoting labor rights and chanting "we are the union/the mighty, mighty union." Another chant included the line "Republicans hear our call!"

Down the avenue, an old-fashioned fife-and-drum corps led a group of Vivek Ramaswamy supporters dressed in Revolutionary War-era garb, topped by bonnets and tri-cornered hats, all in 99 degree weather.

Special guests gathered in the plaza right beside Fiserv Forum, the home of professional basketball's Milwaukee Bucks. Food trucks, television tents, and a bandstand dotted the "Block Party" hosted by Young America's Foundation, one of the debate sponsors.

− David Jackson

Donald Trump declared Republican debate victory hours ago

Hours before the first Republican presidential debate even began, Donald Trump’s campaign was claiming victory, mocking his rivals and the network hosting the event.

“President Trump has already won this evening’s debate because everything is going to be about him,” Chris LaCivita, who serves as a campaign senior adviser, said in a statement Wednesday.

LaCivita added how Fox News hosts will "show an unnatural obsession" with Trump by asking the other GOP contenders their reaction to the front-runner's policy positions. He said the campaign will even be looking for how many times the former president's name is brought up.

“In fact, tonight’s Republican undercard event really shouldn’t even be called a debate, but rather an audition to be a part of President Trump’s team in his second term," he said.

— Phillip M. Bailey

Vivek Ramaswamy Googled most, Mike Pence least before Republican debate

Which candidate were Googlers most curious about leading up to the debate? That would be political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy.

He was the subject of 40% of searches for candidates by name this past week, according to Google. Former President Donald Trump was next at 33%.

Then there was a drop-off in interest with everyone else appearing in no more than 10% of searches.

Mike Pence, Trump’s former running mate, was last at 1%.

– Maureen Groppe

Which Republican candidates go beyond bashing Biden over inflation?

When the candidates go after Joe Biden on the debate stage tonight, there’s a good chance they’ll bring up inflation. Although price increases have cooled over the past year, pocketbooks are still pinched and Republicans love to blame Biden.

Some of the candidates have been more specific than others about what they would do differently.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has an entire “Ending Inflation” plan that includes specific spending cuts, such as eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency. Both Pence and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy want to change how the Federal Reserve manages the economy.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has backed a proposal to bar Congress from passing any legislation that would increase inflation when the inflation rate is 4.5% or higher.

– Maureen Groppe

How have the GOP candidates prepared for the Republican debate?

From the tennis courts – entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy called his tennis practice this week “three hours of solid debate prep” – to the basketball courts – North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum tore his Achilles tendon while playing basketball. GOP candidates employed a range of tactics to prepare for the debate.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis brought in debate coach Brett O’Donnell, who has experience prepping former President George W. Bush, former Arizona Sen. John McCain and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney for debates.

Others like former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley relied on their prior political experience, with Pence falling back on the way he approached one-on-one vice presidential debates in 2016 and 2020 and Haley relying on her experience from 80 town halls she held in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Sen. Tim Scott will likely lean into his faith and role as the "nice guy” in the race. Scott campaign spokesperson Nichole Morales told USA TODAY earlier this week he “will share his positive, conservative message on the debate stage in Milwaukee.”

– USA TODAY staff

Fact-checking the GOP debate:What the Republican candidate hopefuls got right and wrong

Conservative advocacy groups descend on Milwaukee before presidential debate

The Republican presidential campaigns aren't the only political organizations in town for the debate − advocacy groups are also hanging around the city's pro basketball arena promoting their issues.

Economic conservatives, like the Club For Growth, and social conservatives, like the Faith & Freedom Coalition are represented in Milwaukee to lobby lawmakers and candidates, many of whom they back with money and voter turnout.

"We want to make sure they hear what our message is," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

It's not just conservative groups taking advantage of the big political event.

Death Penalty Action, which describes itself as the only national organization strictly focused on stopping the death penalty, is also in town solicitating support for a national ban on capital punishment.

− David Jackson

What to know ahead of the debate: Here's where candidates stand on China, potential invasion of Taiwan

Republicans agree on what they argue is an urgent need to combat the military and economic threat from China. But that’s where their agreement on the issue ends.

The United States has traditionally had a policy of strategic ambiguity on whether it would send troops to Taiwan to defend the island in the face of a Chinese invasion. Former Vice President Mike Pence supports this policy and says the U.S. should keep providing Taiwan with military assistance.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has described China as the “most dangerous foreign threat we face since the second world war” and said it’s clear that Beijing is preparing for war. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he would do everything he could to avoid using the U.S. military against China, “but if it was unavoidable, I would do what needs to be done.”

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy says he would aggressively defend Taiwan – but only until the U.S. has semiconductor independence, which he has pledged to do by 2028. At that point, he said, would not risk war for “some nationalistic dispute between China and Taiwan.”

– Francesca Chambers

GOP candidates who won't be at presidential debate blast polling requirement

GOP candidates Larry Elder and Perry Johnson announced on Tuesday that they planned to sue the Republican National Committee after not making the debate stage.

Elder alleged on X that the RNC notified him after he turned in his debate qualification package that one of the polls he cited would not count. Johnson’s campaign also sent an email claiming that the committee had rejected him because they weren’t accepting certain polls.

GOP candidate Francis Suarez said on X that his campaign also faced a similar issue on Monday night, though he added that he respects the rules set forth by the RNC.

“I am sorry that this debate will not include my perspectives from the largest growing voting block in our country - young, conservative Hispanics,” Suarez wrote.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Flying the flag: Donald Trump aides, supporters and surrogates swarm presidential debate site

Donald Trump himself may not be in Milwaukee, but Trump World has a definite presence at the debate site.

Surrogates like U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., are out and about, giving television interviews promoting their favorite absent candidate. Trump campaign aides are also milling about the area around the Fiserv Forum and speaking to reporters.

Everyday supporters have also flocked to downtown Milwaukee, despite temperatures in excess of 90 degrees, adorned in red or white Trump t-shirts and carrying signs. Part of their job, apparently: Wave the signs while standing behind television correspondents during live shots.

– David Jackson

Planned Parenthood highlights Mike Pence, Tim Scott and other GOP candidates’ position on abortion

Planned Parenthood launched this week its first ad in the 2024 presidential campaign, highlighting what five of the GOP candidates have said about abortion.

The first clip is of former Vice President Mike Pence, who has for decades tried to end government funding for Planned Parenthood and has taken the strongest anti-abortion stand in the 2024 field.

“Every Republican candidate for president should support a ban on abortion,” Pence says in the clip.

The ad is running on social media and in Wisconsin.

– Maureen Groppe

Ukraine war a pressure point for the GOP field

The Ukraine war could prove to be fertile ground for the large group of presidential hopefuls to differentiate themselves.

Support for U.S. military assistance to Ukraine is flagging inside the GOP electorate with Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army making slow progress. Still, any suggestion that Ukraine is at fault for Russia’s violation of its sovereignty is likely to drive away establishment Republican voters.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ description of the conflict as a “territorial dispute” helped fuel his decline, even though he later backtracked the comment and called Putin a “war criminal.” Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has also come under scrutiny for his views, including a proposal to allow Putin to keep parts of eastern Ukraine.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence are among the candidates who say that stopping Putin is vital to U.S. national security and helps to deter Chinese aggression toward Taiwan.

– Francesca Chambers

Asa Hutchinson, Chris Christie and other GOP candidates weigh in on Trump's indictments

Former President Donald Trump’s indictments in both federal and state criminal cases have led some of his rivals to defend him, while others have sharply criticized him over the charges.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott have condemned the indictments on the campaign trail. Meanwhile, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum have largely dodged questions about his criminal cases.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have been some of Trump's most vocal critics, particularly after he was indicted for allegedly trying to steal the 2020 election from President Joe Biden. After Trump's federal indictment over the 2020 election, former Vice President Mike Pence said anyone who puts themselves above the Constitution should not be president.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Vivek Ramaswamy: The newcomer on the presidential debate stage

Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has faced scrutiny in recent days over conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attack, something his rivals could use to their advantage during the debate.

In an interview on CNN earlier this week, Ramaswamy claimed he was misquoted in an article about his 9/11 comments, though that wasn’t the case according to a recording released later.

Ramaswamy, a Trump-loving candidate who embraces meritocracy and anti-wokeness, has previously drawn scrutiny over comments on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, Juneteenth and more.

– Rachel Looker and Sudiksha Kochi

Conservative Supreme Court could factor into GOP debate

Seven years ago, during the first GOP debate of the 2016 election, the Supreme Court was criticized by several candidates.

“It's time that we recognize the Supreme Court is not the supreme being,” then candidate Mike Huckabee quipped.

What a difference a few years makes.

The nation’s highest court, which today is more conservative than it has been in decades, has already factored into the GOP primary. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump have swiped at each other over whether the bench is conservative enough. Last month, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy released a list of candidates he said he would nominate to the court, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah.

– John Fritze

President Biden hopes to watch ‘as much as I can’ of Republican debate

President Joe Biden is among the millions of Americans expected to tune in to tonight’s Republican primary debate.

“I’m going to try to see — get as much as I can, yes,” Biden, who is vacationing in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, told reporters when asked if he plans to watch the debate.

Asked about his expectations, Biden smiled and laughed. “I have none,” he said.

While Republican frontrunner Donald Trump skips out on the debate in Milwaukee, Biden’s reelection campaign is going on the offensive during the event.

The Biden campaign launched a $25 million television ad blitz to coincide with the first Republican debate and dispatched surrogates to Milwaukee as Democrats seek to paint the eight Republicans on the debate stage as part of an extreme “MAGA” Republican Party.

– Joey Garrison

Donald Trump opts for interview with Tucker Carlson

Trump may not be on the stage in Milwaukee, but he is expected to weigh in on the proceedings.

A pre-taped interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is scheduled to be posted at 9 p.m., eastern, the same time as the debate.

Trump - who has also threatened to skip a second GOP debate scheduled for Sept. 27 in California - will likely comment on whatever happens in Milwaukee on Truth Social.

“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had," Trump said Sunday on his social media platform, before adding: "I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”

- Rachel Looker and David Jackson

Trump, absent from the debate, remains frontrunner in GOP primary polls

Former President Donald Trump is still leading the polls for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, according to an average calculated by RealClearPolitics.

He has garnered 55.4% in an average of polls, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trails behind him with 14.3%. Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is in third with 7.2%, and former Vice President Mike Pence leads behind with 4% of support.

In line after those candidates are former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Trump aides are all over media set-ups outside the debate venue in Milwaukee, promoting those polls and proclaiming the race all but over. “You can’t stop the Trump Train,” senior adviser Jason Miller said.

– Sudiksha Kochi and David Jackson

Doug Burgum rushed to emergency room a day before the GOP debate

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, 67, was rushed to a Milwaukee emergency room on Tuesday after he tore his Achilles tendon while playing basketball. He is currently using crutches.

However, he will still be on the debate stage, according to a post he shared on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

Burgum, who did an early afternoon “walk through” said he wants to debate. A candidate with little name recognition, Burgum previously told USA TODAY his focus in the debate will be to introduce himself to Americans.

– Francesca Chambers,David Jackson and Sudiksha Kochi

Democrats look to get in a word at the Republican debate

Democratic Party officials are also zeroing in on the Milwaukee debate, trying to promote their messages in favor of President Joe Biden.

Speakers are doing national and local media hits, arguing that the Republicans are too extreme and too beholden to the missing debater, Donald Trump.

Democrats also have paid advertising on local and national media, as well as billboards on highways surrounding Milwaukee. The signs feature Biden answering various Republican proposals.

One section of the billboard says "tax cuts for yacht owners?" Biden's response: "Good luck with that, champ."

– David Jackson

GOP debate location: Why it's in Milwaukee

The debate will take place at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is one of several swing states that could decide the presidency in 2024. Out of the last six presidential elections, four have been decided by less than one percentage point in Wisconsin.

The debate will be held ahead of the Republican National Convention, which is also set to take place in the city next year.

– Rachel Looker

How can you watch the Republican debate?

The first Republican primary debate is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern.

The debate, hosted by Fox News, will air on Fox News Channel as well as Fox Business Network. It will also be streamed at foxnews.com and on the streaming service Fox National as well as on Rumble, an online streaming platform.

– Rachel Looker

Who is in the Republican debate tonight?

The Republican National Committee formally announced that eight GOP candidates will take the debate stage Wednesday.

- Rachel Looker, David Jackson

What time is the GOP debate?

The debate is scheduled for 9 p.m. Eastern time. It's set to last two hours until 11 p.m. Eastern time.

– Rachel Looker

Rep.-elect George Santos admits to lying about bio, but says he still ...

CNN —

GOP Rep.-elect George Santos of New York admitted in two separate interviews on Monday to lying about parts of his resume but claimed that he hasn’t committed any crimes and intends to serve in Congress.

Santos has faced scrutiny over discrepancies in his employment and education history, as well as other public claims he has made about his biography. In interviews with WABC radio and the New York Post – the first times Santos has spoken publicly about the controversy – he acknowledged that he had fabricated some facts.

“I am not a criminal. Not here, not abroad, in any jurisdiction in the world have I ever committed any crimes,” Santos said in an interview with WABC radio host John Catsimatidis.

