Happy Tuesday! The second round of Democratic presidential candidate debates starts tonight and get ready for more zingers and attacks. The candidates took one big lesson from their first debates in June: That the contenders who shined brightest attacked other candidates onstage. Now, they are all preparing to trade punches. [Politico]
Topping the news: Norma Matheson, a former first lady and the “godmother” of Utah’s Democratic Party, died at age 89 after battling leukemia. [Trib]
-> The San Juan County Commission voted not to pursue further appeals against a landmark court decision that the county had violated the Voting Rights Act when it drew its commission districts along racial lines. [Trib] [FOX13]
-> Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who worked closely with Rep. Elijah Cummings while the two were on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, did not defend Cummings from President Donald Trump’s attacks against his district, but instead said Trump and Cummings should “duke it out” themselves. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @NateSilver538: “Kamala Harris reminds me a lot of Mitt Romney in ’08 and ’12. Hits all her marks, positioned quite optimally toward the middle of the primary electorate and has the potential to unite different wings — but voters aren’t entirely clear what she stands for.”
-> From @allisongeroi: “My debt forgiveness plan is simple: I have hidden five golden tickets in chocolate bars around the world. The lucky children that find the bars can use the tickets to pay tuition fees if they pass a series of simple tests during a visit to my candy factory.”
-> From @MEPfuller: “The August recess has shaped major congressional decisions in recent years. In 2013, Republicans came back from the break convinced they had to shut down govt over Obamacare. In 2015, the pressure to oust Boehner was becoming untenable. In 2019, it could be impeachment.”
Happy Birthday: To Heather Barney, former spokeswoman for Sen. Orrin Hatch. And belated congrats to McKenzie Uribe-Forbes and Brian Uribe-Bate on their wedding anniversary they celebrated yesterday.
Also in the news: Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings encouraged the county’s health department not to distribute medical cannabis because, he says, the county could lose federal funding over such a move. [Trib] [FOX13]
-> The same day Rep. Rob Bishop re-announced he would not be seeking another term in office, Kaysville Mayor Katie Witt declared she is exploring a run for the seat. [Trib] [StandardExaminer] [DNews]
-> A member of the United Utah Party says she is launching a 2020 run against 4th Congressional District Rep. Ben McAdams and the two-party system as a whole. [Trib]
-> Nine Environmental activist groups wrote a letter to Gov. Herbert claiming Utahns living near freeways and railroads may have been endangered by recent shipments of incorrectly labeled radioactive waste headed to Nevada. [Trib]
-> Former Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a list of 18 Utah endorsements for his presidential run. [DNews]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates political “swamps” in Utah. [Trib]
Nationally: Members of both political parties are concerned that President Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA, Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas, is too partisan and too inexperienced. [NYTimes]
-> Two of the top-ranking Senate Democrats came out in favor of impeaching President Trump Monday, causing more controversy in the Senate. [Politico]
-> Attorney General William Barr moved to end the practice of accepting asylum seekers solely because their family members are being persecuted. [NYTimes]
> California senator and presidential candidate Kamala Harris teamed up with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to write legislation ensuring the “Green New Deal” benefited low-income communities impacted heavily by climate change. [NYTimes]
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-- Thomas Burr and Alison Berg
Follow @sltribpolitics