More than a year after moving to the White House last June, Melania Trump remains an intensely private first lady still adjusting to the demands of a new life. Allies describe her as warm, engaging and witty. “She is a woman of grit,” a friend told The New York Times. But because people tend to see in her what they already believe about him, she remains somewhat of a Rorschach test for public perceptions of her husband’s White House. To conservative supporters of Donald Trump, she is a quietly loyal helpmate. To his critics, she is an enabler trapped in a gilded cage. [NYTimes]
Happy Friday.
Topping the news: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement that it no longer wants to be referred to as the “LDS Church” or “Mormon church,” and asked for the nickname “Mormon” to be avoided. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews] [KSL] [ABC4] [KUER]
-> After that announcement, it is unclear whether church-produced products like the Mormon Channel, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and MormonNewsroom.org will continue with continue in their current form and with their current names. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley offers a how-to guide for understanding the LDS Church’s attempt to rebrand itself. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @shelbs25: “I will only call it ‘The Church formerly known as The LDS Church’ and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
-> From @JakeBGibson: “Light moment in Manafort Trial: After Judge Ellis directed jury to begin deliberations he said ‘Mr. Trump are you here?’ Audible gasp in courtroom, heads spun to see prosecutor Jim Trump present for next case, no relation to the president. Even Paul Manafort laughed...”
-> From @Mikel_Jollett: “Trump’s military parade: $92 million. Clean water in Flint: $55 million.”
Happy Birthday: On Saturday to state Rep. LaVar Christensen and on Sunday to House Minority Leader Brian King, former state Rep. Jerry Anderson, former state Sen. Scott McCoy, and Rhonda Perks, Rep. Chris Stewart’s field representative.
Behind the Headlines: Tribune reporter Paighten Harkins, managing editor Dave Noyce and columnist Robert Gehrke join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including the one-year anniversary of Operation Rio Grande, the LDS Church’s name rebranding and the latest argument against the medical marijuana ballot initiative.
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: A transgender Brigham Young University student is facing expulsion for having a breast-removal surgery since it goes against the Mormon teaching that gender is an “eternal identity.” [Trib]
-> Salt Lake County Republican Party Chairman Scott Miller accused Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams of receiving illegal campaign contributions in his congressional campaign against Rep. Mia Love. McAdams' campaign called the allegation “totally frivolous.” [Trib]
-> Senate District 9, which covers Sandy, likely won’t feature a Democratic candidate on the ballot this year due to a dispute over the rules for when a party can submit a name to fill a vacancy. [Trib]
-> Union Pacific Railroad announced it will match $1 million appropriated by the state Legislature for a 150th anniversary party for the Golden Spike. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> The remains of Utah Marine Robert Kimball Holmes, who was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, are now being sent to Salt Lake City thanks to a recent DNA match. [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke outlines seven problems he sees with a recently filed lawsuit alleging Utah’s medical marijuana initiative would violate the religious liberties of Mormons. [Trib]
Nationally: The U.S. Department of Defense abruptly announced that a controversial and costly military parade Trump originally scheduled for Veterans Day will be delayed until 2019. [Politico] [WaPost] [CNN]
-> The owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop — who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple and took his case all the way to the Supreme Court — has filed a new federal lawsuit defending his right not to bake a birthday cake celebrating a gender transition. [Politico] [NYTimes] [WaPost]
-> In a coordinated effort started by The Boston Globe, more than 300 news publications, including The Salt Lake Tribune, issued editorials reaffirming the role of a free press in American society. [BostonGlobe] [NYTimes] [CNBC]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.
-- Taylor Stevens and Connor Richards
Follow @sltribpolitics