Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz; Maura Carabello, Exoro Group

Tax Cuts & Budget Cuts

Utah lawmakers advanced SB60, the proposed cut would reduce tax rates from 4.5% to 4.45%

Opponents argue that the reduction could be better allocated amid a projected $300 million revenue loss

Utah Majority

Family-focused legislation

The House Majority Caucus has made cost-of-living and strong families a priority for this session

Utah Gas Prices

Currently, Utah has a $0.385 tax rate per gallon for motor fuel sold at gas pumps in the state, but has an exemption for fuel exported out of state.

A draft bill is still in the works that would reassess the state’s gas tax structure

Refineries produce up to 220,000 barrels a day, but about 75,000 of those are shipped out of state to meet demand elsewhere in the West, pushing our prices higher here at home.

As of late January 2026, Utah's average gas prices for regular unleaded are around $2.68 per gallon 

Idaho Legislature is fighting Mad over Utah Legislations

Idaho House speaker calls Utah House Speaker's plan “Bull manure”, and Speaker Schultz had some choice words in return https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/HJM012.pdf

Sentencing Commission

The Speaker is sponsoring HB 274 to reconfigure the sentencing commission.

HB274, sponsored by House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, would change the makeup of the Utah Sentencing Commission by removing all defense lawyers from the commission and replacing them with more members from law enforcement. The Bar said it “strongly” opposes the bill because it “politicizes” the commission by restructuring it in a way that “favors law enforcement and partisan viewpoints.” https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0274.html

Utah won a $30 million bid for US Magnesium’s land, water rights, and mining agreements on Tuesday as part of a wider strategy to refill the shrinking Great Salt Lake

Utah purchased US Magnesium’s land, water rights, and mining agreements for $30 million to help

US Magnesium filed for bankruptcy in 2025, halting magnesium production.

Gov. Spencer Cox and Department of Natural Resources Director Joel Ferry say the move is critical for long-term lake health and air quality

Where is Utah’s Appeal to the Supreme Court on Redistricting?

Signature-gathering status: Will they need a miracle to get to the magic number by Feb. 14?

When it comes to redistricting, most Utah voters do not believe the state legislature should be solely responsible for the district boundaries because it favors the party in power

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group; Nic Dunn, Sutherland Institute

Governor Spencer Cox — State of the State

Polling: Deseret News / Hinckley Institute

• One-third of Utah voters say affordable housing should be the Legislature’s top priority.
• Housing ranked twice as high as any other issue across all partisan and age groups.
• Utah Legislature's approval rating sits at 47% overall

Possible ICE Detention Center in Salt Lake County

• West-side Salt Lake City warehouse rumored as potential site
• Local city and county leaders appeared caught off guard, despite ICE’s two-year search for detention space statewide

Legislative Session Updates

• Utah Senate votes to expand the Utah Supreme Court from five to seven justices
• Sen. Nate Blouin’s ICE opt-out bill declared dead on arrival, killed in committee
• Bills to watch heading into Friday’s legislative deadline

BLM Approves Updated Northern Corridor Highway Plan

• Federal approval clears the way after years of debate and environmental review

Senator Mike Lee's Social Media Post Makes Headlines

• Reaction and political fallout discussed

Prop. 4 Repeal Effort

• Scott Presler returns to Utah for a second weekend of signature gathering to repeal Proposition 4

Coming Up Next Week

• Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz joins Take 2 Podcast

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Take 2 Podcast 1/19/26

Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: State Sen. Jen Plumb, MD, State Rep. Ryan Wilcox

• MLK Day of Service highlights as the Utah legislative session begins
• Lawmakers kick off the session with a blood drive
• Minnesota facing growing tension amid an ICE surge
• Sen. Nate Blouin introduces a bill to block ICE from entering churches and hospitals and to ban agents from wearing masks
• Utah ICE detention center has been in planning for nearly two years, dating back to the Biden administration
• Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” and tightening budgets loom over legislative sessions across the West, reporting from Brigham Tomco
• Utah State School Board asked to cut $300 million, about 5% of its budget
• Bill filed to expand Utah Supreme Court justices from five to seven
• U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on state bans of transgender athletes in girls’ sports
• Conservative organizer Scott Presler in Utah gathering signatures to repeal Proposition 4

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Take 2 Podcast — Friday, Jan. 9, 2026

Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group; John Dougall, Former State Auditor

Happy New Year and America’s 250th anniversary year.

