PoliticIt Podcast

Steve Waldrip earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University, a law degree from the University of Utah, and a Master’s in Taxation from the University of Washington. After a brief period practicing law, he joined the Boyer Company in Utah at the outset of the Business Depot Ogden (BDO) project. As project manager, he played a key role in securing $500 million in private invest...

Senator Kirk A. Cullimore Jr. has represented Utah’s 9th Senate District since his election in 2018. He began his education at Utah Valley University, earning an Associate’s Degree in music. He then spent two years in the Philippines as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon returning, he continued his studies at Brigham Young University, where he completed a Bachel...

Join our host Senator John Johnson as he welcomes Kera Birkeland and Doug Durbano. Doug was born and raised in Northern Utah. He holds a degree in Business from Weber State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah. Doug is a businessman and an expert in constitutional law, with a 40-year history of winning cases, many against big government. He is a skilled problem solver and a...

Join our host Senator John Johnson as he welcomes Tiara Auxier, Utah House of Representatives District 4 Tiara Auxier, First and Foremost, Mother. Tax Accountant, School and District Community Councils, Boy Scouts of America Volunteer, Weber County Republican Women, and Church Service. #politicit #utahelections #utpol

Join our host Senator John Johnson as he welcomes Kelvyn Cullimore, President and CEO of BioUtah Kelvyn has three decades of experience as a MedTech CEO, over a decade on the board of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association, and over a decade as mayor of a suburb of Salt Lake City. He uniquely understands industry and policy issues to advance association objectives and help member companies....

Join our host, Senator John Johnson, as he welcomes special guest Jill Koford. A native of Ogden, Utah, Jill Koford is a proud graduate of Weber High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Weber State University in 1992 and later received a graduate degree from the University of Southern California in 2011. Jill brings valuable insight from her career experience as a small business owner. #...

Sabin Howard is the foremost practitioner of, and authority on, Modern Classicism. Sabin Howard is the sculptor of A Soldier’s Journey, the sculptural heart of the National WWI Memorial to be installed in Washington DC in September, 2024. Sabin grew up in New York City and in Torino, Italy. He studied art at the Philadelphia College of Art and then earned his MFA from the New York Academy of Art....

Join our host Senator John Johnson, who welcomes Weber County Sheriff Ryan Arbon. From Sheriff Arbon; I was born and raised in Pleasant View, Utah. I graduated from Weber High School in Pleasant View, Utah. I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Diego, California, for two years. In 1997, I entered the Utah Police Academy and graduated. I started my law enforc...

Join our host, Senator John Johnson, welcoming James Humphreys in studio. James has been a citizen lobbyist and Campaign Consultant for 30+ years. He has been fortunate enough to work with many local, state, and federal officials from Utah and nationwide. He is a Limited Government Cohabitational Conservative and has been his entire adult life. He's been married to his husband since 2008 and lives...

Leslie grew up on a ranch in Idaho, where hard work, family, and community were at the heart of everything she did. One of her favorite memories is her family’s “magic table” —where there was always room for more, no matter who stopped by for dinner. That same principle guides her approach to leadership: everyone has a seat at the table, and our Republican Party is strongest when we come together....

A lifelong Hooper, Roy, and West Haven resident, Representative Mike Schultz has represented Utah House District 12 since 2015. He has been the Speaker of the House since November 2023. Schultz learned the value of hard work at a young age by working on his grandfather’s cattle farm, selling worms to fishermen, and milking cows at a neighbor’s dairy farm. When he was 16, Mike started a hay hauling...

Join our host, Senator John Johnson, who is welcoming Dino Workman. Dino Workman is a candidate for Weber County Vice-Chair. The convention is this Saturday. #politicit #utahelections #utpol

Join Our Host, Senator John Johnson, in Welcoming Christina Boggess. Christina Boggess is, above all, a dedicated mother. With over 21 years of experience in education, she has served in a wide range of roles across diverse learning environments. Her professional background spans rural K–12 settings, cluster-modeled and podded school designs, as well as suburban, urban, and inner-city schools. She...

