Inside Utah Politics with Lindsay Aerts

The groups behind some of Utah's most high profile legal topics argued before the Supreme Court this week, but not on the merits. Instead of discussing Utah's abortion trigger law, the drying Great Salt Lake, or the state's new congressional districts, they were debating what court will get to hear those cases. The plaintiff's say the new 3-judge panel that lawmakers made to hear constitutional claims earlier this year is itself unconstitutional. Lawyer David Reymann joins Linday to unpack the arguments he made before the high court. Plus, Steve Waldrip, the Governor Cox's top housing advisor, addresses the tension between the state and local leaders on this issue.

A new report highlights some of the groups supporting campaigns for moderate Republicans across the state at all levels of government. Panelists Erin Rider and Adam Gardiner join Lindsay to give a peak behind the curtain. Plus. the Davis County GOP will not fill former Rep. Trevor Lee's vacant seat before the midterm elections on November 3rd. But should they?

Three separate lawsuits referred to a newly established Constitutional Court are fighting the move in front of the Utah Supreme Court. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan join Lindsay to dig into the issues at play. Plus, Trump and Vance are campaigning in Nebraska. What does that mean for the GOP's midterm fortunes? And, the intersection of faith and politics comes to the fore at General Conference with a direct condemnation of prediction markets and gambling among members of Utah's largest faith.

With a month to go until election day, ABC4 has you covered with analysis and coverage of high stakes races here in Utah and across the country. Our team of panelists joins Chief Political Correspondent and host of Inside Utah Politics Lindsay Aerts is identifying and breaking down the elections that could decide the makeup of Congress and the future of President Donald Trump's agenda. Here in Utah, we're tracking key ballot items and legislative races that could change the makeup of both chambers of the Utah legislature, and even the state constitution. Taylor Morgan, Leah Murray and Adam Gardiner share their insights from years of working in politics, on and off Capitol Hill. It's just the first look at what you can expect from the polls and from ABC4 on election night November 3.

The Senate has advance Sen. Ted Cruz's Protect College Sports Act. The bill faces an uncertain fate in the house, but it has a powerful backer: President Donald Trump. He and other top Republicans would like to see the bill signed before midterm elections, but house members are spending some critical time back home in their districts campaigning. While the proposal hangs in limbo, our panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan debate the pros and cons of what the bill could do to the teams Utahns cheer for. Plus, Utah has just one third party lawmaker on Capitol Hill, but state Republicans are keen to see that change. Republican Brooks Benson is the only candidate challenging Sen. Emily Buss of the Forward Party in Senate District 11 after the Democrat in the race dropped out. We speak to him about why he believes voters from western Salt Lake County, Tooele and northern Utah County should send a Republican to the legislature this fall.

A September surprise for an outgoing state lawmaker. Representative Trevor Lee is facing felony fraud charges in what investigators are calling a case of signature forgery and falsified mortgage info to get a million dollar home. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan join LIndsay to discuss the news that has rocked Utah politics and to dig into what such a scandal means for our politics. Plus, the Senate has pushed forward a plan to reform name, image and likeness rules in college sports. President Trump and bill sponsor Ted Cruz have called on lawmakers to pass it as soon as possible, but the House says its members need to be home campaigning for the all important midterm elections.

Utah Senator John Curtis is calling on the Senate to take a hard look at both Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden, amid reporting that a Russian oligarch helped fund the afterparty for the former's wedding. We take you inside his meeting with Utah political reporters, including Lindsay Aerts, to explain his decision. Plus, Marine veteran Jonny Larsen is brining a challenge to Congressman Mike Kennedy in the new CD-4. Why he believes the new map could give democrats a new opportunity.

A Utah postal worker has been indicted For allegedly dumping hundreds of ballots in a dumpster in Eagle Mountain. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Erin Rider weigh in on whether there is a larger issue with the USPS and election materials. Plus, new polling reveals Utahns’ feelings on more data centers, the media outlets that President Trump banned from the White House get a court ruling, and Sen. John Curtis defends his decision to call for a probe into two presidential sons.

Utah Senator John Curtis is calling on the Senate to take a hard look at both Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden, amid reporting that a Russian oligarch helped fund the afterparty for the former's wedding. Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan join Lindsay to dig into the politics of these investigations, and whether Congress is the right venue in the first place. Plus, new polling shows a seismic shift in approval rating for both President Donald Trump and Utah Governor Spencer Cox. We dig into the issues that could be driving that swing. Is it data center backlash, or is it the economy, stupid?

Utah's top elections officer has been feeling the heat from the federal government. This month, Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson's office received a letter saying the Department of Justice is investigating her for non-compliance with federal requests for sensitive voter info. Henderson has maintained that states have ultimate authority on running their election systems, and that thee federal requests could cross a line. She joins Lindsay to discuss the issue and dig into the litigation on mail-in voting that has made it's way to the Supreme Court. Plus, a Delta data center project may have found a technological solution to a hot button political issue. Creekstone Energy is working to scale up new technology that could allow them to produce all the water the data center needs from the combustion of their power sources.