Trump wins North Dakota caucus after Supreme Court overturns Colorado ballot disqualification: Live updates

The Republican assured Newsmax last night that he would indeed be a dictator “on Day One” and threatened the mass deportation of illegal immigrants from the southern border, also proposing to give “immunity” to local police officers so that they can act as they see fit (i.e. brutally) with impunity.

I wouldn’t go waving through any immunity rulings any time soon if I were you, Supreme Court justices…

Wow. The White House Medical Unit operated “like the Wild West” during Trump’s administration according to a new report, with controlled substances allegedly dished out to administration staff with a serious lack of oversight.

Drugs including Ambien and Provigil, which are used to treat excessive sleepiness, were dished out without verifying the identities of patients,the report from the Defence Department’s inspector general states

Staff members reportedly told Rolling Stone that the White House was “awash with speed” between 2017 and 2021, with prescription medication used by those to deal with the uniquely stressful job of serving the Trump administration.

With the southern border likely to be central to this year’s presidential election battle, Texas’s governor has said he will not be The Donald’s veep (assuming he sows up the Republican nomination).

Here’s more from Katie Hawkinson.

The challenges to Trump’s ballot eligibility have ended after the Supreme Court ruled states did not have the authority to remove him under Section Three of the 14th Amendment.

Here’s what that means for his candidacy as we enter Super Tuesday, courtesy of Ariana Baio.

In a topic-ranging rant aired from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump thanked the Supreme Court for their decision on Monday, falsely asserting, among other things, that states wanted to remove him from the ballot because of his well-performing polling numbers, rather than, say, because he is an insurrectionist unfit for office.

Ariana Baio was watching.

In case you missed the big news yesterday, the US Supreme Court has determined that Trump can remain on 2024 presidential election ballots across the country, marking a reversal of a landmark Colorado court decision that found him constitutionally ineligible because of his actions on 6 January 2021.

But the justices ignored the question at the heart of the case, which revolves around whether then-President Trump “engaged in insurrection” by fuelling a mob that stormed the US Capitol.

Monday’s ruling did not include any discussion on the central premise of the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, as well as decisions from officials in Illinois and Maine. The justices instead determined that only Congress – not states – has the authority to disqualify candidates for federal office.

Setting himself up nicely for what is widely expected to be a clean sweep for him on Super Tuesday, Donald Trump won the North Dakota Republican caucus on Monday night, taking all 29 of the state’s delegates after receiving more than 84 per cent of the vote.

The former president appeared on the ballot alongside ex-UN ambassador Nikki Haley, pastor Ryan Binkley – who suspended his campaign – and little-known businessman David Stuckenberg.

Trump finished first in voting conducted at all 12 of the state’s caucus sites.

Here he is cheering his win on Truth Social…

…And here’s Ariana Baio’s report.

In the wake of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s death, the race to replace her seat has come down to three Democratic Representatives and two Republicans, one of them a former baseball star — with voters deciding which pair of candidates will proceed to the November ballot on Tuesday.

This race comes after Senator Laphonza Butler, who took over Ms Feinstein’s seat, decided against running for the full term. The state’s Senate primary race, set to happen on Super Tuesday, will determine which two candidates will advance to the November election. Voters will see all candidates on the same ballot, regardless of party.

The candidates include Democrats Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, and Barbara Lee, all currently serving in Congress, and Republican Steve Garvey, a former major league baseball player. Businessman and attorney Eric Early is also standing as a Republican.

While the race to be each party’s presidential nominee is all but decided, there are down-ballot votes that could prove more nail-biting…

Cecilia Vega, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, asked Mr Abbott if he was interested in being the former president’s number two.

“No,” the governor said.