Special Session with Bryan Schott

The Utah Supreme Court denied the Utah Legislature's request for an emergency stay to keep the state's 2021 congressional maps, deemed illegal, in place. If you needed any more proof why lawmakers want to keep control of drawing Utah's political maps, our analysis proves that all three of the maps produced by the independent commission in 2021 would have produced at least one strong Democratic district.Republicans thought they had found a way to keep the current maps in place, but it turns out they forgot to do the reading.Tip Jar: Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Subscribe: Sign up for our newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.Sponsor: If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email news@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreadsX/Twitter

We sit down with Christopher Goldsmith, an expert on disinformation and extremist tactics and the founder of Veterans Fighting Fascism. Goldsmith, who publishes the "On Offense" Substack and co-hosts the "Find Out" podcast, discusses the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. He talks about the potential implications for democracy, the dangers posed by radicalized extremist movements, and disinformation. Goldsmith also shares advice on how individuals can combat fascism at the local level. 00:52 Understanding Extremist Movements 10:20 The Role of Disinformation 17:01 Local Actions Against Fascism

This week, we go over the latest in the court case over Utah's gerrymandered congressional maps and how the GOP-controlled legislature will try to open up a new path of attack so the new map is still likely to elect Republicans or even keep the old map in place for the 2026 election.It's no secret that Utah's congressional map is gerrymandered, but we finally have an idea what methodology they used to create it. It appears that Republicans targeted Utahns who voted for Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. We'll explain how they did it, and why splitting Biden voters was the key.Plus, a conversation with Chris Diaz from the Voting Rights Lab about President Donald Trump's attack on mail-in voting and the current panic about the (nonexistent) threat of non-citizens on voter rolls.Tip Jar: Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Subscribe: Sign up for our newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.Sponsor: If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email news@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreadsX/Twitter

A Utah judge threw out Utah's congressional maps on Monday, ruling that the Republican-controlled legislature violated the state constitution when it repealed Prop. 4. in 2020. Now, lawmakers have less than a month to draw new maps, or the court will do it for them.We discuss the ruling, what it means, how we got here, and what's next.Plus, a conversation with Dave Daley, a senior fellow at FairVote and the author of Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count.Tip Jar: Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Subscribe: Sign up for our newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.Sponsor: If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email news@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreadsX/Twitter

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams is under scrutiny after a change to state law he championed benefited his step‑granddaughter as she faced serious felony charges.Host Bryan Schott goes through the timeline, explains what changed in the law, and tests Adams’ defense against the public record.We also examine the media’s role and patterns from past episodes where Adams’ actions raised ethical questions.In this episode: What the law change did—and who it helpedA timeline of how the change moved through the processAdams’ explanations versus the available factsHow local media covered the storyWhy these patterns matter for public trust in the legislature—and whether voters will careTip Jar: Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Subscribe: Sign up for our newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.Sponsor: If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email news@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreadsX/Twitter

The chatter surrounding Utah Sen. Mike Lee as a possible pick for the Supreme Court has started again. Don't dismiss it as just idle speculation. Lee probably came closer to landing a seat on the Supreme Court in 2018 than most realize.The Justice Department wants information about Utah's elections. This could have a very big impact on the 2026 elections and beyond.A liberal group is spending money in Utah to recruit candidates to challenge Republicans in 10 legislative seats. We'll explain why that money might be better spent on trying to register more Democratic voters.Tip Jar: Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Subscribe: Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.Sponsor: If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreadsX/Twitter

It was a bad week on social media for a couple of Utah's congressional Republicans. Rep. Burgess Owens reposted an anti-Muslim video on social media that came from an account that frequently posts White supremacist content.Sen. Mike Lee was fooled AGAIN by a fake letter on social media that was clearly generated by AI. Lee likes to criticize the media for inaccuracies, but he should really work on his media literacy skills before condemning others.Sen. Lee joined with Senate Republicans on Thursday to block a Democratic-led effort to pressure the Trump administration to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.Rep. Celeste Maloy backed a GOP-led push to put First Lady Melania Trump's name on the Kennedy Center opera house, using federal funds as leverage.Utah's population growth is on track to give the Beehive State another seat in Congress after the 2030 Census.Tip Jar: Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Subscribe: Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.Sponsor: If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreadsX/Twitter

