“The Republican National Committee is planning to mimic a Democratic tactic in 2020, requiring a certain number of unique individual donors to get a spot on the debate stage,“ Axios reports.

“Discussions are ongoing about the precise number of donors to require, though internal talks have floated 40,000 and 50,000 as potential thresholds and the source said the numbers could change prior to an RNC vote in February.”

“The donor requirement for Democratic presidential candidates — initially 65,000, and rising with each debate — provided a huge boost to the party’s grassroots fundraising operation.”

Politico: “The first-term Republican’s home turf of the densely packed Long Island suburbs is seizing an unusual amount of early attention this campaign cycle as both parties brace for an epic brawl. The biggest question, of course, is whether voters will get to weigh in before the 2024 election, should Santos be forced to flee his seat.”

“Just months after Santos’ win helped seal a GOP majority, New York Democrats and Republicans are drafting contingency plans for a potential special election in the battleground district, despite the currently high likelihood that the incumbent stays put. No matter what Santos does, the freshman fabricator’s toxicity has forced House members and campaign hands to think about 2024 months before they otherwise would.”

Reuters: “Multiple Republicans interviewed for this story, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics, said they would be watching to see whether Trump can deliver a forward-looking message, or will resort to personal attacks or false claims of election fraud that many blame for a poor Republican showing in the November midterm congressional elections.”

“Donald Trump is unveiling a 2024 education policy plan, one focusing heavily on the culture war components that have animated conservatives,” Politico reports.

The plan calls for cutting federal funding for any school or program that includes “critical race theory, gender ideology, or other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content onto our children.”

It also calls for opening “civil rights investigations into any school district that has engaged in race-based discrimination,” particularly against Asian American students, and promises to “keep men out of women’s sports.”

Arizona Republic: “New records show Trump received direct updates from people at the coliseum, his allies pressured the lead contractor on when to report findings, and that contractor asked people close to the former president if he could help pay for it. This all happened as leaders of the state Senate publicly denied Trump had any involvement in their effort.”

“While messages from those working on the audit indicate they intentionally kept the president at arm’s length to avoid the appearance of his influence, behind the scenes they sought Trump’s approval — and money.”

Bloomberg: “The former president, itching to seal up support early in what remains a key state in the Republican presidential contest, has checked in with Iowa influencers who have stood by him in the past.”

“Senators Chuck Grassley and Governor Kim Reynolds didn’t answer when he telephoned recently, and neither of them are willing to give their party’s former leader their nod this early, according to people familiar with the matter. Nor are Joni Ernst or other top state elected officials.”