facebook-pixel

Political Cornflakes: A propagandist’s dilemma: Here’s how autocratic regimes direct their state-controlled media to report on President Donald Trump.

FILE - In this June 12, 2018, file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands at the conclusion of their meetings at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool, File)

Several autocratic regimes the United States has tense relations with — including China, Turkey, North Korea and Russia — have directed their state-controlled outlets not to criticize President Donald Trump by name, POLITICO reports. These outlets instead find scapegoats other than Trump, including his advisers, the “Deep State" and former President Barack Obama, or they simply complain about U.S. policy in the abstract. That strategy represents an understanding that one bad headline on the president’s desk could challenge his ego and have real policy implications. [POLITICO]

Happy Tuesday.

Topping the news: At Rep. Mia Love’s first press conference since the midterm elections, she delivered biting attacks of Democrats, Republicans, Trump, her opponent and the news media. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [Fox13] [ABC4] [KUER]

-> A panel of lawmakers met for five hours on Monday to discuss Proposition 2 and the medical marijuana compromise bill, which House Speaker Greg Hughes said will not nullify the ballot initiative. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]

-> A new technical committee created by the Inland Port Authority Board drew criticism Monday due to its inclusion of oil and gas advocates. [Trib] [DNews]

Tweets of the Day: From @ericgeller: “Lots of bad things are happening in the world but we just landed another thing on Mars, which, as you know, is very far away”.

-> From @swin24: “Is Mia love an MSNBC contributor yet?”

-> From @maxjrosenthal: “We're doing year in review stories at the moment and I am confirming that I remember nothing that happened in the last 11 months.”

In other news: Utah’s voter turnout in November was the highest in 50 years, with results more like a presidential election year than any midterm. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Trump has chosen not to act on revelations by the CIA that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince ordered the death of dissident journalist Jamal Kashoggi. Utah Sen. Mike Lee criticized this position Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” claiming the evidence points to guilt on Saudi Arabia’s part. [DNews]

-> The state of Utah forked over $999,400 to the feds during the 2013 government shutdown — money it’s still owed. And it would take an act of Congress to force the Interior Department to pay up. [Trib]

-> An online sales tax bill the Legislature passed earlier this year doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, so Utahns were able to enjoy one last Cyber Monday without paying extra at checkout. [Trib]

-> New pollution standards under consideration by state air quality regulators would require that major Utah industries including refineries, Kennecott, the University of Utah, Hill Air Force Base and more make major adjustments to minimize their emissions. [DNews]

-> Salt Lake County is beginning the process to create a new park on the Jordan River that will work to preserve the natural landscape while offering more recreational opportunities and will include a new partnership with the Tracy Aviary. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Pat Bagley looks at the number of lives the Brigham Young University cougar has left. [Trib]

-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb take a final look at what newsmakers from Sen.-elect Mitt Romney to Attorney General Sean Reyes were grateful for on Thanksgiving Day. [DNews]

Nationally: Congress has returned to Capitol Hill this week to discuss an ever-growing pile of legislation. Critical issues to be discussed include a farm bill, a huge federal criminal justice rewrite, the border wall, and a potential government shutdown. [NYTimes]

-> NASA successfully landed a new probe on Mars which will be dedicated to studying the red planet’s interior. [BBC] [CNN] [Fox]

-> After a comprehensive climate change report released by the U.S. government indicated a dire need to address clean energy, Trump accused climate scientists of having a “political agenda” and said he’s not convinced humans have caused climate change. [BBC] [CNN]

-> U.S. citizens have been worried about Social Security running out in the next several decades for a while now, but the concern became more real this year after the program couldn’t be fully funded through tax revenue and had to dip into its trust fund to compensate. [NYTimes]

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com. And if you want Cornflakes to arrive in your email inbox each morning, subscribe here.

-- Taylor Stevens and Cara MacDonald

https://twitter.com/tstevensmedia and Twitter.com/carammacdonald