Morning must reads for Friday, October 6, 2017
Good Friday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 279th day of the year. There are 86 days remaining in 2017.
The clock:
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11 days until ballots for the 2017 general election are mailed to voters (10/17/2017)
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32 days until the 2017 election (11/7/2017)
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108 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
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153 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
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396 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
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1,124 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
Today's political TL; DR -
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Rep. Mia Love, Ben McAdams, gun control, Gov. Gary Herbert, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Puerto Rico and Tom Petty all get discussed in our week-in-review. Get smart fast! [Utah Policy]. Here's a podcast version if you prefer that [Utah Policy].
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Bob Bernick explains why he thinks Ben McAdams won't run for Congress against Mia Love next year [Utah Policy].
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Utah's members of Congress say they would be open to considering a ban on so-called "bump stocks" which can turn semi-automatic weapons into nearly fully automatic ones [Deseret News, Tribune].
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Wanna know how much money your member of Congress took from the gun lobby [Deseret News].
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A legislative task force are considering a handful of options for the future of the Utah Transit Authority, including making the group a part of the Utah Department of Transportation. None of the possible changes included leaving the UTA as-is [Deseret News, Tribune].
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3rd Congressional District candidates are campaigning hard as they head into the home stretch [Daily Herald].
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36 more people were given spots in the new "specialty court" as part of Operation Rio Grande. Additionally, more treatment beds opened up for homeless people struggling with addiction [Deseret News].
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University of Utah trustees approved a new agreement with the Huntsman Cancer Foundation following the upheaval that led to the resignation of University of Utah President David Pershing [Deseret News, Tribune].
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Air travel is going to get a little more difficult because of new security screening measures set to go into effect at Salt Lake City's airport [Deseret News, Tribune].
National headlines:
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President Donald Trump abruptly summoned Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to the White House following news reports that Tillerson threatened to resign and called the president a "moron" [NBC News].
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Ominous message. President Donald Trump gave a cryptic message to the media during a photo shoot with military leaders on Thursday night at the White House. Trump said the tableau might be "the calm before the storm." When the media asked what he was referring to, Trump replied, "we'll see" [Associated Press].
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The NRA says they support restrictions on "bump stocks" following the shooting rampage in Las Vegas that left nearly 60 people dead [New York Times].
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NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre says any new gun laws won't prevent future mass shootings [Politico].
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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis have reportedly forged a "suicide pact" wherein all three would resign if one of them became the target of President Donald Trump's ire [Washington Examiner].
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A Democratic civil war in Congress? Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez says it's time for longtime Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and the rest of her team to step down from leadership in order to give others a chance [Politico].
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White House chief of staff John Kelly's cell phone was possibly breached by hackers while he was Secretary of Homeland Security. The breach was only discovered this summer after he moved to White House [Politico].
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Republicans in Congress are worried they've lost control of the party's grassroots. They're also afraid if they are unable to pass tax reform it will put their majorities in both houses in jeopardy [New York Times].
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Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin took flights on military aircraft, including a round-trip flight to New York City to meet with President Trump, costing taxpayers around $800,000 [New York Times].
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Russia investigation:
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Special counsel Robert Mueller met with Christopher Steele, the former British spy who assembled a dossier detailing possible incriminating information the Russians allegedly complied on Donald Trump while he was doing business in Russia [CNN].
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Staffers on the Senate Judiciary Committee say the body isn't really doing a robust investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election [Daily Beast].
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President Donald Trump plans to "decertify" the nuclear agreement the Obama administration made with Iran, saying it's not in the national interest. The move could eventually lead to the reinstatement of sanctions against Iran [Washington Post].
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President Trump tweeted Thursday night that Ralph Northam, the Democratic candidate in Virginia's gubernatorial race, is "fighting for the violent MS-13 killer gangs." Trump finished the social media message urging people to vote for Republican Ed Gillespie [The Hill].
On this day in history:
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1723 - Benjamin Franklin arrives in Philadelphia at the age of 17.
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1889 - Thomas Edison debuts his first motion picture.
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1927 - The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson, Hollywood's first "talkie" premiered in New York.
Today At Utah Policy
Slow burning issues - Bernick and Schott on politics #344
By Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick
Ben McAdams is considering running against Mia Love in Utah's 4th CD next year. McAdams certainly has the attention of Love's campaign staff. McAdams could be a formidable opponent because, according to our polling, he has better approval ratings than her....
