Get 50 cent drinks and cookies at Swig today; BuzzFeed News shutting down; and tomorrow is the GOP state convention, as well as Earth Day
View in browser

The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at editor@utahpolicy.com.

 

Situational Analysis | April 21, 2023

It's Friday and Ramadan has come to a close. Eid al-Fitr began last night and will continue through the weekend. 

The GOP state convention with headliner Ron DeSantis is tomorrow. 

Also, tomorrow is Earth Day and, there is free admission to all national parks. Enjoy!

What You Need to Know

  • Pulitzer-prize-winning BuzzFeed News is shutting down. Its parent company, BuzzFeed, said it can no longer afford to keep it afloat. The Pulitzer was for BuzzFeed News' multi-pronged approach to exposing China's vast infrastructure for detaining Uyghurs. Despite the win, the company was unable to weather the many challenges of past few years. Past stories will be archived on BuzzFeed.com. The shut-down affects approximately 180 employees. 

  • Election denier Mike Lindell offered $5 million if he could be proved wrong. He claimed he had data showing Chinese interference and said he would pay $5 million to anyone who could prove the material was not from the previous year’s U.S. election. Robert Zeidman, a computer forensics expert and 63-year-old Trump voter examined the data and found that not only did it not prove voter fraud, but it actually had no connection to the 2020 election at all. After Lindell Management refused to pay him, Zeidman took his claim to arbitration, as specified by contest rules. The arbitration panel ruled that Lindell must pay the $5 million within 30 days. 

Rapid Roundup

 

Utah Headlines

Political news

  • Governor Cox's monthly news conference, talks flooding and state of emergency. (PBS Utah, UPR, KUER, Fox13
  • Gov. Cox says he ‘will defend’ Utah Senate’s rejection of his Democratic nominee to Air Quality Board (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Wasatch County amends outdoor lighting code for new Heber Valley Temple (KUER)
  • Gov. Cox visits Payson High, talks education, optimism for the future (Daily Herald)
  • Take 2 Podcast: State of emergency flooding, DeSantis headlining Utah GOP convention (KUTV)
  • Gearing up for legal fight with social media companies, Utah governor says kids are suffering from algorithmic addiction (Deseret News)
  • Why Tim Shriver believes America can break its ‘cycle of addiction to contempt’ (Deseret News)

General Utah news

  • USU Interfaith Initiative hosts Iftar to bring Logan's Muslim community together (UPR)
  • Utah man charged for making and selling thousands of fake COVID-19 vaccine cards (Fox13)
  • Utah police agencies join together to combat distracted driving, reduce fatalities (KUTV)
  • Gordon Monson: 20 proposed names for Utah’s Major League Baseball team, if it ever arrives (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • What the former president of Ukraine had to say in his trip to Utah (Inside Sources)
  • Former Ukraine president says Ukraine is fighting to protect Utahns too (Deseret News)

Business

  • Clearlink boss James Clarke’s tirade left employees in shock and tears, with some workers deciding to walk away rather than stay with the Utah tech company. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • A scary good burger joint opens in West Valley City (ABC4)
  • Zuckerberg praises Meta executives a day after laying off 4,000 workers (Washington Post)

Education

  • Utah Tech opens ‘cutting edge’ Center for Precision Medicine and Functional Genomics (St. George News)
  • USU professor trying to solve wild horse overpopulation problem (KSL TV)
  • 3 Granite School students recognized in national business competition (KSL TV)

Environment

  • The giving Earth. When we see the Earth as a giver, our relationship to it changes and we treat it differently (Deseret News)
  • How much rainwater can Utahns collect and store before breaking the law? (ABC4)
  • Officials urging wildfire preparation ahead of summer season (Fox13)
  • Is turning forest waste into black char a green solution? (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • ‘Welcome to our plight': Exploring tribal communities and water rights (KSL)

Family

  • How premarital sex could impact your marriage (Deseret News)

Health

  • According to experts, body dysmorphia is prevalent among boys and men — and it’s dangerous (Deseret News)
  • Are you ready to forgive? A new study shows letting go is good for health. (Washington Post)
  • 'It totally backfired': The pitfalls of Alzheimer's genetic testing (Reuters)

Housing

  • The gender gap in home buying (Deseret News)
  • Home prices in March posted the biggest annual decline in 11 years (Wall Street Journal)
  • Utah home prices continue to plunge as interest rates rise (Fox13)
 

National Headlines

General

  • "When you see a baby withdraw you never, ever, ever forget it." Inside an Arizona nursery caring for drug-dependent babies (Reuters)
  • SpaceX's massive rocket Starship explodes 4 minutes after liftoff (NPR)
  • Family friend, babysitter describe JJ's final days in Daybell murder trial (KSL)

Politics

  • Larry Elder enters 2024 presidential race (Politico)
  • Trump touts authoritarian vision for second term: ‘I am your justice’. The former president is proposing deploying the military domestically, purging the federal workforce and building futuristic cities from scratch (Washington Post)
  • Supreme Court set to decide on abortion pill access (AP)
  • Biden rejects McCarthy’s debt-limit plan (Politico)
  • Fox News parts ways with Dan Bongino (The Hill)
  • Congressional standoff over Supreme Court escalates   (The Hill)
  • Americans bought almost 60 million guns during the pandemic (The Hill)
  • Transgender lawmaker silenced by Montana House speaker until she apologizes (AP)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