8 people shot, 2 killed outside LDS church in Salt Lake City neighborhood

Nationwide protests after fatal ICE agent shooting in Minneapolis

Newly elected municipal leaders sworn in

Utah Political Updates

Filing deadlines and races

• The filing deadline has come and gone.
• Rob Bishop is running for a seat after Utah Rep. Matthew Gwynn announced he will not seek re-election.
• Former Provo Mayor Kaufusi is running for county commission.
• GOP Rep. Trevor Lee faces a challenge from Davis County Commissioner Bob Stevenson in House District 16.
• Three Republican candidates have filed to challenge Utah Senate President Stuart Adams in Senate District 7.
• Sen. Dan McCay announced his re-election bid while Rep. Doug Fiefia filed to challenge him.
• Sen. Nate Blouin is running for Congress. Four Democrats have filed: Richard T. Whitney, Silvia Caten, Evan Done and Taylor J. Paden, with Colin Smith also in the mix.
• County clerk challenge in Utah County: incumbent Aaron Davidson vs. newcomer Corey Astille.

Legal & Legislative

• The Utah Legislature filed a notice to appeal Utah’s redistricting case with the Utah Supreme Court, seeking to keep the old maps in place.
• Congressional filing deadline is March. Another Democrat joined the congressional race, bringing the total to 10 listed on Ballotpedia, with Liban Mohamed as number 10.
• A state school board member announced she won’t seek re-election, citing what she called a “corrupt” system.
• GOP priorities for the legislative session include a bill to ban cell phone use in schools from bell to bell.

National & International

• ICE fatal shooting in Minnesota has led to nationwide protests, including in Salt Lake City.
• Nicolas Maduro captured (mention/source not verified in these notes — check if needed).
• Iran protests and internet shutdown.
• Trump administration weighing payments to Greenlanders to encourage closer ties with the U.S.
• Trump said his global power was limited only by his ‘own morality.’

New York Times interview: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/briefing/trump-interview-oval-office-apple-ceo.html?smid=url-share

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HOST: Heidi Hatch

GUESTS: Maura Carabello Exoro Group, Rep Ryan Wilcox

Prop 4 is moving closer to the ballot as organizers report tens of thousands of signatures submitted to county clerks, even as another major policy fight begins to take shape. A newly filed effort to challenge Salt Lake County’s tax increase is now racing against a tight signature-gathering deadline, adding urgency to an already crowded political landscape. At the same time, unresolved court questions surrounding Prop 4 are keeping key decisions in limbo.

Did you catch the Variety White House Expose?

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1?srsltid=AfmBOopKq4pM-ka2qo47Cc-_KgQd8ZemDcDLj8JIfkSPGgD6Yg2yglP7

Salt Lake County Tax Referendum

Goud Maragani and others applied for the referendum on Monday, which if approved by clerk's office, gives them a chance to put the increase on next year's ballot.

They would need to get about 45,000 handwritten signatures in 45 days. They are using volunteers.

Prop 4 Signature Gathering

Rob Axson Utah GOP Chair reports an estimated 75k valid signatures gathered – first signatures turned in a week ago to county clerks.

Few Hundred paid gatherers- majority local Utah hires

Latest on Prop 4 Case appeal

In new court filings, the legislature is asking Third District Judge Dianna Gibson to issue a final judgment in the case so they can appeal it to the Utah Supreme Court, which the plaintiffs and Gibson say she can’t do yet because of unresolved claims.

3 Governors Take the Stage together

3 Utah governors say the country ‘desperately needs more of Utah’ ... in the White House?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/3-utah-governors-country-desperately-030000599.html

Bridger Bolinder

A leader in Utah’s House Republican caucus says he will not seek reelection next year, citing other commitments and responsibilities that require his attention.

House Majority Assistant Whip Bridger Bolinder, R-Grantsville, announced the decision this week. Bolinder was elected by his House colleagues to a leadership role over the summer, becoming one of the newest GOP leaders on Capitol Hill.

“Serving in the Utah House of Representatives has truly been the honor of a lifetime,” Bolinder said in a post on Instagram. “Representing the people of Tooele, Juab and Millard counties has meant more to me than I can put into words.”

Political and Religious Violence

Brown University Shooting/MIT Professor Shooting – person of interest found dead Salem New Hampshire

2 Students killed, 9 critically injured

MIT professor shot and killed at home

Bondi Beach Shooting

On Dec. 14, a mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach killed 15 people, including a child, and injured dozens. Australian authorities said two gunmen linked to the Islamic State opened fire on a crowd of about 1,000 people, with police killing one suspect and arresting the other, who was critically injured. Police later removed two homemade bombs from a car connected to the attackers.

