Situational Analysis | May 17, 2022

Good morning. It's Tuesday and National Pack Rat Day. Good luck de-junking that drawer. Or room. Or garage.

 Be in the Know

1. McDonald’s is closing its doors in Russia, ending an era of optimism and increasing the country’s isolation over its war in Ukraine. It will be selling its 850 restaurants in Russia and is seeking a buyer who will employ its 62,000 workers. It will continue to pay those workers until the deal closes. McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a letter to employees that “It is impossible to ignore the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.” It is the first time the company has ever “de-arched,” or exited a major market.

FROM OUR SPONSOR, CHRIS STEWART FOR CONGRESS

Congressman Chris Stewart is the Clear Choice for Current Issues

Representative Chris Stewart is working to preserve our constitutional rights, protect religious liberty, combat unnecessary surveilling of the American people, and support mental health through legislation. Learn more about how Chris Stewart is the conservative voice for Utah.

Utah Headlines

General

• Video of Buffalo mass shooting viewed millions of times, suspect said the idea of livestreaming gave him ‘motivation’ (Deseret News)
• Derwin Gray: Four ways to fight white supremacy. Evil grows and spreads like a virus when we intentionally look away. Love is our immunity (Deseret News)
• Utah is problem-solving our mental health crisis with two new initiatives (Deseret News)
• Mixed results for Utah food drive while demand for assistance stays high (KSL)
• 😮 Black bear wanders onto Utah middle school campus (Fox13)

Politics

• Will Republican incumbents skip bipartisan debate in favor of one sponsored by the Utah GOP? At least two Republican congressmen say they have prior commitments on the date of their scheduled debates (Deseret News)
• The roots of the ‘Great Replacement’ theory that enraged the Buffalo shooter (Deseret News)

Education

• Utah college president Brad Cook is the latest to step down after years of turnover in higher education. He has accepted a position to lead the American University of Bahrain. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Dixie no more: Utah Tech University unveils new branding (KUER)

Environment

• New federal funding is coming for environmental projects. Here are 12 projects happening in Utah (Deseret News)
• Tiny Toquerville wants 600 acres of public land for massive recreation destination (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Utah agency says it's OK to water your lawn. Here's when it is recommended (KSL)

Family

• Here are the findings of the Abbott baby formula investigation. What does this mean for the shortage? (Deseret News)
• Man unlocks hidden chapters of family history after purchasing home where his ancestors were enslaved (Deseret News)
• Report says Utah's birth rate is declining, impacting other youth issues (Fox13)

Housing

• The West has seen the biggest rent price jumps since 2019. Here’s how Utah ranks (Deseret News)

National Headlines

General

• Online diary: Buffalo gunman plotted attack for months (AP)
• Abbott says deal reached to restart baby formula plant (The Hill)
• A landmark California law requiring corporate boards to include women resulted in California firms more than doubling the number of female company directors. Now, a Los Angeles County judge says it’s unconstitutional. (Politico)
• Elon Musk says he might try to renegotiate $44B Twitter deal for less. Musk also sent a strong signal he could exit the deal. (Washington Post)

Politics

• Congress is holding a public hearing on UFOs for the first time in over 50 years (Deseret News)
• North Carolina Rep. Cawthorn seeks nomination after missteps (AP)
• How Trump’s pact with the Club for Growth turned into a grudge match (Washington Post)
• Mike Lee was one of 11 Senate Republicans who opposed advancing aid for Ukraine (The Hill)
• House GOP leaders say white nationalism accusations are all politics (The Hill)

Ukraine 🇺🇦 

• Sweden joins Finland in seeking NATO membership (Washington Post)
• Ukraine says mission at Mariupol steel mill is complete (AP)
• Ukrainian troops evacuate from Mariupol, ceding control to Russia (Reuters)
• Zelenskyy: Russian troops at ‘dead end’ (The Hill)

News Releases

Gov. Cox to celebrate his first 500 days in office with a live public event

Join Gov. Spencer Cox as he marks his first 500 days with a live public event. He’ll discuss significant milestones and achievements outlined in his One Utah Roadmap, his plans for the second half of his term, and his extreme optimism for Utah’s future. Wednesday, May 18, at 6 p.m., University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, 6th floor (Read More)

Nominees announced for 2nd District Juvenile Court vacancy

The Second District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Second District Juvenile Court.  The vacancy results from the retirement of Judge Michelle E. Heward, August 1, 2022.

