Biden issues preemptive pardons for Milley, Fauci and Jan. 6 committee; Utah to celebrate MLK Day; TikTok stopped working for about 12 hours | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at editor@utahpolicy.com. | | |
Situational Analysis | Jan. 20, 2025 It's Monday, Inauguration Day AND Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! What you need to know President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office inside the U.S. Capitol Building around 10 am MST, with his hand on a Bible (or two). Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the presidential oath of office, just as he has on the past four inauguration days. Later, there will be a parade at the Capitol One Arena, 3 official inaugural balls and numerous unofficial festivities.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke often of the "beloved community," a world where racism, poverty, hunger and homelessness are not tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Martin Luther King Day also marks a day of service in his honor. Rapid Relevance Biden issues preemptive pardons for Milley, Fauci and Jan. 6 committee members; Utah to celebrate MLK Day with various events; TikTok stopped working for about 12 hours. | | |
Utah Headlines Utah legislature On the Hill: Paying for safe drinking water in Utah (KSL TV) Utah group to host Great Salt Lake vigils during 2025 legislative session (KSL Newsradio) Bill targets Lt. Governorâs election oversight with appointed executive director of elections (ABC4) What to watch for with Utahâs 2025 legislative session (KUER) Utahâs hotly anticipated higher ed budget bill is out. Hereâs what it says (KUER) Mike Schultz's unlikely journey to becoming Utah House speaker (KSL) Hereâs how many millions of dollars Utah lawmakers seek to cut from higher education (Salt Lake Tribune) Other political news How will Utah be impacted by Trump's second term as President? (Hinckley Report) Editorial Board: Make Inauguration Day meaningful (Deseret News) How will new public safety plan change policing in Salt Lake City? (Deseret News) Rep. Burgess Owens named vice chair for Education committee, endorses Linda McMahon (Deseret News) As Utahns, we must help our new senator do his job by speaking up (Deseret News) Sen. Curtis says atmosphere is âdifferentâ ahead of Trumpâs second inauguration (KSL TV) Should running for office be easier? (Deseret News) Mexican consul in Utah monitoring immigration issue, awaiting clearer sign of what Trump plans (KSL TV) âTwo votes, you could do any damn thing you wantedâ â A brash but bipartisan Utah politician leaves the stage (Salt Lake Tribune) Sen. Mike Lee posts to X at an astonishing rate. Is he busy talking to Utahns or distracted from his duties? Lee made 9,396 posts on X over the last six months of 2024 â meaning Utahâs senior U.S. senator was posting once every 28 minutes. (Salt Lake Tribune) Elon Musk is Sen. Mike Leeâs most engaged account on X. Hereâs what their posts tell us. (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Former BYU star, Utah native Conner Mantz shatters American half-marathon record (KSL) Families welcome home Utah National Guard soldiers after Africa deployment (KSL TV) Biz/Tech/Economy TikTok restores service for US users based on Trumpâs promised executive order (AP) Costco Teamsters vote to authorize US-wide strike, union says (Reuters) Edward Jones settles yearslong investigation for $17M â and Utah will see $320k (Salt Lake Tribune) Crime/Courts Former Utah Senate candidate's 'own actions' lead to mistrial in sexual abuse case (KSL) Culture âAmerican Primevalâ: How this Native American historian reconciles hard history with the storytelling of Hollywood (Deseret News) What 'American Primevalâ gets wrong about Brigham Young, early Latter-day Saints (Deseret News) Why some experts believe thereâs a society-wide âserious crisis of attentionâ today (Deseret News) Education West High students, parents demanding answers following principalâs suspension (Deseret News) BYU, other Latter-day Saint schools will not drift from church governance, leader says (Deseret News) Letter: Our family will suspend our 23-year scholarship at USU following transphobic actions by the university (Salt Lake Tribune) One year later, academia still contending with Utah's anti-DEI legislation (St. George News) Energy Opinion: We need nuclear energy â but we must face the risks (Deseret News) Environment Opinion: The Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola will cost $1,000 per Utah household (Deseret News) Land grab or land rights? Utah eyes millions of acres of public terrain. (Washington Post) Family Perspective: Girlbosses, tradwives and the hollowness of labels (Deseret News) Health Pre-conception air pollution poses risks to future child's health (Deseret News) COVID-19 increases the risk of chronic fatigue syndrome, U. Health study says (KSL) | | |
National news General If anyone wonders how to make a difference in the world, look to the life of the 39th president (Deseret News) Elder Corbitt calls for unity, âpeacemakersâ at 1st South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference (Church News) Politics Rev. Theresa Dear: Honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the day of the presidential inauguration (Deseret News) Voices: On a rare overlap of two important events, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.