Reyes holds a big lead over Leavitt in the GOP AG race. Your Wednesday morning political 'cheat sheet' from UtahPolicy.com

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Situational awareness - May 20, 2020

Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City

TICK TOCK

41 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)

167 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)

245 days to inauguration day (01/20/2021)

250 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)

Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:

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Today At Utah Policy

OTHER UTAH HEADLINES

Deseret News

Salt Lake Tribune

Other

NATIONAL HEADLINES

Permanent damage

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned that the economy may never fully recover if states prolong their shutdowns from the coronavirus pandemic [CNN].

Pressure to reopen

Republicans are recruiting "extremely pro-Trump" doctors to go on television to advocate for reopening the U.S. economy as quickly as possible [AP].

Coronavirus relief

The White House announced a $19 billion economic rescue package for farmers and ranchers battered by the coronavirus [Politico].

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday Republicans in Congress along with the Trump administration are evaluating the need for more coronavirus relief legislation [Reuters].

Pompeo

Before he was fired by President Trump, a federal watchdog was reportedly investigating elaborate private dinners hosted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and paid for using taxpayer funds. Critics worried the dinners, attended by billionaire CEOs and other political heavyweights, were using federal resources to cultivate a donor and supporter base for Pompeo's future political ambitions [NBC News].

Secretary Pompeo refused to sit down for an interview with the state department inspector general about an "emergency" $8 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Pompeo offered up written answers instead [New York Times].

Another impeachment?

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee told the Supreme Court they need access to secret grand jury materials from the Mueller investigation to determine if there is new evidence of impeachable offenses involving President Trump [CNN].

Hmmm...

Democrats in Congress will open an investigation into the replacement of the Transportation Department's acting inspector general, as they're concerned the move was tied to an investigation into Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao giving preferential treatment to projects in Kentucky. Chao is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell [Washington Post].

A North Dakota company repeatedly touted by President Trump has been awarded a $1.3 billion federal contract to build 42 miles of border wall in southern Arizona [Washington Post].

Vote by mail

A Texas judge ruled Tuesday that all voters afraid of catching the novel coronavirus can request absentee mail-in ballots [CNN].

The Trump roadshow

President Trump has ordered campaign and White House officials to find a way to get him back in front of crowds of supporters at his signature rallies. The Trump campaign is hoping to organize a series of virtual rallies for the president by the end of the month [Politico].

Trump vs. Obama

A new national poll shows former President Barack Obama would defeat President Donald Trump in a head-to-head election 54-43% [Public Policy Polling].

Environment

Global CO2 emissions have dropped 17 percent since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown [Nature].

New power from renewable sources is set to fall this year for the first time in two decades because of manufacturing shutdowns [Bloomberg].

Misinformation

A new study from the University of Kansas finds populations vulnerable to the novel coronavirus are more likely to believe and share misinformation about the disease [KU News].

BUSINESS HEADLINES

Policy News

More National Headlines

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1609 - Shakespeare's sonnets are first published in London.

1861 - North Carolina secedes from the Union.

1862 - President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act into law.

1873 - Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive a patent for blue jeans with copper rivets.

1902 - Cuba gains independence from the United States.

1927 - Charles Lindbergh took off from Long Island aboard the Spirit of St. Louis on his historic solo flight to France.

1932 - Amelia Earhart takes off from Newfoundland to begin the world's first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a female pilot, landing in Ireland the next day.

1983 - First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS in the journal Science by Luc Montagnier.

1989 - Chinese authorities declare martial law in the face of pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square.

Wise Words

"There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism." Alexander Hamilton

Lighter Side

"Even before the hearing began, Trump went on the offensive, tweeting: 'I don't know the so-called whistle-blower Rick Bright, never met him or even heard of him, but to me he is a disgruntled employee, not liked or respected by people I spoke to and who, with his attitude, should no longer be working for our government!' That's quite a preamble. [as Trump] 'Before I assassinate this guy's character, let me first say, I have no idea what I'm talking about.'" - STEPHEN COLBERT

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