Special Session with Bryan Schott

Pride flags? No. Nazi flags? You betcha!

In this week's episode of Special Session:
Unions busted
More money and more limits for Utah's school voucher program
Pride flags? No way. Nazi flags? A-okay!
Burgess Owens - country music expert.
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Union showdown and more vouchers

In this episode of Special Session:
 
Senate Republicans reverse course on the controversial union busting bill.
Legislature pushes to double funding for Utah's private school voucher program.
A Democratic senator proposes higher taxes for the wealthy.
Two bills aim to tilt the judicial system in favor of lawmakers.
Kathy Biele from the Utah League of Women Voters joins to discuss concerning election-related legislation.
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📰 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

Where in the world is Sean Reyes?

In this episode of Special Session:
 
The fallout from the audit of former Attorney General Sean Reyes.
Lawmakers back down in their battle with public sector labor unions.
A trio of conspiracy-driven bills make their way through the legislature.
Gerrymandering lawsuit inches closer to resolution but still leaves many questions.
 
This week, I dive deep into the shocking findings of the audit on Sean Reyes, revealing his questionable conduct during his tenure. We'll discuss the implications of lawmakers' recent decisions regarding union rights and the bizarre conspiracy theories fueling new legislation. Plus, I’ll update you on the latest developments in the ongoing gerrymandering lawsuit.
 
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📰 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

Week one comin’ in hot!

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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📰 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

Conspiracy Theory Bingo

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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📰 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

Tensions working overtime

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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📰 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 most feared journalist in Utah!

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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📰 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

Voters from beyond the grave!

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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So long, and thanks for all the pancakes!

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.
Mike's substack: The Great Transformation.
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.
 
📰 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

Gaetz is gone leaving Lee to linger

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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📰 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