The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1:

• On Wednesday night during a campaign appearance in Windham, NH, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced he is suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. A recently released University of New Hampshire/CNN poll indicates Haley is trailing former President Donald Trump by only seven-points in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary—39% to 32%. Interestingly, Christie is garnering 12% support. Could Christie’s absence put Haley over the top in NH?
• Just prior to announcing the suspension of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, Chris Christie was caught on a hot microphone saying that Nikki Haley is going to be “smoked” in the upcoming Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. Does this make endorsing Haley, as many presumed he would, impossible now?
• On Thursday, Donald Trump’s team delivered its closing arguments in a civil fraud trial in which New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the former president inflated the value of assets controlled by the Trump Organization in past financial statements. If Trump loses the case, he could face up to $370 million in fines and penalties as well as being permanently prohibited from doing business in the state of New York. Notably, in 2018, while campaigning to become Attorney General, James vowed to “sue” Trump—providing evidence to the defense’s argument that this civil suit is entirely political.
• Jonah E. Bromwich, Ben Protess, and Kate Christobek of The New York Times write: “Donald J. Trump on Thursday delivered abrupt remarks in his own defense on the final day of his civil fraud trial in Manhattan, attacking the New York attorney general, who brought the case, insulting the judge to his face and declaring himself ‘an innocent man.’Mr. Trump’s remarks…lasted only minutes, during which he impugned the attorney general, Letitia James, a Democrat, saying she ‘hates Trump and uses Trump to get elected.’ He also took aim at the judge, Arthur F. Engoron, remarking, ‘You have your own agenda, I certainly understand that.’ He added, as the judge stared stonily at him, ‘You can’t listen for more than one minute.’ Justice Engoron instructed the former president’s lawyer to ‘control your client.’ But Mr. Trump continued until the lunch break, at which point he stopped as suddenly as he had started. The episode ushered in a dramatic conclusion to a monthslong trial that has enraged the former president and threatens his family business.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial