Iowa, Emmy Awards, and Chicago's Rat Hole

Caucus Day

Former President Donald Trump won the Republican caucus in the Hawkeye State yesterday, garnering 51% of the votes after caucusgoers faced icy temperatures and cast their ballots for the first test of the 2024 presidential primary season. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in second place (21.2%), ahead of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (19.1%). Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (7.7%) ended his campaign and endorsed Trump. See full results here.

The Iowa caucus (see history) is typically recognized as having a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of presidential campaigns, either building or breaking a candidate's momentum. However, winners of the caucuses aren't always the eventual nominees of their party, as was the case in the GOP races in 2008, 2012, and 2016, and the Democratic race in 2020. See a breakdown here.

This year's fight to win the Iowa Republican caucus was the most expensive on record, with candidates' campaigns and affiliated political action committees pouring in more than $120M on ads in the state; Haley spent the most at $37M. Yesterday also marked the coldest caucus day on record, as an arctic blast swept across the US.

German Farmers Protest

German farmers continued weeklong protests in Berlin yesterday, with over 10,000 protesters and roughly 5,000 tractors blocking roads in the city's center. The protests stem from government plans first announced in December to end several farming subsidies to help fill a funding gap in this year's federal budget. 

Germany's three-party coalition found itself in need of $65B in November after a judge ruled their plan to allocate unused pandemic emergency funds in the budget was unconstitutional. To plug the gap, lawmakers abolished a 70-year-old tax break on farmers' diesel fuel, a move expected to cost farms an average of $3,300 annually. The plan also nixed subsidies on electric vehicles and solar energy earlier than planned. In light of the protests, the government reinstated some tax relief for farmers early this month.

The protests follow separate agricultural demonstrations in Spain, France, and the Netherlands in recent years as farmers respond to increased costs and weakening public support. 

Emmys Arrive

The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, returned last night after being postponed four months due to last year's Hollywood writers and actors strikes. 

HBO's "Succession" swept up six awards, including best drama (for the third time) and best actor and actress in a drama (Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook). FX's "The Bear" also nabbed six awards, including best comedy, best actor in a comedy (Jeremy Allen White), and best supporting actor and supporting actress in a comedy (Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri). Netflix's "Beef" picked up five awards, including best limited series and best actor and actress in a limited series (Steven Yeun and Ali Wong). 

Elton John won an Emmy for outstanding variety special for “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium," achieving EGOT—Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony—status. "Abbott Elementary" star Quinta Brunson became the second Black woman to win best actress in a comedy. 

See the full list of winners here, along with the biggest snubs and surprises of the night here.

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