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Days until the court-mandated deadline for lawmakers to submit new congressional maps (9/24/2025) - 20
Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 61
Days to the start of the 2026 Utah Legislature (1/20/2026) - 138
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 425
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Who's really behind Sen. Lee's media opinions?

Whenever Sen. Mike Lee goes on television, you can be confident that whatever he says will be informed by consistent and unwavering conservative principles...or whoever he most recently spoke to on the phone.

Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt was a guest on the new podcast hosted by Katie Miller, the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, when she was asked which three people in the world, alive or dead, she would invite to dinner.

Britt said she would include her great-grandmother, former President Ronald Reagan, and use the third seat to rotate among her children "so they'd have the opportunity to experience and ask questions too."

Britt then revealed the advice Sen. Lee gave her about how television can be used as a way to connect with family.

"I sat down with him (Lee) when I got there and said, 'Do you have any advice for me, particularly with my family and kids?’

"Mike said you should ask them when you're about to do an interview or you're about to go on TV, ask them, 'Do you have any opinions on, you know, they may ask me about this and this is in the news today. Do you have any thoughts?’

"He said you will be amazed how needed it is for them if you're able to incorporate some of their thoughts or the things they said into what you're doing. I've done that a number of times, and it really is kind of special."

So remember, the next time you see Sen. Mike Lee on television, his answers are the result of consulting a diverse group of his family members. It's unknown if Sen. Lee makes sure that he divides up the opportunity to give input before an interview equitably among his children. However, it’s clear he's continually striving for inclusion.

Thursday morning's headlines

Utah and the West

Last act: Utah economic chief approved $3.2M grant for future employer's parent organization. [Utah Political Watch]

Utah to acquire nearly 16 acres in northwest Salt Lake City for 1,300-bed homeless campus. [KSL]

Utah moving away from capital punishment with fewer sentences, executions. [KUTV]

Pornhub owners will pay $5M penalty in settlement with Utah. [KSL]

Gold-plated ceremonial staff raising questions about excessive spending at Utah State. [KUTV]

"Environmental disaster" or important resource? Kennecott wants to keep mining in Bingham Canyon for another decade. [Salt Lake Tribune]

West Nile virus-related death reported in Utah as illness spreads across counties. [Utah News Dispatch]

Nation

Congressional Democrats are taking a tougher stance on the deadline to avoid a government shutdown, warning they would not support another partisan stopgap funding measure. [The Hill]

Vulnerable Republicans in Congress are worried that letting the Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the year could damage their reelection chances. [Punchbowl News]

President Donald Trump promised to cut electricity prices in half. They're rising twice as fast as inflation. [CNN]

President Trump is backing off his threat to send federal troops to Chicago, saying he may next deploy them to New Orleans. [Politico]

World

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's willing to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only if the meeting is in Moscow. [CNN]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the military strike on a Venezuelan vessel suspected of transporting illegal drugs would not be the last. [Axios]

The Salt Typhoon cyberattack launched by China may have stolen personal data from every American. [New York Times]

Business/Economy

The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court to decide whether he has the power to impose sweeping tariffs on other countries. [NBC News]

Sen. Rand Paul calls the Trump administration's decision to take a 10% stake in Intel "a step towards socialism." [CNBC]

U.S. manufacturing contracts for sixth straight month amid tariff drag. [Reuters]

U.S. job openings fell in July to lowest level in nearly a year. [Bloomberg]

Health

Florida plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including for schools. [Reuters]

Poll: Americans say vaccines should be made more available. [CBS News]

Media

Newsmax hits Fox News with an antitrust lawsuit, accusing it of hogging the right-wing market. [Business Insider]

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says it's "a maybe" when asked if Taylor Swift will play at halftime of Superbowl LX. [Deadline]

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