Advertise on podcast: Special Session with Bryan Schott

In this recording of our livestream from Jan. 26, 2026, we break down the numbers on Utah's Prop 4 repeal effort—and they're not looking good for signature gatherers. With just 20 days left and barely 40% of their statewide goal met, even Trump's endorsement might not be enough to save the anti-gerrymandering law repeal campaign.  Plus: Why is the Supreme Court expansion bill going to the Business and Labor Committee instead of Judiciary? We explain the legislative chess moves and timing issues around SB 134. Also covered: Senator John Curtis calls for an independent ICE investigation, new bills targeting Pride flags and voter registration, and the legislature's plan to cut taxes while slashing higher ed funding by $94 million. 📰 Support journalist-owned, journalist-operated independent media at UtahPolitics.news. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow-motion train wreck. Hit us up: [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

On this episode of Special Session: The most competitive legislative races in the 2026 midterms.Senate President Stuart Adams is in the political fight of his life.Redistricting court battle update.Will Utah's members of Congress push back on Trump's military action in Venezuela?📰 Support journalist-owned, journalist-operated independent media at UtahPolitics.news. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up: [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Politico's Jonathan Martin joins the show to discuss his provocative argument that Utah Governor Spencer Cox should mount a 2028 presidential campaign focused on tech regulation and AI. But this isn't about winning the White House—it's about forcing a critical issue into the national conversation. 📰 Support journalist-owned, journalist-operated independent media at UtahPolitics.news. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up: [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Former Utah State Senator Derek Kitchen joins the podcast to discuss his campaign for Utah's Congressional District 1 and why he believes Salt Lake City deserves stronger representation in Washington.

Special Session Recap: Legislature moves congressional filing deadline to buy time for redistricting appeal; changes court rules so election lawsuits go directly to Utah Supreme Court. Union Busting Bill Repeal: Strategic retreat—lawmakers feared giving voters an incentive to show up at the polls in 2026 when they have two ballot measures they want passed. The Phil Lyman Provision: New rule allowing weekly signature packet submissions—designed to undercut conspiracy theories about Governor Cox's 2024 primary win. Taxpayer-Funded Retreat: House Republicans spent $26,584 at Zermatt Resort; $10,000+ on catering alone for 51 lawmakers and staff. U of U Athletics Deal: Private equity move to stay competitive in evolving college sports landscape. Subscribe & Support: 🎧 Find the podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen 📰 Subscribe at UtahPolitics.news — 20% off your first year right now. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Former Democratic Congressman Ben McAdams joins Special Session to discuss his return to politics with a run for Congress in Utah's newly drawn 1st Congressional District. The former congressman opens up about what motivated him to get back in the arena, how he plans to build a winning coalition in a district that's Democratic-leaning but not majority-Democratic, and his response to critics still upset about his role in the 2022 McMullin-Lee Senate race.

State Sen. Nate Blouin (D-Salt Lake City) joins the show to discuss his bid for Congress in Utah's new 1st Congressional District created by Judge Diana Gibson's ruling last month.  WHY HE'S RUNNING Blouin positions himself as a fighter with a track record of pushing back against the supermajority. He says the new D+14 district aligns with his progressive values and sees an opportunity to be part of a potential Democratic House majority in 2026. "People want fighters right now. People are frustrated with what they're seeing out of DC." WHAT A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY COULD DO Even with a Republican Senate and Trump in the White House, Blouin says Democrats could hold the line through oversight — including personally investigating the ICE facility in West Valley City. He points to Trump's approval rating (around 35%) and says the priority would be slowing authoritarian overreach while pushing popular policies like Medicare for All and a higher minimum wage. THE YOUTH MOVEMENT Blouin sees energy in Utah's young Democratic bench and invokes Zohran Mamdani's campaign style as a model — high-energy, ground-focused, authentic. He won his state Senate primary by 50 points in 2022 through door-knocking and plans to bring that same approach to a compact congressional district. PATHWAY TO THE NOMINATION "We're gonna win convention and we're gonna gather signatures. That's the plan." Blouin's website: nateforutah.com Tip Jar: This political hellscape doesn't document itself. Throw some cash in the tip jar and help me keep calling out the BS without having to sell my soul to corporate overlords. Subscribe: Get our free newsletter at UtahPolitics.news and find out what fresh hell the legislature cooked up while you were sleeping. Or become a paid subscriber – because somebody needs to fund this one-man war against political gaslighting. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

