Debate day. Count My Vote. Medical marijuana. Donald Trump. Jeff Sessions. Your Wednesday morning political briefing from UtahPolicy.com

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Situational awareness - May 30, 2018

Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City. 

Debate day roundup. Big support for legalizing medical marijuana. Count My Vote fails to make the ballot. Trump wanted Sessions to keep control of the Russia investigation.

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  TICK TOCK  

Today is the last day to change your party affiliation before the primary election (5/30/2018) 6 days until primary election mail-in ballots are sent to voters (6/5/2018) 13 days until in-person early primary voting begins (6/12/2018) 20 days until the final day to register to vote online or in person before the primary election (6/19/2018) 23 days until in-person early primary voting ends (6/22/2018) 27 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018) 160 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018) 243 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019) 888 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

  PODCASTS  

Subscribe to the award-winning "Bernick and Schott on politics" podcast, Utah's longest-running political podcast. Hosts Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick have more than 60 years of combined experience covering Utah politics. Plus, you'll get long-form interviews with Utah newsmakers. Subscribe (and leave a review) using iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.

  HERE ARE THE STORIES WE'RE WATCHING TODAY  

Medical marijuana makes the November ballot, Count My Vote falls just short

The official signature-gathering numbers show the proposal to legalize medical marijuana has qualified for the ballot, but Count My Vote is short by about 600 signatures across 3 Senate districts. CMV supporters vow legal action. The independent redistricting proposal and bid to expand Medicaid also qualified for ballot inclusion [Utah Policy].

Debate-a-palooza

Tuesday was primary debate day for Congress and U.S. Senate in Utah, with three televised discussions that mostly didn't change the trajectory of the races.

Senate: Mike Kennedy and Mitt Romney poked at each other over Donald Trump and healthcare, but neither man landed a knockout punch [Utah Policy].

3rd CD: Rep. John Curtis and his primary opponent, Chris Herrod, traded some blows over who was the most conservative while drawing some real distinctions between each other in their race [Utah Policy].

1st CD: Democrats Kurt Weiland and Lee Castillo struggled with the format of the debate as they jockeyed to convince voters to send them to November's election against Rep. Rob Bishop [Utah Policy].

Big support for legalizing medical marijuana

Our latest poll shows 3/4ths of Utahns support the ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana, despite opposition from the LDS church [Utah Policy].

Mitt Romney says Trump is not a role model

Romney during a televised interview said Donald Trump's personal behavior is one he would consider as a good role model for his grandchildren [Utah Policy].

Consumer confidence down slightly

The Zions Bank Consumer Attitude Index dipped slightly last month as Utahns are less confident about the state of the economy [Utah Policy].

  OTHER UTAH HEADLINES  

The Salt Lake City Council is signaling they may support Mayor Jackie Biskupski's spending priorities for the new sales tax hike set to take effect this fall [Deseret News].
Provo is eliminating the position of "parking administrator" just one year after the position was created [Daily Herald].
The Utah County Commission wants to study how to boost county employee salaries so they are closer to market value [Daily Herald].
The University of Utah is launching a new initiative to boost affordable housing in Utah [Deseret News].

  NATIONAL HEADLINES  

Now we know why President Trump hasn't fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions yet. Trump pushed for Sessions to retain control of the Russia investigation because he wanted a loyalist overseeing the probe. Special counsel Robert Mueller is now investigating that request by Trump as well as Trump's efforts to get Sessions to resign, and Sessions is a key witness in Mueller's obstruction of justice probe [New York Times].
Rep. Trey Gowdy says the FBI acted properly when they asked a confidential informant to look into possible contacts between some Trump campaign staffers and Russian officials during the 2016 election [Politico].
President Trump amplified his attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller, accusing him of meddling in the 2018 midterm election [ABC News].
A new CIA report says North Korea won't get rid of their nuclear weapons any time soon, but they may open a western burger joint as a sign of goodwill [NBC News].
The U.S. will impose limits on some visas issued to Chinese citizens, cutting the amount of time they are valid [Associated Press].
President Trump plans to target red-state Democratic senators during the summer campaign season ahead of the 2018 midterms [New York Times].
The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to an Arkansas abortion law that bans medically induced abortions in that state [The Hill].
Missouri Republican Gov. Eric Greitens announced his resignation following several legislative and criminal investigations into his conduct while in office [Politico].
The number of independent voters in California now outnumber Republicans [Sacramento Bee].
A new study says the death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria could exceed 4,000 people. Many of those deaths came from delayed access to medical care [New York Times].
Negotiations on a revamp of NAFTA are stalled, and several involved in the process are laying the blame at the feet of the Trump administration [Reuters].
ABC canceled Roseanne after the show's star, Rosanne Barr, went on a racist Twitter rant [CNN].
Kim Kardashian is heading to the White House for an Oval Office meeting with President Trump to discuss prison reform [Vanity Fair].
First lady Melania Trump hasn't been seen in public since her release from the hospital two weeks ago, which is spawning several conspiracy theories about her whereabouts [Politico].
The CEO's of several large U.S. companies say the days of rising wages for employees are over, and they're planning on reducing workforces [Axios].
Home values have been rising for six straight years, driven by high demand and low supply. But, experts are warning those price gains are unsustainable [CNBC].

  ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY  

1431 - Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France, at age of 19. She had been convicted of sorcery.
1783 - The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first daily newspaper published in the United States.
1806 - Future President Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickinson in a duel.
1854 - The Kansas-Nebraska Act becomes law establishing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska.
1868 - Decoration Day (the predecessor of the modern Memorial Day) is observed in the U.S. for the first time.
1883 - In New York City, a stampede on the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge killed twelve people.
1922 - The Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C.

Today At Utah Policy

Despite LDS Church opposition, nearly 3/4ths of Utahns support ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Even though the Utah Medical Association and leaders of the LDS Church oppose the medical marijuana citizen initiative petition, three-fourths of Utahns support the measure, a new UtahPolicy.com poll finds. ...

Romney and Kennedy battle mostly to a draw in televised debate By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Well, it wasn't the dust-up some may have wanted especially pro-Mike Kennedy supporters who wanted to see Mitt Romney bloodied a bit but the TV/radio debate in the GOP U.S. Senate race Tuesday night did have some themes....

Curtis and Herrod provide some fireworks, and plenty of policy differences in 3rd CD debate By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, "Hold out baits to entice the enemy." For about 45 minutes on Tuesday afternoon, Rep. John Curtis was mostly able to ignore the bait from his GOP primary opponent Chris Herrod. ...

Count My Vote fails to qualify for November's ballot By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor The Count My Vote initiative failed to make November's ballot according to final numbers released by the Utah Elections Office on Tuesday afternoon. ...

Romney says Trump is not a role model for his grandkids By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Republican Senate candidate Mitt Romney said in a televised interview on Tuesday morning he did not consider President Donald Trump to be a good role model....

Utahns still positive about current economic conditions while price increases temper future expectations By Press Release The Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index decreased 3.4 points to 110.7 in May, the lowest level since July 2016....

1st District Democratic primary debate short on substance By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Just one measly minute to discuss immigration, which is one of the most significant issues facing America in the 2018 election. The two Democrats vying for their party's nomination to face incumbent Republican Rob Bishop in Utah's 1st CD were given just 30-seconds each to ad...

Policy News

Governor appoints Don Torgerson to the Seventh District Court Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Don M. Torgerson as a judge on the Seventh District Court....

Fox files 'Slammed' Our team heads into the summer months slammed with some great projects; several of which have the chance to be game-changers for the communities they are considering....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: Cows need to keep a low profile in Utah tourist areas

How a Bryce Canyon worker's search for burrowing prairie dogs went from 'Caddyshack' to 'Law & Order'

Gehrke: The inland port idea is a good one, so Utah leaders need to stop the power plays and threats of litigation that could sink it

Car-sharing firm Turo is battling traditional rental companies in Utah

During their only debate, GOP Rep. Curtis critiques Trump's record as Chris Herrod lines up behind the president

Utahns will be voting on medical marijuana and Medicaid expansion - but not Utah's candidate nominating law

Democrats seeking to face Rep. Bishop in November lay out how they would do things differently

Rep. Mike Kennedy portrays Mitt Romney as flip-flopper and carpetbagger while Romney renews his 'bigot' criticism of pastor who received an apology from Kennedy

Deseret News

Op-ed: Thanks to Mia Love for fixing Dodd-Frank

Editorial: A ride-hailing partnership with UTA will put Utah commuters in the fast lane

Utah consumers a little less confident about economy, survey shows

Josh Holt's release from Venezuelan prison took 'teamwork, trust,' State Department says

Initiative to address issue of housing affordability in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City Council signals early support for Biskupski's proposed priorities for sales tax hike

Rep. John Curtis and primary challenger Chris Herrod spar over differences in debate

Mitt Romney calls Mike Kennedy's apology to Baptist minister 'inexplicable' during Utah GOP debate

Tensions remain between Democratic candidates after 1st District debate

Count My Vote effort fails to make ballot; medical marijuana measure qualifies

Other

Senate and congressional candidates spar in debates ahead of primaries (Daily Herald)

Western Weber Co. residents tout rural appeal, planners aim for balanced growth (Standard-Examiner)

Medical marijuana initiative to appear on November ballot despite signature removal campaign (Logan Herald Journal)

National Headlines

Watching Neil Gorsuch, a mild-mannered good boy from Denver, become the second-most-polarizing man in Washington (New York Magazine)

Britons Rage Over Robinson Arrest As Mass Protests Break Out Worldwide (ZeroHedge)

Netflix Exec: Productions From the Obamas Will Not Have a 'Political Slant' (Variety)

Liberals Killed Roseanne. Conservatives Crushed the NFL Protests. Everybody Happy Now? (Reason)

FBI urges internet users to reboot their routers to stop Russia-linked malware (CBS News)

Supreme Court Allows Arkansas Abortion Restrictions to Stand (New York Times)

Hurricane Maria's death toll was 70 times higher than Puerto Rican officials have reported, study says (Los Angeles Times)

Top North Korean official Kim Yong Chol heading to US (CNN)

Is Trump's North Korea summit back on? (Vox)

Canada Buys Controversial Oil Pipeline, Ensures Its Expansion (NPR)

Brazil's Crippling Trucker Protests Enter Day 9, Despite Suggestions Of A Deal (NPR)

Wise Words

Pace of Nature

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lighter Side

Bombs

"A new report says that the U.S. military is running out of bombs. As of now, the Pentagon is down to 100 bunker busters and six copies of "The Emoji Movie." Conan O'Brien

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