Deseret Voices

Three months ago, we told you the Great Salt Lake was disappearing — and what Utah stood to lose. Today, we ask the harder question: Is anyone actually saving it?

In June, "Deseret Voices" Episode 37 laid out the stakes: toxic dust, billions in health costs, and an ecosystem on the brink. Since then, the lake has dropped even closer to its all-time low — losing 800,000 acre-feet per year despite near-normal precipitation. A new commissioner has been appointed. A president has promised a billion dollars. And only a fraction has arrived.

In this follow-up episode, host Jane Clayson Johnson sits down with three people at the center of the response:

▸ Sen. John Curtis — Utah's Republican senator, who is navigating the gap between a presidential promise and a congressional check, while making the case that saving the lake is an economic imperative as much as an environmental one.

▸ Hannah Freeze — Utah's new Great Salt Lake commissioner, appointed July 2026. A farmer's daughter turned quarterback of the state's multi-agency rescue effort, she brings a five-point federal spending plan and a pilot program where 90 farmers voluntarily lease water to the lake.

▸ Ben Abbott — The BYU ecologist who returned to “Deseret Voices” with a blunt update: only 26% of the lake is still functioning, saving a saline lake is something no country has ever done, and the restoration goal will require a 40% reduction in water consumption.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Where Trump's $1 billion Great Salt Lake promise actually stands — and why Congress hasn't written the check.

The difference between stabilizing the lake (250,000 acre-feet) and restoring it (1 million acre-feet per year).

How Alpine City, Utah, voluntarily cut water use 12% in a single year — with no mandate.

Why Utah's farmers wrote their own water-leasing legislation instead of waiting for regulation.

What Iran's Lake Urmia — where the government promised restoration five times before the lake disappeared — tells us about Utah's odds.

The 30 to 70 annual dust events now coming off the exposed lakebed, and the $1 million air-quality monitoring network going live this fall.

Whether the Endangered Species Act or EPA protections could trigger a forced federal response.

Ben Abbott's candid assessment that saving the lake is "a long shot" — and Sen. Curtis' pioneer-ancestors rebuttal.

This conversation is about more than a lake. It's about whether a community can live within its means, protect the vulnerable, and do something no one else in the world has managed — before time runs out.

If you haven't listened to Episode 37, start there: https://www.deseret.com/video/2026/06/26/deseret-voices-episode-37-the-real-cost-of-losing-the-great-salt-lake/

On this episode of "Deseret Voices," McKay Coppins, author of the viral Atlantic article "Sucker: My Year as a Degenerate Gambler,” sits down with Paul Lambert of BYU's Wheatley Institute to discuss President D. Todd Christofferson's landmark talk at general conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, condemning gambling in all its forms.

They unpack new survey data showing that 55% of American adults now gamble at least monthly and that 1 in 8 gamble every day. They explore why mobile sports betting has exploded from $5 billion to $160 billion in annual wagers since the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling, why prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket let people bet on wars and assassinations, and why the moral case against gambling has been missing from the national conversation — until now.

“Deseret Voices” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time. 

“Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. 

Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews), Instagram (@deseretnews), Facebook (@deseretnews) and X (@deseret).

In a political climate driven by tribalism and culture wars, how can citizens move toward peacemaking and common ground? On this episode of "Deseret Voices," host McKay Coppins sits down with former federal judge Thomas B. Griffith for a thought-provoking conversation on civic duty, constitutional values and religious liberty.

Drawing from President Dallin H. Oaks’ landmark address at the National Cathedral and Elder Rob Daines’ insights on "building the other house," Griffith offers a compelling vision for how people of faith can act as bridge-builders rather than culture warriors.

Key topics covered in this episode:

The Core Purpose of the U.S. Constitution: Why the Constitution is designed to compel citizens to sit down, listen, and find common ground when they disagree.

Reframing the "Utah Compromise": Addressing criticisms of the landmark LGBTQ+ housing and employment protections, and what the negotiation process teaches us about small-group dynamics.

