Take 2

Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group, and Doug Fiefia, Utah representative and Senate candidate

Utah Legislature dives into issues months before the session

To Flock or Not to Flock?

This week: Utah lawmaker to propose “parameters” for Flock cameras and ALPRs

Two months out from Election Day

President Trump on the campaign trail

Bears Ears and Grand Staircase protections

Take 2 Podcast

Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello and Adam Gardiner

Welcome back after the Take 2 summer break.

While we were taking a break -

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s divorce filing and whether she will run for reelection as Luz Escamilla enters the race.

Sen. Todd Weiler’s new role leading the Sutherland Institute.

Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante resized.

The continuing war with Iran.

More than half a million acres burned in Utah this summer.

Flock cameras—and why so many Utahns are pushing back.

Nine weeks until Election Day.

Election watch

The SAVE America Act: voter ID, proof of citizenship and whether changes can be implemented before November.

Utah voters on election requirements: 66% support proof of citizenship at registration, according to the latest Deseret News-Hinckley Institute poll.

The Supreme Court’s mail-voting ruling and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s response that it currently has no effect on Utah.

New polling: Gov. Spencer Cox, Sen. Mike Lee and Sen. John Curtis all in negative territory, with independents moving away from Cox.

Utah politics and policy

The Stratos AI data-center backlash, calls to reform MIDA, and questions over water, heat, noise and public accountability.

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams’ demand for retractions and threats of lawsuits.

Inflation, high gas prices and high beef prices.

Trump’s imported-beef plan—and pushback from Utah ranchers and members of Utah’s congressional delegation.

Tyson’s Eagle Mountain closure: 700 jobs lost after five years, despite a 10-year agreement and major tax incentives.

Utah’s $212 million Meta settlement and how the state should spend it on youth mental-health concerns.

If time: Gov. Cox’s new book, Off Ramp, out Sept. 8.

Coming up

Friday, Sept. 4: Rep. Doug Fiefia

Friday, Sept. 11: Rep. Cal Roberts

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.

_____