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Situational Analysis | June 23, 2025

It's Tuesday and Global Beatles Day 🎸 It's also 6 months until Christmas! 🎄

What you need to know

Sen. Mike Lee submitted a new version with updated restrictions of his public lands proposal amid growing opposition to the provision. Lee presented the changes on Tuesday morning after the Senate parliamentarian ruled the night before that the Utah senator’s proposal would be stripped from President Donald Trump’s massive tax package because it does not comply with the strict rules laid out in the reconciliation process. Gov. Cox says Sen. Lee's public lands proposal should remain narrowly tailored to affordable housing near cities.

Rapid Relevance

Fireworks now on sale in Utah, firefighters warn to light them safely; a Utah daycare lost its license after a serious injury but it still caring for kids; celebration of life planned for Afa Ah Loo

Utah Headlines

Political news

Perspective: Medicaid, work and the problem of the ‘benefits cliff’ (Deseret News)
Rep. Blake Moore says Trump had authority to conduct strikes on Iran (KSL)
Former Utah congressman/Air Force pilot details bombing missions like the one in Iran (KSL)
As federal government seeks AI moratorium, Utah offers alternative model (KSL Newsradio)
Western governors unite behind Gov. Cox’s energy plan (Deseret News)

Municipal news

West Jordan Fire giving out free buckets for 4th of July fire prevention (KSL TV)

Utah

Why these 100 elephants 'migrated' through Utah (KSL)
'I was scared': Utah student releases statement, describes ICE detention (KSL)
What a world-champion bobsled driver from Utah says she’s learned about fear — and sass (Deseret News)
65% of Utah law enforcement agencies have now complied with sexual assault data law (KSL TV)
Utah ranked most independent state in the US — WalletHub study (ABC4)

Crime/Courts

Murray man charged with stabbing ex-girlfriend 20 times (KSL)
How Utah’s self-defense law could impact charging decisions in deadly ‘No Kings’ protest shooting (KSL TV)
Former teacher aide arrested, accused of trying to meet teen for sex (KSL TV)
Police seize about 92K fentanyl pills; 3 face criminal charges (KSL)
Southern Utah shop owners plead guilty to stealing $500K in Ukraine donations (KSL)

Economy

US consumer confidence weakens on job market worries (Reuters)
Fed Chair Jerome Powell says tariff uncertainty warrants caution on rate cuts (NPR)
Toys are getting pricier as tariffs kick in (Washington Post)
Here’s the annual income levels Americans say they need to feel ‘comfortable’ (Deseret News)

Education

Meet Molly Hart — Utah’s new school superintendent of public instruction (Deseret News)
'To serve the community': Utah Tech University math professor receives inclusivity award (St. George News)

Environment

Brooke Rollins: This is how we manage forests better (Deseret News)
U.S. companies are ready to strike on critical minerals (Deseret News)
New Colorado River proposal breaks over year long negotiation deadlock (UPR)

Faith

Should public school teachers be allowed to lead students in prayer? Here’s what Americans think (Deseret News)

Family

How local banks and credit unions can help empower your teen's financial future (Fox 13)

Health

2 more adults diagnosed with measles, Utah health department says (KSL)

Housing

Taylorsville home models how to conserve water by changing landscaping (KSL)

National Headlines

General

Andrew Cuomo concedes New York City Democratic mayoral primary to Zohran Mamdani (AP)

Political news - Trump

Trump signals shift in policy, allows China to buy Iranian oil (Reuters)
Trump receives praise from NATO official ahead of summit (Deseret News)
Trump cannot end union bargaining for federal workers, judge rules (Reuters)
What’s in and out of Trump’s big bill as Senate races to meet Fourth of July deadline (AP)
Trump administration postpones classified briefings for lawmakers on Iran (AP)
Trump posts video with ‘Bomb Iran’ song amid ceasefire (The Hill)
Trump tells Congress ‘no one goes on vacation’ until tax bill is passed (Deseret News)

Other political news

Democrats accuse Republicans of ‘hiding facts’ after abrupt cancellation of Iran briefings (Deseret News)
DOGE employee 'Big Balls' has resigned, White House official says (Reuters)
Fired Justice Department lawyer accuses agency of planning to defy court orders (NPR)
Rep. Jim Himes, a top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, says he learned about U.S. attack on Iran on social media (NPR)

