Kavanaugh could face tough vote on executive power (President Tump is watching). Utah’s closest major election contest is too close to call, says political handicapper. SLC Mayor Jackie Biskupski draws her first challenger.
Happy Monday. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is now on the job and one of his first votes could come on the issue of executive branch power. A case challenging the authority of courts to depose top Trump administration officials presents a tricky decision for Kavanaugh, who has argued for broad executive powers but doesn’t want to look like a Trump rubber stamp so soon after his controversial confirmation. [Politico]
Topping the news: Utah’s most competitive congressional race, featuring Rep. Mia Love and Salt Lake County Ben McAdams is now rated as a toss-up — basically too close to call, according to the Cook Political Report. [Trib][DNews]
-> Former Salt Lake City Councilman Stan Penrod announced his candidacy for mayor, stepping out as the first of several expected challengers to Mayor Jackie Biskupski. [Trib][KSL]
-> Utah Republican Senate candidate Mitt Romney said that, had he been in office, he would have voted to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Democratic candidate Jenny Wilson disagreed, citing concerns about Kavanaugh’s temperament and questionable past. [Trib]
Tweets of the weekend: From @AP: “BREAKING: Brett Kavanaugh is sworn in as 114th Supreme Court justice in private ceremony at court.”
-> From @ryanbeckwith: “The worst thing in Washington journalism is deciding who “won” this week. At best, it’s pointless. At worst, it encourages short-term scorched-earth thinking.”
-> From @SpencerJCox: “2 hour church! It’s all happening. #GeneralConference”
In other news: Utah’s medical marijuana compromise presents a unique structure that it would rely on state-run distribution of the substance. It’s possible Utah will become the guinea pig for other states in the future. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake County District Attorney candidates Sim Gill and Nathan Evershed sparred over medical marijuana and police bruality. [Trib]
-> Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch said, “Brett Kavanaugh will be a great Supreme Court justice, and I am so very glad to have been able to help confirm him as one of my final acts as a U.S. senator.” [Trib][DNews]
-> Salt Lake County Sheriff candidates, Democratic incumbent Rosie Rivera and Republican Lt. Justin Hoyal agree the ongoing jail bed shortage must be addressed, but their views clash on keeping cities in the Unified Police Department. [Trib]
-> Utahns gathered on a street corner in Salt Lake City Saturday to protest Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. Resident Chiemi Malloy said, “We will keep fighting until we don’t have to anymore." [DNews][KUTV]
-> A judge denied the request for a speedy hearing on a lawsuit challenging Proposition 2, meaning the medical marijuana measure will still appear on the ballot. [Fox13]
-> The Bureau of Land Management reopened its call for nominations to the Utah Resource Advisory Council, a citizen-based committee with four open positions. [DNews]
-> The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation will be hosting a series of workshops to help grow the Outdoor Recreation Grant process. The program will help fund needed infrastructure projects and increase tourism and recreation. [DNews]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discussed the external factors impacting Utah political races that candidates cannot control. [DNews]
-> Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke pondered whether millenials will vote in the 2018 midterm elections. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley illustrated closed-captioning for the “mormon impaired”. [Trib]
Nationally: On Saturday Judge Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court with a 50-48 vote by the US Senate, the narrowest margin since 1881. Kavanaugh’s confirmation marks a solid conservative majority in the Supreme Court. Viewers and those following the process embodied a mixture of reactions, from excitement to dismay, with some protestors being escorted out after shouting “shame” as the judge was confirmed.[NYTimes][Politico][BBC][CNN][Fox]
-> Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Korean leader Kim Jong Un in North Korea, finalizing plans for Kim and President Trump to meet in the upcoming second summit. Pompeo said the meeting went well and that progress was made. [NYTimes][CNN][WSJ]
-> As time goes on, the New York Times says President Donald Trump’s trade strategy is becoming clearer. He’s taken an aggressive stance with traditional allies in order to get moderate concessions in the United States’ favor, and will probably continue to do the same to other countries all leading up to a major effort against China to create a favorable trade deal. [NYTimes]
-> The White House released a new counter-terrorism strategy on Thursday which takes a firm stance with Iran, a country known for a history of terrorism. The plan will also focus on dealing with ISIS. [Politico]
-> President Donald Trump will likely not face any repercussions for alleged tax dodging, as detailed in a New York Times investigation, for many reasons, primarily the statute of limitations. [Politico]
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-- Dan Harrie and Cara MacDonald
https://twitter.com/danattrib and Twitter.com/carammacdonald