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Salt Lake City Weekly highlighted UtahPolicy.com Managing Editor Bryan Schott in their annual "Best of Utah" edition as "Best Political Schott in the Dark."
The editors said "If you have even one iota of interest in how this state and its cities are run, you should subscribe to or at least visit Utah Policy's site, where Schott curates local news and headlines five days a week in the Morning Must Reads. He also weighs in on the issues of the day with longtime political reporter Bob Bernick in more than 300 "Bernick and Schott on Politics" videos."
Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing
Morning Must Reads for Monday, December 5, 2016
Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 340th day of the year. There are 26 days remaining in 2016.
Jon Huntsman under consideration for Secretary of State. Donald Trump picks Ben Carson for his Cabinet. The Obama administration halts the Dakota Access pipeline, at least for now.
The clock:
- 14 days until the Electoral College meets to cast their votes for president and vice president (12/19/2016)
- 46 days until Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President (1/20/2017)
- 49 days until the first day of the 2017 Utah Legislature (1/23/2017)
- 94 days until the final day of the 2017 Utah Legislature (3/9/2017)
- 337 days until the 2017 municipal elections (11/7/2017)
- 701 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
Ten talking points for Monday:
- Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is reportedly under consideration for Secretary of State in Donald Trump's administration [Utah Policy, Tribune]. If Trump ends up picking Jon Huntsman, it could go a long way toward helping Orrin Hatch win another term in Washington [Utah Policy].
- Sen. Orrin Hatch is in prime position to help Donald Trump push his agenda through Congress [Roll Call].
- Donald Trump taps former presidential candidate Ben Carson to head up Housing and Urban Development [Politico].
- Senate Democrats say they will use every delay tactic at their disposal to hold up the confirmation of Donald Trump's cabinet picks as retaliation for Republicans sitting on Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination [Politico].
- Donald Trump caused a stir when he broke international protocol and spoke with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-Weng by telephone. Those close to Trump say the provocative phone call was intentionally planned to shake up relations with China [Washington Post]. Jon Huntsman says Trump's call with Taiwan could signal he intends to take a new approach to international relations [Utah Policy, Tribune].
- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Pearl Harbor this month, becoming the first Japanese leader to visit the site of the attack that launched America into World War II. Abe says it's in return for President Barack Obama visiting Hiroshima earlier this year [CNN].
- The Obama administration denied a permit needed to finish the Dakota Access pipeline, drawing cheers from those opposed to the project. However, that victory may be short-lived because President-Elect Donald Trump supports the project [Wall Street Journal].
- Rep. Rob Bishop is set to meet with members of Donald Trump's transition team to discuss how the president-elect could undo national monument designations once he takes office in January [Deseret News].
- Thousands of people are urging Utah's electors to reject Donald Trump when they cast their ballots in two weeks [Deseret News].
- Josh Romney says he will "strongly support" Sen. Orrin Hatch if he decides to launch a bid for an eighth term in the Senate because he's more focused on possibly running for governor in 2020 [Deseret News].
On this day in history:
- 1792 - George Washington was re-elected president and John Adams was re-elected vice president.
- 1848 - President James Polk confirmed the discovery of gold in California, leading to the "gold rush" of 1848 and '49.
- 1933 - Prohibition of liquor in the United States was repealed when Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- 1955 - Blacks declared a boycott of city buses in Montgomery, Ala., demanding seating on an equal basis with whites. The boycott was prompted by the arrest of Rosa Parks, a black woman who refused to give up her bus seat to a white man.
- 1994 - Republicans chose Newt Gingrich to be the first GOP speaker of the House in four decades.
