Select Page

EPISODE  ·  September 4, 2026  ·  Bonus

Labor Day, a Short Break, and Where Back Channel Goes Next

Back Channel is taking a short Labor Day break. Catch up on our candid conversations about Utah politics, policy and business—including our recent episode with Attorney General Derek Brown—and join us September 11 for Utah Senator Todd Weiler, the new president of the Sutherland Institute.

About this Episode:

Back Channel is taking a short break for Labor Day — but Utah’s political calendar isn’t slowing down for long.

If you’ve missed an episode or two, this is a good week to catch up on the candid conversations shaping Utah politics, policy, and business. Instead of a full interview episode, here’s a quick look back at where we’ve been — and what’s coming next.

A holiday pause, not a quiet moment

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. It’s a chance to step away, fire up the grill and catch your breath before fall gets moving.

But the issues facing Utah don’t take the weekend off. The conversations happening now — about leadership, institutions and the choices that shape public life — will carry straight into the months ahead.

Catch up on Derek Brown

Last week, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown joined Back Channel for a wide-ranging conversation. If you missed it, Labor Day weekend is a great time to go back and listen.

You can also catch up on every Back Channel episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on YouTube. Each conversation goes beyond the title and the talking points to explore the experiences, pressures and personalities behind public leadership in Utah.

Coming next: Todd Weiler

We’ll be back next week with Utah Senator Todd Weiler, who recently became president of the Sutherland Institute.

We’ll go off script and on record about:

  • how the Utah Legislature has evolved during his time on the Hill
  • what it means to move from elected office into the leadership of a public-policy institution
  • the best — and worst — parts of being a lawyer
  • the people, experiences and lighter moments that have shaped his perspective

The episode drops September 11.

One question for the long weekend

As Utah heads into a busy fall, which conversation do you think the state needs to have — candidly and on the record?

Full Transcript

Back Channel is taking a short break this week for Labor Day.
While you’re enjoying the holiday, catch up on the conversations you may have missed — including last week’s episode with Attorney General Derek Brown or go all the way back through all of the episodes while you grill up some cheeseburgers. You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts or on YouTube.
And we’ll be back next week with Utah Senator Todd Weiler, who has just taken over as the head of the Sutherland Institute.
We’ll go off script and on record on evolution of the legislature during his time on the hill, the best and worst of being a lawyer and more.
That episode will drop September 11th.
Happy Labor Day — and we’ll see you next week on Back Channel.