It's Thursday.

• ⛅ Today's weather: Partly sunny, with a high of 52.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Burton Goldfield!

Today’s newsletter is 787 words — a 3-minute read.

Utah Republican Sen. John Curtis blamed massive GOP losses in Tuesday's midterms on his party's support for the Iran war, debt spending and tariffs.

Why it matters: Some of those policies were carried out with the support of Curtis' own votes.

Driving the news: Voters "saw a hastily planned war disrupt oil markets" and "the public debt balloon past $40 trillion—leading to volatile markets," Curtis wrote on his Substack.

• "Unpredictable tariffs" also alienated the electorate, Curtis posted on X.

Zoom in: While Curtis has spoken warily of President Trump's war in Iran, he has repeatedly cast Senate votes against Democrat-led measures calling for military withdrawal.

Meanwhile, he voted for Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," which increased the national debt limit by $5 billion.

• He also cast multiple votes against measures opposing the tariffs.

Curtis' office did not immediately respond to Axios' query yesterday.

What they're saying: While some Trump-reluctant and self-styled moderate Republicans signed onto Curtis' criticism, conservatives condemned him as an "establishment shill" and progressives called him a hypocrite.

• In a post on X, Utah Democratic Party Chair Brian King characterized Curtis as "the definition of a Trump enabler with exception votes and statements that can be numbered on one hand."

The other side: Curtis also pointed to "scandals" and "corruption" as factors driving voters away from the GOP.

Catch up quick: Last month he urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden to investigate whether presidential family ties have been used for private family gain.

• Curtis cited a ProPublica report that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Trump Jr.'s three-day wedding celebration in the Bahamas, including buying a private-island rental.

Tell a politics-watcher

Salt Lake City and the Downtown Alliance are scrapping plans for a permanent farmers market at Pioneer Park.

The big picture: The decision comes as the city invests $18 million in upgrades to overhaul the historic 10-acre park.

State of play: The Downtown Alliance and the city could not reach an agreement on the "construction and ownership structure," voiding the plans, per a statement from the Downtown Alliance.

• "We were excited about the conversations with the city and the possibilities," Carly Gillespie, director of Urban Food Connections of Utah, told Axios. "The [Downtown Alliance] and the city are disappointed that we couldn't manage to make it work for both sides."

Context: In 2025, the city and the Downtown Alliance signed an agreement to revitalize Pioneer Park, with plans to build a permanent structure for the market.

What's next: The completed Pioneer Park will hold a grand opening Nov. 13.

• Upgrades include a new pavilion, restrooms, a ranger office, a playground, six pickleball courts, a basketball court and a fenced dog park.

What we're watching: The popular Downtown Farmers Market will still operate at the park next summer.

• The Winter Farmers Market returns to the former Leonardo building, now called the Civic Center, Nov. 14 through April 17. It will be open each Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
• Gillespie said the Downtown Alliance is focused on finding a permanent home for the Winter Farmers Market.

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🏛️ State Sen. Kathleen Riebe (D-Cottonwood Heights) said she's "not resigning" after her Democratic colleagues called for her to step down from the Utah Legislature on Tuesday following an independent investigation into her alleged conduct. (FOX 13)

• As of yesterday, Riebe said she hadn't seen the investigation's findings and disputed the allegations.

🗳️ At least 100,000 ballots in Salt Lake County were still uncounted as of yesterday, but updated results are expected today. (Salt Lake Tribune)

🎿 Brian Head Resort is no longer opening this Friday, citing a lack of snow, but hasn't said when it plans to open. (ABC 4)

It's the time of year when my room takes on a golden glow — even under a steely November sky.

Zoom in: That's thanks to the honey locust outside the window.

• It's one of my favorite autumn trees in Salt Lake.

Zoom out: Have you found yourself admiring fall foliage in SLC? You can use this map from the Urban Forestry office to identify a specific tree if you want to plant one of your own.

Between the lines: Yes, there's still a cemetery in my yard.

• Whatever. Scorpios and witches know: The veil remains thin after Oct. 31.

🍂 Kim is loving the fall walks around her neighborhood.

🙀 Erin's cat is terrified to walk past the Halloween birthday balloon floating in the living room.

This newsletter was edited by Jodie Lau.