Podcasts about ethical government

Melissa Dalton-Bradford gives a beautiful sermon on Easter that complicates narratives but encourages growth and community building. Melissa Dalton-Bradford is a founding member of the non-profit Mormon Women for Ethical Government, (MWEG), a founding member… The post Easter, Atonement, and the Healing of All Divisions: Dialogue Gospel Study with Melissa Dalton-Bradford appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

Melissa Dalton-Bradford gives a beautiful sermon on Easter that complicates narratives but encourages growth and community building. Melissa Dalton-Bradford is a founding member of the non-profit Mormon Women for Ethical Government, (MWEG), a founding member… The post Easter, Atonement, and the Healing of All Divisions: Dialogue Gospel Study with Melissa Dalton-Bradford appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

In our second show of the second Trump administration, Amanda and Holly run through a list of recent events that point to a gross misunderstanding of what “religious freedom” means. They review the policy announcements made during the National Prayer Breakfast – including the creation of a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias” – and they look at how this administration's accusations and actions are limiting the religious freedom of several Christian groups who serve others. They also discuss the growing resistance, including court challenges and two opportunities for action to share your views with Congress and the Trump administration. In the final segment, Amanda and Holly share how BJC is celebrating Black History Month with a special invitation.    SHOW NOTESSegment 1 (starting at 00:38): The National Prayer Breakfast and an anti-Chrisitan bias task force Listen to Amanda and Holly's previous conversations on the National Prayer Breakfast in the following episodes: S1, Ep. 01 in 2020, beginning at 28:44 into that first episode of this podcast series. S4, Ep. 11 in 2023, exploring the many questions it raises and how it differs from the National Day of Prayer.  After the second event tied to the National Prayer Breakfast, President Trump released an executive order creating the White House Faith Office and announced his appointments to the office. On the same day, he released an executive order creating the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. Amanda posted her reaction to that action on Bluesky. In her testimony before Congress in 2018, Amanda spoke about the need to acknowledge and address violence and rhetoric directed against religious minorities in the U.S. and abroad.    Segment 2 (starting at 14:29): Executive order on education, lawsuits on immigration, and the rescinding of the sensitive locations memo President Trump released an executive order titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families” and BJC shared our concerns in a statement about how such an act would undermine religious freedom.  The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship joined the lawsuit filed by Quaker congregations challenging the removal of the “sensitive locations” guidance as a violation of religious freedom protections under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Read more about the lawsuit on our website. After we recorded this podcast, another lawsuit was filed by a number of religious denominations and organizations, including two supporting bodies of BJC: Fellowship Southwest and Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas. Read more from Baptist News Global.   Segment 3 (starting 24:10): Attacks on faith-based service providers and two opportunities for action For more on the comments from Elon Musk, Mike Flynn and Vice President JD Vance targeting religious groups, read this article by Michelle Boorstein for The Washington Post: Attacks on Catholics, Lutherans suggest new Trump approach on religion “Defunding and demonizing the government's faith-based partners will make its job harder” is the title of the op-ed published by Religion News Service, written by Amanda alongside Aaron Dorfman from A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy and Jennifer Walker Thomas from Mormon Women for Ethical Government.   TWO ACTION STEPS YOU CAN TAKE IN THIS TIME: Sign the letter calling on Congress and President Trump to provide necessary oversight to the Department of Government Efficiency, ensuring that the freedom for religious organizations to practice and honor their faith is not infringed upon by government action. It is organized by BJC, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy. Click here for the letter. Tell your member of Congress to oppose House Resolution 59, which could condemn a sermon by Bishop Mariann Budde as a “distorted message.” No one has to agree with her message to oppose this resolution, which wrongly indicates that the government should decide what is acceptable in matters of religion. We have a simple form you can use to send your own message. Click here for our form. We sent information about those two opportunities for action to people in our community who receive emails. If you would like to receive them, visit BJConline.org/subscribe to sign up for our email list! Amanda and Holly discussed the U.S. v. Skrmetti case in episode 6 of season 6.   Segment 4 (starting 31:39): Celebrating Black History Month Throughout Black History Month, BJC is sharing stories and insight on our Instagram and TikTok channels. Here are a few recent videos: Black history is American history Intersection of Black history and religious freedom Black artists INVITATION: You are invited to a special livestream event on Friday, February 28, which will re-launch the book African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities. Click here to learn more about the book and sign up for the event! Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. Your gift to BJC is tax-deductible, and you can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb 6, 2025Will Utah's Voter-Approved Independent Redistricting Commission and Fair Maps Prevail Over the Legislature's Attempt to RigThem?In 2018, Utah voters approved a ballot initiative establishing an independent redistricting commission to create fair voting districts.   The legislature neutralized it, and gerrymandered the maps anyway.  It's now back before a Utah judge.To view the whole script of today's report, please go to our website.Today's LinksArticles & Resources:American Democracy Minute - Utah Voters Fought Back After Their Fair Voting Districts Constitutional Amendment was Gutted by an Anti-Voter Legislature.  They Won. Utah Supreme Court -  LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF UTAH, et al., v. UTAH STATE LEGISLATURE American Democracy Minute - After Losing in Court and at the Polls, Utah Legislature Approves Nov. Ballot Measure to Veto or Alter Citizen Ballot Measures to Protect Its PowerCampaign Legal Center - Utahns Score Huge Victory Voiding Amendment DUtah News Dispatch - Will Utah get new congressional maps? Judge hears oral arguments in Utah redistricting caseGroups Taking Action:League of Women Voters UT, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Campaign Legal CenterRegister or Check Your Voter Registration:U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your StatePlease follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #UtahLegislature #EndGerrymandering #FairMaps

In this episode of Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, Ginny sits down with Teddy Pierce, a writer, speaker, and political commentator whose educational background in Aristotelian philosophy and Thomistic ethics fuels his advocacy for America's founding principles and the Natural Law.Teddy discusses his book, Dethrone Davos: Save America, and the urgent need to confront the dangers of collectivist ideologies, moral relativism, and communism. Ginny and Teddy unpack how these forces threaten America's God-ordained freedoms and what we, as individuals and a nation, can do to stand firm against them.Tune in to discover why standing on the principles of God's truth is more critical than ever.—https://policecoffee.com/—Order Teddy's book, Dethrone Davos: Save America: https://www.amazon.com/Dethrone-Davos-America-Theodore-Pierce-ebook/dp/B0D5NKGGNC—Order my book, Culture: The Dangers of Herd Mentality and Why We're Headed in the Wrong Direction: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/SLYWFXAB6479S

As Election Day approaches in the United States, Dialogue Gospel Study brings you a timely conversation between Jennifer Walker Thomas, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and Patrick Mason, the Leonard J. Arrington… The post Politics and the Book of Mormon with Jen Thomas and Patrick Mason – appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

As Election Day approaches in the United States, Dialogue Gospel Study brings you a timely conversation between Jennifer Walker Thomas, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and Patrick Mason, the Leonard J. Arrington… The post Politics and the Book of Mormon with Jen Thomas and Patrick Mason – appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

As Election Day approaches in the United States, Dialogue Gospel Study brings you a timely conversation between Jennifer Walker Thomas, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and Patrick Mason, the Leonard J. Arrington… The post Politics and the Book of Mormon with Jen Thomas and Patrick Mason – appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

As Election Day approaches in the United States, Dialogue Gospel Study brings you a timely conversation between Jennifer Walker Thomas, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and Patrick Mason, the Leonard J. Arrington… The post Politics and the Book of Mormon with Jen Thomas and Patrick Mason appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

As Election Day approaches in the United States, Dialogue Gospel Study brings you a timely conversation between Jennifer Walker Thomas, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and Patrick Mason, the Leonard J. Arrington… The post Politics and the Book of Mormon with Jen Thomas and Patrick Mason appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

