Hosts: Erin Rider and Marty Carpenter
China contradicts Trumps negotiation claims
It seems like all we've been hearing about the past few weeks is related to tariffs. President Trump said earlier this week that the US is in negotiations with China to to come to an agreement... Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said today that any “claims about the progress of China-U.S. trade negotiations are groundless as trying to catch the wind and have no factual basis.” Erin and Marty break down what this contradiction means.
Trump expresses frustration over Russian missile strikes
Russian missiles struck Kyiv early this morning, killing at least eight and injuring dozens of other people. President Trump took to social media to express his frustration with Russia just hours after Trump lashed out at Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. The relationships between the US and both sides of this conflict seem to be deteriorating... so what happens now? Can a cease-fire deal be reached? Erin and Marty look at the last few meetings between the US and Ukraine and Russia and discuss what could happen next.
ActBlue the target of Trump memo
President Donald Trump is expected to sign a presidential memorandum today to focus on stopping foreign contributions in American elections. Federal law prohibits any contributions, donations, expenditures or disbursements either directly or indirectly from foreign nationals and governments in any U.S. election, whether federal, state, or local. The order is expected to specifically target ActBlue, which republicans have long claimed could be exploited by foreign actors. Erin and Marty discuss how this memo is going to affect US elections and campaigns moving forward.
DNC gives Hogg ultimatum over democratic primaries
DNC Chair Ken Martin is expected to announce a proposal to change the party's rules to mandate all DNC officers stay neutral in all democratic primaries. Last week, DNC vice chair David Hogg pledged to spend millions of dollars funding challenges to "asleep-at-the-wheel" democrats in primaries. This division in the DNC has escalated to Hogg saying that he's willing to lose his vice chair position through this process. Erin and Marty break down the next steps the DNC needs to take to get everyone back on the same page.
Medicaid cuts in Utah
Medicaid is one of the biggest line items in both the state and federal budgets—and it’s also a lifeline for more than 400,000 Utahns. As Congress considers major changes to how Medicaid is funded, the stakes are high for hospitals, patients, and the communities they serve. Francis Gibson, President and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association, joins Erin and Marty to talk about what those changes could mean for Utah.
Utah’s national impact with new health initiatives
This week, Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz was in Washington, D.C., where he met with officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and later with White House staff to talk about Utah’s state-level priorities. On Tuesday, Speaker Schultz also met with independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss a new proposal to phase out artificial food dyes in the U.S. It’s part of a bigger national conversation about food safety, consumer transparency, and state leadership. Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz joins the show today to talk about that conversation—and how Utah is leading on some of the country’s toughest issues.
Utah Fits All Scholarship lawsuit update
The Utah Fits All Scholarship program is one of the most talked-about education initiatives in the state—offering families public funds to customize their child’s education. Despite a recent court ruling questioning its constitutionality, the program is moving forward while the state appeals. Erin and Marty discuss what the next steps are for the lawsuit.
Home sales lowest March since 2009
Home sales fell to their lowest annual level for March since 2009. Sales of previously owned homes plunged 5.9 percent from February to an annualized rate of 4 million units (National Association of Realtors). Sales normally trend upwards in March as the spring buying season begins so this is extra concerning. Erin and Mary discuss some of the trends in the housing market and how it could affect Utah homeowners.