How to Watch the Iowa Caucuses

Welcome to caucus day.

Iowa voters will head to their locations beginning at 6:30 p.m. Central, with the doors shutting and the business of beginning to select the next president beginning at 7 p.m. Central. Participants first elect a caucus chairman, someone to govern the proceedings, before listening to short speeches on behalf of the candidates, and only then do they make their preference known. Republicans use a secret ballot, while Democrats vote with their feet, physically moving to different corners of the room (and they may change their mind by simply walking to another corner). Results should begin filtering in around 8 p.m. Central. Republican results will be in the form of raw vote totals, which will then divide up the binding of the 30 delegates (of 2,472) Iowa sends to the Republican National Convention. Democratic results will be in the form of precinct delegates, which move through the county and district conventions to select national delegates.

The Ted Cruz and Donald Trump showdown in the Hawkeye State is a battle for the standard-bearer to lead the charge against the GOP establishment in 2016. Iowans, in the words of TIME’s Alex Altman, will decide “whether this budding rebellion will be driven by rigid ideology or inchoate rage.” While across the aisle, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders face a pitched battle between pragmatism and ideology, though the former Secretary of State is the clearer favorite, owing to her campaign’s more strategic approach to gaming the caucus process.

A day before the race officially moves to New Hampshire, the TV ad war is escalating in the Granite State, where the four more mainstream candidates are battling it out for a chance to take on Trump and Cruz. Chris Christie‘s super PAC is attacking John Kasich over his ties to failed Wall Street bank Lehman Brothers, while Kasich’s own group is firing at Marco Rubio—with an assist from New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte—over his 2013 vote against the Violence Against Women Act.

Clinton has taken the lead in the money race, raising more funds for her campaign and associated groups than previous leader Jeb Bush, meanwhile a number of GOP campaigns are on their final financial legs. Expect several drop-outs in the coming days.

Donald Trump’s closing campaign promise. The early state tourist epidemic. And the second-best show in politics.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Trump vs. Cruz: Why the Iowa Winner Could Change the GOP
The great Republican rebellion of 2016 begins Monday night in Iowa [TIME]

Inside the Clinton Plan to Beat Bernie Sanders on Caucus Night
Hidden tactics abound in the complex Democratic process [TIME]

Ron Paul Joins Son For Caucus-Eve Rally in Iowa
The revolution is alive and well, TIME’s Philip Elliott reports

Why the Chris Christie Show Is Second Only to Donald Trump
A raw talent still waiting for his big break [TIME]

There’s a Tourist Epidemic at the Iowa Caucuses
TIME’s Jay Newton-Small on a growing phenomenon at early state political events

Trust Ted? Cruz Facing Growing Attacks on Credibility
The cornerstone of his campaign is under fire [Associated Press]

Sound Off

“I do have much more humility than a lot of people think.” — Donald Trump to CBS’s John Dickerson

“I grew up the way you now live. I come from where you come from.” — Sen. Marco Rubio’s pitch

Bits and Bites

Christie Super PAC Hits Kasich on Lehman Ties [TIME]

Donald Trump Says Ted Cruz Is ‘Not Allowed’ to Run for President [TIME]

Bernie Sanders Sings ‘This Land is Your Land’ With Vampire Weekend [Entertainment Weekly]

Donald Trump Promises to Build New White House Ballroom [TIME]

The Spirit of the BernieBro Lives On [TIME]

Marco Rubio Echoes Ted Cruz’s Tactic, but Without Controversy [TIME]

Ted Cruz’s Campaign Is Literally Stuck in the Mud in Iowa [TIME]

In Closing Argument, Rubio Says Trump and Cruz Are Unelectable [TIME]

Ted Cruz’s Closing Pitch: Washington Hates Me [TIME]

Hillary Clinton defends Obama legacy, tells Iowa voters: ‘I have the record’ [NBC]

Which Presidential Candidates Are Winning the Money Race [New York Times]

Kasich Super PAC Attacks Rubio For ‘Violence Against Women’ Vote [TIME]

Group Backing Jeb Bush Reports Still Having Vast Resources [Washington Post]