Sunday shows preview: Foreign aid, border bill in limbo; GOP candidates fight for Iowa

Aid for Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars will likely be the focus of this week’s Sunday news shows, as the assistance has been in limbo as Senate Republicans demand more attention be given to the border.

While the House adjourned for its holiday break, the Senate will return Monday with the hopes of striking a deal for the border to unlock aid for Ukraine before Christmas.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) decided Thursday to keep members in town so negotiators have more time to seek a deal on President Biden’s multi-billion-dollar supplemental aid package to be sent to Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific countries and for humanitarian purposes in Gaza.

Negotiations have been going on for weeks, but only recently have Biden administration officials pressed the upper chamber about passing aid. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with Senate negotiators this week and reportedly made progress.

However, Republicans argued not enough progress was made to warrant keeping them in Washington and the deal would be struck after the break.

Democrats are deeply divided over the potential border deal, fearing that it will include harsh asylum policy reforms including expelling migrants without asylum screenings and expanding detention and deportation.

They are worried that Schumer will rush the border security deal to the floor to vote on the emergency foreign aid package and pass aid for Ukraine.

It will likely be the focus of Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” since House Homeland Security Committee Chair Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) is expected to appear. CBS’ “Face the Nation” will likely focus on the latter half of the deal, with Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. joining.

Even if the Senate were to agree on the border and aid deal, since the House is out, any vote might not happen until January unless Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) calls members back.

The Republican presidential candidates are also likely going to be a focus of the shows on Sunday, as the remaining candidates gear up for the Iowa caucuses and the primaries.

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley will be on ABC’s “This Week,” and will likely speak about her steady increase of support. She still trails former President Trump but has made gains nationally after several strong debate performances.

The Iowa caucuses are set to begin on Jan. 15. According to polling from The Hill’s partner Decision Desk HQ, Trump is leading the other candidates with about 50 percent of the vote in the state.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is coming in second, with 18.7 percent, and Haley is closely behind with 16.8 percent. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy currently sits in fourth with 5.6 percent of the vote. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is coming in last with 3.8 percent support.

Christie, one of the most vocal anti-Trump candidates, will appear on CBS as well and likely will speak about the primary and his positioning.

He has faced increased pressure from Republicans to drop out and allow for a clear path for Haley or DeSantis. In September, he said he would leave the race if he didn’t do well in New Hampshire.

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” ­– Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Gov. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

NBC’s “Meet the Press” – Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).

CBS’ “Face the Nation” – Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas),  Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee.

CNN’s “State of the Union” – Christie; Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

“Fox News Sunday” – Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)

Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” – House Ways and Means Committee Chair Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), House Homeland Security Committee Chair Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), former U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson, former Department of Defense Chief of Staff Kash Patel and Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz.

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