PoliticIt Podcast

How Podcasts Are Changing Utah Politics | Senator Todd Weiler with Host John Johnson

On this episode of the PoliticIt Podcast, host John Johnson sits down with Todd Weiler, attorney, longtime Utah State Senator, and co-host of the Political as Heck podcast. Together, they discuss how podcasting is giving Utah lawmakers a new platform for honest, long-form political discourse—beyond soundbites and headlines.
Senator Weiler shares why more elected officials are turning to podcasts to engage voters, explain complex legislation, and have candid conversations about the Utah Legislature, judicial issues, public safety, and conservative principles. Hosted by Senator John Johnson, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how politics, media, and technology are intersecting in Utah—and what that means for voters heading into future legislative sessions.
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Scott Presler on Early Voting & Winning Elections | Politicit Podcast

On this episode of the Politicit Podcast, host John Johnson examines one of the most debated shifts in modern politics: early voting and turnout strategy within the Republican Party.
The conversation centers on Scott Presler and his work with Early Vote Action, a national effort focused on registering voters and encouraging Republicans to vote early, vote by mail, or vote on Election Day. Presler has been a leading voice urging conservatives to adapt to existing election laws rather than disengage from the process.
Sen. Johnson and his guest discuss why turnout strategy now plays a decisive role in close elections, the internal resistance many Republicans still have toward early voting, and whether embracing these tools is necessary to compete—and win—in today’s political environment.
🎧 Topics include:
Scott Presler’s early-vote strategy and grassroots organizing
Why turnout often matters more than persuasion
Republican skepticism of early voting—and the data behind it
Cultural vs. strategic approaches to election integrity
Lessons from recent national and state elections
🔔 Subscribe to the Politicit Podcast for in-depth conversations at the intersection of politics, policy, and culture.
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Elite Leadership & Use of Force | Former Ogden Police Chief Randy Watt | Politicit Podcast

On this episode of the Politicit Podcast, host John D. Johnson sits down with Randy Watt, retired Ogden Police Chief and Special Forces Colonel, for an in-depth conversation on leadership, policing, and combat-tested decision-making.
Chief Watt brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience, including service in every operational component of the Ogden Police Department, 12 years on SWAT, and 15 years as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor. He is a nationally recognized expert in law enforcement use of force, a lead trainer and advisor to the National Tactical Officers Association, and a frequent presenter at State SWAT Associations across the country.
In addition to his policing career, Randy Watt is a decorated combat veteran who served 34 years in the U.S. Army and Utah National Guard, retiring as a Special Forces Colonel. He commanded at every level of Special Forces—from Operational Detachment Alpha to Group command—and led counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
This episode explores:
Leadership under pressure
Police use-of-force standards and accountability
SWAT operations and training realities
Lessons from Special Forces command applied to civilian policing
The future of law enforcement leadership in America
🔔 Subscribe for more in-depth conversations with policymakers, military leaders, and subject-matter experts shaping Utah and the nation.
 
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Doug Fiefia: Protecting Families, Expanding School Choice & Building Smarter Communities

🎙️ Doug Fiefia: Protecting Families, Expanding School Choice & Building Smarter Communities. In this episode of the PoliticIt Podcast, Senator John D. Johnson sits down with Doug Fiefia for a wide-ranging conversation about family, opportunity, technology, and the kind of public policy that actually improves everyday lives. Doug’s story begins with his parents’ immigration from Tonga and growing up in a crowded, multi-family home in Utah—experiences that shaped his lifelong commitment to family-centered policy and upward mobility. From playing college football and earning an MBA at Rice University, to building a career in technology at Google and Domo, Doug brings rare private-sector and technical insight into the legislature. The conversation explores how that background informs his work on responsible AI governance, foster care reform, economic development, and education choice—always with a focus on outcomes, accountability, and human dignity. Topics covered in this episode include:
• Growing up first-generation American and why family policy matters
• How tech experience shapes smarter, more realistic legislation
• Utah’s leadership in AI policy and consumer protection
• Co-chairing a bipartisan national AI task force with Future Caucus
• Fixing foster care finance so benefits truly follow the child
• Expanding school choice while prioritizing equity and quality
• Building institutions that can adapt as technology and communities evolve. Doug also explains why Utah’s approach—measured, practical, and institution-focused—is drawing national attention, and why civic engagement at the state level still makes a real difference. If you care about family stability, smarter tech policy, foster youth outcomes, and education options that strengthen communities, this is a conversation worth your time.
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💬 Comment with your thoughts or questions—we read them
#PoliticIt #DougFiefia #UtahPolitics #SchoolChoice #FosterCare #AIpolicy #FamilyPolicy #CivicEngagement #politicit #utahelections #utpol

Catherine Austin Fitts: How does money shape power, neighborhoods, and personal freedom?

