How Trump is Attacking Cruz

Feeling the heat in Iowa, Donald Trump is renewing his “birther” criticism of Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada to American parents. Cruz shrugged off the criticism Tuesday as aides said the attack was a sign their candidate was solidifying his lead in Iowa. Trump, meanwhile, continues to use the media as a punching bag at his rallies, calling out individual members of the press to rile up his supporters.

The GOP ad war continues to heat up as Chris Christie is firing back against an assault by Marco Rubio with a new ad Wednesday that both calls out Rubio for attacking Christie and seeks to position Christie on the high road by noting his focus on attacking Hillary Clinton.

North Korea’s claim that it carried out a hydrogen bomb test is already causing Republican presidential candidates to issue statements critical of President Obama‘s foreign policy. The U.S. has yet to confirm the test, but Rubio called it the “latest example of the failed Obama-Clinton foreign policy,” adding, “Our enemies around the world are taking advantage of Obama’s weakness. We need new leadership that will stand up.”

Jeb Bush gets emotional about drug addiction. Rand Paul tells off seniors on raising the retirement age. And the South Carolina governor will deliver the State of the Union response.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

How Women Secretly Won the Hobby Lobby Fight
More from TIME’s Jay Newton-Small’s new book

Bernie Sanders Volunteers Develop Canvassing App
It’s called Field the Bern, TIME’s Sam Frizell reports

Why Obama Cries Over Gun Control
TIME’s Maya Rhodan on the president’s frustrations

Donald Trump’s Anti-Media Campaign
TIME’s Philip Elliott on how the GOP front-runner uses the press to rile up his supporters

Trump Says Cruz’s Canadian Birth Could Be ‘Very Precarious’ for GOP
Under pressure in Iowa, Trump finds another angle of attack [Washington Post]

Donald Trump’s Low-Energy Campaign
While rivals blitz early states, he maintains his leisurely pace — and his polling lead [Politico]

Sound Off

“Look, you’ve got to have real security with the voting system. This voting system is out of control. You have people, in my opinion, that are voting many, many times. They don’t want security, they don’t want cards.” — Donald Trump in New Hampshire Tuesday suggesting there is a widespread voter fraud in the U.S., despite the fact that researchers have found little evidence of it

“I’m not gleefully jumping up and down about raising the age. It’s not very popular” — Rand Paul in New Hampshire Tuesday explaining why he’s supporting raising the retirement age for Social Security

Bits and Bites

Psst: Illegal Immigration Is Actually Declining [TIME]

Hillary Clinton Announces Plan to Address Autism [TIME]

Jeb Bush Pens an Emotional Essay on His Family’s Struggle With Drug Addiction [People]

Rand Paul Tells Seniors He Would Change Social Security [TIME]

Inside the Decision to Open Up the Frontlines to Women [TIME]

Gov. Nikki Haley to Deliver GOP Response to Obama’s State of the Union [The State]

Christie Hits Back: Rubio Can’t ‘Slime His Way to the White House’ [Washington Post]

Ted Cruz Shrugs Off Donald Trump’s Questioning His Citizenship [New York Times]

Ted Cruz Ad Envisions an Influx of Bankers Crossing the Border [New York Times]

Trump Fumes as Cruz Steals Wall Mojo [Politico]