The Hinckley Report

Welcome to Season 10 of Utah's favorite political podcast! In this powerful premiere episode, host Jason Perry is joined by political experts Doug Wilks, Leah Murray, and Max Roth to break down the biggest political stories shaping Utah and the nation.

TOPICS COVERED:

• ⚖️ Utah Redistricting Lawsuit: What a historic court ruling means for congressional maps and voter representation.
• Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”: Tax cuts, rescissions, and the impact on Utah families and public broadcasting.
• ️ Mail-In Ballots Controversy: Utah’s response to national criticism and why local leaders defend vote-by-mail.
• House Bill 267 & Public Employee Rights: Firefighters, teachers, and police push back—will the legislature respond?
• Utah Olympics 2034: A global vision for the next Winter Games.
• ️ Ranked-Choice Voting: Is Utah abandoning a tool for reducing political polarization?

️ INSIGHTFUL COMMENTARY FROM:

• Doug Wilks – Executive Editor, Deseret News
• Leah Murray – Director, Olene Walker Institute at Weber State
• Max Roth – Anchor, Fox 13 News

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by The Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

A Utah judge has ruled that Utah's controversial school chioce program violates two sections of the state constitution. This case revolved around the "Utah Fits All Scholarship", which uses public funding to help Utah families pay for private schools and homeschooling programs. Our expert panel discusses the ruling, and what this means for the voucher program moving forward.

Organizers of a referendum effort in Utah are inching closer to qualifying for the ballot. As of Friday, county clerks have certified the minimum number of required signatures in 11 of Utah's 29 senate districts. State law requires referendum backers to collect signatures equaling 8% of registered voters in 15 of the 29 districts.

Plus, Utah's political parties will all hold leadership elections in the coming days and weeks. For the Democrats, former Utah Rep. Brian King wants to become chair. Meanwhile, current Republican Chair Rob Axson is facing a challenge from Phil Lyman, a well-known name in GOP circles. We discuss what changes in party leadership could mean for politics overall in the Beehive State.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Jay Evensen, opinion editor at the Deseret News — Rep. Jennifer Daily-Provost, a Democrat from Salt Lake City and House Minority Whip — and Sen. Mike McKell, a Republican from Spanish Fork and Senate Majority Assistant Whip.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

Organizers of a ballot referendum to overturn HB267 submitted their final batches of signatures this week. State law requires about 140,000 signatures, but supporters more than doubled that total with more than 330,000. Now county clerks across the state will work to verify the signatures and determine if they meet the minimum thresholds in 15 of Utah's 29 senate districts. Groups who are opposed to the proposal also have 45 days to convince signers to remove their signatures from the referendum petition. This all revolves around a bill passed by the legislature earlier this year that bans public employee unions from collective bargaining.

New polling is out about how Utahns feel about the state legislature and Gov. Spencer Cox. Are their views shifting at all? Our expert panel examines the results and explores how recent headlines may be impacting public opinion.

Plus, this week Utah was named the state with the best economic outlook for the 18th year in a row according to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Legislative leaders adn Gov. Cox welcomed the news, but acknowledged the reality that Pres. Donald Trump's tariff agenda could lead to an economic slowdown. We discuss how the state is preparing for that scenario, and how public perception of the economy is faring.

Plus, Utah had some big-name political visitors this week. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) brought their "Fight Oligarchy Tour" to Salt Lake City on Sunday. An estimated 20,000 people came out to hear the pair speak. We examine what the big crows potentially says about politics in the Beehive State, and why two well-known progressives went out of their way to visit a deep red state like Utah.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Holly Richardson, editor of Utah Policy — Daniel Woodruff, reporter with KSL 5 News — and Ben Winslow, reporter with Fox 13 News.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

Three members of Pres. Donald Trump's cabinet visited the Beehive State this week. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and EPA Director Lee Zeldin met with state lawmakers and members of the state's congressional delegation. Our expert panel discusses why the three federal leaders have high praise for Utah.

Kennedy specifically praised a bill recently passed by the Utah legislature that bans fluoride from water systems in the state. The move aligns with Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" initiatives.

Utah leaders are also weighing in on Pres. Trump's latest round of tariffs. The fear is whether or not economic uncertainty over the executive orders will push the country toward a recession. We evaluate how Utah is being impacted, and what Gov. Spencer Cox is doing to shore up the state's economy.