âs legacy can help us understand âdisagreeing betterâ (Salt Lake Tribune) Trump promises harsh immigration crackdown on inauguration eve (Reuters) Trump's border czar says immigration raids will begin next week, including in Chicago (NPR) Civil rights leaders mobilize ahead of Trumpâs inauguration on MLK Day (Reuters) At the Hispanic Inaugural Ball, the wait staff contemplates Trumpâs return (Deseret News) History may be kinder to Joe Biden than voters (Deseret News) Joe Bidenâs religious freedom legacy â and what it means for the future (Deseret News) What to watch at Trumpâs inauguration: Big Tech CEOs, Carrie Underwood and foreign leaders (AP) Trumpâs first orders likely to include border, drilling, DEI policies (Washington Post) Scores of career State Dept. diplomats resign before Trumpâs inauguration (Washington Post) Ukraine/Russia Trump Vowed to End the Ukraine War Before Taking Office. The War Rages On. (New York Times) Israel/Gaza Hamas frees hostages, Israel releases Palestinian prisoners on day one of ceasefire (Reuters) Palestinians trek across rubble to return to their homes as Gaza ceasefire takes hold (AP) World news Taliban deputy foreign minister calls for girls' high schools to open (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases Utah students selected for United States Senate Youth Program The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is pleased to announce that high school students Ms. Aingeleah NaTahsha Ford and Ms. Aaboli Samant will join Senator Mike Lee and Senator John Curtis in representing Utah during the 63rd annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 1 â 8, 2025. Aingeleah Ford of Salem and Aaboli Samant of West Valley City were selected from among the stateâs top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation that will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, and other officials throughout the week. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study. (Read More) Protecting Utahâs children from exploitation in the digital age Sen. McKell, Sen. Cullimore and Rep. Teuscher issued the following statement addressing the dangers of social media platforms and Utahâs efforts to safeguard children: âRecent revelations about TikTokâs practices should alarm every parent and policymaker. The platform knowingly allowed minors to access its livestream feature despite ineffective age restrictions, creating an environment ripe for exploitation. Internal investigations revealed that children were being sexually exploited through transactions involving virtual currencyâtransactions from which TikTok allegedly profits significantly. This is more than corporate negligence; it is a system that monetizes harm to children. (Read More) Statement from the Utah Senate Democrats on the Equal Rights Amendment We commend President Joe Biden for reaffirming his commitment to gender equality and recognizing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as a critical step forward.
While legal and procedural debates surrounding the ERA continue, the need for gender equality is urgent. Women, especially women of color, still face inequities in pay, representation, and access to opportunity. These disparities hinder the progress of families and communities across the nation. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Jan. 21 â Utah legislative session begins Jan 21 â Prioritizing Life to Achieve Success at Work with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Jan 23 - Designing Corporate Womenâs Networks, Initiatives, and Leadership Programs with UWLP, 12:00-3:00 pm,Register here Jan 23 â State of the State address, 6:30 pm Jan 27 â The Impact of Womenâs Health on Work and Life with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Jan 29 â A Conversation with Pat Jones on Women's Leadership with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 3 â Building Bridges: Leading as Women in Local Government with the Utah Women and Leadership Project, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 5 â Women and Policy, Strategy, Politics, and Change with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 10 â Gail Miller: Making a Difference with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 12 â Navigating the 2025 Tax Reconciliation Bill webinar with the Hatch Center, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, MST, Register here Feb 12 â Crossing the Divide: Making an Impact in Career and Community with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 20 â BioHive Live, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Hale Centre Theater, Sandy, Register here Mar. 7 â Utah legislative session ends | | |
On This Day In History 1801 - John Marshall is appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 1869 - Elizabeth Cady Stanton becomes the first woman to testify before Congress. 1870 - Sisters Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Clafin open the first woman-owned brokerage firm in the United States. 1872 - Julia Morgan is born. She becomes the first licensed female architect in California and the innovative architect of Hearst Castle and over 700 other buildings 1942 - Nazi officials hold Wannsee Conference in Berlin to organize the âfinal solutionâ to Europeâs Jewish population. 1943 - Lead, South Dakota, temperature is 52°F, while 1.5 miles away Deadwood records -16°F 1945 - FDR inaugurated for his 4th term. 1949 - The nationâs first televised inaugural parade for Harry Truman is watched by 10 million people. 1953 - First live coast-to-coast inaugural address by Eisenhower. 1981 - Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th president of the United States. 1981 - Within minutes of the inauguration, 52 U.S. captives are released, ending the 444-day Iran Hostage Crisis. 1998 - Researchers announce the successful cloning of calves. 2009 - Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. 2017 - Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th president. 2021 - Joe Biden sworn in as the 46th president and Kamala Harris makes history as the first female vice-president. Quote of the Day "Being a beloved community is also necessarily building a beloved community that is safe." âRev. Andrew Teal, speaking at BYU On the Punny Side I love board games. My favorite is when people put meat and cheese on a board. Maybe some crackers and fruit.
I'm really good at that one. | | |
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