KSL at Night

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Recapping this week’s debate double-header
Utahns got to watch two debates last night: the Vice Presidential debate and the Utah Attorney General debate. The biggest thing that stood out to the KSL at Night hosts for the Vice Presidential debate was the presence of civility and focusing on policy. With the Attorney General debate, it was the presence of 4 candidates on the stage that caught our attention. We begin our show with hosts Adam Gardiner and Taylor Morgan sharing their favorite moments from both the VP and Attorney General debates.

Which local races should you be paying attention to?
Presidential election years often mean down-ballot races get overshadowed and possibly forgotten. Even though they may not be as publicized as races like president and governor, they’re still just as important – if not more important because it’s closer to you, the voter. KSL at Night hosts Adam Gardiner and Taylor Morgan take a few minutes to share their opinions on the local races voters should be paying attention to.

Examining how the parties work and operate here in Utah
Some interesting drama has popped up on X, shedding some light into the processes and structure of the major political parties here in Utah. We take a segment to go in-depth on the inner workings of both the Republican and Democratic Parties here in Utah. Are you familiar with the State Central Committee? If not, you should be. Listen to find out why!

Salt Lake City Council votes to approve sales tax increase for downtown revitalization
The revitalization plans for downtown Salt Lake City took another step forward last night, following a city council vote to approve a sales tax increase of .5%. Many have been in support of this plan; many have also been against. City Council Chair Victoria Petro joins the show to break down hers and the city council’s vote. She also explains what will happen next.

Presidential race updates
With 33 days to go until Election Day, and about two weeks until ballots hit mailboxes here in Utah, we’re coming down to the last pushes for presidential candidates to win voters’ hearts. What has former President Donald Trump been up to in the last week? And what about Vice President Kamala Harris – what’s new there? We take a few minutes to catch listeners up-to-speed on the presidential race.

Previewing a KSL NewsRadio special: The Inspired Constitution
This weekend, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold General Conference. Between sessions, KSL NewsRadio will air several in-depth specials. Today, we chat with Inside Sources host Boyd Matheson about his special, The Inspired Constitution. Listen in for a preview of how faith plays a major role in the creation and interpretation of the United States Constitution.

News Roundup: dockworker strike, new referendum to stop downtown revitalization
Tonight’s show finishes up with a lightning news roundup of some of the stories that caught our eyes. First up, we discuss the current longshoremen strike; what exactly are they asking for? Then we take a few minutes to talk about a new petition to prevent the downtown revitalization from moving forward.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Tonight’s show finishes up with a lightning news roundup of some of the stories that caught our eyes. First up, we discuss the current longshoremen strike; what exactly are they asking for? Then we take a few minutes to talk about a new petition to prevent the downtown revitalization from moving forward.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

This weekend, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold General Conference. Between sessions, KSL NewsRadio will air several in-depth specials. Today, we chat with Inside Sources host Boyd Matheson about his special, The Inspired Constitution. Listen in for a preview of how faith plays a major role in the creation and interpretation of the United States Constitution.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

With 33 days to go until Election Day, and about two weeks until ballots hit mailboxes here in Utah, we’re coming down to the last pushes for presidential candidates to win voters’ hearts. What has former President Donald Trump been up to in the last week? And what about Vice President Kamala Harris – what’s new there? We take a few minutes to catch listeners up-to-speed on the presidential race.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

The revitalization plans for downtown Salt Lake City took another step forward last night, following a city council vote to approve a sales tax increase of .5%. Many have been in support of this plan; many have also been against. City Council Chair Victoria Petro joins the show to break down hers and the city council’s vote. She also explains what will happen next.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Some interesting drama has popped up on X, shedding some light into the processes and structure of the major political parties here in Utah. We take a segment to go in-depth on the inner workings of both the Republican and Democratic Parties here in Utah. Are you familiar with the State Central Committee? If not, you should be. Listen to find out why!

