Special Session with Bryan Schott

Ben McAdams on his congressional comeback

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.

"People want fighters right now." Sen. Nate Blouin on his congressional campaign

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 [https://www.nateforutah.com/] Tip Jar: This political hellscape doesn't document itself. Throw some cash in the tip jar [https://www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/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 [https://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 [podcast@utahpolitics.news]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/utahpoliticalwatch.news] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@schotthappens] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utah.politics/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/utahpoliticalwatch] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@utah.politics] X/Twitter [https://x.com/utahpolitics]

Will the maps stand?

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 [https://www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/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 [https://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 [podcast@utahpolitics.news]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/utahpoliticalwatch.news] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@schotthappens] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utah.politics/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/utahpoliticalwatch] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@utah.politics] X/Twitter [https://x.com/utahpolitics]

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 [https://www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/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 [https://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 [podcast@utahpolitics.news]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/utahpoliticalwatch.news] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@schotthappens] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utah.politics/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/utahpoliticalwatch] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@utah.politics] X/Twitter [https://x.com/utahpolitics]

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 [https://www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/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 [https://www.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 [podcast@utahpoliticalwatch.news]. Stalk us on social media: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/utahpoliticalwatch.news] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@schotthappens] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utah.politics/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/utahpoliticalwatch] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@utah.politics] X/Twitter [https://x.com/utahpolitics]