⏰ Tick Tock
Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 21
Days to the start of the 2026 Utah Legislature (1/20/2026) - 98
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 385
Days until the 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028) - 1,120
Tight timeline for redistricting
Utah’s redistricting fight is on a tight clock. By Nov. 10, a judge must pick a congressional map for the 2026 midterms. Meanwhile, the docket keeps getting thicker.
What's on the docket:
Oct. 23-24: Third District Judge Dianna Gibson will hear arguments on three maps—one from the Legislature and two from the plaintiffs.
The same day lawmakers approved their map proposal, they also passed SB1011. It creates a trio of tests a court must use to judge whether any map meets the anti-gerrymandering rules contained in Proposition 4, the anti-gerrymandering ballot initiative approved by voters in 2018. SB1011 became law when Gov. Spencer Cox signed it the same day.
In response, the plaintiffs immediately asked the court to block SB1011, arguing that the new law rigs the criteria so a partisan gerrymander can pass under the guise of complying with Prop. 4.
On Monday, Judge Gibson set a fast schedule for the new challenge.
The Legislature's response is due Oct. 22.
Plaintiffs reply by Oct. 29.
Court hearing scheduled for Nov. 3–one week before the drop-dead date for a new 2026 map.
Tuesday morning's headlines
Utah and the West
Members of Utah's Jewish community celebrate return of Israeli hostages. [Fox 13]
Why the case against Utah's transgender sports ban fell apart–and what comes next. [Salt Lake Tribune]
Cities could be pushed to enact tougher water conservation ordinances. [Fox 13]
Utah sees an overall increase in enrollment across its public universities. [Deseret News]
Here's how some families will qualify for free tuition at the University of Utah. [Salt Lake Tribune]
After Charlie Kirk killing, Utah lawmaker wants to mandate college security assessments. [Utah News Dispatch]
Utah lawmakers face fork in the road over charging hikers to use Wildlife Management Areas. [Salt Lake Tribune]
Utah advocates warn of potential scarcity for food assistance in Nov. amid government shutdown. [Utah News Dispatch]
Job scams spike across U.S. with Utah ranking among states with most reports. [KUTV]
Nation
The White House is bracing for a long shutdown and is tapping new funding streams to pay for programs, including paychecks for federal law enforcement officers. [Punchbowl News]
Barack Obama is urging California voters to approve a ballot proposal allowing the state to redraw the state's congressional map to add as many as five Democrat-held House seats. [Associated Press]
At least five airports are refusing to air Homeland Security Kristi Noem's video message blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. [New York Post]
Only one media outlet has agreed to the Trump administration's new press restrictions for reporting on the Pentagon. [Mediaite]
Elon Musk called for President Donald Trump to deploy federal troops to San Francisco. [CNBC]
President Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, posthumously to Charlie Kirk today. [New York Times]
There have been 337 mass shootings in the U.S. so far in 2025. [Axios]
World
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Trump at the White House on Friday, where they will discuss the U.S. possibly providing long-range Tomahawk missiles for his military. [Kyiv Independent]
Trump eyes transformational Mideast peace as Israel, Arabs stay miles apart. [Washington Post]
Economy
The CEO of GoFundMe says the economy is so bad that more Americans are crowdfunding groceries to get by. [Fortune]
New tariffs on lumber, imported furniture and kitchen cabinets took effect Tuesday morning. [New York Times]
Average U.S. car prices top a record $50,000 on EV sales surge. [Bloomberg]
Healthcare
More Texas kindergarteners are coming to school without measles vaccination proof or exemptions. [Texas Tribune]