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Situational awareness - August 17, 2018

Good morning from Salt Lake City and TGIF!

Utah Democrats want to replace a candidate, but can't. President Trump's military parade is postponed. Omarosa may have 200 more secret recordings.

TICK TOCK

53 days until the last day to register to vote by mail (10/9/2018)
60 days until mail-in ballots are sent to voters (10/16/2018)
67 days until in-person early voting begins (10/23/2018)
74 days until the last day to register to vote in person or by mail (10/30/2018)
76 days until in-person early voting ends (11/2/2018)
81 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
164 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
209 days until the final day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (3/14/2019)
809 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

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HERE ARE THE STORIES YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO TODAY

Candidate shuffle

Utah Democrats want to replace a state Senate candidate on the ballot but haven't given a sufficient reason for doing so to election officials - http://bit.ly/2MSRobP

What a week!

Count My Vote has a bad day in court, Operation Rio Grande marks one year, Democrat Jenny Wilson jumps on a strange campaign issue, and President Donald Trump's ego. We help you understand the what and why from the last week in Utah political news - http://bit.ly/2BgKBYc

You can also download a podcast of our week in review if you prefer to listen on the go - http://bit.ly/2ODnkkT

Tensions rising

Bob Bernick says Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski's relationship with the legislature is strained, and not likely to improve as she prepares for next year's re-election bid - http://bit.ly/2Bicj6C

Trump vs. the press

LaVarr Webb argues it's impossible for the media to be fair to President Trump because they clearly don't like him - http://bit.ly/2BvfgBd

OTHER UTAH HEADLINES

Deseret News

Op-ed: Corruption should be prevented, not just revealed

Natalie Gochnour: Look for candidates who possess policy humility

Utah's Board of Education asks for alternatives to letter grades on Utah schools report card

106 have jobs, but leaders hope many will take advantage of Operation Rio Grande's work program

State's first human case of West Nile virus this year confirmed in Utah County

New lawsuit claims medical marijuana initiative violates religious freedoms

Salt Lake Tribune

Gehrke: The new lawsuit targeting the medical marijuana initiative is so flimsy. How flimsy? I quickly found seven major problems with it.

Utah officials are spending $2M to throw 'the biggest and best party' for the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike

Democrats need a note from a doctor to replace a candidate, Utah says, and a physician assistant isn't a doctor

Salt Lake County Republican chairman alleges Ben McAdams received illegal contributions. McAdams' campaign calls that 'nonsensical.'

Other

U.S. Rep. Bishop touches on immigration, Trump, environment at public meetings (Standard-Examiner)

Frustrated voters attend dueling congressional town halls Wednesday (Logan Herald Journal)

NATIONAL HEADLINES

The Pentagon postponed President Trump's military parade, originally scheduled for Veterans Day, until 2019. The postponement comes after it was revealed the cost of the event would be $80 million more than originally estimated - https://cnb.cx/2BrY4wq
Omarosa released a recording of a phone call with Lara Trump offering her a $15,000 per month campaign job. Omarosa claims the offer was to buy her silence - https://cnn.it/2BekalP
White House officials are scared that Omarosa has more than 200 more recordings of conversations with Trump administration staffers - https://nyti.ms/2BkChGK
FiveThirtyEight.com says Democrats have a 3 in 4 chance of taking control of the House in the 2018 midterms - https://53eig.ht/2BkCBFs
President Trump says he stripped former CIA director John Brennan's security clearance because of his involvement in the "sham" Russia investigation - https://nyti.ms/2BkkH5P
President Trump is preparing to strip more security clearances from officials tied to the Russia investigation - https://wapo.st/2BjDMFd
Special counsel Robert Meuller's team is so fastidious about maintaining a low public profile they won't reveal what they order to eat from Shake Shack - https://nyti.ms/2Bm44Xm
A Pentagon report says Chinese military pilots are likely training for missions targeting the U.S. - https://cnn.it/2Bg2qGw
The Trump administration is considering a plan to pull back approximately $3 billion in foreign aid - https://wapo.st/2BjEv9p
A Detroit legislator is apologizing for using a racial slur against a rival candidate for state Senate. State Rep. Bettie Cook reportedly referred to state Rep. Stephanie Chang as a "ching-chong" - https://detne.ws/2BjwEbO
Whoops! Fox News mistook Patti LaBelle for Aretha Franklin on Thursday - https://thebea.st/2BledDy

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1585 - A first group of colonists sent by Sir Walter Raleigh lands in the New World to create Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina.
1807 - Robert Fulton began the first American steamboat trip between Albany, N.Y., and New York City.
1915 - A Category 4 hurricane hits Galveston, Texas killing 275 people.
1946 - Animal Farm by George Orwell is first published.
1988 - President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an "improper physical relationship" with White House intern Monica Lewinski; later that same day he admits before the nation that he "misled people" about the relationship.

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Today At Utah Policy

A fragile little ego - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 385
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Backers of Count My Vote got their day in court this week, but it did not go well for them....

Bob Bernick's notebook: It takes two to tango
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
In a show of cooperation and bipartisanship, state GOP leaders and Salt Lake City and County Democrats met for two hours this week to detail the successes after one year of Operation Rio Grande....

Editorial collusion escalates war with Trump
By LaVarr Webb, Publisher
For a washed out former journalist like me, it is utterly fascinating to watch the mortal combat between the mainstream news media and Pres. Donald Trump....

Utah Democrats are trying to replace a Utah Senate candidate on the ballot, but they don't have a legal reason for the change
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Utah Democrats are trying a last-ditch effort to replace a candidate in a Utah Senate race who withdrew earlier this year. The problem is, they're relying on dubious reasoning to do so....

Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 385
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss the week that was in Utah politics....

Weekly survey: Grading Operation Rio Grande
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
The effort to address Salt Lake City's homeless problem, dubbed Operation Rio Grande, has been underway for a year now. How would you judge the effort so far? Vote now in our weekly survey....

Policy News

Gov. Herbert lowers flags in honor of Draper Fire Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett
Gov. Gary R. Herbert has ordered the lowering of the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of Utah on Mon., Aug. 20, 2018 to honor the life and service of Draper Fire Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett, who will be laid to rest on that day....

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Weekend EventsOutdoors Report--Tribune:Feds release management plans for Trump's reduced Utah monuments, but critics say the move is prematureConcerts-- Beaver Mountain Music Festival, Friday and Saturday, Beaver Mountain, 40000 East Highway 89, Garden City, $45-$65-- "Songs...

Learn strategies for surviving the U.S. - China trade war at WTC Utah's upcoming luncheon
World Trade Center Utah, Kirton McConkie and the Utah State Bar invite you to join them for a luncheon and seminar on trade law....

WTC Utah invites you to their Applying for Grants seminar
Join WTC Utah for a seminar on writing and applying for grants....

SLCC offering classes in Herriman this fall
Salt Lake Community College is offering classes in Herriman for its 2018 fall semester. General education courses in seven categories will be held at the former Herriman City Hall building, 13011 South Pioneer Street....