Utah Policy
348 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 135 ratingsUtah's longest-running political podcast, featuring interviews with Utah newsmakers and insights from longtime political journalist Bryan Schott. Winner of "Best Podcast" in the Top of The Rockies excellence in journalism contest in 2018 and 2019.
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Episodes
An unexpected bombshell just got worse - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 360
February 08, 2018 07:00 - 14 minutes - 6.53 MBThe Utah Legislature is reeling after Rep. Jon Stanard resigned unexpectedly on Tuesday night, then news broke he had allegedly hired a call girl twice in 2017. Lawmakers found $69 million to cut from the base budget. They have about $500 million extra to spend this year, so now the real budget work begins. The group seeking to kill the signature route to the ballot is paying signature gatherers so they can get on this year’s ballot. Sen. Orrin Hatch’s former chief of staff resigns from his ...
A little on the nose, don’t you think? - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 359
February 01, 2018 07:00 - 17 minutes - 7.89 MBThe Utah Legislature rolls through week #2. Lawmakers are still pushing to pass next year’s base budgets. The fight over medical marijuana heats up. There’s more news about SB54 and the ballot initiatives that either preserve or kill the dual path to the ballot. The NRA and Sen. Daniel Thatcher are fighting over concealed carry permit fees. Ben McAdams raises more money than Mia Love. The Salt Lake Tribune puts up a paywall and Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address. Plus, a fa...
Interview with Sen. Jim Dabakis
January 31, 2018 07:00 - 6 minutes - 2.95 MBSen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, has long been a champion of the Salt Lake Tribune. He once tried to purchase the paper. With the news that the Tribune will no longer offer free online content, he tells UtahPolicy.com managing editor Bryan Schott he's worried that the paper's reach and influence will diminish.
Rep. Robert Spendlove discusses his Medicaid expansion proposal
January 29, 2018 07:00 - 8 minutes - 3.76 MBRep. Robert Spendlove is running a bill to expand Medicaid in Utah, which is now possible because of new rules from the Trump administration. Spendlove speaks with Managing Editor Bryan Schott about how the proposal will work, how much it will cost, and how it will focus on preventative care rather than a "fee for service" model.
Interview with Senate President Wayne Niederhauser
January 28, 2018 07:00 - 10 minutes - 5 MBSenate President Wayne Niederhauser speaks with Managing Editor Bryan Schott about the big issues facing lawmakers in the 2018 Legislature. More than 500 bills are expected to pass this year, but Niederhauser has his eyes on taxes, infrastructure, and planning for Utah's transportation future. He also says this will be his last term as leader of the Utah Senate.
It feels like we're on meth! - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 358
January 25, 2018 07:00 - 14 minutes - 6.73 MBThe 2018 Utah Legislature is off at breakneck speed. Lawmakers are already digging into the budget, looking at possible cuts of more than $160 million, even though they have $500 million extra to spend this year. Gov. Gary Herbert delivers probably his best state of the state speech. Mitt Romney is getting closer to starting his campaign for U.S. Senate. House Republicans don’t care that an abortion bill may be unconstitutional. Plus a really stupid conspiracy theory is gripping Washington, ...
Interview with Utah Sen. Jerry Stevenson
January 22, 2018 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.31 MBSen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, speaks with UtahPolicy.com Managing Editor Bryan Schott about how federal tax reform may affect Utah's 2018 budget. He says the state will see a windfall because of the changes on the federal level, but how much remains to be seen.
Pre-Legislative interview with Gov. Gary Herbert
January 21, 2018 07:00 - 19 minutes - 9.14 MBGov. Gary Herbert speaks with UtahPolicy.com Managing Editor Bryan Schott about some of the big issues facing lawmakers as they convene for the 2018 Utah Legislature. They discuss tax reform, Utah's economy, what Utah can do to combat the opioid crisis, and Mitt Romney's probably run for U.S. Senate.
