A new report from the Pentagon says the United States is ill-equipped to counter the political warfare Russia is waging to undermine democracies. The authors warn American leaders are underestimating the scope of the country’s aggression and that disarray at home is hampering U.S. efforts to respond to threats from abroad. [POLITICO]
Happy Monday!
Topping the news: After the United States Supreme Court ruled states have free rein over how to draw their voting districts — even when based on partisan interests — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said the state will follow an anti-gerrymandering measure passed in November “as a blueprint.” [Trib] [KCPW] [KUTVviaAP]
-> The Utah Supreme Court has cleared the way for the state to install a $50 million emergency radio network to replace an aging one that’s been kept running with spare parts purchased on eBay. [Trib]
-> After an unpopular bill that would have expanded the state’s sales tax fell flat in this year’s legislative session, Utahns frustrated over the proposition voiced their concerns at a tax reform town hall Thursday. [Trib]
-> About 100 Utahns met again Friday with the state’s task force on tax reform, where they voiced concerns and listened to lawmakers’ plans for change. [Trib] [DNews] [UPR]
Tweets of the weekend: From @MEPfuller: “Excited to see Elizabeth Warren’s plan for helping Marianne Williamson.”
-> From @AndrewYang: “Running for President definitely makes the world seem like more of a simulation.”
-> From @petridishes: “we are all just ideas in the mind of Marianne Williamson and if she stops believing in us even for a second we’ll all vanish”
-> From @SeanTrende: “There's a weird partisan version of the Third Person Effect where people believe that the opposition party is ten times more ruthless and competent than it actually is and that their own is ten times less so.”
Happy Birthday: To former Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall.
Also in the news: Kathleen Anderson, a Republican activist and former chair of the Davis County Republican Party, declared her candidacy to unseat 4th Congressional District Democrat Ben McAdams. [Trib] [KUTV] [DNews]
-> Standing with other moderate House Democrats, McAdams signed on to a bill supporting funds for the humanitarian crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul blocked a bipartisan immigration bill in the Senate that was proposed by Utah Republican Mike Lee and California Democrat Kamala Harris. [DNews]
-> Refugees in Salt Lake City gathered in protest Saturday to call attention to suffering in Sudan. [DNews]
-> The Utah Transit Authority is replacing the TRAX rail between the Temple Square and Arena stations and will provide “bus bridges” between the stations in the interim. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Herbert issued a proclamation supporting the LoveLoud music festival, an annual event to raise awareness of LGBTQ acceptance in conservative Utah. [FOX13]
-> Cartoonist Pat Bagley imagines “press control.” [Trib]
Nationally: Trump became the first American president to set foot in North Korea on Sunday. [NYTimes]
-> Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, accompanied him on the trip and spoke with world leaders at the Group of 20 economic summit, sparking conversation about her qualifications to play a role in the administration. [WaPost]
-> Hope Hicks, a former top Trump aide, told House investigators that members of the 2016 Trump campaign felt “relief” when WikiLeaks released hacked information damaging to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. [WaPost]
-> Harris, a Democratic Senator from California and a presidential candidate, raised $2 million after her performance in Thursday’s presidential primary debate. [NYTimes]
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-- Taylor Stevens and Alison Berg