Trump Gave himself a year in review in primetime address.

Border closed

Peaced Deal Gaza/Israel

Economy is awesome (Many would debate this)

Utah Year in Review Charlie Kirk shooting and Utah Congressional Maps biggest stories of the year

New Year New Documentary: Melania 

Exclusively in theaters Jan 30

https://x.com/MELANIATRUMP/status/2001266577077837917?s=20

“Hi, Mr. President, congratulations,” Melania Trump says on the phone, speaking from a golden bathroom in the first trailer for “Melania,” Amazon MGM Studio‘s upcoming documentary about the First Lady.

“Did you watch it?” Donald Trump asks on the other end of the call.

“I did not, I will see it on the news,” she replies.

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group; Nic Dunn, VP of Strategy, Sutherland Institute

Salt Lake County Approves Property Tax Increase

The Salt Lake County Council voted Tuesday night to approve a property tax increase of around 14%, lower than the originally proposed increase of nearly 20%.

Special Session: Gov. Cox Signs 3 Bills

• Repeals the new law that stripped power from public labor unions
• Changes the filing deadlines for Utah’s 2026 congressional races
• Clarifies the exclusive and original appellate jurisdiction of the Utah Supreme Court

Legislative Audits: District Attorney, Police and Criminal Justice System

• Salt Lake County District Attorney Audit
• Salt Lake City Police Department Audit

Welfare Reform

• Nic Dunn returns from meetings in Washington, D.C.
• Work disincentives built into the current system
• Utah as a national leader due to:

Health Care: Dueling Senate Bills Fail

As the deadline approaches for expiring enhanced ACA subsidies, the Senate rejected:

University of Utah Athletics: Private Equity Deal

• University of Utah unveils plan for a private equity partnership
• Otro Capital would become a minority owner in Utah Brands & Entertainment
• NCAA President warns schools to use caution with new forms of athletic equity financing

Public Lands Group Files Lawsuit Over New National Parks Pass Featuring Former President Donald Trump

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Utah GOP has raised over $4 million to repeal Proposition 4. The money is being donated by 501(c)(4) out of MA

Signatures gathered- Rob Axson Utah GOP Chair reports healthy pace (tens of thousands) and growing momentum. None turned in yet.

           Utah GOP filed for a stay, no ruling yet

Sutherland Institute Survey: Utah voters think elected officials, not judges, should choose congressional maps

https://sutherlandinstitute.org/utah-redisticting-survey/

Do voters agree or disagree with the court-driven process produced by proponents of Proposition 4? Sutherland Institute recently commissioned Y2 Analytics to conduct a survey of Utah voters to investigate this question.

By a 63-point margin, Utah voters believe that the policymakers they elect should be making redistricting decisions over judges. A full 71% of Utah voters say that an elected body or elected official at the state or county levels ought to have primary responsibility to decide congressional maps, compared to 8% who say judges should be primarily responsible. A plurality of Utah voters say that a body elected by the people (e.g., the Utah Legislature or county council) should be making redistricting decisions, while 21% of voters say it should be a state-level elected official (e.g., the governor), and 15% say it should be a county-level elected official (e,g., a county mayor).

5 Democratic Candidates in the D1 2025 Race

• State Sen. Nate Blouin announced his candidacy Nov. 24- now backed by Bernie
• Newcomer Luis Villarreal entered the race
• 1st in Sen. Kathleen Riebe
• Former congressman Ben McAdams
• Former state Sen. Derek Kitchen.

REP. VERONA MAUGA looking to pass gun law change in upcoming session after shooting of Afa Ah Loo at No Kings Protest

• Drafting bill to keep long guns off the streets during protests
• Manslaughter charges filed this week against the “peace keeper”

Cox proposes $30.7B budget with funding for homeless campus, child tax credits

• Gov. Spencer Cox proposes a $30.7 billion budget prioritizing literacy, a homeless campus and child tax credits.
• The budget includes $20 million for reading support and $25 million for a homeless campus in Salt Lake City.
• Cox's proposal also allocates funds for school safety, technical colleges and outdoor recreation.
• fund a literacy public awareness campaign and invest tens of millions in "paraprofessionals" to help teachers give an extra hand to young students who are falling behind. That would include $20 million for reading support in elementary schools that fall below the statewide proficiency benchmark of 70% of third graders reading at grade level.
•  

How the Trump administration could make or break Utah Gov. Cox’s budget priorities

