Politicit Podcast (Audio)

Join our host, Senator John Johnson, as he welcomes Chris Null, Chair of the Salt Lake City Republican Party, who is concluding his tenure after two successful terms.
Chris Null has been a steadfast leader in the Salt Lake County Republican Party since 2012, championing the caucus and convention system as the most effective way to ensure true representation. As Chair for the past four years, he has spearheaded a technological transformation within the party, modernizing outreach, strengthening community engagement, and reinforcing election integrity. Under his leadership, the party has not only held its ground against Democratic opposition but has also secured key victories through strategic organization and principled governance.
A dedicated advocate for Utah and Salt Lake County, Chris believes in uniting people around the foundational principles of the Republican Party platform—principles that promote faith, family, freedom, and fiscal responsibility. His vision is one of collaboration, where conservatives work together to build a stronger, more accountable government that truly serves the people.
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Senator John Johnson welcomes Representative Ryan Wilcox as they discuss the key developments from the first half of the 2025 legislative session.
 
Representative Wilcox plays a significant role in multiple committees, serving on the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee and the House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee. He also chairs the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, the House Rules Committee, the Legislative Process Committee, and the School Security Task Force.
 
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Senator John Johnson welcomes Ogden City Police Chief Jake Sube, and Ogden City Fire Chief Mike Mathieu, together they discuss the recent fire in downtown Ogden and the arrest of a 16-year-old male.
Ogden City Police Detectives worked tirelessly on this case and identified and arrested a suspect. We are thankful for our partnership with the Ogden City Fire Department and other Local and Federal partners who helped us get to this point. This investigation is ongoing and more details may be released at a later date.
During a press conference Tuesday evening, Ogden Chief of Police Jake Sube announced that the investigation following Saturday’s fire has been ruled an arson.
“Our investigation team has since determined the fire was intentionally set, a fact which renders the act the crime of arson,” he said. “Once that determination was made, the investigations team set out to identify an individual or individuals responsible.”
He said this investigations team included members of the Ogden City Police Department; Ogden City Fire Department; the state fire marshal; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF; the Utah Transit Authority Police Department; Weber County Crime Scene Investigation unit; and the Weber County Attorney’s Office.
“Through their meticulous and relentless investigation efforts, a 16-year-old male was identified as the suspect,” Sube said. “Earlier today at approximately 12:50 p.m., the suspect was taken into custody without incident.” He said the boy is believed to have acted alone and is a resident of Roy but attends school in Ogden. The boy has been booked into the Weber Valley Youth Detention Center on three second-degree felony charges — arson, causing a catastrophe, and criminal mischief.
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Join our host, Senator John Johnson, as he welcomes Jess L Anderson,  Utah’s Commissioner of Public Safety.
 
Jess L. Anderson was appointed as Utah’s Commissioner of Public Safety by Governor Gary R. Herbert in August 2018 and reappointed by Governor Spencer J. Cox in January 2021. As Commissioner, Anderson oversees the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS), which includes the Utah Highway Patrol, State Bureau of Investigation, State Crime Lab, Statewide Information and Analysis Center, Bureau of Criminal Identification, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Division of Emergency Management, Emergency Communications Bureau, Peace Officer Standards and Training, Driver License Division, and Highway Safety Division. With more than 1,600 employees, including over 600 sworn state law enforcement officers, the DPS provides comprehensive statewide public safety services.
 
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anderson served as the Incident Commander for Utah’s Pandemic Unified Command and continues to act as the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor. He brings over 23 years of experience with the Department of Public Safety and has held various roles within the Utah Highway Patrol, including positions in patrol, bicycle and motor squads, the Special Emergency Response Team, DUI squad, and the governor's Executive Protection team. Anderson has risen through the ranks of DPS, holding key administrative and leadership roles throughout his career.
 
Anderson holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Weber State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal and Social Justice from Ashford University. He is also a graduate of prestigious programs such as the FBI National Academy, FBI Command College, Northwestern University Police Staff and Command, and IACP Leadership in Police Organizations. From 2009 to 2016, he served on the Executive Board of the National Governor’s Security Association, including a term as President.
 
A native of Utah, Anderson cherishes the state's safe and high-quality lifestyle, which he enjoys with his wife and their five children.
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Join our host, Senator John Johnson, as he welcomes his colleague and friend, Utah State Representative Kera Birkeland. Together, they discuss Kera's recent resignation from the House and the circumstances behind it.
 
Kera Birkeland brought integrity and accountability to the Utah House of Representatives. She displayed strength when faced with challenges and never hesitated to stand up for her conservative beliefs, all while remaining open-minded and easy to get along with. Kera's experiences as a small business owner and foster parent have given her first-hand knowledge of the government's unnecessary regulations and burdensome bureaucracy. She believes that conservative policies play a fundamental role in the success of Utah. Kera is a wife and mother to six, she works in her day job as a policy consultant for agriculture and is a high school football and basketball referee. Her time spent on the football field and basketball court is great practice for debates on the House floor.  
 
 
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Join Utah State Senator John Johnson as he welcomes Dave Owen back to the podcast. Together they discuss recent Supreme Court decisions, redistricting, and the upcoming 2024 election.
 
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Join Representative Ryan Wilcox as he hosts Jason Smith from Lindquist’s Mortuaries and Cemeteries. Together, they explore Jason’s career with Lindquist and the company's significant contributions to the local community each year.
 
Founded in 1867, Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary is a family-owned business with a long-standing tradition of offering compassionate and quality care to families from all walks of life. Over time, the Lindquist family has expanded its services, now operating multiple funeral homes throughout Northern Utah.
 
Their dedicated funeral planning team emphasizes personalized service, ensuring every detail is handled with the utmost care to create meaningful experiences. For more information on funeral and cremation options, contact a Lindquist’s funeral expert at (801) 394-6666 or visit them at 3408 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401.
 
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Join Senator Johnson as he welcomes State Treasurer Marlo Oaks, who is running for re-election.
 
Marlo Oaks serves as Utah's 26th State Treasurer, initially appointed in July 2021 and elected in November 2022 to complete his predecessor’s term. With a background in institutional investment management, he’s one of only two state treasurers in the country with this level of expertise in managing investments.
 
Marlo's understanding of capital markets has positioned him at the forefront of the national effort to protect economic freedoms. He has shared his insights on national programs like The Glenn Beck Program, The HighWire, and Tucker Carlson Tonight, and has written for publications including The Wall Street Journal and The Daily Wire.
 
Marlo holds a degree in economics from Brigham Young University and an MBA from UCLA Anderson. He is also a CFA and CAIA charterholder. Marlo and his wife, Elaine, live in Bountiful, Utah, and are parents to six children.
 
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