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Political Cornflakes: Report: Trump’s nominee for United Nations ambassador was often absent from her last diplomatic post

(Alex Brandon | AP Photo) IN this Sept. 26, 2017, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Knight Craft stands during her swearing in ceremony in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House grounds in Washington. Three Democratic senators are calling on President’s Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nation to clarify that she will put U.S. interests ahead of her own financial interests when it comes to climate change. The Democrats say Craft, who was nominated to the U.N. post last week, has invested more than $60 million in oil companies and other fossil fuel interests. Her husband, Joe Craft, is CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, one of the largest U.S. coal producers.

Happy Tuesday!

President Donald Trump’s pick for United Nations ambassador has often been absent from her current position as U.S. ambassador to Canada, officials say. Federal Aviation Administration records show a private jet used by Trump’s nominee, Kelly Craft, and registered to her husband made nearly 130 flights between the United States and Canada during the 15 months of her tenure. A spokesperson for the Crafts would not say how many of those trips involved her travel. [Politico]

Topping the news: Utah Lt. Gov Spencer Cox has raised $250,000 during the first month of his gubernatorial campaign, including a $100,000 transfer from his lieutenant governor campaign account. [Trib] [DNews]

-> While climate change is a highly controversial topic in the Utah Legislature, lawmakers designated $200,000 to study the issue further in the last legislative session. [Trib]

-> A South Salt Lake city councilwoman said she is being stalked and harassed by a former city employee for the second time this year. [FOX13]

Tweets of the day: From @SLCgov: “No joke: the vast majority of the world’s supply of rubber chickens are manufactured right here in Salt Lake City...”

->From @robertgehrke: “Is there anything this president can do that Chris Stewart and Jason Chaffetz won’t twist themselves into partisan pretzels to defend?”

-> From @MEPfuller: “What kills me about Joe Biden is he had a front row to seat to Mitch McConnell’s obstructionism for decades. The average person could figure out there is no amount of shaming that will move McConnell in 20 Comfortably Smug tweets. What is Biden missing?”

->From @danpfeiffer: “Trump starting a war to get his ratings up is not out of the question”

Happy Birthday: Brigham Young University Professor Joel Campbell and a belated happy birthday to Cindie Quintana, chair of the Utah Republican Latino Coalition.

Also in the news: After three years in the position, Salt Lake City’s economic development director is stepping down in August to take a job in Virginia. [Trib] [DNews]

-> A Juab County woman is suing a trucking company after her driving instructor violently raped her in the back of his tractor-trailer. [Trib]

-> Columnist Robert Gehrke argues that Rep. Chris Stewart and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz are willing to do almost anything to excuse President Donald Trump’s behavior. [Trib]

-> Cartoonist Pat Bagley depicts the ongoing tax reform effort in Utah. [Trib]

Nationally: The Iranian government vowed to violate an international nuclear deal over how much enriched uranium they can possess unless European countries helped them circumvent U.S. sanctions. [WaPost]

->In an effort to deter immigration, the Trump administration plans to dump thousands of migrants from Central America and elsewhere in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. [WaPost]

-> In the midst of staff shake-ups and internal drama, President Trump plans to launch his reelection bid in Orlando. [WaPost]

-> The Supreme Court of the United States ruled states have power to limit the impact of presidential pardons. [Politico]

-> Amid escalating tensions with Iran, the U.S. will send an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East. [CNN]

-> Chinese President Xi Jinping will make his first state visit to North Korea this week, a move many say could rattle his relationship with President Trump. [NYTimes]

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-- Bethany Rodgers and Alison Berg