The Hinckley Report

Jason Perry
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The Hinckley Report with Jason Perry provides insight and analysis into the most pressing political issues facing the state of Utah.

  1. State Convention Preview

    1 DAY AGO

    State Convention Preview

    As the state's two largest political parties prepare for their conventions this weekend, more accusations of wrongdoing are coming to light in the race for Utah's 1st Congressional District. Host Jason Perry leads a conversation about what's to come when Republicans and Democrats meet on Saturday. THE DEEPER DIVE: • Approximately 4,000 Republicans and 1,500 Democrats will gather as delegates at their respective state conventions this weekend to vote on candidates for public office. Our expert panel discusses some of the top contests and examines what dynamics will be at play. • ️ Delegates are elected at neighborhood caucus meetings which have been criticized over the years for low attendance. Polling from the Hinckley Institute of Politics finds only 10% of Utahns attended their local caucus. We evaluate whether delegates really represent the opinions of Utah voters at large. • ✍️ Some candidates have already qualified for the primary ballot by gathering signatures. Our panel discusses Utah's unique dual path for ballot access, and whether changes to the system are likely to come in the future. • Some notable incumbents did not win at their recent county conventions. Rep. Trevor Lee who has made a name for himself in the Utah Legislature as a conservative firebrand came second to his GOP challenger, Davis County Commissioner Bob Stevenson. Both will advance to the primary election in June. But in Salt Lake County, Laurie Stringham was eliminated in her bid for a second term on the County Council. Kathleen Anderson secured the Republican nomination for that seat and will face Democrat Zach Robinson in the November general election. • ⚠️ There are new allegations of scandal in the race for Utah's 1st Congressional District. This week four women, including three prominent Utah Democrats, publicly accused Salt Lake City Councilwoman Eva Lopez Chavez of unwanted sexual advances. Lopez Chavez is one of the Democratic candidates for CD1 and has denied any wrongdoing. (Editorial note: one of the accusers is Rep. Hoang Nguyen (D-Salt Lake City) who also serves on PBS Utah's advisory board.) • ️ Former Utah Congressman Rob Bishop is making a bid to re-enter politics in the Beehive State. Bishop is running for an open seat in the Utah House of Representatives, where he served as Speaker in the 1990s before being elected to Congress. ️ FEATURING: • Rep. Doug Owens – (D) Millcreek, Utah House Minority Caucus Manager • Becki Wright – Founder & CEO, Proximity • Taylor Morgan – Partner, Morgan & May Public Affairs 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

    26 min
  2. Utah Politics Impacted by Accusations of Scandal

    17 APR

    Utah Politics Impacted by Accusations of Scandal

    Utah's congressional contests are beginning to take shape. Host Jason Perry leads a discussion about how endorsements and accusations of scandal are impacting the races. Plus, Utah leaders weigh in on national headlines. THE DEEPER DIVE: • ⚖️ Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen has been accused of an inappropriate relationship with an attorney who argued the Prop 4 redistricting case before the court. Governor Spencer Cox and legislative leadership are moving forward with an independent investigation into the matter, but Justice Hagen has denied any wrongdoing. We evaluate what impact this could have on the public's trust in the process. • Utah Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Layton) is facing accusations of past impropriety regarding his actions in a former job that involved check fraud. This news dropped just days before Lee faces a challenger at the Davis County Republican Convention. Our panel examines waht this could mean for his future in the Utah Legislature. • The Democratic race for Utah's 1st Congressional District is heating up. This week, a national political news website published numerous controversial posts published by Sen. Nate Blouin (D-Millcreek) several years ago. Blouin quickly apologized for the offensive comments, but calls for him to drop out of the race came from many members of his own party. We discuss Blouin's response and why some Democrats are still supporting his candidacy. • ️ In the Republican race for Utah's 2nd Congressional District, incumbent Blake Moore is facing stiff competition from State Rep. Karianne Lisonbee. She has recently stated that Moore's past support for independent redistricting should be reason enough for voters to not send him back to Washington. Our panel evaluates what impact this will have on the race. • Controversy over Utah Valley University's scheduled commencement speaker has resulted in the school decidiing to have no speaker at all. Social media influencer Sharon McMahon, also known as "America's Government Teacher", had been selected by the shool to speak to graduates, but some students were upset over comments McMahon made in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination at UVU. The university eventually decided that out of safety concerns, there would be no speaker. ️ FEATURING: • Heidi Hatch – KUTV 2News • Marty Carpenter – Partner, Northboudn Strategy • Daniel Woodruff – Reporter, KSL 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

    27 min
  3. Voter Privacy in Utah, Congressional Races, & $1B for the Great Salt Lake

