Utah Governor Spencer Cox has less than a week left so sign or veto bills from the 2025 General Legislative Session. This year lawmakers passed 582 proposals and resolutions, a number the governor believes is far too high. Cox says he may veto some of the measures, but there are others that he will still sign even though he isn't in 100% agreement with the legislation. Our expert panel discusses why the governor may, or may not, use his constitutional authority to override the legislature.
At the federal level, executive power is also in the limelight. This week, Pres. Donald Trump signed an executive order that directs the U.S. Dept. of Education to begin shutting down. Gov. Cox has been a vocal proponent of this move, saying that education should be under the perview of states. Opponents of this idea worry it will leave at-risk students without access to important funding. But the president insists key programs will still be administered by other federal agencies.
There is also growing friction between the executive branch and the federal judicial system. Pres. Donald Trump has suggested the federal judges who rule against his executive orders should face impeachment. This led U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Robers to issue a rare public statement, affirming the independence of the courts. We discuss what is playing out on the national stage, and how prominent Utahns are entering the discussion.
Across the country, members of Congress are facing angry constituents at town hall meetings. Frustrated citizens are showing up in large numbers, apparently upset about the actions of the Trump administration. That same dynamic played out in Salt Lake City where Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT2) and Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT3) held a town hall.
Plus, should federally-managed public lands be used to build affordable housing? It's an idea Utah Senator Mike Lee has pushed for years, and now there seems to be growing support within Pres. Trump's administration.
Host Jason Perry is joined by Heidi Hatch, anchor with KUTV 2News — Brigham Tomco, politics reporter with the Deseret News — and Marty Carpenter, partner with Northbound Strategy.
Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley
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