• Trump tax bill leads to projected $300 million decrease in state income tax revenue.
• Gov. Cox prioritizes $25 million in budget to finish construction of homeless campus.
• Cox not proposing income tax cuts like the ones he supported for five years in a row.

https://governor.utah.gov/press/gov-cox-releases-fy-2027-budget-proposal-focused-on-responsible-fiscal-management-strong-families-and-long-term-prosperity/

Rep. Blake Moore joins Pres. Trump to celebrate Michael and Susan Dell’s $6.25B investment in Trump Accounts

Congressman Blake Moore joined President Trump at the White House to celebrate Michael and Susan Dell’s monumental $6.25 billion investment in Trump Accounts for children. Congressman Moore introduced legislation in the House to establish these investment accounts, which was passed and signed into law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4th, 2025.

U.S. pauses immigration applications from 19 countries after two National Guard members shot in DC

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Heidi Hatch | Maura Carabello, Exoro Group | Curt Bramble, former state senator

• Speaker Mike Schultz on redistricting ruling

Says Judge Gibson’s late decision blocked any chance for an emergency appeal; calls timing “wrong” and says it cut the Legislature out of the court process.

• Rep. Burgess Owens letter

Accuses judge of overstepping and “imposing an outcome never chosen by the people.”

• Redistricting history with Curt Bramble

Utah missed a fourth seat by 856 people after the 2000 Census; Bramble helped draw the first four-district map.

• New map creates a safe blue district

Republicans now competing for three GOP seats; questions around whether 74-year-old Owens will retire.

• Candidates for Utah’s new Democratic district

Derek Kitchen joins Ben McAdams and Kathleen Riebe.

Others considering: Caroline Gleich, Kael Weston, Nate Blouin.

• Trump backs release of Epstein files

Bill requires AG to release unclassified DOJ records within 30 days, including names of officials and entities tied to Epstein.

• Utah birthrate continues to fall

Most counties still above replacement level, but two-thirds saw declines; shifts peak childbearing to ages 25–29.

• Juvenile aggravated murder bill

Would allow judges to send offenders convicted as adults directly to prison instead of secure care.

• Brigham City nuclear project

$750M investment under Gov. Cox’s “Operation Gigawatt,” creating Utah’s first full-scale nuclear ecosystem.

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KUTV TAKE 2 PODCAST Nov 14, 2025

Late-Night Ruling, Utah’s New Blue District, and the End of the Shutdown

Guests: Rob Axson, Utah GOP Chair | Rep. Doug Owens

• New Maps: Judge Gibson throws out Map C and approves Map 1 — minutes before the deadline.
• Blue District: New 1st District leans D+14, putting a GOP-held seat in play.
• Appeal Uncertain: Cox supports appealing, but none filed yet.
• Prop 4 Fight: GOP ballot initiative to repeal the independent redistricting law underway UFRG.org
• Who Draws the Lines? Debate over legislative authority vs. judicial oversight.
• Democrats Jump In: McAdams running; Riebe challenging; Blouin a possible contender.
• Impeachment Talk: Rep. MacPherson drafting a bill to impeach the judge.
• Shutdown Ends: Trump signs funding bill; agencies reopen; ACA tax credits could spark the next battle.

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Take 2 Podcast – Friday, Nov. 7 | 2:30 p.m.

Heidi Hatch with South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey & Exoro Group’s Maura Carabello

Utah Primaries

• Turnout: 30% statewide (Piute 63%, Salt Lake 23%)
• Tight mayoral races across the Wasatch Front
• Utah County incumbents trailing Provo Mayor concedes
• Cottonwood Heights: Mike Weichers concedes to Gay Lynn Bennion (57%-42%)
• Salt Lake City Council unchanged
• Southern Utah new Mayors

Government Shutdown

• FAA cutting flights 10%, Salt Lake Intl. among 40 airports hit
• Judge orders Trump to fund SNAP; Utah missed first payments Nov. 6
• Utah Senate Democrats push to cover SNAP benefits

Politics & Redistricting

• Utah’s new congressional map expected next week
• Ben McAdams likely to announce run after approval
• Utah GOP holding hearings on redistricting repeal (Nov. 3 & 10)

Davis County Taxes

• Property tax hike trimmed from 30% to 15%

Salt Lake County Council

• GOP members vote to cut childcare at rec centers and senior center to cut budget

 National Election 2025

• Democrats sweep key races in NY, VA, NJ
• Moderates win VA & NJ governorships
• Socialist Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayor race over Andrew Cuomo
• California voters approve Prop 50, allowing new redistricting
• Young voters, women key blocks heading into 2026 midterms

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