“To get down to the nit and gritty, I’m not a fraud. I’m not a criminal who defrauded the entire country and made up this fictional character and ran for Congress. I’ve been around a long time. I mean, a lot of people know me. They know who I am. They’ve done business dealings with me,” he added.

“I’m not going to make excuses for this, but a lot of people overstate in their resumes, or twist a little bit. … I’m not saying I’m not guilty of that,” he said.

Santos also admitted that he never worked directly for the financial firms Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, as he has previously suggested, but claimed that he did do work for them through his company, telling the New York Post it was a “poor choice of words” to say he worked for them.

He also told the Post that he didn’t graduate from any college or university, despite claiming he had degrees from Baruch College and New York University.

Video Ad Feedback Reporter who broke the inconsistencies of GOP Rep.-elect Santos' resume says there's more to explore 06:35 - Source: CNN

“I didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning. I’m embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my resume,” he told the Post, adding that he owns up to that and that “we do stupid things in life.”

He told WABC, “I want to make sure that if I disappointed anyone by resume embellishment, I am sorry.”

The New York Times first revealed last week that Santos’ biography appeared to be partly fictional. CNN confirmed details of that reporting, including about his college education and employment history.

CNN’s KFile also reported last week that claims by Santos that his grandparents “survived the Holocaust” as Ukrainian Jewish refugees from Belgium who changed their surname are contradicted by sources including family trees compiled by genealogy websites, records on Jewish refugees and interviews with multiple genealogists. A lawyer for Santos had declined to comment to CNN.

“I never claimed to be Jewish,” Santos told the Post. “I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was ‘Jew-ish.’”

Santos had said he was “very proud” of his “Jewish heritage” as recently as a late November 2022 appearance with the Jewish News Syndicate.

CNN has reached out to House GOP leadership and the National Republican Congressional Committee in the wake of Santos’ admissions. House GOP leadership was silent amid last week’s revelations. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy would not answer CNN’s questions Thursday when asked if he was concerned about apparent misrepresentations.

Santos defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman in a newly drawn district covering parts of Queens and some nearby Long Island suburbs, flipping control to Republicans, who dominated the New York suburbs on their way to winning a House majority.

It was Santos’ second run – he lost to Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi in 2020 – and most of the criticism he faced during his recent campaign centered on his attendance of former President Donald Trump’s rally in Washington on January 6, 2021, and a video in which he claimed to have written a “nice check” to help alleged rioters with their legal fees.

This story has been updated with additional context.

Biden says US would respond 'militarily' if China attacked Taiwan ...

Tokyo CNN —

President Joe Biden said Monday that the United States would intervene militarily if China attempts to take Taiwan by force, a warning that appeared to deviate from the deliberate ambiguity traditionally held by Washington.

The White House quickly downplayed the comments, saying they don’t reflect a change in US policy. It’s the third time in recent months – including during a CNN town hall in October – that Biden has said the US would protect Taiwan from a Chinese attack, only to have the White House walk back those remarks.

During a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, Biden was asked if the US would be willing to go further to help Taiwan in the event of an invasion than it did with Ukraine.

“You didn’t want to get involved in the Ukraine conflict militarily for obvious reasons. Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that?” a reporter asked.

“Yes,” Biden replied. “That’s the commitment we made.”

“We agree with the One China policy. We signed on to it, and all the attendant agreements made from there, but the idea that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is (just not) appropriate,” he said.

Under the “One China” policy, the US acknowledges China’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never officially recognized Beijing’s claim to the self-governing island of 23 million. The US provides Taiwan defensive weapons, but has remained intentionally ambiguous on whether it would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack.

Video Ad Feedback Biden's balancing act amid tensions between mainland China and Taiwan 02:41 - Source: CNN

Biden’s strong warning was made right on China’s doorstep during his first trip to Asia as President. The visit is aimed at uniting allies and partners to counter China’s rising influence. It also came a day before Biden is scheduled to attend the second in-person summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) – an informal grouping between the US, Japan, Australia and India that has alarmed Beijing.

Several of Biden’s top administration officials were caught off-guard by the remarks, several aides told CNN, adding that they were not expecting Biden to be so unequivocal.

In a statement following Biden’s comments, a White House official said the US’ official position remained unchanged.

“As the President said, our policy has not changed. He reiterated our One China policy and our commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He also reiterated our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself,” the official said.

Within hours, China had expressed its “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to Biden’s comments, saying it will not allow any external force to interfere in its “internal affairs.”

“On issues concerning China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and other core interests, there is no room for compromise,” said Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

“We urged the US side to earnestly follow the One China principle … be cautious in words and deeds on the Taiwan issue, and not send any wrong signal to pro-Taiwan independence and separatist forces — so it won’t cause serious damage to the situation across the Taiwan Strait and China-US relations.”

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian added, “We urge the US to stop saying or doing anything in violation of the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués. … Those who play with fire will certainly burn themselves.”

Taiwan lies fewer than 110 miles (177 kilometers) off the coast of China. For more than 70 years the two sides have been governed separately, but that hasn’t stopped China’s ruling Communist Party from claiming the island as its own — despite having never controlled it.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has said that “reunification” between China and Taiwan is inevitable and refused to rule out the use of force. Tensions between Beijing and Taipei are at the highest they’ve been in recent decades, with the Chinese military sending record numbers of war planes near the island.

Joanne Ou, a spokesperson for Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CNN that it “expresses sincere welcome and gratitude to President Biden and the United States government for reiterating its rock solid commitment to Taiwan.”

Biden compares potential invasion of Taiwan to Ukraine war

Biden on Monday compared a potential invasion of Taiwan by China to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, warning, “It will dislocate the entire region,” and emphasizing “Russia has to pay a long-term price for its actions.”

“And the reason I bother to say this, not just about Ukraine – if, in fact, after all (Russian President Vladimir Putin has) done, there’s a rapprochement … between the Ukrainians and Russia, and these sanctions are not continued to be sustained in many ways, then what signal does that send to China about the cost of attempting, attempting to take Taiwan by force?”

Biden said that China is “already flirting with danger right now by flying so close and all the maneuvers they’re undertaking.”

“But the United States is committed, we made a commitment, we support the One China policy, we support all we’ve done in the past, but that does not mean, it does not mean that China has the ability, has the, excuse me, jurisdiction to go in and use force to take over Taiwan,” he added.

At the press conference, Kishida also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

“Attempts to change the status quo by force, like Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, should never be tolerated in the Indo-Pacific, above all, in East Asia,” he said.

“As the regional security environment becomes increasingly severe, I reaffirmed with President Biden that we need to speedily strengthen the deterrence and response of the Japan-US alliance,” he said, adding that he conveyed his determination to “fundamentally strengthen Japan’s defense capability.”

This story has been updated with additional reporting and reaction.

Kevin Liptak Donald Judd Nectar Gan
Kevin Liptak
Donald Judd
Nectar Gan

Republican debate replay: Barbs fly during raucous 3rd GOP face-off

Republican presidential candidates faced off in Miami, Florida, during the third GOP primary debate on issues ranging from foreign policy to abortion rights and Social Security.

The Republican National Committee announced that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott all qualified for the third debate, a smaller crowd from the previous two events.

Former President Donald Trump skipped the debate, citing his major lead in state and national polls. The former president has also said he wouldn’t sign the Republican “Beat Biden” pledge to support a GOP nominee, even if it isn't him.

Catch up with USA TODAY's live coverage of the third Republican primary debate here.

Closing arguments: GOP candidates vow to wage 'war' on the nation's problems

The Republican candidates made their final arguments by employing a variety of martial metaphors.

DeSantis: Pledged to reverse the nation's "decline" and said he is the one Republican candidate who can win a general election against President Joe Biden.

Haley: "The world is on fire" in the Middle East and Ukraine, and she is part of a new generation who can move the country forward.

Ramaswamy: Pledged to win the "war" with the "deep state" and other anti-American forces. He also called on Biden to exit the race, though the president is unlikely to take the advice.

Christie: Said he wants to address the "divisions" in American society. He did not mention Trump, whom he has blamed for fostering those divisions.

Scott: Said he would address the nation's "cultural and spiritual" crisis, and fight "the war for Christian conservative values."

– David Jackson

Republican candidates pledge to fight opioid crisis, increase surveillance of southern border

GOP candidates said they would beef up the technology at the southern border to fight fentanyl trafficking.

Tim Scott said he would impose stricter surveillance at the border to keep the synthetic drug out and prevent overdose deaths, and Chris Christie, a former U.S. attorney, said he would sign an executive order on his first day in office to send the National Guard to partner with “overwhelmed” Customs and Border Protection officers at ports of entry.

Ron DeSantis said he would declare the opioid crisis a national emergency his first day in office and would send the U.S. military to the border.

“And I’m even going to build the border wall and have Mexico pay for it like Donald Trump promised,” he said.

He also issued a warning to members of the cartels who try to sneak drugs across the border: “We’re going to shoot them stone cold dead.”

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said the crisis is closer to “bioterrorism” and warrants a “more aggressive” means of response. He pledged to use the U.S. military to seal the southern border.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said that she would send special operations in to “take out the cartels” but said the U.S. must also go to the source of the drug’s creation. She pledged to end normal trade relations with China until the drug flow stops.– Francesca Chambers

Ramaswamy: ‘I’m upset’ after Ohio passes abortion rights ballot measure

Ramaswamy said he was upset by the outcome of the Ohio ballot measure on Tuesday where voters passed a constitutional amendment that enshrines abortion rights in the state constitution.

“Why it’s back to that Republican culture of losing? The Republicans did not have an alternative amendment or vision on the table,” he said.

Ramaswamy said the missing piece of the abortion movement is "sexual responsibility for men."

“It’s not men’s rights versus women’s rights, it’s about human rights,” he said.

- Rachel Looker

Nikki Haley on abortion: 'We don’t need to divide America over this issue anymore'

Haley said she considers herself pro-life, but that she believes abortion is “a personal issue for every woman and every man.”

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade corrected a wrong and returned the decision to the states, she said during Wednesday's debate.

She urged her competitors to “be honest” that passing a federal ban on abortions would require 60 votes in the Senate, which could not happen given the political makeup of the upper chamber.

Instead, policymakers should focus on things they can agree on, she said, such as banning late-term abortions, making birth control accessible, and ensuring women don’t go to jail for getting an abortion.

“We don’t need to divide America over this issue anymore,” she said.

Later asked whether she would sign a 15-week ban on abortions, she said: “I would support anything that would pass.”

– Riley Beggin

Trump - and his followers - mock Republican debaters

As Republican rivals debated in Miami, Trump mocked them in a speech to followers in nearby Hialeah.

Standing in front of thousands of people is "a hell of a lot harder to do than a debate," Trump told the crowd at one point.

Meanwhile, at the debate hall in Miami, some fans began a pro-Trump chant before an organizer told them to stop.

– David Jackson

DeSantis goes after Congress over Social Security

Commenting on Social Security’s looming insolvency, DeSantis went after Congress and accused lawmakers of taking “money from Social Security.”

It is unclear what DeSantis was specifically alluding to, but it was possible the Florida Governor took aim at Congress borrowing funds from the Social Security Trust Fund. Congress, DeSantis said, has “a lot of dirty hands” on the social safety net.

As president, DeSantis said he would “will force Congress to stop spending so much money,” he said.

– Ken Tran

Haley hits DeSantis over Social Security

The federal debt and Social Security drew out another dispute between Haley and DeSantis.

DeSantis said he can "shore up" Social Security by curbing inflation and growing the economy. He did not propose any changes to the popular program itself.

Haley said the growing federal debt requires changes to Social Security and other entitlement programs, though they should be applied only to younger people who are years away from retirement.

She also chided DeSantis and other candidates for ignoring the problem.

"Any candidate that tells you they're not going to take on entitlements is not being serious," Haley said.

– David Jackson

Republican candidates answer first economy question

The first question on the state of the economy came over an hour into the debate. Tim Scott said as president, he would lead the country to use its own resources first before turning to other countries, like China.

He pointed to the important role of energy in the economy, with Christie agreeing.

“Energy is the key to bringing this down... we need to do that first and foremost. That’s the short-term answer,” Christie said.

DeSantis said on day one as president, he would rip up any regulations or executive orders related to Bidenomics, a slogan the president uses for his economic agenda.

“I’ve heard from multiple people the same story,” DeSantis said. “When they go grocery shopping, what they now do is figure out what they have to take out of the cart once it’s ringing up because it rings up so much faster and so much higher at the cash register that they can’t afford the full cart of groceries anymore,” he said.

Ramaswamy had a simple answer on the economy: Increase the supply of everything—from energy to labor.

– Rachel Looker

DeSantis and Haley clash over fracking and the 'Green New Deal'

DeSantis' pledge to "repeal the Green New Deal" on the "Day One" prompted another battle with his top rival Haley, who questioned his commitment to more energy development.

"You banned fracking," Haley told the Florida governor.

DeSantis has said he supports fracking-style oil and gas drilling, but doesn't think it's a good idea in the Florida Everglades.

– David Jackson

Haley told Ramaswamy ‘you’re just scum’ after he mentioned her daughter

When asked if he supports a TikTok ban, Ramaswamy entered into a heated exchange with Haley pointing to how the former UN ambassador previously made fun of him for joining the platform to campaign. He accused Haley of allowing her daughter to use TikTok while at the same time she criticized his use of the platform.

“You might want to take care of your family first,” he said.

