DeSantis Exits, Weather Whiplash, and Ski Resort Economics

DeSantis Exits Race

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ended his Republican presidential campaign Sunday, two days before the New Hampshire primary. DeSantis, who came in second behind former President Donald Trump in last week's Iowa caucuses by 30 percentage points, announced his exit on X (formerly Twitter) while endorsing Trump. 

DeSantis—once considered an alternative to Trump—was projected to fall behind the former president as well as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in New Hampshire. The latest polling data before DeSantis dropped out showed Trump with 49.8% of the votes, Haley with 36.1%, and DeSantis with 5.8%. In Iowa, Haley and DeSantis were two percentage points apart.

Observers say the support DeSantis would have garnered from New Hampshire is likely to go to Trump, widening Trump's lead in the state. Haley, who was endorsed by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, is turning to independent voters for support.  

New Hampshire is also holding a Democratic primary Tuesday, though President Joe Biden won't appear on the ballot. The Democratic National Committee, at Biden's request, had instead selected South Carolina as its first primary of 2024, set for Feb. 3. 

Middle East on Edge

The fallout from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war continued to roil the Middle East over the weekend. Israeli airstrikes near a Lebanese army checkpoint in south Lebanon killed a Hezbollah member Sunday, while five senior members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps were killed Saturday in Syria. Iran vowed to retaliate against Israel, which it claims was behind the attack in Syria; Israel hasn't confirmed or denied involvement. In western Iraq, US and Iraqi troops were wounded after Iranian-backed militants known as the Islamic Resistance fired at an air base.

In Gaza, fighting continued in the southern city of Khan Younis, with the total death toll surpassing 25,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Israel has reportedly killed 20% to 30% of Hamas' militants, US intelligence officials said. Hamas was estimated to have about 25,000 to 30,000 total fighters before the war.

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he rejected a hostage-release plan from Hamas that included Israel fully withdrawing from Gaza and leaving Hamas in power. At least 136 hostages remain in Hamas captivity. Hostage talks with the US, Qatar, and Egypt are expected to continue this week. 

See updates on the war here.

Fatal Nationwide Freeze

Over 80 people died amid a nationwide cold snap over the past week as arctic air pushed south as far as Texas and Florida. Frigid temperatures and ice storms are expected in much of the eastern two-thirds of the country today before a rapid rise in temperatures later in the week, a weather seesaw likely to prompt flooding. 

Ice storms left nearly 50,000 households without power over the weekend in Oregon, where a state of emergency was declared. Memphis, Tennessee, set a daily record low last week as several water mains burst and prompted a citywide boil advisory. LaPorte County in Indiana saw a record 2 feet of lake-effect snow Friday, while football fans in Buffalo, New York, were once again tasked with shoveling snow from the Bills' Highmark Stadium ahead of last night's NFL playoff game. 

Seventy percent of winter weather-related deaths occur in vehicle accidents, and the majority of victims are men over the age of 40. Learn more here. 

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