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Presidential election years often mean down-ballot races get overshadowed and possibly forgotten. Even though they may not be as publicized as races like president and governor, they’re still just as important – if not more important because it’s closer to you, the voter. KSL at Night hosts Adam Gardiner and Taylor Morgan take a few minutes to share their opinions on the local races voters should be paying attention to.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Presidential election years often mean down-ballot races get overshadowed and possibly forgotten. Even though they may not be as publicized as races like president and governor, they’re still just as important – if not more important because it’s closer to you, the voter. KSL at Night hosts Adam Gardiner and Taylor Morgan take a few minutes to share their opinions on the local races voters should be paying attention to.

Four candidates for Utah's attorney general took the debate stage at Southern Utah University Tuesday evening in the election to replace current Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. 

The candidates were Republican Derek Brown, Democrat Rudy Bautista, United Utah Party's Michelle Quist and Libertarian W. Andrew McCullough.

The debate was moderated by KSL at Night host Maura Carabello.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Previewing tomorrow’s debate double-header
Two debates air tomorrow – the Utah Attorney General and Vice Presidential debate. We kick off today’s KSL at Night previewing and discussing these two debates; Adam Gardiner thinks they’re important, but Taylor Morgan doesn’t think so. We discuss what each host is looking most forward to and what they think the candidates need to focus on in the debates in order to make their mark with voters ahead of the November election.

Examining Senator Romney’s Family Security Act
Outgoing U.S. Senator Mitt Romney has introduced the Family Security Act, which Romney says is a pro-family, pro-life, and pro-marriage bill. The act would modernize and streamline federal policies into an expanded Child Tax Credit, which is due to see major decreases in 2025 as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 expires. The KSL at Night hosts discuss the ins and outs of this new bill.

Getting an insider’s view on the recently-passed continuing resolution
Last week, the United States House and Senate both passed a continuing resolution that would fund the government into December. It’s not a full spending bill; it only contains extensions that Speaker Mike Johnson said were “absolutely necessary.” Utah Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-2) joins KSL at Night in the studio to walk our listeners through the most recent bill and the exclusion of the SAVE Act in that bill.

What’s going on with the revitalization zone near the Utah State Fairpark?
You’ve probably heard a lot about the revitalization zone in Downtown Salt Lake City, but did you know there’s another similar zone near the Utah State Fairpark? This zone was also created through a Utah State Legislature bill last year. We chat with Utah State Senator Scott Sandall, Chair of the Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District to get some updates on the plans.

Union support strong and growing for former President Donald Trump
For the past several decades, unions around the country have supported Democratic candidates, especially in presidential races. New data shows that former President Donald Trump is on track for the best performance among union voters in 40 years. KSL at Night hosts Adam Gardiner and Taylor Morgan discuss how Trump’s populist policies have earned him the support of the working class.

Ranked-choice voting in Utah: the pros and cons of this method
In 2018, the Utah lawmakers approved an opt-in pilot program that would allow cities to use ranked-choice voting in non-partisan elections. As the years have gone on, fewer and fewer cities have decided to continue using this voting method. Why is this? We dig into the topic ahead of the November election. Josh Daniels from Trust Utah Elections provides reasons why he supports ranked-choice voting; Riverton City Council Member Andy Pierucci provides an opposing view.

How to keep strong political feelings from dividing your family
Politics and religion – two topics most people try to avoid when talking with family. But in an election year, it’s not always easy to avoid talking about politics. When the topic inevitably comes up, how should you handle it? The KSL at Night hosts have a lively discussion on how to have beneficial political conversations with family members.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Politics and religion – two topics most people try to avoid when talking with family. But in an election year, it’s not always easy to avoid talking about politics. When the topic inevitably comes up, how should you handle it? The KSL at Night hosts have a lively discussion on how to have beneficial political conversations with family members.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan & Adam Gardiner

In 2018, the Utah lawmakers approved an opt-in pilot program that would allow cities to use ranked-choice voting in non-partisan elections. As the years have gone on, fewer and fewer cities have decided to continue using this voting method. Why is this? We dig into the topic ahead of the November election. Josh Daniels from Trust Utah Elections provides reasons why he supports ranked-choice voting; Riverton City Council Member Andy Pierucci provides an opposing view.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan & Adam Gardiner

For the past several decades, unions around the country have supported Democratic candidates, especially in presidential races. New data shows that former President Donald Trump is on track for the best performance among union voters in 40 years. KSL at Night hosts Adam Gardiner and Taylor Morgan discuss how Trump’s populist policies have earned him the support of the working class.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan & Adam Gardiner