“Leave my daughter out of your voice,” Haley replied, later interrupting Ramaswamy to add: “You’re just scum.”

– Rachel Looker

Republican candidates all say they will ban TikTok

All of the candidates on stage pledged to ban TikTok, claiming it helps China spy on the United States. In doing so, it created another chance for the White House hopefuls to attack each other over China policy in general..

DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy all said they would be tougher on China and that the others have been too reticent about the threat posed by the Chinese.

Christie used the TikTok question to attack Trump, saying he should have banned the app when he was president.

TikTok "is China trying to further divide the United States of America," Christie said.

– David Jackson

Candidates spar over funding for Ukraine

Americans are frustrated by a lack of accountability for how money is being spent by Ukraine, Tim Scott said.

Scott said a $106 billion funding package that President Joe Biden proposed, which included $61.4 billion to support Ukraine, is the “wrong approach” and the U.S. should focus on providing Israel with the $14.3 billion that he requested.

Hitting Biden over the request, Ron DeSantis took issue to the U.S. funding Ukrainian pensions, calling it a “totally ridiculous use” of Americans’ taxpayer dollars.

Vivek Ramaswamy accused Ukraine hawks of “quietly coming around” to his “more cautious” position on Ukraine and assailed Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “Nazi” and anti-democratic for saying it would not hold elections next year amid the war.

He invoked Nikki Haley, who responded by saying that the presidents of Russia and China are “salivating at the thought that someone like that could become president.” Haley, a former U.N. ambassador, said the U.S. should give Ukraine the equipment they need to win.

Chris Christie said that helping Ukraine is the price that America pays to be leader of the free world.

“We must stand with all of those that are standing up for democracy and freedom in this world,” the former New Jersey governor said.

– Francesca Chambers

Haley, DeSantis and Ramaswamy mix it up over China policy

The first DeSantis-Haley dispute came over China.

DeSantis stressed that Florida has banned sales of land to China; Haley noted that DeSantis' government used to do plenty of business with China.

DeSantis, and Ramaswamy, also hit Haley for going soft on China during her years as U.N. ambassador.

Christie admonished DeSantis, Ramaswamy, and Haley: "These three in the middle think they are the enemy ... I know that China is the enemy."– David Jackson

Vivek Ramaswamy: Israel has the right to defend itself, and we will both 'smoke those terrorists'

Ramaswamy, who in the past has suggested cutting off aid to Israel, stayed away from that issue tonight and instead said that "Israel has the right and the responsibility to defend itself."

The businessman also said he would tell Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he should "smoke those terrorists on his southern border, and as president, I'd smoke those terrorists on our southern border."

– David Jackson

Republican candidates decry anti-Semitism on college campuses

Matthew Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, asked the candidates what they would say to Jewish students on college campuses who feel unsafe due to anti-Semitism.

Ramaswamy said “anti-Semitism is a symptom of a deeper cancer” and said it would be solved with “leadership not censorship.” Meanwhile, Scott suggested federal funding for universities and visas for foreign students could be revoked if they do not show sufficient support for Israel. He said to foreign students who are “encouraging Jewish genocide” that he “would deport you from those campuses.”

DeSantis said he was the first presidential candidate to make that promise and said that the state of Florida took funding away for groups like Students for Justice in Palestine under his leadership.

Christie recalled his time leading New Jersey following Sept. 11, 2001, protecting synagogues and mosques with police presence. “We developed fabulous relationships with Muslim Americans across the State of New Jersey and we stopped any hate crimes” against Muslims or Jews, he said. “You must work with both sides.”

Haley said college leaders should not treat antiSemitism as less dangerous than racism: “If the KKK were doing this, every college president would be up in arms. This is no different.”

– Riley Beggin

Who is running for president in 2024?

Though five Republican White House hopefuls are on stage tonight, they're not the only GOP presidential candidates.

Here are the Republicans running for president next year:

Donald Trump

Nikki Haley

Vivek Ramaswamy

Asa Hutchinson

Ryan Binkley

Tim Scott

Ron DeSantis

Chris Christie

Doug Burgum

– Marina Pitofsky

Tim Scott on Israel-Hamas war: ‘Cannot negotiate with evil’

Scott described his foreign policy as simple on the debate state Tuesday night when asked what he would tell Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“You cannot negotiate with evil. You have to destroy it,” he said.

Scott added that he would emphasize to President Joe Biden that “diplomacy only is a weak strategy” and that “appeasement leads to war.”

- Rachel Looker

Ramaswamy: Haley is Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels

Vivek Ramaswamy went on the offense against Nikki Haley minutes into the third debate – lobbing a personal insult at the only female candidate on the stage.

Before the former U.N. ambassador could attack him, as she has done in previous debates, he compared her foreign policy views to those of former Republican vice president Dick Cheney as the candidates discussed Israel.

“Do you want a leader from a different generation, who’s going to put this country first? Or do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels?” he asked.

Haley told him later that she wears “5-inch heels” before adding, “And I don’t wear them unless you can run in them.”

“I wear heels, they’re not for a fashion statement, they’re for ammunition,” Haley said.

– Francesca Chambers

DeSantis to Netanyahu: “Finish the job once and for all” as Israel-Hamas war continues

Asked what he would advise Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do following Hamas’ capture and killing of Israelis on Oct. 7, DeSantis said he would advise him to “finish the job once and for all.”

DeSantis said they are “terrorists” that would like to “wipe every Jew off the globe.” Israel has been

He called upon Hamas to release the remaining hostages and surrender and said he’s “sick” of hearing people “blame Israel just for defending itself.”

– Riley Beggin

Vivek Ramaswamy, GOP candidates reflect on disappointing off-year elections: ‘Party of losers’

On the debate stage, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy lamented the string of losses Republicans have suffered in recent elections.

“I’m sick of Republicans losing,” DeSantis said, arguing he could end the GOP’s losing streak as the party nominee, arguing he brought the party a “landslide victory” in Florida in the 2022 midterms.

Ramaswamy on the other hand, pinned the blame on Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel for their losses, calling the GOP a “party of losers” and said the party is failing to bring more voters into the Republican fold.

– Ken Tran

GOP candidates: We would be better candidates than Trump

The first question is to all the candidates about Trump - why are you a better candidate than him?

DeSantis said he has done the things Trump talks about - and is insulting voters by refusing to debate.

Haley said Trump spent too much money when he was president; added that he was good for his time, but "I don't think he's the right president now."

Ramaswamy also said that time has passed Trump by, and the Republicans have become "a party of losers." He also complained about the NBC moderators, saying they should not be doing a Republican debate."

Christie, as he often does, said Trump's legal issues make him ineligible to be president again, and the former president is too busy trying to "stay out of jail."

Scott questioned whether Trump can win a general election.

– David Jackson

Who are the GOP debate moderators? Kristen Welker, Lester Holt and Hugh Hewitt

"Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker, "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt and radio host Hugh Hewitt will moderate the third GOP primary debate Wednesday night.

– Anthony Robledo

Where to watch the Republican debate tonight: Channel, time and more

The third Republican primary debate will air live on NBC on Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST as stated. The debate will also stream on NBC News NOW and NBCNews.com.

– Anthony Robledo

Where to stream Republican debate

As with the other two debates, the Republican National Committee has partnered with Rumble — a video-sharing platform popular with some conservatives — to livestream this one, in lieu of the network’s YouTube channel.

RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said earlier this year this was a decision aimed toward “getting away from Big Tech.”

But NBC says the event will air on its television, streaming and digital platforms, including streaming on NBCNews.com.

– Associated Press

Will Tim Scott target Donald Trump on the Republican debate stage?

Matt Gorman, a senior communications adviser for Tim Scott, told NBC News that the Republican debate might be a "slugfest" between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis.

"Unlike either of them, Donald Trump didn't make our political careers," Gorman added.

The adviser added that Scott hasn't been shy about going after his GOP rivals on abortion, Israel's ongoing war with Hamas and other contentious issues on the campaign trail.

– Marina Pitofsky

Debate lineup: Ron DeSantis in the middle; flanked by Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy

Thanks to his relatively high poll numbers, Ron DeSantis is the candidate in the middle of the five-person stage in Miami.

The Florida governor is flanked by his closest competitors, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy.

The lowest polling candidates, Chris Christie and Tim Scott, are at either end of the group.

– David Jackson

Why is Trump not at the Republican debate?

To no surprise, former president Donald Trump will not attend the third GOP primary debate in Miami.

Instead the Republican frontrunner will hold a rally Wednesday night at a stadium in Hialeah, Florida, just about a half-hour drive from the debate stage in the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.

− Anthony Robledo

How long is tonight's Republican debate?

The third Republican debate will last from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s being moderated by NBC’s Lester Holt and Kristen Welker, as well as nationally syndicated Salem Radio Network talk show host Hugh Hewitt.

NBC says the event will air on its television, streaming and digital platforms, including streaming on NBCNews.com.

– Associated Press

Donald Trump's vice president pick: Tucker Carlson?

Some Republicans gathered in South Florida are already talking about who Trump might pick as a running mate if he goes on to win the GOP nomination - and pre-debate chatter centered on former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

While he and Carlson have clashed over the years, Trump had nothing but nice things to say when asked on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show whether he would consider him for running mate.

"I like Tucker a lot - I guess I would - I think I'd say I would because he's got great common sense," Trump said.

Trump and his aides have also said it's way too early to discuss running mates, and he is not likely to talk down any possibility.

− David Jackson

Will Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley spar?

One rivalry that viewers may be watching for during the Republican debate is between Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley. During the second debate, Haley told Ramaswamy that TikTok is “one of the most dangerous social media apps” in existence before she asserted in an exasperated tone: “Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”

The political newcomer faced brunt of the blows in the first two debates, with more established Republicans on the stage, including Haley and ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, lining up to discredit the businessman.

– Francesca Chambers

Follow along as we fact-check the Republican debate

Was that fair criticism or cherry-picked data? An accurate description or a baseless conspiracy theory?

Follow along with the USA TODAY Fact Check Team as we dig into claims from the candidates as they make them in tonight’s Republican primary debate. We'll dig through the data, documents and transcripts to sort fact from fiction.

GOP debate live fact check:Separating fact from fiction on Republican candidates' claims.

– Eric Litke

When is the next Republican debate? Alabama, Iowa and New Hampshire all host

While Trump is calling for all debates to end, Republican officials in Miami say they are moving forward with plans for at least three more confrontations - whether Trump wants to show up or not.

The next debate is already on the schedule: Dec. 6 in Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama. Trump is not expected to attend. The GOP is also planning debates just before the Iowa caucuses, which are on Jan. 15, and the New Hampshire primary, which is expected to be scheduled for Jan. 23.

It may be harder for Trump to snub Iowa and New Hampshire - those debates will likely be held right before people actually vote.

– David Jackson

Group supporting Ron DeSantis tags Nikki Haley as ‘Hillary 2.0’

A political action committee that supports Ron DeSantis is taking shots at Nikki Haley ahead of Wednesday’s debate by reminding Republicans of who inspired her to run for elected office.

Never Back Down released a 30-second spot featuring the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor praising Democrat Hillary Clinton on several occasions.

“I often say it… the reason I got into politics was because of Hillary Clinton,” Haley says in the video.

Haley, the only woman in the 2024 race, did credit Clinton for inspiring on numerous occassions during a 2012 book tour. She noted how Clinton, who ran for president in 2016, was a keynote speaker when she as a student at Birmingham University.

The attack is part of a larger offensive DeSantis and his allies have waged against the former UN ambassador, who has climbed in the polls and emerged as the likely new No. 2 in the GOP field.

— Phillip M. Bailey

Chris Christie, Nikki Haley issue dueling taunts before Republican debate

Nikki Haley and Chris Christie both took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to share a message of confidence heading into the GOP debate.

"I've never lost a race, I'm not going to start now," Haley shared before the event, alongside a video of her campaigning.

The former New Jersey governor also posted "Let's win the damn thing."

− Marina Pitofsky

Pre-Republican debate atmosphere in Miami? Pretty low-key

You might expect a laid back atmosphere in Miami, even for a presidential candidates' debate.

And that's what you've got: Streets are blocked off and fencing is in place around the debate site, but there are few people milling around and almost no demonstrators.

Quite a difference from the street fairs and protesters who surrounded the Milwaukee arena that hosted the first Republican debate back in August.

The second debate in September did not draw many bystanders, but that was held at the Ronald Reagan library on top of a mountain in California.

As night fell on sun-bleached Miami, a bicyclist carried a Trump 2024 flag. A man in a lawn chair at a street intersection held a sign that read "Trump or World War III."

Trump himself, meanwhile, planned to host his own campaign rally in nearby Hialeah, Fla. On the other side of the Miami concert hall where the debate will be held, a lone man dressed a rat suit carried a sign that read "RAT: Republicans Against Trump."

– David Jackson

Will Republican hopefuls address Glenn Youngkin, Andy Beshear and other 2023 races?

One thing viewers could keep an eye out for tonight is whether the Republican candidates address GOP losses after Election Day 2023.

Virginia Democrats took control of the state's legislature, and they're expected to block Gov. Glenn Youngkin's conservative agenda. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear also won reelection on Tuesday and defeated his Republican challenger.

And in Ohio, voters passed a ballot measure to protect abortion rights, a push supported by Republicans in the Buckeye State.

