August 11, 2026

When the government picks winners, the applicants might already be losers

Maybe it’s time to choose leaders who won’t keep “picking winners” by subsidizing private businesses and using government to compete with the market? Even the Chinese can make a city look good by pouring enough money into it. Just look at the Olympics. That doesn’t mean the economy will do better because of it.

Government subsidies equal corporate welfare. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Washington, D.C. or West Valley City, it’s the same thing. Whether it’s Solyndra or UTOPIA, the more a company shells out to get onto the public assistance, the less likely it would perform well in the market. Spending more money on campaign donations and lobbying might be correllated. [cont…]

City Weekly asks: Is John Swallow offering access to the Attorney General in return for donations?

“Now, this is kind of confidential, but when I’m the attorney general, I will try to restructure it so Consumer Protection is under the AG [office] and the attorney general has more authority over those investigations. In fact—complete authority over that,” Swallow is heard telling telemarketing-business owner Aaron Christner in an April 7 phone conversation.

This is all the more disturbing because Swallow is making this statement to a member of an industry–companies involved in online-business opportunities and Internet marketing–that has collectively donated $82,284 to his campaign. [cont…]

Exaggerated Claims: Swallow at Supreme Court to “ensure” unconstitutionality of Obamacare?

In short, the email walks through a loose timeline for the Affordable Care Act (also known as “Obamacare” more colloquially), putting Swallow at each crossroad of the legal battle. But for him, and Utah, Obamacare might not have made it before the Supreme Court.

Except that isn’t quite how it happened. We’ve already learned that Idaho had passed a law that gave standing to challenge Obamacare, and that Utah jumped on board. Sincerely, of course, but not necessarily crucial to the fight against the Affordable Care Act. It was important politically, but not really legally.

Now, Swallow’s campaign is claiming that he was at the Supreme Court to “ensure” the law was found unconstitutional. It’s a claim that stretches the truth. [Cont…]

To Dave Montero: When did “one” become “some” Republicans?

But what happens when journalist have to stir the pot a little themselves to keep the controversy going? Today’s story by Dave Montero may be just that–something to keep a story going another cycle or two. In “2nd District turmoil has some GOP looking at Democrat,” Montero manages to turn one Republican into “some” Republicans. [cont…]

Matheson’s Re-Election Is On the Rocks

Mayor Mia Love of Saratoga Springs secured the Republican nomination for Congress by a resounding margin at Saturday’s convention, garnering a whopping 70% of the vote from the GOP delegates of Utah’s 4th Congressional District. The excitement and energy Love brought was palpable in the convention center. Mia Love is clearly entering the race for Congress with the wind at her back, something that cannot be said for her Democrat opponent. [cont…]

Live Blogging the Utah Republican State Convention – Part 3

3:52 PM Sorry, folks. Ran into some friends, and so I took a break. Anyway, what you missed is that the auditor race went to a primary after Johnson campaigned on “I’m a CPA” and Becky Lockhart and Mike Waddups introduced John Dougall. Now, we’re listening to the the First Congressional candidates. Joe Fabiano just […]

Live Blogging the Utah Republican State Convention – Part 2

1:08 PM We’re listening to a “short” report from Senator Mike Lee. Talking about a constituent request from a young man, a boy of 13, really, about opening up a road for his grandfather to check on his land better. Now, Logan Dalton being introduced with his grandfather…but I don’t see where they are. 1:12 […]