President can decide. Amy its caucus day in iowa one of the whitest states in the country. The first nominating contest in the president ial race. Can Bernie Sanders upset Hillary Clinton . The republicans are caucusing as well. The bottom line is, we are one to make our country great again im ok . Caucus. Ut on monday, rivals . L Donald Trumps how will marcorubio fair . We will speak with wayne ford who is backing clinton, and i with radio host ed fallon who has just endorsed Bernie Sanders. Hugh espey of iowa citizens for Community Improvement will help demystify the iowa caucus system, and we will speak to writer jeff biggers about the undercovered issuses in iowa. Up. Of that and more coming welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. The road to the white house begins an hour tonight. Voters will gather at 8 00 eastern time to select their p. M. Picks for the democratic and republican nomination. Polls show tight races on both sides. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump Holds a small lead over texas senator ted cruz. In the democratic race, vermont senator Bernie Sanders has rallied to close what was once a 40point deficit behind Hillary Clinton. On sunday, more than 1000 people gathered to hear his final speech before voting begins. Isand what this campaign about, to try to win tomorrow night, to try to win the democratic nomination, to try to win the general election. It more important, and part of that process, are millions of people coming together black and white and latino, gay and straight, male and female. [applause] people born in this country, people who have immigrated into this country. [applause] trumps not allow donald and the other people we will not allow them to divide us up. We will stand together. Amy the campaigns are watching an approaching winter storm that could impact voter turnout. As the first in the nation to vote on president ial hopefuls, the iowa caucus plays an outsize role in the election cycle. Voters have been treated to months of visits from candidates and more than 150 million in political advertising. Well have more from iowa after headlines. In more news from the campaign trail, a former paid staffer has accused the Trump Campaign of sex discrimination. 26yearold Elizabeth Mae davidson has filed a complaint alleging Trumps Campaign paid male organizers more than female organizers doing the same jobs. Davidson worked for Trumps Campaign as a District Representative in davenport, iowa. She says she was paid 2000 a month, while male counterparts were paid as much as 4000 a month. The complaint also alleges that trump told her and another young female volunteer at a rally in you guys could do a lot of 2015, damage a reference to her looks. Trump denied making this remark, telling the New York Times that is not the worst thing that could be said. But i never said it. The state department has determined at least 22 of Hillary Clintons emails sent over her private server contained highly classified information. This comes amid a monthslong inquiry into clintons use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Clinton has previously said none of her emails she sent or received were marked classified at the time. The state Department Says while they were not deemed classified when they were sent, they will not make public at least 22 emails now because they contained material that was top secret. In syria, at least 70 people have been killed in an attack by the selfproclaimed Islamic State near the revered Sayyida Zeinab mosque south of damascus. The Sayyida Zeinab mosque is one of the most important shia holy sites in the world. Sundays attack came as the United Nations attempts to mediate peace talks between the president bashar alassads regime and various opposition groups. In nigeriaas many as 86 people have been killed after boko haram militants attacked a village in the northeast borno state. Witnesses say the attack included three female suicide bombers, as well as men firing on residents and lighting fire to their homes. The attack comes about a month after nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari said nigeria has technicallyon the war against boko haram. In news from afghanistan, pentagon officials report carrying out at least a dozen airstrikes and house raids against militants with the selfproclaimed Islamic State over the last few weeks. This comes after the white house broadened the scope of u. S. Military actions against isil last month. President obama officially declared an end to the u. S. Combat mission in afghanistan in 2014. Yet there are currently nearly 10,000 u. S. Troops serving in afghanistan. Pentagon officials told the New York Times, they estimate that u. S. Airstrikes and home raids have killed as many as a 100 isil militants within the last few weeks. Meanwhile, in kabul, at least 10 people have died in a suicide bomb attack near the Afghan Parliament this morning. U. N. Secretarygeneral ban kimoon has published a strongly worded New York Times oped criticizing israels continued occupation of the west bank and gaza. This comes amid an increasing public dispute between ban kimoon and israeli Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu. Last week, ban called israeli settlemes an afont to t palestinn peoplend to th internatnal commity. In resnse, isrli Prime Minister netanyahu said ban kimoons criticism gives a tailwind to terrorism and that the u. N. Lost its neutrality and moral force a long time ago. In bans editorial, entitled, dont shoot the messenger, he accused netanyahu of twisting his words and wrote history