Today At Utah Policy
 | Analysis: Why Huntsman as Secretary of State Helps Hatch Well, isn't that convenient?... |
 | Huntsman: Don't Worry About Trump's Apparent Taiwan Faux Pas (with video) Former Utah Governor and Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman says we might be overreacting to Donald Trump's apparent breach of protocol when he spoke with the president of Taiwan before speaking with Chinese leaders.... |
 | Should We Abolish the Electoral College? For the second time in 16 years, the winner of the popular vote is not headed to the White House.... |
 | Why Trump Would Almost Certainly Be Violating the Constitution If He Continues to Own His Businesses Far from ending with President-elect Trump's announcement that he will separate himself from the management of his business empire, the constitutional debate about the meaning of the Emoluments Clause - and whether Trump will be violating it - is likely just beginning.... |
 | Huntsman Reportedly in the Mix for Secretary of State Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has reportedly been added to President-Elect Donald Trump's shortlist for Secretary of State.... |
Policy News
| Salt Lake City Residents Invited to Submit Comments on Community Development Needs The Salt Lake City Housing and Neighborhood Development Division invites residents to participate in a General Needs Hearing on December 5 to comment on overall housing and community development needs as they relate to low and moderate-income residents.... |
| Press Release: Love Continues Commitment to Veterans: 'Yes' Votes on Issues Important to Vets and Families Congresswoman Mia Love continues to show her support for American Veterans and their families by voting in favor of a string of bills in support of those who sacrifice for our country. ... |
| Too Many Utah Students Missing Out on School Breakfast Utah Breakfast Expansion Team Outlines Steps to Improve Participation In recent years, there have been efforts to increase school breakfast participation in Utah; however, these efforts have not changed Utah’s consistently low participation rate that has remained the same for the previous three school years. ... |
Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
Op-ed: Solving real problems new public charter schools face
Paul Rolly: One state school board race is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma
Op-ed: Higher taxes won't improve our education outcomes
Jon Huntsman: Enduring policy come from a bipartisan process
Op-ed: Utah needs Hatch in D.C. now more than ever
Op-ed: Public schools need more money, and Utahns know it
Editorial: What comes after Obamacare? Time for Republicans to deliver
Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Service Area seeks 9.49% tax increase
Sewer treatment plant's $250 million rebuild means fee hike for some in Salt Lake Valley
National Defense Authorization Act includes land swap for Utah weapons testing range
Election aftermath: Pollsters scratching heads over Trump victory miss
Salt Lake County budget up for public hearings, with focus on 'Pay for Success'
Herbert sees GOP going on offense in the next four years
Deseret News
Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Taxes, Trump, Romney, Hatch, Huntsman: hot politics in December
Op-ed: Utah legislators are generally respectful public servants
Op-ed: Congress should provide parity across energy technologies
Op-ed: Utah needs ranked-choice voting
Editorial: Icy relations of GOP's factions might be beginning to thaw
Editorial: Utah family structures and education achievements need reinforcing
Why the death penalty is not dead yet
Donald Trump goes off on Evan McMullin at Ohio victory rally
Utah budget director receives national award for public officials
Josh Romney will 'strongly support' Sen. Hatch re-election, still eying own bid for governor
Salt Lake County deputy mayor resigns
Bishop to meet with Trump transition team to discuss overturning monument decisions
Bush-Gore race put Utah electors in spotlight in 2000
Thousands urging Utah electors to oppose Trump
Other
Local governments ponder solutions to health insurance increases (Logan Herald Journal)
Election of Doug Clyde leaves vacancy on the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission (Park Record)
National Headlines
Dem blame game rages over Clinton loss (The Hill)
Democrats have lost an entire generation of congressional leaders (Washington Post)
Rouhani Urges Obama to Block Iran Sanctions Law Extension (Bloomberg)
Trump Expands Search for His Secretary of State (New York Times)
U.S. defense elite rally behind Trump's unusual Pentagon pick (Reuters)
Protesters cheer Army Corps' decision (Washington Post)
A showdown between Trump and the Fed is looming (Business Insider)
Trump Forms an Advisory Group of CEOs for Input on Jobs (Associated Press)
Overhead bins should be free for all fliers: Chuck Schumer (New York Post)
Wise Words
Respected
"Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized." Albert Einstein
Lighter Side
Final Christmas
"The Obamas just had the White House decorated for their final Christmas before they leave. They want to make it look nice for Santa, since he's not coming back for at least four years." Jimmy Fallon