The Romney existential crisis - Bernick and Schott Ep. 357
January 18, 2018 07:00 - 18 minutes - 8.29 MBEverybody knows Mitt Romney is running for Senate this year, but he won’t make it official. Sean Reyes releases the long-awaited secret legal opinion about the special election in the 3rd CD. Democrat Kathie Allen deals her political prospects a possibly fatal self-inflicted wound because she can’t stop saying stupid things on Twitter. The Utah Legislature gets underway on Monday. Tax reform and the Utah Transit Authority could be big issues. President Donald Trump paid off porn star...
House Speaker Greg Hughes previews the 2018 Utah Legislature
January 15, 2018 07:00 - 23 minutes - 10.8 MBHouse Speaker Greg Hughes speaks with Managing Editor Bryan Schott about his decision to not run for another term in the Legislature, what his political future may hold and why the budget, Medicaid, and the Utah Transit Authority may be the biggest issues in the 2018 session. Plus, he discusses his mania for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Lumbering toward armageddon - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 356
January 11, 2018 07:00 - 18 minutes - 8.66 MBHouse Speaker Greg Hughes won’t run for another term in 2018. Does that mean he’s running for governor in 2020? A group calling themselves “Keep My Voice” is aiming to put an initiative on the 2018 ballot to repeal SB54. Ben McAdams puts up big fundraising numbers in his race against Mia Love. Plus, President Donald Trump gets tricked by Fox News into opposing something his administration supports and can’t stop talking about Hillary Clinton. Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott give you a deep dive...
Who doesn't like Mitt Romney? - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 355
January 04, 2018 07:00 - 17 minutes - 8.05 MBSen. Orrin Hatch announced he would not seek an eighth term. When could Mitt Romney announce he’s getting in the race? Romney could help down-ballot Utah Republicans in 2018. Plus, Michael Wolff’s book is tearing apart Washington, and Donald Trump disbands his voter fraud commission. Plus, a touching tribute to Peaches and Herb. Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott reflect on a momentous week in Utah politics.
Interview with Jenny Wilson
December 21, 2017 07:00 - 11 minutes - 5.42 MBDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate Jenny Wilson speaks with Managing Editor Bryan Schott about why she opposes the GOP tax plan that Congress passed this week. She says the bill disproportionately favors corporations and the wealthy at the expense of poorer Utahns.
Total guerrilla warfare in the Utah GOP - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 354
December 20, 2017 07:00 - 20 minutes - 9.22 MBRepublicans pass their tax reform package, spearheaded by Sen. Orrin Hatch. Will he retire after this crowning achievement? Utah Republicans keep their fight against SB54 alive. UtahPolicy.com released a whole slew of new public opinion polls this week. Mia Love wants to investigate the Russia investigation. Plus, we learned this week the FBI warned the Trump campaign that the Russians would try to infiltrate them, but that came after the infamous Trump Tower meeting.
Anti-Santa Claus visits Alabama - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 353
December 14, 2017 07:00 - 19 minutes - 8.83 MBGov. Gary Herbert rolled out his $16.7 billion budget proposal. He wants to boost education spending by a little more than $200 million, but that’s not as much as backers of the Our Schools Now ballot initiative are hoping for. A number of key members of the Utah Legislature are heading for the exits. Democrat Doug Jones wins a stunner in Alabama defeating Republican Roy Moore. President Donald Trump managed to endorse the losing candidate twice in that election. A new poll shows nearl...
"Twisting in the wind" - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 352
December 07, 2017 07:00 - 19 minutes - 8.84 MBPresident Donald Trump visited Utah on Monday where he slashed 2 million acres from two National Monuments. Several groups are threatening to sue, so this will be tied up in the courts for years. Rep. Chris Stewart is proposing a new national park where Grand Staircase-Escalante used to be, but there are some sneaky things contained in his idea. President Trump encouraged Sen. Orrin Hatch to run for another term to presumably block Mitt Romney from running. Romney is reportedly getting i...