proves that people will always resist occupation. Meanwhile, ban kimoon visited ethiopia over the weekend amid the worstdrought in ethiopia in decades. The drought has caused critical Food Shortages for more than 10 million people. A local resident spoke out. It is really going to be lifethreatening if this continues as it is now, because we have nothing to eat. Were in the hands of the government now. Amy new Research ShowsClimate Change is accelerating Drought Conditions in the horn of africa. The African Union has abandoned its plans to send peacekeeping forces to burundi amid ongoing violence sparked by burundi president Pierre Nkurunzizas decision last year to seek a third term. More than 400 people have been killed and nearly a quarter of a million have fled abroad since april. The violence is the worst rundi has seen since the end of its 12year civil war, which ended in 2005. In news from europe, europol says at least 10,000 child refugees have disappeared after arriving on european soil sparking concern that many of , them may have fallen victim to human and sex trafficking. Europol says thousands of children have registered with european authorities, yet are now are unaccounted for. The agency estimates some may be with family members, but that others have fallen into hands of a paneuropean criminal infrastructure. Meanwhile, in sweden, a group of men has been arrested after more than 100 men, some Wearing Masks and carrying wooden sticks, descended on central stockholm friday night with the intention of beating up refugee children. A flier distributed before the planned attack threatened to give refugee children the punishment they deserve. Police say they arrested some of the men before the attack could occur. It appears the planned attack may have been in reaction to the recent death of swedish asylum worker alexandra mezher, who was killed last week at a center for unaccompanied minors. In austin, texas, transgender woman monica loera has been murdered. Police say a man arrived at her house on friday night saying hed forgotten his jacket. He pounded on the door until loera opened it, at which point the man shot her. Police have arrested the man in connection with the shooting. But the Police Reports and the subsequent local media reports misgendered loera for days, referring to her as male and calling her by her previous name david. ,last year more than 20 , transgender women were murdered, more than any other year on record. In news from michigan, the board of state canvassers has rejected a petition to recall michigan Governor Rick Snyder over his handling of flints leadpoisoned water. The crisis began after a snyderappointed, unelected emergency manager switched the source of flints Drinking Water to the corrosive flint river. Flint resident Quincy Murphy had filed the petition to begin a recall effort against snyder for failing to protect the health and safety of flint residents. Flint residents have been calling for snyders resignation and arrest over the ongoing water contamination crisis. In new york city, dozens of store workers from the flagship the nh photo video store in manhattan held a protest and a rally sunday to demand better working conditions in the right to unionize after more than 200 successfully voted to unionize with united steelworkers last fall and are about to begin contract negotiations. And in news from park city, utah, nate parkers, the birth of a nation, won top prizes at the 2016 sundance film festival. Parker produced, directed and , starred in the feature film about the 1831 slave rebellion in South Hampton county, virginia, organized by enslaved man and preacher nate turner. On saturday night, parker accepted both the grand jury prizeor a nartive filand thaudienceward forrama. This mean so much to me because a film like this, being a film some would call an issue zone, it succeeds when it touches people, when it affects people. And ive seen firsthand that people are open to the idea of change and the fact that it is happening through this film needs every thing to me. I just want to thank you all so much. Thk you, sdance, f creati a platfm for uso grown bite of what the rest of hollywood is doing sometimes. Thank you for being the leader in what you do. Amy that is nate parker who directed and acted as net turner in his film the birth of a nation. In the documentary category, Roger Ross Williams won best director for life, animated, the story of autistic man owen suskind. Williams, who is also the first African American director to win an academy award, spoke out about oscarsowhite in his acceptance speech. In the age of oscar so white and the like of diversity in hollywood, i want to thank the institute for supporting artist like me, who never you never have a voice. Owen susskind is an amazing individual because what he taught me is that People Living with autism have so much to offer the world. And if we leave them behind, were losing out in society, and i really wanted to tell the story from his point of view. Thank you so much. Amy and the documentary, trapped, won the special jury award for social impact filmmaking. The film addresses socalled trap laws, which stands for targeted regulation of abortion providers, and their impact on abortion providers in the south. Director dawn porter spoke about the challenges abortion providers are facing during her acceptance speech. This lm is really for the people who are risking our lives and their health and safety and keeping clinics open whilehe aboron providers and peopl we see you, we hear you, your story is important. And this will go so much so far to tell that story, so thank you so much. Amy to see our full interviews with directors dawn porter and Roger Ross Williams during the sundance film festival, go to our website democracynow. Org. Another of the films thatwon was good jim the james foley story. You can see our interview with james foleys parents and a director at democracynow. Org as well. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. The road to the white house begins in iowa today with the opening contest of the 2016 president ial campaign. Voters will gather at 8 00 p. M. Eastern time to select their picks for the democratic and republican nomination. The iowa caucus is technically different from a normal president ial primary partymembers will gather and , discuss their preferred candidates before ballots are cast. The caucus sites, including pauls, libraries, taverns and grain elevators. As the caucus gets underway, the campaigns are watching an approaching winter storm that could hurt voter turnout. Polls show tight races on both sides. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump Holds a small lead over texas senator ted cruz. In the democratic race, vermont senator Bernie Sanders has rallied to close what was once a 40point deficit behind Hillary Clinton. Now they arent a. Now they are neck and neck. On sunday, clinton told iowa supporters she is the more qualified choice. Quick it is true when you go to caucus tomorrow night, youre selecting not only the next president , but the next commanderinchief. And i feel strongly tt our untry mu continue to lead in accordance with our values to further interest, to advance our security. I know what it takes because of the incredible experience that ive hadver theearsto see the kind ochalleng that come to the preside that only the president can decide. Amy sanders surge in the polls has been fueled by an influx of young voters and rallies drawing huge crowds. On saturday, the Sanders Campaign said it had raised 20 million in january alone. Speaking to nbcs meet the press, sanders said hes drawing voters fed up with the status quo. As you well know, when we began this campaign, we were at 3 in the polls. We were 50 points behind Hillary Clinton. Today, we are neck and neck. I think we have a real shot to largeis if there is a footer turnout. It is not just young people, it is working people, middle class people who are sick and tired of status quo politics. Thats true in iowa. That is true in new hampshire. It is true all over the country. Whitestas one of the states in the country. But as the first to vote on president ial hopefuls, the iowa caucus plays an outsize role in the election cycle. President ial campaigning now starts a year before the opening iowa contest thats nearly two years before the actual election day in november 2016. Voters have been treated to months of visits from candidates and more than 150 million in political advertising. For more, we go to des moines, iowa, where we are joined by two guests. Ed fallon is host of the fallon forum, which airs on two radio stations in iowa. He served as a member of the iowa General Assembly from 1993 to 2006. He is backing Bernie Sanders in the race. Just came out and announced that. Wayne ford is cofounder and cochair of the iowa brown and black president ial forum and a backer of Hillary Clinton. He is a former iowa state representative and iowas longest serving black legislator, having served for 14 years from 1997 to 2010. We welcome you both to democracy now us the lay ofve the land. I mean, you have iowa, one of the whitest states in the country behind, what, maine, vermont, new hampshire, which is the next primary state, west virginia, then iowa. It is determining it is setting the stage i mean, the person who wins the race is not necessarily the one who will win for president , but it sets the tone for the entire president ial race. Can you talk about your state . Of. Es, i can come any first of all, i am very proud we were the state backup president obama started. Although we are this fifth whitest state, but just by letting the first black president is the people in iowa, we look at the message, not the color. When Jesse Jackson ran a 1988, i had a meeting with him. I said, why do you put your headquarters in des moines . He said, i dont want to be there, i want to be in greenfield, iowa. He went to white committed to, setup and to this day they still talk about Jesse Jackson. If you remove the color issue and put it on message, since 1976 when jimmy carter came here and said, im just a peanut farmer, im from the south, so i hear you, plus we have the highest voter turnout during president ial elections in america. We have almost 70 . There is no other state back and say during the vote time that has had higher percentage of the vote. Im very proud of what we have done as a state by keeping these candidates on message. Amy what are some of the key message issues that i once care about, wayne ford . When hillary said, criminal justice, were not too far from ferguson, missouri, minneapolis, kansas city, we are in the midwest. We have a lot of challenges when it comes to race. Criminal justice is the issue that people talk to me about. Ive got young black men in des moines who say, wayne, i have a terraced property my neighborhood. I dont need to go overseas. Im scared to walk across the street. Whether it is minneapolis or chicago or ferguson, you a lot of black people in this part of the world are really concerned about criminal justice. To becomece deese blind, but many times she is not. Were one of the hardest work being working areas in t