322 episodes
Take 2 Podcast: Utah's wildfire crisis, Supreme Court decisions, and what's next in Utah politics
07/02/2026 | 51 mins.Host: Heidi Hatch
Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group & Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz
Utah Legislative Primary Races
Lessons Learned, who will lead the Utah Senate
Wildfire Crisis in Utah
Fallen Firefighters
Three wildland firefighters killed on the Utah-Colorado border
Two additional firefighters seriously injured
Cottonwood Fire
More than 100 condos and 30 cabins destroyed at Eagle Point Resort
Damage assessment continues
Wildland Firefighter Employment Protections
Should part-time wildland firefighters have job protection when called to active duty?
Forest Service Staffing Cuts
Are management and staffing cuts contributing to current wildfire challenges?
Headquarters relocation from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City
Supreme Court Decisions
Transgender Sports
Supreme Court upheld state laws banning transgender students from participating on girls sports teams
6-3 decision
Mail Ballots
Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states may count mail ballots received after Election Day if they were postmarked by Election Day
More than a dozen states currently follow this practice
Birthright Citizenship
Supreme Court struck down President Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship
6-3 decision in Trump v. Barbara
Charlie Kirk Murder Case
Court Hearing Next Week
Accused killer Tyler Robinson back in court
Charlie Kirk's parents, widow Erika and others expected to attend
Tight courtroom security, no electronics allowed
Utah Supreme Court expected to decide before Monday whether Robinson's roommate/romantic partner must testify
Happy Birthday America – 250 years’ worth celebrating
We will be taking a July summer break. Thanks for listening!- Hosts:
Heidi Hatch
Maura Carabello, Exoro Group
Rob Axson, Utah GOP Chair (joining from Washington, D.C.)
Fire danger across Utah
Statewide fireworks restrictions and the new law allowing cities to designate safe discharge zones.
The Cottonwood Fire in Beaver County, now expected to become the costliest wildfire in Utah history.
Gov. Spencer Cox's comments on the destruction.
Looking ahead to the dangerous fire weather forecast.
Primary election shakeup
Several high-profile incumbents lost Tuesday's primary:
Senate President Stuart Adams
Sen. Dan McCay
Rep. Trevor Lee
Two Box Elder County commissioners
What do these results say about the direction of Utah Republican politics?
Congressional races
Democrats
Ben McAdams wins the Democratic nomination in Congressional District 1.
What does his victory say about the party moving away from convention-selected candidates?
Republicans
Rep. Blake Moore wins his primary over Karianne Lisonbee.
Does Lisonbee have a political future after this race?
Rep. Celeste Maloy defeats Phil Lyman.
Is this the end of Lyman's statewide political influence?
Voting issues
Some Democratic voters reported not receiving ballots.
Was this simply a learning curve with the first Democratic congressional primary conducted this way, or is there more to examine?
Supreme Court rulings
Major decisions released this week.
Which rulings have the biggest impact on Utah and national politics?
SAVE Act
President Trump's push for the SAVE Act.
Why is the administration making a full-court press now?
What are the political and legal implications? - HOST: Heidi HatchGUESTS: Maura Carabello, John Dougall
ICE plans to sell warehouse facilities in Salt Lake, six other cities moving back to existing detention space
“From day one, DHS has remained singularly focused on removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from the United States and is always evaluating the best methods to do so. These heinous criminals, once arrested, should be removed at lightning speed, not housed on American soil at the taxpayer’s expense. DHS is moving swiftly to utilize EXISTING detention space with our state and county partners.” - DHS
Voter Turnout - Thursday 5pm Salt Lake County 20%
A new Utah law requires mail ballots to be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Previously, ballots only needed a postmark by the day before Election Day.
The change comes from HB300, which passed the Legislature last year.
Trump on Utah Mail in Ballots
Will Utah’s new deadlines avoid headlines we are seeing out of California with long delays
Utah County Clerk's Office hired a 23-year-old conservative influencer to be the chief deputy clerk
Karianne Lisonbee, without evidence, accuses Blake Moore of ‘insider trading’ before deleting X post
Salt Lake County Allegations Liban Mohamed was escorting voters to the polls- Clerk apologizes
Utah Supreme Court Justices approved by Senate
Statement from the Utah Democratic Party on the Packing of Utah's Supreme Court
“It is not a coincidence that these appointments come as the Supreme Court prepares to hear landmark cases on redistricting and reproductive rights. Across this country, courts are being reshaped not to deliver justice, but to preserve political power. Our state is not immune. Utahns deserve better.”