The GOP hopefuls participating in Wednesday's Republican debate may be pitching their vision for the nation, as well as a vision for the future of the Republican Party at the state and local level.

– Marina Pitofsky

Adrienne Arsht Center: Where is the Republican debate tonight being held?

The Republican debate will be held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.

– Haadiza Ogwude and Anthony Robledo

What time does the GOP debate start?

The third GOP primary debate will occur on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST in Miami.

– Anthony Robledo

What are the candidates saying about Donald Trump's criminal indictments?

Trump’s various indictments in both federal and state criminal cases have led some of his rivals to fiercely defend him, while others have knocked him.

Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has taken the former position, alleging without evidence that the indictments are politically motivated. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott have also condemned the indictments on the campaign trail.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has warned that Trump's legal troubles could cost GOP the 2024 presidential election. And Christie, one of Trump's most vocal critics, has forecasted that the former president will be convicted, even as he seeks a second term in the White House.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Debate control: Republican Party tells candidates not to participate in Iowa forum

Seeking to maintain control of the debate process, the Republican National Committee is warning presidential candidates not to participate in an Iowa forum scheduled for later this month - or face exclusion from future RNC debates.

In a letter to the various campaigns, the RNC said it regards a “Thanksgiving Family Forum” sponsored by Iowa’s Family Leader Foundation as a debate in all but name.

Candidates have pledged not to participate in non-RNC debates. Said the letter: “Please be advised that any Republican presidential candidate who participates in this or other similar events will be deemed to have violated this pledge and will be disqualified from taking part in any future RNC-sanctioned presidential primary debates.”

– David Jackson

Here’s where GOP candidates stand on China and a potential invasion of Taiwan

Republicans agree on what they argue is an urgent need to combat the military and economic threat from China. But that’s where their agreement on the issue ends.

The United States has traditionally had a policy of strategic ambiguity on whether it would send troops to Taiwan to defend the island in the face of a Chinese invasion. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has described China as the “most dangerous foreign threat we face since the second world war” and said it’s clear that Beijing is preparing for war.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he would do everything he could to avoid using the U.S. military against China, “but if it was unavoidable, I would do what needs to be done.”

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has previously said he would aggressively defend Taiwan – but only until the U.S. has semiconductor independence, which he has pledged to do by 2028. At that point, he said, would not risk war for “some nationalistic dispute between China and Taiwan.”

– Francesca Chambers

Who is in the Republican debate tonight?

Five Republican candidates qualified for the third Republican debate tonight, a smaller field than the previous events. They include:

Will there be a Democratic debate?

Joe Biden probably won't take the debate stage with his Democratic rivals.

If an incumbent president is running, political parties usually rally around that person's reelection bid. There's no formal rule, but at this point, Biden is the de facto Democratic nominee.

– Marina Pitofsky

Where do the Republican candidates stand on abortion?

Nikki Haley has often argued that leaders need to find consensus on the issue of abortion, including agreeing to not jail women who have the procedure. A self-described “pro-life” candidate, Haley said Republicans need to be honest about a national ban, which would require 60 votes in the Senate.

Most Republican candidates, including Chris Christie, have said they would leave the issues to the states.

Ron DeSantis has touted his record on the issue as Florida governor, having signed a statewide six-week ban into law earlier this year.

– Savannah Kuchar

When is the Republican convention?

Tonight's debate isn't part of the Republican convention, where an official GOP nominee will be chosen for the 2024 presidential election.

The Republican convention is set for July 2024 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wisconsin is expected to be a major swing state heading into the race for the White House.

− Marina Pitofsky

Ukraine war a pressure point for the GOP field

The Ukraine war could prove to be fertile ground for the group of presidential hopefuls to differentiate themselves.

Support for U.S. military assistance to Ukraine is flagging inside the GOP electorate with Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army making slow progress. Still, any suggestion that Ukraine is at fault for Russia’s violation of its sovereignty is likely to drive away establishment Republican voters.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ description of the conflict as a “territorial dispute” helped fuel his decline, even though he later backtracked the comment and called Putin a “war criminal.” Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has also come under scrutiny for his views, including a previous proposal to allow Putin to keep parts of eastern Ukraine.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is among the candidates who say that stopping Putin is vital to U.S. national security and helps to deter Chinese aggression toward Taiwan.

– Francesca Chambers

Tim Scott invites Jewish students to Republican debate

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott on Wednesday shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that he invited a group of Jewish students to attend the debate in Miami.

"As hate and anti-Semitism proliferate on college campuses, it is more important than ever to educate the minds of our next generation with thoughtful debate and discussion," Scott shared.

The move comes as American colleges have reported a surge in crimes that appeared to target Jewish and Muslim people as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.

− Marina Pitofsky, Krystal Nurse, Eduardo Cuevas and Vanessa Arredondo

Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are feuding

The 2024 Republican presidential campaign trail is becoming increasingly icy, and it’s not because of dropping temperatures.

Amid their battle for second place in the GOP primary race, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have heightened attacks against one another on everything from their foreign policy stances to footwear choices.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu described the frosty relationship between the two candidates as getting “a bit chippy” after appearing with Haley at an event.

But the campaign jabs aren’t necessarily scoring the candidates any wins with voters in early primary states. Voters USA TODAY spoke with said they haven't paid much attention to the back-and-forth between the two candidates.

− Karissa Waddick

What are the stakes for tonight's Republican debate?

Republican White House hopefuls not named Donald Trump will assemble in Miami this week for the third presidential primary debate. But what does each candidates need to do to break out? Here's a look at a few contenders:

Nikki Haley: Given how much the world stage has consumed the country, Washington and campaign trail, expect Haley's quick-witted acumen to seize the microphone when America's standing and role in the world comes up.

Ron DeSantis: DeSantis will have to stiff arm Haley while also making the case that something has changed enough for him to be a serious threat to Trump.−

Vivek Ramaswamy: The biggest challenge for Ramaswamy, whose ideas and rhetoric might excite some in the GOP base, will be showing a more personal side that can close that likability gap with those same voters.– Phillip M. Bailey

Conservative Supreme Court could factor into debate

Seven years ago, during the first GOP debate of the 2016 election, the Supreme Court was criticized by several candidates.

“It's time that we recognize the Supreme Court is not the supreme being,” then candidate Mike Huckabee quipped.

What a difference a few years makes.

The nation’s highest court, which today is more conservative than it has been in decades, has already factored into the GOP primary. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump have swiped at each other over whether the bench is conservative enough. Earlier this year, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy released a list of candidates he said he would nominate to the court, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah. – John Fritze

Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and others oppose student debt forgiveness

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive $400 billion in student loan debt for hundreds of Americans - a move that 2024 GOP candidates applauded and has become a contentious point of debate.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley wrote on X that a president “cannot just wave his hand and eliminate loans for students he favors.” South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has supported legislation prohibiting Biden from cancelling student loan debt.

Likewise, biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy supported the court’s decision.

“We have a bad habit in America of paying people to do the exact opposite of what we want them to do: more $$ to stay at home than to work, more $$ to be a single mother than married, more $$ for those who *fail* to repay loans than those who do,” Ramaswamy wrote on X.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Will GOP election losses take center stage at tonight's Republican debate?

Most of the pre-debate buzz in Miami centers on Republican reversals in Tuesday's off-year elections - and debaters plan to argue that they are the answer to the party's ills.

Haley and her aides cite her strong poll numbers against President Joe Biden and stress that Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight elections.

"Isn't it time we had a Republican who can win a general election?" the Haley campaign said in a statement.

DeSantis, meanwhile, cites the fact that he won re-election as governor of Florida in a landslide, and has turned a former battleground state into a Republican-leaning one.

Trump, who is holding a competing rally near the debate site, is being blamed for some of the GOP losses, But he is laying it on establishment Republicans like Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell.

Citing the GOP candidate who lost the Kentucky's governor race, Trump said on Truth Social: "Daniel Cameron lost because he couldn’t alleviate the stench of Mitch McConnell."

Of course, Trump also endorsed Cameron.

– David Jackson

GOP presidential polls ahead of the third GOP debate

All of the candidates on the debate stage Wednesday night are trailing former President Donald Trump in state and national polls.

According to a Real Clear Politics average of GOP primary polls, Trump leads the crowded Republican field with 58.3% support, followed by DeSantis at 14.6%. Haley has garnered 9.4% support, while Ramaswamy has received 4.4%.

During the debate, the Republican White House hopefuls will be looking for breakout moments to connect with voters and potentially boost their support across the country.

– Marina Pitofsky

How did GOP candidates qualify for the Republican debate

Candidates had to meet a higher bar to participate in the third debate than the first two. White House hopefuls must have polled at least 4% in two national polls or 4% in one national poll and one early state poll from states recognized by the committee.

They must also have had a minimum of 70,000 unique donors and signed the “Beat Biden” pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Where the 2024 presidential candidates stand on the war in Ukraine

More than 500 days after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the war in Ukraine remains at the top of American foreign policy priorities.

As President Joe Biden discusses with allies at the NATO summit in Vilnius how to provide increased security guarantees for Ukraine, at home 2024 presidential candidates have been discussing their own views on the war in Ukraine.

In both parties, Democrats and Republicans are divided on the war in Ukraine and whether the U.S. should continue providing military aid for Ukraine.

Among Republicans, most presidential candidates are in favor of continuing to provide Ukraine with support. The two frontrunners, however, are the most skeptical candidates in their own party when it comes to sending Ukraine additional ammunition and weapons.

Here are the leading presidential candidates and their views on the war in Ukraine:

Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, has frequently suggested that the U.S. might be providing Ukraine with too much support.

Trump criticized American allies for not spending as much to support Ukraine during a CNN town hall in May. The former president also said the U.S. is depleting its own military stockpiles by sending aid packages to Kyiv.

"We've given away so much equipment," Trump said. "We don't have ammunition for ourselves."

Trump also repeatedly refused to answer questions regarding whether he wants Russia or Ukraine to win the war. In an interview with Fox News, Trump also declined to say whether he would consider allowing Russia to keep Ukrainian land as part of an agreement to end the war.

Instead, Trump has frequently claimed that he would end the war in 24 hours if reelected president. Trump has also claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin would have not invaded Ukraine if he won the 2020 presidential election.

Ron DeSantis

Alongside Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has emerged as the other major skeptic among Republican presidential candidates regarding American support for the war in Ukraine.

DeSantis also said that in a statement to Fox News in March that the war in Ukraine is a "a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia" and not one of the country's "vital national interests."

"We cannot prioritize intervention in an escalating foreign war over the defense of our own homeland, especially as tens of thousands of Americans are dying every year from narcotics smuggled across our open border and our weapons arsenals critical for our own security are rapidly being depleted," DeSantis said.

DeSantis later walked back his comments and called Putin a "war criminal." He also said it was "wrong" for Russia to invade Ukraine in 2022 and take Crimea in 2014, but DeSantis has maintained that the U.S. should not become more involved in the war in Ukraine.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur who has self-funded most of his 2024 GOP campaign for president, said Ukraine "should punch its own bully in the nose."

In an interview Monday night with Piers Morgan on Fox News, Ramaswamy said the U.S. has done enough to help Ukraine in the conflict.

"The U.S. has more than fulfilled its obligations under the Budapest Memorandum of 1994," he said. "But right now we need to focus on how we advance American interests."

Ramaswamy said he would end the war by negotiating a peace treaty that would freeze the current lines of control where they are − "a Korean War-style armistice agreement." He would commit to ensuring NATO does not admit Ukraine.

But he said he would demand Russia has to exit its military partnership with China. "The China-Russia military partnership is the single greatest military threat the United States faces."

Chris Christie

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has made criticizing Trump the focus of his campaign since entering the race in June, including taking aim at the former president over the war in Ukraine.

Christie criticized Trump for claiming he could end the war in 24 hours, saying "the only way he could do that is do what he normally does, which is bend down to Vladimir Putin and get him whatever he wants."

While he has also criticized Biden for not doing more to support Ukraine earlier in his presidency, Christie said he supports continued U.S. military aid for Ukraine and would seek to help end the war on terms that are acceptable to Ukrainians.

"We need to send them the military hardware that they need to be able to fight the war against Russia and we need to make sure that this war is ultimately resolved on terms that are acceptable to Ukraine," Christie told radio host Michael Medved.

Nikki Haley

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley previously served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's tenure as president. Haley has touted her past foreign policy experience since entering the 2024 race, frequently discussing her support for Ukraine.

Haley said in a CNN town hall that the war in Ukraine is "bigger than Ukraine."

"This is a war about freedom and it's one we have to win," she said. "When Ukraine wins that sends a message to China with Taiwan, it sends a message to Iran that wants to build a bomb, sends a message to North Korea testing ballistic missiles, and it sends a message to Russia that it's over."

Haley, however, said that American support should not come in the form of giving cash to Ukraine or putting troops on the ground, but rather by collaborating with allies to ensure that Ukraine has "the equipment and the ammunition to win."

Tim Scott

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has also said he would continue supporting the war in Ukraine as president.

Scott has frequently criticized Biden for failing to articulate "America's national vital interest in Ukraine." In explaining his own support for Ukraine, Scott has pointed to the war's ability to weaken Russia militarily.

"One of the most important priorities that we should have is degrading the Russian military," Scott told Fox News. "By degrading the Russian military, we’re preventing attacks on the homeland as well as our NATO partners."

