Poll: Biden leads Trump in hypothetical 2020 matchup. Hatch aide: Trump may cut Grand Staircase in half. Zinke looks to move BLM headquarters.
Happy Wednesday. Former Vice President Joe Biden would lead President Donald Trump in a 2020 general election, according to a new Politico/Morning Consult poll. Only 35 percent of voters would choose to reelect Trump in 2020, the poll shows — substantially fewer than the 46 percent who would vote instead for Biden. One in five voters is undecided. [Politico]
Topping the news: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument could be reduced by half, an aide to Sen. Orrin Hatch told a legislative committee. [Trib] [DNews] [KUER] [KUTV]
-> Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is looking to move the Bureau of Land Management headquarters, possibly to Utah. [Trib]
-> The Salt Lake County Council was caught off guard when Mayor Ben Adams decided to pursue legal action against the drug industry as a result of the opioid crisis. [Trib] [DNews]
Tweets of the day:From @ddale8: “Miniseries idea: Roy Moore’s lawyer hangs out with Donald Trump’s doctor”
-> From @bryanbehar: “Trump is back in America. I knew I felt a disturbance in the Force.”
-> From @kumailn: “This Jeff Sessions testimony brought to you by selective amnesia.”
Happy Birthday: To Clayton Scrivner, former campaign manager for SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams, and former state Rep. Neal Hendrickson.
In other news: Donia Jessop made Hilldale history and became the city’s first female and non-FLDS mayor. [Trib]
-> U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber has been chosen by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to be vice chairman of Sessions’ Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys. [DNews]
-> Salt Lake City is considering a new affordable housing plan that would establish 864 units in the area by partnering with housing developers. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley provides a comedic illustration of a possible Interior Department flag redesign. [Trib]
Nationally: Republican lawmakers’ tax rewrite will include a repeal of the Obamacare mandate. [NYTimes]
-> Attorney General Jeff Sessions participated in a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and seemed to lack memory regarding President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia’s possible involvement. [WaPost]
-> After his return from Asia, Trump is expected to address the scandal surrounding Roy Moore. [Politico]
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— Thomas Burr and Karenna Meredith Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/meredithkarenna