Trouble viewing this email? Read it online

Utah's Daily Policy Resource, Brought to you by Utah Policy

---

Situational awareness - July 27, 2018

Good morning from Salt Lake City and TGIF!

Utah is getting $4 million from the feds to boost election security. Michael Cohen claims President Trump had advance knowledge about the infamous Trump tower meeting with a Russian lawyer. Mueller is reportedly scrutinizing President Trump's tweets in obstruction of justice probe.

  TICK TOCK   

• 102 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 185 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
• 830 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

  SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER  

Thanks for reading Utah's must-read daily political news roundup. If you would like to subscribe to our morning newsletter, you can SIGN UP HERE.

Got a confidential news tip? You can reach me via encrypted, secure email at bryanschott@protonmail.com.

---

  HERE ARE THE STORIES YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO TODAY  

Utah spending big on election security

Utah is getting more than $4 million from the feds to improve election security, which includes purchasing new voting machines and security upgrades on the state's voter registration system - http://bit.ly/2vdvVT8

What a week!

Romney's campaign cash. Love or Bishop for speaker? Utahns aren't sure lawmakers should be able to call themselves into special session. Plus, Donald Trump's rage tweeting and Michael Cohen's tapes. Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott run down the week in Utah politics - http://bit.ly/2Om5X8L

You can download the podcast version of our week in review here - http://bit.ly/2AcyFGd

Special session changes

Bob Bernick argues voters should approve a constitutional change to allow lawmakers to call themselves into special session - http://bit.ly/2LoUJ5E

---

  OTHER UTAH HEADLINES   

• South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood was denied a pay raise leading one female city council member to wonder if the vote was motivated by sexism [Tribune].
  
  
• Sen. Orrin Hatch warns high school students to avoid "own the libs" behavior on social media [Deseret News].
  
  
• Home prices along the Wasatch Front are surging, but sales are down because of limited housing supply [Tribune].

---

  NATIONAL HEADLINES  

• Potential bombshell! Michael Cohen claims that Donald Trump knew in advance about the June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower in which Russians were expected to offer his campaign dirt about Hillary Clinton. Trump has previously denied any previous knowledge about the meeting, so somebody is lying - https://cnn.it/2vdzSXY
  
  
• A Trump administration official tells members of Congress to expect a blockbuster GDP figure on Friday. Data points to economic expansion over 4% - https://bloom.bg/2v9jnMz
  
  
• The Trump administration reunited most of the families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border before a court-ordered deadline, but hundreds of children remain in custody - https://wapo.st/2vcA8qf
  
  
• Special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly digging into President Trump's Twitter feed as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into possible obstruction of justice - https://nyti.ms/2v9srkE
  
  
• Federal investigators have asked to interview Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, as part of their probe into President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen - https://nyti.ms/2vaDyK1
  
  
• The Russian hackers behind the attack on the 2016 presidential election have targeted Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill ahead of her 2018 re-election bid. There's no evidence that the cyber attacks have been successful so far - https://thebea.st/2v9k8oT
  
  
• A recent staff shakeup has left the White House with nobody in charge of U.S cyber policy amid growing warnings about another Russian cyber attack on the 2018 midterms - https://yhoo.it/2vbNkf5
  
  
• A group of House Republicans is backing off their effort to impeach Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein who is overseeing the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election - http://bit.ly/2vbOPKf
  
  
• Ultraconservative member of Congress Jim Jordan launches a bid for House Speaker next year despite being caught up in a sexual-assault-related scandal from his time as a wrestling coach at Ohio State University - https://wapo.st/2vc7qpB
  
  
• North Korea returns remains of what are believed to be U.S. servicemen killed during the Korean War - http://bit.ly/2v9r3OY
  
  
• The attorney for porn actress Stormy Daniels says he is now representing three additional women who claim they had relationships with President Donald Trump and were paid hush money ahead of the 2016 presidential election - http://bit.ly/2v8Q7pf
  
  
• Facebook lost nearly $119 billion in market value on Thursday, the largest drop in stock market history - https://wapo.st/2v8O84h
  
  
• Twitter's monthly users fell by 1 million during the second quarter as the service purged fake and suspicious accounts - https://wapo.st/2vdLfPY
  
  
• Climate change is turbocharging a hot and dangerous summer across the globe - https://wapo.st/2vaNK5v

---

  ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY   

• 1789 - The first U.S. federal government agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs, is established. It will later be renamed Department of State.
  
  
• 1890 - Vincent van Gogh shoots himself and dies two days later.
  
  
• 1940 - The animated short A Wild Hare is released, introducing the character of Bugs Bunny.
  
  
• 1953 - A truce officially ended the Korean War, which had begun June 25, 1950.
  
  
• 1974 - The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee votes 27 to 11 to recommend the first article of impeachment (for obstruction of justice) against President Richard Nixon.
  
  
• 1995 - The Korean War Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C.
  
  
• 1996 - A pipe bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympics.

---

---

Today At Utah Policy

Utah receiving $4 million in federal funds to improve election security
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
The federal government is awarding Utah more than $4 million to purchase new voting equipment and update the state's voter registration systems. ...

---

Rage tweeting like a teenage girl - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 382
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Mitt Romney has a massive cash advantage over Democrat Jenny Wilson in their U.S. Senate matchup....

---

Bob Bernick's notebook: Utah lawmakers shouldn't have to ask permission to do their job
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
A new UtahPolicy.com poll by Dan Jones & Associates finds Utahns are split over a constitutional amendment that would give legislators the power to call themselves into a special session....

---

Hatch, bipartisan senators introduce Innovation Grants Higher Education Bill
By Press release
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the Fund for Innovation and Success in Higher Education (FINISH) Act to promote innovation and efficiency in higher education....

---

House votes to eliminate medical device tax permanently
By Press release
Congresswoman Mia Love's on-going effort to repeal the Medical Device Tax has taken a significant step forward, after strong bipartisan support to approve H.R. 184, The Protect Medical Innovation Act....

---

Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 382
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott traipse through the week that was in Utah politics....

---

Weekly survey: Trump's $12 billion farm bailout
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
This week the Trump administration announced up to $12 billion in federal aid for farmers who may be adversely affected by retaliatory tariffs from foreign countries. Do you agree or disagree with this federal aid package? Vote now in our weekly survey....

---

---

Policy News

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Weekend EventsOutdoors Report--Tribune: Utah's Rob Bishop and Democratic counterpart unveil $5 billion plan to start tackling national parks' maintenance backlog--KSL:The Payson Canyon 'Four Bay' trail system: Made by locals, built with loveNew Films-- Mission: Impossible F...

---

Salt Lake County receives clean audit with zero deficiencies for its 2017 financial report
Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams praised the accounting team in Mayor's Finance for its 2017 external audit results....

---

Utah Business Coalition gives 32 'Champion of Business' awards to Utah legislators
The Utah Business Coalition announced the 32 Legislators that are to be given "Champion of Business" awards. ...

---

State of Utah launches statewide customer experience program with Qualtrics to better serve its citizens
The State of Utah announced that it is launching a statewide customer experience program focused on improving the experience of its citizens....

---

Wise Words

Saying Something

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something." Plato

 

Lighter Side

Crocs

"The makers of Crocs have announced they're coming out with a high-heeled shoe. While the wearers of Crocs have announced they're going to give plaid shorts atry." Seth Meyers

 

Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers.

Advertise With Us

This email is intended for newsletter@newslettercollector.com.
Update your preferences or Unsubscribe