The Know Daily - Wednesday 20 December 2023

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A new sleeper service between Berlin and Paris made its maiden journey last week, marking the first night train between the two capitals in almost a decade. The 14-hour trip, which is initially set to run three times a week, was hailed as a “milestone moment” in the rise of greener alternatives to short-haul flights.

🇺🇸 Colorado’s Donald Trump ruling

The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that Donald Trump is not an eligible candidate for next year’s presidential election, removing his name from the state ballot.

Tell me more.
On Tuesday, the court - made up of judges appointed by Democratic governors - ruled 4-3 that Trump is ineligible for a White House run because he incited the supporters who stormed the Capitol on 6 January 2021. 

The judges found that a constitutional amendment which “bars officials who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding office” applies to the former president, said The Times. 

This is a big deal, right?
Yep - it’s the first time in history that a US presidential candidate has been disqualified by a state from holding office again. 

The decision has “set off a political and legal earthquake”, said The New York Times, and it could have significant implications for the 2024 race.

Can Trump still run for president?
Yes, but this could “make things more difficult for him”, said the BBC. Trump did lose the state in 2016 and still won the presidency, but serious issues could arise for him if courts in “more competitive states” decide to follow Colorado’s lead.

Although the ruling only mentions Colorado’s primary vote on 5 March (when Republican voters decide who they want to represent their party), if it stands, it will also apply to the general election in November 2024.

What has Trump said?
His advisors have criticised the decision, describing it as “completely flawed”, and have vowed to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

Even within the Democrats, some are asking whether a constitutional issue “is really the best way to beat Trump”, said Sky News. 

What else should I know?
The ruling is Trump’s “latest legal setback”, said the FT, which pointed out that the former president is currently fighting “a number of challenges across the country, including criminal and civil cases”.