On today's show, we're continuing our discussion and demonstration of how we talk politics with our kids. We are excited to share a conversation today between Brian Tyler Cohen, Sarah, and Sarah's teenage son Griffin. A conversation between a teenage content consumer, the content creator, and the teen's parent is a rare combination - one we think offers a lot of insight. We are thrilled to be hosting a joint live show this November 7th with one of our favorites, Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston - or via live stream - for a fun night among friends.Join us for a live virtual event with the Mormon Women for Ethical Government on Thursday, October 17 at 7pm MT / 9pm ET. All are welcome to join in real-time, but the recording will only be available to MWEG members. Sign up through this link and join us!Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 11, 2024Sensing a Threat to Their Power, Idaho GOP Leaders Use Every Lever to Stop Open Primaries & Ranked Choice Citizen Ballot Initiative Apparently sensing an existential threat to their power, Idaho GOP leaders are pulling every lever to defeat an open primaries and ranked choice voting citizen initiative.  The measure would allow over 275,000 independent voters to have their voices heard in primaries, and offer more choices to voters.To view the whole script of today's report, please go to our website.Today's LinksArticles & Resources:State of Idaho VoteIdaho - Initiatives & Amendments for 2024Boise Public Radio - Open Primaries Initiative supporters to deliver verified signatures to Secretary of StateBoise Public Radio - Idaho judge dismisses AG's challenge to open primaries ballot initiativeGovernor Brad Little - Voter participation, confidence in elections paramountIdaho Capital Sun - Move to ranked-choice voting could cost at least $25M to $40M, Idaho's top election official saysIdaho Capital Sun - Idaho House GOP opposes Prop 1 ballot initiative, may repeal or amend it if voters pass itIdahoans for Open Primaries - Frequently Asked Questions About Proposition 1Groups Taking Action:Idahoans for Open Primaries,  Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Open Primaries, FairVoteCheck Your Voter Registration: U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State Please follow us on Facebook and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Idaho #RankedChoiceVoting, #OpenPrimaries #IndependentVoters

A Utah judge sided against lawmakers this morning... calling out the language of Amendment D which determines who has the last say on citizen initiatives. The judge says the ballot question for the amendment will be voided on the November ballot. Joining me live is Laura Lewis with Mormon Woman for Ethical Government.

Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown – Tuesday, August 27, 20244:20 pm: Robert Spencer, Director of Jihad Watch, joins Rod and Greg for a conversation about his piece for PJ Media on how the D.C. swamp will continue to operate regardless of who is elected President.4:38 pm: Jeffrey H. Anderson, President of the American Main Street Initiative, joins the show for a conversation about his piece in The American Mind about what voters in America care about.5:05 pm: Richard Lyons, a contributor to The Blaze, joins the show to discuss his recent piece about how Franklin Roosevelt and Richard Frankfurter turned America into a bureaucratic nightmare.5:38 pm: Laura Lewis Eyi, Communications Specialist for Mormon Women for Ethical Government joins Rod and Greg to discuss the group's opposition to a constitutional amendment proposal from Utah Lawmakers that would allow the state legislature to overturn ballot initiatives.

The Utah Legislature meets tomorrow in a special session to discuss citizen-led ballot initiatives.The session is in response to a state supreme court ruling that says Utahns have the right to reform government with these initiatives. Mormon Women for Ethical Government were plaintiffs in that case brought to the supreme court.   

In 2018, North Dakota voters approved a ballot measure creating the state Ethics Commission. The commission was implemented in 2019, and that first year, it received just 2 complaints. There were 3 in 2020, 9 in 2021, then a spike (right around election time) in 2022 to 14. There were 14 complaints again in 2023, and so far in 2024 (another election year) the number has spiked to 25 as of July 25. Those numbers came from Rebecca Binstock, the executive director of the ethics commission, who joined this episode of Plain Talk to advertise the fact that the commission is currently accepting applications for new members (find more on that in their press release).  "Any North Dakota resident can serve on the ethics commission," Binstock told us, though there are some exemptions. For instance, if you're currently an elected official, or in a leadership position in a political party, you need not apply. But Binstock also discussed with my co-host Chad Oban the fact that the Ethics Commission has become much more visible in North Dakota politics, and governance, and what it does, and what it should do, are becoming increasingly important questions. "Ethics commissions alone do not create ethical government," Binstock told us, adding that it also requires a robust news media, and an engaged electorate. The Ethics Commission gets the most attention from its complaint process, where members of the public can allege unethical behavior by state officials that is then reviewed by the commission, but Binstock argued that some of its other missions, such as educating state and local officials about ethics policies and promoting more transparency, are as, if not more, important. She also discussed the commission taking a larger role in enforcing state campaign laws. Want to follow Plain Talk? Click here for an archive of past shows, and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 19, 2024Utah Voters Fought Back After Their Fair Voting Districts Constitutional Amendment was Gutted by an Anti-Voter Legislature.  They Won.  Utah voters passed the Better Boundaries Proposition 4 in 2018, setting standards for competitive, nonpartisan redistricting.  Utah's legislature, in an effort to retain partisan power, gutted that amendment.  The state supreme court just ruled for the voters.To view the whole script of today's report, please go to our website.Today's LinksArticles & Resources:Utah News Dispatch - Utah Supreme Court hands big win to plaintiffs in anti-gerrymandering lawsuitUtah Supreme Court (via Democracy Docket) - League of Women Voters Utah v. Utah State LegislatureDemocracy Docket - Utah Supreme Court Reinstates Challenge to Repeal of Anti-Gerrymandering InitiativeGroups Taking Action:League of Women Voters Utah, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, ACLU of UtahPlease follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Utah #UtahNews #BetterBoundaries #Proposition4 #FairMaps #NoGerrymandering

This week, we're sharing an episode from Proclaim Peace, a podcast we proudly co-sponsor in collaboration with Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Proclaim Peace is hosted by Jennifer Thomas, Co-Executive Director of MWEG, and Patrick Mason, Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, and longtime friend and advisor of Faith Matters. In this episode, Patrick and Jennifer chat with Eboo Patel, the founder and president of Interfaith America and a powerful bridge-builder in the United States. Eboo has spent a lifetime trying to harness the passion and loyalty people feel towards their religions and use it for good by encouraging interfaith collaboration and civic engagement. He shares with us some of his insights from several decades of speaking with religious and civic leaders across many different faiths, and some of the special opportunities he sees for our Latter-day Saint community.We encourage you to subscribe to Proclaim Peace to hear fascinating conversations with Latter-day Saint bridge builders and peacemakers working all over the world in creative, gospel-inspired ways. We'd also love for you to register for Restore, which will be held on September 5-7 at the Mountain American Expo Center, where Eboo will be, in-person, along with Patrick, Jennifer, and many other incredible speakers for a weekend of spiritual rejuvenation. You can register at faithmaters.org/restoreWe hope you'll join us! In the mean time, please enjoy this episode of Proclaim Peace with Eboo Patel.

In April of 2024, Luke Mayville, co-founder of the grassroots organization ReClaim Idaho, addressed volunteers on the final day of signature gathering for this year's Open Primaries and Final Four Voting ballot initiative.  “We are here today because we are tired of playing the same old game under a broken set of rules,” Luke told the 50 or so volunteers gathered in Boise's IvyWild Park that morning.  “The root of the problem,” Mayville stated, “ is the fact that there are 270,000 independent voters who are blocked from voting in the most important primary elections. And the root of the problem is that we don't even have competitive general elections.” Continuing our Purple Principle (TPP) series on the record number of nonpartisan state-level election reform efforts in 2024, this episode profiles the coalition working to advance Idaho's Open Primary initiative. The initiative is patterned in part after the Alaska “Final Four Voting” model first proposed by Katherine Gehl, author, business leader, and TPP guest earlier this season.  Margaret Kinzel of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, or MWEG, represents another important member of this non-partisan coalition. “ One of the things that helped me sign on to being active in this effort was hearing how many of our races are uncontested in the 2022 election,”  Margaret explains. “Nine of the 38 districts, the race for state senator and the two-state representatives were uncontested. So you had no choice to vote for; you either voted for the candidate or you didn't.” Retired Attorney General and former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice, Jim Jones, is another important coalition leader. “After the 2022 Alaska election, “Jones explains, “ it appeared to me that this was the answer to Idaho's problem because we had gotten so involved in culture wars, and the culture warriors were essentially picked by the Republican Party, which had been taken over by extremists.” Tune in to learn more about the Idaho coalition that collected and submitted over 90 thousand signatures toward election reform in a largely conservative state and meet coalition leaders Luke Mayville (Reclaim Idaho), Margaret Wentzl (Mormon Women for Ethical Government) and former Idaho Supreme Court Justice Jim Jones.  Sometimes a village is not enough and it takes a broad coalition to take on “a broken election system.” The Purple Principle is a Fluent Knowledge production; original music by Ryan Adair Rooney.  SHOW NOTES Our Guests: Luke Mayville, Co-founder Reclaim Idaho. Margaret Kinzel, Co-Liasson, Mormon Women For Ethical Government. Jim Jones, Former Attorney General Idaho.  Join Us for Premium Content: Apple: https://link.chtbl.com/PurpleApple Patreon: patreon.com/purpleprinciplepodcast Find us online! Twitter: @purpleprincipl Facebook: @thepurpleprinciplepodcast Youtube: @thepurpleprinciple  Our website: https://bit.ly/2ZCpFaQ Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/2UfFSja  Resources:  https://www.reclaimidaho.org/ https://www.mormonwomenforethicalgovernment.org/ https://idahocapitalsun.com/author/jim-jones/  https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/05/01/having-exceeded-goal-idaho-open-primary-supporters-submit-final-signatures-for-verification/ https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/04/24/idaho-open-primary-supporters-make-final-push-before-may-1-deadline/ https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/primary_elections_in_idaho.html https://represent.us/2024-campaigns/idaho-final-four-voting/ https://store.hbr.org/product/the-politics-industry-how-political-innovation-can-break-partisan-gridlock-and-save-our-democracy/10367 https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/stcon/article_I.html#:~:text=All%20men%20are%20by%20nature,POWER%20INHERENT%20IN%20THE%20PEOPLE https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/05/23/almost-24-of-idahos-registered-voters-voted-in-primary-election-initial-estimates-show/