Bob Bernick's notebook: Why McAdams probably won't run against Love in 2018
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
The idea of a Mia Love/Ben McAdams 4th Congressional District race next year is fascinating to me....
Gov's office criticizes UtahPolicy.com article
By Justin Harding, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor
Earlier this week, Utah Policy published an article by Bob Bernick about a handful of letters Gov. Gary Herbert issued as he signed legislation into law this past spring....
Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics #344
By Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick
Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss the week in Utah politics....
Weekly survey: Which ballot initiatives are most likely to pass next year?
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
There could be five ballot initiatives before voters next year. In your opinion, which ones are most likely to make the ballot and win approval from voters? Let us know in our weekly survey....
Policy News
Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoor Notes--Tribune:For fall color and a workout, follow the Mormon Pioneer Historic Trail--Tribune:After decades of neglect, Torrey's oldest home harboring gems of southern Utah history comes back to life--Tribune:Erin Alberty: Mountain biking makes no sense, but I tried...
Participants in upcoming CD-3 debate announced
As previously set forth in participation rules established by the John R. Park Debate Society, the Debate Society and the ABU Education Fund have announced the candidates for Utah's 3rd Congressional District who have been formally invited to participate in the first general...
Sen. Lee introduces Smarter Sentencing Act
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators led by Mike Lee (R-UT) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced the Smarter Sentencing Act of 2017....
Hatch statement on the confirmation of Randal Quarles to the Federal Reserve
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)-the senior Republican in the United States Senate and the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee-released the following statement after Randal Quarles was confirmed to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and approved as Vice Chairma...
Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
Feds target popular Utah wild horse herd for roundup
'We're ready to move forward': University of Utah to pay $68M to cancer institute under new agreement with Huntsman family
Lawmakers may seek partial takeover of Utah Transit Authority
All these ballot pushes offer more evidence that Utah lawmakers aren't doing what Utah voters want
Utah's members of Congress open to banning 'bump stocks' like those used in Las Vegas massacre
Daggett County seeks to boost outdoor tourism, gets funds to launch new trails project
Deseret News
Jay Evensen: Should we care about electing more Democrats in Utah?
Op-ed: Operation Rio Grande is making a difference
Editorial: Utah sees measured success in addressing poverty
U. trustees approve new agreement with Huntsman Cancer Foundation
Indicted ex-UTA board member now faces tax evasion charges
Options for UTA's future include state takeover, losing control over future projects
BLM ruffles feathers and earns praise on sage grouse action
Utah GOP members of Congress willing to consider bump stock restrictions
$150M housing and business project coming to Sugar House
2nd 'assessment day' for Operation Rio Grande qualifies 36 more for drug court, treatment
Other
Editorial: Utah County's beloved 'bubble' must burst (Daily Herald)
3rd Congressional District candidates campaign hard heading into final election stretch (Daily Herald)
Mia Love, Orrin Hatch weigh in on restrictions for gun modification devices (Daily Herald)
Orrin Hatch, Mike Lee pay tribute to Robert D. Hales on Senate floor (Daily Herald)
Editorial: Targeting the wrong Ogden candidates - for the wrong reasons (Standard-Examiner)
National Headlines
Study: Americans more divided along party lines than ever (Politico)
Russian Hackers Stole NSA Data on US Cyber Defense (Wall Street Journal)
House passes budget, paving way for tax reform (The Hill)
Top House Democrat: 'I think it's time' for Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn to go (Washington Post)
Axed CBS executive hit with death threats over her cold Las Vegas Facebook post (New York Daily News)
NRA calls for review on whether bump fire stocks should be subject to additional regulations (CNN)
Small-town Texas company that invented 'bump stock' is in the spotlight after Las Vegas shooting (Dallas News)
Global Growth Picking Up Despite Social Tensions, Lagarde Says (Bloomberg)
Stocks rise, giving S&P 500 its longest win streak in four years (Los Angeles Times)
Federal proposal would add value to North Dakota coal (Bismarck Tribune)
Washing Machine War Will Test Trump's Mettle on Trade (New York Times)
Ambition
'Things do not happen. Things are made to happen." John F. Kennedy
Robots
"In China, for the first time ever, a robot performed dental surgery without human assistance. Everyone was excited until they remembered that the robot was just supposed to vacuum the living room." Conan O'Brien