  • Ukraine’s millennial minister leads digital fight against Russia (The Hill)
  • Russian warplane accidentally bombs its own city (BBC)
  • ‘A quick death or a slow death’: Prisoners choose war to get lifesaving drugs (New York Times)
  • Ukraine defended Bakhmut despite U.S. warnings in leaked documents (Washington Post)
  • Kremlin tries to build antiwar coalition in Germany, documents show (Washington Post)

World

  • Amid joy and tragedy, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr holiday (AP)
  • Nations prepare Sudan evacuations amid push for Eid holiday cease-fire (Washington Post)
  • When protesters were killed in Iran, their funerals became deadly (Washington Post)
  • UNICEF reports ‘child survival crisis’ in Africa due to missed vaccines during COVID (Deseret News)
 

News Releases

Rep. John Curtis unveils humorous video revealing the "secret" to his productivity

Congressman John Curtis (UT-03) has worked hard to become one of the most effective lawmakers in the US House and was recently named the 9th most effective Republican in the 435-member body. This week, Rep. Curtis released a lighthearted and humorous video that offers a tongue-in-cheek explanation for how he manages to get so much done in Congress.  (Read More)


Wilford Clyde to be honored as 44th Giant in our City

The Salt Lake Chamber will honor Wilford Clyde, Chair of Clyde Companies, Inc., as the 44th Giant in our City on the evening of Thursday, April 27, at the Grand America Hotel. The award recognizes those with exceptional and distinguished service, as well as extraordinary professional achievement, and is widely known as the most prestigious business award given in Utah. (Read More)


Weber State to honor 4 inspiring Utahns with honorary degrees

For their achievements in education, business, government and community leadership, Weber State University will recognize four outstanding Utahns with honorary degrees during its 160th commencement ceremony April 28. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Dee Event Center. 

One recipient, Steve Starks, is also this year’s commencement speaker. Starks is a Weber State alum who once served as WSU student body president. The others are Javier Chavez Sr., Forrest Crawford, and Karen Mayne. (Read More)


Romney to Su: Promoting you to lead the Department of Labor makes no sense at all

At a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing today on the nomination of Julie Su to serve as Secretary of Labor, U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) pressed Su on the nearly $31 billion in fraudulent Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits that were authorized during her tenure overseeing California’s UI program. Specifically, Romney questioned her decision to waive program safeguards to get the money sent out. (Read/Watch More)


Group of Senators and House members express concern over US aid to Ukraine

A group of Senators and House members, led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), sent a letter to President Biden expressing concern about the United States’ response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The lawmakers emphasized the need for a clear diplomatic strategy to bring the war to a rapid conclusion.

The letter says in part“Unrestrained U.S. aid for Ukraine must come to an end, and we will adamantly oppose all future aid packages unless they are linked to a clear diplomatic strategy designed to bring this war to a rapid conclusion.” (Read More)

 

Number of the Day

Number of the Day, Apr 21, 2023

 

Tweet of the Day

Screenshot 2023-04-21 at 7.23.56 AM

 

Upcoming

  • Utah GOP convention — Apr 22, 10:00 am, UVU UCCU Center, Orem (More information here)
  • Teen Girls Experiencing Increased Sadness and Violence with Utah Women and Leadership Project — April 25, 12:00-1:15 pm via Zoom, Register here
  • United Utah Party State Convention — April 29, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Lehi High School with keynote speakers Teri McCabe and Jay Mcfarland
  • Mount Liberty College Spring Youth Seminar on The Virginian — May 6, 9 am-7 pm, Register Here
  • Interim Day — May 16-17, Utah State Capitol, le.utah.gov
  • Utah Democratic Convention May 19-20, SUU (More information here)
  • Interim Day — June 13-14, Utah State Capitol, le.utah.gov
 

On This Day In History 

  • 753 BC - According to legend, today is the day that twins Romulus and Remus established Rome. Just remember - it wasn't built in a day.
  • 1789 - John Adams is sworn in as the first US Vice President 9 days before Washington is sworn in
  • 1939 - Sister Helen Prejean is born. A leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and Roman Catholic sister, she founded the group SURVIVE, to help families of victims of murder and related crimes. She served as the National Chairperson of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty from 1993 to 1995.
  • 1967 - Joseph Stalin's daughter Svetlana Allilueva arrives in New York City after defecting to the US
  • 1989 - Chinese students protest at Tiananmen Square
  • 2019 - Volodymyr Zelenskyy wins Ukraine’s presidential election in a landslide
  • 2021 - Russian President Vladimir Putin warns the West not to cross a "red line" in his state of the union address, amid massing of 100,000 Russian troops on Ukraine border

Quote of the Day

“I stand morally opposed to killing: war, executions, killing of the old and demented, the killing of children, unborn and born. . . . I believe that all of life is sacred and must be protected, especially in the vulnerable stages at the beginning of life and its end.”
― Sister Helen Prejean


On the Punny Side

I hate people who use physically impossible metaphors.

They make my blood boil

 

– Advertise With Us –

Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers.