Take 2

This week on Take 2 Podcast: Heidi Hatch is joined by Maura Carabello of the Exoro Group and Utah GOP Chair Rob Axson.  The 2026 election sprint: Mail ballots go out Oct. 13 ahead of Utah’s Nov. 3 general election. The new Salt Lake-centered 1st Congressional District and whether it could help determine the balance of power in Washington. Breaking down the CD1 debate between Democrat Ben McAd...

Heidi Hatch is joined by Maura Carabello with the Exoro Group and Rep. Ryan Wilcox, who sits on the Utah Legislative Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee. The 158-page UVU campus-safety review following the Charlie Kirk shooting: staffing, coordination and accountability. The Supreme Court allowing the Trump administration to use the SAVE database to check voter citizenship — and...

This week on the Take 2 podcast, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson joins Heidi Hatch to discuss Utah’s legal fight with the U.S. Department of Justice over access to voters’ unredacted personal information. The interview was recorded Sept. 14, just hours before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the separate USPS case. Henderson says the lawsuit will not affect Utah’s upcoming election.

Heidi Hatch joins Maura Carabello and former Utah State Auditor John Dougall to examine how America has changed in the 25 years since 9/11 and debate plans to memorialize Charlie Kirk at UVU. They also discuss Gov. Spencer Cox’s “Disagree Better” campaign, questions surrounding his growing national profile and a Justice Department lawsuit challenging Utah’s in-state tuition policy for undocumented...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group, and Doug Fiefia, Utah representative and Senate candidate Utah Legislature dives into issues months before the session To Flock or Not to Flock? This week: Utah lawmaker to propose “parameters” for Flock cameras and ALPRs Two months out from Election Day President Trump on the campaign trail Bears Ears and Grand Staircase protection...

Take 2 Podcast Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello and Adam Gardiner Welcome back after the Take 2 summer break. While we were taking a break - Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s divorce filing and whether she will run for reelection as Luz Escamilla enters the race. Sen. Todd Weiler’s new role leading the Sutherland Institute. Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante resized....

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group & Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz Utah Legislative Primary Races Lessons Learned, who will lead the Utah Senate Wildfire Crisis in Utah Fallen Firefighters Three wildland firefighters killed on the Utah-Colorado border Two additional firefighters seriously injured Cottonwood Fire More than 100 condos and 30 cabins destroyed at Eagle Point Reso...

Hosts: Heidi Hatch Maura Carabello, Exoro Group Rob Axson, Utah GOP Chair (joining from Washington, D.C.) Fire danger across Utah Statewide fireworks restrictions and the new law allowing cities to designate safe discharge zones. The Cottonwood Fire in Beaver County, now expected to become the costliest wildfire in Utah history. Gov. Spencer Cox's comments on the destruction. Looking ahead to the...

HOST: Heidi HatchGUESTS: Maura Carabello, John Dougall ICE plans to sell warehouse facilities in Salt Lake, six other cities moving back to existing detention space “From day one, DHS has remained singularly focused on removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from the United States and is always evaluating the best methods to do so. These heinous criminals, once arrested, should be...

THE POLITICS OF FIRE  Fires in Utah in full swing this week Tooele County, multiple fires, arson arrest SLC Capitol Hill Fire - State says started by homeless, City says they don’t know Mike Lee ignites controversy after adding roadless rule repeal to a wildfire bill 13-year-old girl dies at Pineview after dead tree falls: Would Pineview Reservoir be safer if it were a state park? Not US Forest Se...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, Rep. Cal Roberts   Gov. Spencer Cox declared June "Fidelity Month in Utah."   In his declaration, Cox said that American support for traditional values has "significantly declined." "A majority of Americans no longer esteem values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement," he continued. He said it is "imperative" that Utah's "recommit" them...

Heidi Hatch 2 News Maura Carabello, Exoro Group Mike Schultz, Utah House Speaker   Data Center Referendum: A Box Elder County group wants voters there to decide proposed data center’s fate  Elevate Utah accuses Speaker Mike Schultz of buying up property to profit off data Center   Schultz, a cattle rancher in Box Elder and neighboring counties, responds   Forget about 2026, everyone is talking 202...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Marua Carabello, Rep. Cal Roberts BREAKING: Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigns amid conflict-of-interest allegations in Prop 4 case   Data Center passes Box Elder Commission vote 3-0     Better Utah calls for investigation into Senate Pres. Stuart Adams after donations to his PAC- but have no proof of wrongdoing   Questions over lawmakers benefiting from Data...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello (Exoro Group), Thomas Wright (Former Utah GOP Chair, 2020 Gubernatorial Candidate, Real estate broker) White House correspondents’ dinner attempted assassination Utah Box Elder County Data Center Governor Cox:  Utah and other states have an obligation to "allow" the sprawling facilities. "There is a national security piece to this that has to be acknowledg...

Host: Heidi HatchGuest: Morgan Lyon Cotti Associate Director Hinckley Institute of Politics Conventions this weekend Delegates pick their candidates Inner party battles front and center Democrats now have 4 qualified candidates through signatures from the new Utah CD1 race 2 candidates facing accusation of wrongdoing Nate Blouin, Eval Lopez Chavez Republicans have an inner party fight in Utah CD3...

Host: Heidi HatchGusts: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group & Nic Dunn, Sutherland Institute Utah Supreme Court justice faces allegations of impropriety in Prop 4 case In 2025, the Beehive Family earned $123,716 and paid $34,482 in taxes, about 28% of household income. That breaks down to nearly 2½ hours of every workday spent paying taxes UVU commencement speaker Sharon McMahon cancels Nate Blouin makes...

Take 2 Podcast, Friday, April 10, 2026 Heidi Hatch with Maura Carabello of Exoro Group and Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz. Vice President JD Vance is set to lead ceasefire talks this weekend, as tensions tied to a potential conflict with Iran continue. There are ongoing questions about whether a ceasefire will hold and if the Strait of Hormuz will remain open. Gas prices in Utah are now higher th...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group & Carolyn Phippen, Political Advisor CD1: Democrats try new tactic to win House seat in Utah, running as progressives in red state Open Primary: Who will it favor? DATA FOR PROGRESS INTERNAL POLL RESULTS dfp_ut01_memo_crosstabs.pdf Signatures for D1 Blouin and McAdams will both be in the primary   CD2: House Speaker Mike Johnson and Jim Jordan...

Take 2 Podcast March 27 Heidi Hatch Maura Carabello Exoro Group Rep Ryan Wilcox Utah Legislature   Repeal Prop 4 dies in Senate District 15 with signature removals   Trump signs emergency order to pay TSA agents as Congress struggles to reach funding deal   SLC Mayor Mendenhall: No water for ICE facility   Governor Cox vetoes: HB462: Gov. Spencer Cox vetoes bill providing internet service on Utah’...

Host: Heidi Hatch Maura Carabello Exoro Group John Dougall Former State Auditor   Utah Caucus night   Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz endorses Karianne Lisonbee against incumbent Congressman Blake Moore   Prop 4 Repeal Update – Senator Riebe District within striking distance for Better Boundaries 102 signatures beyond requirement   ICE warehouse SLC spurs protests and condemnation from SLC and Cou...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group • Rob Axson, Utah GOP Chair   Utah Legislative Session   Sen. Adams kills bill passed seconds after midnight   Last-minute signature removal law passed   Utahns for Representative Government gets signatures to put repeal of Prop 4 on the ballot   The petition to repeal Utah Proposition 4 ended up with nearly 166,000 verified signatures.   Sign...

Take 2 Podcast – Friday 2/27 Host Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, John Dougall   State of the Union Hit or miss Senator Mike Lee’s SAVE America Act received a standing ovation. Congressman Blake Moore recognized in the third row (no name) for naming Trump accounts. Some Democrats held an alternate event outside in animal costumes. Democratic leadership had Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger del...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group & John Dougall, Former State Auditor Judge’s Ruling in Redistricting cases   Federal District Court Utah Supreme Court   UFRG and Utah GOP surpass expectations, turn in 200K + signatures   Current verified signatures 117,114   HB 575, Fuel Tax and Supply Amendments, Rep. Cal Roberts, R-Salt Lake   New Gas Tax bill reduces rate by 6 cents a gal...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group; Curt Bramble, former Utah state senator Happy Valentine’s Day. We’re halfway through the session, it’s Presidents' Day weekend, and it’s the anniversary of Utah women’s right to vote.   U.S. House approves the SAVE America Act as GOP makes election bill push Utah Reps. Kennedy, Moore, Maloy, and Owens all voted in favor. Sen. Mike Lee has 49...

Host: Heidi Hatch Guests: Maura Carabello, Exoro Group Rob Axson, Utah GOP Chair NEW FEDERAL REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT A new federal lawsuit has been filed by Congressmen Burgess Owens and Celeste Maloy, along with other elected officials, challenging Utah’s redistricting process.   “Today we took action. I, along with elected officials throughout our state, filed a federal lawsuit to defend the const...