Mike Pence

Former Vice President Mike Pence has distanced himself from Trump over the war in Ukraine. Pence said he is in favor of providing Ukraine with military support to fight Russia, most recently welcoming the Biden administration's decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Pence visited Kyiv late last month and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking the first visit to Ukraine by a 2024 Republican presidential candidate since launching their bid.

Pence has also said he believes it is important to support Ukraine now because if it loses the war, Russia might next attack a NATO ally and trigger a military response from U.S. troops.

In Ukraine, Pence told NBC News that supporting Ukraine is "advancing our national interest."

Will Hurd

Will Hurd, a former congressman from Texas, said he believes the U.S. government "should be supporting the Ukrainians more."

Hurd has quickly emerged as the strongest supporter for Ukraine among Republican presidential hopefuls, supporting policies that have failed to receive support from some of the most vocal pro-Ukraine lawmakers.

Most notably, Hurd told ABC News he supports the implementation of a no-fly zone over Ukrainian territory. In the first days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy requested the establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Western military officials, however, declined to implement the no-fly zone because of the risk of escalating the conflict over a direct military confrontation.

Hurd has also insisted that he supports Ukraine reclaiming all of its territory from Russia, including the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

Asa Hutchinson

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson addressed Russia on his campaign website, writing that it is "a threat to our national security and a threat that must be taken seriously."

"We must be tough on Russia and that starts with not backing down from Putin," Hutchinson added.

He also said that he supports providing Ukraine with aid, but that he would want to ensure that the funds are spent as intended.

"America is strongest when we stand with our allies and those being oppressed," Hutchinson wrote in a tweet. "Standing with Ukraine means standing up to Putin."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy, who is challenging President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic primary election, has distanced himself from most fellow Democrats over his willingness to criticize U.S. involvement in the war in Ukraine.

Kennedy called Ukraine a "pawn in a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia" and took aim at the Biden administration for not ending the war through a peaceful resolution. Kennedy also criticized Biden's controversial decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine.

Last year, White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the use of cluster bombs a “war crime.” Now President Biden plans to send them to Ukraine," Kennedy wrote on Twitter. "Stop the ceaseless escalation! It is time for peace."

Pelosi says US will 'not abandon' Taiwan as China plans military ...

CNN —

During a historic trip to Taiwan Wednesday, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said her visit was intended to make it “unequivocally clear” that the United States would “not abandon” the democratically governed island.

China responded to Pelosi’s trip launching military exercises, which China’s Ministry of Defense said began on Wednesday with drills in both the seas and airspace surrounding Taiwan. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said 27 Chinese warplanes made incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, and 22 planes crossed the median line dividing the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday – an unprecedented number since Taiwan began publicly releasing information about China’s air incursions about two years ago.

As the California Democrat departed the island on Wednesday afternoon for South Korea, there were already signs of the strains her visit to Taipei – the first by a sitting US House speaker in 25 years – had placed on Washington’s relationship with Beijing – which warned that her trip would have a “severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations.”

China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it, and has long vowed to “reunify” the island with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary.

Pelosi’s praise of the island’s commitment to democracy was a significant show of support for Taipei, coming just hours after China threatened to retaliate to her presence with a series of military exercises the Taiwanese Defense Ministry likened to a “maritime and aerial blockade.”

Pelosi attends a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai at the presidential office in Taipei, August 3, 2022. Taiwan Pool/Reuters

Beijing had repeatedly warned of dire consequences should the trip go ahead – even going as far as to warn US President Joe Biden that those who played with fire would “perish” by it.

But the warnings from Beijing – and even a suggestion by Biden himself that the US military thought the trip was “not a good idea” – did not dissuade Pelosi, 82, from flying into the island alongside a congressional delegation on Tuesday evening and meeting its leading officials.

“We are proud of our enduring friendship,” said Pelosi, speaking alongside Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei the morning after her arrival.

“Now more than ever, America’s solidarity with Taiwan is crucial and that is the message we are bringing here today.”

In a statement released Wednesday after she left Taiwan, Pelosi said that her visit “should be seen as a strong statement that America stands with Taiwan.”

China’s response

Pelosi arrived to a largely warm welcome in Taipei, with the city’s tallest building, Taipei 101, lighting up with a welcome message and supporters gathering outside her hotel – though her visit to the legislature on Wednesday attracted a smattering of protesters. Video showed some people shouting, “Pelosi, get out” and holding placards reading, “Taiwan doesn’t want war.”

President Tsai thanked Pelosi for visiting, praised her long commitment to democracy and human rights and bestowed on her Taiwan’s highest civilian honor.

Beijing, within minutes of Pelosi’s arrival in Taipei, said it would immediately begin “a series of joint military operations around the island,” including using long-range live ammunition in the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from mainland China.

China’s Ministry of Defense said the military exercises began on Wednesday, which it said involved the navy, air force and other military forces.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry described the military exercises as “irrational” and tantamount to a “blockade.” It said the planned drills would violate Taiwan’s territorial waters, “threaten an international waterway, challenge the international order, undermine the cross-strait status quo and endanger regional security.”

The Chinese incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) were made by six J-11 fighter jets, five J-16 fighter jets, and 16 Su-30 fighter jets, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday night. China frequently sends warplanes into Taiwan’s self-declared ADIZ. The highest number of incursions ever recorded was on October 4 last year, when 56 military planes flew into the area on the same day.

On Wednesday, as Pelosi met with Taiwan’s leaders, elbow-bumping and posing for photos, China suspended the import of citrus fruits and some fish products from Taiwan, as well as the export of sand to the island.

Chinese Customs claimed the suspension of citrus fruit imports was a result of “pest control” and “excessive pesticide residues,” and cited “Covid prevention” for the suspension on seafood imports. However, its previous bans on some Taiwanese products have often coincided with periods of escalating tensions.

‘Taiwan will not back down’

President Tsai, like Pelosi, appeared unmoved by China’s warnings.

“Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down,” Tsai said during a televised meeting with Pelosi.

“We will firmly uphold our nation’s sovereignty and continue to hold the line of defense for democracy. At the same time, we wish to cooperate and work in unity with all democracies around the world to jointly safeguard democratic values.”

Taiwan would do “whatever it takes” to strengthen its defensive capabilities, Tsai added, saying she was committed to “maintaining peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait and vowing to make Taiwan a “key stabilizing force” for regional security and the development of global trade.

Pelosi told reporters Wednesday that “America stands with Taiwan” and China will “not stand in the way” of people coming to visit the island.

“We have to show the world, and that is one of the purposes of our trip, to show the world the success of the people of Taiwan,” she said. “We want Taiwan to always have freedom with security and we’re not backing away from that.”

She also praised Taiwan as “one of the freest societies in the world.”

Pelosi and the US congressional delegation also met Taiwanese lawmakers, exchanging pleasantries with Taiwan’s Deputy Speaker Tsai Chi-chang before a closed-doors meeting.

Pelosi is a longstanding critic of the Chinese Communist Party. She has denounced Beijing’s human rights record, and met pro-democracy dissidents and the Dalai Lama – the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader who remains a thorn in the side of the Chinese government.

In 1991, Pelosi unfurled a banner in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to commemorate victims of the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy protesters. More recently, she has voiced support for the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

On Wednesday, Pelosi and the congressional delegation left the self-governed island around 6 p.m. (local), departing from Taiwan’s Songshan airport

This story has been updated with additional developments.

Jeremy Herb Eric Cheung Wayne Chang Rhea Mogul

House still without a speaker after GOP drops Jordan. New race ...

WASHINGTON – House Republicans dropped Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as their speaker nominee Friday, throwing the House into even more chaos and turmoil as GOP lawmakers must scramble to find a new candidate to unite behind.

Following three failed speaker elections, House Republicans held an internal secret ballot vote to decide whether Jordan should remain as the conference’s nominee. Jordan was ultimately dropped as the nominee by a vote of 112-86.

House Republicans will head home for the weekend and return to Washington to hold a candidate forum on Monday evening to hear from prospective speakers. Following the forum, they will hold another internal vote to determine a nominee on Tuesday.

A mad dash for the top job has begun within the House Republican conference, with some members immediately declaring their candidacy leaving the meeting after Jordan’s exit and other lawmakers saying they will seriously consider running over the weekend.

The House will remain speakerless over the weekend and into Monday, leaving the lower chamber in a state of paralysis.

Follow along for the latest updates from USA TODAY on the speaker fight.

Endorsements start rolling in for new speaker candidates

As the speaker's race gets underway, once again, endorsements have started slowly rolling in for declared candidates.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., endorsed his fellow Floridian, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., for the speakership. Donalds publicly announced his intent to seek the gavel on Friday.

Donalds, "is an honorable leader and respected by the entire conference. That is why it is a privilege to endorse Byron for speaker," Diaz-Balart said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

In a statement announcing his candidacy, Donalds wrote that under his leadership, "The House will lead a charge to advance a simple objective: Put the American people first, keep them safe and make their lives easier."

− Ken Tran and Karissa Waddick

Who is running for speaker so far?

Multiple candidates immediately jumped into the speaker's race following Jordan's exit. They are:

Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla.

Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.

Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn.

Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich.

Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Florida

Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La.

Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas , is also considering a bid.

USA TODAY will update this list as more candidates jump in.

− Ken Tran

Emmer announces speaker run

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., officially announced his candidacy for speaker Saturday.

"Our conference remains at a crossroads and the deck is stacked against us," Emmer wrote in a letter to colleagues. "We have no choice but to fight like hell to hold on to our House Majority and deliver on our conservative agenda."

− Karissa Waddick

Kevin Hern will run for speaker

Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., who previously considered a run for speaker, told reporters he will now launch a bid following Jordan's loss.

Hern is chair of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of House Republicans.

− Ken Tran

Jack Bergman to run for speaker

Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., who was previously considering challenging Jordan, is officially running for speaker.

"My hat is in the ring, and I feel confident I can win the votes where others could not. I have no special interests to serve; I’m only in this to do what's best for our Nation and to steady the ship for the 118th Congress," Bergman said in a statement.

− Ken Tran

Mike Johnson to run for speaker

Rep. Mike Johnson, vice chair of the House Republican conference, released a "Dear Colleague" letter Saturday officially announcing his bid for speaker.

"I have been humbled to have so many Members from across our conference reach out to encourage me to seek the nomination for Speaker," Johnson wrote. "Until yesterday, I had never contacted one person about this, and I have never before aspired to the office. However, after much prater and deliberation, I am stepping forward now."

−Karissa Waddick

McHenry: 'Goal' to have floor vote Tuesday

Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry told reporters that after a candidate forum and an internal vote to select a nominee, the "goal" is to hold a speaker election on the House floor next Tuesday.

When lawmakers return next Monday evening, House Republicans will hold another candidate forum to hear from prospective speakers ahead of a vote on Tuesday to select a nominee.

−Ken Tran

Jordan loses internal vote, House GOP must find new nominee

Jordan is no longer the GOP's speaker nominee.

The Ohio Republican lost an internal secret ballot vote on whether to keep him as the conference's nominee, Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., told reporters.

Jordan lost an internal secret ballot vote to determine whether he should remain as the nominee by a vote of 112-86, according to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.

According to Womack, lawmakers are heading home for the weekend.

The House will return into session next Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Candidates have until noon on Sunday to declare their intentions to run for speaker.

− Ken Tran

Internal GOP vote exclusively about Jordan

The internal vote on whether to keep Jordan as the GOP speaker nominee is a secret ballot vote according to Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa.

The options, he said, were to either vote yes, no or present.

− Ken Tran

House GOP voting whether to keep Jordan as nominee

Lawmakers are now leaving the closed-door meeting saying that voting is ongoing on whether Republicans should keep Jordan as their nominee.

− Ken Tran

Letter from group who ousted McCarthy included Jordan holdout

The group of House Republicans who ousted McCarthy sent a letter to the House GOP conference offering to face consequences for removing McCarthy in exchange for putting Jordan in the speaker's chair.

But one of the GOP lawmakers who voted to oust McCarthy is also a Jordan holdout: Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo.

The letter originally included Buck but after the Colorado Republican noticed his signature, the letter removed Buck's name.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., one of the lawmakers who voted to remove McCarthy said it was "some miscommunication I guess."− Ken Tran

House Republicans are meeting behind closed-doors

Following Jordan's third defeat, House Republicans are huddling behind closed doors at 1 p.m. Friday.

−Ken Tran

8 GOP lawmakers who voted against McCarthy offer to be 'punished'

Speaking on the Capitol steps, five of the eight GOP lawmakers who voted to oust McCarthy said the eight are offering to be punished by the rest of the House GOP conference if it would placate Jordan's holdouts.

Reps Eli Crane, R-Ariz., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Bob Good, R-Va., Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said they would accept any consequences for voting to remove McCarthy.

Those consequences could include removal of committee assignments, censures and/or removal from conference.

− Ken Tran

Jordan loses third vote for House speaker

Jordan lost the third speaker vote, failing to garner enough support behind him and only losing more support among House Republicans.

Like with the second ballot, his detractors only grew in numbers − this time to 25 − making Jordan’s path to the speakership more uncertain.

It is unclear if a fourth vote will be held and whether lawmakers will stay in session through the weekend.

