These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, February 5, 2020:
- IOWA CAUCUSES: The full results from Iowa still aren’t in after a full-blown technical meltdown, but partial voting numbers show that Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders are in the lead with about two-thirds of precincts reporting. Elizabeth Warren is in third, with Joe Biden — the one-time national front runner — collapsing in fourth place. Live results
- STATE OF THE UNION: THE SPEECH: America’s bitter partisan divide was on full display for President Trump’s third State of the Union address, which included boycotts and walk-outs from some Democrats, chants of “Four more years!” from Republicans, and ended with Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripping up a copy of the president’s speech behind his shoulder (earlier, Trump appeared to snub Pelosi’s handshake). The president did not mention impeachment in the speech, which focused on “the end of American decline” and served as the starting gun for his re-election pitch. The Washington Post
- STATE OF THE UNION: DEM RESPONSE: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan delivered the official Democratic response. She focused her remarks on “dinner table issues” like infrastructure, though she also alluded to impeachment, saying “no one should be above the law.” The Hill
- IMPEACHMENT VOTE TODAY: Senators will vote on whether to acquit or convict President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress today. The president is unlikely to lose any Republican votes, with Sen. Susan Collins indicating she will vote to acquit. Meanwhile, the impeachment trial has done little to dent Trump’s approval numbers. According to the latest national polling, he’s currently at 49 percent — the highest of his presidency. Gallup
- CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE: The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak is approaching 500, with 25,000 cases now confirmed worldwide. Meanwhile, more than 3,700 passengers on a cruise ship in Tokyo are under quarantine, where they may be forced to remain for another two weeks on the anchored ship. Passengers on another ship docked off of Hong Kong are also being tested for the virus. Guardian
- LEFTOVERS: WENDY’S BREAKFAST Wendy’s has said it was going to bring back breakfast, and now we have a launch date: the fast-food chain will launch a nationwide breakfast menu on March 2. The menu will include a maple bacon chicken croissant, a sausage and egg burrito, and Frosty-cchinos. Wendy’s has tried to expand to breakfast in the past, but found it was too expensive. Adweek
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