You’ve probably heard a lot about the revitalization zone in Downtown Salt Lake City, but did you know there’s another similar zone near the Utah State Fairpark? This zone was also created through a Utah State Legislature bill last year. We chat with Utah State Senator Scott Sandall, Chair of the Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District to get some updates on the plans.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan & Adam Gardiner

Last week, the United States House and Senate both passed a continuing resolution that would fund the government into December. It’s not a full spending bill; it only contains extensions that Speaker Mike Johnson said were “absolutely necessary.” Utah Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-2) joins KSL at Night in the studio to walk our listeners through the most recent bill and the exclusion of the SAVE Act in that bill.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan & Adam Gardiner

Outgoing U.S. Senator Mitt Romney has introduced the Family Security Act, which Romney says is a pro-family, pro-life, and pro-marriage bill. The act would modernize and streamline federal policies into an expanded Child Tax Credit, which is due to see major decreases in 2025 as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 expires. The KSL at Night hosts discuss the ins and outs of this new bill.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan & Adam Gardiner

Two debates air tomorrow – the Utah Attorney General and Vice Presidential debate. We kick off today’s KSL at Night previewing and discussing these two debates; Adam Gardiner thinks they’re important, but Taylor Morgan doesn’t think so. We discuss what each host is looking most forward to and what they think the candidates need to focus on in the debates in order to make their mark with voters ahead of the November election.

Hosts: Greg Skordas and Adam Gardiner

Supreme Court rules on Amendment D; what’s next for Amendments A, B, and C?
Now that the Supreme Court has sided with the 3rd District Court regarding Amendment D, it will no longer be counted on the November ballot. Is that the end of the story, or is there anything else that could happen? Part of the reason Amendment D was struck down was over a deadline for publishing the amendment in newspapers around the state. That same thing would apply to Amendments A, B, and C, so are they automatically dead in the water? KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas explains the future of the four amendments on this election’s ballot.

NYC Mayor indicted on charges of corruption, bribery, wire fraud
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has been indicted on several charges of corruption, bribery, and wire fraud. Just a few months earlier across the Hudson River, Senator Bob Menendez was convicted of similar corruption charges. What on earth is going on there? We catch listeners up on the latest politicians to undergo investigations over misconduct.

Is it legal for politicians to lie while campaigning?
In campaign ads and on debate stages, we often hear politicians stretching the truth. While it might not be ethical, it turns out it’s completely legal. Why is this? Why do we allow candidates and politicians to lie and get away with it? We discuss why it’s so difficult to police what politicians say, and the negative effects that occur when we try to police them.

A discussion on privacy vs. transparency for public officials
Once again, a public records panel has sided with KSL, as the KSL Investigators continue working to get access to Attorney General Sean Reyes’ official calendar. While we wait for appeals to work through the process, we take a moment to have a discussion on privacy versus transparency for our elected officials. Adam Gardiner is a lobbyist on the hill, and shares some interesting insights into this discussion.

KSL Investigates: cell phone companies failing victims of domestic violence
Victims of domestic violence are supposed to have the ability to separate their phone service from those of their abusers, even allowing them to transfer to another provider at no cost. It’s part of the federal Safe Connections Act. A KSL Investigates analysis finds that among the six largest cell phone providers in the country, the process is slow and cumbersome, making it a burden instead of a protection. Courtney Johns, KSL Investigative Reporter joins us to break down her latest findings.

Violent conflict growing around the world
A new report says nearly half of all the countries in the world are involved in some kind of a violent conflict. No single area of the country seems to be immune from this; why is it so widespread? We share thoughts and theories on how the United States’ changing role in the world has contributed to this growing violence.

