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Situational awareness - December 17, 2018
Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City.
Just because it's the holiday season, political news doesn't stop...and neither do we. This is Utah's most reliable daily political newsletter. We help get you up to speed on the most important local and national political stories of the day. You can follow our social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook.
We're listening! If you have any news tips, suggestions, complaints, corrections or just want to give us some feedback, feel free to drop us an email.
Monday's essentials: Reyes to Interior? Friday is the deadline for Congress to avoid a government shutdown. Russia's efforts to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election were much more extensive than previously thought.
TICK TOCK
42 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
87 days until the final day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (3/14/2019)
168 days until the municipal election filing period opens (6/3/2019)
172 days until the municipal election filing period ends (6/7/2019)
239 days to the 2019 Utah primary elections (8/13/2019)
323 days to the 2019 municipal elections (11/5/2019)
413 days to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses (2/3/2020)
627 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
Today At Utah Policy
Reyes among top candidates to replace Zinke at InteriorBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes' name is being mentioned as a possible replacement for Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke when he leaves the Trump administration at the end of the year....
Who's the favorite to win the 2019 Salt Lake City mayoral race? Our 'Political Insiders' weigh inBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor In a move that surprised absolutely no one, Sen. Jim Dabakis announced last week he was jumping into the 2019 race for Salt Lake City mayor....
Watch: Sen. Claire McCaskill says Washington is so polarized, she couldn't go to Orrin Hatch's retirement celebrationBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Sen. Claire McCaskill, who lost her bid for another term in Washington this year, says Congress is so polarized that Republicans and Democrats held separate dinners for their members who are leaving next year....
New report examines drug rehabilitation efforts in UtahBy Utah Foundation Utah Foundation released Rethinking Rehabilitation: Improving Outcomes for Drug-Addicted Offenders in Utah. The report explains efforts to address addiction within the context of the justice system in Utah and explores alternative approaches for people struggling with s...
Watch: Chaffetz on death of 7-year-old migrant girl: 'Don't make this journey. It will kill you.'By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Former Utah Congressman and current Fox News personality Jason Chaffetz discussed the recent death of 7-year-old migrant girl Jakelin Maquin on Friday night's Hannity program, saying the message we should take away from the tragedy is when migrants try to come to the U.S., t...
Hatch walks back 'I don't care' comments about allegations against President Trump (with video)By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Sen. Orrin Hatch has been roundly criticized for saying he didn't care that President Trump was implicated in two felony convictions against his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. On Friday, Hatch apologized for those comments....
OTHER UTAH HEADLINES
Deseret News
Pignanelli and Webb: Thanks to some politicians who have made a real difference
Op-ed: Bipartisan leadership could save America's best conservation program
Utah leaders, environmentalists react to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's resignation
Another Olympics in Utah? Salt Lake City selected as possible 2030 U.S. bid pick
Salt Lake City seeking new council member as Derek Kitchen departs for Utah Senate
Sen. Orrin Hatch says his comments about Trump allegations were 'irresponsible'
U.S. attorney for Utah reviewing how to deal with new medical marijuana law
Stericycle's Tooele County move remains in limbo
Salt Lake City residents hate the sidewalk surfing, but still sort of loving new e-scooters
Advocates fume as new fee on clean fuel vehicles in Utah kicks in Jan. 1
Salt Lake Tribune
Op-ed: Utah Legislature's disregard for the people's initiative leads to legally invalid pot plan
Editorial: Another round of Olympics? Slide on in
Minority students are the majority in more than half of Salt Lake City's schools. Is the district doing enough to support them?
A soon-to-be closed elementary in Kearns is the first casualty of Utah's school turnaround program
Cost of I-15, Bangerter Highway projects rises by $38 million - thanks to expensive rights of way
Sen. Hatch regrets 'I don't care' remark about allegations Trump directed his former lawyer's hush money payments
Since Trump took office, immigration arrests by Salt Lake field office are up 24% - and deportations doubled
'Good riddance,' says SUWA; nation owes him 'debt of gratitude,' says Bishop - reactions to resignation of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke
A tale of two neighborhoods: How a homeless hospice has divided members of an east-side Salt Lake City community
Gehrke: Are Utah's $100 million homeless efforts working? Nobody knows, and that's a problem.
