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.
124 Episodes
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Utah's anti-gerrymandering law known as Proposition 4 has been to qualify for the November ballot. The GOP backed effort is vowing to continue its fight. Panelists Erin Rider and Sarah Reale break down what happens next. Plus, with Utah's new map, the Congressional races are already getting spicy. And, Mayor Erin Mendenhall looks to restrict water going to the ICE facility.
Congress debates how to fund the Department of Homeland Security, including TSA workers. Sen. John Curtis outlines what he would like to see from the negotiations. Plus, Curtis responds to President Trump, who says that he will not sign funding without passing the SAVE Act. Plus, Utah's anti-gerrymandering law, known as Proposition 4, has failed to qualify for the November ballot. The executive director of Better Boundaries, Elizabeth Rassmusen defends their signature removal tactics.
The effort to put a repeal of Utah's anti-gerrymandering rules on the ballot this year is on the verge of failing to qualify. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray join Lindsay to weigh in on where the Prop 4 fight could go next, and what this whole saga says about the state of direct democracy in Utah. Plus, Senator John Curtis sponsors a bipartisan proposal to ban sites like Kalshi and Polymarket from offering lines on sports. It's the latest effort from an elected Utahn to rein in the emerging alternative to sportsbooks that remain illegal in states like Utah. But does the idea have the legs to pass both chambers of Congress, and does it strike the right balance when it comes to federalism?
Our record-breaking winter is over and the results are not pretty. The snowpack may have already peaked weeks earlier than it should have at a record low. Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Joel Ferry joins Lindsay to assess how the policy tools at their disposal can address the serious problem, and what the state's message will be heading into the hot months. Plus, national democrats set their sights on Utah. DNC Chair Ken Martin tells donors and state party leaders that they're hoping to lay the groundwork for a purple Utah. Utah Democratic Chair Brian King joins us to explain how they plan to make that big goal a reality. And for the first time, Governor Spencer Cox addresses the plans for an ICE facility in Salt Lake City.
Governor Spencer Cox breaks his silence on the plans to put an ICE facility in Salt Lake City. The governor expressed frustration over the lack of coordination with local and state leadership, but ultimately supports a new ICE facility in Utah. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan weigh in on the impact a bigger DHS presence could have in our state and the wider issue of immigration enforcement nationally. Plus, the lieutenant governor expresses her displeasure with the lack of communication between Utah Senator Mike Lee and her office over the impacts the Save Act could have on the way our state runs its elections.
Elected democrats have been vocal about their opposition to plans to put an ICE detention facility in Salt Lake City. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Sarah Reale weigh in on the impacts the plan could have on state politics and, possibly, new immigration enforcement. Plus, national democrats are putting their cards on the table; they are working toward a purple Utah. we look at how they could mean to get it done.
Senate President J. Stuart Adams joins Lindsay to unpack the work lawmakers have done this legislative session. That includes big agenda defining items like court reform and tax cuts, but also the bills that caught Utah's attention in the 11th hour. With just minutes left to go in the session, lawmakers passed new regulations around signature removal campaigns that could hamper to effort to keep a repeal of Prop 4 off the ballot. It comes as candidate filing opened up for Utah's newly drawn congressional map. Liban Mohamed explains why he decided to make the jump from big tech to politics and responds to comments shared by Rep. Trevor Lee after his announcement.
Congressional candidates are officially filing to run in the primaries, with most of the notable contenders already in the race. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Erin Rider join Lindsay to discuss the new filings, and Phil Lyman and Celeste Maloy in District 3. Plus, a Utah lawmaker voted no to 54% of the 2026 bills, and the panel debates whether that amount is excessive. And is President Trump is requiring his cabinet members to wear a certain type of shoe?
Some 11th hour maneuvers on Capitol Hill have been the talk of the town since Utah's general session wrapped up Friday night. The governor has already signed a bill that would ban signature removal campaigns from pre-paying postage on recission forms. The law take immediate effect, directly impacting the Better Boundaries campaign to keep a repeal of Prop 4 off the November ballot. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray join Lindsay to dissect the impact of the new law, and whether it constitutes changing rules in the middle of the game. Plus, candidate filing opens for Utah's new congressional districts. Our panel sizes up the field as it forms.
