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Political Cornflakes: Trump calls U.S. media ‘fake news,’ but loves the Russian media flattery

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, welcome each other at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, Monday, July 16, 2018 prior to Trump's and Putin's one-on-one meeting in the Finnish capital. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Trump calls U.S. media ‘fake news,’ but loves the Russian media flattery. The president calls his London visit a success. Sen. Warren appears to be eyeing 2020 presidential bid.

Happy Monday. President Donald Trump continues his running war with the U.S. news media, but he may not be so quick at flinging “fake news” accusations at the largely government-controlled or influenced Russian press, which is giving him sympathetic coverage as a mistreated maverick. [AP]

Topping the news: Despite tens of thousands of protesters hitting the streets and criticism of his treatment of British Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth, the president declared his U.K. visit a success and says he believes the United States will get a great trade deal out of it. [Politico]

-> Sen. Elizabeth Warren appears to be clearing the way for a 2020 presidential bid. But others are also waiting in the wings, including former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders, Kamela Harris and Kamela Harris. [NYTimes]

-> The number of refugees admitted to the United States under the current administration is at its lowest level in decades so refugee resettlement operations are shifting resources to other issues -- such as homelessness -- or going out of business. [LATimes]

Tweets of the day: From @TechnicallyRon: “Trump: ‘Immigration has ruined Europe’ France: ‘Hold our World Cup’”

-> From @InklessPW: “I believe there’s some danger of a Sacha Baron Cohen character becoming the next GOP presidential nominee.”

-> From @summerbrennan: “Ok but how do people still not know what Sacha Baron Cohen looks like? Even in disguise.”

Happy Birthday: To former Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, state Rep. Merrill Nelson and Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen.

In other news: A former Salt Lake City police investigator is taking legal action against his old employer after he developed post-traumatic stress disorder and says he was fired because of it. [Trib]

-> The survivors of the Parkland shooting in Florida spoke to an audience of 1,200 Utahns at a town hall in Sandy, and clashed with gun supporters as they made the case for stricter firearm restrictions. [Trib] [Fox13] [KUTV]

-> As polls show a tight race between Rep. Mia Love and SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams, the two 4th District candidates have both amassed $1.4 million to help their efforts, according to campaign finance disclosure forms. [Trib]

-> The Utah Board of Education agreed to count students who opt-out of test-taking as failing, which could lead to plummeting performance ratings in certain school districts. [Trib]

-> Multiple Utah cities have proposed more than doubling their property taxes, raising questions as to whether a 1985 Truth in Taxation law originally meant to keep taxes down has backfired. [Trib]

-> While high-density housing could be a solution for the state’s housing crisis, projects like the Olympia Hills development have seen strong opposition from concerned members of the community. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley imagines how the international community views President Donald Trump after last week’s NATO summit. [Trib]

-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discuss the projects they think will help keep Utah’s economy booming, including the proposal to build an inland port in Salt Lake City and efforts to create a high-tech hub in Utah County. [DNews]

Nationally: President Donald Trump spent the first evening of his meeting in Finland with Russia’s Vladimir Putin critcizing allies and the news media, but the president did not condemn Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election. [NYTimes] [Politico] [WaPost]

-> The California Democratic executive committee voted to endorse progressive state Sen. Kevin de Leon over five-term Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the race for her seat, signalling infighting in a crucial congressional race that could determine control of the House of Representatives. [Politico] [NBC] [NYTimes] [CNN]

-> Republicans peformed well throughout the Midwest in the 2016 election, but politicians in the region are now distancing themselves from some of Trump’s policies. [WaPost]

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.

-- Dan Harrie and Connor Richards

Twitter.com/danattrib and Twitter.com/crichards1995