The search for "Mr. 82" - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 351
November 30, 2017 07:00 - 19 minutes - 9.09 MBPresident Trump is coming to Utah to announce big reductions in the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. Our polling shows a slight majority of Utahns support those reductions. Congress is working a tax reform package. Republicans say tax reform will make the system simpler and more fair, while Democrats say the effort will mostly benefit the wealthy. Our polling shows Utahns mostly believe Republican claims. A new poll finds both Republicans Orrin Hatch and Mitt ...
Interview with Rep. John Curtis
November 30, 2017 07:00 - 6 minutes - 3.24 MBRep. John Curtis discusses reports that President Donald Trump will dramatically slash the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. He also talks with Managing Editor Bryan Schott about the tax reform plans winding their way through Congress and efforts to avoid a government shutdown.
Interview with Derek Miller
November 28, 2017 07:00 - 9 minutes - 4.34 MBDerek Miller, President and CEO of World Trade Center Utah joins Managing Editor Bryan Schott to talk about President Trump's recent trip to Asia. He also talks about how Trump is winning concessions from China on the trade front. Miller recently returned from a trade mission to Jordan and Israel and gives us an update. Plus, Miller discusses how they were surprised to find out the King of Jordan likes to visit Utah to ride dirt bikes.
Interview with Derek Miller
November 28, 2017 07:00 - 9 minutes - 4.34 MBDerek Miller, President and CEO of World Trade Center Utah joins Managing Editor Bryan Schott to talk about President Trump's recent trip to Asia. He also talks about how Trump is winning concessions from China on the trade front. Miller recently returned from a trade mission to Jordan and Israel and gives us an update. Plus, Miller discusses how they were surprised to find out the King of Jordan likes to visit Utah to ride dirt bikes.
Waiting for all hell to break loose - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 350
November 16, 2017 07:00 - 18 minutes - 8.48 MBSen. Orrin Hatch’s office says Bears Ears will be cut back dramatically while Grand Staircase-Escalante may be cut in half. Republicans in the Senate propose eliminating the individual mandate from the Affordable Care Act to help pay for tax cuts. A possible Mitt Romney campaign for U.S. Senate is on hold while we wait for Orrin Hatch to decide on his political future. There are more indications Hatch may retire next year as senior members of his staff continue to take other jobs in Wash...
Sore losers and Irony has a sense of humor - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 349
November 09, 2017 07:00 - 17 minutes - 8.09 MBCount My Vote decides that they’re going to keep the current dual-track system for candidates to get on the ballot. This means they can either gather signatures, go through the caucus/convention system, or both. Gov. Gary Herbert and lawmakers are working on a deal to release the legal opinion from the A.G.’s office about the process for filling the empty seat in Utah’s 3rd CD. Republican John Curtis thumps Democrat Kathie Allen in the special congressional election. Allen effectively en...
Do we call them "wackos" or "dumbos"? - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 348
November 02, 2017 06:00 - 17 minutes - 8.12 MBThe Utah GOP drops their lawsuit against SB54. Will the right-wing party wackos try to impeach party chair Rob Anderson because of the decision? Utah got a $100 million Medicaid waiver from the federal government. They’ll now be able to give health coverage to between 4,000 and 6,000 Utahns, but it’s far fewer than if they had taken full Medicaid expansion. The groups behind the five proposed ballot initiatives are raising big bucks to try and get on next year’s ballot. Rep. Mia Love t...
Climate change is a hoax - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 347
October 26, 2017 06:00 - 14 minutes - 6.81 MBMia Love breaks out the big fundraising guns now that Ben McAdams has jumped into the race. Her finance committee includes prominent Democrat Frank Pignanelli. Bob explains why he’s backing Love. Love’s early poll numbers shouldn’t give her much encouragement heading into the 2018 election. The 2017 election is less than two weeks away, but there’s not much suspense as John Curtis is the odds-on favorite to win in the 3rd CD. Salt Lake County Republicans call for the resignation of Dem...