Union organizers in Utah have less than a week to gather signatures in their attempt to get a voter referendum on the state's ballot. The group "Protect Utah Workers" is made up of several labor unions in the state. They want Utah voters to decide whether or not to overturn HB 267 (Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan). That bill passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Cox prohibits public labor unions from collective bargaining.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Robert Spendlove, senior economist with Zions Bank — McKenzie Romero, editor-in-chief of Utah News Dispatch — and Chris Bleak, partner with RRJ Consulting.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

With the growth of artificial intelligence and more data centers being built in Utah, the state's electricity needs are expected to increase exponentially in the coming years. That growing demand has some politicians in the Beehive State worried that production won't be able to keep up. Governor Spencer Cox has proposed big changes through his "Operation Gigawatt". And the Utah State Legislature has responded by passing several bills in recent years that seek to shore up Utah's energy position.

Our expert panel discusses how the new laws impact our overall energy equation, and how innovation will play a role in the future.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Derek Miller, President & CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber — Natalie Gochnour, Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah — and State Sen. Scott Sandall, a Republican from Tremonton and Vice Chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

The deadline has passed for Governor Spencer Cox to sign legislation from the 2025 General Session. He ended up vetoing 7 bills this year, and allowed two more to become law without his signature. Our expert panel examines some of the thought processes that go into making these executive decisions.

Of the bills he vetoed, SB296 (sponsored by Sen. Chris Wilson, R-Logan) would have hanged the way the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court is appointed. Currently, the sitting justices choose amongs themselves who will be Chief. But this bill would have required the Governor to nominate a Chief Justice, and the Senate to approve that nomination every four years. Gov. Cox had concerns this could politicize the role. Legislative leaders are now frustrated, because the final version of this bill came about through negotiation with members of the judicial branch. Lawmakers could call themselves into special session to override the veto, but that would require a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate.

Utah statute allows bills to become law if the Governor doesn't sign them within 20 days after the end of the legislative session. The Governor utilized this tool by not signing two bills this year. One bans fluoride from being added to state water systems. The other specifies which flags can be flown at public buildings, effectively banning pride flags from classrooms and government property. In a letter to legislative leadership, the governor highlighted his concerns with both bills. We discuss why he likely opted not to veto these two pieces of legislation.

Plus, we remember the legacy of former Congresswoman Mia Love. The two-term represenative from Utah's 4th Congressional District passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2025 following a three-year battle with brain cancer.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Doug Wilks, executive editor of the Deseret News — Mara Carabellow, president of the Exoro Group — and Sean Higgins, politics reporter with KUER News.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has less than a week left so sign or veto bills from the 2025 General Legislative Session. This year lawmakers passed 582 proposals and resolutions, a number the governor believes is far too high. Cox says he may veto some of the measures, but there are others that he will still sign even though he isn't in 100% agreement with the legislation. Our expert panel discusses why the governor may, or may not, use his constitutional authority to override the legislature.

At the federal level, executive power is also in the limelight. This week, Pres. Donald Trump signed an executive order that directs the U.S. Dept. of Education to begin shutting down. Gov. Cox has been a vocal proponent of this move, saying that education should be under the perview of states. Opponents of this idea worry it will leave at-risk students without access to important funding. But the president insists key programs will still be administered by other federal agencies.

There is also growing friction between the executive branch and the federal judicial system. Pres. Donald Trump has suggested the federal judges who rule against his executive orders should face impeachment. This led U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Robers to issue a rare public statement, affirming the independence of the courts. We discuss what is playing out on the national stage, and how prominent Utahns are entering the discussion.

Across the country, members of Congress are facing angry constituents at town hall meetings. Frustrated citizens are showing up in large numbers, apparently upset about the actions of the Trump administration. That same dynamic played out in Salt Lake City where Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT2) and Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT3) held a town hall.

Plus, should federally-managed public lands be used to build affordable housing? It's an idea Utah Senator Mike Lee has pushed for years, and now there seems to be growing support within Pres. Trump's administration.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Heidi Hatch, anchor with KUTV 2News — Brigham Tomco, politics reporter with the Deseret News — and Marty Carpenter, partner with Northbound Strategy.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

The Utah Legislature passed 582 bills in the 2025 General Session, only nine shy of the record set last year. In response, Governor Spencer Cox is calling on lawmakers to decrease that number in the future. He believes too much legislation prevents Utahns from engaging in the process. Our expert panel discusses whether or not we're likely to see any changes next year.

