July 23, 2025
⏰ Tick Tock
Days to Utah's 2025 municipal primary elections (8/12/2025) - 20
Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 104
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 468
Days until the 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028) - 1,203
Gen Z has buyers remorse about Trump
President Donald Trump's approval rating among younger voters has fallen off a cliff.
According to the latest YouGov survey, Trump is at -40 net approval among Gen Z (18-29 year olds). That's an incredible reversal from the start of his term, when he was either even or in positive territory with that age group.
Trump is underwater with every other age cohort, but the decline has been nowhere near as steep.
There are some other warning signs for Trump as we pass the 6-month mark of his second term. His approval rating on how he's handled every major issue has fallen dramatically since January. His net approval is -29 on inflation and -6 on immigration, two of his signature issues from the 2024 campaign.
That -29 net approval on inflation is approaching the low mark set by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, who hit -35 on inflation in May of 2024.
Wednesday morning's headlines
Utah and the West
Sen. Mike Lee fooled by fake Fed chair resignation letter. [Utah Political Watch]
Utah higher ed is grappling with federal funding cuts and the big budget bill. [KUER]
Utah lawmakers advance reforms following rejection of referendum signatures by Summit County Clerk. [Town Lift]
"We the People." My testimony before the Utah Legislature. [The Homefront]
House Republicans seek to slash funding for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. [Salt Lake Tribune]
Utah has water problems now. What if the megadrought lasts another 25 years? [KUER]
Severe drought causing Utah reservoir levels to drop at "concerning" rate. [Utah News Dispatch]
Cha-ching! Why is the Great Salt Lake set to get a massive infusion of cash? [Fox 13]
A prominent developer wants to build multiple golf courses on southern Utah tribal land. [Salt Lake Tribune]
S.L. County to issue $125M in bonds for move to former corporate HQ in the suburbs. [Salt Lake Tribune]
Tooele County School District audit finds poor student achievement, low employee morale. [Deseret News]
Colorado attorney general sues deputy for role in Utah student's immigration arrest. [KSL]
Nation
Former President Barack Obama called President Donald Trump's accusations that he committed "treason" for rigging the 2016 and 2020 elections "nonsense." Obama said the allegations are "a weak attempt at a distraction." [NBC News]
Newly discovered photos show Jeffrey Epstein attended Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. An unearthed video from 1999 shows the two men laughing and chatting during a Victoria's Secret event in New York City. [CNN]
President Trump told members of Congress on Tuesday night that the Epstein files scandal has improved his poll numbers by 5 points. That claim does not match with recent survey information. [Mediaite]
The House of Representatives canceled its last day of votes ahead of the summer recess to avoid taking votes on efforts to force the release of the government's files on Jeffrey Epstein. [NBC News]
Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned senators to be prepared to stay in Washington through next weekend to vote on President Donald Trump's nominations. [Axios]
"This guy has no clue what he's doing." A letter is circulating among high and mid-level military and civilian workers in the Pentagon calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's ouster. [Daily Mail]
The White House plans to introduce another rescissions package to Congress which will include cuts to education funding. [Daily Signal]
Sen. Rand Paul wants the Justice Department to charge Anthony Fauci with lying to Congress to test whether former President Biden's pardon of Fauci will stand up in court. [The Hill]
World
President Trump reached a trade deal with Japan that will impose 15% tariffs on imports. The deal also includes a $550 billion in funding for Japan to invest in projects in the U.S. [Bloomberg]
Healthcare
President Trump claimed he would reduce drug prices by as much as 1400% - a number which would require drug companies to pay Americans to take them. [Mediaite]
Environment
The Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to repeal a finding that gives the U.S. government the authority to fight climate change. [New York Times]
Economy
Goldman Sachs is forecasting much slower growth for the U.S. economy, mostly due to President Trump's tariffs and, as a result, lower consumer spending. [CNBC]
Media
Edith Chapin, the top editor at NPR, is leaving the organization at the end of the year. The move comes after Congress cut funding for public media. [Washington Post]