Claim OwnershipInside Utah Politics with Lindsay Aerts
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© Lindsay Aerts 2025
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Each week on Inside Utah Politics, we'll dive into the most pressing stories- from Utah’s Capitol Hill, to your local government and across the nation, exploring how decisions made in the halls of power affect everyday lives. Whether you're a seasoned political observer or just beginning to engage with the issues, we've got analysis, interviews, and insight to help you stay informed and think critically about the world around you.
82 Episodes
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In an ABC4 exclusive, one of the candidates for Utah's newly drawn first congressional district joins Lindsay to make their campaign official. Plus, Sen. Kathleen Riebe joins the show to outline her priorities and what lane she'll occupy in a primary that grows more crowded by the day. We wrap things up with
New reporting indicates Utah's four GOP representatives in the House are gaming where they will run under the new congressional district map that seems to reduce the number of seats where conservatives can win. Panelists Erin Rider and Adam Gardiner discuss what that process could look like. Plus, a panel of federal judges rejects the map Texas passed to shore up come midterms, and the president has signed the bill to release DOJ files related to the notorious late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein
We've got what seems to be the first bit of drama of the democratic primary for Utah's newly minted blue-leaning seat. Salt Lake City Council member Eva Lopez Chavez now says she did not endorse former congressman Ben McAdams' bid to return to Washington. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray weigh in on what to make of the confusion and what democrats need to be doing now to prepare for midterms. Plus, the Utah judiciary is condemning threats against Judge Gibson over her ruling in the redistricting case.
The Utah legislature is still weighing its options when it comes to fighting a judge's decision to toss out their congressional map in favor of one proposed by the groups suing them. House Majority Whip Rep. Candice Pierucci joins Lindsay to share the GOP majority's thoughts of an appeal strategy, a special session and even impeaching the judge. Plus, former Utah congressman Ben McAdams is officially running for Utah's newly minted Democrat-friendly district 1. Hear how he hopes to set himself apart in what is due to be a crowded field.
The legal drama over Utah's congressional maps likely isn't over. Utah GOP leadership tells us they are keeping all options on the table, including different sorts of appeals of impeaching judge Gibson. Panelists Sarah Reale and Rusty Cannon join Lindsay to discuss the fallout from the redistricting decision and where the Republican lawmakers are likely to go from here. Plus, Kathleen Riebe and Ben McAdams announce their plans to run for congress. Who has the best chance to win in what looks to be one of Utah's most liberal districts in decades?
A Utah judge has blocked the Utah legislature's map C, ruling it violated the state's anti-gerrymandering law known as Proposition 4. The midnight ruling sent shockwaves through deeply red Utah, as the judge ruled that the plaintiff's map 1, which will, in all likelihood, solidify a Democrat in Congress, is the map that will govern Utah's 2026 midterms. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray break down the impacts on Utah politics, criticisms of the ruling, and what's next.
Utah Democrats were denied after they pushed for a special session of the Utah legislature to fund SNAP benefits from Utah's rainy-day fund. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Rusty Cannon break down whether that's the government's role. Ben McAdams is reportedly running for Congress, President Trump's tariffs were in front of SCOTUS, and NYC has a new mayor.
Thousands of Utahns are getting ready to go to the polls on Tuesday to vote in hundreds of races across the state. This year, there's a new election law in effect, and you'll need to understand it if you want to make sure your vote counts. Plus, there are dozens of new races on the ballot this year. Lindsay sits down with Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman and Rich Stowell from the sunsetting Alpine School District to explain it all.
Utah’s municipal election races are coming to a close as final votes get counted. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan discuss the Sandy mayoral, Riverton mayoral, Ogden Valley, Ogden City, and other races across the state. New York City also saw an historic election, as did Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey, and Georgia.
Salt Lake County has announced a $3 million budget cut by closing four daycares. Panelists Sarah Reale and Erin Rider delve into whether the cuts were a good decision, whether the government should provide daycare, and if not, who should? Former Utah Attorney Sean Reyes is being sued by a former client for malicious prosecution. And, construction has started on the Power District, west of downtown.
As Utah's redistricting case moves on, Utahns don't seem to be paying close attention. That's according to some new polling from the Deseret News. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan discuss why. Speaker of the House Mike Schultz released a video addressing the court case, and where the case stands. Plus, municipals are coming up and some are using their political parties to get a leg up, despite races being non-partisan.
Municipal elections are just days away now. Utahns are voting for local leadership in dozens of races across the state. Governing Group executive director Kyle Friant has his fingers on the pulse. He joins Lindsay to walk us through some of the mostly hotly contested races. Meanwhile, the mayor of Salt Lake County has proposed a nearly 20% property tax hike. She says the county needs to offset rising costs from inflation. Council members Aimee Winder Newton and Suzanne Harrison explain their approaches to the proposal and tell us whether they think the mayor will get the full 20%.
Salt Lake and Davis counties have proposed property tax raises of roughly 20% and higher. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Rusty Cannon weigh in on whether the proposals will stick. Plus, Utah State Senator Daniel Thatcher (District 11, Forward party) has announced his intention to resign from the legislature ahead of the next general session, and the Forward party will fill his seat. Plus, they weigh in on the demolition of the White House's east wing.
Donald Trump Jr. weighs in on the Utah GOP's push to repeal prop 4 as lawyers on both sides of the redistricting case prepare to return to court. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray weigh in on the impact national actors have had on Utah's efforts to draw congressional lines. Plus, ballot instructions cause confusion in Utah County as the clerk there declines to print new ballots to correct incorrect instructions. Lastly, the No Kings protests across the nation drew millions to the streets this weekend to voice their disagreement with the Trump administration. The question now: how effective were they?
The Utah GOP is sponsoring two pushes to settle the questions around redistricting in Utah. Party chair Rob Axson joins Lindsay to explain why republicans are hoping to put Map C on the 2026 ballot just weeks after the party's elected members approved it during the special session. Meanwhile, tensions are high at the state capitol. State auditor Tina Cannon is on the show to explain the behind-the-scenes disagreements between her office and the legislature that have become increasingly public.
Proponents of Prop 4 push back at the Utah GOP's bid to repeal the anti-gerrymandering criteria and the newly approved Map C. They've filed new legal action asking a court to intervene again. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Rusty Cannon weigh in on the fairness of it all and try to cut through the confusion as to where this goes next. Plus, our panel weighs into a truly controversial topic: predicting the score in Saturday's showdown in Provo when the Utes come to town to take on an undefeated BYU.
Exactly two weeks after the Utah Republican Party endorsed map c in Utah’s court-stipulated redistricting process, the party has filed paperwork to run a referendum to repeal map C and an initiative to ask the legislature to repeal Proposition 4. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray walk us through the implications for the process and the impact on our local and national politics. Plus, republicans in Utah and beyond condemn a new political cartoon in the Salt Lake Tribune portraying Utah's congressional delegation as a wanted gang. Did the strip go too far?
The legislature is facing new legal action after it approved a new congressional map with amended redistricting rules. Sen. Brady Brammer joins the program to explain lawmakers' position. On the national stage, the government shutdown is dragging towards the two week mark. Utah promised to keep the Mighty Five open, but who is actually paying the bills. Lindsay visits Zion National Park to get to the bottom of it.
The government shutdown has reached day 9, and ABC 4 went to Zion National Park to find out who's funding the parks to keep them open. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Rusty Cannon weigh in on the shutdown, talk of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and Democrats who could run for Congress because of the makeup of Utah's proposed redistricted maps.
Utah lawmakers face a new legal challenge after giving Map C their stamp of approval alongside some new redistricting criteria passed during the special session. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray debate the strategy behind the latest legal move, and how Utah Democrats could approach midterm elections in 2026.
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