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Stewart clashes with CNN’s Cuomo over QAnon and January 6 insurrection
Rep. Chris Stewart had a testy exchange with CNN’s Chris Cuomo Tuesday night about a report detailing an unclassified warning from the FBI that QAnon conspiracy theorists may resort to violence after many of their beliefs have failed to come true.
When asked about QAnon, Stewart said he was unfamiliar with the group and blamed the media for elevating the fringe group.
Stewart: “I’m never going to weigh in on QAnon. Why they’re elevating this, they don’t deserve that at all
Cuomo: “We’ve elevated QAnon? You put one of them (Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene) in your ranks!”
Stewart: “No I didn’t. I didn’t vote for her in her district.”
Cuomo: “Did you vote to have her removed from the committees?”
Stewart: “I actually did.”
House Democrats voted to strip Greene of her committee assignments after some incendiary statements came to light. 11 Republicans voted with Democrats in favor of removing Greene. Stewart was not one of them.
Later, they tangled over the January 6 attack on the Capitol as Stewart tried to equate the attempted insurrection with civil unrest across the country
Stewart: “How many nights of riots did we see night after night after night in Portland and Seattle and other places. They didn’t attack the capitol but they attacked federal courthouses again and again and again.”
Cuomo: “Do you think that’s the same as attacking the U.S. Capitol? Hunting you, by the way? In an insurrection that (former President) Trump led? It was called an act of terror which is the only act of terror I’ve never seen you not jump on?”
Stewart: “Listen to this. $2 billion damage. Dozens killed in these riots and you’re discounting it completely.”
Cuomo: “No, I’m not.”
Stewart: “Then you tell me which is worse.”
Cuomo: “Attacking the U.S. Capitol and an insurrection.”
Stewart: “Why is that worse? Riots night after night after night. Why is that worse?”
Cuomo: “Because it was a coup attempt. And it was called an act of terror.”
Stewart: “I believe people see the billions in damage, people killed, they consider that at least as dangerous as the one event on January 6th.”
Cuomo: “If this had happened the other way around. If this were Antifa at the U.S. Capitol, you would have wanted to start a civil insurrection against them rooting them out. It would be all you guys would be talking about and you won’t even investigate this.”
The whole interview is quite remarkable.
Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday morning
Local news
West Jordan Republican Steve Christiansen visited Arizona to observe the election audit in Maricopa County. He wants the Utah Legislature to audit the 2020 election in Salt Lake County. [Tribune]
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is recommending President Joe Biden enlarge the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante after they were reduced dramatically by former President Donald Trump. Utah Republicans are unhappy at the news. [Tribune]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is donating nearly $10 million to the NAACP for three new educational and humanitarian programs. [Tribune]
A committee recommended renaming Dixie State College as Utah Polytechnic University. The change still needs trustees and the legislature to approve the change. [Tribune]
A new poll shows a third of Utah residents don’t want high-density housing in their neighborhoods. [Tribune]
The cold virus is making a comeback in Utah as mask-wearing and social distancing goes away. [Tribune]
The Utah Jazz drop game four to the Los Angeles Clippers 118-104. The series shifts back to Salt Lake City tied at two games apiece. [Tribune]
National news
Shortly after former Attorney General William Barr announced he would step down, former President Trump began pressuring his replacement to investigate false claims of election fraud. [NYT]
A pair of studies show COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against the Delta variant of the virus. [WSJ]
Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized for comparing mask-wearing to the Holocaust. [CNN]
Through the first five months of 2021, more than 8,100 people were killed by gunfire in the U.S. That’s 14 more deaths per day on average than the previous six years. [WaPo]
President Biden and European Union leaders reached an agreement to end a 17-year-old dispute about subsidies for aircraft manufacturers. [WaPo]
NATO leaders said they were shifting their focus to take a more confrontational stance toward China. [WaPo]
Former national security contractor Reality Winner, prosecuted during the Trump administration for leaking classified information, has been released from prison. [NYT]
Former President Trump claims he has been offered several lucrative book deals since leaving office. Major publishing houses said that’s not true. Trump is having trouble securing a contract to write a book because publishers rightly worry what he writes won’t be truthful. [Politico]
Oil prices soared on Monday as investors worry the shift to green energy will reduce production and lead to a supply shortage. [WSJ]
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says the company is sitting on $500 billion in cash to hedge against rising interest rates. [Reuters]
The Girl Scouts have 15 million boxes of unsold cookies. The pandemic caused many troops to ditch in-person sales, which led to the surplus. [AP]
Tuesday’s Utah news roundup
Utah
Salt Lake City won’t release police dog videos after mayor promised ‘to be open and transparent.’ [Tribune]
Utahns can weigh in on a new design for Utah’s state flag. [Tribune]
Alcohol-involved deaths on roads doubled during COVID year. [Tribune]
5 reasons to believe Utah’s booming business sector is going global. [DNews]
What Ann Romney, a mother of 5, thinks about the term ‘birthing person’. [DNews]
The details on the Biden-Putin summit — and what Utah Rep. Chris Stewart has to say. [DNews]
Several Pride flags stolen from homes in South Jordan neighborhood. [KUTV]
Utah County residents to protest shelter killing animals in gas chamber. [KUTV]
Hill AFB airmen return to Utah after first overseas deployment of 2021. [Standard Examiner]
Construction begins on Park City luxury hotel that will double as R&R spot for Hill AFB airmen. [Standard Examiner]
COVID-19
Utah reports 169 new cases of COVID-19, and no more deaths. [Tribune]
Environment
Division of Wildlife warns drought conditions may increase moose sightings. [Tribune]
Hot weather, higher ozone difficult for COVID-19 long haulers. [KUTV]
Toxic algae warning advisory issued for Provo Bay in Utah Lake. [Herald Extra]
New ‘eco-community’ proposed for Juab County. [ABC4]
Education
SUU president stepping down to lead Utah higher education system’s online learning. [DNews]
Candidates for University of Utah president have been narrowed to 11. [DNews]
Local Government
New leadership for Utah’s Olympic bid about ‘celebrating the athletes,’ Gov. Spencer Cox says. [DNews]
Vail Resorts urges approval of PCMR project, a rare statement concerning development fray. [Park Record]
Park City business owner starts City Council campaign, stressing wildfire danger. [Park Record]
On the Opinion Pages
Robert Gehrke: Cox is eager for a nuclear future. Utahns should tell him why we’re not. [Tribune]
Kathleen Cahill: Utah inland port will degrade quality of life for the benefit of a few. [Tribune]
Commentary: Health professionals urge Utah Legislature to allow trans girls to participate in sports. [Tribune]
David Op’t Hof: The Constitution does not support insurrection. [Tribune]
Tribune editorial board: What the new SLC airport can teach us about Utah’s growing pains. [Tribune]
🎂 You say it’s your birthday?!!
Many happy returns to Rep. Chris Stewart, Holly Yocom, Salt Lake County director of community services, former legislative candidate Cindie Quintana, and polygamy advocate Joe Darger.
Got a birthday you’d like us to recognize in this space? Send us an email.
— Tribune reporter Connor Sanders contributed to this report.