Interview with Salt Lake County GOP Chair Jake Parkinson
October 24, 2017 06:00 - 6 minutes - 2.81 MBSalt Lake County GOP Chairman Jake Parkinson discusses why he's calling for the resignation of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. Parkinson tells Managing Editor Bryan Schott that Gill has botched the investigation into whether former county recorder Gary Ott was the victim of elder abuse. He also says he's not politicizing a tragic situation, but simply looking for justice.
Interview with Democratic Congressional candidate Ben McAdams
October 22, 2017 06:00 - 9 minutes - 4.42 MBDemocrat Ben McAdams announced his candidacy for Congress last week, mounting a challenge to two-term Republican Mia Love in Utah's 4th CD. McAdams speaks with Managing Editor Bryan Schott about why he decided to jump into next year's race.
Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 346 - The technical term is "wackos"
October 19, 2017 06:00 - 15 minutes - 7.33 MBOn this week's pod: Ben McAdams is challenging Mia Love for Congress. Does he have a chance to unseat the two-term Congresswoman? United Utah Party candidate Jim Bennett had the best performance in the televised 3rd District debate on Wednesday night. It won’t change the outcome of November’s election (Republican John Curtis will win), but it might bestow credibility on the nascent party. Republican on Republican crime. The Legislature is going to sue Attorney General Sean Reyes to get...
Interview with Boyd Matheson
October 18, 2017 06:00 - 19 minutes - 8.79 MBBoyd Matheson, President of the Sutherland Institute, speaks with Managing Editor Bryan Schott about his possible candidacy for the U.S. Senate next year. Matheson discusses why he thinks Congress is broken, and what fixes he can bring to the system if he decides to run in 2018.
Bernick and Schott Ep. 345 - It all comes back to Steve Bannon
October 12, 2017 06:00 - 13 minutes - 6.16 MBWord broke this week that former White House strategist Steve Bannon plans to recruit a challenger for Sen. Orrin Hatch in Utah Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson apologizes for endorsing Mayor Jackie Biskupski. Does he want to run again? Our weekly segment “Holy crap! Trump did what?” looks at President Trump’s threat to pull out of recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, his threat against the First Amendment, and how his cabinet is hatching plans to keep him from launching a nuclear ...
An interview with former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson
October 11, 2017 06:00 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MBOver the weekend, former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson took to Facebook to apologize for endorsing current Mayor Jackie Biskupski during the 2015 campaign. Anderson talks with Managing Editor Bryan Schott about why he reversed course about Biskupski. He also discusses the area's where he feels Biskupski is not living up to her campaign promises, including homelessness, climate change, and clean air issues.
Slow burning issues - Bernick and Schott on politics #344
October 05, 2017 06:00 - 18 minutes - 8.39 MBBen McAdams is considering running against Mia Love in Utah’s 4th CD next year. McAdams certainly has the attention of Love’s campaign staff. McAdams could be a formidable opponent because, according to our polling, he has better approval ratings than she does. Utah officials say they don’t expect to pass any new gun restrictions in the wake of the massacre in Las Vegas. Gov. Gary Herbert is irking some legislators by using “signing letters” instructing state agencies to spend money in a...
Back from the dead - Bernick and Schott on politics #343
September 28, 2017 06:00 - 17 minutes - 8.15 MBThis week on the podcast: Count My Vote re-files their petition to end the caucus/convention system in favor of direct primaries. We break down what the petition initiative seeks to accomplish. A new poll shows a majority of Utahns, including Mormons, support legalizing medical marijuana. The United Utah Party gained an astonishing ½ point in the most recent polling which will give them a spot in a televised debate. Sen. Orrin Hatch told demonstrators at a health care hearing to “shu...
Bernick and Schott on politics #342 - Poll patrol
September 21, 2017 06:00 - 13 minutes - 6.21 MBCount My Vote is back. Polls show that people want to get rid of the caucus/convention system in favor of a direct primary. 2018 is shaping up to be a crazy election year in Utah. A vast majority of Utahns favor legalizing medical marijuana. The Interior Department is recommending big reductions in the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, but Utahns are divided on whether they favor or oppose shrinking those boundaries, but Mia Love’s constituents ar...
