I had the opportunity to sit down with my good friend Britt Olsen who recently worked as a congressional intern for Representative John Curtis (Utah-3).  Tune in to learn the inner workings of the US House of Representatives, how the partisan theatrics of both the majority and minority parties prevent good solutions from being implemented, and a more efficient way of contacting your elected officials.  

Have you ever wondered what Washington DC is like on the inside? Away from all the cameras and media? I had the opportunity to sit down with my good friend Christopher Vizcardo who recently finished an internship with Utah Senator Mike Lee. Tune in to learn more  about how elected officials answer mail from constituents, the impeachment inquiry, how to better gain the attention of a US Senator, and a behind-the-scene look at how the Senate operates. 

The House of Representatives voted 230-197 to impeach President Donald Trump making him the third president in US history to be impeached. The articles of impeachment were regarding abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for his actions regarding Ukraine.  Why did Congress vote the way they did? Were President's Trump's actions impeachable? What happens next? Tune in to find out.  You can read the House's Intelligence Committee 300-page report at: https://intelligence.house.gov/report/ 

Venezuela is in the middle of a humanitarian crisis as it faces unprecedented inflation and corruption at the highest level of their government. Adam Smith went to the Columbian/Venezuelan border during the summer to deliver medical supplies as part of his $5 for Freedom campaign. He also filmed a documentary titled "Paradise Lost" to help raise awareness about the Venezuelan people. Tune in to learn more about his experience and what you can do to help refugees in your community and around the world.  

To learn more about the Utah Venezuelan Alliance go to their website. Para aprender más sobre la Alianza Venezolana de Utah, siga su página de Internet: alianzavenezolanautah.org  

Civic engagement is crucial for a healthy community and our commitment to our democratic ideals. But what exactly does it mean to be civically engaged? How can one be civically engaged? Why should we care about being civically engaged? Tune in to learn more. 

I had the opportunity to get together with my good friend Adam Perry and get his opinion on civic engagement, the role the LDS Church plays in Utah politics, what the American way means to him, and why it's important to have civic discussions and conversations with those that may not agree with everything you have to say. Tune in to learn more.  

If you'd like to read more on Adam's opinions, go check out his website at https://aperry53.wixsite.com/blunderingballots

If you want to learn more about how you can be civically engaged, I would encourage you to visit this website: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2019/11/12/the-bucket-list-for-involved-citizens-76-things-you-can-do-to-boost-civic-engagement/ 

One week ago, about 70 miles south of the US/Mexico border, several American citizens were gunned down by cartel members. 9 were killed and several others were wounded.  President Trump and Utah Senator Mike Lee have proposed waging war against the cartels due to Mexico's insufficient action against them. It is estimated that since 2007 over 250,000 have died and over 40,000 have disappeared because of cartel violence in Mexico. Who were these American victims? Why were they targeted? Is war the best policy for the US and Mexico? Tune in to learn more. 

I had the chance to sit down with my good friend Abdi Eftin and discuss about his experience as a refugee from Kenya, his political and civic involvement, and the Somali Bantus of Utah nonprofit he founded. Tune in to learn more about who the Somali Bantus are and how you can be involved in aiding and assisting the refugee communities near you. If you would like to get involved with the Somali Bantus of Utah by volunteering or donating feel free to visit their website at: https://www.somalibantusofut.org/  Facebook: Somali Bantus of Utah Instagram: @SB_Utah

Over the weekend President Donald Trump announced that the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is dead. What does this mean in America's war against terror? What does our strategy in the region look like now? Tune in to learn more.

Santiago, Chile is in chaos. Violent protests have brought the city under martial law. Many of the protesters cite income inequality as the reason for their frustration. Is this the end of the Chilean model? Why should we in the United States care and what can we learn from Chile? Tune in to learn more.

Pro-democracy supporters have entered their 18th week of protests against the Hong Kong government. American corporations are blatantly defending the Chinese government as to not lose their business.  What does this all mean and why should we care? Tune in to learn more.

You can learn more about the Hong Kong Democracy and Human Rights Act (2019) that is currently being proposed in the Senate in the link below: 

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s1838/text

There have only been 19 impeachment inquiries in all of US history, seven of which led to the removal from office. Donald Trump is on track to be the 20th official to be impeached by the House. What does impeachment mean and how does it work? Will President Trump be removed from office? Tune in to learn more. 

Luke Searle is helping lead the student campaign for Jeff Burningham's gubernatorial run. He wants young people to become involved and get excited for this candidate. Tune in to learn more about what makes Jeff Burningham stand out as a candidate for governor in 2020. Learn more about Jeff Burningham at: https://jeffburningham.com Utah Policy podcast featuring Jeff Burningham: https://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/multimedia/21764-podcast-interview-with-gop-gubernatorial-candidate-jeff-burningham 

 Kim Bojórquez, a reporter from the Deseret News and recipient of the 2018 Utah Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine Award, sat down with me to discuss her career in journalism. Kim works hard to ensure that her reporting is fair, accurate, and factual. She hopes to continue to promote civic engagement and political participation among the Latino community in Utah. Tune in to learn more about the role of the media in our lives and what can be done to ensure that our news are informative and accurate.   You can find her articles at:  https://www.deseret.com/authors/kim-bojorquez  

Did you know that an individual could win the US presidency with only 12 states? Or 23% of the popular vote? Or even 0% of the popular vote? Tune in to learn more about the Electoral College and its role in our elections.

The top 10 Democratic contenders for the presidency in 2020 met on stage to debate and propose their vision for America directly with voters. What was brought up? How will this affect our country?

The opioid crisis has affected every part of the country. More people die today from drug overdoses than car crashes, guns, and HIV. Local communities are starting to fight back. What can be done to help alleviate this public health crisis?

Utahns voted in favor of creating an independent commision to help draw fair legislative and congressional districts. The Republican-controlled legislature is hoping to change that but it might prove to be very unpopular. Would this new law really change anything? Is Utah really gerrymandered? Find out in today's episode.

Have you ever wondered why it's so uncomfortable to discuss politics with those that hold a different view from you? The answer may lie in how our brain works.

Politics can get really nasty really fast. My hope is to present and breakdown current and controversial issues in a civil and balanced way. My hope is to encourage people to become civically engaged in their local communities and realize that their voice matters. This episode breaks down my thoughts on Representative John Curtis's townhall in Orem, UT (8/20/19).