Ever wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes in Utah politics? From the Capitol to your headphones, Special Session with Bryan Schott breaks down the most important news stories from the world of Utah politics. Bryan Schott has been covering Utah politics for more than 25 years, digging into the stories that matter the most to you. He brings insights into politics and policy and interviews with newsmakers to help you understand what’s driving the latest headlines.
Episodes
Friday Jan 24, 2025
Friday Jan 24, 2025
In this episode of Special Session:
- The 2025 Utah Legislature gets underway.
- Spencer Cox needs to pay attention to the lyrics.
- It's union bustin' time!
- Who really has the ear of Utah lawmakers.
- Why I'm taking the Legislature to court.
My guest this week is former Republican strategist Reed Galen. We talk about what to expect from the second Trump administration, the need for pro-democracy movements and how to resist authoritarianism. Subscribe to Reed's Substack, The Home Front.
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Friday Jan 17, 2025
Friday Jan 17, 2025
In this episode of Special Session:
- SCOTUS says no to Utah's land grab lawsuit.
- What's behind a proposal to break up Salt Lake County?
- Rep. Burgess Owens wants to let Donald Trump grab them by the canal.
- It's chemtrail time on Utah's Capitol Hill.
My guest this week is former Rep. Brian King, who announced this week he's running to become the Utah Democratic Party chair. We'll discuss his plan for revitalizing Utah's minority party.
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Friday Jan 10, 2025
Friday Jan 10, 2025
In this episode of Special Session:
- Tensions between legislative Republicans and the Utah Education Association start to boil over.
- How lawmakers plan to make it harder for you to put initiatives on the ballot.
- More tax cuts are on the way, but there are some warning lights flashing.
- A top Republican in the Utah Legislature broke the law and is getting off scot-free.
A Utah man spent years undercover after infiltrating the highest levels of far- right militias. Our guest this week is ProPublica reporter Josh Kaplan about his blockbuster story, "The Militia and the Mole."
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Friday Dec 20, 2024
Friday Dec 20, 2024
This week in Utah Politics:
- Senator Mike Lee throws out some wild suggestions for Speaker of the House: Elon Musk or Vivek Ramaswamy. Seriously.
- Senator Mike Lee throws out some wild suggestions for Speaker of the House: Elon Musk or Vivek Ramaswamy. Seriously.
- Phil Lyman has more L's than the planet Krypton. Spoiler: He lost again.
- State leaders threaten Salt Lake City over its homeless problem.
- Vote-by-mail is under the microscope in Utah, but Governor Cox is sticking to his guns.
- The Utah Education Association takes Utah's private school voucher program to court.
- In Utah, looking like Jesus could be your next side hustle. Who knew?
An interview with Jackson Lewis, who was just elected to a seat on the Canyons School Board. At 19 years old, he's believed to be the youngest elected official in Utah history. He talks about the importance of getting involved in the political process.
Plus, I spill the tea on why the Utah Legislature is scared of my journalism and why they gave me the boot from the 2025 session.
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Friday Dec 13, 2024
Friday Dec 13, 2024
In this week's Utah political news:
- Voters from beyond the grave threaten Utah's universal vote by mail.
- Utah Senate President Stuart Adams is big mad because of a story about his campaign finance disclosures.
- The Utah Legislature tees up another round of tax cuts, but they're being coy about their plans.
- Some Utah congressmen have invited a Jan. 6 rioter to Donald Trump's inauguration.
- Congressman Burgess Owens misses out on a big committee assignment.
Plus, Sen. Mitt Romney has a farewell press conference with Utah media.
And who the hell is Paul Harvey?
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Thursday Dec 05, 2024
Thursday Dec 05, 2024
In this week's Utah political news:
- Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz makes a big donation to an anti-transgender political action committee that attacked Democrats with nasty ads during the 2024 election.
- Gov. Spencer Cox and Utah lawmakers put Utah's colleges and universities in their sights.
- Lawmakers could have a big budget problem on their hands.
- Sen. Mike Lee is ready to dismantle Social Security.
- A right-wing parents rights group wants lawmakers to punish Utah teachers and get fluoride out of the state's drinking water.
Very smart person Mike Madrid, author of "The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy," joins us to discuss why 43% of Latino voters went for Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
As Sen. Mitt Romney rides off into the political sunset, I share a story about the time he talked to me about pancakes, and we fought over the cost of a $2 cup of coffee.
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Episode reading list:
- Utah House Speaker funds PAC behind anti-trans campaign blitz.
- Lt. Gov.'s office refers "handful of complaints" about shadowy anti-trans PAC to Utah A.G.
- "Higher ed has lost their way," Gov. Cox says during budget reveal.
- University of Utah president warns of "extensive" lawmaker scrutiny next year - beyond expected cuts.
- Revenue projections miss the mark: Utah lawmakers facing possible $225M - $700M revenue shortfall next year.
- Sen. Mike Lee tees up assault on Social Security.
- Utah Parents United wants lawmakers to ban fluoride in the state's drinking water.
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
On this week's show, we discuss the week's top Utah political news stories.
- Matt Gaetz withdraws from consideration from Attorney General, but Sen. Mike Lee doesn't get the job. And how does Senator-elect John Curtis fit into the story?
- The Great Salt Lake starts to dry up again.
- Legislative candidates spent $5.8 million during the 2024 election.
- Lawmakers target election law changes.
Will a third-party candidate ever win an election in Utah? Michelle Quist, the United Utah Party nominee for Attorney General, joins the program.
Plus, we dip into the mailbag and answer questions from listeners.
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Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
On this week's episode:
🚪 Republicans on the Utah State School Board go behind closed doors.
👎 Sen. Mike Lee and former Rep. Chris Stewart get passed over for jobs in the Trump administration.
🏛️ The Utah House and Senate pick leaders for the upcoming session.
📊 A discussion about political polls with Mike Noble from Noble Predictive Insights. His firm had the most accurate polling in Utah ahead of the 2024 election.
📬 Plus, we dip into the mailbag.
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