Special Session with Bryan Schott

The feds want Utah’s voting records

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Take away Mike Lee’s phone!

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Who’s funding who?

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Mike Lee can’t stop...won’t stop

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Mike Lee hits some roadblocks

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Physician, heal thyself!

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

”The whole thing is dumb”

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'
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

The royal hierarchy of Twitter dweebs

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Trust the science...unless it conflicts with your politics

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Has the Utah GOP figured out how to finally kill SB54?

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
📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.newsSponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up podcast@utahpolitics.news.Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter