What to Watch at Tonight’s Debate

Republicans will have their long-awaited chance to debate without Donald Trump Thursday night, but his presence will be felt on stage even in his absence. The move gives GOP candidates the opportunity to beat up on Trump without his characteristic retorts, but may end up as a food fight between the candidates hoping to become the lead alternative to the bombastic front-runner. For Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, who are on the ascendance, the debate will be an opportunity to make a closing case to Iowa voters before the caucuses on Monday, but they will have to fend off assaults from the rest of the stage, which views the debate as a placeholder until the real campaign begins in earnest in New Hampshire.

Cruz’s super PAC and Carly Fiorina‘s campaign are separately pledging $1.5 million and $2 million respectively to veterans charities if Trump debates with their candidates—an idea that sounds better on paper than it does in practice. Playing games with veterans groups, even as Trump does the same, has the potential to backfire with voters.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi dismisses portions of Bernie Sanders’s tax and health-care agenda, saying Wednesday “It’s not going to happen,” helping bolster Hillary Clinton‘s argument that her chief rival is neither pragmatic nor electable. Sanders praised President Obama after their meeting Wednesday, but Obama’s public statements have made clear his preference is for his former secretary of state.

Ben Carson‘s writes-off his most trusted adviser. Fox moderator Megyn Kelly tells TIME she won’t let the Trump drama affect her duties. Jeb Bush says the fight against Trump is bigger than his own campaign. And a new ad accuses Trump of supporting amnesty for those in the U.S. illegally.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Why Trump Will Still Dominate the Republican Debate
Even if he’s not on stage, his presence will be felt [TIME]

Megyn Kelly Unfazed By Trump Drama
She says she will keep asking hard questions at Thursday’s debate, she tells TIME’s Philip Elliott

Bush Mocks Trump Decision to Skip Debate
Says taking on Trump is more important than his campaign [TIME]

How Trump and Sanders Voters Are Upending U.S Politics
TIME’s Philip Elliott sets the stage for Iowa

In Iowa’s Final Stretch, Clinton Pivots Away From Attacking Rival Sanders
It’s contrast, not attack [Washington Post]

Clinton Foundation on Collision Course With Campaign
Charity officials are under pressure to scale back lavish events [Politico]

Sound Off

“My case against Trump is the case to protect the conservative cause because I’ve lived it, I love it, and I believe in it, and I’ve spent my adult life advocating for it in all sorts of ways. And so, this goes beyond my campaign. I don’t know if it’s good for me or bad for me.” — Jeb Bush at an Iowa town hall Wednesday

“Armstrong is not necessarily the epitome of truth. He doesn’t speak all things that are correct. He often speaks without thinking. He has no official capacity in the campaign whatsoever. His influence has been vastly overrated.” — Ben Carson said during a breakfast with reporters hosted by Bloomberg on his closest adviser, Armstrong Williams

Bits and Bites

Ted Cruz Is Selling ‘Make Trump Debate Again’ Hats [TIME]

Trump Accused of Backing Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants in TV Ad [Wall Street Journal]

Marco Rubio Gets Religious in New Campaign Ad [TIME]

Donald Trump Doesn’t Back Down From the Fox Feud On The O’Reilly Factor [TIME]

Meet the Sassy Senator Campaigning Against Donald Trump [TIME]

Cory Booker ‘Angered’ by Chris Christie’s Tack in Presidential Race [TIME]

Bernie Sanders Did Not Ask Obama to Endorse Him at the White House [TIME]

Pelosi Dismisses Portions of Sanders’s Tax and Health-Care Agenda [Washington Post]

The Admiral in Charge of Navy Intelligence Has Not Been Allowed to See Military Secrets for Years [Washington Post]

Joe Klein: Rush. Trump. Cruz. Fox News. Can the Republican Party Avoid a Crack-Up? [TIME]

Predicting Which Presidential Candidates Will Win by How Good Their Volunteer Jobs Are [TIME]

Ben Carson’s Campaign Beset With Frustration, Disappointment and Grief [New York Times]