– Ken Tran

Here are the 25 GOP lawmakers who voted against Jordan

Some 25 GOP lawmakers voted against Jordan as speaker. Three of those votes against Jordan are new holdouts who previously supported the Ohio Republican. The 25 are:

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.

Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo.

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore.

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.

Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Texas

Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla.

Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas

Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fla.

Rep. John James, R-Mich.

Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J.

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa.

Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va.

Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa

Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y.

Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla.

Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho

Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn.

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark.

– Ken Tran

Who are the new GOP lawmakers who flipped against Jordan?

Jordan lost even more support on the third ballot, with three new lawmakers opting to support another candidate after initially voting for him before. They are:

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.

Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J.

Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y.

– Ken Tran

Jordan on track to lose third vote

The House vote is ongoing, but Jordan is on track to lose a third time.

He has lost 25 votes so far, which is more than the 22 votes he lost in the second vote and 20 votes he lost in the first vote.

− Candy Woodall

Clark nominates Jeffries for speaker

House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., nominated Jeffries for the speakership on behalf of House Democrats. He's earned the most votes this week, but not enough to clinch the win.

Clark took aim at Jordan's legislative record, saying the Ohio Republican supports cutting Social Security and Medicare and noting the Ohio Republican has never voted for a farm bill.

Jordan, she added, is a "true threat to our democracy and our Constitution," for his vote against certifying Biden's victory in the 2020 election.

− Ken Tran

McCarthy: Jim Jordan is a leader, a listener and a fighter

In another historic moment in the House, ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy nominated Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as the representative to succeed him.

"Being the speaker is not an easy job, but especially in this conference," McCarthy said to a few laughs and light applause.

But Jordan is the representative for the job, he said.

"Jim Jordan is a leader, a listener and a fighter," McCarthy said.

−Candy Woodall

McCarthy defends how many bills Jordan has passed

McCarthy sought to defend the Jordan from Democratic arguments that the Ohio Republican has never passed one of his own bills with his name attached to it.

The former speaker called Jordan an "effective legislator" and "selfless," drawing laughter and jeers from Democrats.

McCarthy also took aim at House Democrats, singling out Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., for passing only one bill with his name on it, garnering applause from Republicans.

But in a display of Jordan's uphill battle towards becoming speaker, several GOP lawmakers, including Jordan's holdouts, remained seated even as the majority of the conference gave a standing ovation for McCarthy.

− Ken Tran

Jeffries: 'Jim Jordan is a clear and present danger to our democracy'

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries unloaded on the "national nightmare" he says his colleagues across the aisle have created in 17 days without a House speaker.

The GOP nominee who has lost the vote twice, Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, is a threat to the nation, according to Jeffries.

"Jim Jordan is a clear and present danger to our democracy," Jeffries said to reporters Friday morning at the Capitol.

The Democratic leader then rattled off his list of reasons, saying Jordan is a 2020 election denier and "the poster child for MAGA extremism," who wants an abortion ban and to cut Social Security and Medicare.

−Candy Woodall

Jordan declines to say whether 2020 election was stolen

Jordan, when asked whether he thought the 2020 election was stolen, gave a non-committal answer and said he thought “there were all kinds of problems with the 2020 election.”

One of Jordan’s holdouts, Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., is refusing to support the Ohio Republican for speaker until he acknowledges former President Donald Trump lost in 2020.

– Ken Tran

Democratic leaders consider empowering a temporary speaker

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he hasn't met with acting speaker Patrick McHenry, but he and other Democratic leaders are open to the idea of empowering him to do the House's business.

"All options are on the table to get the House back open," Jeffries said, responding to a question about whether his caucus would support a plan to empower a speaker pro tempore.

McHenry has limited powers as interim speaker. It would take a majority of the House and some Democratic votes to give him expanded powers to do things like passing an aid package to Israel or negotiating to avoid a shutdown.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said bipartisanship is the only path forward.

"Come together," she said to Republicans. "You are weakening this country, you are weakening this institution."

−Candy Woodall

Jim Jordan press conference today: He's not dropping out

From his bully pulpit as chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, which has spent most of its time this session trying to impeach Biden, Jordan held a press conference at 8 a.m. to try and attract more support for his speaker bid.

Jordan said he was not backing down in his pursuit of the speakership, even as his opposition threatens to grow.

"We can't open the House without a speaker."

−Candy Woodall and Ken Tran

Crenshaw says ‘votes aren’t changing’ for Jordan

Leaving a meeting held by the Texas GOP delegation, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, told reporters the “vote’s aren’t changing” for Jordan ahead of a third speaker election that Jordan is expected to lose.

Whether Jordan should drop out, Crenshaw said, is ultimately the Ohio Republican’s decision, but there’s a “growing sense” that House Republicans will have to find a new candidate to rally behind “quite soon.”

– Ken Tran

GOP lawmaker is slightly more optimistic about electing a new speaker… slightly

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., told reporters last week he put the odds of the House electing a new speaker by last Friday at 2%.

This time around, with Jordan as the speaker nominee, he’s feeling a little more optimistic about electing a new speaker by the end of the day: he’s putting the odds at 30%.

“It still isn’t 50%,” Massie quipped.

– Ken Tran

Will House stay in session this weekend to elect a speaker?

Jordan and his allies have hinted on social media and during a press conference Friday that the House will not take the weekend off if there's no speaker.

The House Judiciary chair said during his news conference today he hopes the lower chamber will elect a new speaker "this weekend," suggesting there could be more elections to come.

− Ken Tran

What happened to the speaker of the House?

The House has been without a speaker since Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was removed from the position more than two weeks ago.

In a move led by conservative firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., eight Republicans were joined by House Democrats in a vote to oust him. Gaetz and a handful of hardliners were angry with McCarthy for striking a bipartisan compromise to avoid a government shutdown.

McCarthy's nine-month speakership started in turmoil, outlasting 15 historic rounds of voting to be elected in January. To get the gavel, he made several concessions, including a rule allowing any one member to call for the vote to remove McCarthy.

Gaetz used that rule to remove McCarthy from the top position in the House with no viable plan to replace him.

−Candy Woodall

House without a speaker: Will Jordan lose again?

Without a speaker, the House has been in a state of paralysis, unable to pass any legislation. Lawmakers in the lower chamber can't take up crucial funding to avoid a government shutdown or approve aid to Israel as the war with Hamas continues.

Republicans appeared close to finally getting the House moving again Wednesday morning, as they considered temporarily empowering Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., as an interim speaker. But those plans fell through amidst wide-ranging disagreements within the GOP conference.

Jordan is expected to lose his third speaker election, and it is unclear whether he will drop out of the race.

−Ken Tran

Biden’s foreign aid package can’t pass House without a speaker

Biden’s request for foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the U.S.-Mexico border, which totals almost $100 billion, is unable to pass the House without a speaker.

The House, which is in its 17th day without a speaker, has been unable to take any legislative action. There is a sense of urgency to elect a new speaker among lawmakers so the House can pass a foreign aid package for Israel, a key U.S. ally, but House Republicans have been unable to coalesce behind a speaker despite the calls for decisive action.

− Ken Tran

What was the plan to empower McHenry?

House Republicans huddled behind closed doors for over three hours to discuss a resolution from Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, that would have temporarily empowered McHenry as an interim speaker to get the House moving again.

The move would have allowed Jordan to continue building support for his speakership bid on the sidelines while the House works on crucial legislation to avert a government shutdown and address the Israel-Hamas war.

But the plans ultimately fell through as it became apparent a sizable number of members opposed the path. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., who was critical of the resolution, estimated half of House Republicans were against empowering McHenry.

– Ken Tran

Biden says midterm vote was a 'good day for democracy' and notes ...

CNN —

In his first speech since polls closed around the country Tuesday night, President Joe Biden called out detractors who he said doubted his “incessant optimism” about Democrats’ ability to stave off resounding Republican wins in the midterm elections – even as his presidency is now likely entering a new period of divided government.

The results, he said during a press conference at the White House Wednesday, are a sign American democracy is intact, despite coming under threat over the past several years.

“We had an election yesterday,” Biden said. “And it was a good day, I think, for democracy.”

“Our democracy has been tested in recent years, but with their votes, the American people have spoken and proven once again that democracy is who we are,” he continued, adding that “while the press and the pundits are predicting a giant red wave, it didn’t happen.”

The results were neither the “thumping” George W. Bush described during his own post-midterms press conference in 2006 nor the “shellacking’” Barack Obama said Democrats endured in 2010.

Instead, the failure of a so-called “red wave” to materialize Tuesday night had Biden appearing confident, reflecting the mood of Democrats, including those inside the White House, who are feeling enthused and vindicated following an election season where the president’s political aptitude was questioned. At the time of Biden’s remarks, CNN has not been able to project the future majorities of the House or the Senate.

The president did concede that the results are not a ringing endorsement of his approach. Voters, he said, “were also clear that they are still frustrated. I get it. I understand it’s been a really tough few years this country for so many people.”

“While any seat lost is painful … Democrats had a strong night. And we lost fewer seats in the House of Representatives than any Democratic president’s first midterm election in the last 40 years. We had the best midterm for governors since 1986,” Biden remarked.

The president, who turns 80 later this month, also said he is not in “any hurry” to announce a bid for reelection in 2024, reiterating that his timeline remains “early next year.”

“Our intention is to run again. That’s been our intention, regardless of what the outcome of this election was,” he told reporters. Still, Biden added, he’s “a great respecter of fate,” calling another run “a family decision.

“I think everybody wants me to run, but we’re gonna have discussions about it,” he said.

And Biden had a message to those opposed to another presidential bid: “Watch me.”

The future of both parties

The president said he will be inviting leaders of both parties in Congress to the White House to discuss where they can work together when he returns from his upcoming overseas trip, adding that he’s prepared to work with elected Republicans on a number of issues. “The American people have made clear, I think, that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me, as well,” he added.

Still, Biden drew a red line on a number of Republican proposals, saying he’d veto legislation he thinks could make inflation worse, cuts to Social Security and Medicare, as well as any attempt to introduce a national ban on abortion.

Biden said he plans to speak with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy – who is mounting a run for House speaker – later on Wednesday.

The results appeared more likely to prompt soul-searching among Republicans than Democrats, as former President Donald Trump teases an imminent announcement that he is running for the White House again. Many of the candidates Trump endorsed in toss-up races lost or were locked in contests that were too early to call.

For his part, Biden said on Wednesday that he does not plan to do anything differently in the second half of his presidential term. Instead, he said as his agenda items begin taking effect, Americans would come to see their benefit.

“They’re just finding out what we’re doing,” the president said. “The more they know about what we’re doing, the more support there is.”

Still, Biden and his team still face the prospect of a difficult two years of governing should Republicans seize control of the House. The President’s agenda would likely be sharply curtailed without a Democratic majority. And Republicans have promised investigations into Biden’s administration and family.

Biden said he believes the American public wants the government to “move on and get things done for them,” not lead investigations into him, his family or his administration.

“It’s just, almost comedy,” Biden said of the possible probes. “I can’t control what they’re going to do. All I can do is continue to try to make life better for the American people.”

Exit polls also indicated still-simmering dissatisfaction among voters at the country’s economic health. Around three-quarters of voters nationally said the economy is “poor” or “not good,” and the same share said that inflation has caused them severe or moderate hardship. About two-thirds said that gas prices have been causing them hardship.

Voters have a dour view about the way things are going in the country generally, with more than 7 in 10 saying they are “dissatisfied” or “angry.”

For the president, improving the country’s pervasive dark mood will be an ongoing challenge despite Democrats outperforming expectations Tuesday. Without a majority in the House, his tools to accomplish that will be more limited.

Biden spent most of his campaign season focused on economic issues, including areas he’d taken action to reduce costs. But he drew some criticism, including from some Democrats, for expanding his closing message to including abortion rights and a defense of democracy.

Heading into Tuesday, Biden advisers were prepared to defend the tactic and were prepared with historic data showing Democrats faring better this year than in previous midterm cycles, which typically result in losses for the sitting president’s party.

Ultimately, however, Biden is likely to avoid the finger-pointing and second-guessing. Even with the House losses, this year’s results are among the best for the party in power in recent memory.

By comparison, Democrats lost 54 seats in 1994, when President Bill Clinton was in office. And Obama’s first midterm election saw his party lose 63 seats.

Biden addresses foreign policy issues and Elon Musk’s influence

Speaking in front of the press on Wednesday, Biden addressed challenges with two of the nation’s biggest foreign adversaries – China and Russia.

Biden said the timing of Russia’s announcement on retreating from the city of Kherson, Ukraine, was “interesting.”

“I find it interesting they waited until after the election to make that judgment, which we knew for some time they were going to be doing, and it’s evidence of the fact that they have some real problems – the Russian military,” Biden said. He added that where the withdrawal leads and “whether or not Ukraine is prepared to compromise with Russia” remain to be seen.

Biden also said he was told that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not likely to attend the upcoming G20 summit in Indonesia. He also told reporters that he’s hopeful Putin will be more willing to discuss the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who remains detained in Russia, now that the elections are over.

Biden confirmed expected talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at next week’s G20 summit. Biden said he’s not planning to make any “fundamental concessions” and that they will discuss the economy and trade. But he declined to reveal what his message would be on US military support to Taiwan should China move on the self-governing island.

“I’m gonna have that conversation with him,” Biden added, noting that they’ll lay out “what each of our red lines are.”