    10 APR

    Voter Privacy in Utah, Congressional Races, & $1B for the Great Salt Lake

    A change in Utah law means the voter registration information of hundreds of thousands of Utahns could soon be made public. Host Jason Perry leads a discussion examining the change, and what this means for some voters. Plus, the campaigns for Utah's 4 congressional seats are heating up. THE DEEPER DIVE: • ️ A change to Utah law regarding voter registration information is making headlines this week. Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson sent letters to the approximately 300,000 voters who will be impacted. Previously, Utah voters could choose to keep their voter registration data private, but the state legislature passed a bill in the most recent legislative session requiring that voters apply for an exemption. Our panel evaluates how this could change the dynamics of elections in the Beehive State moving forward. • ⚖️ That change comes amid a legal fight between Utah and the federal government over the state's voter rolls. The Trump administration wants Utah to hand over all voter registrations, including sensitive data like social security numbers. But the Lieutenant Governor has refused, citing state law that would prevent her from doing so. We look at arguments on both side of the debate. • Campaigning for Utah's four congressional seats is kicking into high gear. The Republican and Democratic parties will both hold their nominating conventions at the end of the month, and several candidates have already qualified for the primary ballot through signature gathering. We discuss the unique intra-party challengers facing incumbents this year. • Pres. Donald Trump has earmarked $1 billion in his proposed budget for the next fiscal year to help save the Great Salt Lake. But that doesn't mean the funding will actually be approved. Our panel examines the politics that could keep it from passing, and how Utah managed to get to this point. ️ FEATURING: • McKenzie Romero – Editor, Utah News Dispatch • Brigham Tomco – Reporter, Deseret News • Sean Higgins – Reporter, KUER 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

    26 min
  4. Primary Election Season Kicks Off

    3 APR

    Primary Election Season Kicks Off

    As the debate over election security continues at the national level, host Jason Perry leads a discussion about how primary election season is officially kicking off in the Beehive State. Plus, a contentious citizen initiative will not appear on ballots this November after all. THE DEEPER DIVE: • Pres. Donald Trump signed an executive order that would require states to use a federally created "Citizenship List" to compile a roll of eligible voters. That list would also impact state's that utilize vote-by-mail. Utah Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson quickly pushed back. Our panel examines the constitutional questions at the center of this debate, and what the Trump administration is threatening if states don't comply. • ️ This week the deadline passed for Utah voters to change their political party affiliation ahead of the primary election in June. In Salt Lake County, the number of registered Democrats did increase, leading to questions about whether the state's new Congressional map had any impact on the shift. • ❌ The citizen initiative aiming to repeal Utah's independent redistricting law has officially failed to qualify for the ballot. Organizers had originally submitted enough signatures, but enough voters requested to have their signatures removed, leading to the initiative falling below required thresholds. We discuss where the fight over Prop 4 could go from here. ️ FEATURING: • Leah Murray – Director, Walker Center for Politics and Public Service at Weber State University • Robert Gehrke – Reporter, The Salt Lake Tribune • 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

    26 min
  5. The Growing Influence of Southern Utah

    27 MAR

    The Growing Influence of Southern Utah

    On this special episode of The Hinckley Report, we're on location in St. George. As the population of southern Utah continues growing, host Jason Perry leads a discussion about how local leaders manage the needed infrastructure and natural resources for an expaning population. Plus, with more people comes more political power. We examine the growing influence of Washington and Iron Counties on both the state and federal governments. THE DEEPER DIVE: • ️ Southern Utah is growing fast, and local leaders are working to balance that growth in community character, housing needs, and quality of life. • From water conservation to billion-dollar infrastructure investments, the region is planning ahead to make sure growth is sustainable in one of Utah's driest areas. • ️ The economy is shifting beyond tourism with healthcare, construction, technology, and education playing an increasing role in southern Utah's future. • Transportation, land use, and federal land restrictions add unique challenges for the area, but also highlight the complexity of building in this part of the state. • As population and economic importance rise, the region's influence is growing at the Utah Capitol and in Washington D.C., shaping policy decisions statewide and beyond. ️ FEATURING: • Christa Hinton – Santa Clara City Council • Zach Renstrom – General Manager, Washington County Water Conservancy District • Mary Weaver Bennett – Director, Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service at Southern Utah University • Brad Last – Former Member of the Utah House of Representatives and Special Assistant to the President of Utah Tech University for Community and Government Relations 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

