It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy.

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Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy. We think of it as a mini-magazine in your inbox.

WATCH THESE 9 LEADERS IN 2024
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews ([link removed])
Correspondent

Happy New Year!

We are resolved to give 2024 a chance. Sure, it looks daunting. But because we breathe, we hope. For now.

But for politicians, we will put it this way: 2024 is poised to be a defining year.

We thought it a good time to list those we are watching most closely throughout this election year. For these nine, 2024 could be politically existential as they navigate difficult waters within their parties and with the nation as a whole.
* Speaker Mike Johnson. His tests come early, with a Jan. 19 deadline ([link removed]) to fund much of the government and a potentially no-win decision on whether to pass more funding for Ukraine, along with a potentially complex border and immigration deal.
* President Joe Biden. The best thing Republicans who want to retake the White House have going for them is the unpopularity of the current president ([link removed]) . Democrats continue to scratch their heads about the disconnect here. The country has a relatively strong economy, with inflation dropping and most Americans doing well on paper. But polling shows there is real unease about the economy and real doubts about Biden’s mental fitness ([link removed]) — something Republicans have and will focus on more.
* Vice President Kamala Harris. If concerns about Biden’s abilities continue, so will the pressure and limelight on his running mate, the next in line to the presidency. Her name and career are also on the line this year.
* Former President Donald Trump. Constitutional questions keep rising ([link removed]) around his candidacy ([link removed]) , and he faces 91 felony counts ([link removed]) in four major criminal cases. While Trump remains well ahead in the Republican field, the past Congressional election revealed deep-seated concerns about Trump’s potential to undermine American democracy. (See also: Trump’s anti-democratic rhetoric ([link removed]) .) He has defied political rules his entire career, but can he keep enough voters on his team?

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Watch the segment in the player above.
* Mitch McConnell. The past year has prompted a series of questions ([link removed]) about one of the longest-serving ([link removed]) current senators ([link removed]) , including about his health and ability to remain as Senate Republican leader.
* Kyrsten Sinema. The Arizona independent senator has been a central figure in the chamber, key to major compromises in the past few years. But a large crowd of Democrats want her out of office, seeing Sinema —along with West Virginia’s Joe Manchin — as a Republican apologist who blocked Democratic chances ([link removed]) at breaking the filibuster and enacting federal protections for abortion after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. (The reality on that issue is not that simple, but she has enemies on the left.) The next decision is Sinema’s. Candidates for U.S. Senate in Arizona can file starting March 9 and must have completed paperwork by April 8.
* Bob Menendez. In contrast to Sinema, Menendez’s fate is not remotely in his own hands. The New Jersey senator faces four counts in a corruption and bribery case. He has pleaded not guilty. In 2018, he survived a previous set of corruption charges ([link removed]) , which ended in a partial acquittal and partial hung jury. This latest case, whichinvolves gold bars ([link removed]) found in Menendez’s home, is sure to make headlines either way. His trial begins in May.
* Kari Lake. The former journalist lost her race for Arizona governor ([link removed]) in 2022 by less than a percentage point. Lake earned nearly 1.3 million votes in that election, a total that would have been enough to win a Senate seat in 2018 ([link removed]) . No surprise: She isnow running for U.S. Senate, ([link removed]) in a race of critical importance to Republicans’ hopes of retaking the chamber. At the same time, from our reporting, she remains in the inner ring of contenders to be a potential running mate for Trump. Should she fail at both, it is hard to see where Lake — who has not held any political office yet — goes in the world of elected office. For few politicians does 2024 hold the possibility for higher heights or lower nadirs.
* Ronna McDaniel. The Republican National Committee chair has survived a rocky back-and-forth with Trump and his team, including his refusal to participate in GOP primary debates. From our reporting, the RNC is not the power and fundraising center it once was. Also, should there be any election-year issues that Republicans can’t blame on Democrats, McDaniel remains a clear target for dissatisfied members of team Trump.

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Do you have your eyes on rising leaders or those facing a pivotal year? Or do you have any questions about any political leaders in Congress right now? Send us your thoughts and questions to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . Your responses will help guide our coverage this election year.
More on politics from our coverage:
* Watch: The first 2024 primary votes are just weeks away. NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter discuss what’s at stake ([link removed]) .
* One Big Question: Two states are trying to block Trump from the GOP primary ballot in 2 states. The legal process is still playing out. Can he still run for president? ([link removed])
* A Closer Look: How state ballot measures in 2024 could drive voter turnout and change the future of elections ([link removed]) .
* Perspectives: A look back at the biggest news events that shaped 2023 ([link removed]) and made history.

#POLITICSTRIVIA
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Watch the video in the player above.

By Ali Schmitz, @SchmitzMedia ([link removed])
Politics Producer

Another politician who is facing a pivotal year is Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who is currently fighting for a second-place finish ([link removed]) in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

On the campaign trail, the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador frequently praises women political leaders who influenced her ([link removed]) , like Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, and Golda Meir, the first woman to be prime minister of Israel. But Haley also considers one rock ‘n’ roll legend as a role model, saying her music has been a source of motivation throughout her career.

Our question: Which famous musician does Haley call her idol?

Send your answers to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.

Last week, we asked: Who was the last president to hold the New Year’s Day reception at the White House?

The answer: Herbert Hoover ([link removed]) . The last New Year’s Day shindig was held in 1932. And according to the White House Historical Association, a man who was often first in line for many receptions waited at the White House gates in 1934 because he “wanted to make sure the president hadn’t changed his mind.” (Sorry, dude!)

Congratulations to our winners: Brenda Radford and Barry Weinstein!

Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your inbox next week.
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