Today we feature interviews with three religious organizations. These organizations share their current programs that promote civic duties and community engagement across the country.  Harbonim Dror Camp Galil is a summer camp in Ottsville, Pennsylvania. Executive Director David Weiss joins us to discuss their daily programs for campers aged 7-17. These programs include staging protests and holding forums to discussing any topics of their choice, which can range from a later bedtime and more muffins to climate change and gender imbalance.The Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom has been a part of Reading, Pennsylvania for nearly 160 years. Rabbi Brian Michelson talks about the decision to maintain a polling site on their campus throughout the Passover holiday in Jewish beliefs. He emphasizes the importance of religious observance but also celebrates the American right to express freedom through voting.The Mormon Women for Ethical Government has a two-part mission, to advocate for ethical governance and empower women to be independent, ethical, and political actors. Co-Executive Director Jennifer Thomas touches on their faith-based values that have guided thousands of members in MWEG's local chapters across 49 states to serve their local communities one way or another.These organizations express a commitment to empowering voters, children, and women and encourage involvement in local communities through spiritual values.  Timestamps:0:00 Democracy's Good News1:34 David Weiss, the executive director of Camp Galil3:52 Rabbi Brian, Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom7:08 Director Jennifer Thomas, Mormon Women for Ethical GovernmentHear more at democracygroup.org

At this week's Round Table, Amelia, Emily, Hannah, and Heba engaged in a profound conversation with distinguished guest Emma Addams, Co-Executive Director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG). Emma provides invaluable insights into the mission and principles of the organization, which is dedicated to inspiring women of faith to advocate for ethical government, transcending partisanship. Through her leadership, Emma aims to create a collaborative space where women contribute to the complex symphony that is our democracy.  Emma brought a wealth of experience to our conversation, having navigated the realms of contracts negotiation, corporate transactions, and investor relations in Boston and Silicon Valley. Her journey from building and running large piano studios to her current role in Omaha, Nebraska, has uniquely prepared her for the dynamic and collaborative nature of Mormon Women for Ethical Government's work. In our discussion, Emma shared insights on being a principled voter, transcending partisan boundaries to embrace a broader political identity,. We explore the nuances beyond the conventional Republican and Democrat labels, delving into the spectrum of political ideologies and the role of temperament in shaping our political engagement. We also talked about the art of building peace within the complexities of democracy. Emma shared her insights on advocating for justice while adhering to the golden rule, emphasizing intentional efforts to de-escalate conflicts and promote reconciliation.   Inspired by the wisdom shared in today's episode with Emma Addams, let's take uplifting strides towards a brighter democratic future. Embrace principled voting as a powerful expression of your values, fostering unity beyond political divides. Strengthen media literacy, engage in enriching cross-generational conversations, and let faith–however you define it– guide your journey to actively contribute to shaping a more harmonious and inclusive democracy. Thank you for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nextgenpolitics/message

Today we're sharing with you an episode from a brand new podcast that Faith Matters is co-sponsoring in collaboration with Mormon Women for Ethical Government, called Proclaim Peace. This podcast is hosted by Jennifer Thomas, Co-Executive Director of MWEG, and Patrick Mason, Leonard Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, and longtime friend and advisor of Faith Matters. In this first season, these two will be exploring with guests a “peaceful reading of the Book of Mormon.” In the episode we're sharing, they have a fascinating conversation with Jennifer Finlayson-Fife on some of the tension-filled early chapters of The Book of Mormon. They dive deep on the conflicts that Lehi's family couldn't seem to escape—what was done well and what might have been different—and how the unhealed rifts in this family eventually had existential societal consequences. We're proud to be a part of this effort that we see as a hopeful and faith-filled response to President Nelson's prophetic call to “follow the Prince of Peace, [and]... become His peacemakers.”You can subscribe now by searching “Proclaim Peace” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

Welcome to Season 1 of the Proclaim Peace podcast! Co-hosts Jennifer Thomas, Co-Executive Director at Mormon Women for Ethical Government and Patrick Mason, Professor at Utah State University, explore a peaceful reading of the Book of Mormon by talking with guest experts who show us how to create peace in these turbulent times.

