Take 2 – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Take 2 Podcast

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025

Guests: Heidi Hatch, Maura Carabello (Exoro Group), Sen. Daniel McCay

Redistricting New Maps

• Public comment period runs for 10 days, through Oct. 5
• Feedback can be submitted at redistricting.utah.gov
• Special session scheduled for Oct. 6 to vote on the new map
• Final maps will be submitted to the courts for approval

Great Salt Lake Water Woes

• Gov. Spencer Cox launches GSL 2034, a public-private charter urging all Utahns to help restore the lake
• Comes with a $200 million pledge, half already committed by Ducks Unlimited over 10 years
• New philanthropic coalition Great Salt Lake Rising aims to raise an additional $100 million within a year, led by Josh Romney
• Cox wants lake elevation back to 4,198 feet by the 2034 Winter Olympics (currently at 4,191 feet)

Charlie Kirk Monument at UVU

• Petition supporting memorial: 20,000 signatures
• Petition opposing memorial: 13,000 signatures
• UVU announced creation of a Memorial Committee, co-chaired by Scott M. Smith (UVU Board of Trustees, Qualtrics co-founder) and Amanda Covington (Utah Board of Higher Education chair)
• Committee will include students, political leaders, and other stakeholders

USU Turning Point Event – Tuesday, Sept. 30

• Featured guests: Gov. Spencer Cox, Sen. Mike Lee, Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz
• Some surprise at Cox’s participation after past criticism from Charlie Kirk in 2022
• Still unclear if the format will be a panel or Q&A

Sutherland Institute Transition

• Rick Larsen to step down as CEO on Jan. 1, 2026, and become president emeritus

One Week Out from Possible Government Shutdown

• Federal government faces shutdown if Congress fails to pass spending bill by Oct. 1
• Republicans and Democrats remain divided, particularly over extending enhanced ACA premium subsidies

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Hosted by Heidi Hatch with guests Maura Carabello of the Exoro Group and Utah GOP Chair Rob Axson

On this week’s Take 2 Podcast, we look at the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem. Utah GOP Chair Rob Axson, a friend of Kirk, and Maura Carabello of the Exoro Group join the discussion on the political and emotional fallout one week later.

Topics this week:

Charlie Kirk assassination at UVU

• George Zinn, known in political circles, diverted police attention and was arrested on child pornography charges
• 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the accused shooter, faces the death penalty
• Utah released Robinson’s mugshot despite state law prohibiting it
• A Pennsylvania man was arrested in Utah after posting an online threat against UVU
• Debate over university security and whether DPS or local law enforcement should step in
• Businesses and universities firing employees over online comments after the assassination

Utah’s special session pushed back to Oct. 6

Utah Legislature releases list of lawmakers who will oversee redistricting

Two weeks until Congress faces its budget deadline

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Greg Hughes & Maura Carabello

• Congressional Hearings on Aliens
• Age limits for federal office
• Romney wants everyone out of the Presidential race.
• DeSantis in Utah answered question on new African American Ed Curriculum
• Former President Trump facing new charges.
• Presidential Poll Numbers
• Hunter Biden Plea deal Falls Through

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Greg Hughes & Maura Carabello

Utah CD2 Race: Exclusive, Greg Hughes talks about his run, loss, and convention.

• Greg’s campaign experience
• Celeste Maloy wins in 5th round at convention.
• Lawsuit filed by R Quinn Denning contends Maloy is not qualified.
• Becky Edwards and Bruce Hough get signatures needed.

Presidential Race

• DeSantis in Utah for fundraising and open event at Capitol Friday
• Biden is in political/legal trouble with Hunter Biden Laptop/IRS FBI whistleblower.
• Trump is in political/legal trouble new indictment coming related to January 6th
• 3rd Party? No Labels Formed in 2010, raised $70 million this year for “unity ticket.”

Gov. Cox new campaign for civility “disagreeing better.”

• Utah's governor has officially taken the reins as chair of the National Governors Association, a public policy organization comprised of the nation’s governors.
• As part of his chairmanship, Cox is launching an initiative to try to chip away at one of the country's biggest problems – toxicity in politics.

UDOT approves Gondola Project

• Environmental groups push back

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Former US Attorney for the State of Utah Brett Tolman and Executive Director of Right on Crime

• School debt forgiveness ruling Friday Am release.
• Affirmative Action SCOTUS decision: 6-3 and 6-2 decision
• LGBTQ website SCOTUS ruling
• Trump Charges
• Hunter Biden Plea deal/Whistle Blower
• 2-tiered Justice system in the US- does it exist- if so how and where do we start fresh and start holding the powerful accountable?
• First Step Act/Criminal Justice reform does it play into any of the current high profile political cases?
• Tolman was appointed by President George Bush in 2006 as the United States Attorney for the District of Utah and held that office for nearly 4 years from 2006-2009.
• He worked with President Trump to pass the First Step Act/Criminal Justice Reform. Tolman is the Executive Director for Right on Crime.

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello - Exoro Group, Rep & Candice Pierucci - Utah House member

• SCOTUS decisions, still no decision on student loans
• Utah GOP Debates wrap up, 5 candidates will collect signatures/Convention Saturday
• Bibles are Back in Davis County Schools
• Bears Ears land swap: Backed by Tribes
• U.S. House votes to send Articles of Impeachment against President Biden to the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, 219-208.
• Hunter Biden plea deal: 2 tier Justice or good for him pleading and taking ownership.

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello - Exoro Group & Mike Schultz - House Majority Leader

• CD2 Race is set: 22 candidates compared to 26 when Chafetz resigned.
• Special Session Committee hearing discussed book bans from the Bible to pornography.
• Brian Redd new Executive Director Depart Corrections- can he fix probation and parole?
• 52% of Utahns disapprove of a 2023 law that would require all abortions to be performed in hospitals, a new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics shows.
• Supreme Court preserves law that aims to keep Native American children with tribal families.

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello - Exoro Group & John Dougall - Utah State Auditor

INDICTMENT: Former President Donald Trump – 1st American President criminally indicted by the Department of Justice.

Congressman Chris Stewart Sets Sept. 15 as resignation date

Gov. Cox sets up special election guidelines.

Congressional District 2 filings: How many people seek signatures.

Special Session: Will decided when voters will have to be registered as Republicans.

Road Rage On The Rise: Is there something that can or should be done legislatively?

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Black Alabama Voters

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Host: Heidi Hatch

Guests: Maura Carabello - Exoro Group & Mike Schultz - Majority Leader Utah House

• Governor Pride Month Declaration: A little shorter than in years past.
• Congressman Chris Stewart Resigns (No date set)
• New Utah Law passed in 2020 for replacement Election.
• Possible Candidates
• Debt Ceiling Vote
• Senate Voted to undo Biden student Loan Relief: Biden says he will veto.
• Amy Fowler SLC Council Resigns
• Davis Schools remove Bible from Elementary and Jr, High Libraries: Vulgarity and Violence

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