Trump calls Utah-native Roseanne Barr to celebrate her ratings success. U.S. Attorney for Utah Huber probing GOP concerns about Clinton. Herbert expresses concerns about medical marijuana ballot initiative.
Happy Friday. If there’s one thing we know, President Donald Trump likes ratings. Trump says he called TV star Roseanne Barr to celebrate the ratings success of ABC’s reboot of its “Roseanne” sitcom, which debuted this week with an episode in which the eponymous main character expresses her support for the president. The real life Roseanne, a Utah native, is a Trump supporter. [Politico]
Topping the news: Attorney General Jeff Sessions has tasked U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber with investigating Republican claims that the FBI illegally surveilled a Trump aide and ignored Hillary Clinton’s ties to a uranium deal with Russia. [Trib]
-> Gov. Herbert voiced his opposition to a ballot measure that would legalize medical marijuana as he argues it would lead to recreational usage. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [Fox13]
-> Utah County pulled back on its threats of in-person voting and will again mail ballots for this year’s elections. [Trib] [DNews]
Tweets of the day: From @Acosta: “Trump using what was billed as a speech on infrastructure to defend his record in office so far. You know, like a campaign rally.”
-> From @Acosta: “Roseanne.. not Russia... gets a mention in Trump’s Ohio speech.”
-> From @ConanOBrien: “President Trump didn’t just call Roseanne to congratulate her on her sitcom. He wanted to know if she’d be next up for Secretary of State.”
-> From @StephenAtHome: “The busiest person at the White House is whoever has to update the office contact list.”
Happy Birthday: To Stacee Adams with Somers-Jaramillo & Associates. On Saturday to state Rep. Jim Dunnigan and ABC News’s Meredith Nettles. On Sunday to state Rep. Marc Roberts.
Behind the Headlines: Tribune reporter Courtney Tanner, Washington bureau chief Thomas Burr, government and politics editor Dan Harrie and columnist Paul Rolly join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including Mitt Romney’s stance on immigration and last weekend’s demonstrations for and against gun control. Each Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” online at kcpw.org or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast.
In other news: State Sen. Margaret Dayton announced that after 22 years of service, she will not run for re-election citing medical issues. Dayton is Utah’s longest serving female member of the Legislature. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL]
-> After Gov. Herbert vetoed two bills that would expand lawmakers’ powers, lawmakers are considering overriding his veto. [DNews]
-> Utah’s First Lady Jeanette Herbert stood alongside community leaders and cheered on middle schoolers who took a pledge to avoid underage drinking. [ABC4]
-> Pat Bagley depicts French artist René Magritte’s take on MAGA. [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke explains that asking about legal citizen status on the Census undermines its very purpose. [Trib]
-> Michelle Quist describes the irony and sadness of the LDS Church’s latest scandal occurring so close to Easter. [Trib]
Nationally: President Donald Trump again lashed out at online retailer Amazon over his concerns with the company’s business practices. [WaPost]
-> Russia will expel 60 U.S. diplomats and close the St. Petersburg consulate in retaliation for the United States doing the same to Russian diplomats on American soil. [Trib]
-> Fox News host Laura Ingraham is under fire after criticizing one of the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting for being rejected by several colleges. [WaPost]
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-- Thomas Burr and Eric Baker
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