Lauren Boebert's fundraising lags Democratic challenger Adam Frisch | Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) raises $450K as her GOP challenger has yet to start fundraising | Anti-LGBTQ laws are being struck down around the country for violating First Amendment rights | Utah Supreme Court considers challenge to GOP gerrymandered Congressional map | Denver Mayor Mike Johnston declares a state of emergency around homelessness | Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph Band play Vail on July 24.Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE:Lauren Boebert's Democratic challenger raised 3x what she did in the 2nd quarterBY: SARA WILSON - JULY 17, 2023 4:07 PMDemocrat Adam Frisch raised over three times what Republican incumbent Rep. Lauren Boebert did over the last three months in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, as the seat appears likely to be a competitive — and expensive — race in 2024.In 2022, Boebert beat Frisch for a second term by 546 votes. Both candidates are actively fundraising with 16 months until a general election rematch.Frisch reported raising about $2.6 million during the most recent campaign finance reporting period, which ran from April to June, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The former Aspen City Council member spent about $1.4 million and has about $2.5 million in cash on hand.During his 2022 campaign, Frisch raised about $6.7 million, including personal loans, and spent about $6.4 million.Boebert reported raising over $800,000 from April to June. She spent a bit over $400,000 and has about $1.4 million in the bank.In 2022, Boebert raised almost $8 million and spent about $7.4 million.Both candidates brought in a large amount of donations under $200 that don't need to be individually listed on reports — about 66% of Frisch's cash and 47% of Boebert's.Frisch listed about 1,400 individual donations from Colorado residents for a total of about $280,000. Boebert listed about 600 donations from people in Colorado, raising about $150,000.Both Boebert and Frisch spent heavily on advertising during the quarter. Frisch reported spending over $600,000 on contact list acquisition and digital advertising and another $290,000 on direct mail. Boebert spent $52,000 on digital advertising and over $100,000 on direct mail. She reported spending over $28,000 on campaign-related travel during the quarter.The 3rd Congressional District encompasses the Western Slope, San Luis Valley and swings east to Pueblo County.In other districts - Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the 8th Congressional District raised about $450,000 during the quarter. She spent about $120,000 and has about $625,000 in cash on hand.Republican Scott James has announced his candidacy but has not reported any raising or spending so far this cycle.The National Republican Congressional Committee listed the district as a target race for 2024, priming it for an influx of national party attention and resources. At the same time, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will also likely pour money into the race, listing Caraveo as a potential vulnerable freshman member.The 8th Congressional District includes Denver's northeast suburbs into Weld County.ARIZONA MIRROR:.Anti-LGBTQ laws in the US are getting struck down for limiting free speechDR. MARK SATTAJULY 13, 2023 7:11 AMAnti-LGBTQ laws passed in 2023 included measures to deny gender-affirming care to trans children. Photo by Mario Tama | Getty Images via The ConversationNearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures in the U.S. in 2023. Many of those bills seek to reduce or eliminate gender-affirming care for transgender minors or to ban drag performances in places where minors could view them.Most of those bills have not become law. But many of those that have did not survive legal scrutiny when challenged in court.A notable feature of these rulings is how many rely on the First Amendment's protection of free speech. In several of the decisions, judges used harsh language to describe what they deemed to be assaults on a fundamental American right.Here's a summary of some of the most notable legal outcomes:Drag performancesSeveral states passed laws aimed at restricting drag performances. These laws were quickly challenged in court. So far, judges have sided with those challenging these laws.On June 2, 2023, a federal judge permanently enjoined Tennessee's attempt to limit drag performances by restricting “adult entertainment” featuring “male or female impersonators.” When a law is permanently enjoined, it can no longer be enforced unless an appeals court reverses the decision.The judge ruled on broad grounds that Tennessee's law violated freedom of speech, writing that it “reeks with constitutional maladies of vagueness and overbreadth fatal to statutes that regulate First Amendment rights.” He also ruled that the law was passed for the “impermissible purpose of chilling constitutionally-protected speech” and that it engaged in viewpoint discrimination, which occurs when a law regulates speech from a disfavored perspective.Three weeks later, a federal judge granted a temporary injunction against Florida's anti-drag law on similar grounds.And in Utah, a federal judge required the city of St. George to grant a permit for a drag show, ruling that the city had applied an ordinance in a discriminatory manner in order to prevent the family-friendly drag show from happening. As in the other cases, the judge's ruling was based on First Amendment precedent.Gender-affirming careOn June 20, 2023, a federal judge permanently enjoined an Arkansas law, passed in 2021 over the veto of then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson, preventing transgender minors from receiving various kinds of gender-affirming medical care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.The judge held that Arkansas' law violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause – which ensures laws are applied equally regardless of social characteristics like race or gender – because the law discriminated on the basis of sex.Arkansas claimed its law was passed in order to protect children and to safeguard medical ethics. The judge agreed that these were legitimate state interests, but rejected Arkansas' claim that its law furthered those ends.The judge also held that Arkansas' law violated the First Amendment free speech rights of medical care providers because the law would have prevented them from providing referrals for gender transition medical treatment.During June 2023, federal judges in Florida and Indiana granted temporary injunctions against enforcement of similar state laws. This means that these laws cannot be enforced until a full trial is conducted – and only if that trial results in a ruling that these laws are constitutional.Free speech for the LGBTQ communityIn striking down these unconstitutional state laws on First Amendment grounds, many judges went out of their way to reinforce the point that freedom of speech protects views about sexual orientation and gender identity that may be unpopular in conservative areas.In his ruling on the St. George, Utah case, U.S. District Judge David Nuffer stressed that “Public spaces are public spaces. Public spaces are not private spaces. Public spaces are not majority spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression.”Nuffer also noted that “Public officials and the city governments in which they serve are trustees of constitutional rights for all citizens.” Protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens includes protecting the constitutional rights of members of the LGBTQ community and of other gender-nonconforming people.Free speech rights also extend to those who want to use speech in order to help promote the well-being of LGBTQ people. In ruling that Arkansas' law violated the First Amendment, Judge Jay Moody stated that the state law “prevents doctors from informing their patients where gender transition treatment may be available” and that it “effectively bans their ability to speak to patients about these treatments because the physician is not allowed to tell their patient where it is available.” For this reason, he held that the law violated the First Amendment.As additional anti-LGBTQ state laws are challenged in court, judges are likely to continue to use the First Amendment to show how such laws fail to respect Americans' fundamental free speech rights.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The ConversationNEW YORK TIMES:Utah G.O.P.'s Map Carved Up Salt Lake Democrats to dilute their power. Is that legal?The Utah Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday over whether a congressional map drawn to dilute Democratic votes was subject to judicial review, or a political issue beyond its reach.By Michael WinesJuly 11, 2023Last week, Utah's Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical of arguments put forward by the State Legislature that it had essentially unreviewable power to draw a map of the state's congressional districts that diluted the votes of Democrats.The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a map in 2021 that carved up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County, the state's most populous county, and scattered its voters among the state's four U.S. House districts, all of which were predominantly Republican.The lawmakers acted after repealing a law — enacted by Utah voters in a 2018 ballot initiative — that outlawed political maps unduly favoring a candidate or political party.The Legislature's map was widely acknowledged at the time to be a partisan gerrymander, including by the Republican governor, Spencer J. Cox, who noted at the time that both parties often produced skewed maps.The question before the justices on Tuesday was whether the state's courts could hear a lawsuit challenging the Legislature's map, or whether partisan maps were a political issue beyond their jurisdiction. It was not clear when the court would hand down a ruling.Much of Tuesday's hearing — which was streamed on the state court's website — focused on the Legislature's repeal of the 2018 ballot initiative, given the provision in the State Constitution that all political power resides with the people and that they have the right “to alter and reform” their government.Mark Gaber is a lawyer for the Campaign Legal Center, an advocacy law firm based in Washington that represents the plaintiffs in the case before the court. He said, “the Legislature has for decades engaged in this anti-democratic distortion of the process. And the people said: ‘We have had enough. We are going to alter and reform our government and recognize that we hold the political power in this state.'”Taylor Meehan, a lawyer with the law firm Consovoy McCarthy who is representing the Legislature, said Utah citizens had many ways to exercise political influence even after the repeal. “The people can advocate for a constitutional amendment,” Ms. Meehan said. “The people also can elect and lobby and propose ideas to their Legislature. The Legislature will still be politically accountable for whether they vote maps up or down.”Chief Justice Matthew Durrant questioned the claim. “That seems like an empty promise,” he said. “Ultimately, under the system you're suggesting, the Legislature is always going to have the final say.”In court filings, legislators said that the State Constitution gave them exclusive authority to draw political maps, and that the plaintiffs were trying to impose “illusory standards of political equality” on the mapmaking process.With the U.S. Supreme Court having barred federal courts from deciding partisan gerrymander cases, state courts are becoming a crucial battleground for opponents of skewed maps. Joshua A. Douglas, an expert on state constitution protections for voting at the University of Kentucky, said the growing body of legal precedents in state gerrymandering cases was important because many state constitutions shared similar protections for elections and voters, often derived from one another.Courts in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Alaska, New York and, last week, New Mexico have ruled that partisan gerrymanders can be unconstitutional. So have courts in Ohio and North Carolina. However, the Ohio court proved unable to force the legislature to comply with its rulings, and the North Carolina decision was overturned in April after elections shifted the court's majority from Democratic to Republican.The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear a challenge to that state's congressional and legislative maps in September. And a lawsuit contesting an extreme Republican gerrymander of the Wisconsin Legislature is widely expected after an April election gave liberals a majority on the state's high court.Perhaps the closest analogy to the Utah gerrymander is in Nashville, where the latest congressional map by the Republican-led state legislature divided the city's former Democratic-majority U.S. House district among three heavily Republican districts. Democrats have not challenged the map in state courts, presumably because they see little prospect of winning in a State Supreme Court dominated by Republican appointees.In Utah's case, however, the State Supreme Court's five justices do not have reputations for bending easily to political winds. They are chosen through a merit-based selection process.The Utah plaintiffs — the state chapter of the League of Women Voters, the advocacy group Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and a handful of Utah voters —say that the gerrymandered map ignores a host of state constitutional provisions, including guarantees of free speech, free association and equal protection — provisions that they say should be read as prohibiting partisan maps.Republican legislators contend that they had the right to repeal the 2018 redistricting law, just as they could any other state law. And they say that the plaintiffs' aim is no different than their own: to tilt the playing field in their side's favor.But Katie Wright, the executive director of Better Boundaries — the group that led the effort to pass the redistricting law and that is backing the lawsuit — argued that there was a difference between the two. She noted that the Utah Legislature's disclosure of its new maps in 2021 sparked an unusually large public outcry that continues even today.“The reason we have this gerrymandered map is to keep the people who are in power in power,” she said. “But Utahns have not given up.”Michael Wines writes about voting and other election-related issues. Since joining The Times in 1988, he has covered the Justice Department, the White House, Congress, Russia, southern Africa, China and various other topics.  More about Michael WinesA version of this article appears in print on July 12, 2023, Section A, Page 16 of the New York edition with the headline: Utah's Supreme Court Weighs State Gerrymandering Case. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | COLORADO SUN:Denver's new mayor declares state of emergency on homelessness, sets goal of housing 1,000 unsheltered people by end of 2023Elliott Wenzler9:54 AM MDT on Jul 18, 2023In his first full day as Denver's new mayor, Mike Johnston declared a state of emergency around homelessness and announced that he plans to house 1,000 unsheltered people by the end of the year.Johnston said he will tour 78 neighborhoods across the city to accomplish his goal and that his staff will work with landlords, property owners and hotels to find housing availability. His administration is also looking at nearly 200 public plots to place tiny home communities where people experiencing homelessness can be housed.“This is what we think is the most important crisis the city is facing,” Johnston said at a news conference at the Denver's City and County Building. “We took the oath yesterday to commit to taking on this problem.”Homelessness has been an increasingly polarizing issue in Denver and it was a major focus on Johnston's mayoral campaign. He vowed to create tiny home communities on city-owned property as a way to get people off the street.Johnston said the state of emergency declaration will help the city access state and “possibly” federal funding. He also said it would allow the city to more quickly work through construction, renovation and permitting processes for new housing units.“And it sends a real message to all the rest of the state that we are deeply focused on this. We have real evidence to support that housing first as a strategy will get the great majority of people access to the support they need to stay housed and then access follow up resources,” he said. Johnston's inaugural address Monday was centered on the theme of what he called the “dream of Denver.” He mentioned housing costs, safety, mental illness, addiction and reimagining downtown as top priorities.Johnston said “Those of us on this stage took an oath today. But for us to succeed, every Denverite must take their own oath- an oath to dream, to serve, and to deliver. To dream (of) a Denver bold enough to include all of us. To serve our city above ourselves. To march on shoulder to shoulder, undeterred by failure, until we deliver results.”And your unsolicited concert pick of the week, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue! With special guests Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, and the Robert Randolph Band. Monday July 24 at the Gerald Ford Amphitheatre in Vail. I've seen every one of these acts, and I'll just any one of them would be worth the trip on their own.  Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Sun, New York Times, Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Lauren Boebert's fundraising lags Democratic challenger Adam Frisch | Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) raises $450K as her GOP challenger has yet to start fundraising | Anti-LGBTQ laws are being struck down around the country for violating First Amendment rights | Utah Supreme Court considers challenge to GOP gerrymandered Congressional map | Denver Mayor Mike Johnston declares a state of emergency around homelessness | Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph Band play Vail on July 24.Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE:Lauren Boebert's Democratic challenger raised 3x what she did in the 2nd quarterBY: SARA WILSON - JULY 17, 2023 4:07 PMDemocrat Adam Frisch raised over three times what Republican incumbent Rep. Lauren Boebert did over the last three months in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, as the seat appears likely to be a competitive — and expensive — race in 2024.In 2022, Boebert beat Frisch for a second term by 546 votes. Both candidates are actively fundraising with 16 months until a general election rematch.Frisch reported raising about $2.6 million during the most recent campaign finance reporting period, which ran from April to June, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The former Aspen City Council member spent about $1.4 million and has about $2.5 million in cash on hand.During his 2022 campaign, Frisch raised about $6.7 million, including personal loans, and spent about $6.4 million.Boebert reported raising over $800,000 from April to June. She spent a bit over $400,000 and has about $1.4 million in the bank.In 2022, Boebert raised almost $8 million and spent about $7.4 million.Both candidates brought in a large amount of donations under $200 that don't need to be individually listed on reports — about 66% of Frisch's cash and 47% of Boebert's.Frisch listed about 1,400 individual donations from Colorado residents for a total of about $280,000. Boebert listed about 600 donations from people in Colorado, raising about $150,000.Both Boebert and Frisch spent heavily on advertising during the quarter. Frisch reported spending over $600,000 on contact list acquisition and digital advertising and another $290,000 on direct mail. Boebert spent $52,000 on digital advertising and over $100,000 on direct mail. She reported spending over $28,000 on campaign-related travel during the quarter.The 3rd Congressional District encompasses the Western Slope, San Luis Valley and swings east to Pueblo County.In other districts - Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the 8th Congressional District raised about $450,000 during the quarter. She spent about $120,000 and has about $625,000 in cash on hand.Republican Scott James has announced his candidacy but has not reported any raising or spending so far this cycle.The National Republican Congressional Committee listed the district as a target race for 2024, priming it for an influx of national party attention and resources. At the same time, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will also likely pour money into the race, listing Caraveo as a potential vulnerable freshman member.The 8th Congressional District includes Denver's northeast suburbs into Weld County.ARIZONA MIRROR:.Anti-LGBTQ laws in the US are getting struck down for limiting free speechDR. MARK SATTAJULY 13, 2023 7:11 AMAnti-LGBTQ laws passed in 2023 included measures to deny gender-affirming care to trans children. Photo by Mario Tama | Getty Images via The ConversationNearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures in the U.S. in 2023. Many of those bills seek to reduce or eliminate gender-affirming care for transgender minors or to ban drag performances in places where minors could view them.Most of those bills have not become law. But many of those that have did not survive legal scrutiny when challenged in court.A notable feature of these rulings is how many rely on the First Amendment's protection of free speech. In several of the decisions, judges used harsh language to describe what they deemed to be assaults on a fundamental American right.Here's a summary of some of the most notable legal outcomes:Drag performancesSeveral states passed laws aimed at restricting drag performances. These laws were quickly challenged in court. So far, judges have sided with those challenging these laws.On June 2, 2023, a federal judge permanently enjoined Tennessee's attempt to limit drag performances by restricting “adult entertainment” featuring “male or female impersonators.” When a law is permanently enjoined, it can no longer be enforced unless an appeals court reverses the decision.The judge ruled on broad grounds that Tennessee's law violated freedom of speech, writing that it “reeks with constitutional maladies of vagueness and overbreadth fatal to statutes that regulate First Amendment rights.” He also ruled that the law was passed for the “impermissible purpose of chilling constitutionally-protected speech” and that it engaged in viewpoint discrimination, which occurs when a law regulates speech from a disfavored perspective.Three weeks later, a federal judge granted a temporary injunction against Florida's anti-drag law on similar grounds.And in Utah, a federal judge required the city of St. George to grant a permit for a drag show, ruling that the city had applied an ordinance in a discriminatory manner in order to prevent the family-friendly drag show from happening. As in the other cases, the judge's ruling was based on First Amendment precedent.Gender-affirming careOn June 20, 2023, a federal judge permanently enjoined an Arkansas law, passed in 2021 over the veto of then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson, preventing transgender minors from receiving various kinds of gender-affirming medical care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.The judge held that Arkansas' law violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause – which ensures laws are applied equally regardless of social characteristics like race or gender – because the law discriminated on the basis of sex.Arkansas claimed its law was passed in order to protect children and to safeguard medical ethics. The judge agreed that these were legitimate state interests, but rejected Arkansas' claim that its law furthered those ends.The judge also held that Arkansas' law violated the First Amendment free speech rights of medical care providers because the law would have prevented them from providing referrals for gender transition medical treatment.During June 2023, federal judges in Florida and Indiana granted temporary injunctions against enforcement of similar state laws. This means that these laws cannot be enforced until a full trial is conducted – and only if that trial results in a ruling that these laws are constitutional.Free speech for the LGBTQ communityIn striking down these unconstitutional state laws on First Amendment grounds, many judges went out of their way to reinforce the point that freedom of speech protects views about sexual orientation and gender identity that may be unpopular in conservative areas.In his ruling on the St. George, Utah case, U.S. District Judge David Nuffer stressed that “Public spaces are public spaces. Public spaces are not private spaces. Public spaces are not majority spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression.”Nuffer also noted that “Public officials and the city governments in which they serve are trustees of constitutional rights for all citizens.” Protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens includes protecting the constitutional rights of members of the LGBTQ community and of other gender-nonconforming people.Free speech rights also extend to those who want to use speech in order to help promote the well-being of LGBTQ people. In ruling that Arkansas' law violated the First Amendment, Judge Jay Moody stated that the state law “prevents doctors from informing their patients where gender transition treatment may be available” and that it “effectively bans their ability to speak to patients about these treatments because the physician is not allowed to tell their patient where it is available.” For this reason, he held that the law violated the First Amendment.As additional anti-LGBTQ state laws are challenged in court, judges are likely to continue to use the First Amendment to show how such laws fail to respect Americans' fundamental free speech rights.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The ConversationNEW YORK TIMES:Utah G.O.P.'s Map Carved Up Salt Lake Democrats to dilute their power. Is that legal?The Utah Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday over whether a congressional map drawn to dilute Democratic votes was subject to judicial review, or a political issue beyond its reach.By Michael WinesJuly 11, 2023Last week, Utah's Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical of arguments put forward by the State Legislature that it had essentially unreviewable power to draw a map of the state's congressional districts that diluted the votes of Democrats.The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a map in 2021 that carved up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County, the state's most populous county, and scattered its voters among the state's four U.S. House districts, all of which were predominantly Republican.The lawmakers acted after repealing a law — enacted by Utah voters in a 2018 ballot initiative — that outlawed political maps unduly favoring a candidate or political party.The Legislature's map was widely acknowledged at the time to be a partisan gerrymander, including by the Republican governor, Spencer J. Cox, who noted at the time that both parties often produced skewed maps.The question before the justices on Tuesday was whether the state's courts could hear a lawsuit challenging the Legislature's map, or whether partisan maps were a political issue beyond their jurisdiction. It was not clear when the court would hand down a ruling.Much of Tuesday's hearing — which was streamed on the state court's website — focused on the Legislature's repeal of the 2018 ballot initiative, given the provision in the State Constitution that all political power resides with the people and that they have the right “to alter and reform” their government.Mark Gaber is a lawyer for the Campaign Legal Center, an advocacy law firm based in Washington that represents the plaintiffs in the case before the court. He said, “the Legislature has for decades engaged in this anti-democratic distortion of the process. And the people said: ‘We have had enough. We are going to alter and reform our government and recognize that we hold the political power in this state.'”Taylor Meehan, a lawyer with the law firm Consovoy McCarthy who is representing the Legislature, said Utah citizens had many ways to exercise political influence even after the repeal. “The people can advocate for a constitutional amendment,” Ms. Meehan said. “The people also can elect and lobby and propose ideas to their Legislature. The Legislature will still be politically accountable for whether they vote maps up or down.”Chief Justice Matthew Durrant questioned the claim. “That seems like an empty promise,” he said. “Ultimately, under the system you're suggesting, the Legislature is always going to have the final say.”In court filings, legislators said that the State Constitution gave them exclusive authority to draw political maps, and that the plaintiffs were trying to impose “illusory standards of political equality” on the mapmaking process.With the U.S. Supreme Court having barred federal courts from deciding partisan gerrymander cases, state courts are becoming a crucial battleground for opponents of skewed maps. Joshua A. Douglas, an expert on state constitution protections for voting at the University of Kentucky, said the growing body of legal precedents in state gerrymandering cases was important because many state constitutions shared similar protections for elections and voters, often derived from one another.Courts in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Alaska, New York and, last week, New Mexico have ruled that partisan gerrymanders can be unconstitutional. So have courts in Ohio and North Carolina. However, the Ohio court proved unable to force the legislature to comply with its rulings, and the North Carolina decision was overturned in April after elections shifted the court's majority from Democratic to Republican.The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear a challenge to that state's congressional and legislative maps in September. And a lawsuit contesting an extreme Republican gerrymander of the Wisconsin Legislature is widely expected after an April election gave liberals a majority on the state's high court.Perhaps the closest analogy to the Utah gerrymander is in Nashville, where the latest congressional map by the Republican-led state legislature divided the city's former Democratic-majority U.S. House district among three heavily Republican districts. Democrats have not challenged the map in state courts, presumably because they see little prospect of winning in a State Supreme Court dominated by Republican appointees.In Utah's case, however, the State Supreme Court's five justices do not have reputations for bending easily to political winds. They are chosen through a merit-based selection process.The Utah plaintiffs — the state chapter of the League of Women Voters, the advocacy group Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and a handful of Utah voters —say that the gerrymandered map ignores a host of state constitutional provisions, including guarantees of free speech, free association and equal protection — provisions that they say should be read as prohibiting partisan maps.Republican legislators contend that they had the right to repeal the 2018 redistricting law, just as they could any other state law. And they say that the plaintiffs' aim is no different than their own: to tilt the playing field in their side's favor.But Katie Wright, the executive director of Better Boundaries — the group that led the effort to pass the redistricting law and that is backing the lawsuit — argued that there was a difference between the two. She noted that the Utah Legislature's disclosure of its new maps in 2021 sparked an unusually large public outcry that continues even today.“The reason we have this gerrymandered map is to keep the people who are in power in power,” she said. “But Utahns have not given up.”Michael Wines writes about voting and other election-related issues. Since joining The Times in 1988, he has covered the Justice Department, the White House, Congress, Russia, southern Africa, China and various other topics.  More about Michael WinesA version of this article appears in print on July 12, 2023, Section A, Page 16 of the New York edition with the headline: Utah's Supreme Court Weighs State Gerrymandering Case. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | COLORADO SUN:Denver's new mayor declares state of emergency on homelessness, sets goal of housing 1,000 unsheltered people by end of 2023Elliott Wenzler9:54 AM MDT on Jul 18, 2023In his first full day as Denver's new mayor, Mike Johnston declared a state of emergency around homelessness and announced that he plans to house 1,000 unsheltered people by the end of the year.Johnston said he will tour 78 neighborhoods across the city to accomplish his goal and that his staff will work with landlords, property owners and hotels to find housing availability. His administration is also looking at nearly 200 public plots to place tiny home communities where people experiencing homelessness can be housed.“This is what we think is the most important crisis the city is facing,” Johnston said at a news conference at the Denver's City and County Building. “We took the oath yesterday to commit to taking on this problem.”Homelessness has been an increasingly polarizing issue in Denver and it was a major focus on Johnston's mayoral campaign. He vowed to create tiny home communities on city-owned property as a way to get people off the street.Johnston said the state of emergency declaration will help the city access state and “possibly” federal funding. He also said it would allow the city to more quickly work through construction, renovation and permitting processes for new housing units.“And it sends a real message to all the rest of the state that we are deeply focused on this. We have real evidence to support that housing first as a strategy will get the great majority of people access to the support they need to stay housed and then access follow up resources,” he said. Johnston's inaugural address Monday was centered on the theme of what he called the “dream of Denver.” He mentioned housing costs, safety, mental illness, addiction and reimagining downtown as top priorities.Johnston said “Those of us on this stage took an oath today. But for us to succeed, every Denverite must take their own oath- an oath to dream, to serve, and to deliver. To dream (of) a Denver bold enough to include all of us. To serve our city above ourselves. To march on shoulder to shoulder, undeterred by failure, until we deliver results.”And your unsolicited concert pick of the week, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue! With special guests Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, and the Robert Randolph Band. Monday July 24 at the Gerald Ford Amphitheatre in Vail. I've seen every one of these acts, and I'll just any one of them would be worth the trip on their own.  Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Sun, New York Times, Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Guest Hosts: Leah Murray and Derek Brown Today, the Utah Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case looking at whether or not the legislature can redraw political maps to dilute the opposing party's votes. Hayden Johnson from the Campaign Legal Center and Laura Lewis from Mormon Women for Ethical Government join to discuss their arguments against redistricting for partisan reasons. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My friend Melissa Dalton-Bradford (married mother of four raised over 30 years across nine countries; author of books, articles and poetry; public speaker; MA in Comparative Literature from BYU; co-founder of two non-profits—TSOSrefugees and Mormon Women for Ethical Government), joins us during her trip from her home in Germany to Utah to talk about loss, grief, and living onward. That's actually the title of one of her books: On Loss and Living Onward: Collected Voices for the Grieving and Those Who Would Mourn With Them. She spoke freely about her family's experience with traumatic loss, and took us through some vital points from her writing. The book takes readers through the death of her son Parker in a drowning accident in 2007 at age 18 and her family's efforts at finding hope, healing, and peace. The book in organized in five sections: Life at Death; Love at Death; Living After Death; Learning From Death; and Life, Love and Light Over Death. Melissa is open, raw, honest, vulnerable, and courageous as she shares her immense pain and truths she and her family have learned on this 16-year journey she willingly shares with others. With phrases like “The land of grief”, “death is the great educator”, and “we bond on our broken edges,” Melissa gets at the core of why suffering is also the mortar of true community. She also suggests things we should do and should not do to help someone grieving—powerful lists I hope we discuss openly across our faith community to grow into individuals and a people who can fulfill the core covenant of bearing burdens, mourning, comforting, and being witnesses of God's presence. I was so deeply moved listening to Melissa. This is a powerful podcast that I encourage all of us to listen to and share with others. It will help you if you are in any sort of grief right now, and it will help all of us who will be walking this road in the future—either in your own grief or walking alongside someone else's grief. Thank you, Melissa, for your great work in our community. Your voice is so needed. It is an honor to have you in our home and on the podcast. Links: On Loss and Living Onward: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1938301927 Global Mom: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZK9S4F3 Let Me Tell You My Story: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1641700491 Parker's Obituary: https://www.deseret.com/2007/7/27/19758849/obituary-parker-fairbourne-bradford More on Parker's Legacy: https://www.thechurchnews.com/2007/12/15/23232276/young-mans-death-impacts-many-lives

