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.

The Democratic Shuffle
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews
Correspondent

Like many things 2019, the traditional end-of-year culling of the presidential field has taken an unusual turn.  

While half a dozen Democrats have now exited the 2020 race (most recently former Congressman Beto O’Rourke and Miramar, Florida Mayor Wayne Messam), two new hopefuls have entered, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

As the names involved continue to shuffle, so too do voter preferences. Here is a quick look at the latest:

Iowa and New Hampshire -- The first two states on the 2020 calendar share another common feature these days: The surge of Pete Buttigieg. In Iowa, the former South Bend, Indiana mayor has blasted from fourth to first in just a month, according to Real Clear Politics.  In the same time period in New Hampshire, Buttigieg has moved from 20 points below Elizabeth Warren to down by just two points, also according to Real Clear Politics.

Nevada and South Carolina -- Something different is happening in states third and fourth in the Democratic voting order. Joe Biden remains on top in both Nevada and South Carolina, according to polling. His lead in the Silver State averages 9 points over Warren, while Biden is a nearly unfathomable 17 points ahead of her, on average, in the Palmetto State. 

Super Tuesday states -- The biggest two prizes on Super Tuesday, California and Texas, are a sharp contrast to one another in recent polls. Golden State Democrats appear undecided, with virtual ties between Biden, Warren and Sanders in recent polls. In Texas, Biden has been outfront on his own since summer.  (One warning to Biden fans about both states: neither has seen a large number of recent polls.)

Nationally --  Across the country as a whole, Biden and Sanders generally lead with Democratic voters. Take, for example, last week’s Emerson Poll which put Biden and Sanders each at 27 percent, with Warren at 20.  Warren and Sanders have swapped second and third spots nationally for months. 

Where Bloomberg hopes to fit -- The billionaire has said he plans to skip the first four states and instead aiming to gain delegates on Super Tuesday, in places like Californina.  Bloomberg is not the first to try the idea of appealing more broadly, ignoring the early states, but it has not yet worked (see Giuliani 2012). 

FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By  Alex D’Elia, @AlexDEliaNews
Politics production assistant

Black leader on South Bend city council endorses Biden over Buttigieg -- Nov. 24. The longest serving African American on South Bend’s Common Council endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for the democratic nomination. Why it matters: The endorsement is sure to be seen as a rebuke of the city’s mayor and Biden’s competitor, Pete Buttigieg, who has acknowledged he is struggling to get support from black voters.  -- The Hill

Her battles with the press corps behind her, Sanders plans a political future -- Nov. 24. The daughter of former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, said last week that she feels like she has been “called” to run for the state’s top office. Why it matters: The former press secretary believes that, whether President Trump wins or loses reelection in 2020, his base will rally around her gubernatorial bid. -- The New York Times

Federal judge blocks Trump administration’s plans to resume executions -- Nov. 21. As a result of the judge’s ruling, four executions set for December and January have been stalled. Why it matters: The administration’s plan to resume federal executions runs counter to recent national trends against the death penalty on the state level.-- The Washington Post

Supreme Court re-enters debate on money in politics by vacating decision on Alaska contribution limits -- Nov. 25. The Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling that limited campaign contributions in Alaska to $500. Why it matters: The justices sent the case back with guidance to reconsider whether or not the limit is consistent with precedents that allow individuals and groups to give to candidates more freely. -- USA Today

The army built to fight ‘Medicare for All’ -- Nov. 25. Democrats’ push for ‘Medicare for All’ has spawned a new pressure group, Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, to fight the movement from behind the scenes. Why it matters: The health care industry is large and influential and will fight efforts to develop a single payer system like Medicare for All. -- POLITICO

#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke
Politics producer

Today, President Donald Trump pardoned Butter, the national turkey, at the White House. A National Thanksgiving Turkey has been presented to the president at the White House since 1947. Who was the first president to offer the bird a “pardon?”

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

Last week, we asked: On this day in 1998, another important public impeachment hearing happened. Independent counsel Ken Starr testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee. 

Our question: How much time passed between Ken Starr’s testimony and the House approving articles of impeachment against Clinton? One month passed. They were approved on December 19, 1998.

Congratulations to our winners: Paula Petruschin!!

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