Also: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joins 14 other governors in Texas vowing to protect the border
Ron DeSantis lost a pingpong match in Utah, and maybe the state along with it |
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| | What caused the downfall of Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign in Utah? “He tried to be Trump without the scandals,” said Kirk Jowers, former director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics and an adviser or counsel to five previous presidential campaigns. “But people decided that if it’s just Trump 2.0, we’ll keep the original.” Don Peay, the founder of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, knew DeSantis was a former collegiate baseball player, and he secured a signed ball by ex-New York Yankees pitcher David Wells to present to DeSantis as a gift. When Peay offered it to DeSantis, he was met by a blank stare. “He didn’t even say thank you,” Peay said. “Presidential politics is all about connecting with people. I knew then he couldn’t be president.” Peay's sentiment amplified previous concerns from DeSantis’ visit in 2022. When he stopped by billionaire Scott Keller’s condo in downtown Salt Lake City, Keller — as is his custom when hosting politicians or celebrities — challenged DeSantis to a game of pingpong. DeSantis’ aides and bodyguards said that the governor did not have time and would not play. Keller insisted, and DeSantis finally relented. “He wasn’t all that happy to play,” Keller said, “especially after I beat him.” |
Read more about the rise and fall of Ron DeSantis. |
| Utah Gov. Spencer Cox stood at the front line of the country’s roiling immigration crisis on Sunday above the banks of the Rio Grande with 14 other Republican governors and Utah Speaker of the House Mike Schultz. Flanked by several dozen national guardsmen and a fleet of sand-colored humvees, the governors, led by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, reaffirmed their position in an escalating constitutional standoff with the federal government and placed the blame for country’s crisis-level immigration surge squarely at the feet of the president of the United States. “It is really important that we enforce the laws of the United States of America. That’s really what this is about,” Cox told the Deseret News following the Texas press conference. “We need a president who will use the tools at his disposal and a Congress that will help fix some of those tools that need to be fixed to solve this humanitarian crisis that’s happening here.” Read more about whether the Utah compact is the way forward for Texas and the nation. | Faith How these Latter-day Saints gained testimonies of the Book of Mormon (Church News) Sarah Jane Weaver: The lesson of President Holland’s extraordinary example — ‘I think we have underestimated our gifts,’ he says (Church News) Family Holly Richardson: ‘Filling our broken parts with gold’: How to find hope after losing a child (Deseret News) Naomi Schaefer Riley: Poverty is not an excuse for child neglect (Deseret News) Business Utah advocate says labor trafficking getting more attention, more victims stepping forward (KSL) As companies abandon phones, customers are being mis-connected (KSL) Entertainment Taylor Swift announces new album after winning 13th Grammy (Deseret News) Tracy Chapman brings ‘Fast Car’ to the Grammys for a rare performance — and gets a massive standing ovation (Deseret News) Ballet West's 'Swan Lake' prepares to take the stage (KSL) Utah Bountiful’s Vito: a one-man cheesesteak band (Deseret News) Puzzle maker visits Springville seniors who completed his 60,000-piece puzzle (KSL) After two Ogden hot pots rescues, fire department warns people to 'stay away' (KSL) Salt Lake police arrest parole fugitive accused of fleeing traffic stop, crashing into building (KSL) The West Delta pilot sues after Denver airport moving walkway “swallows” his foot (Denver Post) Proposed border deal Sinema helped craft could overhaul U.S. asylum system. What to know (Arizona Republic) Nation & World Atmospheric river: 'Life-threatening' storm lashes California with rain, wind and snow (BBC) US intends further strikes on Iran-backed groups, national security adviser says (Reuters) Sports The Jazz played the Mikwaukee Bucks Sunday night: Inside the numbers (Deseret News) Reserves Richie Saunders, Trevin Knell helping No. 22 BYU stay afloat in treacherous Big 12 waters (Deseret News) Issy Palmer’s return to form highlights No. 20 Utah’s win at Washington State (Deseret News) Is Utah a second-half team at home? The latest evidence (Deseret News) |
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