Melissa Dalton-Bradford presents the 82nd Dialogue Gospel Study. Melissa Dalton-Bradford is an author, public speaker, and co-founder of two non-profits: Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), a nonpartisan organization focused on watchdogging political leadership and engaging women… The post Comfort through Christ: Dialogue New Testament Gospel Study with Melissa Dalton-Bradford appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

SummaryNo matter what political ideology we have, we all agree that we deserve ethical government. But, trust in government in the US and around the world is at historic lows. Much of this falling trust comes from seeing political officials use their power to enrich themselves at the cost of the public good. In this episode, Walter Shaub—a leading voice—helps us understand why ethics in government is worth fighting for. He also shares his fascinating experiences doing just that, along with issues at the forefront today. Shaub is one of my personal heroes, and I'm excited for you to hear why I admire him so much. About Our Guesthttps://www.pogo.org/about/people/walter-m-shaub-jr (Walter Shaub) is a government ethics expert and one of the most important voices advocating for integrity and accountability in government. He leads the Government Ethics Initiative for the Project on Government Oversight. Before joining POGO, Shaub served in key roles with other nonprofit watchdogs, government agencies and private sector employers. He served for four years as the Senate-confirmed Director of the https://oge.gov (U.S. Office of Government Ethics) (OGE). While in that role, he was a member of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) and CIGIE's Integrity Committee. Shaub served at OGE for a total of nearly 14 years as a staff attorney, a supervisory attorney, Deputy General Counsel and, finally, Director. Before that, he served in the General Counsel offices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Outside government, he also worked for the law firm of Shaw, Bransford, Veilleux & Roth, P.C., and as a CNN contributor. Shaub is the winner of multiple awards and recognitions. He's also written opinion pieces for a variety of publications, including the New York Review of Books, the Washington Post, the New York Times, USA Today, CNN, the LA Times, and other publications. Shaub is licensed as an attorney in both the District of Columbia and Virginia. He earned his J.D. from American University's Washington College of Law and his B.A. in history from James Madison University. Useful LinksFollow Walter Shaub on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waltshaub (https://twitter.com/waltshaub) The Project on Government Oversight: https://www.pogo.org/ (https://www.pogo.org/) Shaub's podcast, The Continuous Action: https://www.pogo.org/series-collections/the-continuous-action (https://www.pogo.org/series-collections/the-continuous-action) The US Office of Government Ethics: https://www.oge.gov/ (https://www.oge.gov/) Alarming trends in trust of government: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/06/06/public-trust-in-government-1958-2022/ (https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/06/06/public-trust-in-government-1958-2022/) A New York Times report on Congressional conflicts of interests: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/13/us/politics/congress-stock-trading-investigation.html (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/13/us/politics/congress-stock-trading-investigation.html) Pleasant Pictures MusicJoin the https://pleasantpictures.club (Pleasant Pictures Music Club) to get unlimited access to high-quality, royalty-free music for all of your projects. Use the discount code HOWTOHELP15 for 15% off your first year.