In this episode, Bryan Schott breaks down the latest developments in Utah's congressional redistricting battle, the GOP's million-dollar signature gathering effort, and what's shaping up to be a crowded Democratic primary in the new CD1. Plus, an update on the federal lawsuit over press credentials at the Utah State Legislature. Tip Jar: This political hellscape doesn't document itself. Throw some cash in the tip jar and help me keep calling out the BS without having to sell my soul to corporate overlords. Subscribe: Get our free newsletter at UtahPolitics.news and find out what fresh hell the legislature cooked up while you were sleeping. Or become a paid subscriber – because somebody needs to fund this one-man war against political gaslighting. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Utah's political landscape was transformed overnight when Judge Dianna Gibson implemented a new congressional map that could dramatically change the state's representation in Washington. Host Bryan Schott breaks down the ruling, analyzes the political fallout, and explores what comes next. Tip Jar: This political hellscape doesn't document itself. Throw some cash in the tip jar and help me keep calling out the BS without having to sell my soul to corporate overlords. Subscribe: Get our free newsletter at UtahPolitics.news and find out what fresh hell the legislature cooked up while you were sleeping. Or become a paid subscriber – because somebody needs to fund this one-man war against political gaslighting. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

On this episode, we unpack Ben McAdams' likely run for Congress, the GOP’s referendum retreat on redistricting, and why two new “competitive” districts might actually be R+2 and R+6 by design. Plus: a wild lawsuit to overturn SB54 and oust elected officials from office, a trio of eyebrow-raising Utah County GOP resolutions, and could Sen. Mike Lee be eyeing the top spot at the Heritage Foundation? Tip Jar: This political hellscape doesn't document itself. Throw some cash in the tip jar and help me keep calling out the BS without having to sell my soul to corporate overlords. Subscribe: Get our free newsletter at UtahPoliticalWatch.news and find out what fresh hell the legislature cooked up while you were sleeping. Or become a paid subscriber – because somebody needs to fund this one-man war against political gaslighting. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up at [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

In this replay of our subscriber-only livestream from 11/03/2025, we walk through the Lyman-aligned federal lawsuit to overturn Utah election results by attacking SB 54’s signature-gathering path, Mike Lee’s latest outrage cycle over a non-story, fraud and domestic-incident allegations surrounding former Iron County GOP chair Blake Cozzens, the latest from Utah's redistricting lawsuit and the 2026 chessboard with Democrat Ben McAdams edging toward another run for Congress. Subscribe for just $5 a month to listen and participate in our subscriber-exclusive livestream at Utah Political Watch.

