August 11, 2026

Campaign Fundraising: Free Speech or Extortion?

Utah has learned a lot about the state of campaign fundraising in recent months. We have John Swallow and Jason Powers to thank for that. With perhaps more creativity than we would like to give them credit for, Swallow and Powers found ways to duck, dodge, and hide from just about every Utah law designed […]

Gene Schaerr Leads the Utah Appeal of Kitchen v. Herbert

Citing the importance of the appeals process of Kitchen v. Herbert to both sides of the Amendment 3 debate, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes selected Utahn Gene Schaerr to lead the team of lawyers that will represent Utah in the appeal of the case that overturned Utah’s Amendment 3. Currently a partner at Winston & […]

The Swallow Deposition: If a picture is worth a thousand words

It appears that John Swallow’s deposition by the Utah House Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Special Investigator is now available. Whether you believe Swallow’s story that the  House investigation is a witch hunt, think Swallow is guilty as sin, or are a dispassionate observer, the videos below make for fascinating watching. Here are some excerpts from the deposition […]

5 Minute Book Review | The End of Big: How the Internet Makes David the New Goliath by Nicco Mele

If Thomas Friedman‘s thesis in his 2005 The World Is Flat is that globalization has led to a flatter playing field, then The End of Big: How the Internet Makes David the New Goliath tells the author Nicco Mele’s vision that the ultimate tool of that equalization is the internet.  In truth, it’s not a hard […]

Utah AG Reyes Follows a Measured and Professional Stance on Marriage Licences

Belying the false narrative that Governor Gary R. Herbert is invalidating marriages, Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes has advised county clerks to issue all marriage certificates applied for prior to the stay (full statement at the bottom). This reiterates what I said earlier this week: the Governor’s directive to state agencies is not to invalidate marriages, […]

Governor Gary Herbert follows due process of law by staying gay marriage

Utah Governor Gary Herbert this morning issued a letter (find the letter embedded below) to state agencies directing them how to address the Kitchen v. Herbert ruling late last year that had, for a brief time, permitted gay marriage in Utah.  That ruling was stayed by the US Supreme Court. For those of you who […]

When integrity matters: Greg Bell to lead USTAR

It’s interesting where a reputation for integrity, or the lack thereof, will take you. On one hand, we have watched the rise and fall of  John Swallow, for a short time Utah’s Attorney General. On the other, we have seen the sacrifice and continued prosperity of Greg Bell, until recently Lieutenant Governor of Utah.  Last […]