Situational awareness - April 9, 2018

Situational awareness - April 9, 2018

Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City.

Utah Republicans continue fighting amongst themselves. The medical marijuana initiative is within 1,000 signatures of qualifying for the ballot. North Korea signals they may be open to discussing their nuclear weapons program.

If you didn't get tickets for Hamilton's Salt Lake City run, the online lottery opens later Monday morning. 40 tickets for every performance will be given away via a digital lottery. Winners can purchase up to two tickets for $10 each. You can learn how to enter here.

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Tick Tock

• 7 days until the signature-gathering deadline for statewide ballot initiatives (4/16/2018)
• 12 days until the Utah GOP State Convention (4/21/2018)
• 19 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention (4/28/2018)
• 28 days until the final day a veto override session may begin (5/7/2018)
• 78 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018)
• 212 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 295 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
• 941 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Do you like podcasts? Subscribe to "Bernick and Schott on politics" while you're on the go. Hosts Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick have more than 60 years combined experience covering Utah politics, so they bring you knowledge and insight that's unprecedented. You can subscribe using iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.

Here are the news stories driving Monday

First on UtahPolicy.com: Another internal Utah GOP fight

We told you last week about some proposed rule changes for the Utah GOP that would crack down on some misbehavior by the party's central committee. A party committee declined to forward those proposals to delegates at the convention. Party Chair Rob Anderson said the proposals were submitted fairly, so he included them on the convention agenda anyway [Utah Policy].

Update: Medical marijuana headed to the ballot

We reviewed the latest signature totals for the various ballot initiatives, and the proposal to legalize medical marijuana is within 1,000 signatures of qualifying for November's ballot [Utah Policy].

Right track/Wrong track

Utahns say they're satisfied with the direction the state is headed while they're not as confident with the direction of the country overall [Utah Policy].

Can Herbert derail legal medical marijuana?

Gov. Gary Herbert says he will "actively oppose" the medical marijuana ballot initiative because it could lead to recreational use. Our "Political Insiders" don't think he'll be very effective [Utah Policy].

Other Utah headlines

• Republicans in San Juan County say election lines redrawn by a federal judge have "disenfranchised" them [Tribune].
   
• A federal judge threw out a Federal Election Complaint against former Utah Attorney General John Swallow [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• Utah's National Guard has not been called up to assist in the effort to guard the U.S./Mexico border but is "standing by" in case they're activated [Tribune].
   
• Demand for rental units is outstripping supply and wage growth, meaning housing is becoming less affordable [Deseret News].
   
• Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Johnson endorses Republican Larry Myers in the U.S. Senate election [Deseret News].
   
• A report alleges students suffered "pervasive" sexism and abuse in Utah State University's piano department for years [Deseret News, Tribune].

National headlines

• North Korean officials have signaled to the U.S. government that they are prepared to discuss eliminating their nuclear weapons program [Associated Press].
   
• Republicans are trying a novel approach to rally their voters ahead of the 2018 midterms. They're warning if Democrats win control of Congress, it's likely that President Trump will be impeached [New York Times].
   
• Congress returns to Washington this week with a heavier than usual to-do list in a midterm election year [Associated Press].
   
• Farmers who propelled Donald Trump to a win in 2016 are worried about the growing trade war with China, fearing it could endanger their livelihoods [Washington Post].
   
• President Trump predicted Sunday that China would back down in the growing trade war with the U.S. [Reuters].
   
• Facebook will begin informing users this week whether their data was shared with Cambridge Analytica [CNN].
   
• Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg will meet with lawmakers on Monday in the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal [Reuters].
   
• Boring but important: The Congressional Budget Office will issue their long-term economic forecast on Monday afternoon. The new projections will take into account the tax cut legislation passed by Congress last year [New York Times].
   
• Escalation in Syria: Syria and Russia are blaming Israel for a pre-dawn missile attack on a Syrian air base [Associated Press].

On this day in history

• 1585 - The expedition organized by Sir Walter Raleigh departs England for Roanoke Island (now in North Carolina) to establish the Roanoke Colony.
   
• 1682 - Robert Cavelier de La Salle discovers the mouth of the Mississippi River, claims it for France and names it Louisiana.
   
• 1865 - Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia, bringing the Civil War to a close.
   
• 1866 - Congress passed the Civil Rights Bill of 1866, which granted African Americans the rights and privileges of U.S. citizenship and formed the basis for the 14th Amendment.
   
• 1959 - NASA announces the selection of the United States' first seven astronauts, whom the news media quickly dub the "Mercury Seven."
   
• 1965 - The Astrodome opens. First indoor baseball game is played.
   
• 2003 - Baghdad falls to American forces.