    28 min
  6. Legislative Recap & Election Season Kicks Off

    20 MAR

    Legislative Recap & Election Season Kicks Off

    As the dust settles on the 2026 legislative session, host Jason Perry leads a discussion about which issues won and which were voted down. Plus, Utah voters attend their neighborhood caucus meetings as election season really heats up. THE DEEPER DIVE: • ✍️ Governor Spencer Cox is now in the process of reviewing all the bills passed during the legislative session. Will there be any vetoes? Our expert panel discusses how the executive branch engages with the lawmaking process. • ️ Both Republicans and Democrats held neighborhood caucus meetings this week to elect precinct chairs and delegates to county and state party conventions.These meetings appear to have had renewed energy for the members of at least one political party. We evaluate what people on the ground experienced. • ️ With the candidate filing period closed for Utah's four congressional seats, campaigning is now in full swing on both sides of the political aisle. Every incumbent is facig an intra-party challenger, and the field is especially large in the Democratic race for the state's newly drawn 1st congressional district. • Efforts to pass the SAVE America Act on the federal level have Utah politics in the national spotlight. The effort is backed by Sen. Mike Lee, yet Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson has publicly pushed back on the rhetoric being used by meembers of her own party. We examine why Pres. Donald Trump is pushing for the law so strongly and how it could impact the Beehive State. • This last week, the federal government purchased a warehouse in Salt Lake City for a potential ICE detention facility. Mayors Erin Mendenhall and Jenny Wilson have both spoken against the pruchase. While Gov. Cox is supportive of establishing an ICE facility of some kind in Utah, he says no one in his administration had any advance knowledge of this purchase. ️ FEATURING: • Ben Winslow – Reporter, Fox 13 News • Amelia Powers Gardner – (R) Utah County Commission • Wesley Smith – Partner, Northbound Strategy 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

    27 min
  7. Is Higher Education Thriving in Utah?

    13 MAR

    Is Higher Education Thriving in Utah?

    Are Utah's colleges and universities adapting quickly enough in our tech-forward world? Host Jason Perry leads a discussion about the pressures facing higher education and how schools are preparing the future workforce while still keeping tuition affordable. THE DEEPER DIVE: • With public trust in institutions near all-time lows, Utah’s higher education system is in the midst of a course correction. We examine how schools are renewing their focus on value, transparency, public accountability, and student success. • As some question the value of a college degree, Utah’s higher education institutions are working to ensure a return on investment for students. Our panel discusses the ways schools are ensuring degrees and certificates lead to real career and economic opportunities. • The 16 publicly funded colleges and universities in Utah are working to improve collaboration across the system by streamlining programs, reducing duplication, and creating clearer pathways between technical colleges and four-year university programs. • This year, the Utah legislature pledged a historic $50 million investment in university research. We explore how this money will support innovation, industry partnerships, economic growth, and hands-on student experience across the state. • As artificial intelligence continues disrupting industries across the world, higher education is no exception. Our panel evaluates the efforts to reshape classroom learning, enhance university operations, and prepare students for an AI-powered workforce. ️ FEATURING: • Commissioner Geoff Landward – Utah System of Higher Education • Representative Karen Peterson – (R-Clinton, House Vice Rules Chair) • President Brad Mortensen – Utah State University 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

    24 min
  8. 2026 Legislative Session Week 7

    6 MAR

    2026 Legislative Session Week 7

    In the final hours of the 2026 Legislative Session, Utah lawmakers are still working through a record number of bills. Host Jason Perry leads a discussion examining the major themes this year, whether there were any big surprises, and how all the new legislation will impact the lives of Utahns. THE DEEPER DIVE: • On the final day of the legislative session, a record number of bills have been filed, but does that mean lawmakers will approve a record number of new laws? Our panel discusses whether we achieve better policy with fewer bills. And will there ever be an appetite to limit the number? • ⚠️ This year, more than 400 bills had substitute language inserted at some point in the legislative process. We examine how this affects legislation and whether this leads to a lack of transparency in the law-making process. • ⛽ Occassionally bills are killed in a committee hearing and eventually come back later in the session and end up passing. That's what happened this year with a proposed cut to Utah's tax on gasonline. How did it change? And what is the net benefit to Utahns? • Several proposed bills this year would have impacted immigration, including one from Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Layton) that didn't pass a legislative committee. The language from his bill was eventually included in another piece of legislation. We discuss how this political maneuver played out in the Utah House of Representatives and resulted in no support from the Utah Senate. • A bill that would have changed Utah's populuar vote-by-mail system did not advance in the legislature. The proposal from Rep. Jefferson Burton (R-Provo) would have required voters to show their ID when they dropped off ballots. Will a version of this bill come back in the future? • ️ Should Utah's lieutenant governor continue overseeing the state's elections? A bill from Rep. Lisa Shepherd (R-Provo) would have shifted oversight from the L.G. to a newly-created Secretary of State. The bill did not pass, but did bring up questions about election oversight in the Beehive State. • ️ The filing period for congressional candidates in Utah opens up next week. Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT4) announced he is retiring and will not run for re-election. How will this shape the race for the other incumbents in Congress? And how will the state's new congressional boundaries influence the ballot? ️ FEATURING: • Chris Bleak – Partner, RRJ Consulting • Kate Bradshaw – Mayor, Bountiful City • Glen Mills – Political Commentator 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

    26 min
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About

The Hinckley Report with Jason Perry provides insight and analysis into the most pressing political issues facing the state of Utah.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Perry
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    329
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved - PBS Utah - The Hinckley Report
  • Show Website
    The Hinckley Report

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