Tuesday morning news: January 16, 2024

Iowa caucuses » Donald Trump wins big in the first-in-the-nation caucuses. The former president won roughly half of all the votes cast.

TRUMP: We want to thank the great people of Iowa. Thank you. We love you all. What a turnout. What a crowd.

But former ambassador Nikki Haley had her share of supporters finishing 3rd with just under 20 percent of the vote. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished just ahead of Haley, topping 20 percent.

That as caucus-goers braved sub-zero temperatures. And WORLD’s Carolina Lumetta did as well. She was on the ground in Sioux Center, Iowa, and has this report.

CAROLINA LUMETTA: Turnout was down among the three precincts that gathered at Terrace View Events Center here in Sioux Center.

Officials expected nearly 700 people, but only about half that number showed up.

Once inside the heated auditorium Iowans got a chance to grab a microphone and make one final pitch on behalf of their chosen candidate.

Voters then checked a box on a small piece of paper and dropped it into a box.

At this location, Ron DeSantis was the candidate of choice. He inched ahead of Trump by five votes. Several supporters told me they were impressed by his record in Florida and his Christian messaging.

But each one also said they’ll support Trump if he’s the eventual nominee.

Vivek Ramaswamy received 24 votes here and less than eight percent statewide. Roughly three hours later, he suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.

For WORLD, I’m Carolina Lumetta, reporting from Sioux Center, Iowa.

Weather » While Iowans braved sub-zero temperatures last night en route to caucuses across the state millions of other Americans are cranking up the heat and staying put.

In Kentucky, many parts of the state are buried under a blanket of snow. Gov. Andy Beshear warned on Monday.

BESHEAR: It is so cold and will be so cold that it is tough for the salt and other treatments for the roads to work, meaning roads could be slick anywhere throughout Kentucky.

He said the National Guard would be on standby to help stranded motorists.

Nearly half of all Americans, roughly 150 million people were under a winter weather advisory or warning last night.

Lloyd Austin released » Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is out of the hospital. Austin was discharged yesterday from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The defense secretary had been hospitalized for two weeks due to complications from prostate cancer surgery.

That wasn’t just news to the press, it was also news to the president. Neither the White House nor Congress was notified of his cancer until days after he was admitted.

He’s expected to work remotely before resuming his role at the Pentagon.

U.N. Secretary General on Gaza aid » United Nations chief Antonio Guterres is renewing his criticism of Israel amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

GUTERRES: The United Nations and our partners cannot effectively deliver humanitarian aid while Gaza is under such heavy, widespread, and unrelenting bombardment. This endangers the lives of those who receive aid and those who deliver it.

He added, “Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

The United States is also pressuring Israel to scale back military operations in Gaza in favor of much more targeted strikes. But the U.S. State Dept. has also called out U.N. leaders for what it says has been one-sided criticism amid the war largely ignoring the Hamas terror group’s practice of using civilians as human shields.

Houthi strikes » For the first time Houthi rebels have successfully targeted a U.S. ship just off the coast of Yemen.

Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree:

SAREE: [Speaking Arabic]

Saree saying there that Yemen’s armed forces scored a precise and direct missile strike on the vessel in the Gulf of Aden yesterday.

But the Defense Department says no one was injured, there was very little damage, and the Gibraltar Eagle went on about its business.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced tough questions in Parliament yesterday over last week’s joint British and U.S. airstrike on Houthi targets.

Some in the government called for more Parliamentary oversight and restraint in the Middle East.

Sunak countered that:

SUNAK: We should also recognize the risks of inaction. It would weaken international security and the rule of law, further damage freedom of navigation in the global economy and send a dangerous message that British vessels and British interests are fair game.

The U.S. carried out another strike on Saturday.

House Could Punt On Hunter » House Republicans might not hold President Biden’s son in contempt of Congress after all. WORLD’s Alex Carmenaty explains.

ALEX CARMENATY: Hunter Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell told the leaders of the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees that his client would agree to a closed-door meeting if a new subpoena was issued.

Last month, he defied a subpoena to testify at a closed-door meeting demanding the hearing be held in public.

GOP lawmakers want to question him about President Biden’s involvement in his son’s foreign business dealings.

The House will vote this week on whether to hold Hunter Biden in contempt unless a deal is reached for a closed-door interview.

For WORLD, I’m Alex Carmenaty.

I'm Kristen Flavin.

Straight ahead: results from the first caucus and what they mean for the race ahead. Plus, a pioneer in snow crystal photography.

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