Christian Constitutionalism vs. Culture Wars: Why peacemaking is an active civic duty and a moral imperative for people of faith.

Religious Liberty in a Secular Age: Insights from Elder Rob Daines and Elder Quentin L. Cook on using religious freedom to serve and bless the broader community.

From Refugees to Bridge-Builders: Re-examining Latter-day Saint history and how local ward structures foster community-building across political and social divides.

Whether you are seeking clarity on legal institutions, religious freedom, or practical steps toward civic renewal, this conversation provides an inspiring roadmap for pluralistic governance and peacemaking.

“Deseret Voices” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time. 

“Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. 

Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews), Instagram (@deseretnews), Facebook (@deseretnews) and X (@deseret).

Is artificial intelligence advancing so fast that our legal guardrails and democratic institutions are rendered obsolete? In this episode of  "Deseret Voices," host Jane Clayson Johnson sits down with Harvard Law School professor and former dean Martha Minow to analyze the dangerous gap between rapid AI development and the law. From hallucinated court cases to rogue AI agents and the "liar's dividend," Minow breaks down how unbridled technological power threatens human agency and why national leadership must step up before it’s too late.

“Deseret Voices” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time. 

“Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. 

Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews), Instagram (@deseretnews), Facebook (@deseretnews) and X (@deseret).

Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, called for the Senate Judiciary Committee to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden over their foreign business dealings and presidential family connections. On this bonus episode of "Deseret Voices,"he explains why he called a Russian oligarch's lavish wedding gift "corruption" and why he believes the same standard should apply to both parties.

After a ProPublica investigation revealed that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev bankrolled Trump Jr.'s wedding after-party on a private island in the Bahamas, Curtis sent a letter to Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley calling for a formal investigation. His concerns extend beyond the wedding to cryptocurrency ventures, international real estate deals, defense contracting investments and prediction market platforms.

Host Jane Clayson Johnson asks Curtis what crossed the line, why he included Hunter Biden, whether he sees a national security risk and what happens if his own party declines to act.

“Deseret Voices” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time. 

“Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. 

Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews), Instagram (@deseretnews), Facebook (@deseretnews) and X (@deseret).

On Sept. 11, 2001, Carol Lin was the first national news anchor to break the story of the attacks on CNN — while Jane Clayson Johnson was hosting the CBS morning show when the towers were struck. Twenty-five years later, these two women sit down for the first time to share what they saw, what they felt, and what they never said on air.

In this 9/11 25th anniversary conversation, you’ll hear the behind-the-scenes reality of anchoring live television during the worst terrorist attack in American history — from the unconfirmed reports flooding their earpieces (car bomb at the State Department, 10,000 body bags) to veteran correspondents weeping on camera at Ground Zero. Carol and Jane recall the persistent smell that hung over Lower Manhattan for weeks, the families desperately searching for loved ones, the first responders who ran into the burning towers with astonishing calm, and the moment Carol realized 9/11 had changed her life in the most unexpected way — it made her want to become a mother.

This is more than a Sept. 11 memorial. It’s an intimate look at how two women carried the weight of history, what it cost them, and why they still believe in America’s capacity for unity 25 years later.

When Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson opened a letter from the Department of Justice, she discovered something alarming: Her office was under federal investigation for refusing to surrender unredacted voter rolls. In this exclusive sit-down on the “Deseret Voices” podcast with McKay Coppins, Henderson exposes the escalating standoff between state sovereignty and federal overreach.

Viewers will learn how Utah’s election officials are resisting demands for sensitive voter data — including Social Security numbers and driver’s license data — and why federalizing voter lists threatens the constitutional balance of powers. Henderson breaks down the reality of mail-in voting security, the withdrawal of federal intelligence support, and why decentralization remains America’s strongest defense against election manipulation.

If you value independent, unvarnished reporting on politics, law, and constitutionality, hit the subscribe button to stay informed on the stories shaping American democracy.

Deseret Voices is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the Deseret Voices podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time. 

Deseret Voices is a Deseret News podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. 

Episodes of Deseret Voices drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews), Instagram (@deseretnews), Facebook (@deseretnews) and X (@deseret).

Governor Wes Moore reveals what Republican governors are privately telling him about federal election interference—and why he says the Iran war is becoming another Afghanistan. In this episode of "Deseret Voices"  with McKay Coppins, the NGA chair and combat veteran opens up about his genuine friendship with Utah Governor Spencer Cox, what Democrats fundamentally misunderstand about Trump voters, and why 70% of Americans feel invisible to both parties.

Viewers will learn:

What Moore would do if federal agents appear at Maryland polling places

Why Republican and Democratic governors are uniting around states' rights before the 2026 midterms

Moore's Afghanistan fury and why he says no one can explain the Iran mission

The surprising Spencer Cox quote about Moore's political future

How Moore went from handcuffs at age 11 to the governor's mansion

His case for national redistricting reform—even if it costs Democrats seats

What "Watende" means and why it shapes his approach to political repair

This interview covers the 2026 midterm elections, the Iran war, bipartisan governance, immigration reform, election integrity, and what's broken in American political culture—from someone who's both a combat veteran and a sitting governor.

AOC says "Woke 1 was crazy" — but is laughing off an era of defunding the police, prison abolition and ideological conformity actually enough? On this episode of "Deseret Voices," McKay Coppins sits down with The Atlantic's Idrees Kahloon to ask why Democrats can't simply wash their hands of Woke 1.0 and what the party's chaotic 2026 primaries reveal about its identity crisis heading into 2028.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

Why Republicans will never let Democrats "slink away" from woke-era positions

How DSA candidates in 2026 still endorse prison abolition and resist prosecuting violent crime

What the horseshoe between far-left and far-right ideas on race actually looked like

Why wokeness, despite its Marxist roots, had almost no class consciousness — and how that pushed working-class voters rightward

How Zohran Mamdani pulled off a genuine political reinvention while others couldn't

The "law of excluded middle" — why genuine liberalism is being crushed between wokeness and the MAGA backlash

Whether Trump will hold the GOP together or become the Lyndon Johnson of 2028

Why the moral gains that preceded wokeness are now at risk in the backlash era

“Deseret Voices” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time. 

“Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. 

Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews), Instagram (@deseretnews), Facebook (@deseretnews) and X (@deseret).

The United States and Canada share the longest undefended border in the world, deeply integrated supply chains — and a free-trade agreement that President Donald Trump negotiated himself during his first term and called a great deal. Now, these longtime allies are locked in an escalating trade war, with 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods and Canada retaliating dollar for dollar.

Mary Ng served as Canada's minister of international trade from 2018 to 2025. She spent years in the room where U.S.-Canada trade deals were made. In this episode of "Deseret Voices," she sits down with Jane Clayson Johnson to answer the questions Americans and Canadians are asking right now.

In this conversation:

Why Canada says these tariffs violate the USMCA — the very agreement Trump signed

Who really pays when a 50% tariff is imposed on a Canadian product (hint: it's not Canada)

How U.S.-Canada supply chains are so integrated that punishing one side hurts the other

The energy leverage most Americans don't know about — Canada supplies up to 90% of US natural gas, up to 70% of American oil, and up to 80% of US electricity

What the "elbows up" buy-Canadian movement tells us about where Canadian public sentiment is heading

The dairy trade dispute — and the fact that the U.S. has never used its full market allocation

Whether this trade war could last months or even years, and who blinks first

A Depression-era law, Section 338, being invoked for the first time in nearly 100 years

The story of Gander, Newfoundland — the tiny Canadian town that welcomed thousands of stranded Americans on Sept. 11, 2001 — and what it says about the relationship these two countries are putting at risk

This is not a conversation about winners and losers. It is a conversation about what happens when neighbors stop trusting each other — and what it will take to find a path forward.

“Deseret Voices” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time. 

“Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. 

Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews), Instagram (@deseretnews), Facebook (@deseretnews) and X (@deseret).