45 days goes by in the blink of an eye and lawmakers are done with their work in Utah's 2026 general session. Lindsay sits down with Governor Spencer Cox to discuss his perspective on the work the legislature has accomplished this year from court reform to funding for homelessness. Plus, Sen. Scott Sandall weighs in on water, taxes and what could be on the docket for the next time lawmakers convene on Capitol Hill.
Congress considers checking President Trump's power to wage war in Iran as the conflict enters heads towards a week long. Panelist Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan join Lindsay to weigh in the conflict today date and how the role Congress could play in the days to come. Plus, lawmakers debate a proposal that would write The Word of Wisdom into our state's drug laws.
President Trump says operations in Iran could go on for longer than a month, as Iran retaliates across the region for the strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Leah Murray join Lindsay to assess the impact this latest conflict could have on America and our allies. Plus, Utah's legislative session is wrapping up this week. We dig into some of the issues that remain to be addressed in these waning days- including an overhaul to main-in voting.
Could Utah go back to a secretary of state running elections? One lawmaker has drawn up the plan to make it happen in the final days of the legislative session despite the senate cooling on the idea. Plus, Rep. Cal Roberts explains the big picture on Utah's 6-month cut to the gas tax and how the state is working to keep energy prices lower in the long term. We also dive into Utah's presence at the president's record-breaking State of the Union address, including a shoutout to one of the members of our delegation.
President Donald Trump broke the all-time record for the longest State of the Union address in his speech to Congress Tuesday night. Panelists Rusty Cannon and Taylor Morgan join Lindsay to unpack the highlights and lowlights. Plus, the Utah GOP sues Better Boundaries over their recission campaign's use of pre-paid postage on mailers asking voters to remove their signatures from the push to put Prop 4 back on the ballot.
A federal court has declined a request for an injunction to block a judge-imposed congressional map, just as the Utah Supreme Court has dismissed the legislature's appeal of that same map at the state level. That means, barring action from a higher court, Utah's newest congressional map all but confirmed to stay in place for the 2026 midterm election. The map includes the state's first democrat-leaning district in decades. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan join Lindsay to weigh in on what's next for state politics under the new map, even if it is only in place for one election cycle. Plus, lawmakers tease that changes could be coming to the constitutional court proposal that passed just this month. It comes on the heels of a new lawsuit saying the idea of a three judge panel hearing constitutionally impactful cases at the district level is itself unconstitutional.
We have just two weeks left in Utah's general legislative session for 2026. It's a sprint to the finish with some big proposals left to debate. Will Utah tax social media companies? What's going to be in the state budget? Will the state ban non-citizens from public benefits? Our panel of insiders and experts answers these question. Plus, the federal case to overturn Utah's new congressional map meets for the first time. Hear the arguments that could reshape the midterm elections.
A plan to reduce the gas tax has been unveiled on Utah's Capitol Hill, but now that it will cut state revenue instead of taxing refineries, is it the right plan for Utah? Panelists Adam Gardiner and Sarah Reale weigh in. Plus, Utah's redistricting case hits the federal court, and the Utah legislature is weighing changes to the Utah Fits All scholarship.
Utah Republicans are rushing to meet the deadline to put a possible repeal of prop 4 on the ballot. It's a heavy lift, requiring 8% of all active voters in 26/29 senate districts. Utah GOP chair Rob Axson thinks they can get it done, he joins Lindsay to dive into the massive effort to give the voters a chance to weigh in on redistricting one more time. Plus, comments from an American athlete in Italy draw criticism from President Trump and Governor Cox shares his thoughts as state leaders work to bring the world back to Utah in 2034.
Governor Spencer Cox had some pointed words for the media at the Games in Milan after reporters asked him about a back-and-forth between a US skier and President Trump. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray weigh in. Meanwhile, Utah's House leadership is pushing a bill to require by-mail ballots to be returned in person with ID. There are some signs of tension at the Utah legislature, and a bill has passed the House that would ban Prop betting in Utah.
As the legislative session approaches the halfway point, lawmakers are still mulling over some big ideas. Should Utah ban kratom? Do we need voter ID? How should venues supported by public funds accommodate gun rights? Panelists Adam Gardiner and Rusty Cannon join Lindsay to weigh in on the hot button topics driving debate on capitol hill. Plus, a federal court will hear the case over Utah's new congressional map. We dig into what that means for what's set to be an interesting midterm election year in Utah.
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