The president also told reporters that Twitter owner Elon Musk’s relationship with other countries was “worthy of being looked at,” but declined to say how that could be done.

“I think that Elon Musk’s cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at, whether or not he is doing anything inappropriate,” Biden said, when asked if Musk was a threat to national security. “But that’s all (I’ll) say.”

Kevin Liptak Maegan Vazquez
Kevin Liptak
Maegan Vazquez

Republican debate highlights: Details of candidates' fierce sparring

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Republican presidential candidates gathered in California on Wednesday for the second GOP primary debate of the 2024 election season.

The seven candidates who qualified for the event in Simi Valley battled over issues ranging from abortion rights in American to the war in Ukraine and healthcare costs. The White House hopefuls addressed the spread of fentanyl in the United States and workers' rights.

But the debate also turned personal Former President Donald Trump didn't attend the debate, but his Republican rivals took time to launch new attacks against the GOP frontrunner. As former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley sparred with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, she told him to "bring it" on the debate stage.

The Republican hopefuls started off the debate by discussing the United Auto Workers strike, with several criticizing President Joe Biden for joining the workers on the picket line earlier this week.

Sen. Tim Scott showed a feistier side in this debate, taking on Vivek Ramaswamy for having done business with China.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis jabbed at GOP frontrunner Donald Trump for not participating in the debate. "Donald Trump is missing in action. He should be here," DeSantis said.

Chris Christie: Kick Donald Trump 'off the island'

None of the Republican debaters wanted to vote one of their fellow candidates "off the island," though Chris Christie suggested running Donald Trump out of the GOP primary.

"This guy has not only divided our party, he's divided families all over this country," Christie said. "He needs to be taken out of this process."

Other candidates balked at the last question of the evening, one borrowed from the game show "Survivor:" Who would you vote "off the island."

DeSantis voiced his objection, calling it "disrespectful" to the candidates who showed up to the debate.

– David Jackson

Ron DeSantis takes on Donald Trump over abortion

“He should be here,” Ron DeSantis said of Donald Trump during Wednesday's debate, calling on the former president to explain his stance on abortion.

Trump recently called the Florida governor’s six-week abortion ban “a terrible mistake” and refused to state his position on a federal ban, while on NBC’s Meet the Press.

DeSantis, who has also fielded criticism from anti-abortion advocates for not taking a strong enough national abortion stance, called out Democrats for what he said are extremist abortion rights positions.

“We’re better off when everybody counts,” he said.

– Savannah Kuchar

'Bring it, Tim:' South Carolina candidates Haley, Scott argue about experience

The two South Carolina candidates in this race went after each other over who has the better experience: Former Gov. Nikki Haley or current Sen. Tim Scott.

"Twelve years - where have you been?" Haley asked Scott, citing the Senate's uneven record on issues like debt and federal spending.

Scott responded that Haley's experience as governor is inadequate, and the two drowned out each other in argument. It was broken up by DeSantis, who touted his own record as governor of Florida.

Haley shot back at Scott "Bring it, Tim."

Both Haley and Scott are aiming for the South Carolina primary on Feb. 24 - if they can make it that far.

– David Jackson and Sudiksha Kochi

Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy spar over Ukraine, China

Another fight broke out between Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy over foreign policy, this time over Russia’s war against Ukraine, as he said the candidates need to “level with the American people” on the issue.

“Just because…Putin’s an evil dictator does not mean that Ukraine is good,” he said, bringing up the country’s ban on 11 political parties with ties to Russia.

Interrupting him, Haley said, “A win for Russia is a win for China.” She added, “But I forgot, you like China.”

Ramaswamy hit back that “hurling personal insults” were not helping.

Mike Pence also got in on the action, arguing that letting Russian President Vladimir Putin have Ukraine would be a “greenlight” to China to invade Taiwan. “Peace comes through strength,” Pence responded, in a nod to Reagan.

– Francesca Chambers

Nikki Haley criticizes Donald Trump on his handling of China

Nikki Haley, who served as an ambassador to the United Nations under the Trump administration, took a jab at her former boss for his handling of China.

She said that she would end all normal trade relations with China until it stops contributing to the spread of fentanyl.

“This is where President Trump went wrong,” Haley said. “He focused on trade with China. He didn't focus on the fact that they were buying up our farm and he didn't focus on the fact that they were killing Americans. He didn't focus on the fact that they were stealing $600 billion in intellectual property.”

– Sudiksha Kochi

Nikki Haley tells Vivek Ramaswamy 'Every time I hear you I feel a little bit dumber'

Vivek Ramaswamy tried to defuse the biggest criticism of him: That he's a young and arrogant "know-it-all" who doesn't know what he's talking about.

"I'm here to tell you, I don’t know it all," Ramaswamy said, adding that he knows how to use staff and develop a strong organization.

His rivals didn't seem convinced, especially Haley.

Noting that Ramaswamy has joined TikTok while pledging to confront Chinese spying, Haley told the upstart candidate: "Every time I hear you I feel a little bit dumber for what you say."

– David Jackson

Mike Pence: ‘I’ll stand up for the safety and the civil liberties of every American’

When asked how he would protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination and violent attacks, Mike Pence said “I’ll stand up for the safety and the civil liberties of every American from every background.”

But Pence quickly turned to transgender children and their rights at school.

“We've got to empower parents at the state level with the ability to choose where the kids go to school, whether it's public, private, parochial or homeschool,” Pence said. “You empower parents, and our schools will straighten up and reflect our values and focus on the basics faster than you can possibly imagine.”

– Sudiksha Kochi

'How it's done': Ron DeSantis touts education record

Ron DeSantis answered controversy around Florida’s new history curriculum, which requires teachers to instruct students on “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” The Florida governor called criticism and response to the change a “hoax” led by Vice President Kamala Harris.

DeSantis turned his comments to Florida’s other education policies, including the Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by opponents. The law bans instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades K-12.

“Florida is showing how it’s done,” DeSantis said, boasting his administration’s focus parents’ rights and having “eliminated critical race theory.”

– Savannah Kuchar

Mike Pence takes on 'former running mate' Trump

Mike Pence also got in a few digs at Donald Trump on Wednesday, faulting him for proposals that would expand government.

Referring to the ex-president as "my former running mate," Pence said that "Donald Trump has a plan to consolidate more power to the government."

It looked like a planned attack: Pence dragged in Trump after a question about whether former President Barack Obama's health care would survive all Republican efforts to repeal it. However, Pence did not address Obamacare.

– David Jackson

Nikki Haley calls for transparency in the healthcare system

Nikki Haley told a story about her mother being in the hospital, and when healthcare workers tried to bring her Tylenol and she refused, they said ‘honey, go ahead and take it because you're paying for it anyway.’

“Why is it that when we got the bill, the insurance company in the hospital negotiated the bill for her without her having anything to do with it?” Haley said. “When I'm president, we will bring all that from the insurance company to the hospitals.

"We will make it all transparent because when you do that, you realize that's what the problem is," Haley added.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Vivek Ramaswamy: Address fentanyl crisis by sealing border, addressing mental health

When asked how he would stop fentanyl brought into the country through ports of entry, Vivek Ramaswamy said that there’s two sides to the issue: seal the southern border and address the mental health epidemic in America.

He referenced two parents he met whose son died after buying Percocet on Snapchat.

“It is our job to make sure that never happens,” Ramaswamy said. “But it's also our job to make sure that 17 year olds don't turn to Percocet via Snapchat. We have to bring back mental health care in this country, not with pumping pharmaceuticals but with faith based approaches.”

– Sudiksha Kochi

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'Donald Duck': Chris Christie calls out Donald Trump for absence

While answering a question on crime rates in America, Chris Christie took time to address Donald Trump directly, calling him too afraid to join the debate stage.

“We’re going to call you Donald Duck,” Christie, who turned directly to the camera to address the former president, said Wednesday night.

– Savannah Kuchar

Tim Scott criticizes Vivek Ramaswamy after he says he's not ‘bought and paid for’

In the first Republican debate, Vivek Ramaswamy said that he was the only GOP candidate “not bought and paid for.” Scott invoked those comments in the Wednesday's debate when he criticized Ramaswamy over business in China.

Ramaswamy pushed back by saying that while he opened a subsidiary in China, what he did differently from other companies is that he “got the hell out of there.”

What's the CCP? It's a reference to the Chinese Communist Party

– Sudiksha Kochi

Ron DeSantis: Donald Trump is 'missing in action'

Following Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis also invoked Donald Trump's absence from the debate by saying that Biden and others are "missing in action" when it comes to national leadership.

"You know who else is missing in action?" DeSantis said, referencing the former president's choice to skip the second GOP debate. "Donald Trump is missing in action. He should be here!"

– David Jackson

'Missing in action':Ron DeSantis blast Donald Trump for skipping the GOP presidential debate

Vivek Ramaswamy veers from Tim Scott, sides with workers

While saying he agrees with the “spirit” of Tim Scott’s comments on the ongoing UAW strike, Vivek Ramaswamy added that he sympathizes with workers.

“I understand that hardship is not a choice,” Ramaswamy said, referencing his own family and upbringing. He added, though, that he believes “victimhood" is a choice and told workers to picket outside the White House in Washington in a message to President Joe Biden.

– Savannah Kuchar

Mike Pence: Joe Biden should be on the unemployment line, not the picket line

Former Vice President Mike Pence pulls out the first pre-planned line of the night, saying that Biden "doesn't belong on the picket line - he belongs on the unemployment line."

Like the other candidates, Pence hits Biden for the condition of the economy. The group of GOP hopefuls quickly zeroed in on inflation, jobs and other economic issues.

– David Jackson

Tim Scott weighs in on UAW strike, blasts Biden

Tim Scott, when asked about his previous comments that striking workers should be fired, said that the president can’t fire anyone in the private sector.

However, he criticized workers for wanting additional benefits and fewer hours, saying that this will simply not stand.

He also blasted Biden for being on the picket line in Michigan to show support to striking autoworkers and said the president should be at the southern border instead.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Donald Trump praises unions, attacks Joe Biden, mocks GOP rivals before debate

Seeking to divert attention from a debate among his Republican opponents, Donald Trump traveled to Michigan for a speech extolling union members, attacking President Joe Biden, and mocking his GOP campaign opponents.

"You know, we're competing with the job candidates," Trump said at one point during an event in Clinton Township, Mich., adding he didn't even see a potential vice president or Cabinet secretary in the group.

Trump designed his speech on "economic nationalism" to take advantage of the ongoing auto workers strike. He blamed it on Biden, saying his emphasis on electric cars will lead to the elimination of auto workers' jobs.

"Yesterday, Joe Biden came to Michigan to pose for photos at the picket line," Trump said. "But it's his policies that send Michigan auto workers to the unemployment line!"

– David Jackson

Tim Scott needs a breakout moment. Will this debate be his chance?

Tim Scott, who is lagging in the Republican primary polls, struggled to have a breakout moment on stage in the last debate, often disappearing into the background as other candidates sparred over issues like Ukraine aid and abortion.

This debate, however, could look different.

Moderators could contrast Scott's positions with Nikki Haley, since both candidates are from South Carolina. The senator will also likely face questions about a complaint filed by the UAW over his comments supporting the idea that striking workers should be fired.

But Scott has said he doesn’t think he needs a standout moment on stage in the second debate

“What I need to do is continue to do what I have been doing — showing up,” Scott told “Fox News Sunday.”

– Sudiksha Kochi

Republican debate fact check: Follow along live

Was that fair criticism or cherry-picked data? An accurate description or a baseless conspiracy theory?

The USA TODAY Fact Check Team will dig into key claims from the candidates as they make them during tonight’s Republican primary debate. Follow our live fact-check file as we dig through the data, documents and transcripts to sort fact from fiction.

GOP debate live fact check: What the candidates get right – and wrong

– Eric Litke

Will the economy take center stage?

The Republican candidates onstage in California will likely spend swaths of the debate talking about jobs, inflation and other economic issues impacting Americans' wallets.

And one of the sponsors of the debate is the Fox Business Network, so expect a lot of discussion of the economy. You can also expect a lot of attacks on President Joe Biden on these issues, many of which will follow the campaign for the next 13-and-a-half months.

– David Jackson

Ukraine war a pressure point for the GOP field

The Ukraine war could prove to be fertile ground for the group of presidential hopefuls to differentiate themselves.

Support for U.S. military assistance to Ukraine is flagging inside the GOP electorate with Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army making slow progress. Still, any suggestion that Ukraine is at fault for Russia’s violation of its sovereignty is likely to drive away establishment Republican voters.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ description of the conflict as a “territorial dispute” helped fuel his decline, even though he later backtracked the comment and called Putin a “war criminal.” Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has also come under scrutiny for his views, including a previous proposal to allow Putin to keep parts of eastern Ukraine.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence are among the candidates who say that stopping Putin is vital to U.S. national security and helps to deter Chinese aggression toward Taiwan.

– Francesca Chambers

Republican debate in the shadows

The Ronald Reagan presidential library is nestled in the mountains of Simi Valley, Calif., but the candidates who debate here Wednesday night will be in some political shadows.

As much or more attention is being given to Donald Trump's speech in Michigan, and a prospective government shutdown is also soaking up media coverage.

That means the GOP challengers will have to work extra hard to get attention, perhaps on the topics of Trump and the shutdown.

