since donald trump s efforts to overthrow the 2020 election culminated in a violent mob storming the u.s. capitol. for a few weeks trump was an outcast. a political comeback seemed far-fetched, almost impossible to imagine. and yet thanks to his allies in congress and the maga movement, donald trump has emerged here at the end of 2023 not merely a rehabilitated politician but as the undisputed leader of his party. now, trump began this year as the prohibitive favorite for the republican presidential nomination. even in january he had a monster 20-point national lead over his closest rival, florida s governor ron desantis. and in the months since, trump s lead has only widened. at this point a rematch against joe biden appears almost inevitable. and yet while trump s march towards the republican nomination this year was mostly interrupted, there has been for the last 12 months an x factor he has had to contend it, a series of criminal investigations. as the year began trump