Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 203rd day of the year. There are 163 days left in 2016.
Rep. Mia Love wants to hear more specifics from Donald Trump before she can support him. Ted Cruz roils the GOP convention by refusing to endorse Donald Trump. Mike Pence officially accepts the GOP nomination for vice president.
The clock:
- Four days to the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia (7/25/2016)
- 110 days until the 2016 presidential election – (11/8/2016)
- 186 days until the first day of the 2017 Utah Legislature – (1/23/2017)
- 231 days until the final day of the 2017 Utah Legislature – (3/9/2017)
Ten talking points for Thursday:
- Rep. Mia Love says she needs to hear more concrete policy proposals from Donald Trump before she can support his candidacy [Utah Policy].
- An internal poll from Mia Love‘s campaign shows her with a 15-point lead over Democrat Doug Owens [Utah Policy].
- A new poll shows Utahns would overwhelmingly support an income tax hike to better fund public education [Utah Policy].
- Ted Cruz stabbed Donald Trump in the back by refusing to endorse him during his speech at the Republican National Convention. The crowd lustily booed him off the stage [Politico]. Cruz’s wife, Heidi, was escorted from the arena by security after his speech [Talking Points Memo]. Cruz was reportedly threatened by angry donors and delegates following his speech [Slate]. Utah Delegates, who supported Cruz over Trump, cheered Cruz’s refusal to endorse the GOP nominee [Deseret News].
- Mike Pence officially became the Republican nominee for vice president [Politico]. Donald Trump is set to formally accept the Republican nomination on Thursday evening [Washington Post].
- In an interview, Donald Trump says his administration would not automatically defend other members of NATO if they were attacked. Instead, he said he would consider their contributions to the alliance [New York Times].
- Melania Trump‘s speechwriter, Meredith McIver, apologizes for plagiarizing Michelle Obama [Politico]. McIver graduated from the University of Utah in 1976 [Tribune].
- The Mormon members of Utah’s delegation to the Republican National Convention are having difficulty reconciling Donald Trump‘s rhetoric with their religion [Tribune].
- Donald Trump‘s campaign says they raised $26.7 million in June and ended the month with $20 million on hand [Roll Call]. Trump also forgave the $47.5 million he loaned his campaign [Bloomberg]. Hillary Clinton‘s campaign raised $36.4 million in June, and spent $34.5 million, leaving them with $44.4 million in the bank [Politico].
- A state audit finds an insurance co-op for local governments spent taxpayer money lavishly on hotels and golf, among other things. The audit said the organization fostered a “culture of excess” [Utah Policy, Deseret News].
On this day in history:
- 1861 – The first major military engagement of the Civil War occurred at Bull Run Creek, Va.
- 1925 – The so-called Monkey Trial ended with John Scopes convicted and fined $100 for teaching evolution in violation of Tennessee state law.
- 1969 – Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin lifted off from the moon in the Apollo 11 lunar module.
- 2002 – Telecommunications giant WorldCom Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection after disclosing it had inflated profits by nearly $4 billion.