– David Jackson

Republican candidates on immigration

Officials in New York City and San Diego have recently warned about the migrant crisis in their cities that have overwhelmed shelters, schools and other services.

And Republican White House hopefuls will likely discuss immigration and the U.S. southern border during Wednesday's debate.

One candidate has already vowed to bring up the issue. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday that his first action if elected to the White House will be to send the National Guard to the border. He has also criticized Trump and Biden’s border policies and said he would be the only candidate willing to address the issue head on at the second debate.

– Sudiksha Kochi

And then there were 7: Asa Hutchinson, other candidates aren't debating in Simi Valley

The debate stage in Simi Valley will be a little less crowded than the last time the GOP candidates went up against one another.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson barely made the August debate and did not meet the threshold for the September match. He’ll be watching on Wednesday evening from a Washington, D.C. hotel.

He is the only candidate who qualified for the first debate who missed the mark the second time.

Former GOP Rep. Will Hurd of Texas, pastor Ryan Binkley, radio host Larry Elder and businessman Perry Johnson have not qualified for any of the primary debates yet.

GOP frontrunner Donald Trump has met the donor and polling requirements, but he has declined to go head-to-head with his opponents so far.

– Francesca Chambers

GOP candidates try to appeal to "maybe Trump" voters while he's in Michigan

The Republican debaters are looking for any slivers of good news in the polls, and they found a little bit this week: Many self-proclaimed Trump voters also say they are open to other candidates.

In Iowa and New Hampshire, "most voters are still considering multiple candidates," CBS News said about its most recent survey of those states. These "maybe Trump" voters will be big targets in the debate.

Many of the Republican presidential candidates have hesitated to criticize Trump for fear of alienating the many Republican voters who have backed him in the past. Those are voters they'll need if they are to somehow wrest the GOP presidential nomination away from him in 2024.

– David Jackson

Will there be a Democratic primary debate?

Joe Biden probably won't take the debate stage with his Democratic rivals.

If an incumbent president is running, political parties usually rally around that person's reelection bid. There's no formal rule, but at this point, Biden is the de facto Democratic nominee.

– Marina Pitofsky

Gavin Newsom: Republican debate is ‘vice presidential debate at best’

The second Republican presidential primary debate is nothing more than a try out to be Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024. At least that’s how California Gov. Gavin Newsom sees things.

“This is a vice presidential debate at best,” he told CBS News. “This is the JV team.”

Newsom, whose state is where Wednesday’s discussion is taking place, has been a surrogate for the Biden campaign and has vigorously defended the president and Democratic Party's record. He emphasized how Trump is “running away” with the primary in every poll.

“This is the XFL, and it’s entertainment, I guess,” he said.

Newsom is also set to debate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis later this year in Georgia in a Fox News event

– Phillip M. Bailey

How will the Republican candidates line up?

There's a new debate lineup tonight, and not just because there are only seven candidates on stage.

Just like the first Republican debate in Milwaukee, poll averages helped determine where the candidates will stand on stage: Nikki Haley and Tim Scott have moved up, while Mike Pence has moved down.

Once again, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy are listed first and second, and will be in the middle of the pack on stage at the Ronald Reagan library.

Haley and Tim Scott will be on either side of those first two, in the 3 and 4 slots. Chris Christie is in the fifth position, Pence is in sixth, and the late-qualifying Doug Burgum is in seventh.

– David Jackson

Which candidates would pardon former President Trump?

Former President Donald Trump is facing four sets of criminal charges, and it has raised questions among his GOP rivals of whether they would pardon the former president if they're elected president − and he's found guilty.

Vivek Ramaswamy, who has defended Trump on the campaign trail, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have leaned towards a pardon, though Haley noted in interviews that the discussions were still premature.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated he would be pursuing pardons aggressively if he's elected but hasn’t given a definitive answer on Trump. Former Vice President Mike Pence said pardons would only be appropriate to weigh if Trump was found guilty.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Doug Burgum will appear on the debate stage - this time without an injured leg

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, the final candidate to qualify for the debate, will appear on stage with six other candidates vying for the Republican nomination. But with this debate, he won't have just injured his leg.

Burgum, 67, was rushed to a emergency room after he tore his Achilles tendon while playing basketball a day before the first GOP debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last month. But he still made it on stage the next day.

“I think I took them a little too literally when they said go to Milwaukee and break a leg,” he joked on stage that day.

Sudiksha Kochi

Will Republican candidates clash with Ramaswamy again?

Vivek Ramaswamy will again be near the center of the debate stage, ensuring high-profile skirmishes with other candidates, according to Aaron Kall, director of debate at the University of Michigan and co-author of "Debating The Donald."

In the last debate, many candidates sparred with Ramaswamy over his lack of experience and some of his controversial stances on foreign policy and former President Donald Trump’s indictments, which will likely resurface in the second debate.

Ramaswamy has leaned on ultra-conservative values to try to appeal to voters, but he has also reached out to younger Republicans as the youngest Republican candidate in the field.

– Sudiksha Kochi

GOP debate live updates:Republicans face off for 2nd time at Ronald Reagan library

Where do the Republican candidates stand on abortion?

Nikki Haley reiterated her abortion stance in the first Republican debate, arguing that leaders need to find consensus on the issue, including agreeing to not jail women who have the procedure. A self-described “pro-life” candidate, Haley said Republicans need to be honest about a national ban, which would require 60 votes in the Senate.

Mike Pence, abortion’s harshest opponent among the Republican candidates, took immediate issue with Haley’s comments during the event, saying abortion is “a moral issue.”

Most Republican candidates, including Chris Christie and Doug Burgum, have dodged the question by saying they would leave the issues to the states.

Ron DeSantis has touted his record on the issue as Florida governor, having signed a statewide six-week ban into law earlier this year.

– Savannah Kuchar

Nikki Haley seeks to keep the debate spotlight

Many Republicans said Nikki Haley "won" the first debate − she certainly garnered the best reviews − and they are watching to see if the former South Carolina governor can do it again.

After the Aug. 23 set-to in Milwaukee, Haley saw a spike in fundraising and poll numbers. She passed DeSantis for second place in a few national and state polls.

That may make her a target tonight for other Republican candidates, as the former United Nations ambassador seeks to make it two in a row.

"America deserves a choice, not an echo," Haley said in a pre-debate post on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.

– David Jackson

Where do the Republican candidates stand on transgender rights?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed multiple anti-trans bills in Florida earlier this year targeted at gender-affirming care for minors, instruction of gender identity in schools and more.

He isn’t alone among the Republican candidates. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a law that allows schools and government employees to ignore pronouns that transgender individuals use.

Other GOP candidates have also been vocally opposed to transgender rights. Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has made disparaging remarks about transgender individuals, and former Vice President Mike Pence said he wouldn’t allow transgender Americans to serve in the military.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stands apart. He has said he opposes transgender health care bans, along with other measures.

– Sudiksha Kochi

What are the candidates saying about Donald Trump's criminal indictments?

Donald Trump’s four sets of criminal charges in both federal and state cases have led some of his rivals to fiercely defend him – while others have knocked him.

Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has taken the former position, alleging without evidence that the indictments are politically motivated. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott have also condemned the indictments on the campaign trail.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum have largely dodged questions about the indictments.

Meanwhile, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, two of Trump's most vocal critics, have argued that the Republican Party can't stand behind Trump. Former Vice President Mike Pence said in response to federal allegations that Trump tried to steal the 2020 presidential election that anyone who puts themselves above the Constitution should not be president.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Republican debate moderator Dana Perino: The 'rubber meets the road' for GOP debaters

For students of political history, one of tonight's debate moderators will look familiar: She's a former White House press secretary.

Dana Perino, the chief spokeswoman for President George W. Bush and now a Fox News host, says tonight's showdown is where "the rubber meets the road" for GOP candidates who are struggling to catch the front-running Trump.

"This is the moment where all of them realize, 'if I don't have some sort of break-out moment to show that I could be the rival, the alternative to President Trump, their campaigns probably start to lose even more steam,'" Perino told Fox News Sunday.

The other moderators tonight are Fox Business Network host Stuart Varney and Univision anchor Ilia Calderón.

– David Jackson

Conservative Supreme Court could factor into debate

Seven years ago, during the first GOP debate of the 2016 election, the Supreme Court was criticized by several candidates. “It's time that we recognize the Supreme Court is not the supreme being,” then candidate Mike Huckabee quipped. What a difference a few years makes. The nation’s highest court, which today is more conservative than it has been in decades, has already factored into the GOP primary. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump have swiped at each other over whether the bench is conservative enough. Earlier this year, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy released a list of candidates he said he would nominate to the court, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah. – John Fritze

Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and others oppose student debt forgiveness

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court had struck down President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive $400 billion in student loan debt for hundreds of Americans, a move that many of the 2024 GOP candidates applauded.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley wrote on X that a president “cannot just wave his hand and eliminate loans for students he favors.” South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has supported legislation prohibiting Biden from cancelling student loan debt.

Likewise, biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy supported the court’s decision.

“We have a bad habit in America of paying people to do the exact opposite of what we want them to do: more $$ to stay at home than to work, more $$ to be a single mother than married, more $$ for those who *fail* to repay loans than those who do,” Ramaswamy wrote on X.

– Sudiksha Kochi

When is the third Republican debate?

The third Republican debate will be held in Miami on Nov. 8, the day after Election Day 2023.

The Republican National Committee announced that the requirements to participate in the debate will the strictest yet: participating candidates must secure 4% of the vote in multiple polls and 70,000 unique donors.

– Associated Press

Republican primary polls: Trump still leads, DeSantis a distant second

Donald Trump continues to lead Republican primary polls by about 40 points in most national surveys heading into the debate night. The frontrunner will not be on the stage, though, opting instead to hold a rally for United Auto Workers members in Detroit.

Second and far behind Trump in polls is Ron DeSantis, who will stand at the center of the debate stage. Next in the polls, each less than ten points behind DeSantis and standing on either side of him on stage, are Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Mike Pence and Chris Christie are close behind Ramaswamy in most polls, followed by Tim Scott and Doug Burgum.

– Savannah Kuchar

Republican debate ratings ahead of 2024

Millions of Americans may be tuning into the GOP debate on Wednesday night Approximately 12.8 million people watched the first Republican presidential primary debate last month, when GOP candidates faced off in Milwaukee.

Eight Republican candidates pitched their vision for the country’s future during the event, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Candidates focused on issues like climate change, the war in Ukraine and the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. But the debate also got personal, with Republican hopefuls targeting Ramaswamy’s lack of political experience, Haley’s perspective on abortion restrictions in the U.S. and more.

Donald Trump did not participate in the event, instead opting for an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

– Marina Pitofsky

Political groups divide their forces between Trump speech, non-Trump debate

Some political interest groups seem more interested in Donald Trump’s speech in Michigan this week than in the challengers' debate in California.

For example: American Bridge 21st Century, a progressive group, financed a plane to fly over the site of Trump's union event with a banner saying "Trump Sold Us Out."

“It’s obvious that, barring something drastic, Donald Trump is going to be the GOP nominee next year," said Pat Dennis, president of American Bridge 21st Century. "The Republicans on the debate stage know that, too."

Groups that flooded Milwaukee for the first Republican debate are not much in evidence in Simi Valley, though the Reagan library is a fairly remote location compared to Wisconsin's Fiserv Forum.

– David Jackson

Where is the second Republican debate?

The seven Republican presidential candidates will take the stage in Simi Valley, California, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Northwest of Los Angeles, the library opened in 1991 with a ceremony that at the time boasted the largest ever gathering of former presidents and their families. The site is also the final resting place for the 40th president and his wife, Nancy Reagan.

– Savannah Kuchar

Why is Donald Trump not debating?

No, Donald Trump won’t go head-to-head with his Republican rivals on Wednesday night.

Instead, Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, is traveling to Michigan to speak with supporters in a battleground state. It's also the epicenter of the ongoing United Auto Workers strike, where workers are protesting the nation's largest auto companies.

Trump also skipped the first Republican debate last month, explaining that he didn’t want to give opponents free shots at him.

– David Jackson

Fox's Stuart Varney and Dana Perino, UNIVISION's Ilia Calderón are moderating

Fox News Media's Stuart Varney and Dana Perino and UNIVISION's Ilia Calderón will co-moderate the second Republican presidential primary debate.

Calderón will be the first Afro-Latina to moderate a Republican Primary Debate, according to the network.

– Anthony Robledo

GOP debate participants

Seven Republican candidates are expected to participate in the Wednesday debate: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who qualified for the first GOP debate last month, did not make the stage this time.

Former GOP Rep. Will Hurd of Texas, pastor Ryan Binkley, radio host Larry Elder and businessman Perry Johnson did not qualify for the first or second debate.

– Sudiksha Kochi

How to watch the Republican debate tonight? What channel is it on?

Fox Business Network and Univision will broadcast the second Republican presidential primary debate. It will air at will air at 9 p.m. Eastern.

The RNC will also stream the event on video-sharing platform Rumble.

– Anthony Robledo

When does the Republican debate start?

The second GOP presidential primary debate will take place Wednesday, Sept. 27, will air at 9 p.m. Eastern.

The Republican candidates are set take the stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, California on Wednesday as they continue vying for their party’s nomination in the 2024 presidential race.

Fox Business Network and Univision will broadcast the second Republican presidential primary debate.

– Anthony Robledo