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Situational awareness - April 1, 2019 Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. Here's what is driving the day: - Utah gets federal approval to launch the "bridge" Medicaid expansion today.
- Utahns overwhelmingly want to host another Winter Olympics.
- Trump threatens to close the southern border.
Political trivia winners: Florence Ellinwood Allen is the native-born Utahn who was the first woman to serve on a state supreme court and the first woman to serve as a U.S. federal judge. She was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1922 and became a federal judge in 1934. The first three readers to send in the correct answer were: - Thom Carter
- Patrice Arent
- Natalie Gordon
We have a winner! Mike Mower conceded defeat on Friday, saying he was unable to answer the trivia question posed by Ron Fox. We'll be sending a $25 gift card to him for the achievement. If you'd like to be our guest quizmaster, send your political trivia questions to me at [email protected].
Political bracket "Sweet 16: The first four matchups in our "Sweet 16" are live. Check out the brackets here.
 What do you think? We always welcome your feedback, questions, story suggestions, news tips, etc... Send us an email at this link.
The UtahPolicy.com daily newsletter gets you up to speed on the top local and national news about politics and public policy. Our news is curated by Managing Editor Bryan Schott, along with help from Golden Webb. ((Click here to subscribe))
TICK TOCK Today is the 91st day of the year. There are 274 days remaining in 2019. 19 days to the Utah Libertarian Party state convention (4/20/2019) 33 days to the Utah State Republican Party Organizing Convention (5/4/2019) 33 days to the United Utah Party state convention (5/4/2019) 63 days until the municipal election filing period opens (6/3/2019) 67 days until the municipal election filing period ends (6/7/2019) 82 days to the Utah State Democratic Party Organizing Convention (6/22/2019) 86 days to the first Democratic presidential primary debate in Miami (6/26/2019) 134 days to the 2019 Utah primary elections (8/13/2019) 218 days to the 2019 municipal elections (11/5/2019) 301 days to the first day of the 2020 Utah Legislature (1/27/2020) 309 days to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses (2/3/2020) 337 days to the 2020 Utah presidential primary (3/3/2020) 578 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
Today At Utah Policy  Utahns overwhelmingly want to host another Olympic games
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
A super-majority of 87 percent of Utahns support Salt Lake City hosting a future Winter Olympics, a recent UtahPolicy.com poll finds.
 2019 political bracket face-off enters the 'Sweet 16'
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
We're down to the "Sweet 16" in our 2019 bracket faceoff.
 Straw poll: Brown favored to become next GOP chairman
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Former Utah Rep. Derek Brown is the odds-on favorite to be the next chairman of the Utah Republican Party according to a straw poll of our "Political Insiders" and readers.
 McAdams on Medicare for all: 'Not an approach to healthcare that works for my constituents'
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Rep. Ben McAdams said Sunday Morning on Fox News that he does not agree with the current push by many in the Democratic Party to implement a "Medicare for all" health system, but he does say there are problems with the health system that need to be fixed.
 Report: Lee and Barr had 'shouting match' over Justice Department nominee
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
NPR reports Sen. Mike Lee and Attorney General William Barr had a "shouting match" over the nomination of Jessie Liu to a top slot at the Justice Department.
 Trump administration approves Utah's first Medicaid waiver
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Utah got its Medicaid waiver Friday morning, meaning come Monday April 1 the state will start its own "bridge plan" to Medicaid expansion as adopted by the Legislature back in February.
 Stewart: Schiff has 'virtually nothing' to prove his collusion claim
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Rep. Chris Stewart continued his criticism of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff on Friday, saying the Democrat has "virtually nothing" to back up his claims of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
 Waiting for a waiver - Bernick and Schott on politics
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Utah is still waiting for a Medicaid waiver from the Trump administration ahead of Monday's deadline to start the state's scaled-back Medicaid expansion. Utah's plan involves work requirements for recipients, but a federal judge just struck those requirements down in two other states.
OTHER UTAH HEADLINES Deseret News Salt Lake Tribune Other
NATIONAL HEADLINES Trump doubles down on his threat to close the southern border. Trump's chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said Sunday it would take "something dramatic" to prevent President Donald Trump from carrying out his plan to close parts of the border with Mexico - https://wapo.st/2FGfB2F
Trump administration cutting off aid to three Central American countries. The U.S. is cutting off aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras after President Trump said those countries had "set up" migrant caravans heading toward the U.S. - https://cnn.it/2FLUwE9
President Trump wants the GOP to be the "party of healthcare," but they don't have a plan. Republicans in Congress say they have no intention of acting on President Trump's call for a new healthcare plan to replace the Affordable Care Act - https://wapo.st/2FLTlEn - Republican Senators in Washington are privately rooting against the Trump administration's effort to overturn Obamacare through the courts. If the ACA is struck down, Republicans say they won't be able to pass an alternative and it could lead to a disaster at the ballot box in 2020 - http://bit.ly/2FEU0rm
Mueller report to be made public by mid-April. Attorney General William Barr says he will release a redacted copy of special counsel Robert Mueller's report by mid-April, "if not sooner" - https://reut.rs/2FEU9uU
Damage control. Former Vice President Joe Biden is dealing with allegations he made a Nevada politician feel "uneasy" in 2014 when he kissed her on the back of her head. Biden said Sunday he did not believe he acted inappropriately - https://nyti.ms/2FG7oeN
Buttigieg rakes in the cash. South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg raised more than $7 million in the first quarter for his 2020 Democratic presidential bid - https://bloom.bg/2Ue3sw9
Warren struggling. Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren's finance director leaves her campaign as she is struggling to attract campaign cash - https://nyti.ms/2FGkOYn
Sanders pledges to lower prescription drug costs. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says he will cut prescription drug costs by 50% if he's elected in 2020 - https://cbsn.ws/2U70xFa
Jeanine Pirro returns, calls for the arrest of Trump's accusers. Fox News host Jeanine Pirro returned to the air for the first time since making anti-Muslim comments. She spent a good part of her show railing against "treasonous" accusers of President Trump who were laying the groundwork for a "future effort to overthrow the government." She called for Trump's detractors to face "behind the bars justice" - http://bit.ly/2FJSpAp
Sure. Why not? Actor Jim Carrey is in the middle of an online feud with the granddaughter of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini - https://wapo.st/2FFY6zA
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1789 - In New York City, the U.S. House of Representatives achieves its first quorum and elects Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first Speaker. 1826 - Samuel Morey was granted a patent on the internal combustion engine. 1954 - President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorizes the creation of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. 1970 - President Richard Nixon signs the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, requiring the Surgeon General's warnings on tobacco products and banning cigarette advertising on television and radio. 1976 - Apple Inc. is formed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in Cupertino, California. 2003 - U.S. Marines rescued Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who had been held prisoner in Iraq since March 23.
Policy News Utah Taxpayers Association releases 2019 legislative scorecard
The Utah Taxpayers Association has released its 2019 Legislative Scorecard. This year the Association's annual scorecard ranks Utah's 104 legislators on 14 crucial taxpayer related bills from the 2019 legislative session. The bills that were rated covered key taxpayer issues such as cutting taxes, preventing tax increases, promoting equity in Utah's tax code and ensuring economic success in the state for years to come.
More National Headlines Expenses
"Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship." Benjamin Franklin
Victory Lap
"I've got to say that being told that you've not been indicted for betraying your country is a pretty low bar for a victory lap." Stephen Colbert Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. Advertise With Us | 