News Roundup: Support waning for the First Amendment, developments with Martha Hughes Cannon
We finish the show discussing some interesting stories that caught our eye recently. First up, new polling shows support waning for the First Amendment. Wait, what? Then we get some updates on Martha Hughes Cannon as she gets closer to being installed in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

Hosts: Greg Skordas & Adam Gardiner

We finish the show discussing some interesting stories that caught our eye recently. First up, new polling shows support waning for the First Amendment. Wait, what? Then we get some updates on Martha Hughes Cannon as she gets closer to being installed in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

Hosts: Greg Skordas & Adam Gardiner

A new report says nearly half of all the countries in the world are involved in some kind of a violent conflict. No single area of the country seems to be immune from this; why is it so widespread? We share thoughts and theories on how the United States’ changing role in the world has contributed to this growing violence.

Hosts: Greg Skordas & Adam Gardiner

Victims of domestic violence are supposed to have the ability to separate their phone service from those of their abusers, even allowing them to transfer to another provider at no cost. It’s part of the federal Safe Connections Act. A KSL Investigates analysis finds that among the six largest cell phone providers in the country, the process is slow and cumbersome, making it a burden instead of a protection. Courtney Johns, KSL Investigative Reporter joins us to break down her latest findings.

Hosts: Greg Skordas & Adam Gardiner

Once again, a public records panel has sided with KSL, as the KSL Investigators continue working to get access to Attorney General Sean Reyes’ official calendar. While we wait for appeals to work through the process, we take a moment to have a discussion on privacy versus transparency for our elected officials. Adam Gardiner is a lobbyist on the hill, and shares some interesting insights into this discussion.

Hosts: Greg Skordas & Adam Gardiner

In campaign ads and on debate stages, we often hear politicians stretching the truth. While it might not be ethical, it turns out it’s completely legal. Why is this? Why do we allow candidates and politicians to lie and get away with it? We discuss why it’s so difficult to police what politicians say, and the negative effects that occur when we try to police them.

Hosts: Greg Skordas & Adam Gardiner

Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has been indicted on several charges of corruption, bribery, and wire fraud. Just a few months earlier across the Hudson River, Senator Bob Menendez was convicted of similar corruption charges. What on earth is going on there? We catch listeners up on the latest politicians to undergo investigations over misconduct.

Hosts: Greg Skordas & Adam Gardiner

Now that the Supreme Court has sided with the 3rd District Court regarding Amendment D, it will no longer be counted on the November ballot. Is that the end of the story, or is there anything else that could happen? Part of the reason Amendment D was struck down was over a deadline for publishing the amendment in newspapers around the state. That same thing would apply to Amendments A, B, and C, so are they automatically dead in the water? KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas explains the future of the four amendments on this election’s ballot.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Updates on Amendments A, D lawsuits

Earlier today, attorneys for the Legislature argued before the Utah Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling on Amendment D. That ballot measure would ensure the Legislature’s power to repeal, amend or ignore voter-approved ballot initiatives. In a lower district court today, another hearing was held regarding the lawsuit over Amendment A, which would change the way income taxes are used. KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas joins the show to explain the arguments for each.

The biggest threat to Utah’s cannabis industry is the black market

Utah’s medical Cannabis program has been around for almost five years. Some companies say that almost 80,000 people are considered medical cannabis patients in Utah. The biggest problem is still the black market. Why should the state care where people are getting their Cannabis from? Taylor and Adam discuss

Do we need another presidential debate?

A new poll from Quinnipiac University found that 64% of people want to see another debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump. If the two sides were to agree on another debate, how much would be different? Is either candidate capable of showing us anything new? This raises the question… do we really need another debate? The hosts explore both sides of the argument.

China launches an ICBM into the Pacific Ocean

Earlier this morning the Chinese military launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a “dummy” warhead into the Pacific Ocean. This is the first launch since 1980. This comes while the UN General Assembly is meeting in New York. Adam Kozloski, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, joins the conversation about how dangerous this is for countries in the region, and what it means for the US.

Senate stays open

Senate republicans are choosing to avoid a spending shutdown a few weeks before the election. Even with former president Donald Trump calling to use government funding to push for voter registration reform, GOP lawmakers are moving ahead with caution, prioritizing the campaign trail, rather than focussing on a budget battle. The hosts discuss.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ plans for the housing shortage

One of the big points in VP Kamala Harris’ plan to fix the housing shortage is a $25,000 down-payment support to first-time home owners. The budget for this plan is 100 Billion dollars over four years. Do we have enough money to put that in place? What potential problems come with this plan? What are some of the other options?

