Polybius
Polybius's Journal2028 Presidential Nominations polls
2028 Presidential NominationsAmong those “Certain to vote” for the nomination, Vice President Vance’s support increases to 48.7% compared to only a 0.1% gain for Governor DeSantis to 9.6%. The gain is even more pronounced among those “Extremely Enthusiastic” to vote, where the vice president takes a commanding 52.8% to 9.2% lead over the governor.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also maintained her lead for the 2028 Democratic Presidential Nomination, though it could hardly be considered a dominant lead compared to current Vice President JD Vance across the aisle. Harris edges out California Governor Gavin Newsom, 31.4% to 22.2%. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg trails in third at 11.7% and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez surpassed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for fourth, 6.4% to 6.1%.
https://www.bigdatapoll.com/blog/democrats-solidify-lead-over-republicans-on-first-2026-generic-ballot/
While I'm not surprised that Vance leads the GOP field, Harris overtaking Newsom is wild to me. Obviously though, whoever wins our nomination will be great.
Uber and DoorDash Lose Bid to Quash NYC Tipping Law
Source: PYMNTS
Delivery companies have reportedly lost their bid to halt New York City’s new tipping law.
Uber and DoorDash had asked a judge for an injunction to block the new law, which requires food delivery apps to offer customers the option to tip delivery workers, Reuters reported Friday (Jan. 23).
According to the report, U.S. District Judge George Daniels in Manhattan said the companies did not demonstrate a clear likelihood of succeeding on their claims that the laws, including a requirement that they recommend a minimum tip of 10%, violated their First Amendment rights to free speech.
DoorDash and Uber sued to block the law last month. It requires platforms such as theirs to ask customers to tip during checkout rather than delivery and to display suggested tip amounts.
Read more: https://www.pymnts.com/news/delivery/2026/uber-and-doordash-lose-bid-to-quash-nyc-tipping-law/
Supreme Court rules House Republican can challenge mail ballot deadline
7-2, Kagan joined the conservatives.
The justices ruled 7-2 that Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) has the legal right to sue Illinois over its ability to count mail-in ballots received after Election Day, a practice targeted by President Trump and his allies.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion over the dissents of two of the court’s liberals: Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“Candidates, in short, are not ‘mere bystanders’ in their own elections,” Roberts wrote. “They have an obvious personal stake in how the result is determined and regarded.”
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5688500-mail-in-ballot-lawsuit-revived/
Bill and Hillary Clinton refuse to testify in House Epstein probe, could be held in contempt
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Bill and Hillary Clinton on Tuesday refused to testify in a Republican-led congressional investigation of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying it was a partisan exercise.
"Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences," the Clintons wrote in a letter to Republican Representative James Comer, who chairs the House of Representatives Oversight Committee. "For us, now is that time."
Comer said the committee will meet next week to hold former Democratic President Bill Clinton in contempt. That could potentially lead to criminal charges.
A committee spokesperson said the panel will also begin contempt proceedings against Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, if she does not appear before the panel on Wednesday.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/bill-hillary-clinton-refuse-testify-house-epstein-probe-2026-01-13/
Sen. Fetterman: Greenland has 'massive strategic benefits' for U.S.
"I believe Greenland has massive strategic benefits for the United States. I do not support taking it by force. America is not a bully. Ideally, we purchase it—similar to our purchases of Alaska or the Louisiana Purchase. Acquiring Greenland is a many decades old conversation."
The statement comes as the White House recently announced that the Trump administration is weighing “options” to take control of Greenland, an island rich in minerals and strategically well-located for U.S. interests. The White House even said Tuesday that the “U.S. military is always an option.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a joint statement alongside multiple European leaders in response to the Trump administration’s remarks, saying, “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania/sen-fetterman-greenland-has-massive-strategic-benefits-for-u-s/
https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/2008958683632353758
Iran hangs alleged Israeli spy, leans into anti-Western bluster as it tries to quell deadly protests
Source: CBS News
Iran executed a man by hanging on Wednesday who was convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, the country's state-run IRNA news agency said. The news came as the Islamic Republic's leaders grappled for ways to end continuing street protests that have drawn a threat of U.S. intervention by President Trump.
Ali Ardestani was hanged Wednesday after being convicted of providing Israeli intelligence "with images and photos of specific locations and information on target subjects, and received amounts in the form of digital currency at the end of each mission," IRNA said.
Iranian authorities hold trials behind closed doors, and no evidence against Ardestani was made public. Iran executed more than 1,000 people last year— the highest number of executions in the country since 1989, according to Amnesty International.
The latest execution comes as Iran's hardline Islamic clerical rulers face the most significant domestic unrest seen in the country in several years. Nationwide protests against the autocratic regime entered their 11th day on Wednesday.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-protests-us-trump-threat-deaths-mount/
Venezuela's Interim Leader Defies Trump and Calls Maduro the 'Only President'
Source: NY Times
President Trump said Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president and would act as a partner in letting the United States run the country.
Less than two hours later, Ms. Rodríguez — who was Nicolás Maduro’s vice president — delivered a televised address to Venezuela that made clear she viewed the United States as an illegal invader that must be rejected.
“We are determined to be free,” she said. “What is being done to Venezuela is a barbarity.”
Her swift defiance of Mr. Trump made clear that his plans to swoop into the South American nation and run it as his own faced many more hurdles than he suggested in his Saturday news conference declaring victory in Venezuela.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/world/americas/delcy-rodriguez-maduro-only-president.html
Wow!
Welp, so much for losing the world's support
France supports this.
https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2007525386977194040
Debbie Wasserman Schultz wants opposition leaders installed to replace Nicols Maduro in Venezuela
“I am really glad that Maduro has been arrested, that he’s going to be held accountable for his crimes, which include crimes against humanity as well as narco-trafficking crimes, so I’m not shedding any tears that his reign of terror is over,” Wasserman Schultz said. “But to replace one unelected regime with another, which apparently Donald Trump has decided is him, is wildly inappropriate.”
Most political observers agree Gonzalez received more votes in that contest. Yet Maduro remained in power, sworn into another term last year. The election followed Maduro threatening the arrest of other political opposition, including María Corina Machado, a political party leader removed from the ballot.
“The Venezuelan people voted to elect Edmundo Gonzalez as president and supported their political party overwhelmingly, with nearly 70% of the vote,” Wasserman Schultz said. “Donald Trump today said in his press conference that, I mean, he had the audacity to say that Maria Corina Machado is a nice woman, but has no support in the country. That is an inexplicable thing to say that is not reflective of the truth.”
Read more...
So who's in charge of Venezuela now?
Is it Delcy Rodríguez, the Vice President? Or will María Corina Machado be installed? 
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