Happy Friday! President Donald Trump is trying to capitalize on the Democratic Party’s infighting between moderates and the more liberal wing. During his rally in Cincinnati, the president said that Democratic presidential contenders attacked former President Barack Obama more than they did him during the last round of debates. “The rage-filled Democrat Party is trying to tear America apart,” Trump said. [Politico]
Topping the news: Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney voted against a bipartisan budget deal that raises the debt ceiling, though the bill passed and now heads to President Donald Trump who had urged Republicans to back it. [Trib] [DNews]
> A group of about 40 people gathered in the state Capitol on Thursday to urge state lawmakers to fully expand Medicaid. [Trib] [FOX13]
-> The Utah Supreme Court ruled a law that banned same-sex couples from entering into gestational agreements to have children is unconstitutional. [FOX13]
Tweets of the day: From @lukeoneil47: “I gotta be honest with you guys it’s really funny how much Trump has a vendetta against windmills the single most famous thing a crazy guy can want to fight in crazy guy lore besides a whale.”
-> From @justinamash: “There was a time when the GOP establishment hated Donald Trump. They then realized they could use a man like this — unprincipled, transactional, shameless — to push their agenda. McConnell and McCarthy are giddy about Trump. Conservatives in Congress are the ones privately horrified.”
-> From @charlottealter: “Talked to a gentleman last night who said he supports Biden but could never forgive Hillary for creating mandatory minimums and 3 strikes laws. When I told him those policies were actually in Biden’s 1994 crime bill, he said ‘We all make mistakes in life.’”
Happy Birthday: To Cam Madsen, legislative assistant for Rep. Chris Stewart.
Behind the Headlines: Tribune editor Jennifer Napier-Pearce, government and politics editor Dan Harrie, and reporter Courtney Tanner join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including a warning from two counties over Utah’s plan to distribute medical marijuana. Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.
News quiz: Ready for a special edition of The Salt Lake Tribune’s weekly news quiz? Eight candidates are running for Salt Lake City mayor. Meanwhile, the list of candidates running for president in 2020 continues to grow. Can you keep track of who’s running? Find out here. [Trib]
Also in the news: Jay McFarland, a Republican and former KSL NewsRadio pundit who hosted the “JayMac News Show,” plans to challenge Democrat Ben McAdams next year in Utah’s 4th Congressional District. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Summit and Wasatch county leaders, home to Park City and Heber City, described climate change as an issue that “does not have to be partisan” at a panel at the Park City Library on Wednesday. [Trib]
-> Columnist Robert Gehrke discusses the Legislature’s decisions on how to distribute medical cannabis. [Trib]
-> Cartoonist Pat Bagley offers his take on the lying liars in politics. [Trib]
Nationally: President Trump threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff on an additional $300 billion worth of Chinese imports next month further escalating the year-long trade war. [NYTimes]
-> After the second round of Democratic presidential debates, only seven candidates so far have qualified for the third round -- which requires them to have 130,000 unique donors and register at least two percent support in four polls. [NYTimes]
-> The Senate passed a bipartisan federal two-year budget, which raises spending $320 billion over current levels and lifts the debt ceiling for two years. [Politico]
-> Support for an impeachment inquiry of Trump has grown in the House, with 12 members changing their stances from reluctant to supportive just this week. [NYTimes]
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-- Thomas Burr and Alison Berg
