Inside Utah Politics with Lindsay Aerts

Debate week in Utah, Trump fights low approval ratings

Primary season is heating up in Utah as candidate for Utah's congressional race on both sides of the aisle prepare to take the debate stage. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan join Lindsay to set both the expectations and the stakes. We are just days away from ballots going to Utahns across the state. Plus, President Donald Trump is dealing with low approval ratings here in Utah. The president has always had a tougher time with Utah voters than those in other red state. We look into what it might take to change that as his party heads into an important midterm election.

State leaders preparing for a long, dry summer as Gov. Cox declares drought

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has declared a drought emergency after a record low snowpack has left our reservoirs below where we'd like them to be heading into the hottest and driest part of the year. It comes amid growing tensions over data center development in the Utah, with locals at city council meetings across the state voicing their concerns about potential environmental impacts of these projects meant to support emerging technology and economic growth. Lindsay Aerts sits down with decision makers in the state's Department of Natural Resources to understand how the state goes about making decisions about our state's water use.

New polling on data centers and CD2, Senate Republicans meet with AG about DOJ fund

It's a data driven episode of IUP+ for you today. Rep. Blake Moore's campaign released new internal polling data that shows him with a comfortable lead over state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee. We're also seeing a new local poll digging into how Utahns feel about plans for a data center in Box Elder County, which found that most people are not convinced the economic gains justify the water tradeoffs. Panelists Leah Murray and Adam Gardiner join Lindsay to assess how seriously both polls should be taken and what insight we can glean either way. Plus, GOP lawmakers sound off on the DOJ plan to create a $1.776B fund for those who believe the department prosecuted them for political purposes.

Trump administration visits China, Prop 4 debate shaping CD-2 primary

President Donald Trump is wrapping up his visit to China to discuss economic collaboration with a large group of business leaders in tow. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Adam Gardiner join Lindsay to discuss what the two countries have to offer one another and how the US should approach the idea of greater economic and security collaboration with China. Plus, Prop 4 is proving to be a major topic of discussion in Utah's CD-2 Republican primary contest. Rep. Blake Moore defends his role in the anti-gerrymandering effort while supporters of Rep. Karianne Lisonbee accuse him of paving the way for Utah to send a Democrat to Congress.

Justice Hagen steps down, Sen. Curtis considering running for governor

Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen is stepping down after allegations that she was involved in an extramarital affair with the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs suing the state over redistricting. State leaders had been promising a new investigation into the claims that Utah's Judicial Conduct Commission found to be speculative because they don't believe the commission went far enough to investigate them. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray join Lindsay Aerts to unpack what the move signals for judicial independence in Utah. Plus, Utah Senator John Curtis seems to be considering running for governor. We analyze why we're hearing about those plans so far ahead of primary season and under two years into his first term in the senate.