News roundup: Swearing politicians, Utah Lake, Japanese robots with skin

A British news source called VP Harris the “sweariest” president. Experts say that Utah Lake isn’t as dirty as it used to be, and Japanese scientists are developing robots with regenerative skin tissue, and they can smile. Taylor and Adam hit all these topics in the last segment of the night.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

A British news source called VP Harris the “sweariest” president. Experts say that Utah Lake isn’t as dirty as it used to be, and Japanese scientists are developing robots with regenerative skin tissue, and they can smile. Taylor and Adam hit all these topics in the last segment of the night.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

One of the big points in VP Kamala Harris’ plan to fix the housing shortage is a $25,000 down-payment support to first-time home owners. The budget for this plan is 100 Billion dollars over four years. Do we have enough money to put that in place? What potential problems come with this plan? What are some of the other options?

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Senate republicans are choosing to avoid a spending shutdown a few weeks before the election. Even with former president Donald Trump calling to use government funding to push for voter registration reform, GOP lawmakers are moving ahead with caution, prioritizing the campaign trail, rather than focussing on a budget battle. The hosts discuss.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Earlier this morning the Chinese military launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a “dummy” warhead into the Pacific Ocean. This is the first launch since 1980. This comes while the UN General Assembly is meeting in New York. Adam Kozloski, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, joins the conversation about how dangerous this is for countries in the region, and what it means for the US.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

A new poll from Quinnipiac University found that 64% of people want to see another debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump. If the two sides were to agree on another debate, how much would be different? Is either candidate capable of showing us anything new? This raises the question… do we really need another debate? The hosts explore both sides of the argument.

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Utah’s medical Cannabis program has been around for almost five years. Some companies say that almost 80,000 people are considered medical cannabis patients in Utah. The biggest problem is still the black market. Why should the state care where people are getting their Cannabis from? Taylor and Adam discuss

Hosts: Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner

Earlier today, attorneys for the Legislature argued before the Utah Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling on Amendment D. That ballot measure would ensure the Legislature’s power to repeal, amend or ignore voter-approved ballot initiatives. In a lower district court today, another hearing was held regarding the lawsuit over Amendment A, which would change the way income taxes are used. KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas joins the show to explain the arguments for each.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

Democrats outspending Republicans in political advertising in Salt Lake City
New political advertising data shows that in Salt Lake City, the Democratic Party has outspent the Republican Party by roughly $130,000. Salt Lake City is generally seen as a Democratic stronghold in Utah, so why spend more money advertising to people who will probably already vote for your candidate? We discuss this question and compare political advertising here to spending in a swing state like Arizona.

Senators Lee, Romney share their thoughts on the presidential candidates
Utah’s Senators are sharing their opinions and concerns about each of the presidential candidates. Senator Lee says he’s worried about Kamala Harris’ positions on religious freedom. Senator Romney says he’s worried about Donald Trump’s potential vendetta against people who supported the investigations into January 6th. KSL at Night hosts Rusty Cannon and Leah Murry go in-depth with their thoughts.

Should former President Trump agree to another presidential debate?
Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris has accepted an invitation from CNN to do another presidential debate on October 23rd. Republican nominee Donald Trump previously said he wouldn’t participate in another debate against Harris, but should he reconsider? A growing number of Republicans believe he should debate again. We talk about the whys behind this growing pressure.

President Biden holds first cabinet meeting in nearly a year
After nearly a year of not holding a cabinet meeting, President Joe Biden finally held one last week. And shortly after beginning the meeting, he turned a majority of the time over to First Lady Jill Biden. This whole thing got our team wondering, “what happened that resulted in a regular meeting not happening for almost a year?” The KSL at Night hosts share some history on the cabinet and share their thoughts on the earlier question.

The latest developments in the fight over access to AG Sean Reyes’ calendar
As the end of his term approaches and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes wraps up his time as the state’s top law enforcer, his office is pushing ahead with legal battles to keep the press and public from seeing his work schedule. Annie Knox and Daniella Rivera, members of the KSL Investigators have been involved in this fight for quite some time, and join us to share updates on a recent public records panel hearing.

