The Hinckley Report

As the transition to a new Administration takes place, moderate Republican Senator Mitt Romney's tenure in Washington came to a close with a farewell speech in which he called for unity. In this episode of The Hinckley Report, our panel of politcial insiders discusses his replacment John Curtis's record of bridging the political divide with efforts like his Conservative Climate Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Will Curtis maintain his ability to work across the aisle as Utah's new junior Senator?

Our panel debates whether the Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, co-chaired by Utah Rep. Blake Moore, will be able to cut a proposed $2 trillion from the federal budget.

Plus, Martha Hughes Cannon, the first female State Senator from Utah is finally memorialized in bronze at the U.S. Capitol, sparking conversation around representation of women in politics.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Aimee Winder Newton, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Member of the Salt Lake County Council, Taylor Morgan, Partner at Morgan May Public Affairs, and Greg Skordas, attorney and political commentator.

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 pbsutah.org/supporthinckley.

This week Utah Governor Spencer Cox released his budget proposals for the upcoming Utah legislative session. His budget calls for cutting all state income taxes on Social Security benefits - a move that could save more than 150,000 older Utahns about $1,000 each year. Cox also wants the state to invest more than $20 million into nuclear and geothermal electricity. But will his key proposals actually pass the legislature?

In this episode, our expert panel examines the Beehive State's budgeting process. Learn how legislative leaders negotiate with the governor's office and find out who gets the final say on how your tax dollars actually get spent.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Sophia DiCaro, Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget — Rep. Angela Romero, a Democrat from Salt Lake City and House Minority Leader — and Sen. Jerry Stevenson, a Republican from Davis County and 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 pbsutah.org/supporthinckley.

Even before any votes were cast in the 2024 election, questions about election denialism, overall election security, and the safety of vote-by-mail were in the headlines across the country - even here in Utah. In this episode, our expert panel takes a close look at the safeguards in place to protect election systems. What makes an election secure? And how much confidence do Utahns have in the power of their vote?

Plus, some Utah lawmakers want to change the way elections are overseen in the state. Proposals range from giving a Secretary of State election oversight, to creating an independent election commission. We discuss the options on the table, and evaluate how they would impact ballot access.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Amelia Powers Gardener—a Republican member of the Utah County Commission, Doug Wilks—executive editor of the Deseret News, and Holly Richardson—editor of UtahPolicy.com.

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 pbsutah.org/supporthinckley.

As congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. begin preparing for a new term next year, Utah's representatives are jokeying for important committee assignments. Our panel examines how this behind-the-scenes maneuvering impacts the work of Congress, and how it benefits Utah voters in the long-run.

New polling suggests public trust in institutions like Congress and the media is much lower than it used to be. We discuss how this downward trend is a potential threat to our democratic republic, and the best way to improve those relationships.

Plus, what issues will take center stage on Utah's Capitol Hill when lawmakers convene for their annual session in January? And how does our federal delegation work with state leaders to streamline policy changes?

In this episode, host Jason Perry is joined by Representative Celeste Maloy—a Republican from Utah's 2nd Congressional District, former Representative Ben McAdams—a Democrat who represented Utah's 4th Congressional District, and State Representative Tyler Clancy—a Republican representing Provo in the Utah House.

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 pbsutah.org/supporthinckley.

As county clerks in Utah wrap up counting final votes, political parties in the state and country are already assessing what went wrong and right for them in the recent election. New polling suggests Republicans and Democrats across the country had vastly different priorities when they cast their ballots. Our panel examines how those priorities translated to wins and losses, and what they suggest about the state of politics in the United States.

President-elect Donald Trump is beginning the process of naming key members of his cabinet. As his future administration starts to take shape, we discuss whether any Utahns are likely to take on key roles.

Plus, national voter turnout is nearing historic levels, but that's not the case here in Utah. Why did fewer people show up to the polls in the Beehive State this election? And how could shifting demographics influence elections in the future?

In this episode, host Jason Perry is joined by Republican Senator Mike McKell, the Assistant Majority Whip representing Utah County in the Utah Senate — Democratic Senator Jen Plumb, the Assistant Minority Whip representing Salt Lake City in the Utah Senate — and Daniel Woodruff, a reporter at KSL 5 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 pbsutah.org/donate.

While county clerks around the state are still counting some ballots, the results of many races are in. Pres. Donald Trump will be returning to the White House in January and Utah voters have given Gov. Spencer Cox another four years to lead the Beehive State. Our expert panel evaluates what messaging resonated with the electorate, which demographics played a decisive role, and what the results tell us about the priorities of Utahns.

Plus, the trends seen in Utah's election results were a bit different than many other states. We examine what that could signal about our state's influence in national politics.

In this episode, host Jason Perry is joined by Saige Miller, politics reporter with KUER - Thomas Wright, Utah businessman and former Republican Party leader - and Scott Howell, the former minority leader in the Utah State Senate.

With just a few days left until the 2024 election, new poll numbers are painting a clearer picture of what we can expect in some key Utah races. Our panel examines what this all means in the race for president between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. And, will there be any surprises in the race for Utah governor?

The Utah County Clerk is facing scrutiny this week after it was revealed that his office was tracking the ballots of politicians. He also called for Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson to be prosecuted for how the signature gathering process was handled earlier this year. We examine what this all means to confidence in elections, and how other state leaders are responding.

Plus, we discuss voter turnout and our panelists reveal which races they will be watching closely on election night.

In this episode, host Jason Perry is joined by Dennis Romboy, editor and reporter with the Deseret News — Holly Richardson, editor of Utah Policy — and Ben Winslow, politics reporter with Fox 13 News.

Political disagreement is nothing new in the United States. The Founding Fathers certainly didn't see eye-to-eye at all times when they were drafting documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. But their disagreements always gave way to compromise, a pattern that helped develop the country we know today.

In recent years, however, political disagreement seems to have reached new heights, and some argue the great American tradition of compromise has been replaced by contempt. Our panel examines the impact political polarization is having on our country. What explains the rise in political violence? Why is rhetoric more heated than ever? And is there still room for dignity in politics?

In this episode, host Jason Perry is joined by Tim Shriver — founder of The Dignity Index, Natalie Gochnour — director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, and Boyd Matheson — host of "Sunday Edition" on KSL 5 TV.

This week, Utah voters are receiving their ballots in the mail. In addition to choosing candidates for a variety of political races, you will be asked about important questions about judges, constitutional amendments, property tax changes, and much more, all depending on where you live. Our expert panel breaks down what you can expect, and where you can find resources to be a more informed voter.

Plus, new polling suggests some interesting trends in both the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump and the Utah governor's race between Gov. Spencer Cox, and his main opponents Democrat Brian King, and write-in candidate Phil Lyman. What is happening in these top ticket races? And what impact could that have on the down-ballot contests?

And could Senator Mitt Romney, Senator Mike Lee, former Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., or Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes be on the short list for a cabinet position depending on who wins the White House in November?

In this episode, host Jason Perry is joined by Corey Norman — the chief of staff for Congressman John Curtis, Suzanne Harrison — Democratic member of the Salt Lake County Council, and Robert Gehrke — news columnist with The Salt Lake Tribune.

As county clerks prepare for a historic election, candidates are making their final push to reach undecided voters. Our panel examines the unique circumstances at play in 2024. Plus, Sen. Mitt Romney weighs in on the presidential race. Journalists Doug Wilks and Jeff Parrott join political insider Becki Wright on this episode of The Hinckley Report with Jason Perry.