Investigations - Utah Political Watch

Mystery PAC drops $35K in attack ads against Blake Moore. The money trail leads to an ally of Sen. Mike Lee's front door

A newly formed super PAC is dropping nearly $35,000 on AI-generated attack ads targeting Rep. Blake Moore ahead of Utah's June Republican primary in the 2nd

By Bryan Schott

/ 2 Jun 2026

Mystery PAC drops $35K in attack ads against Blake Moore. The money trail leads to an ally of Sen. Mike Lee's front door

Utah House Republicans charge taxpayers for swanky resort retreat

Utah taxpayers picked up a $26,584 tab for a day‑and‑a‑half House Republican retreat at the swanky Zermatt Resort near Midway. The charge covers dozens of rooms

By Bryan Schott

/ 4 Dec 2025

Utah House Republicans charge taxpayers for swanky resort retreat

Utah Senate leader's defense of granddaughter in sexual assault case: She wanted victim to feel included

In a letter to the court, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and his wife called the sexual assault "extremely unfortunate."

By Bryan Schott

/ 12 Sep 2025

Utah Senate leader's defense of granddaughter in sexual assault case: She wanted victim to feel included

Last act: Utah economic chief approved $3.2M grant for future employer's parent organization

Former economic development chief Ryan Starks approved millions in taxpayer funds for the Salt Lake Chamber Foundation just days before announcing new role with Chamber-affiliated group. The grant was later canceled over conflict concerns.

By Bryan Schott

/ 3 Sep 2025

Last act: Utah economic chief approved $3.2M grant for future employer's parent organization

The math behind Utah's gerrymander: How Utah Republicans split Democratic voters with surgical precision

How do you engineer a congressional map to eliminate political competition? Utah Republicans found a way—by splitting up Democratic voters so equally the variation was under 4%.

By Bryan Schott

/ 2 Sep 2025

The math behind Utah's gerrymander: How Utah Republicans split Democratic voters with surgical precision

A Wyoming shell company and a man who may not exist. Who is really behind the Salt Lake City 'No Kings' protest?

Who organized the “No Kings” protest in downtown Salt Lake City, where an armed “safety volunteer” shot and killed a protester? Answers are proving difficult to come by because the

By Bryan Schott

/ 26 Jun 2025

A Wyoming shell company and a man who may not exist. Who is really behind the Salt Lake City 'No Kings' protest?

Former Army engineer identified in Salt Lake City protest shooting

Judge orders immediate release of Arturo Gamboa from jail, where he's been held without bail since Saturday

By Bryan Schott

/ 20 Jun 2025

National 50501 organization cuts ties with Salt Lake City chapter after fatal protest shooting

Arturo Gamboa, who didn't fire his weapon, will remain in jail until at least Monday

By Bryan Schott

/ 19 Jun 2025

National 50501 organization cuts ties with Salt Lake City chapter after fatal protest shooting

What actually happened at the Salt Lake City ‘No Kings’ shooting?

One man is dead. Another is in jail–but not the one who fired his gun.

By Bryan Schott and Marisa Kabas - The Handbasket

/ 18 Jun 2025

What actually happened at the Salt Lake City ‘No Kings’ shooting?

An activist helping to shape the Utah Legislature's federalism push placed a Nazi-sympathizer in a leadership role in her own organization

A prominent Utah activist with direct access to top Republican lawmakers who has been selected for a key role in shaping the state's new National Federalism Initiative placed

By Bryan Schott

/ 11 Jun 2025