Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon
Pres. Biden speaks on antisemitism amidst a rise in violence
Today, President Biden addressed the American people about the recent rise in antisemitism surrounding the war between Israel and Hamas. Protests have erupted on college campuses and in public areas around the world advocating for the U.S. to fully divest from any funding of Israel in this conflict. KSL at Night hosts Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon share their thoughts on the President’s speech.
Report shows high turnover of election officials in the country
A recent report shows only a small number of election officials will be returning to polls to help with elections again this year. Being an election official for long enough means you will likely deal with harassment and long hours, but it is one of the most crucial positions upholding the integrity of our democracy. The KSL at Night hosts talk about this new national report.
Audit reveals safety and security of Utah elections
Sticking with elections, KSL at Night hosts invite Ryan Cowley, Utah State Director of Elections, on the show to talk about a recent audit of Utah elections. How much do you know about what actually happens between filling out your ballot to swearing in an elected official? Listen no further than KSL at Night to get your election questions answered.
TikTok sues the U.S. government over bill requiring divestiture
Social media platforms have been in a very precarious place lately, but one platform has gotten extra scrutiny from U.S. politicians: TikTok. TikTok and their parent company, ByteDance, have now sued the U.S. government over the bill requiring divestiture. Greg Skordas, KSL Legal Analyst, joins Rusty and Leah to talk about the interests on both sides of this lawsuit and what the implications could be for the American public when it’s decided.
Rep. Pierucci gives the lowdown on the Utah Fits All scholarship
Passed last year during the 2023 General Legislative Session, HB215 created the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program. This program gives money to parents annually through a savings account that they’re able to spend on their child’s learning. The bill’s House sponsor, State Representative Candice Pierucci, joins Rusty and Leah to discuss the implementation of the program and its impact more than one year after passing.
Part 1: Bi-partisanship in the news
Do we intentionally elect leaders who don’t work well across the aisle? For this segment, the KSL at Night hosts bring in examples of bi-partisanship that have become increasingly rare today. An example is from our own Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who had high praise for his colleague Senator Kyrsten Sinema, crediting her with bringing people together from both parties to pass legislation.
Part 2: Bi-partisanship in the news
We’ve all heard the political sentiment that, in general, urban areas tend to skew liberal and rural areas skew conservative. Where does that leave suburban or semi-rural areas, and how can politicians appeal to them? Can politicians make appeals to both sides of the aisle while still appearing genuine? Ted Cruz thinks so, and he’s making waves with his campaign’s recent attempts to appeal to Democratic voters.
People driving their cars longer and longer due to costs of replacing
How many miles do you have on your car? According to a recent study, an increasing number of Americans are part of the 200k club, meaning they have more than 200,000 miles on their car. Are car owners holding on longer for sentimental reasons? Or are there financial reasons to keep your high-mileage vehicle? For the final segment of tonight’s show, Leah and Rusty talk about this study and their personal experiences living in a commuter economy.
