Happy Saturday, and welcome to Inside Voices, a weekly newsletter that features a collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah — without any of the vitriol or yelling that’s become all too common on other platforms. Subscribe here.
Utah Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy recently held an hour-long town hall, where participants asked about President Donald Trump’s executive orders and federal cuts, Emily Anderson Stern reported. They also faced repeated boos and calls to “Do your job!”
“We’ve gotten a lot of advice not to hold town halls because they’re getting rowdy,” Maloy said. “We both chose to be here because, one, I think it’s my job to stand up here and talk to you, but also, I think we can do this. I think in Utah we can have tough conversations.”
The Salt Lake Tribune was there and shared video on our Instagram page, prompting followers to share their perspective on modern town halls:
“They need to hear this! We are angry and platitudes aren’t going to be effective. We know we deserve better representation and elected officials that will protect human rights and freedoms!”
“Far left crazies being jerks. I expect nothing more.”
“I’m glad to see people angry and holding our reps accountable for not doing their jobs. Our reps do not represent us and it’s time for them to go.”
“When this administration is now actively attacking the one branch left to check their power, a branch that has no way to enforce their directives, you better believe people are going to panic. Our only option now is for the people to rise and be vocal and call on our representatives to do their jobs.”
In an op-ed published this week, Utah Sen. John Curtis shared that “it’s time to reimagine what a town hall could be.”
“When people say, ‘We want more town halls,’ I understand what they’re asking for. They want accessibility. They want answers. They want to be heard,” he wrote. “But let’s be honest — if your real goal is to scream, cause a ruckus and get your picture in the paper, then what you want isn’t a town hall. It’s a stage. What I’m committed to is accessibility that works — for everyone. I’ll continue to offer meaningful, measurable ways for constituents to engage with me. I’ll continue listening to every person willing to have a reasonable, respectful conversation — even if we disagree, especially if we disagree.”
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Utah Voices
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The home of former therapist Jodi Hildebrandt in Ivins is pictured next to the Red Mountain Wilderness in Washington County on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Hildebrandt served as the former business partner to YouTuber Ruby Franke through her self-improvement program, Connexions – where she also advised other influential Utahns.
The following excerpts come from op-eds recently published in The Tribune.
Demons and faith
“It’s time for Latter-day Saint leaders to confront and reform the faith’s teachings on demonic possession,” writes author Alyssa Grenfell. “This doctrine has convinced many members there are demons in their homes, in their walls and in their children. These cases of abuse and murder can be directly attributed to this doctrine, and the perpetrators of these crimes have stated this time and time again.” Read more.
Mia Love
“Other Utah Republicans have been rightly quick to take to social media in praise of Love and her accomplishments,” writes The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board. “Though it is questionable whether someone of her heritage, honesty and independence could get elected in today’s Trump-centric Republican Party. And that’s too bad, because the story of Love and her family — her parents’ migration to New York in the 1970s, their hard work and devotion to family, her own rapid succession of accomplishments — is the very image of the American dream.” Read more.
Climate change
“When I first moved to Utah, I imagined it as my forever home,” writes BYU student Regan Fillmore. “But climate change is forcing me to reconsider. Do I stay and fight for policies that will protect the environment I love, or do I eventually leave for a place with fewer climate risks? These are the kinds of questions young Utahns like me are grappling with, not decades from now, but today.” Read more.
Utah unions
“When the time comes, I urge you to vote to overturn HB267 and stand up for public workers,” writes student Luke Laro. “A stronger Utah starts with ensuring that those who keep our state running are treated with respect and fairness. Together, we can work toward a future where all workers have the protections and opportunities they deserve. Every action, big or small, brings us closer to restoring fairness and dignity for all Utah workers.” Read more.
Colorectal cancer awareness
“Colorectal cancer is now the number one cause of cancer death among young men and the second leading cause among young women,” Dr. Mark Lewis, the director of gastrointestinal oncology at Intermountain Health, wrote in an op-ed last year. “Tragic cases like Chadwick Boseman and Melissa Inouye’s are a call to action, to take young patients’ gastrointestinal concerns (especially bleeding but also changes in bathroom habits like narrower stools and pain on defecation, or even unintentional weight loss) more seriously.” Read more.
Share Your Perspective
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Michael Bretz shouts during a joint town hall with U.S. Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Amid conversations about town halls — and what makes them effective — I want to hear from you: What kind of constituent engagement do you want to see from your elected officials? Let me know what you think.
From Bagley’s Desk
Reel Tragedy | Pat Bagley
I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.
