bell hooks died yesterday at age 69; Omicron is 70x more contagious than other variants and there's a cream cheese shortage to worry about
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The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. Send news tips or feedback to editor@utahpolicy.com.

 

Situational Analysis | December 16, 2021

It's Thursday and National Chocolate-covered Anything Day. My dad once ate chocolate-covered grasshoppers. I think the most adventurous I've gotten is to eat chocolate with hot chili peppers in them. (Or to try Russian chocolate in the early 1990's - tasted like saw dust.) 

Be in the Know

  1. Danny Ainge is coming back to the NBA as the CEO of the Utah Jazz. After stepping away from basketball six months ago, he's back  in the game, as it were. He'll be in charge of all basketball decisions for the Jazz. 

  2. Did you know there is a national cream cheese shortage? Kraft will literally pay you to not make cheesecake for Christmas. Sign up on Kraft's special website this Friday or Saturday, then spend up to $20 on dessert and submit your receipt for reimbursement. Lots of dessert options out there that don't take cream cheese. Just sayin'. 

  3. bell hooks, pathbreaking Black feminist, died yesterday at age 69. Her first book, “Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism,” argued that the feminist movement at the time was marginalizing the experiences of working-class and Black women. Earning her doctorate in 1983, she wrote more than 30 books over her career and was serving as a distinguished professor in residence at Berea College at the time of her death.

 

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Utah Headlines

General

  • Newly released records show it was ‘standard practice’ for BYU police to help with Honor Code surveillance (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Surface Transportation Board approves proposed Uinta Basin oil railway. The 85-mile rail line will connect terminals at South Myton Bench and Leland Bench to the national rail network at Kyune. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Opinion: Do we really want peace on earth? (Deseret News)
  • Utah schools warn of viral TikTok shooting threat trend (Fox13)

Politics

  • Angelina Jolie met with Mitt Romney, other senators. What did they talk about? (Deseret News)
  • Protests erupt after Salt Lake City approves controversial housing project. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Salt Lake City submits bid to host 2024 Republican National Convention (KUTV)
  • Provo Municipal Council votes on ADU limits after four-hour debate (Daily Herald)
  • Colorado River conference hears calls for tribal inclusion as crisis deepens (KUER)

COVID Corner

  • 1306 new cases, 15 new deaths
  • A third Utah child dies of COVID-19 as state marks anniversary of first vaccinations (Deseret News)
  • We’re getting real-world data on what to expect from omicron. Here’s a road map for Utahns. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • New Mexico sheriff struggles in undertaker role as COVID deaths mount (Reuters)
  • Omicron surges around the world as South Africa’s daily cases surpass delta peak (Washington Post)
  • Omicron multiplies 70 times faster in human bronchus than prior variants, study finds (Washington Post)

Courts

  • USU student says school mishandled her report of rape after it promised to do better (Deseret News)
  • Utah attorney who pleaded guilty to fraud ordered to wrap up law practice, tell clients he’s a felon (Salt Lake Tribune)

National Headlines

General

  • Storms, extreme winds from Colorado to Michigan leave more than 510,000 without power (Washington Post)
  • Anguish and gratitude as tornado slashed through Amazon warehouse (Washington Post)
  • How brothers in arms plotted the theft and sale of US Army weaponry (AP)
  • Jaguars fire Urban Meyer after 13 games, countless missteps (AP)
  • Stock Futures Gain Amid Decisions From Central Banks (Wall Street Journal)
  • How Banks Win When Interest Rates Rise (Wall Street Journal)
  • Americans can soon renew passports online, thanks to Biden order (Washington Post)
  • Derek Chauvin pleads guilty to violating George Floyd's rights (Reuters)

Politics

  • Senate sends $768B defense policy bill to Biden. It passed 88-11. (Politico)
  • Democrats threaten to play hardball over Cruz's blockade of dozens of Biden's nominees (The Hill)
  • Role as Trump’s gatekeeper puts Meadows in legal jeopardy — and at odds with Trump (Washington Post)
  • How Mark Meadows and a Band of Loyalists Fought to Keep Trump in Power (New York Times)
  • Biden Taps Michelle Kwan and Caroline Kennedy for Ambassador Posts (New York Times)
  • Republican governors who criticized the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill as wasteful are championing state projects funded by the money. (New York Times)

International

  • Afghanistan’s health care system on the brink of collapse (AP)
  • Powerful typhoon hits Philippines, nearly 100,000 evacuated (NPR)
  • Germany is investigating vaccine opponents over a plot to kill a state governor. (New York Times)
 

News Releases

Reps. Stewart and Krishnamoorthi introduce bipartisan Monitoring China-UAE Act

Yesterday, Reps. Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan Monitoring China-UAE Cooperation Act. As members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Representatives have introduced this bill to assess the relationship between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in order to safeguard U.S. technology and national security. The report that this bill requires will be crucial to the U.S. Intelligence Community as it monitors potential threats from the Chinese Communist Party.

“It is a fundamental duty of Congress to best protect American citizens, interests and allies,” said Congressman Stewart. “I am proud to stand beside my Democratic colleague and introduce a bipartisan bill that improves that protection. (Read More)


Romney calls out Democrats for not working across aisle on child care policy

At a press conference today detailing how the child care provisions in Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending bill would negatively impact child care providers and families, U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) called out Democrats for not working with Republicans on legislation that would affect how America’s children are raised—arguing that the Democrats’ “Build Back Better” bill would permanently raise prices for everyone while only temporarily help a small number of families. (Read/Watch More)


U.S. Senate candidate Ally Isom offers a compact with Utah, commits to fighting for the right things

Ally Isom’s red running shoes are showing some wear. After walking with and listening to everyday Utahns in nearly 70 Utah communities, the business and community leader used what she heard to craft her United States Senate campaign policy priorities. Launched today, The Right Things: A Compact with Utah, A Vision for America is Isom’s commitment to the people of Utah to reject politics as usual, to be a listener, a convener and a collaborator.

