Whether Roy Moore wins or loses, there is no good outcome for Senate Republicans. Rep. Curtis is sworn into office. Zinke gives a hint about size of reduced Bears Ears monument.
Happy Tuesday. Republicans are facing a lose-lose situation in Alabama’s Senate race. If the embattled GOP nominee Roy Moore goes down next month, the GOP’s working majority becomes much more fragile. If he wins, Republicans would struggle to get rid of him, and his presence would cause countless headaches in 2018. [WaPost]
Topping the news: Rep. John Curtis took the oath of office Monday to become Utah’s newest member of Congress. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [KUTV]
-> The anticipated reduction of Bears Ears National Monument by President Donald Trump will still leave the monument larger than Zion and Bryce national parks combined, according to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. [Trib]
-> Outgoing Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan lost the election last week, which would have given him a seventh term in office. While he may not be returning as Sandy’s mayor, he said he has no regrets. [Trib]
Tweets of the day:From @petridishes: “how to know if things are true -Vladimir Putin says so -a minimum of 40 women have stated consistently on the record actually make that 50 no 90 hmm still not convinced is there anyone else you can call”
-> From @jaketapper: “How many high school yearbooks have you signed since you graduated high school?”
-> From @ashleyfeinberg: “starting to wonder if maybe roy moore’s ten commandments thing wasn’t totally sincere”
-> From @nickwiger: “The movement that came to control the entire federal government is currently destroying coffee makers to defend the honor of a pedophile”
In other news: Justice Christine Durham, the first woman to serve on the Utah Supreme Court, celebrated her upcoming retirement on Monday. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Salt Lake County officials will sue the pharmaceutical industry for financial damages as a result of the ongoing opioid crisis. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [Fox13] [KUTV] [KUER]
-> The nomination of 3rd District Judge Paige Petersen was approved by unanimously by a Senate committee Monday. [Trib] [DNews] [KUER]
-> Seema Verma, leader of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced her agency’s approval of Utah’s Medicaid waiver during a state visit. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4]
-> An effort to “recruit Romney” to the U.S. Senate is being promoted by a few state legislators. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> After Keurig, the coffee machine company, pulled its ads from Sean Hannity’s TV show, a Utah coffee company has gained attention from the right-wing. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley considers Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan’s departure. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly evaluates former Congressman Jason Chaffetz’s early departure and the resulting special election. [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke shares the story of the two women behind Action Utah, prompted by their disappointment at Trump’s election into office. [Trib]
Nationally: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Alabama’s Roy Moore to step out of the race after multiple women accused Moore of sexual misconduct. [NYTimes]
-> WikiLeaks and Donald Trump Jr. exchanged messages during the 2016 presidential campaign [WaPost]
-> Attorney General Jeff Sessions may pursue an investigation into the Clinton Foundation, after requesting Justice Department officials look into allegations regarding the foundation and the sale of a uranium firm. [Politico]
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— Thomas Burr and Karenna Meredith Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/meredithkarenna
Follow @sltribpolitics