GOP goes after former President Obama, but doesn’t defend President Trump. Poll shows McAdams gaining on Love. AG’s office not to being charges against former UFA officials.
Happy Monday. Republicans are outraged -- about former President Barack Obama, that is. After Obama gave a stinging rebuke of President Donald Trump’s tenure in the White House, Republicans criticized Obama for breaking a tradition of former presidents steering clear of attacking their successors. But the Republicans weren’t defending Trump as much as hating on Obama. [Politico]
Topping the news: A new poll has shown Republican House of Representatives candidate Mia Love to be only three percentage points ahead of Democratic House candidate Ben McAdams. This is a big jump from prior polls, hinting that independent voters may be swinging towards McAdams. [Trib][DNews]
-> The Utah Attorney General’s Office has decided after a more than yearlong investigation that confirmed a host of “troubling” behavior by top Unified Fire Authority officials not to bring charges against former chiefs Michael Jensen and Gaylord Scott. [Trib]
-> Medicaid expansion has seen significant support in Utah, and polls suggest that the public will vote yes to this particular ballot initiative. The widespread support comes as a shock to many, given Utah’s status as a conservative state, but citizens have been saying that medicaid “fits with Utah’s values”. [NYTimes]
Tweets of the day: From @marcorubio: “We should ALL, the Dems, the GOP, the media, admit our role in turning politics into theatre. Being outrageous equals clicks, viewers & therefore ratings & $ for media & fame for politicians. Being normal gets you ignored & a primary challenger for being “too weak”.”
-> From @PearlsFromMyrna: “DO I HAVE TO TURN THIS BUICK AROUND AND RUN THE COUNTRY MYSELF.”
Happy Birthday: To SL Co.’s intergovernmental relations head Rob Jeppsen, former Utah Republican Party official Marco Diaz and the International Code Council’s vice president of governmental relations, Justin Wiley.
In other news: Utah’s politicians and religious officials are working together this week for suicide prevention. Gov. Gary Herbert believes that a task force needs to be formed to help individuals with suicidal thoughts, and this includes both providing resources for help as well as creating a community environment where these thoughts are less likely. [DNews]
-> A new Federal Election Commission ruling allowing federal candidates for Congress to use campaign funds for child care has passed, and Senate candidate Shireen Ghorbani is eagerly utilizing it to provide care for her son. Ghorbani and the rule’s supporters believe that this will diminish barriers keeping women from running for office. [Fox13]
-> Multiple top election campaigners are breaking the law by putting up political placards on overpasses, pedestrian bridges and highway boundary fences. Though they will likely not be caught for this minor violation, for those who pay attention to these policies it may affect whether they get voters' support. [Trib]
-> ABC4 provides a breakdown of the three ballot initiatives on this November’s midterm election vote. These include voting on medical marijuana, expansion of medicaid, and political redistricting. [ABC4]
-> Utah Women Unite is working to promote equality in the upcoming legislative session. [ABC4]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates Trump going undercover to try and find the “White House rat.” [Trib]
Nationally: President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama argued over who can take credit for the current economic boom in the United States. Trump brags about economic success “like never before” under his presidency, but Obama pointed out that the numbers aren’t very different from the end of his term and that he was responsible for pulling Americans out of the recession in 2008. [NYTimes][BBC]
-> California is attempting new tactics for tackling gun violence -- ammunition control. These initiatives, which will kick in this year and next, will raise taxes significantly on bullets, put tracking numbers on individual pieces of ammunition, and limit the sale of large-capacity magazines. [NYTimes]
-> Trump is hunting for the writer of a controversial op-ed published in The New York Times, and he has threatened the newspaper itself for publishing the content which poses a perceived “national security” threat. The New York Times replied by stating that this should serve as a reminder “of the importance of a free and independent press.” [BBC]
-> Despite Sen. Ted Cruz’s status as current senator and GOP candidate in a historically red state, the Trump administration and other conservatives are forced to come to his rescue with support in hopes that it will boost his chances of getting re-elected. [Politico]
-> In rebellion against Trump and with a renewed passion from political developments in recent years, Democrats are seeking new faces for the 2020 elections that will bring on a strong liberal force. [NYTimes]
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-- Thomas Burr and Cara MacDonald
https://twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/carammacdonald