Today At Utah Policy

Utah GOP food fight continues as a party committee attempts to nix rule changes intended to reign in dissident members
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
A Utah GOP committee is attempting to squash proposed changes to the party's governing documents designed to reign in the behavior of some dissident members of the GOP State Central Committee, but Party Chair Rob Anderson says that group is overstepping their authority....

Utahns more confident in the state's direction than the nation as a whole
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
More Utahns believe the United States is going in the wrong direction than the right direction, but by a large majority they believe the state itself is going the right way, a recent UtahPolicy.com poll shows....

Medical marijuana proposal on the cusp of qualifying for November's ballot
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
The initiative to legalize medical marijuana is within 1,000 signatures of qualifying for November's ballot....

Guest opinion: Improving education for students with special needs
By Christine Cooke, J.D.
We have a responsibility to help all our students no matter how unique their needs might be....

Will Herbert's opposition to the medical cannabis initiative have an impact? Our 'Political Insiders' don't think so
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Polls show that more than 3/4 of Utahns support a proposed ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis. Despite that overwhelming support, Gov. Gary Herbert recently said he would "actively oppose" the ballot initiative....

Policy News

Utah Office for Victims of Crime celebrates National Crime Victims Rights Week, April 8-14
The Office for Victims of Crime helps lead communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims Rights Week every April by promoting victims' rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf....

World Trade Center Utah - Executive job posting
WTC Utah is looking for an experienced and exceptional executive to lead a public/private partnership that promotes and builds international business in the State of Utah....

Identify business opportunities with the Asian Development Bank
World Trade Center Utah, in partnership with U.S. Commercial Service and Utah District Export Council, invites you to join us at our seminar: How to Identify Business Opportunities with the Asian Development Bank....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

George Chapman: SLC sales tax increase should all go to streets

Op-ed: Public Market at Rio Grande area? There is no there there.

Op-ed: If affordable housing sinks, we all sink with it

Editorial: Utah and Idaho need to be clear about their need for water in Bear Lake

Editorial: UTA needs new management more than new name

In Utah canyons where an ancient civilization once flourished, the feds are now inviting oil and gas drilling

Rolly: All those silly job licensing rules in Utah - everything from horse massaging to hair braiding to house painting

Davis County Sheriff's Office business manager on paid leave amid another audit into the office

After a nearly 7-week ban, legislators waste no time getting back to campaign fundraising - and the top earner might surprise you

There's been a surge in the number of Utah women who carry guns - here's why

'We've been disenfranchised': Republicans in San Juan County say redrawn voter districts unfairly favor Navajos

Deseret News

Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Medical marijuana - not what the doctor ordered?

Natalie Gochnour: Utah could use a little beautification

Boyd Matheson: The path to immigration reform is clear. The real question is, who will lead?

Editorial: Good service and management should be the hallmark of UTA, not the name

Editorial: America isn't as divided as it thinks

Lehi police close investigation into extortion claims against state senator

Judge dismisses FEC complaint against ex-Utah A.G. John Swallow

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate endorses Larry Myers for U.S. Senate

Utah officials concerned about marijuana shop 3 miles from border

Research shows housing becoming less affordable along Wasatch Front

Sixth-generation Utah farmer defends his land as plans for new highway come to light

Other

Utah County Democrats choose delegates, leadership at convention (Daily Herald)

Weber County Democratic leader optimistic about 3 Utah House races (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Trump threatens 'Animal Assad,' Putin over alleged chemical attack in Syria (CBS News)

Kevin Williamson firing shows the 'nonpartisan' media's true colors (New York Post)

Americans Face Highest Pump Prices in Years (Wall Street Journal)

Facebook suspends another data analytics firm after CNBC discovers it was using tactics like Cambridge Analytica (CNBC)

'Unsafe to the community': Facebook takes on pro-Trump Diamond and Silk (American Mirror)

New Jersey Governor Signs 'Name And Shame' Order On Gun Data (NPR)

Trump denies John Kelly's influence is diminished (CNN)

Farmers who propelled Trump to presidency fear becoming pawns in trade war (Washington Post)

Bill Maher doesn't like Laura Ingraham. He hates the boycott of her show even more. (Washington Post)

Stock market cooling off from the 'Trump bump' (The Hill)

Mark Zuckerberg's Washington Mission: Stay Cool in a Very Hot Seat (Wall Street Journal)

Wise Words

Giving Thanks

"'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding." Alice Walker
 

Lighter Side

Tough on Russia

"In a press conference, President Trump said that nobody has been tougher on Russia than him. In fact, last night he made sure to hit Putin extra hard during their pillow fight." Jimmy Fallon