Immigration/deportation

‘Fire up the deportation planes’: Supreme Court backs Trump immigration push (Deseret News)
Why Trump’s labor secretary says it’s ‘America First’ to expand the migrant workforce (Deseret News)
Florida plans 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention center (Reuters)

Ukraine/Russia

Russian missile attack kills 17 as Zelenskiy presses NATO allies for support (Reuters)

Middle East

Exclusive: US to give $30 million to Gaza aid operation despite violence concerns (Reuters)
Gaza health authorities say Israel kills 44 waiting for aid as war’s death toll passes 56,000 (AP)
Iranian missile barrage strikes Israel after deadline Trump announced for ceasefire passes (AP)
Iran-Israel ceasefire holds so far — but only after Trump swears in frustration (Deseret News)
US strikes failed to destroy Iran's nuclear sites, intelligence report says (Reuters)

World news

Design for Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Features a Tiara-Inspired Bridge (New York Times)

News Releases

Escamilla responds to unlicensed child care facility after severe injury to child

“As more stories and incidents come to our attention, including the recent investigation reported by FOX 13, I am further reassured of the urgent need for basic standards and regulations in all child care settings where our infants and children are placed. This facility is continuing to operate without a license, something that S.B. 211, Child Care Revisions, would have directly addressed. Although the bill did not pass this session, it was designed to create basic safety requirements such as background checks, CPR/first aid training, and mandatory abuse reporting for small, home-based daycares caring for four to ten (two of them being related) children." (Read More)

Curtis talks cease-fire between Israel and Iran with CNN

U.S. Senator John Curtis appeared on The Source with Kaitlan Collins on CNN to discuss the Trump Administration’s announcement of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Iran, as well as the broader implications for peace in the Middle East. During the exchange, Curtis praised the President’s actions in Iran, calling them a “case study” and the “first chapter” of “Peace Through Strength.” (Read More)

Lee introduces accountability reporting for NATO

As NATO convenes today, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation addressing inadequate burden sharing among the United States’ allies and NATO member nations. The Allied Burden Sharing Report Act and the NATO Burden Sharing Report Act would incentivize delinquent nations to contribute their fair share for defense measures by requiring the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to compile annual reports on allied nations’ defense contributions and their ability to fulfill commitments. U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) cosponsored both pieces of legislation. (Read More)

Lee, colleagues, introduce bipartisan antitrust bill to promote app store competition

Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the bipartisan Open App Markets Act, which would set fair, clear, and enforceable rules to promote competition and strengthen consumer protections within the app market. Google and Apple currently have gatekeeper control of the two dominant mobile operating systems and their app stores that allow them to exclusively dictate the terms of the app market, inhibiting competition and restricting consumer choice. (Read More)

Owens leads ‘Make America Safe Again’ resolution

Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT) introduced a resolution to designate June 24th as Public Safety Awareness Day, reaffirming the federal government’s duty to uphold law and order. The resolution recognizes public safety as a core responsibility, encourages community-based crime prevention, and calls for stronger victim services, mental health support, and an end to anti-police ideology. (Read More)

On This Day In History

1678 - Venetian Elena Cornaro Piscopia is awarded a doctorate of philosophy from the University of Padua, becoming 1st woman to receive a university doctoral degree or PhD.
1876 - Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer’s Last Stand
1903 - Marie Curie defends her doctoral thesis on radioactive substances at Université de la Sorbonne in Paris, becoming the first woman in France to receive a doctoral degree.
1950 - Start of the Korean War
1950 - “Miracle on Green,” one of the greatest soccer upsets of all time, occurs when a mostly amateur team from the US defeats the professional English team at the World Cup.
1954 - Sonia Maria Sotomayor, a US Supreme Court Justice, was born. She has the distinction of being the third female Justice and first justice of Hispanic descent.
1976 - Missouri governor officially rescinds Mormon extermination order
1993 - Kim Campbell becomes Canada’s first female prime minister
1993 - Tansu Ciller becomes Turkey’s first female prime minister
1996 - Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia kills 19 US airmen and wounds nearly 500 others.
2009 - Michael Jackson dies at age 50.
2020 - The Dixie Chicks change their name to “The Chicks” to remove connotations of Confederate history.

Quote of the Day

"The Latina in me is an ember that blazes forever."

– Sonia Maria Sotomayor

On the Punny Side

Why is it a bad idea to iron your four-leaf clover?

‘Cause you shouldn't press your luck.