Federal prosecutors drop the charges against a Utah doctor accused of running a fake vaccine card scheme. How much did politics play in the dismissal? (Hint: a lot).Who is funding your congressional delegation? We break down the latest financial disclosures and come up with some interesting nuggets.Republicans are flailing trying to contain the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files controversy. Sen. Mike Lee suggests having Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell testify before Congress. Poll numbers highlight a very sharp divide between two factions of the Utah GOP.Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

Sen. Mike Lee's social media is causing some heartburn for top leaders of the LDS Church, but don't expect that will make him tone things down.Lack of housing in the West is a serious problem, but policymakers will have to come up with a solution that does more than lean on ideology.Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz rallies support for a Utah doctor who federal prosecutors allege provided hundreds of fake vaccine cards during the COVID pandemic. It's just the latest example of top leaders allying themselves with extreme views.The Planned Parenthood Association of Utah joined a lawsuit challenging a provision in the massive tax cuts and spending bill passed by Congress that would effectively defund the organization. Shireen Ghorbani, interim president of Planned Parenthood of Utah, joins the show to talk about the lawsuit.Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

Sen. Mike Lee's controversial plan to sell off millions of acres of public lands hits two significant roadblocks. The Senate parliamentarian ruled against the proposal, and he's facing mounting opposition from conservation groups and his fellow Republicans in Congress.There are more questions than answers about the "No Kings" rally in Salt Lake City that left one protester dead. The anonymous organizers are hiding behind a shell company. They also didn't tell police there would be armed safety volunteers in the crowd.Gov. Spencer Cox declares a statewide day of prayer for rain amid worsening drought conditions. The last time Cox did this, he got roasted by John Oliver. Maybe we should be looking for solutions to our water crisis alongside appeals to the supernatural.Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here.Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

Utah's members of Congress either supported President Donald Trump's airstrikes against Iran or remained silent, despite the lack of credible intelligence backing the President's justification for the attack. Sen. Mike Lee's contradictory stance on war powers does raise some eyebrows, though.Sen. Lee faced some backlash for his cruel and insensitive social media posts in the aftermath of a tragic shooting in Minnesota. Will he face any consequences for those posts? Probably not.Utah Republican leaders call for more civility and less overheated political rhetoric. They should probably start by looking in the mirror and leading by example.Finally, a look at Sen. Lee's controversial plan to sell off millions of acres of public land to build housing and pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

Utah elected officials are talking tough about possible violence ahead of protests scheduled all over Utah this weekend. A group of Republicans in Riverton issued a completely over the top statement warning protesters against committing any violence or vandalism. They're worried a similar situation to what transpired in Los Angeles could happen here, but their rhetoric doeesn't match the reality of what is happening in California.There are legitimate questions about the cozy relationship Utah lawmakers have with Jen Brown, a right-wing activist and founder of Utah Citizens for the Constitution, after her connections to a Nazi sympathizer came to light. Brown has been tapped to help guide a taxpayer funded national initiative on federalism, despite her having no academic credentials or expertise on the Constitution.Gov. Spencer Cox says the fight between the Utah Legislature and Salt Lake City over Pride flags is "dumb." but, when he had a chance to veto the law, which he also thinks is "dumb," he punted.Sen. Mike Lee wants to sell public lands to help pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Sen. John Curtis casts doubt that the Senate will pass the "big, beautiful bill" by July 4. Rep. Blake Moore says everybody should have known Elon Musk was "exaggerating" when he said he would cut $2 billion from the federal budget.Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreadsSOURCE LINKS:An activist helping to shape the Utah Legislature's federalism push placed a Nazi-sympathizer in a leadership role in her own organization ChristianDrain.com'The whole thing's dumb.' Utah Gov. Cox blasts Pride flag battle with Salt Lake City DOGE caucus leader says Elon Musk made a 'massive exaggeration' about spending cutsSenate GOP plan would sell millions of acres of Western public landSen. John Curtis says July 4 deadline to pass Trump's tax bill is 'false'