This week, a Utah court heard a request by state attorneys to throw out a lawsuit challenging the way the legislature redrew political boundaries through a contentious redistricting process. The suit, filed by the League of Women Voters of Utah and the Mormon Women for Ethical Government, argues that maps drawn by the legislature are an […]

This week, a Utah court heard a request by state attorneys to throw out a lawsuit challenging the way the legislature redrew political boundaries through a contentious redistricting process. The suit, filed by the League of Women Voters of Utah and the Mormon Women for Ethical Government, argues that maps drawn by the legislature are an […]

In this episode we speak with Emma Petty Addams and Jennifer Walker Thomas. They are co-executive directors of Mormon Women for Ethical Government. MWEG for short. MWEG is a plaintiff organization in Utah's Gerrymandering Lawsuit and has a vision of building a more peaceful, just, and ethical world by harnessing the power of women of faith. 

** It was brought to our attention that part of the episode was cut off! We apologize. Here is the updated and complete episode** ENJOY! This week we welcome two ladies from Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) to talk about the intersection of faith and politics. Politics seem to polarize more than bring people together nowadays, but in this conversation we discuss the dangers of being a "political hobbyist", how to address conflict in constructive ways to build peace and how to live in faith for future generations. Emma Petty Addams : Co-Executive Director Emma Petty Addams serves as co-executive director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. After receiving her bachelor's degree in piano performance at Stanford University, she spent time in Boston and Silicon Valley working in contracts negotiation, corporate transactions and capitalization, and investor relations. In addition, she has built and run large piano studios in California, New Jersey, and now Omaha, Nebraska, where she currently resides with her husband and three sons. While seemingly unrelated, these previous career opportunities were excellent preparation for the fast-paced yet methodical and collaborative nature of the work at MWEG. Every time an MWEG member writes an op-ed, speaks out against injustice, or expresses her opinion peacefully on social media, Emma is grateful for the chance to help women contribute their part to the complex multi-voice symphony that is our democracy. Kristine Haglund: Senior Director of Faithful Root Kristine Haglund is the senior director of the faithful root for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. She is a writer, editor, independent scholar, and former editor of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, from 2009-2015. Her most recent publication is Eugene England: A Mormon Liberal, part of the series "Introductions to Mormon Thought" published by the University of Illinois Press. She blogs at By Common Consent (bycommonconsent.com). She is a member of the Board of By Common Consent Press, Vice President of Mormon Scholars in the Humanities, and Program Co-Chair for the Mormon History Association conference in 2022. Her degrees are in German Studies and German Literature (Harvard, University of Michigan), and her research interests include LDS women's and children's history and the intersections of religion and social media. She lives with her husband in St. Louis, Missouri. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fromthemouthsofbabes/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromthemouthsofbabes/support

American society is deeply divided. Our political culture is as fractured and dysfunctional as at any time since the Civil War. Latter-day Saints have not been immune to this polarization, but there have also been voices calling for a return to the “better angels of our nature.” Joining us will be two of those voices speaking out in favor of a distinctively Mormon way of engaging politics. Judge Thomas Griffith is a former federal judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Before becoming a judge on the nation's second-highest court, he was Senate Legal Counsel and General Counsel for Brigham Young University. Jennifer Walker Thomas is the co-Executive Director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. She currently serves as an elected member of the town government in Belmont, Massachusetts.

I think this Summer and the past year have really opened so many of our eyes as to what climate change and the warming of our planet can really do and is currently doing.  Fires burning throughout the Western United States have left a smokey haze over the mountains in my region here in Utah.  We are in our second year of incredible drought, while at the same time having 25 year flooding storms happen within a couple weeks of each other here in my city. And we are only beginning to feel the effects.  While attending a political event at my sister-in-law Camie Hodlmair's house for a fantastic Senatorial Candidate Becky Edwards, I struck up a conversation with 2 women who advocate for policies that reverse the effects of Climate Change.  This week I got the chance to speak with Christi Leman who works with Mormon Women for Ethical Government's (MWEG)'s Environmental Advocacy.  Christi made it clear that she is not representing MWEG and what she said here is her own.  It was such a fantastic conversation.

Heather Sundahl is a writer and editor for the Utah Women and Leadership Project, the BYU ARTS Partnership, and helps run the Op-Ed Lab for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Her passion is women's stories. In pursuit of this she has worked with Exponent II for 24 years as a contributor, blogger, editor, retreat presenter, and president. She has also been published in many venues including Dialogue, Sunstone, and BYU Magazine. Heather has traveled to Botswana and South Africa to interview and collect the stories of the sister saints with the Mormon Women Oral History Project. In this episode, she shares the importance of sharing your story, and how you can develop your own narrative.