Join Our Host, Senator John Johnson, in Welcoming Christina Boggess. Christina Boggess is, above all, a dedicated mother. With over 21 years of experience in education, she has served in a wide range of roles across diverse learning environments. Her professional background spans rural K–12 settings, cluster-modeled and podded school designs, as well as suburban, urban, and inner-city schools. She...

In this episode of the PoliticIt Podcast, we dive deep into the 2025 Utah Legislative session, exploring key legislation and the shifting political landscape with consultant and political advisor Dave Owen. From education reforms to public union dynamics, we dissect the implications of this session on Utah’s future. Welcome and Introduction Welcome back to our ongoing discussion about the developm...

Join Senator John Johnson as he welcomes Todd Weiler for an insightful discussion on key legislation shaping the 2025 session. Background and Education Born in Georgia and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Todd attended Brigham Young University (BYU), where he earned a business degree. He later pursued law at BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School, graduating cum laude in 1996. During law school, he was a...

Join Senator John Johnson as he hosts Cristy Henshaw, Utah County Republican Party Chair, for an insightful discussion on key legislation shaping the 2025 session. I’m Cristy Henshaw, and I’m honored to serve as the Utah County Republican Party Chair. My roots run deep in Utah County—my family moved back just before I started fourth grade at Windsor Elementary, where the incredible Mrs. Anderson i...

Join Senator John Johnson as he hosts Corinne Johnson, president of Utah Parents United, for a discussion on key legislation in the 2025 session. Corinne Johnson is a seasoned policy advisor and nonprofit leader with a strong track record of shaping legislative outcomes through strategic lobbying, advocacy, and coalition-building. She specializes in navigating complex legislative processes at both...

Join Senator John Johnson as he welcomes Utah State Representative Jake Sawyer from District 9, serving Weber County. From Jake, “Having grown up here in Weber County, I've seen how strong our community can be. From my school days at H. Guy Child Elementary and Bonneville High School to my first jobs at local stores, I've learned the value of hard work and giving back. In the past few years, we've...

Join Senator John Johnson as he welcomes Utah State Representative Katy Hall from District 11, serving Davis and Weber counties. In this discussion, Rep. Hall shares insights into her current legislative efforts on Capitol Hill. She serves on the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Health and Human Services Committee, and the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee...

Join our host, Senator John Johnson, as he welcomes Chris Null, Chair of the Salt Lake City Republican Party, who is concluding his tenure after two successful terms. Chris Null has been a steadfast leader in the Salt Lake County Republican Party since 2012, championing the caucus and convention system as the most effective way to ensure true representation. As Chair for the past four years, he ha...

Senator John Johnson welcomes Representative Ryan Wilcox as they discuss the key developments from the first half of the 2025 legislative session.   Representative Wilcox plays a significant role in multiple committees, serving on the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee and the House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee. He also chairs the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Com...

Senator John Johnson welcomes Ogden City Police Chief Jake Sube, and Ogden City Fire Chief Mike Mathieu, together they discuss the recent fire in downtown Ogden and the arrest of a 16-year-old male. Ogden City Police Detectives worked tirelessly on this case and identified and arrested a suspect. We are thankful for our partnership with the Ogden City Fire Department and other Local and Federal pa...

Join our host, Senator John Johnson, as he welcomes Jess L Anderson,  Utah’s Commissioner of Public Safety.   Jess L. Anderson was appointed as Utah’s Commissioner of Public Safety by Governor Gary R. Herbert in August 2018 and reappointed by Governor Spencer J. Cox in January 2021. As Commissioner, Anderson oversees the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS), which includes the Utah Highway Patro...

Join our host, Senator John Johnson, as he welcomes his colleague and friend, Utah State Representative Kera Birkeland. Together, they discuss Kera's recent resignation from the House and the circumstances behind it.   Kera Birkeland brought integrity and accountability to the Utah House of Representatives. She displayed strength when faced with challenges and never hesitated to stand up for her c...