On Politics

Thu Sep 21 2023

Marina Pitofsky | Associate Editor/Politics

Hi OnPolitics readers! The crowded field of Republican presidential hopefuls is gearing up for another debate next week. No, Donald Trump won't be there.

The debate, which is being held Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, California, is expected to feature Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and other Republican rivals. But Trump, who is 40 points ahead in some state and national polls, is skipping the event, USA TODAY's David Jackson reports.

USA TODAY has a look at what each challenger needs to do during the event, and how they're trying to defeat the current frontrunner:

DeSantis: The Florida governor may hit Trump over his abortion stance and argue that the former president doesn't support the restrictions religious conservatives have rallied around.

Haley: The former South Carolina governor needs to maintain the momentum from her well-reviewed performance in the first GOP debate, and she may echo her most-quoted line from the Milwaukee event: "We have to face the fact that Trump is the most disliked politician in America."

Pence: The former vice president has touted his work as Trump's former running mate, but during the upcoming debate he'll likely try to cast himself as the true conservative when compared to Trump.

Vivek Ramaswamy: The entrepreneur is trying to "out-Trump" Trump, with proposals that would give the president sweeping powers.

Chris Christie: The former New Jersey governor will likely stick to a familiar playbook: being one of Trump's most vocal critics, especially over his four criminal cases.

Stay in the know OnPolitics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

Senate confirms two critical military officers despite Tuberville protest

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., listens during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to examine the nomination of Army Lt. Gen. Randy George to be reappointment to the grade of general and to be Chief of Staff of the Army, July 12, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The Senate has now confirmed three critical military nominees, despite Sen. Tommy Tuberville's ongoing protest over Pentagon abortion policy.

READ MORE

President Joe Biden speaks as he meets with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) ORG XMIT: NYSW317

Biden to allow nearly 500,000 Venezuelan migrants to work legally

By allowing 472,000 Venezuelan migrants to work legally, President Biden took a major step aiding asylum-seekers as border numbers are on the rise.

READ MORE

President Biden welcomes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine on the South Lawn of the White House December 21, 2022. The Ukrainian President visited Washington to meet with Biden and US lawmakers. President Zelenskyy will also address a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol during his first trip outside his country since Russia began its violent invasion of Ukraine in February.

Can Zelenskyy convince Republicans to keep funding the Ukraine war?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington, where he hopes to convince Congress to fund his war effort as a government shutdown looms.

READ MORE

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., stops for reporters' questions about passing a funding bill and avoiding a government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. McCarthy is trying to win support from right-wing Republicans by including spending cuts and conservative proposals for border security and immigration.

Trump supports government shutdown, adds pressure to House GOP fight

With nine days to avoid a government shutdown, lawmakers remain engulfed in spending fights. Here are the new challenges they face.

READ MORE

In this photo released on Aug. 11, 2022, by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani speaks in Tehran, Iran.

Are freed Iranians in prisoner swap more of a threat than Biden says?

In a deal to free five Americans being held in Iran, Joe Biden released five Iranians, some of whom experts say could be threats to national security.

READ MORE