This week in Utah politics: dark money, taxpayer funded PR campaign and a massive homeless campus. Mega “service campus” for the homeless near SLC airport: 16 acres, up to 1,300 beds, involuntary commitments, forced treatment. Civil liberties alarms vs. “we have to do something.” Cox does damage control via a friendly outlet, swatting Nazi comparisons. House PR machine on your dime: Speaker Schultz’s glossy videos produced by a paid outside firm (Northbound Strategy ~$6k/month, >$215k since ’23). Posted first to his personal accounts, then amplified by official channels. ROI? Shrug. Also: his video flirting with threats against the judge. Dark money creeps local: National Liberty Champions PAC drops into an Alpine school board race. The Mike Lee orbit—Thomas Datwyler (treasurer), Dan Hauser (L4 Consulting, lives in-district)—connects the dots. Same network fueled attacks in UT-2 primary via Constitutional Conservatives PAC. Ogden City Council shenanigans: Candidate takes ~$15k from “Taxpayers PAC,” blowing past $1,500 limits. Money trace: AZ Christian nationalist pastor/funder → PAC → candidate → consultant. The consultant? He set up the PAC routing the cash back to himself. Illegal overage likely returned. Conspiracy-to-policy pipeline: Gold-as-currency schemes pushed by fringe “experts,” and yes—another chemtrails bill incoming.Heads up: Election Day is Tuesday. If your ballot’s still on the counter, fix that. Tip Jar: This political hellscape doesn't document itself. Throw some cash in the tip jar and help me keep calling out the BS without having to sell my soul to corporate overlords. Subscribe: Get our free newsletter at UtahPoliticalWatch.news and find out what fresh hell the legislature cooked up while you were sleeping. Or become a paid subscriber – because somebody needs to fund this one-man war against political gaslighting. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up at [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Run for Something's Amanda Litman explains why Democrats must invest in red states now—or face permanent minority status after 2030 redistricting. She argues that redistricting in 2030 is going to gut the already-narrow path to power for Democrats. California and New York will lose seats in Congress, while red states are gaining representation. Utah's fast-growing population means the state is in line to gain a fifth seat in the U.S. House of Representatives following the 2031 redistricting cycle. Her organization is launching a five-year plan to build Democratic infrastructure in Republican strongholds like Utah, where the party's net favorability sits at a dismal negative 38 percent. Litman says Democrats need to stop obsessing over swing states and start investing in places the party has written off for years. Run for Something: RunForSomething.net Find Amanda on social media: @AmandaLitman or @Amandalitm Tip Jar: This political hellscape doesn't document itself. Throw some cash in the tip jar and help me keep calling out the BS without having to sell my soul to corporate overlords. Subscribe: Get our free newsletter at UtahPoliticalWatch.news and find out what fresh hell the legislature cooked up while you were sleeping. Or become a paid subscriber – because somebody needs to fund this one-man war against political gaslighting. Sponsor the show: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up at [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

Utah Republican Party announced a dual strategy to combat court-ordered redistricting and repeal Prop 4. Referendum on Option C Map (00:04:33) GOP launching statewide referendum to overturn legislature's newly passed congressional mapNeeds 134,000 signatures by November 15thMust hit signature targets in 15 of 29 Senate districtsInitiative to Repeal Prop 4 (00:09:05) Only needs 70,000 signatures to submit directly to legislatureWould repeal 2018 voter-approved independent redistricting commissionGives lawmakers political cover since it comes from "the people"Legislature likely to pass with veto-proof majorityTimeline Crunch (00:30:47) Court must pick new map by November 10thHearings scheduled October 23-24Additional hearing November 3rd on legislature's new redistricting law (SB 101)Multiple opportunities for delays through appealsTip Jar: This political hellscape doesn't document itself. Throw some cash in the tip jar and help me keep calling out the BS without having to sell my soul to corporate overlords. Subscribe: Get our free newsletter at UtahPoliticalWatch.news and find out what fresh hell the legislature cooked up while you were sleeping. Or become a paid subscriber – because somebody needs to fund this one-man war against political gaslighting. Buy your way in: Got deep pockets and a masochistic love of Utah politics? Sponsor this podcast and support our coverage of this slow motion train wreck. Hit us up at [email protected]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

On this episode: The judge in Utah's gerrymandering case stares down the clock.Incumbent pile-up: All the proposed congressional maps put at least two GOP incumbents in the same district.Registration math shows where Democrats might actually have a shot.Tip Jar: Support independent journalism by making a one-time donation here. Subscribe: Sign up for our newsletter for free at UtahPoliticalWatch.news, and consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our Utah politics coverage. Sponsor: If you'd like to sponsor this podcast, email [email protected]. Follow us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter