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All posts by Jason Williams
Tonight:
After a long slog, 10th West is opening to the public. We’ll talk about “phase two,” which begins next year, and what the new road will mean for traffic in Logan.
A look at Utah’s highest paid city employees.
Every election cycle some group (in 2008, it was “Third Way) wants to just see more play dates and bipartisanship in our politics. If everyone gets along, everything will be much better! These organizations are there to be mocked and shunned. Usually. Ezra Klein, writing at Bloomberg on Mike Bloomberg’s “No Labels” says this group will surprise you. They have some actual suggestions, like bringing back the real filibuster, up-or-down vote on nominee’s after 90 days, and more. Should we be taking these guys more seriously? Read: No Labels Stops Whining and Offers Real Agenda.
FTP Quickfire at 5. 3 talking heads + 90 seconds per headline = enough news to choke a camel.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Today Andy Morgan of Andy at the Movies will be in studio for a special two hour movie show. And we’ll get political!
This week Washington Post’s Ezra Klein linked to a graph from a Gallup poll showing an increase since the 1980′s in Americans’ fear of “big government,” save a noticeable dip after 9/11. It reminded me of a book I had read by author David Sirota, Back to Our Future: How the 80′s Explain the World We Live In Now. Some examples from the book:
1. Ghostbusters (1984): Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddmore seem like happy-go-lucky guys, but these are cold, hard military contractors. Between evading the Environmental Protection Agency, charging exorbitant rates for apparition captures, and summoning a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, the merry band shows a Zoul-haunted New York that their for-profit services are far more reliable than those of the Big Apple’s wholly inept government. At the same time, the Ghostbusters were providing 1980s audiences with a cinematic version of what would later become the very real Blackwater–and what would be the anti-government, privatize-everything narrative of the twenty-first century.2. Die Hard (1988): Though the 1980s was setting the stage for the rise of anti-government politics today, it was also creating the Palin-esque “rogue” to conveniently explain the good things government undeniably accomplishes. Hitting the silver screen just a few years after Ollie North’s rogue triumphalism, John McClane became the ’80s most famous of this “rogue” archetype–a government employee who becomes a hero specifically by defying his police superiors and rescuing hostages from the twin threat of terrorism and his boss’s bureaucratic clumsiness. This message is so clear in Die Hard, that in one memorable scene, McClane is yelling at one police lieutenant that the government has become “part of the problem.” Die Hard, like almost every national politician today, says government can only work if it gets out of the way of the rogues, mavericks, and rule-breakers within its own midst.
Ghostbusters’ popularity gave us Blackwater? Die Hard gave us Sarah Palin? It’s the age old question: is art imitating life, or is life imitating art? Andy will be here to help us take a long look at how the entertainment industry influences and reflects our attitudes toward the major issues of our time. And of course, he’ll have his usual picks of what to see — or not see — this weekend.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor. We’ll invite listeners to call with their stories, and discuss the impact we still feel from that day, as well as how WWII influenced our foreign policy and how that compares to what our presidential hopefuls are advocating now. We’ll also point listeners to some of the best Pearl Harbor remembrance going on.
Cache Valley’s Sub for Santa chapter needs your help. Craig Hislop sits down with Sub for Santa reps to find out how you can give it.
FTP Quickfire at 5. 90 seconds per headline and a buzzer. More news than should be legal!
Sen. Lyle Hillyard made some comments on Crosstalk with Jennie Christensen Tuesday that hint at a very different caucus night in 2012 than the 2010 tea party takeover many feel was the night Fmr. Sen. Bennett lost his seat. Are we about to see a tea party vs. establishment battle for the Utah GOP? If so, who are you rooting for?
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Sutherland Institute president Paul Mero is talking government spending and spending caps in this week’s Mero Moment. As a primer before we open the phone lines, you can see where Sutherland is coming from here:
When we rely on the economy nearly 100 percent to drive government spending, government often becomes overextended in the good years, and then is forced in the bad years to either increase taxes or to make significant and painful budget cuts. For example, one small Utah town had to cut its police protection in half, some school districts in Utah permanently raised taxes – property taxes – to fill temporary budget gaps or increase class sizes. Some disabled Utahns in sometimes very difficult and dire circumstances have their government health care services put at risk. And it’s not that these are the best health care policies per se or the best educational policies; it’s just that we had a budget issue, and we had to close that gap.
Agree? Weigh in today at 4pm.
A group of local artists surprised Black Friday shoppers with a flash mob to promote the Utah Festival Chorus (video here). We’ll talk to flash mob organizer Loralee Choate, as well as PR/social media guru Preston Parker about how creative promotion is not only something anyone can do but also the future of marketing.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Will Romney’s faith be an obstacle to his support from the GOP base after all? He can’t break the 24% approval ceiling with registered Republicans, and Newt has assumed the front-runner status this week. Many have said in the end electability will get even the most hesitant evangelical conservatives to hold their nose and support him. Slate, in their new election ’12 series, says some data show that might not be the case in “The Search for the Mormon Haters.”
Utah lawmakers are expecting an additional $400 million in the 2012 budget cycle. While this is a good sign, they’re quick to remind this is not a surplus, just unexpected. So what can that additional revenue go toward restoring after two years of aggressive cuts?
“Low information voters” and political press.
Herman Cain has suspended his book tour campaign for the White House. Where do his votes go, and why was he even here? And who will make us laugh now?
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
To keep things fun, we’re launching a “who’s music device?” challenge (can’t say iPod, we’ll get spammed) for listeners. Andy will explain the rules.
When can tax hikes save you money? Salt Lake County illustrates. We take your calls.
Industrial espionage is still a crime, and it’s happened right here in Cache Valley.
A local organization has filed a GRAMA request for documents showing total expenses for the state defend Congressional candidate and state Rep. Stephen Sandstrom’s “enforcement only” immigration bills.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Technology is changing the way we fight wars and the way we think of them. But where is it all headed?
On the same theme, author Charles Kurzman argues in his book Missing Martyrs that terrorist groups have never posed a real threat to America, or any nation. We’ll break down his argument and ask listeners to weigh in. Has America basically over-reacted for a decade?
Do Mormons and Progressives share than Utah’s red-state status realizes? And what does this mean for Romney if he gets the nomination?
Like many other American churches, they organized programs designed to take on the social problems of their age: a Young Men’s and Young Women’s Improvement Association; a primary school for young children; a Sunday school—among others. Though participation was voluntary, these associations reached far in the 1910s, and today it is assumed that members of the church will participate in all such organizations for which she or he is eligible. By the time of the Great Depression, the Mormons had erected the Church Welfare Program, a charity system that encouraged recipients to offer labor in return for donations and cultivate habits of thrift and industry.
Even though he hasn’t announced yet, State Senator Dan Liljenquist is drawing a few shots from Sen. Orrin Hatch over health care.
And speaking of Hatch, he’s co-sponsoring this. We’re angry.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
USU officials have released an apology to BYU on behalf of USU fans. The apology comes two weeks after the rivalry game took place, and is in response to signs and chants displayed by USU fans at the game. Is the apology warranted? We’ll take your calls at 4pm.
Ted Seeholzer will update us on Beaver Mtn’s new lift and snow levels for the eventual season open.
Nat’l Parks going bankrupt under budget cuts?
Last night’s GOP foreign policy debate in 100 seconds.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Sutherland Institute president Paul Mero speaks up on proposed changes to the Utah GOP’s caucus system and how candidates are elected. Some argue it’s the few electing the few, and exposes the rest of the state to the whims of organized extremists. Other’s argue it’s just representative democracy at play, and stress that anyone can be a delegate. Paul will start us off taking your calls on the issue.
Carl burglaries on the rise in Logan. (bumped from yesterday)
As expected, the Feds are suing over Utah’s immigration law. Where does it go from here?
Sen. Steve Urquhart visited USU recently to get public input on higher education reform. We’ll talk about the proposals and ask for input from listeners.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
It’s Newt’s week at the top of the GOP primary polls. Could Newt do it? We’ll discuss how.
Things are getting interesting in Utah’s statewide races. We’ll run down the candidates, their endorsers, and how each races is taking shape.
Car burglaries in Logan nearly double in 2011.
Bill Gates is testifying in Utah this week.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
An independent audit shows a $20 million increase in revenue for Logan City in 2011. What does this say about city planning, and options for tackling infrastructure and investment concerns going forward? Was the golf clubhouse a good idea after all? Weigh in at 4pm.
Sen. Mike Lee is… missing the point?
It’s International Education Week at USU. We’ll talk about the events planned, and the importance of this 57 year tradition.
Man accrues $35,000 in school loans getting a masters in Puppetry. Now he’s angry. Yeah.
Occupy Wall Street celebrates it’s 2 month anniversary today, but SLTrib reports it’s pretty quiet in SLC.
Utah state Rep. Mike Noel thinks it’s time Utah sign on to a National Popular Vote instead of the Electoral College. Noel argues Utah would be more relevant this way. He’s wrong, and we’ll discuss why.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
11/16 FTP: Everyone Has an Education “Silver Bullet,” Prescription Drug Abuse in Utah, FTP Quickfire
Tonight:
Utah Taxpayer Association reps were on Twitter again today arguing “grading/firing teachers” as the panacea to all our education problems (and that no teacher teaches for love of the job… because they get paid. Like cops. And firefighters. Those looters!). Others were arguing all we need to do is throw money at it. When will the issue get a discussion that takes into account it may take all of these ideas and more to perfect the education system? Well, right now on FTP. Join in.
Unfortunately, this isn’t either. And Sen. Orrin Hatch is a co-sponsor. (Boooo!)
Robert Saenz has twenty years experience investigating crime with federal agencies. He’s in SLC today speaking to doctors about preventing Utah’s growing problem (we’re #4 nationally) with prescription drug abuse. He’ll join us by phone to talk about where the problem comes from, and how we can fight it. [Interesting caller comment: With prescription drug abuse second only to marijuana use nationally, when will we see those Pfizer ads on prime time TV banned like the cigarette commercials?]
FTP Quickfire at 5. Andy promises more shark stories.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Sutherland Institute president Paul Mero discusses one organization’s push to “legalize dirty words” on TV and radio in this week’s Mero Moment (which is usually pretty dirty word free). Discussion begins at 4:10. Be there.
A listener has challenges us to spend an entire hour of the show not talking about politics. We’ve accepted the challenge. And we will fail. Tune in to hear it happen live.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
We’ll kick of the show with a special guest all the way from DC: Sunlight Foundation co-founder Ellen Miller. Sunlight has launched a campaign to “open up” the Super Committee’s relationship with lobbyists ahead of there (maybe?) Nov 23rd recommendations on debt reduction. They also have something to say about SuperPACs, especially one Senator’s (ours, Lucky Us!) request to have his own.
Sandstrom joins the UT-4 race, challenging Carl Wimmer from the… right?… middle?… low ground? Who knows.
Senator Ben McAdams joins the Salt Lake County Mayor’s race, challenging fellow Senate Democrat Ross Romero.
A lengthy article at DNews on reducing college costs is an opportunity to have a broader discussion on economic impacts of college degrees, increasing challenges to college enrollment, and what Utah — or anyone — can /can’t do about it. Is higher education accreditation system an elitist guild?
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Welcome to the Cain-Wreck. But is this guy teflon coated?
Aggressive HB116 opponent and state Rep. Chris Herrod is rumored to be throwing his hat into the ring of challengers to Sen. Orrin Hatch. And he chose the anniversary of Reagan-Amnesty to float the idea? Poking fun at Utah’s resident hyperbole slinger aside, what was Reagan-amnesty and how did he get it by his own party?
Utah Policy reports fewer self-identified Dems, but more hate for the GOP. What could it mean for 2012?
Another debate over making Utah’s municipal elections partisan has erupted, this time in Syracuse. We’ll discuss the pro’s and con’s.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Teachers are abandoning classrooms and joining the “Occupy” protests to send a message. What message is being sent? Is the era of dissing public employees who teach our kids over, or is these teachers feeding the flames? We want to hear from you.
Tuesday we discussed Sen. Steve Urquhart’s public forums on higher education reform possibilities for the 2012 legislative session. How do Utah’s universities currently stack up? One organization aims to help sort that out. Meet WhatWillTheyLearn.com.
Cache County Sheriff Lynn Nelson wants a bigger staff and higher wages for Cache officers.
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Omar Arrieta, founder of Young Adults for Ron Paul joins us in studio to explain why young people are drawn to the Congressman’s presidential campaign, and youth activism in Cache Valley.
FTP Quickfire at 5. 90 seconds per headline, and a buzzer. Listeners are welcome join in.
The Vatican wants an end to capitalism, a centralized bank they control… So, crazy demands aside, we’ll discuss some legitimate criticisms of capitalism, but also some false equivalence most politicians are guilty of. Is “pro-business” the same as “pro-free market”? And is “greed” even a tenant of capitalism?
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
Tonight:
Online tools are changing politics in Utah. Candidate petitions, citizen petitions, online voter registration, and (one day) online voting. What are the challenges and benefits, and how will turnout in Utah increase?
This week’s Mero Moment from Sutherland Institute president Paul Mero deals with how we communicate in Utah’s political circles… and anti-immigration hate mail! Tune in at 4:30.
People Magazine has recognized a Logan resident’s in their “Super Heroes of the Year” awards.
Rick Perry got liquored up and gave a speech. Who’s crashing and burning more this week, Perry or Herman Cain?
Sen. Steve Urquhart hosted an online forum today on the problems and possible solutions in Utah’s higher education system. I sat in, and we’ll discuss some of the problems defined, and ideas shared. (The next online forum is Nov 10… www.steveu.com for more info)
435-753-5868 or 1-800-369-5868. Your calls are welcome.
Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.
MEDIA ADVISORY
November 1, 2011
CONTACTS:
Steve Urquhart
Utah State Senator
Mobile: 435-668-7759
Dawn Frandsen
Senate Majority Assistant
Office: 801-538-1035
Mobile: 801-362-3947
SENATE HIGHER ED CHAIR TO HOST ONLINE DISCUSSION
Results will form core higher education reform proposals for the 2012 Session
WHO:
Senator Steve Urquhart, Senate Chair of the Higher Education Appropriations Committee
WHAT:
Senator Urquhart will hold an online forum to discuss higher education reforms in the following areas: 1) college preparation, 2) career readiness, 3) education costs, 4) innovative flexibility, 5) student progress incentives, and 6) higher ed governance. Results of this discussion will help form the committee chair’s education agenda for the 2012 legislative session.
WHEN:
TODAY (Tuesday, November 1st) at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Online.
Register for the discussion at http://worldfunction.com/event-registration/?regevent_action=register&event_id=2
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