Obama urges Democrats to get out the vote. Trump considers Sen. Lee for the high court. Herbert says gas tax hike may not be necessary after Supreme Court ruling on Internet sales tax.
Happy Friday. Former President Barack Obama has been somewhat silent in recent months but he’s got a message for Democrats who are longing for his days in the White House: stop dreaming of me and get to work. “You are right to be concerned,” he says, as he urges action.
Topping the news: President Donald Trump is asking his advisers about the idea of nominating Sen. Mike Lee to the Supreme Court and what it would mean for the Utah senator’s seat. [Trib]
-> After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can now collect online sales tax from out-of-state merchants, a deal that will help generate $300 million for Utah schools, Gov. Gary Herbert said an unpopular proposed gas tax increase may no longer be necessary. [Trib]
-> Utahns favor creating an independent commission to combat gerrymandering by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, a Salt Lake Tribune-Hinckley Journal of Politics poll shows. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @DavidNakamura: "I asked Paul Ryan in Wisc. about Trump’s meeting with Putin. ‘Dude, you know me better than that,’ he replied.”
-> From @PalmerReport: "To put it in perspective, Trump and Putin are set to hold a summit in Helsinki a week before the Paul Manafort trial begins.”
Happy Birthday: Today to Carol McNamara, director of the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics and Public Service at Weber State University. On Saturday to former State Reps. Sheryl Allen and Carl Wimmer, and the Daily Herald's Ashley Franscell Detrick.
Behind the Headlines: Tribune Washington bureau chief Thomas Burr, reporter Brian Maffly and columnist Robert Gehrke join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including a possible Utah replacement for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” online at kcpw.org or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast.
In other news: Stacy Sturgeon, former Utah State University Title IX director who voluntarily resigned after an investigation found school administrators did little to address a “pervasive culture of sexism,” will receive a severance package from the school. [Trib]
-> A lawsuit and documentary claim that a Utah father molested his children for years, and that when their mother reported it to bishops they did not inform the police. [Trib]
-> According to Gov. Herbert, a newly approved inland port in Salt Lake City has caught the attention of international companies that are now considering moving operations to Utah. [Trib]
-> A Tooele man believes 32 of his cows were deliberately poisoned after their drinking water was found contaminated with rat poison. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley shows the countries where there has been violence against journalists. [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke explains why it is unlikely Sen. Mike Lee will be President Donald Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court. [Trib]
Nationally: As President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 16 in Finland, the White House and Kremlin are in a fight to control the meeting’s narrative. [Politico] [CNN]
-> The announcement of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement has prepared Democrats and Republicans for a political war over his replacement. [NYTimes]
-> Four journalists and a sales associate from the Capital Gazette, a Maryland newspaper chain, were killed in a newsroom shooting. [NYTimes] [CNN]
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-- Thomas Burr and Connor Richards
Follow @sltribpolitics