“Together, our focus must be fighting for the right things. We must return to the timeless core principles that unite Utahns—stewardship, family, integrity, well-being, order. Those principles make communities strong. They make nations strong,” Isom said. (Read More)


Rep. Stewart joins Fox News to discuss China, Russia, and Iran

This past weekend, Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) joined Fox News’ Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy to discuss Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine; Iran’s nuclear weapons technology; and China’s human rights violations. (Read/Watch More)


Senate passes defense bill with Romney measure requiring U.S. to craft grand strategy to counter China threat

The Senate today passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, with a key amendment offered by U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) to require the president to develop a grand strategy to address the threat China poses to the global order.

The NDAA importantly includes measures to strengthen the national security of the United States—including supporting the role Utah’s Hill Air Force Base plays in bolstering the U.S. nuclear deterrent, expanding a hiring authority pilot program to help Utah bases and installations compete for talented military retirees, strengthening the ability of the U.S. to defend against the military threat from China, and increasing U.S. support for Ukraine as Russia threatens Ukraine’s borders. The bill will also authorize a memorial to honor members of the Armed Forces—including Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, of Sandy, Utah—who were killed in the terrorist attacks at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021. (Read More)


Attorney General Reyes, Treasurer Oaks & Auditor Dougall oppose proposed DOL rule that puts retirement savings at risk

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, State Treasurer Marlo Oaks and State Auditor John Dougall were joined by state attorneys general and financial officers representing 23 states in a letter commenting on a proposed Department of Labor rule that would fundamentally alter fiduciary standards in the United States designed to protect employee interests in their retirement investments above all other considerations.
The proposed rule change entitled, Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights (EBSA-2021-0013-0001), would provide plan sponsors and investment managers a safe harbor to environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment strategies in retirement plans as a default option. ESG funds focus on social causes and political goals when investing assets thereby eroding the traditional fiduciary obligation owed to beneficiaries. The proposed rule would also permit fiduciaries to vote proxies in ways that support ESG goals contrary to shareholder interests. (Read More)


Utah Foundation: New report identifies housing types across the Wasatch Front

The Utah Foundation released the second part of its new study, Is the Middle Missing? A Guide to Expanding Options for Utah Homebuyers and Renters. “What is the Middle, and Where is it?” examines the prevalence of middle housing in the four largest Utah counties and the relevant development trends.

“Missing Middle Housing” is a term that encompasses a variety of multi-unit housing buildings that are house-scale, facilitate neighborhood walkability, accommodate changing demographics and preferences, and are available to people with a range of incomes. Middle housing offers the potential to increase the supply of housing, but at a scale that is not objectionable to most neighbors and in a manner that can improve upon neighborhoods. There are obstacles to increasing this type of housing, though they are not insurmountable. (Read More)


Number of the Day

Number of the Day Dec 16, 2021 (600 x 500 px)
 

Opinion: How to win an election

By Marc Coles-Ritchie and Page Checketts

There are two ways to win elections:

1. Draw the district boundaries to make it easier for your candidate or party to win.

2. Campaign with ideas and policy proposals that appeal to people so that they vote for your candidate or party.

It seems obvious that choice number two is the appropriate and ethical way to win elections and it is the best thing for our society because it allows the voters to choose the candidates and policies they like. After the 2010 census the Utah legislature chose option one by drawing congressional boundaries that dispersed the Salt Lake City voters into three different congressional districts. The Utah legislature very effectively disenfranchised a large sector of the largest population area in the state. For part of the last decade there were no members of congress from Salt Lake County, by far the largest population county in the state of Utah, with nearly twice the population of any other county. That is unfair and a dishonorable way to run an election, even if you like the outcome. In 2021 the Utah Legislature has again chosen option one, allowing politicians to choose their voters rather than allowing voters to choose their politicians. (Read More)

 

Upcoming

  • Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit 2022 - SLC Chamber – Jan 13, 2022, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm. Register here
  • Utah legislative session begins – Jan 18, 2022, 10:00 am
  • Utah legislative session ends – Mar 4, 2022, midnight
 

On This Day In History

From History.com

  • 1773 - Disguised as Mohawk Indians, a group of colonists board three British ships and dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor. 
  • 1775 - Jane Austen is born.
  • 1901 - Margaret Mead is born. She became a renowned cultural anthropologist, author, lecturer and for 28 years, the curator at the Museum of Natural History
  • 1907 - As a gesture of the US's new presence as a world power, President Theodore Roosevelt sends the 'Great White Fleet' on a two-year, round-the-world voyage
  • 1924 - Hiram Bingham, the first white man to see Machu Picchu, is elected to serve in the US Senate - after serving as the governor of Connecticut for just one day. 
  • 1944 - The Battle of the Bulge begins, the last major German offensive of WWII
  • 1950 - President Truman declares state of emergency over Korean War
  • 1953 - First White House Press Conference is held with President Eisenhower & 161 reporters
  • 1980 - Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, dies at 90
  • 1998 - President Bill Clinton orders air strikes against Iraq

Wise Words

“Never depend upon institutions or government to solve any problem. All social movements are founded by, guided by, motivated and seen through by the passion of individuals."

― Margaret Mead


Lighter Side

“The White House is skipping their annual holiday parties because of Covid this year — and because Joe Biden goes to sleep at 4 p.m.” 

— JIMMY KIMMEL

 

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