We blowed it up real good! - Bernick and Schott on politics #341
September 14, 2017 06:00 - 16 minutes - 7.53 MBOn this week’s podcast: Mitt Romney wants to run for the Senate in Utah. Sen. Orrin Hatch will decide on his political future by the end of the year Jenny Wilson has an 11-point lead on Orrin Hatch according to a UtahPolicy.com poll Democrat Kathie Allen is getting clobbered by Republican John Curtis in the race for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District this November. Sen. Orrin Hatch comes out in favor of more research on the benefits of medical marijuana President Donald Trump cont...
Buckle up, things are about to get crazy! - Bernick and Schott on politics #340
August 31, 2017 06:00 - 16 minutes - 7.72 MBLong-simmering tensions exploded this week between Speaker Greg Hughes and Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski over Operation Rio Grande. Chris Herrod is not happy about how the SB54 compromise has diluted the power of the conservative arm of the Republican Party. Is the influence of the arch-conservatives in Utah dying? If John Curtis wins the special congressional election, he will have to jump right back on the campaign trail because there are a number of Republicans considering a ...
Do the math! - Bernick and Schott on politics episode #339
August 24, 2017 06:00 - 14 minutes - 6.58 MBSen. Orrin Hatch is in no rush to make a decision about his political future. Lots of people are waiting for Hatch to make up his mind. Rep. Chris Stewart says he wants to run for Hatch's seat if the seven-term Senator decides not to run. Mitt Romney is also interested in the seat. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending that the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments be reduced, but how small we won't know for a while. The organizers of Count My Vote are rea...
Thank God it's over - Bernick and Schott on politics episode #338
August 17, 2017 06:00 - 12 minutes - 5.75 MBThe GOP 3rd District primary election is finally over. John Curtis is now the overwhelming favorite to win in November. Under the old system, Curtis would have never even made the primary ballot, so the win is also a victory for SB54. Operation Rio Grande is underway, but Utah needs a waiver from the Trump administration to implement their limited Medicaid expansion in order to fund the operation in the long-term. Julie Dole is posting old endorsements from six years ago in a desperate...
We're gonna run out of tin foil - Bernick and Schott on politics #337
August 03, 2017 06:00 - 16 minutes - 7.42 MBJim Bennett and the United Utah Party win their lawsuit to get on the ballot in November's special congressional election. Will they have an impact on that election? They might be able to make some political hay in Salt Lake County which has an unusually high number of independent voters compared to the rest of the state. Speaking of elections, another county mistakenly sent GOP ballots to unaffiliated voters, which is sending the tin foil hat crowd into overdrive with conspiracy theorie...
Maybe this is how Trump drains the swamp - Bernick and Schott on politics #336
July 27, 2017 06:00 - 15 minutes - 7.17 MBBallots have gone out to voters in the GOP primary in the 3rd CD. Provo Mayor John Curtis has a lead, but will it hold up? Curtis scored a key endorsement from Gov. Gary Herbert, but Chris Herrod has recruited Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who will campaign for him on Saturday. Will those help? Bob and Bryan explain why Curtis is likely to win the August election, but he shouldn't take anything for granted at this point. State leaders have vowed a crackdown on the violence and chaos surround...
37% might be enough to win - Bernick and Schott on politics #335
July 20, 2017 06:00 - 20 minutes - 9.35 MBBallots go out in the GOP primary in Utah's 3rd CD next week. What do the three Republicans vying for the nomination need to do to win the support of undecided voters? We also explain why Tanner Ainge won't split votes with John Curtis to help Chris Herrod. Ainge should split votes with both of the other candidates, meaning whoever wins will probably need 37% of the vote to win. Will one or more of the candidates go negative? Who are the most liberal and conservative members of the legis...
