Poll: Half of Americans question Trump’s mental stability. The Utah Legislature opens session today. Federal government remains shutdown.
Happy Monday. A new poll shows that nearly half of Americans have questions about President Donald Trump’s mental stability. Forty-eight percent of voters think Trump is mentally stable, versus the 47 percent of voters who think he is not. [Politico]
Topping the news: The 2018 Utah Legislature gavels into session today. With a slew of bills on the table, state lawmakers are looking to specifically undercut two ballot initiatives -- one that would raise taxes for education and another that would fully expand Medicaid for the poor. [Trib] [ABC4]
-> A survey by The Salt Lake Tribune and University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics showed that majorities of Utah Republicans and Utah Democrats support protections for young immigrants, known as “Dreamers,” who are affected by Trump’s DACA decision. [Trib]
-> Despite the government shutdown, many national parks remain open. But few visitor services are available. [Trib] [DNews]
Tweets of the day: From @byrdinator: “This isn’t even a joke. An hour and a half ago I heard a Democratic senator who shall remain unnamed tell a colleague he was going to take a nap. ‘I have nothing else to do,’ he said. Relatable.”
-> From @bydinator: “you’d think people would start to get dizzy with all the spinning that’s happening on Capitol Hill right now”
-> From @nataliewsj: “’Isn’t this fun?’ Orrin Hatch asks reporters with a smile as he walked into the Senate Chamber.”
-> From @aedwardslevy: “if a deal is not reached, every person within the boundaries of the district of columbia must immediately freeze in place, kind of like the mannequin challenge”
-> From @aedwardslevy: “how about a law that every day they don’t pass a spending bill every senator has to eat a tide pod call it a poison pill amendment”
Happy belated birthday: To James Seaman and former state Rep. Patrick Painter.
In other news: Mitt Romney made a second public appearance in a week at a Salt Lake City tech conference Friday, though he did not announce a Senate run during his speech. Romney is expected to run for Sen. Orrin Hatch’s open seat. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [KSL]
-> U.S. Supreme Court Associate jJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke to a Park City audience Sunday about sexual harassment, movies, and “Saturday Night Live.” Ginsburg came to Park City for the Sundance Film Festival premiere of “RBG,” a documentary about her life. [Trib] [DNews]
-> In the midst of the government shutdown, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams called out Rep. Mia Love Friday for not doing enough to negotiate, though Love is supporting a bill to continue funding CHIP -- which was blocked by Senate Democrats holding out for a move on DACA. [Trib]
-> Multiple celebrities and performers spoke at the Respect Rally in Park City on Saturday, which drew about 1,000 people and focused on the #MeToo movement, President Donald Trump’s policies, and women’s rights. The Respect Rally took place as a part of the national Women’s March. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Multiple bills will address the legalization of medical marijuana in the Utah Legislature in the upcoming session. But a ballot initiative could leave the decision making up to voters in November. [DNews]
-> Grantsville Mayor Brent Marshall has been accused of using physical and verbal aggression and intimidation to further his own agenda. Marshall said he has never intentionally belittled anyone. [Trib]
-> Three Utah mines are set to expand, securing hundreds of jobs -- but the plan to expand involves exporting coal through Oakland, Calif., which has a coal ban. A federal judge will soon decide to invalidate or uphold the ban. [Trib]
-> A developer has a plan to rehabilitate algae-polluted Utah Lake by building a city in the middle of it. [Trib]
-> A fashion exhibit at SLCC is aiming to show how clothing can be a force for social and political change. The exhibit runs through Feb. 1. [Trib]
-> A group of The Salt Lake Tribune’s political reporters and columnists discuss the possibility of Utah Democratic gains in the November 2018 election. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley shows the Republican Party, the “Party of Personal Responsibility,” blaming Democrats for the shutdown. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly tells the story of a mannequin that doubles as a law enforcement officer and reminds drivers in Wayne County to avoid speeding. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb survey the top issues for Utah lawmakers for this legislative session, look at what Mitt Romney has to offer the state and review the local effects of Trump’s “s---thole” comment. [DNews]
Nationally: The federal government officially shut down early Saturday after Senate Democrats voted against a spending deal. [NYTimes]
-> The Senate failed to reach a deal Sunday, meaning the government shutdown will continue today. A vote on a temporary spending bill is scheduled for 10 a.m. Mountain Time. [NYTimes]
-> The government shutdown is affecting the preparation for the Jan. 30 State of the Union address. [Politico]
-> Carl Higbie, chief of external affairs for the Corporation for National and Community Service, resigned Thursday after apologizing for making racist, Islamaphobic and homophobic comments. [NYTimes]
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-- Thomas Burr and Madalyn Gunnell
https://twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/madmcgunnell
Follow @sltribpolitics