Catherine Austin Fitts has spent her life following one question: How does money shape power, neighborhoods, and personal freedom? From the row houses of Philadelphia to the trading floors of Wall Street, from the corridors of HUD to founding Solari, Inc., her journey exposes the hidden architecture of modern finance — and the new risks emerging from programmable digital money. In this episode, we explore:
🔹 Why neighborhoods crumble even when money is available
🔹 How Wall Street once ran on trust, reputation, and speed
🔹 What Catherine learned inside HUD — and why federal programs often enrich intermediaries, not communities
🔹 The massive wealth creation revealed by her “Community Wizard” optimization models
🔹 How litigation and political pushback shaped her turn toward public education
🔹 Why she believes a “financial coup” is underway
🔹 The real danger behind CBDCs, programmable money, and debanking
🔹 What states are doing to push back — and how citizens can defend financial autonomy
🔹 Practical steps to preserve cash, build local resilience, and reduce dependency on centralized systems This conversation is not about fear — it’s about agency. Catherine explains why the next decade will be shaped by the choices we make at the local and state level, and how a small, organized minority can restore economic freedom and rebuild local prosperity.
If you care about liberty, money, or the future of governance, this is a must-watch.
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Catherine Austin Fitts – Investment Banker and Solari, Inc. Founder

Catherine Austin Fitts is an American investment banker and former public official who served as the Assistant Secretary of Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner under President George H.W. Bush. She is a former managing director at Dillon, Read & Co. and is also known for her work with Solari, Inc. and her writings on finance and economics.
 
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Can America Still Come Together? Braver Angels Says Yes.

As CEO of Braver Angels, Maury Giles leads a national movement to preserve one of America’s most vital assets — our ability to disagree, debate, and still work together in pursuit of the common good. Braver Angels is more than a bridge across divides; it’s a mission to restore the unity of purpose essential to the survival of our constitutional republic.
This work goes beyond conversation — it demands courage, clarity, and a commitment to something greater than ideology. Drawing on a career spanning journalism, politics, market research, communications strategy, experience design, and business development, [Name] brings deep experience helping organizations navigate complexity, uncover truth, and act with intention.
Now, that same drive fuels a focus on one of the most urgent challenges of our time: reframing and renewing civic engagement. As polarization grows, Braver Angels volunteers are proving that Americans can do better — that hope and collaboration are still possible.
👉 Learn more or join the movement at braverangels.org
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Randy Watt, retired Utah Army Guard colonel & former 19th Special Forces commander in studio on Politicit.

Randy Watt’s Story
Born and raised in Ogden, Utah, Randy built a career that bridged law enforcement and military service. He holds degrees in Police Science (Weber State), Business Administration (University of Phoenix), and Strategic Studies (U.S. Army War College).
 
Randy served 32 years with the Ogden Police Department, rising to the rank of Assistant Chief before retiring in 2011. In 2017, he was called back to lead as Chief of Police, a position he held until 2021.
 
With decades of leadership in both policing and the Army National Guard, Randy’s journey reflects dedication, service, and a lifelong commitment to his community.
 
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Medical Freedom on Trial: Dr. Kirk Moore’s Story on the PoliticIt Podcast

Dr. Kirk Moore is a plastic surgeon with nearly two decades of experience helping patients feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. He trained at the University of Miami School of Medicine, graduating with Alpha Omega Alpha honors, and completed his plastic surgery residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. His rigorous education and dedication to his craft have shaped his reputation for precision, safety, and natural-looking results. He became board-certified in 2002. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Saturday ordered the Department of Justice to dismiss all charges against Michael Kirk Moore Jr., his business — the Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah — and his neighbor, Kristin Jackson Andersen, who was also allegedly involved. "Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so. He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing. It ends today," Bondi said in a post on the social platform X.
Moore, his business, and his neighbor were accused of conducting a scheme in which they distributed false COVID-19 vaccination record cards to individuals who did not want the vaccine. Critics of the vaccine have rallied around Moore, arguing that he shouldn't face any jail time.
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Kris Andersen on Fake Vax Card Case Dismissal

In this episode of the PoliticIt Podcast, host Senator John D. Johnson sits down with Kris Andersen and Jamie Renda of Path Forward Utah to unpack one of Utah’s most extraordinary legal sagas. What began as a neighborhood effort to support families during the COVID-19 era — organizing graduations, forming the Freedom Fighters parent network, and connecting with Dr. Michael Kirk Moore for medical choice — escalated into a federal prosecution on charges tied to fraudulent vaccine cards. Andersen recounts her traumatic arrest, the experience of pretrial confinement, and the three-day jury trial that brought high-level public-health officials to the witness stand. She and Renda describe the behind-the-scenes advocacy, including outreach to Senator Mike Lee and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, that ultimately helped bring national attention to the case. On July 14, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi dismissed all charges — a dramatic conclusion that Andersen says was both a relief and a call to action.