Utah's Top Political Headlines of 2025

As a turbulent year in politics comes to a close, our panel of experts reflect on the biggest political headlines of the last 365 days. What decisions had a significant impact? Which messages resonated with voters? And what major events will have long-term effects?

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• ️ The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and subsequent security-heavy events have intensified conversations about civility, student engagement, and the future of political discourse in the state and nation. We examine where the nation goes from here.
• ️ A landmark court ruling overturned Utah's 2021 Congressional Map, creating a Salt Lake County–focused district that leans Democratic, setting the stage for competitive races and potential shifts in national power. Our expert panel discusses what comes next for the legal case, and how things could still shift in 2026.
• ✊ Following large protests and over 300,000 signatures for a referendum, lawmakers reversed a controversial bill eliminating collective bargaining rights for public sector employee unions, signaling ongoing battles over labor policy. We explore what impact this could have on the upcoming legislative session.
• The 43-day federal government shutdown tied to Affordable Care Act subsidies ended up being the longest in history. We discuss whether the end result will lead to skyrocketing healthcare costs and how it may influencing upcoming elections.

️ FEATURING:
• Heidi Hatch – Anchor, KUTV 2News
• Jeff Parrott – Politics Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune
• Daniel Woodruff – Reporter, KSL 5 News

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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