HEATHER SUNDAHL is a writer and editor for the Utah Women and Leadership Project, the BYU ARTS Partnership, and helps run the Op-Ed Lab for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. She received a BA in… The post Dialogue Doctrine & Covenants Gospel Study with Heather Sundahl on D&C 41–45 appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

HEATHER SUNDAHL is a writer and editor for the Utah Women and Leadership Project, the BYU ARTS Partnership, and helps run the Op-Ed Lab for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. She received a BA in Humanities and an MA in English from BYU. Her passion is women’s stories. In pursuit of this she has workedRead More » The post Dialogue Gospel Study #41 w/Heather Sundahl first appeared on The Dialogue Journal.

The return of MWEG! Executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government Emma Petty Addams joins us to talk about the active process of peacekeeping.   

0:00- About Jenn Thomas and MWEG; defining ethical governance 12:04- MWEG members 14:18- What does MWEG do? 16:07- The religious charge to be politically involved 21:15- Involvement of both parties in MWEG 24:04- Principles of peacemaking 28:14- How people can... The post Mormon Women for Ethical Government Ep. 449 The Cultural Hall appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

In 2017, after the election of President Donald Trump, several female members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, distressed by the increasing political polarization and eroding ethics in government, formed Mormon Women for Ethical Government. The group, which is not endorsed by the church, is dedicated to seeking a peaceful, just and ethical world with a pledge to be faithful, nonpartisan and proactive, along with a commitment to civility. In a few short years, its membership has ballooned to more than 7,000. Now, with the nation in the midst of another deeply divisive presidential race, the organization’s executive director, Emma Petty Addams, and Christie Black, an engagement director, joined this week’s podcast to talk about their group and its goals.

This week our host Matt Gardner speaks with the Executive Director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), Emma Petty Adams.  We speak about the origins of the group and how women can speak up in politics.  MWEG gives women a powerful platform to Latter-day Saint sisters to speak out in political conversations and be educated in the political sphere.

There are rules that prohibit United States Senators from drinking chocolate milk out of the bottle during a Senate impeachment trial. Why tho? Chris and Clint also discuss dairy, physical attractiveness scales, Wacky Wednesday, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and Rebel Mitt.

After the 2016 election, women across the country were overwhelmed and frustrated with politics. One Mormon woman became an "accidental activist" when she started a Facebook group for women of faith to connect. Within weeks, thousands had joined, and Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) was born. Today A is joined by Amy Gold Douglas and Emma Petty Addams of MWEG to discuss the legacy of activism in the Church and how each of us can be advocates and peacemakers as disciples of Christ.

Sharlee Mullins Glenn refers to herself as an "accidental activist". She founded Mormon Women for Ethical Government​ to advocate for a better tone in politics as well as for common sense issues. She also recently founded the Everyone Belongs Project​ to help stop bullying and to foster inclusion in schools. In addition to her civic activities, Sharlee is a widely respected children's author. She has written several popular books and speaks at schools, bookstores and libraries. We talk about all of this as well as her life growing up, her mission, her perfect grandchildren and her absolute love of the Gospel. Sharlee is one of my heroes and an awesome example of how one person can change the world.

Rod Arquette Show Daily Rundown - Friday, December 21, 20184:20 pm: Congressman Chris Stewart joins the show to discuss the government shutdown, the resignation of James Mattis as Secretary of Defense, President Trump’s decision to pull troops out of Syria and other D.C. affairs4:35 pm: John Pestana, Chairman of the Libertas Institute, joins the show to discuss how small business has been overlooked when it comes to tax reform6:05 pm: Daniel Krauthammer, son of the late Charles Krauthammer, joins the program to discuss his father’s last book “The Point of It All: A Lifetime of Great Loves and Endeavors”6:20 pm: Lisa Rampton Halverson, an Adjunct Professor at Brigham Young University and Senior Director of the Educate Limb of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, joins the show to discuss her recent op-ed piece about America’s compassionate immigration heritage6:35 pm - Listen Back Friday: We’ll listen back to Rod’s conversations with Representative Norm Thurston on Utah’s new .05 DUI Law, which goes into effect on December 30, and (at 6:50 pm) with Rob Butters, Director of the Criminal Justice Center at the University of Utah, on why he believes treatment of sex offenders is effective

Happy Election Day! To celebrate this day of civic responsibility, join Colleen as she explores a group of women born out of Mormon roots who are passionately active in political activism and decency. MWEG was created in the aftermath of the tumultuous 2016 Election when so many were frustrated and disappointed with the political climate. … Continue reading "MHH45: Election Day Special featuring Mormon Women for Ethical Government"

On the day before midterm elections in the United States, we host a panel discussion on the topic of voter engagement. Our guests are Justin Anderson and Andrew Richards, both from a Utah-based nonprofit called Voterise, and we also have Catherine Eslinger from Mormon Women for Ethical Government.

This week, Nish and Amy talk about the wrong way to do faith outreach, as well as an attempt by a group of LDS women to appeal to the four Mormon senators who sit on the Judiciary Committee.  We also introduce a new segment called "Race to the Bottom," in which we nominate some nonsense we've heard from conservative white evangelicals and ask listeners to vote on the very worst.  And Amy talks with writer Danielle Mayfield about the spiritual and moral themes of "The Good Place," which returns this week for its third season on NBC. They also talk about Mister Rogers and the righteous anger that drove this famously calm and gentle man. NOTE: In her recommendation for the week, Amy encouraged everyone to read a James Baldwin novel but never actually said the name of it--doh! It is "[If Beale Street Could Talk](https://www.amazon.com/If-Beale-Street-Could-Talk/dp/0307275930)," also coming out in November as a film. **_Please visit our [Patreon Page](https://www.patreon.com/impolitecompanypodcast) and consider becoming a monthly patron of the show, for as little as $1 per month. We're halfway to our goal, which will allow us to actually release the podcast on a regular schedule you can count on!_** Discussed This Week: • [Republicans in Texas Apologize for Hindu-Themed Campaign Ad](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fort-bend-county-texas-republican-hindu-themed-campaign-ad_us_5ba27a62e4b07c23ef378d87) (Kimberly Yam, Huffington Post) • [Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government with regard to the Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation Proceedings](https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10217888255457190&id=1207733829) • ['Not relevant:' Franklin Graham weighs in on Kavanaugh sexual assault allegations](https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article218630640.html) (Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer) • [Eric Metaxas' selfie with Donald Trump](https://twitter.com/ericmetaxas/status/1034451060067381248) on Twitter • [Rob Schenck on Twitter](https://twitter.com/RevRobSchenck1/status/1037639131306680320), actually showing how to speak truth to power • [Nish, telling off Erick Erickson on Twitter](https://twitter.com/NishWeiseth/status/1044332444982304768) • [Is Neighborly Love Enough in _The Good Place_?](https://christandpopculture.com/neighborly-love-enough-good-place/) (D.L. Mayfield, Christ and Pop Culture) • [Mr. Rogers Had a Dangerous Side](https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/october/mr-rogers-good-neighbor-maxwell-king.html) (D.L. Mayfield, Christianity Today) • [_Educated: A Memoir_](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/books/review/tara-westover-educated.html)(Tara Westover, Random House) • [_If Beale Street Could Talk_](https://www.amazon.com/If-Beale-Street-Could-Talk/dp/0307275930)(James Baldwin, Vintage)

Nathan Evershed visits the Blacksite to discuss his run for Salt Lake DA. Later, we are joined by Tyrell Aagard and BreAnna Cox Larsen to discuss the newest Utah GOP Bylaw which may kick Mitt Romney out of the Republican Party if he gathers signatures for his senate run rather than the convention route. DACA expires in a week and we discuss actions Mormon Women for Ethical Government are taking to stand for the Dreamers.

Charles Venator-Santiago of Univ of Connecticut predicts Puerto Rico's prospects in 2018. Memorial Univ of Newfoundland's Kyle Sue weighs in on the reality of "man flu." Univ of Virginia's Andrea Press on the role of celebrity in the #MeToo campaign. Sam Payne of the Apple Seed shares a story. Katie Gach of Univ of Colorado examines the online grief police after celebrity deaths. Sharlee Mullins Glenn and Maren Mecham of Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the grassroots group.

Dan interviews Sharlee Glenn and Melissa Dalton-Bradford, founders of "Mormon Women for Ethical Government." 

One of the founders of Mormon Women for Ethical Government tells the story of how her commitment to God has been put to the test since the inauguration of President Trump.