by Derek Monson | Jul 22, 2022
Utah’s resilient politics bolstered by its social capital Written by In conversations with political thinkers and observers living outside of Utah, it is common to hear favorable comments about the health of Utah’s politics or political culture in comparison to much...
by Derek Monson | Jul 22, 2022
Education choice continues to flower in Utah Written by This month bring additional evidence that Utah’s virtual school programs are serving thousands of Utah students and their families in ways that traditional, in-person school never could. Last month, I wrote a...
by Derek Monson | Jul 15, 2022
Data on trust suggest a need to restore the civic mission of public schools Written by A recent Gallup poll reported that Americans’ trust in a variety of civic institutions has fallen to historically low levels. Results from that poll also offer some evidence that...
by Derek Monson | Jul 5, 2022
Dobbs and Cox’s Supreme Court nomination ring in a renaissance of federalism Written by Originally published by The Salt Lake Tribune. The last week – the past year and a half, really – brought a whirlwind of activity that will shape American federalism for...
by Derek Monson | Jun 30, 2022
Primary election day comes and goes, and Utah’s elections are still secure Written by Primary election day in Utah has passed, and initial election results are in. Most incumbents won, while a few did not. Primary voter turnout in Salt Lake County and Utah County –...
by Derek Monson | Jun 29, 2022
Are Supreme Court rulings the best way to advance religious freedom rights? Written by The end of another Supreme Court term brings with it new court rulings impacting religious freedom – applying the Free Exercise and Establishment clauses of the First Amendment to...
by William C. Duncan and Derek Monson | Jun 24, 2022
Americans must uphold court’s role even amid controversy Written by William C. Duncan The U.S. Supreme Court has just ruled that Mississippi’s prohibition of most abortions after 15 weeks gestation is constitutional in a 6-3 vote. The majority of the justices also...
by Derek Monson | Jun 20, 2022
Juneteenth helps complete our season of patriotism Written by This year, for the first time in Utah – and only the second time at the federal level – Juneteenth is being recognized as an official holiday. The period of late May through the end of July in Utah –...
by Derek Monson | Jun 17, 2022
Beyond Betsy Ross: civics lessons from the history of the U.S. flag Written by The history of the American flag tells us that: (1) The American flag is a symbol of unity rising above what divides us, and (2) the flag itself is not more important than the ideas that...
by Derek Monson | Jun 10, 2022
Virtual high schools’ success highlights value of ed choice Written by The growth and success of virtual high schools gained recent news coverage from The Salt Lake Tribune. The story focused primarily on Kings Peak High School – a recently launched virtual high...