Utah's Republican members of Congress sure like to talk about how they're worried about government debt and deficits, but they're twisting themselves into knots to justify their support for the massive reconciliation bill, which will blow a $2.4 trillion hole in the budget.Rep. Trevor Lee had an outburst on social media after the Utah Mammoth posted a Pride-themed version of its logo, threatening legislation to force political neutrality on organizations receiving taxpayer funds. Experts say that would be unconstitutional.Sen. Mike Lee is in a tough spot amid the messy feud between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Lee also proposed a constitutional amendment to kick every member of Congress out of office if inflation rises above 3% - which is a recipe for political instability.Utah House Republicans reshuffled their leadership team, electing Rep. Casey Snider as Majority Leader. This comes amid growing tensions between the legislature and judiciary, highlighted by calls for Judge John Torgerson to resign or be impeached.Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

How do Utah Republicans decide whether a study is credible? If it aligns with their politics, they embrace it - even if it relies on fabricated research. If it contradicts their agenda, they ignore it.Utah Democrats pick Brian King as their new party chairman. What will it take for the state's superminority party to start making an impact politically?Rep. Blake Moore was all in on Elon Musk and DOGE. Now, he's trying to distance himself from Musk as quickly as possible.Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

Is the Utah Republican Party scheming to overturn SB54 and ditch signature gathering, restoring convention delegates as party gatekeepers?  Utah's members of Congress say they're fiscal conservatives, but they won't explain why they voted for the "big, beautiful bill" that blows a big, ugly $3.8 trillion hole in the budget.  A scary incident involving Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall underlines the danger of our current political moment. Sign up for my newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

This week, we're wrapping up the 2025 Utah Republican Party Convention: Rob Axson wins another term as party chair.Where does Phil Lyman go from here?It sure sounds like Utah Republicans are hatching a plan to repeal SB54 before the 2026 election.Sign up for my newsletter at Utah Political Watch for free, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support my Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

Utah lawmakers face off against Salt Lake City in a battle over Pride flags.The state’s most successful signature gathering effort in history puts a union-busting bill on the ballot.Could Donald Trump influence the future leadership of the Utah Republican party?Plus, a deep dive into the upcoming GOP convention, where the party's direction hangs in the balance.Also, some corrections from last week's episode.Sign up for my newsletter at Utah Political Watch for free, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support my Utah politics coverage.If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

The Utah Legislature faces a tough reality as the referendum to overturn the anti-union bill surpasses its signature goal, signaling a significant pushback against Republican lawmakers. A judge's ruling that the state's private school voucher program is unconstitutional leaves legislative leaders scrambling to respond. With no veto override session on the horizon, Governor Spencer Cox's vetoes remain intactPlus a conversation with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, co-founder of the Forward Party, as we discuss the recent merger with the United Utah Party and the unique structure of this new political entity. How will they navigate the challenges of a two-party system? What strategies will they employ to resonate with voters?Sign up for my newsletter at Utah Political Watch for free, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support my Utah politics coverage. If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email schott@utahpoliticalwatch.news.Follow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

In this week's episode:Unions collect 320,000 signatures for the referendum to overturn the union busting bill.Utah's economy earns praise from a conservative group, but dark clouds may be on the horizon.A Utah congressman visits a notorious prison in El Salvador.What is Jason Chaffetz up to?Mike Lee's bestie Elon Musk has a LOT of kids.Sign up for my newsletter at Utah Political Watch for free, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support my Utah politics coverage. If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email me at schott@utahpoliticalwatch.newsFollow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads

In this week's episode:The Utah Legislature is poised to override a veto of a bill pushed by conspiracy theorists.What did the Utah Board of Education waste time on this week?A merger to create the 6th largest political party in Utah.The parallels between Sen. Mike Lee and Jar Jar Binks.Sign up for my newsletter at Utah Political Watch for free, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support my Utah politics coverage. If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email me at schott@utahpoliticalwatch.newsFollow us on social media:BlueskyTikTokInstagramFacebookThreads