UTA working on long-term plans in preparation for the Olympics
We’re 10 years out from the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and there are several projects in the works between now and then. One of the projects – which is unrelated to the Olympics but will directly support it – is the double-tracking of FrontRunner. Jay Fox, Executive Director of UTA joins the program to share some updates on that project as well as several other long-range projects in the works.

Examining the growth and effect of the Hispanic/Latino community in Utah
In Utah, Hispanics – which obviously is a very broad term – make up more than 15% of the state’s population; that makes it the second largest racial or ethnic group in the state. We’re in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, so we take some time to discuss the growth of this community in Utah. We also share thoughts on how this group contains many diverse political views too.

Supporting parents and children through tax policy
The Trump administration’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is set to expire in 2025 and with it, major changes will come to the child tax credit. That got us thinking about different ways the government supports parents and families. Obviously it’s not all about the government doing it, so what other kinds of resources are available? KSL at Night hosts Rusty Cannon and Leah Murray discuss.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

The Trump administration’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is set to expire in 2025 and with it, major changes will come to the child tax credit. That got us thinking about different ways the government supports parents and families. Obviously it’s not all about the government doing it, so what other kinds of resources are available? KSL at Night hosts Rusty Cannon and Leah Murray discuss.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

In Utah, Hispanics – which obviously is a very broad term – make up more than 15% of the state’s population; that makes it the second largest racial or ethnic group in the state. We’re in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, so we take some time to discuss the growth of this community in Utah. We also share thoughts on how this group contains many diverse political views too.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

We’re 10 years out from the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and there are several projects in the works between now and then. One of the projects – which is unrelated to the Olympics but will directly support it – is the double-tracking of FrontRunner. Jay Fox, Executive Director of UTA, joins the program to share some updates on that project as well as several other long-range projects in the works.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

As the end of his term approaches and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes wraps up his time as the state’s top law enforcer, his office is pushing ahead with legal battles to keep the press and public from seeing his work schedule. Annie Knox and Daniella Rivera, members of the KSL Investigators have been involved in this fight for quite some time, and join us to share updates on a recent public records panel hearing.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

After nearly a year of not holding a cabinet meeting, President Joe Biden finally held one last week. And shortly after beginning the meeting, he turned a majority of the time over to First Lady Jill Biden. This whole thing got our team wondering, “what happened that resulted in a regular meeting not happening for almost a year?” The KSL at Night hosts share some history on the cabinet and share their thoughts on the earlier question.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris has accepted an invitation from CNN to do another presidential debate on October 23rd. Republican nominee Donald Trump previously said he wouldn’t participate in another debate against Harris, but should he reconsider? A growing number of Republicans believe he should debate again. We talk about the whys behind this growing pressure.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

Utah’s Senators are sharing their opinions and concerns about each of the presidential candidates. Senator Lee says he’s worried about Kamala Harris’ positions on religious freedom. Senator Romney says he’s worried about Donald Trump’s potential vendetta against people who supported the investigations into January 6th. KSL at Night hosts Rusty Cannon and Leah Murry go in-depth with their thoughts.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Rusty Cannon

New political advertising data shows that in Salt Lake City, the Democratic Party has outspent the Republican Party by roughly $130,000. Salt Lake City is generally seen as a Democratic stronghold in Utah, so why spend more money advertising to people who will probably already vote for your candidate? We discuss this question and compare political advertising here to spending in a swing state like Arizona.

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan

Utah court rules that election returns are protected
A Utah Court of Appeals has ruled that four types of election return records are protected and private: Ballot Images, Cast Vote Records, Project Backup Databases, and Tabulator Tapes. The ruling comes following a lawsuit requesting those kinds of records be made public. KSL at Night hosts Taylor Morgan and Maura Carabello talk about the importance of secret ballots as outlined in the United States Constitution.

Going in-depth on constitutional amendments on the ballot this cycle
You’ve probably heard a lot about Amendments A and D; those two have been involved in lawsuits recently. But this election cycle, there are also amendments proposed on school funding and county sheriffs, Amendments B and C. We go in-depth on those other two amendments and share perspectives from those in favor and those against. We also take some time to discuss the number of amendments on the ballot this year. Is it too much? Listen to hear our hosts’ thoughts!