The nominees for the vacancy are: Sandi Clemens, assistant attorney general, Utah Attorney General’s Office; Cristie Roach, attorney/investigator, Utah State Board of Education; Nathan Roman, assistant attorney general, Utah Attorney General’s Office; Rick Westmoreland, specialty court division chief, Davis County Attorney’s Office; Janette White, assistant attorney general, Utah Attorney General’s Office.  

Written comments can be submitted to the Second District Judicial Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330.  The deadline for written comments is noon May 27, 2022.  (Read More)

Utah Foundation report: Social capitol of the next generation

Today, the Utah Foundation releases the sixth report in its Utah Social Capital Series with The Flowering of Youth: The Next Generation in Utah. This installment focuses on the extent to which Utah addresses the needs of the next generation; the previous installments focused on civic engagement, social trust, community life, family life and social cohesion.

The Flowering of Youth presents data and analysis in four areas: the birth rate; investments in recreation; investments in public schools; and the ratio of children to the number of youth organizations. It looks at Utah’s performance on these measures over time, comparing the Beehive State both to the seven other Mountain States and to the nation at large. (Read More)

Sen. Lee to introduce FORMULA Act

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is finalizing his Fixing Our Regulatory Mayhem Upsetting Little Americans (FORMULA) Act to combat domestic baby formula shortages and bolster the supply chain to help American families feed their babies.  In recent days, challenges in the baby formula supply chains have seen the out-of-stock rate for formula to triple from numbers seen six months ago.  Recent shortages come in the immediate aftermath of a recall and temporary closure of a major American formula factory, but highlight systemic weaknesses in this vital supply chain.  Due to the disruption, families in Utah and across the nation are struggling to feed their babies. (Read More)

Lee offers amendment to target and pay for Ukraine aid

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced an amendment to the House-passed, $40 billion Ukraine Aid package to streamline and target aid to meet the needs on the ground in the conflict.  Sen. Lee’s amendment also would pay for the expenditure ensuring the aid does not add to the national deficit. (Read More)

Utah Motorcycle Enthusiasts Can Help Feed Families Now for Thanksgiving 2022

Thanksgiving in June? Not quite, but Utah motorcycle riders can join in the Thanksgiving Heroes Annual Turkey Run to help provide thousands of Thanksgiving meals to Utah families this November across Utah. On Saturday, June 4, 2022 motorcycle enthusiasts will start a motorcycle ride and Poker Run at the Landmark Grill in Midvale in the morning and finish at Leatherheads Sports Bar in Draper that afternoon. At the end of the ride there will be an after party for non-riders and families as well! Several hundred riders are expected to participate this year. (Read More)

Two-day event to celebrate the life and legacy of the “Candy Bomber”

A free, jam-packed event celebrating the life and service of the “Candy Bomber,” his indomitable spirit and his smile that lit the way during the Berlin Airlift. There will be flyovers, displays, activities, musical performances, food trucks, a sneak peak at the future Halvorsen Heritage Center and a Spirit of Freedom candy drop.

Find more details about Col. Halvorsen’s story and register for the event here.

WHEN & WHERE: Friday, May 20 – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

New Provo Airport Terminal

Saturday, May 21 – 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Spanish Fork Airport 

Number of the Day

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Breakfast Briefing with Utah Foundation, May 17, 8:30-10:00 am
• Envision Utah Breakfast, May 25, 8:00-9:30 am, Register here
• Ballots are mailed â€“ June 7
• Primary election day â€“ June 28
• General election â€“ Nov 8

On This Day In History

• 1769 - George Washington criticizes “taxation without representation.”
• 1912 - Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner is born. She was an African-American inventor most noted for her development of the sanitary belt.
• 1937 - Hazel Reid (O’Leary) is born. She became the first woman to serve as US Secretary of Energy.
• 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education was decided in a unanimous decision and after 48 years of “separate but equal,” segregation in American schools was ruled unconstitutional.
• 2004 - The first legal same-sex marriage in the US is performed in Massachusetts.

Wise Words

"To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone."
— Chief Justice Earl Warren in Brown v. Board of Education, 1954.

Lighter Side

“How did Covid even get into North Korea? Did Kid Rock play Pyongyang and not tell us about it?” 

— JIMMY KIMMEL

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