We also explore the major themes of the session, including changes to higher education funding. Utah's public universities and colleges face a 10% budget cut unless they redirect funding to programs that are considered high demand.

Gov. Cox has 20 days to sign, veto, or allow bills to become law without his signature. He is getting pressure from groups to veto some legislation, including HB77. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Davis County), effectively bans pride flags from flying at schools and government buildings in the state. Organizers of the Sundance Film Festival are reportedly concerned about the message the bill sends to members of the LGBT+ community. This comes at a time when the festival is considering moving to another state, and on the hills of the legislature appropriating $3.5M in an effort to get the festival to stay in the Beehive State.

An effort to overturn Utah's new ban on collective bargaining for public employee unions is kicking off this weekend. A coalition of union organizers is attempting to get a referendum on the ballot to undo HB267. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-Salt Lake County), passed in the legislature with bipartisan opposition. Gov. Cox has already signed the legislation into law. In order to make it on the ballot, referendum organizers need to secure more than 140,000 signatures from around the state.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Rep. Hoang Nguyen, a Democrat from Salt Lake County and member of the PBS Utah Advisory Board — Rep. Jefferson Moss, a Republican from Utah County and House Majority Leader — and Max Roth, anchor with Fox 13 News.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

With the 2025 Utah Legislative Session coming to a close, our expert panel examines the common themes. From a battle between state vs. local control, to proposed reforms of Utah's judicial and electoral systems, it has been a busy 45 days on Capitol Hill.

A bill that impacts how the state's capital city manages its own streets is now on the way to Governor Cox's desk. SB195, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Harper (R-Salt Lake County), passed the legislature this week. An earlier version of the bill would have placed a moratorium on Salt Lake City implementing any traffic-calming measures. After pushback from the city and other groups, a modified version now gives UDOT veto power over plans that could potentially slow down traffic.

A coalition of public labor unions is launching a referendum to overturn the new law that prevents public employees from collective bargaining. Lawmakers passed HB267, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-Salt Lake County), earlier in the session and Gov. Spencer Cox signed it into law shortly thereafter. In order to qualify for the ballot, referendum organizers have to gather more than 140,000 signatures from around the state. If they reach that threshold, voters will have the final say on whether or not this law remains on the books. The bill faced bipartisan opposition in both the House and Senate, and was the subject of large public protests at the Capitol.

Another bill that also received bipartisan opposition would have created a new state agency to oversee large development projects that have statewide impact. SB337, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Cullimiore (R-Salt Lake County), would have established the Beehive Development Agency within Gov. Spencer Cox's administration. The agency would have had significant taxing authority to help raise funds for major development projects like nuclear power plants, large manufacturing facilities, and potentially even retail and residential projects. But critics worried the proposal usurped too much local control from cities and towns, and bill sponsors say it will not be moving forward this session. Our panel discusses whether it is likely to return in the future.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Ben Winslow, politics reporter with Fox 13 News — Lindsay Aerts, anchor with ABC4 News and host of Inside Utah Politics — and Jeff Parrott, Statewatch Editor for The Salt Lake Tribune.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

With just a week left in the 2025 Utah Legislative Session, lawmakers still have a lot of bills to debate and consider. Several deal with elections and ballots in the Beehive State.

HB563 is sponsored by House Speaker Mike Schultz and changes how ballot titles and analysis are written for proposed constitutional amendments. Currently, legislative leaders craft the language, but this bill would shift that responsibility to non-partisan lawyers who work for the legislature. The move follows a Utah Supreme Court opinion in Fall of 2024 that found the ballot language used on Amendment D was "inaccurate". Our expert panel discusses how this proposal actually puts back in place an old system.

Lawmakers are also debating changes to the state's vote-by-mail system. HB 300, sponsored by Rep. Jefferson Burton (R-Salem), would require Utah voters to opt-in to receive ballots in the mail. We examine the timeline it would take to implement, and why proponents say the bill will increase election security.

This week the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court delivered a letter to legislative leadership in which he expressed concern about efforts to change the state's judicial branch. We explore the arguments for and against HB512, a bill sponsored by Rep. Karianne Lisonbee (R-Davis County) that would allow the legislature to weigh in on judicial performance evaluations.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Representative Karen Peterson, a Republican from Davis County and House Vice Rules Chair — Representative Greg Miller, a Democrat from Salt Lake County — and Dr. Damon Cann, a political science professor at Utah State University.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley