⏰ Tick Tock

Days to Utah's 2025 municipal primary elections (8/12/2025) - 32
Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 116
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 480
Days until the 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028) - 1,215

⏰ Tick Tock

Days to Utah's 2025 municipal primary elections (8/12/2025) - 32
Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 116
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 480
Days until the 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028) - 1,215

What I’m thinking about this morning…

Despite the panic from conservatives about non-citizens voting in elections, there’s no evidence that it’s actually happening.

The latest example is Wyoming.

In January, the Laramie County Clerk flagged 13 individuals who cast ballots in the 2024 election who were potentially ineligible to vote because of concerns about their citizenship status.

An investigation concluded this week found that all 13 had voted legally after their citizenship was confirmed by ICE.

The incident was the genesis of a bill approved by Wyoming lawmakers earlier this year requiring voters to show proof of citizenship, like a passport or birthcertificate,e to register to vote. That law is currently being challenged in court.

During the 2025 Utah Legislature, then-House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee sponsored HB332, which aimed to require voters to prove citizenship to receive a ballot. Those who couldn’t would only be allowed to vote in federal elections. The bill failed to advance out of a Senate committee.

In May, Lisonbee claimed to have proof that non-citizens have been voting in federal elections but has refused to share any such evidence.

Friday Morning’s headlines

Utah and the West

Mike Lee can’t stop throwing social media grenades. His church isn’t happy. [Politico]

Florida, Utah, Iowa among states that have tripled daily ICE arrests since January: Report. [USA Today]

With Rep. Owens absent, Democrats to hold Utah town hall in his place. [Utah News Dispatch]

Mike Lee wants Supreme Court to take case involving prayer at a high school football game. [Deseret News]

Cox apologizes for “adding” to a “rough year” for Utah teachers. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Utah Supreme Court may decide Rocky Mountain Power rate hike as Capitol Hill watches. [Fox 13]

Lawmakers seek solutions as teacher misconduct complaints rise in Utah. [KUTV]

Utah hospitals “deeply concerned” about Medicaid cuts. Rural areas could lose an estimated $870M. [Utah News Dispatch]

Department of Education pauses $40M worth of grants, impacting Utah schools. [KUTV]

Utah on track to have one of its driest, warmest years as half of state in severe drought. [KSL]

Salt Lake D.A. uses Utah’s newly created “child torture” law. [Utah News Dispatch]

Is the rest of the U.S. catching up to Utah in terms of civic engagement? [KSL]

Here’s the Utah city where homes are priced the highest. [Deseret News]

This town is tired of Zion traffic clogging its streets. A new road to the national park could solve their woes. [Salt Lake Tribune]

National

Despite a Supreme Court ruling, a federal judge issued a nationwide block on President Donald Trump’s administration from denying citizenzhip to some babies born in the U.S. [Reuters]

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said “the state of our democracy” is what keeps her up at night. [New York Times]

After the deadly flooding in Texas, President Trump is backing away from his plan to outright abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency. [Washington Post]

The Justice Department is demanding confidential patient information from more than 20 doctors and hospitals that provide gender-related treatments to minors. [New York Times]

The FBI is using polygraphs to ask employees whether they have said anything negative about Director Kash Patel. [New York Times]

President Trump is warning congressional Republicans against rejecting his proposed cuts to funding for NPR and PBS. [The Hill]

Senate Republicans are increasingly concerned that Iowa Republican Joni Ernst may retire instead of seeking another term. [Politico]

International

Israel says at least some of Iran’s enriched uranium survived the U.S. attacks on it’s nuclear program. [New York Times]

President Trump says he will impose a 35% tariff on all Canadian imports beginning next month. [NBC News]

  • Trump says he plans to impose blanket tariffs of 15% of 20% on most countries. [NBC News]

President Trump will make a “major statement” on Russia on Monday. [Bloomberg]

The U.S. State Department is bracing for mass layoffs as soon as Friday. [Semafor]

The United Nations warns the U.S. ending funding for AIDS programs across the globe will lead to more than 4 million deaths and 6 million infections by 2029. [Associated Press]

Economy

The Department of Justice is suing California over egg prices, claiming a voter-approved law protecting hens and pigs from being kept in small cages is has pushed costs up. [San Francisco Chronicle]

Rental car companies are using scanners and A.I. to find even tiny dents to cars after customers return them. [New York Times]

Climate

The U.S. has been rocked by at least four 1-in-1,000 year storms in the last week. These kinds of weather events will become more commonplace due to climate change. [NBC News]

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