The Current

Republican presidential race heats up as Iowa caucuses loom

The race to lead the U.S. Republican and Democratic tickets — and ultimately win the White House — has already been one of the wildest in years. But in many ways, it's only just getting started, with the Iowa caucuses set to take place on Monday.
Republican U.S. presidential candidates, from left to right, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, Gov. Chris Christie, Dr. Ben Carson, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Marco Rubio, former governor Jeb Bush and Governor John Kasich pose together onstage at the start of the debate held by Fox News in Des Moines, Iowa. (Jim Young/Reuters)

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The race to lead the U.S. Republican and Democratic tickets — and ultimately win the White House — has already been one of the wildest in years. But in many ways, it's only just getting started, with the Iowa caucuses set to take place on Monday.

Three political observers join guest host Piya Chattopadhyay to help us understand what is going on in these races for the presidency:

  • Jay Newton-Small is the Washington Correspondent for Time Magazine. Her new book is called Broad Influence: How Women Are Changing the Way America Works. She is in Clive, Iowa.
  • Matt K. Lewis is a conservative journalist and his new book is Too Dumb to Fail. How the GOP Betrayed the Reagan Revolution to Win Elections and How it Can Reclaim Its Conservative Roots. He's in Washington, D.C.
  • Vann R. Newkirk II is a staff writer at Daily Kos and he is in Atlanta, Georgia.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a veteran's rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 28, instead of attending a Republican debate on Fox News. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

This segment was produced by The Current's Howard Goldenthal and Kinsey Clarke.