President Donald Trump faces three Republican opponents in the 2020 race, a trio supporters have labeled the “Three Musketeers” and argue could add up to enough of a nuisance to whittle away support for a vulnerable incumbent — however long their long-shot bids are. The president, on the other hand, has given them a more demeaning nickname: “the Three Stooges.” [NYTimes]
Happy Friday!
Topping the news: Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson took a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border and, upon her return, described the tour of the “broken” immigration system as “informative, heartbreaking and enlightening.” [Trib] [DNews]
-> At a panel discussion, former state Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Sen. Luz Escamilla and Rep. Angela Romero discussed what it’s like to grow up and work in Utah politics as a Latina. [DNews]
-> Solitude Mountain Resort, which recently announced it would implement parking fees for wintertime guests, will not be joined by the other three ski resorts in Big Cottonwood Canyon. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @addysue: “Just saw a rat outside the house office buildings, feels like good joke fodder if anyone wants it”
-> From @aedwardslevy: “weird how we always talk about the e-lectorate but we never talk about the rest of the lectorate that’s still using analog”
-> From @TheRickWilson: “Starting to think this whistleblower issue might be a bit of a thing.”
Behind the Headlines: Tribune senior managing editor Matt Canham, reporter Taylor Stevens and columnist George Pyle join KCPW host Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including the changes to how medical cannabis will be dispensed in Utah.
Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream "Behind the Headlines" at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.
News quiz: Last week, 96% of you knew that Mitt Romney wants the FDA to consider recalling e-cigarettes, but only 48% knew that the Utah Boy Scouts laid off 21 employees. Think you kept up with the news this week? Take our quiz to find out. A new one will post every Friday morning. You can find previous quizzes here. If you’re using The Salt Lake Tribune mobile app, click here.
Happy birthday: On Saturday to Bailey Bowthorpe from the Salt Lake Chamber and former state Rep. Kay McIff.
Also in the news: The Utah County Attorney’s Office won’t charge Orem Mayor Richard Brunst for making unauthorized withdrawals from his city retirement funds. [Trib] [DailyHerald] [DNews]
-> Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown signed on to a letter assuring undocumented immigrants that his officers aren’t trying to deport them. “We are here to serve all communities,” the letter states. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney is pushing to ban flavored e-cigarettes and tax such products to fund a public awareness campaign on the dangers of vaping. [DNews]
-> Summit County dispatchers are working up to 60 hours a week to make up for staffing shortages, and the department is 400% over its budget as a result. [ABC4]
-> Pat Bagley’s latest cartoon depicts a fervent Greta Thunberg, a young Swedish environmental activist, battling “denialism” with science. [Trib]
-> Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke explores the “downtown scooter menace” in Salt Lake City. [Trib]
Nationally: Trump’s communications with a foreign leader reportedly prompted a whistleblower complaint that has set off a battle between administration officials and House Democrats. [CNN] [NYTimes] [WaPost]
-> The House passed a stopgap spending measure to avoid a government shutdown by the end of the month, but Democrats and Republicans will spend the next two months attempting to reach a lasting funding deal. [Politico] [CNN] [NYTimes]
-> White House officials are considering diverting billions more in military funds to continue border wall construction. [WaPost]
-> The Trump administration has reportedly censored or minimized climate science across the federal government dozens of times, according to a report released by Senate Democrats. [Politico]
-> The president’s lawyers, in an effort to block a subpoena from state prosecutors in Manhattan requesting eight years of his tax returns, are arguing that he cannot be criminally investigated while in office. [NYTimes]
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- Taylor Stevens and Clara Hatcher
Follow @sltribpolitics