The Edge: All Eyes on New Hampshire
Today in One Paragraph
New Hampshire residents headed to the polls to cast their ballot in the first-in-the-nation primary. President Obama sent his eighth and final budget to Congress. In a Senate hearing, top U.S. intelligence officials warned of looming threats from both ISIS and North Korea. The International Energy Agency said demand for oil is expected to slow down. And more than 40,000 released felons in Maryland now have the right to vote.
Top News
Primary Watch. The polls in New Hampshire close between 7 and 8 p.m. ET. Follow along for live coverage of the results as they come in tonight here. (The Atlantic staff)
Dead on Arrival. President Obama submitted his $4 trillion budget proposal to a Republican-controlled Congress, which included a multi-billion dollar cyber-security initiative. Just a few days ago, Republicans in both the House and Senate budget committees snubbed the administration by announcing that they would not grant a hearing for the proposal. (Jackie Calmes, The New York Times)
Recommended: The 2016 Presidential Cheat Sheet: Fiorina and Christie Drop Out
Suffrage for Felons. In a 29-18 vote, the Maryland Senate granted felons the right to vote without having to first complete probation or parole. Supporters say civic responsibility will help felons become reacclimated to society. (Erin Cox, The Baltimore Sun)
On the Hill. In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said that ISIS will likely “attempt to direct attacks on the U.S. homeland in 2016.” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper also noted that North Korea has restarted a plutonium reactor, which could also pose a threat. (Deb Riechmann and Richard Lardner, Associated Press)
A Huge Glut. In its monthly report, the International Energy Agency said that global oil prices are at risk of falling to less than $20 per barrel as a result of limited storage capacity. (Sean Farrell, The Guardian)
Tomorrow in One Paragraph: Most of the presidential hopefuls will head to South Carolina ahead of the state’s primary on February 20. And the House Committee on Foreign Affairs holds a hearing on the Zika virus.
Follow stories throughout the day with our new Politics & Policy page. And keep on top of the campaign with our 2016 Distilled election dashboard.
Top Read:
“Though generally seen as cool-headed and quick on his feet, Rubio is known to friends, allies, and advisers for a kind of incurable anxiousness — and an occasional propensity to panic in moments of crisis, both real and imagined.” BuzzFeed’s McKay Coppins on Marco Rubio’s latest debate performance and what it reveals about the freshman senator.
Top Lines
What Clinton Said. Attendees shared their recollections of Hillary Clinton’s paid speeches to Goldman Sachs, with one person claiming that if the Clinton campaign ever released the transcripts, “It would bury her against Sanders.” (Ben White, Politico)
Recommended: The Supreme Court's Devastating Decision on Climate
Kids These Days. The Atlantic’s Molly Ball examines the youth movement powering Bernie Sanders. “The new campus left has adopted Bernie Sanders as its champion, and now he is riding the wave it has created,” she writes.
Top Views
What to Look Out for in New Hampshire. For a deeper understanding of the nuances between the old mill cities and suburban towns of the Granite State, visit NPR’s “cheat-sheet” on the first-in-the-nation primary. (Dan Barrick)
Do Polls Matter? The Atlantic’s Andrew McGill explains why today’s survey methods so often yield inaccurate results in this short video.
We want to hear from you! We’re reimagining what The Edge can be, and would love to receive your complaints, compliments, and suggestions. Tell us what you’d like to find in your inbox by sending a message to newsletters@theatlantic.com.
Read more from The Atlantic:
This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
