Suzanne Bates

Politics Writer and Editor for Deseret News | @deseret

[Deseret News @Deseret]

Sens. Lee and Curtis question new Pentagon designation for Latter-day Saints.

Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis questioned why the term "Christian" was left off of the designation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes referred to as "Mormon." | By @SuzeBates

[Evangeline @eva_terry02]

In the words of my dad after reading about @RainmakerCorp, “I love all these young men doing what they do to make the world a better place.”

Thank you @ADoricko, @UtahDNR, @johnptesmer, and @parkercardwell for helping me tell this story!

https://t.co/deSTwGYEHS

[Caitlin Huey-Burns @CHueyBurns]

This is really lovely, and I hope my kids feel this way about me one day: https://t.co/xppmusFESn

[Deseret News @Deseret]

The Grand Canyon Lodge Is Gone. What Comes Next?

The Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim in 2025. Now, nearly a year later, park staff are walking through the ruins while imagining what a future lodge could become.

[Chase Thomason @ChaseThomason]

ACTIVE MONSOON: The latest seasonal outlook from NOAA is starting to paint a pretty interesting picture for Utah this summer. The July-August-September precipitation outlook is leaning wetter than normal across much of the Great Basin and Four Corners region…a signal that could point toward a more active monsoon season for Utah.

That doesn’t guarantee nonstop storms or an end to drought concerns, but it does suggest the atmosphere may be more favorable for moisture surges out of the south later this summer. More monsoon moisture would mean increased chances for afternoon thunderstorms, localized flash flooding, and a little more cloud cover during the hottest part of the season.

What really catches my attention is the bigger climate setup developing in the Pacific. We’re heading away from ENSO-neutral conditions and trending toward El Niño by late summer and fall. While El Niño has a stronger influence on Utah during the winter season, it can also subtly reshape the summertime jet stream pattern and moisture transport across the Southwest.

After a few quieter monsoon seasons recently, the long-range pattern may finally be tilting back toward a more active summer thunderstorm setup across Utah. We’ll see if the atmosphere follows through over the next couple of months.

[Sean T at RCP @SeanTrende]

I almost hesitate to promote this, because it wasn't really intended to be a piece. I just sort of sat down and it came out. Maybe someone else out there has the same type of day today, and it'll speak to them.
https://t.co/xSMUDOrHcC

[Brigham Tomco @BrighamTomco]

NEW POLL: Deseret News poll found a majority of Utah voters oppose Kevin O'Leary's AI data center.

53% somewhat (12%) or strongly (41%) oppose it.
30% somewhat (19%) or strongly (11%) support it.

85% of Democrats, 62% of independents & 36% of Republicans oppose it. 45% of GOP support it.

52% of urban residents, 20% of suburban & 22% rural support it.
https://t.co/yrCihupL85

[Cami Mondeaux @cami_mondeaux]

Here’s full PSA with @SenJohnCurtis and @SenMarkKelly for the Disagree Better campaign encouraging work across the aisle

Curtis: To disagree is human
Kelly: But to disagree better is American

https://t.co/sGdhlwx1xG

[Brigham Tomco @BrighamTomco]

Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s top opponent in today's GOP primary is Mark Fitzpatrick, who has drawn backlash over past comments regarding members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On Sept. 28 — the same day a gunman rammed into a church meetinghouse, lit the building on fire and started shooting, killing four individuals and wounding eight others — Fitzpatrick took to social media to express his distaste for the faith.

“Dear (President Donald Trump), Mormons aren’t Christian. Stop saying otherwise,” Fitzpatrick posted in response to Trump’s statement on the shooting. Fitzpatrick posted that same day he planned to “expose the evil of the LDS church.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s election, Fitzpatrick’s social media footprint has been increasingly devoted to insisting he does not hold bigoted views toward Latter-day Saints. But he has not distanced himself from his earlier comments, despite requests from voters.

Multiple accounts based out of Idaho, who said they were conservative Latter-day Saints, told Fitzpatrick they aligned with him on many issues but could not bring themselves to vote for him if he did not retract his previous comments about the church.

Latter-day Saints make up roughly one-quarter of voters in Idaho and around one-third of state lawmakers. This ratio is higher in the southeastern corner of the state, where some counties boast the highest share of Latter-day Saints in the country.

https://t.co/TadpHtn97o

[Brigham Tomco @BrighamTomco]

Jason Chaffetz confirms w/ Deseret News he is considering a run for Utah governor in 2028.

Top GOP consultants/donors across the conservative spectrum say he's doing a lot more than considering. He's trying to secure a lead before the race even begins.
https://t.co/GItfSJzX5u

[Athenaeum Book Club @athenaeumbc]

So it turns out that writing is thinking. It's the same process.

"Writing compels us to think — not in the chaotic, non-linear way our minds typically wander, but in a structured, intentional manner."

Outsourcing writing to LLMs is THE SAME THING as outsourcing thinking.

[Brigham Tomco @BrighamTomco]

Democratic CD1 candidate Nate Blouin posted a series of extremely offensive comments against members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a decade ago on platforms like Reddit. Story by @cami_mondeaux. 1st reported by Punchbowl News.

https://t.co/ThKpNS0S92

[Suzanne Bates @SuzeBates]

@CitizenHughes @alexisence @CalebChilcutt @TPUSAatUVU @TPUSA @AndrewKolvet @tylerbowyer The post with the statements was linked originally in the story but it was taken down by the person who reposted it. The KSL and DN stories are written by the same reporter.

[Cami Mondeaux @cami_mondeaux]

Here’s the budget line confirming my scoop that Trump wants $1 billion for Great Salt Lake in his budget request

[Cami Mondeaux @cami_mondeaux]

Scoop: Trump is carving out $1 billion in his annual budget request to "restore and protect the Great Salt Lake"

Trump is expected to send full budget request to Congress on Friday, and the president vowed earlier this year to help save the shrinking lake levels
https://t.co/hFJCeNmr70

[Suzanne Bates @SuzeBates]

RT @BrighamTomco: OK, so what's the truth about Latter-day Saint political affiliation?

Over the past two decades, the share of Latter-da…

[The National Mall @TheNationalMall]

Cheering on the astronauts and crew of Artemis II from America’s Front Yard. Out of this world!
🚀🇺🇸🏛️🌳🌕

[Brigham Tomco @BrighamTomco]

Utah's Prop 4 repeal petition fell below threshold in 1 state Senate district Wednesday after signature removal campaign.

It will not appear on ballot despite $4.35 million for professional gathering, Turning Point Action support & Trump endorsement.
https://t.co/O7rIsOrAWC

[Brigham Tomco @BrighamTomco]

Chris Klomp, the Utah entrepreneur RFK Jr. asked to run the Department of Health, decided he wanted to become a doctor before graduating from Boise High. So he started pre-med at BYU. But while on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ he expanded his scope to reforming the entire health care system.

Here's why the dad of four, who now lives in Park City, chose to answer the call to serve in the Trump administration, and how he plans to be a unifying figure while overseeing $2.6 trillion in taxpayer funds at DHHS. https://t.co/J3bG7wIkan

[Carter Williams @cwilliamsKSL]

Downtown SLC might soon be getting new lamp posts. There's a proposal to install 50 new beehive-themed lamp posts along Main Street before SL temple open house. Business community pledged $3M for the project. It's asking for $400K from SLC CRA right now; another $400K from others