Iran Memorandum of Understanding
Both sides agreed to "the immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon."
Iran can begin exporting oil as soon as the MOU is signed.
Iran "will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa."
The U.S. and regional partners will develop a reconstruction plan for Iran worth at least $300 billion.
Iran affirms that it "shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons."
The two sides "have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material."
U.S. sanctions on Iran will be lifted on schedule as a part of a final deal, linked to nuclear compliance.
There will be 60 days to sign a final agreement, which the two sides can agree to extend.
AMERICA 250
UVU Professor Greg Jackson book release “Been There Done That”
Professor Greg Jackson, podcast host of History That Doesn’t Suck, proves that while today’s political climate may be dark, these aren’t as unprecedented times as we may think.
COMING UP watching KUTV 2 News for post election results Tuesday
Next Friday Post Election discussion
Wednesday July 1st Speaker Mike Schultz will be back, he attended the UFC fight night at the White House, walked past the highly debated reflecting pool.
_____ Take 2 Podcast: Politics of Fire, Pentagon religion slight, Election drama, Colorado River
06/13/2026 | 1hTHE POLITICS OF FIRE
Fires in Utah in full swing this week
Tooele County, multiple fires, arson arrest
SLC Capitol Hill Fire - State says started by homeless, City says they don’t know
Mike Lee ignites controversy after adding roadless rule repeal to a wildfire bill
13-year-old girl dies at Pineview after dead tree falls: Would Pineview Reservoir be safer if it were a state park? Not US Forest Service land
Pentagon Classification of Latter-day Saints
Election Day 11 days out - Drama between campaigns ramps up
PAC cash flowing into Congressional races
Trevor Lee Race - voters get video text describing fraud allegations
Senator Dan McCay sends out mailer with endorsement from Senator John Curtis - Curtis said he is neutral on the race
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, warned states involved in Colorado River disputes could lose access to remaining federal conservation funding if they pursue litigation over water rights.
SLC Council picks new member with a coin flip
SLC, Salt Lake County sue DHS over planned Detention Center
House GOP Vice Chair Blake Moore will host the annual NRCC summer meeting in Utah this weekend- Host: Heidi Hatch
Guests: Maura Carabello, Rep. Cal Roberts
Gov. Spencer Cox declared June "Fidelity Month in Utah."
In his declaration, Cox said that American support for traditional values has "significantly declined." "A majority of Americans no longer esteem values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement," he continued. He said it is "imperative" that Utah's "recommit" themselves to the pursuit of fidelity, defined as "dedication to faith, family and country."
DATA CENTERS
Senate President Stuart Adams and Kevin Oleary, write each other letters and make a deal to downsize
No referendum BEAR group files lawsuit to get the issue on the November ballot
Should massive data centers get tax incentives
PRIMARY ELECTION JUNE 23RD
Winner and Losers or nothing gained or lost in Congressional Debates?
Ballots should be in your mailbox this week
Tooele County sent out 9,000 bad ballots, mistake made at printer
U of U private equity capital deal for the athletic program
The University of Utah's groundbreaking private equity deal is a historic $500 million partnership with the New York-based firm Otro Capital. The deal shifts the school's commercial revenue operations—like ticketing, corporate sponsorships, and licensing—into a for-profit entity called Crimson Brand Partners (formerly Utah Brands & Entertainment LLC)
Utah state auditor says Utes’ private-equity deal has ‘significant risks.’ Here are her concerns.
More Government podcasts
Trending Government podcasts
About Take 2
2News Heidi Hatch hosts an array of special guests as they talk about the issues most important to Utahns.
Podcast websiteListen to Take 2, Red Eye Radio and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app
- Stations and podcasts to bookmark
- Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Supports Carplay & Android Auto
- Many other app features
Get the free radio.net app
- Stations and podcasts to bookmark
- Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Supports Carplay & Android Auto
- Many other app features


Take 2
Scan code,
download the app,
start listening.
download the app,
start listening.
Take 2: Podcasts in Family
