Utah takes its fight over public lands to national advertising and public relations
In August, Utah filed a lawsuit against the federal government over who manages and controls public lands. While the state waits for the US Supreme Court to hear or dismiss the lawsuit, state leaders have decided to advertise this lawsuit – and the management of public lands in general – all over the United States. Political strategists Maura and Taylor share their insights about this PR and advertising move.

Fmr. President Trump says he won’t run in 2028 if he loses in November
Former President Donald Trump says that if he loses in November, he won’t run again in 2028. His third presidential bid has been marred with attacks from courts around the country; has that taken a toll? Could two assassination attempts also have contributed to his decision to wrap things up after this election? The KSL at Night hosts share their thoughts on this new announcement.

Government shutdown averted, at least until December 20th
Congress has agreed to a spending deal that would avert a government shutdown. The continuing resolution would kick the can down the road by funding the government only until December 20th. Prior plans had failed due to the attachment of the SAVE Act. Now that Speaker Johnson has removed it, the funding bill should have enough support to pass. We dig into the whole funding package and discuss it.

The frustrations and difficulties of canceling subscriptions
Admit it – you’ve done it before. You subscribe to an app, or a streaming service, or something else, set it on auto-pay, and quickly forget about it. And oftentimes, the price goes up, maybe without your knowledge. We finish the show discussing how lawmakers are trying to make it easier to track subscription price changes and cancel those very same subscriptions.

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan

Admit it – you’ve done it before. You subscribe to an app, or a streaming service, or something else, set it on auto-pay, and quickly forget about it. And oftentimes, the price goes up, maybe without your knowledge. We finish the show discussing how lawmakers are trying to make it easier to track subscription price changes and cancel those very same subscriptions.

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan

Congress has agreed to a spending deal that would avert a government shutdown. The continuing resolution would kick the can down the road by funding the government only until December 20th. Prior plans had failed due to the attachment of the SAVE Act. Now that Speaker Johnson has removed it, the funding bill should have enough support to pass. We dig into the whole funding package and discuss it.

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan

Former President Donald Trump says that if he loses in November, he won’t run again in 2028. His third presidential bid has been marred with attacks from courts around the country; has that taken a toll? Could two assassination attempts also have contributed to his decision to wrap things up after this election? The KSL at Night hosts share their thoughts on this new announcement.

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan

In August, Utah filed a lawsuit against the federal government over who manages and controls public lands. While the state waits for the US Supreme Court to hear or dismiss the lawsuit, state leaders have decided to advertise this lawsuit – and the management of public lands in general – all over the United States. Political strategists Maura and Taylor share their insights about this PR and advertising move.

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan

You’ve probably heard a lot about Amendments A and D; those two have been involved in lawsuits recently. But this election cycle, there are also amendments proposed on school funding and county sheriffs, Amendments B and C. We go in-depth on those other two amendments and share perspectives from those in favor and those against. We also take some time to discuss the number of amendments on the ballot this year. Is it too much? Listen to hear our hosts’ thoughts!

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan

A Utah Court of Appeals has ruled that four types of election return records are protected and private: Ballot Images, Cast Vote Records, Project Backup Databases, and Tabulator Tapes. The ruling comes following a lawsuit requesting those kinds of records be made public. KSL at Night hosts Taylor Morgan and Maura Carabello talk about the importance of secret ballots as outlined in the United States Constitution.

Hosts: Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter

UEA files lawsuit against state of Utah over Amendment A
A lawsuit has been filed by the Utah Education Association (UEA) over Amendment A, a ballot question that asks voters for permission to remove the income tax earmark for education. The question also proposes removing the state sales tax on food. UEA makes very similar claims as the lawsuit filed over Amendment D, which is now working its way through the courts. KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas breaks down this new filing for our listeners.

State lawmakers want to crack down on illegally-registered vehicles
We’ve probably noticed it before driving around Utah – a vehicle with an out-of-state license plate that seems to be in Utah… all the time. Sometimes, those vehicles may have been bought and licensed in a state without sales tax, but are used primarily in Utah. When that happens, the state of Utah misses out on thousands of dollars in taxes and fees – things meant to pay for roads. State lawmakers are now proposing a major crack-down on this kind of tax evasion; listen to hear more about it.

