WHAT'S BREWING
4 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE IN IOWA The debate saw little in the way of new dividing lines between the candidates and nothing likely to dramatically change voters’ minds. The candidates appeared mostly OK with the 2020 status quo, Warren and Sanders survived their beef, missing candidates meant missing issues, and Biden slid by. [HuffPost]
SCOTUS HINTS BRIDGEGATE CONVICTIONS ON THIN ICE U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical about the criminal prosecution of two associates of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who are appealing their convictions in the “Bridgegate” scandal involving retribution against a local mayor who refused to endorse Christie. [Reuters]
VIRGINIA GOV. TO BAN GUNS FROM CAPITOL Fearing a repeat of the deadly violence that engulfed Charlottesville more than two years ago, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam plans to declare a temporary emergency banning all weapons, including guns, from Capitol Square ahead of a massive rally planned next week over gun rights. [AP]
FLYNN WANTS TO WITHDRAW GUILTY PLEA Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser, filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea after federal prosecutors recommended he serve up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. [HuffPost]
STEPHEN MILLER ECHOES WHITE NATIONALISTS A new series of leaked emails show senior White House adviser Stephen Miller echoing disturbing white nationalist talking points. In the emails, obtained by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Miller attacks fellow Republicans who have supported the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, rooting his criticism in ideas common in white supremacist literature. [HuffPost]
UN PLAN CALLS FOR PROTECTING 30% OF EARTH BY 2030 To reverse the rapid loss of species around the globe, world governments should protect nearly one-third of all lands and oceans and slash major sources of pollution by the end of the decade, according to a new United Nations proposal. [HuffPost] | 
