PoliticIt Podcast

Sen. John Johnson welcomes Riley Owen, Republican candidate for Utah’s 1st Congressional District, for a conversation about his background, his campaign, and his priorities for Washington. Owen shares how his experience in the White House, the Navy Reserve, and private industry has shaped his approach to public service. With affordability, accountability, and innovation at the center of his platform, Owen discusses homeownership, tax incentives for paid maternity leave, congressional term limits, restrictions on lawmakers’ stock trading, and the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. They also explore his outreach to young and independent voters, his differences with opponent Ben McAdams, and his commitment to keeping constituents informed and connected. #politicit #utahelections #utpol  

What can one more chance to play football mean for a young person’s future? Coach Dave Arslanian joins Sen. John Johnson on the PoliticIt Podcast to discuss how the Ogden Jets are opening doors to education, career training, and personal growth. The former Snow College, Weber State, and Utah State head coach shares his family’s football legacy and the mission behind USA Collegiate and The Coaches Team Foundation. They explore the shrinking opportunities in junior college football, the changing landscape of NIL, and the lessons in teamwork and accountability that last beyond the game. Coach Arslanian also highlights opportunities for aspiring broadcasters, photographers, and sports journalists—and why community support matters. #politicit #utahelections #utpol  

What does America’s trade policy mean for your job, your family, and your community? U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer joins guest host Dave Owen on the PoliticIt Podcast to discuss the Trump administration’s approach to tariffs, fair trade, and bringing manufacturing back to America. Greer makes the case for protecting American industries from unfair foreign competition and explains how trade, tax, energy, and regulatory policies fit together in the administration’s economic agenda. He also shares insights from his Utah visit, highlighting the state’s manufacturing, agriculture, and technology sectors—and why he sees Utah as a model for economic opportunity. It’s a conversation about more than trade balances: it’s about jobs, wages, national security, and the communities that depend on American production. #politicit #utahelections #utpol  

Utah Senator John Johnson welcomes Kai Schwemmer to the PoliticIt Podcast for a conversation about faith, political expression, and the next generation of conservative leadership. Schwemmer’s appointment as political director of College Republicans of America drew scrutiny over past remarks and political associations. Against that backdrop, this episode offers an opportunity to hear his perspective and consider the broader questions surrounding free speech, personal growth, public accountability, and young people’s role in shaping the Republican Party. politicit #utahelections #utpol

A controversial cake. A viral photo. A campus debate over free speech and accountability. On this episode of the PoliticIt Podcast, Utah Sen. John Johnson welcomes Rylie Barnes, vice president of the University of Utah College Republicans, and Riley Beesley, chairman of the Utah College Republicans, to share their perspectives on the “Kirkiversary” cake controversy. After a photo of a student holding a cake mocking the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s death spread online, Barnes and Beesley became the subjects of university inquiries over allegations of doxxing. The university later dismissed both cases and apologized. Hear their account of the controversy and its aftermath in a conversation about political expression, social media responsibility, campus safety, and the challenges of navigating political division. #politicit #utahelections #utpol