Other
USOC selects Salt Lake City to bid on Winter Olympics (Park Record)
NATIONAL HEADLINES
Congress has until midnight Friday to pass a spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown. The White House is standing firm on their insistence that any funding measure includes $5 billion for President Trump's border wall -
https://wapo.st/2EyADCc
Republican leaders in Congress are struggling to get members who lost their re-election bids in November to show up and vote, which could complicate any efforts to pass a funding bill before Friday's deadline -
https://nyti.ms/2EzI3VR
A draft report prepared for the U.S. Senate concludes Russian intelligence used every major social media platform to spread propaganda designed to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election, and worked even harder to support him once he was in office -
https://wapo.st/2Eyvie3
President Trump lashed out against special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in a series of tweets Sunday morning, calling his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen a "rat" for cooperating with Mueller -
https://cnn.it/2EoTn6d
Special counsel Robert Mueller appeared to be locked in a subpoena battle with an unknown witness on Friday in a federal courtroom. The legal fight took place behind closed doors while the court made the unusual move to shut down the entire floor where the hearing was taking place -
https://politi.co/2EyC0Rm
Since he won the 2016 election, nearly every organization President Donald Trump has led is currently under investigation -
https://wapo.st/2EATRqC
In case you're wondering, here's a list of all 17 known investigations targeting President Donald Trump or Russian interference in the 2016 election -
http://bit.ly/2EzMYWz
A federal judge in Texas struck down the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional on Friday. If the opinion is upheld on appeal, it could disrupt the U.S. healthcare industry -
https://wapo.st/2ExB5Rb
A new poll shows 62 percent of Americans say President Trump is not truthful about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election -
https://nbcnews.to/2EAXCfY
The Senate will open debate on a landmark criminal justice reform bill Monday evening. It took proponents several years to finally bring the legislation to the floor of Congress -
http://bit.ly/2EAWjxA
Democrats plan to move several gun control measures once they take control of the House in January. The bills have no chance of making it through the Senate -
https://politi.co/2Ert6Ej
In what appears to be a last resort, President Trump tapped budget director Mick Mulvaney to be acting White House chief of staff. Trump was reportedly desperate to end the storyline that nobody wanted the job after several high-profile candidates turned him down -
https://nbcnews.to/2Eqtkvs
Republican women in Congress are sounding the alarm after their numbers were reduced by almost half following the 2018 midterms, but their male colleagues may not think there's a problem -
https://wapo.st/2Eys0aJ
The government of Saudi Arabia condemned a Senate resolution blaming Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi -
https://wapo.st/2EztlxY
Divorcing couples are racing to finalize their cases before the end of the year. The tax law passed by Republicans at the end of 2017 eliminates the tax deduction for alimony payments in divorce agreements finalized after December 31, 2018 -
http://bit.ly/2EqEvnO
This year the number of high school students who used electronic cigarettes containing nicotine doubled according to a new report -
http://bit.ly/2EBmZOT ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1777 - American Revolution: France formally recognizes the United States.
1903 - The Wright brothers make the first controlled powered, heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet.
1967 - The Clean Air Act is signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
1975 - A federal jury sentenced Lynette Alice "Squeaky" Fromme to life in prison for her attempted assassination of President Gerald R. Ford. She was released from prison in 2009.
1989 - The Simpsons first premiers on television with the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire."
1992 - President George H.W. Bush and the leaders of Mexico and Canada formally signed the North American Free Trade Treaty.
2014 - The United States and Cuba re-establish diplomatic relations after severing them in 1960.
Policy News
USOC announces Salt Lake City as candidate city for future Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Friday, the United States Olympic Committee named Salt Lake City as the candidate city for a future Winter Olympic and Paralympic bid....
Salt Lake Chamber statement on Salt Lake City being chosen as USOC's Winter Olympics bid city "The Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance, along with the business community across the state, are thrilled the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has chosen Salt Lake City to bid for a future Olympic Winter Games," said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lak...
National report: Utah ranks 9th in protecting kids from tobacco Utah ranks 9th nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released today by leading public health groups. ...
More National Headlines
Checking Robert Mueller (Wall Street Journal)
Where Is the Flynn 302? (National Review)
Top Republican predicts Flynn guilty plea will be thrown out, citing FBI 'misconduct' (FOX News)
Mattis writes letter of recommendation for Reince Priebus to join the Navy (CNN)
Trump praises closure of Weekly Standard: 'Rest in peace!' (The Hill)
Hemp industry expected to blossom under new Farm Bill (NBC News)
Sen. Collins: Kavanaugh demonstrated fairness (CNN)
Former fossil fuels lobbyist to head interior department as Zinke exits (Guardian)
Iowa poll: Biden, Bernie lead Democratic caucus field (Politico)
CBS to dock Les Moonves' severance, give millions to women's rights groups (FOX News)
Pace
"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Choosing
Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America? One Line Fun
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