Latest funding bills fails in the US House; government one day closer to shutdown
It might sound like a broken record – once again, Congress is struggling to pass a bill that would fund the government beginning in October. The continuing resolution failed in the House 202 to 220, with 14 Republicans going against the party by voting against and 3 Democrats breaking ranks by voting for the bill. We break down the rationale some of the representatives give and discuss the politics behind the votes.

Polls: Harris, Trump are neck-in-neck in 7 battleground states
New polling finds Trump leading Harris in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin; Harris is leading in Michigan and North Carolina. In Nevada, both candidates are tied at 48%. As the candidates get closer to each other in the polls, will it actually matter? The Teamsters union has also announced that they wouldn’t endorse either candidate; will that play a major role? The KSL at Night hosts share their thoughts.

Utah cities using ADUs to help with housing shortages, high costs
Like many cities around the state – and the country – Farmington is facing a housing crunch. High costs and low availability is making it difficult for people to stay in their hometowns. It’s an especially troublesome barrier for new couples and elderly folks. Officials from Farmington testified before a legislative committee about their efforts to help with the issue: ADUs. Listen in for more explanation.

Study: Latter-day Saints more resilient to political division, polarization
A national study finds that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are among the most resilient to political division and polarization. Why is this? With Latter-day Saints making up a majority of Utah’s population, could this kind of resilience contribute to the “Utah way?” KSL at Night hosts Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter discuss the reasons given in the study.

Dept. of Corrections partnering with Utah State University for leadership classes
A new partnership between the Utah Department of Corrections and Utah State University will provide employees with an opportunity to learn leadership skills. Glen Haas, DPA is the Correctional Leadership Development Program Director at Utah State University joins the program to explain how this program came about and how it’ll help inspire correctional officers to learn and grow professionally.

Do celebrity endorsements of candidates actually help?
Years and years of data show that celebrity endorsements of candidates don’t actually make a difference in terms of how people vote. So then why do celebrities still do it? And why do people – especially on social media – get so fired up when a famous person says they’re voting for a certain candidate? We finish the show discussing the role these kinds of endorsements have… or don’t have.

Hosts: Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter

Years and years of data show that celebrity endorsements of candidates don’t actually make a difference in terms of how people vote. So then why do celebrities still do it? And why do people – especially on social media – get so fired up when a famous person says they’re voting for a certain candidate? We finish the show discussing the role these kinds of endorsements have… or don’t have.

Hosts: Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter

A new partnership between the Utah Department of Corrections and Utah State University will provide employees with an opportunity to learn leadership skills. Glen Haas, DPA is the Correctional Leadership Development Program Director at Utah State University joins the program to explain how this program came about and how it’ll help inspire correctional officers to learn and grow professionally.

Hosts: Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter

A national study finds that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are among the most resilient to political division and polarization. Why is this? With Latter-day Saints making up a majority of Utah’s population, could this kind of resilience contribute to the “Utah way?” KSL at Night hosts Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter discuss the reasons given in the study.

Hosts: Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter

Like many cities around the state – and the country – Farmington is facing a housing crunch. High costs and low availability is making it difficult for people to stay in their hometowns. It’s an especially troublesome barrier for new couples and elderly folks. Officials from Farmington testified before a legislative committee about their efforts to help with the issue: ADUs. Listen in for more explanation!

Hosts: Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter

New polling finds Trump leading Harris in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin; Harris is leading in Michigan and North Carolina. In Nevada, both candidates are tied at 48%. As the candidates get closer to each other in the polls, will it actually matter? The Teamsters union has also announced that they wouldn’t endorse either candidate; will that play a major role? The KSL at Night hosts share their thoughts.

Hosts: Rusty Cannon and Marty Carpenter

It might sound like a broken record – once again, Congress is struggling to pass a bill that would fund the government beginning in October. The continuing resolution failed in the House 202 to 220, with 14 Republicans going against the party by voting against and 3 Democrats breaking ranks by voting for the bill. We break down the rationale some of the representatives give and discuss the politics behind the votes.