CNN This Morning

The pre-Christmas campaign push lands in Iowa, with Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley all holding events there, sharpening their closing messages and attacks against each other. Plus, a new signal the Trump campaign is concerned about one candidate's growing momentum as the former president’s Super PAC rolls out an attack advert against Nikki Haley for the first time. And, Governor Abbott signs a controversial bill making illegal immigration a state crime that will allow Texas police to make mass arrests. Also, bursts of lava and smoke fill the sky in Iceland after a volcano dramatically erupts overnight after weeks of warnings, threatening a geothermal power plant.

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US defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits Israel for a war assessment, as international pressure grows for Israel to shift strategy and resume talks with Hamas. Plus, Trump takes migrant rhetoric to dark new extremes. And, North Korea tests missiles that could reach the whole of the US. Also this morning: Southwest Airlines is hit with a $140M fine, the abortion debate and the 2024 race, and 58M people face intense weather conditions from a powerful Northeast coastal storm.

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National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan seeks to downplay differences between the US and Israel regarding the timeline and strategy of the war against Hamas. Following the House's failure to pass additional aid to Ukraine, intelligence agencies are gaming our just how long Ukraine can last without more US support. Jurors are deciding how much Rudy Giuliani should pay for his election lies about two poll workers. 

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House Republicans officially launch an impeachment inquiry against Biden, but struggle to say what the President did wrong, or show any evidence of criminality after 11-months of digging. Plus, a judge pushes pause on the federal election subversion case against former President Trump - what that could mean for a trial before the 2024 election. And, US Intelligence says nearly half of Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are unguided, and could be contributing to the staggering civilian death toll. Also this morning: abortion pill access heads to the Supreme Court, GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy claims January 6 was an “inside job”, and Putin addresses Russia’s War with Ukraine in a year-end news conference.

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Ron DeSantis goes after Donald Trump - why the Florida Governor showed new urgency in attacking the front-runner after months of pulling his punches, during his CNN Town Hall. Plus, losing international support over indiscriminate bombing of Gaza - how the Israeli Prime minister is reacting to a warning from Biden, as CNN learns the IDF has started flooding some Hamas tunnels. And, nearly 200 countries sign up to a historic climate deal to move away from fossil fuels. Also this morning: abortion rights and the 2024 race, a Georgia election worker gives tearful testimony about Rudy Giuliani’s election lies, and celebrated character actor Andre Braugher of “Homicide” & “Brooklyn 99”, dies at 61.

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A woman leaves Texas to get an emergency abortion after the state’s attorney general appeals to the Supreme Court to block it. Our panel discusses the legal specifics and historical context of this case. Plus, new and exclusive reporting on Donald Trump's classified documents case - what CNN reporters uncovered about the person who allegedly moved some of the boxes at Mar-a-Lago. And, President Zelensky asks a divided Congress for more aid for Ukraine. Also this morning: Special Counsel Jack Smith asks the Supreme Court to rule on Trump’s presidential immunity, and the UN holds an emergency meeting over the Israel-Hamas War.

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Brand-new CNN polling shows President Biden trailing President Trump in Georgia and Michigan, two crucial battleground states that Biden won in the last election. CNN Political Director David Chalain gives a breakdown of the current numbers for America’s choice. Plus, Trump reverses course and decides not to testify in his New York civil fraud trial. And, Rudy Guilanni goes trial for damages in his defamation lawsuit brought by two Georgia election workers. Also this Morning: Elon Musk restores conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ X account, and the humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza as attacks intensify.

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Hunter Biden faces nine new federal criminal charges. The President’s son is accused of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019, instead spending his money on drugs, escorts, pornography, and luxury hotels. Plus, instead of being on the campaign trail yesterday, Trump voluntarily chose to be in court for his New York civil fraud trial, and is set to take the stand in his own defense there on Monday. And, three university presidents face growing calls to resign over their testimony on how they are dealing with antisemitism across their campuses. Also this morning: police find a target list from the UNLV shooting suspect, Russia fires missiles at Ukraine after a 79-day pause, and the US is poised to approve the first gene-editing treatment.

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Haley, DeSantis, Christie, and Ramaswamy spar during the fourth GOP presidential debate over donor loyalty, foreign policy, the culture wars, and January 6 conspiracy theories. Plus, new details on the mass shooting at the University of Las Vegas Nevada campus, including the Professor suspect. And, the University of Pennsylvania President backtracks on Jewish genocide comments she made to Congress. Also this morning: the funding fight over Ukraine aid intensifies, and Biden is criticized for delaying a menthol cigarette ban over politics.

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Trumps says of a potential second-term that he would not be a dictator “except for day one” - what he would do in his first 24-hours of presidential power. That, as a former Trump official is openly saying in interviews: We’ll come after government and media “conspirators”. Plus, Biden tells a room full of donors “I’m not sure I’d be running” if Trump wasn’t. And, a Senate meeting on Ukraine aid turns into a shouting match about border funding. Also this morning: federal prosecutors are to use Trump’s embrace of January 6 rioters at his trial, US officials say the Gaza ground operation could end by January, and DHS Secretary Mayorkas on the surge in border crossings. 

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