Anyone who predicted this is lying - Bernick and Schott on politics #334
June 22, 2017 06:00 - 15 minutes - 6.91 MBGov. Gary Herbert and Utah lawmakers are squaring off over whether the process to elect a replacement for Rep. Jason Chaffetz is legal. Herbert has gone so far as to block the Attorney General from giving lawmakers a legal opinion on the matter. Legislators may exact their revenge on Herbert in the 2018 Legislature. Chris Herrod shocks the world and wins the delegate vote in the 3rd Congressional District to win a spot on the August 15 primary ballot against John Curtis and Tanner Ainge....
Some Republicans are more Republican than others - Bernick and Schott on politics #333
June 15, 2017 06:00 - 17 minutes - 8.18 MBOh, how the Utah electoral landscape has changed. Two candidates, John Curtis and Tanner Ainge, qualified for the August 15 primary ballot, and it doesn't matter what Republican delegates in Utah's 3rd Congressional District do. The triumph of SB54 shows that Utahns no longer want to let delegates pick their party nominees. The Utah Legislature is considering a small property tax hike to boost school funding. And, Donald Trump is apparently under investigation for obstruction of just...
With apologies to Joseph Heller - Bernick and Schott on politics #332
June 08, 2017 06:00 - 15 minutes - 7.01 MBWhat a busy week in Utah politics! The Gary Ott situation in Salt Lake County is a tragic one, but it's clear that the Utah Legislature is going to have to fix the situation. A group wants to put a proposed independent redistricting commission before voters in 2018. At the same time, the "Our Schools Now" group launched their own petition drive this week to provide more funding for schools through a sales and income tax hike. The Utah Democrats ate one of their own, pushing Rob Miller ...
Republican Thunderdome - Bernick and Schott on politics #331
June 01, 2017 06:00 - 15 minutes - 7.06 MBUtah Republicans are considering charging members of the media $25 to cover the 3rd District nominating convention later in June. As you can guess, Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott think that's a stupid idea. 21 candidates have filed for Utah's special Congressional election, including 15 Republicans. 13 will be at the convention in Utah County later this month. What can we expect from that GOP "Thunderdome"? "Our Schools Now" plans to seek both an income and sales tax hike to boost funding ...
Interview with the World Trade Center Utah's Derek Miller
May 30, 2017 06:00 - 9 minutes - 4.6 MBDerek Miller, President and CEO of the World Trade Center Utah joins Managing Editor Bryan Schott to discuss what the renegotiation of NAFTA means for international trade in Utah. He also weighs in on President Donald Trump's overseas trip. What did it do for international relations? Miller also says Utah's international trade has shown some big gains over the first quarter of 2017, which bodes well for the state's economy. Plus he recaps the recent trade mission to Cuba.
Utah Republicans should be ashamed of themselves - Bernick and Schott on politics #330
May 25, 2017 06:00 - 15 minutes - 7.21 MB2017 was supposed to be a boring political year! UtahPolicy.com broke the news this week that Sen. Orrin Hatch was leaning toward retiring instead of running for another term and Mitt Romney was very interested in running for that seat. If that plays out, it could be game over for the 2018 Utah Senate race because Utahns love them some Mitt Romney. The candidates are piling up in the special election in Utah's 3rd Congressional District. Signature-gathering candidates are going to have t...
Oooh! You're scaring me! - Bernick and Schott on politics #329
May 18, 2017 06:00 - 16 minutes - 7.79 MBIt's supposed to be an off-year politically, but the news is crazier than ever! Rep. Jason Chaffetz has announced he's stepping down from his seat in Congress at the end of June. Lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert are fighting over the rules for a special election to replace Chaffetz. Lawmakers are threatening to make a number of changes to Utah election law if Herbert won't give in to their demands. But, Herbert seems resolute. A new poll shows most Utahns want all voters to decide the nom...
Bernick and Schott on politics #328
May 11, 2017 06:00 - 13 minutes - 6.4 MBWhat a crazy week in Utah and national politics! Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke visits Utah to tour Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. Will he recommend changes to either? Sen. Orrin Hatch makes a couple of very stupid statements this week. He shows that he's very limber for being 83 years old because he's still able to stick his foot in his mouth. Utah legislators still want Gov. Gary Herbert to call a special session to set the rules for a special elec...