Haley and DeSantis Trade Accusations of Lying in Iowa

The fifth GOP presidential debate, ahead of the Iowa caucuses next week, got off to a contentious start with Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley accusing each other of lying and taking shots at Donald Trump. Here’s what’s happening tonight:

DeSantis and Haley are on stage in Des Moines in a debate moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

Chris Christie suspended his presidential bid hours ahead of the debate. He was caught on a hot mic ahead of his announcement criticizing Haley, saying: “She’s gonna get smoked.”

No other Republican candidate who participated in the four previous debates qualified for this debate, putting the focus squarely on DeSantis and Haley, and their increasingly bitter rivalry.

Trump, the Republican front-runner, is again skipping the debate, and is competing for attention at the same time during a Fox News forum, also being held in Iowa.