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The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at [email protected].
Situational Analysis | December 12, 2025
It’s Friday and Gingerbread House Day!
Happy Hanukkah, to all our friends who will begin celebrating the Festival of Lights this weekend. 🕎
What you need to know
A new study from the University of Utah is shaking up what we thought we knew about suicide: about half of those who take their own lives have no documented suicidal thoughts or behaviors, no known mental health conditions linked to suicide risk, such as depression and no clear indicators of risk.
Rapid Relevance
Trump signs executive order to block state AI regulations; autistic Utah man missing for weeks survived on ‘small acts of kindness’ from homeless helpers, his mother says
Tonight on PBS Utah: Special Session Reaction
In a special session, the Legislature tweaked election law and sent a message to Utah courts. The Hinckley Report examines the reaction coming from candidates, political parties, and voters themselves. Panelists Doug Wilks, Jennifer Dailey-Provost, and Jefferson Burton join host Jason Perry. Watch live Fridays at 7PM, or stream anytime.
Utah Headlines
Political News
Opinion: Who is funding the campaign to reverse Prop 4? (Deseret News)
Rep. Blake Moore explains why ‘Obamacare’ expansion under Biden led to fraud increase (Deseret News)
Service/Kindness/Christmas
Bell ringers needed: Salvation Army calls for holiday volunteers (KSL)
“Backcountry Santas” deliver Christmas to Navajo Nation families (KSL TV)
'There's a need': Law firm rallies support to fulfill holiday wishes for Southern Utah foster children (St. George News)
Utah
What the IOC president says about the new name for Utah’s next Olympics (Deseret News)
Construction underway for new visitor center on east side of Zion National Park (KUTV)
Biz/Tech/AI
Disney hands over Mickey Mouse, Yoda and other beloved characters to OpenAI in $1 billion deal (Deseret News)
Instagram’s new ‘Your Algorithm’ tool could help make your feed more family-friendly (Deseret News)
Lululemon CEO McDonald to step down; shares rise 10% (KSL)
US weekly jobless claims post largest increase in nearly 4-1/2 years amid seasonal volatility (Reuters)
Crime/Courts
Culture/Community
‘The Hunger Games’: Stars of the original movies set to return for ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ (Deseret News)
Taylor Swift releases new trailer for Eras Tour docuseries (Deseret News)
From survival food to social currency: What foods did America deliver the most in 2025? (Deseret News)
‘This was at the top of my Christmas wishlist’: Broadway power couple make history in Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert (Deseret News)
Education
Environment/Energy
Creekstone Energy studying nuclear power to support world's largest data center campus in Utah (KSL)
Faith
Ross Douthat on why religion is gaining ground in a secular world (Deseret Voices)
Family
Health
Urgent call for caution amid Utah’s measles surge (Deseret News)
Utah hit with largest measles outbreak in over 30 years (KUTV)
Review of Medical Cannabis Use Finds Little Evidence of Benefit (New York Times)
Housing
Utah philanthropist announces $10 million donation to fight homelessness issue (Deseret News)
Affordable housing project could crop up among pricier homes in the southern Utah desert (Salt Lake Tribune)
National Headlines
General
Erika Kirk calls conspiracy theories about her husband’s death ‘a mind virus’ (Deseret News)
What does AI ‘think’ about Time’s 2025 person of the year? (Deseret News)
Political News
Heading into midterms, Republicans hold edge with older voters, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds (KSL)
Indiana Republicans defy Trump and reject his House redistricting push in the state (AP)
Dueling health care bills fail in Senate as critical deadline approaches (Deseret News)
Exclusive: US preparing to seize more tankers off Venezuela's coast after first ship taken, sources say (Reuters)
New York Times, after Trump post, says it won’t be deterred from writing about his health (AP)
Immigration
Abrego Garcia Is Released From ICE Detention After Judge’s Order (New York Times)
Noem Faces Questions From House Panel Amid Immigration Crackdown (New York Times)
As Trump misses deportation goals, ICE pushes migrants to give up their cases (Reuters)
Ukraine/Russia
Zelensky Says Revised U.S. Plan Still Calls for Ukraine to Leave Donbas (New York Times)
EU pushes Ukraine membership bid forward despite Hungary’s objections (AP News)
Middle East
World
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Resigns in the Face of Mass Protests (New York Times)
White House signals campaign to seize more oil tankers near Venezuela (The Washington Post)
A winter storm chills Gaza and floods tent camps, exposing aid failures (AP News)
Number of the Day
News Releases
Legislative–judicial tensions addressed in Utah State Bar’s ‘Let’s Talk & Let’s Listen’ forum
Wednesday, the Utah State Bar was pleased to host Utah Senate President Stuart J. Adams and Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz in the first of its continuing legal education (CLE) dialogue series, Let’s Talk & Let’s Listen. The two-member panel was moderated by full-service litigator Keith A. Call. More than 700 legal professionals joined the session online, with another 60 individuals, including dignitaries, attending in person for the forum that examined the respective roles of Utah’s three branches of government. (Read More)
Moore’s statement on final House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
“As co-chair of the House Military Depot Caucus and the House Air Force Caucus, I am thrilled that several of my bipartisan policy measures to strengthen the defense industrial base and long-term health of facilities like the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base and Tooele Army Depot were included in the final FY26 NDAA. This year’s NDAA provides improved resources for Utah service members and their families, strengthens American leadership and military deterrence against our adversaries, and ensures our armed forces are receiving the tools they need to remain second to none on the global stage. This annual bill is critical to our national security, and I am grateful to have provided a voice from Utah in crafting this legislation.” (Read More)
Curtis applauds House passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act
U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, which will help counties with significant federal forest lands offset lost revenue and keep essential local services running. The House vote follows a letter from Senator Curtis and his colleagues to renew the program, and the Senate’s unanimous passage of the bill. (Read More)
Tweet of the Day
Upcoming
Jan 8 — Men and Boys Wellbeing Symposium with the Sutherland Institute, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm; RSVP here
Jan 12 — Utah Taxpayers Association Legislative Outlook Conference, 9:00 am, Little America Hotel, Register here
Jan 20 — 2026 Legislative Session begins
Feb 4–7, 2026 — Summit with Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake
Mar 6 — Legislative session ends
On This Day in History
1870 - Joseph Rainey (South Carolina) becomes 1st African American to serve in US House of Representatives
1915 - Frank Sinatra is born
1961 - Nazi German army officer Adolf Eichmann is found guilty of war crimes in Israel
1963 - Frank Sinatra, Jr returned by kidnappers after his father paid the $240,000 ransom demanded
1980 - US copyright law amended to include computer programs
2000 - US Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore, settling the recount dispute in Florida's 2000 presidential election in George W. Bush's favor
2015 - The Paris Climate Accords signed in Paris
Quote of the Day
In the middle of winter, I, at last, discovered that there was in me an invincible summer.
On the Punny Side
What’s an elf’s favorite musical genre?
Wrap music.
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