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Political Cornflakes: ‘I never called President Bush or President Obama’: Trump bucks tradition with calls made directly to Congressional lawmakers

President Donald Trump hangs up after talking with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on the phone in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump has avoided traditional ways the commander-in-chief communicates with members of Congress, instead calling lawmakers at all hours of the day without warning and sometimes without an agenda. And Congressional Republicans reciprocate, increasingly dialing the president directly to gauge his thinking. “I never called President Bush or President Obama,” said Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who has served in the Senate since 2007. “I just feel comfort in calling President Trump. He calls me regularly to talk about issues. He’s always helpful for both of us.” [WaPost]

Happy Tuesday.

Topping the news: Utah Rep. Rob Bishop, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, is no friend of environmentalist groups — but his support for a new land bill leaves them hopeful he may shift directions. [Trib]

-> During a town hall meeting in Sandy, the city’s mayor apologized and responded to residents’ concerns over reports of toxic levels of fluoride in their water. [Trib] [Fox13] [ABC4] [DNews]

-> Salt Lake City’s Housing and Neighborhood Development department says it has found housing for 28 out of 31 residents forced to leave an apartment complex that was evacuated after the city found fire code violations. [Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @RickAaron: “For President’s Day I’m gonna go back and retweet Washington & Lincoln’s angriest, most unhinged rants.”

From @louisvertil: “I am shaken by the news of Malia Obama having opinions and friends. If she enjoys food or listens to music, I will be devastated.”

Happy Birthday: To Utah State Rep. Kay Christofferson and former State Rep. Brent Wallis.

In other news: Google Fiber says operations to deliver lightening-speed internet in Salt Lake City will continue as planned despite the recent abandonment of the company’s fiber-optic network in Kentucky. [Trib]

-> Salt Lake City Police have made contact with a suspect who was caught on video physically assaulting a man who told him he was gay. The department says the suspect is cooperating with investigations. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]

-> Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes is looking to intervene in a lawsuit between the Ute Tribe and the U.S. Department of Interior in which two million acres of land and a billion dollars in reparations are at stake. [Fox13]

-> A few dozen protesters picketed and rallied on a Utah overpass, carrying signs that read “Trump is the crisis" after the president on Friday declared a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border. [DNews] [Fox13]

-> A Utah hunter advocacy group is offering a trip to hunt the state’s game with Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, and other big names as a winning prize for donations. [Fox13]

-> Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke examines Utah’s “out of whack” tax system, which he wonders whether lawmakers have the political will to fix during this legislative session. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley illustrates GOP tax cuts. [Trib]

Nationally: In the wake of Trump’s declaration of a state of national emergency at the nation’s southern border with Mexico, a coalition of 16 states — including New York and California — filed a lawsuit in federal district court on Monday, raising questions over congressional control of spending and the scope of emergency powers granted to the president. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [Politico]

-> Former Trump adviser Roger Stone apologized after posting a threatening picture on Instagram of the judge presiding over a criminal trial for which he faces charges of lying, obstruction and witness tampering. [NYTimes] [WaPost]

-> Former President Barack Obama’s financial backers held a meeting in Washington early this month with some 2020 presidential hopefuls to debate potential campaign funding. [NYTimes]

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.

-- Taylor Stevens and Christina Giardinelli

twitter.com/tstevensmedia; twitter.com/C_Giardinelli