Special Session with Bryan Schott

Utah Political Watch
  • 5.0 (24)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Special Session with Bryan Schott rips the curtain back on Utah politics. No spin. No access journalism. No bootlicking. Just 25+ years of experience breaking down the stories that make elected officials squirm. From backroom deals at the Capitol to the power plays you're not supposed to know about, Bryan delivers fearless political coverage and interviews with newsmakers who actually matter. This is Utah politics without the PR polish. Independent. Unfiltered. Uncomfortable for all the right people.

  1. 6D AGO

    I feel like Dora the Explorer

    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 podcast@utahpolitics.news. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

    1h 13m

  2. NOV 7

    Schrodinger's voter fraud

    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 podcast@utahpoliticalwatch.news. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

    53 min
  3. "The Press Room" replay (subscriber-exclusive livestream sample)

    NOV 4

    "The Press Room" replay (subscriber-exclusive livestream sample)

    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.

    7 min

  4. OCT 31

    A pretzel of financial shenanigans

    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 podcast@utahpoliticalwatch.news. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

    49 min

  5. OCT 23

    Expand or extinct: Democrats' 2030 redistricting crisis

    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 podcast@utahpoliticalwatch.news. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

    22 min

  6. OCT 15

    The Utah GOP finds the redistricting UNO reverse card

    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 news@utahpoliticalwatch.news. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

    54 min

  7. OCT 10

    Incumbent pile-up

    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 news@utahpoliticalwatch.news. Follow us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter

    45 min

  8. OCT 7

    New congressional maps and legislative shenanigans

    Breaking down the three proposed replacement congressional maps in Utah that have been submitted to the court. Plus, the legislative maneuvers Republicans used to fast-track a brand-new law that sets standards for evaluating those maps. Critics allege that those standards actually require the state to pass gerrymandered maps. 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 news@utahpoliticalwatch.news. Follow us on social media: Bluesky TikTok Instagram Facebook ThreadsX/Twitter Note: this is a recording of a livestream broadcast from 10/06/2025.

    52 min
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Trailer

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About

Special Session with Bryan Schott rips the curtain back on Utah politics. No spin. No access journalism. No bootlicking. Just 25+ years of experience breaking down the stories that make elected officials squirm. From backroom deals at the Capitol to the power plays you're not supposed to know about, Bryan delivers fearless political coverage and interviews with newsmakers who actually matter. This is Utah politics without the PR polish. Independent. Unfiltered. Uncomfortable for all the right people.

Information

  • Creator
    Utah Political Watch
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025, All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Special Session with Bryan Schott

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