Politics Writer and Editor for Deseret News | @deseret
Salt Lake City
Joined October 2012
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Suzanne Bates retweeted
A Latter-day Saint political divide is at the center of Arizona’s contentious governor's race.
At one end is Rep. Andy Biggs: Republican primary voters’ overwhelming pick for governor.
On the other is former Mesa mayor John Giles: Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ running mate.
The two represent opposite responses to the Republican Party transformation under Trump.
Biggs, an uncompromising “America First” vision; Giles, a “Never Trump” move to the middle.
Both are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, competing over the East Valley they represented in overlapping roles for the past decade.
I traveled to their hometowns of Mesa and Gilbert to ask Latter-day Saint voters how faith is informing their vote in a polarized election between two of their own.
Read the whole story here — and let me know what you think in the comments. deseret.com/e/24106197/
Suzanne Bates retweeted
Sen. Mike Lee tells the Deseret News he still thinks Sen. Elissa Slotkin's comments (about prosecuting Trump admin to deter young GOP staffers) goes beyond the typical debate over government weaponization.
“I’m a little surprised that she appears to be doubling down on it because this is not just part of the ongoing back-and-forth debate,” Lee said. “This is a pretty stunning, stunningly aggressive move.”
deseret.com/politics/2026/10…
Suzanne Bates retweeted
BYU tried to get Notre Dame on campus for 15 years, but kept getting left at the altar.
I went inside the unbelievable story of how a Pop Tarts Bowl snub helped set up a program-defining moment in Provo.
“Maybe there was a little divine intervention.”
cbssports.com/college-footba…
Suzanne Bates retweeted
Cougar fans, it’s been awhile 💭
We’re headed to Provo for the first time since 2009 for Notre Dame-BYU‼️
Suzanne Bates retweeted
If you can’t trust safety standards in a Russian plague lab what can you trust
Suzanne Bates retweeted
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗞𝗬 🫡
Two B-2 Spirit aircraft assigned to @Whiteman_AFB fly over Falcon Stadium before kickoff.
#FlyFightWin
Suzanne Bates retweeted
The long-awaited permitting reform deal is not yet finalized, but the bipartisan negotiators say they hope a vote will take place shortly after the midterm elections. | By @cami_mondeaux
Suzanne Bates retweeted
News: The Senate just passed Sen. Curtis' bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Protection Act through unanimous consent on the floor. The bill would give states more flexibility to conduct prescribed burns as a tool to reduce wildfires. #utpol
Gives some good news for Western state lawmakers to take home with them over the recess, especially after a catastrophic wildfire season. (It's also Curtis' first UC request of his Senate career!)
deseret.com/politics/2026/09…
Suzanne Bates retweeted
One year ago, a man drove his car into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, set fire to it, and started shooting. People were shielding children. Four people were killed and several were injured.
This is never easy for any community, and I remember the feeling on the ground, and how raw Michiganders felt. But I'm glad the community is working to turn the page and the church is now rebuilding its space.
Today, we remember the lives lost and all the first responders and volunteers who responded immediately to help those in need.
We have an epidemic in this country as there continue to be threats and deadly attacks targeting churches and other houses of worship across America. People should be able to worship without fear of being attacked.
Suzanne Bates retweeted
Now: Senate passes the Protect College Sports Act in a 77-22 vote. Will now head to the House, which won't be back until November — and they may want to make some changes of their own
deseret.com/politics/2026/09…
"The survivors said they have faced guilt and have played it over and over again, wondering what they might have done differently, done better. They want you to understand that after coming under fire, healing isn’t easy or linear. They remain haunted. They have looked in the eye life’s greatest questions: Why do bad things happen to good people? Where is God in a tragedy? Am I safe?"
deseret.com/faith/2026/09/28…
RT @BrighamTomco: Some crazy stats from our new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute poll:
1. Democratic socialism is mostly an elite, not a wo…
Suzanne Bates retweeted
When Latter-day Saints hit their 25th birthday, 33% have already been married.
Just 6% of atheists have walked down the aisle at 25 years old.
In fact, an LDS at 25 is just as likely to have been married as an agnostic at 45 years old.
Suzanne Bates retweeted
EXCLUSIVE: The University of Utah confirms it has dropped the cases against College Republican leaders Rylie Barnes & Riley Beesley after suggesting that they violated school standards by posting a picture of a student who approached their booth & posed w/ a "Kirkiversary" cake.
Suzanne Bates retweeted
New from @BrighamTomco in @Deseret: Charlie Kirk’s family has taken legal steps to sue Utah Valley University over wrongful death claims, alleging those who oversaw campus security “dismissed requests for a larger police presence and neglected to adequately monitor nearby roof access.”
deseret.com/u-s-world/2026/0…
Suzanne Bates retweeted
BREAKING: Erika Kirk took first step on Sept. 9 to potentially sue Utah for wrongful death of her husband Charlie Kirk, alleging security failures by Utah Valley University led to Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10, 2025.
Suzanne Bates retweeted
Charlie Kirk's assassination might be the most dramatic example of a new norm:
A tragedy instantly commodified by a new breed of online vulture — vying for attention as a source of “hidden facts” while crafting their own self-styled true-crime soap opera.deseret.com/politics/2026/09…
Suzanne Bates retweeted
When I set foot on the campus of Turning Point USA on Aug. 19, 2025, I realized Charlie Kirk had become “too big to ignore” — in more ways than one. He told me that his mission was to create a conservative institution through an activist infrastructure that shaped elections, education and religion.
Three days after my story was published, he was gunned down in arguably the most public political assassination since the 1960s.
A year of reporting on the shockwaves of that tragic day culminated in my return to Turning Point on Aug. 19, 2026. In this article, I explore the tensions of an organization trying to keep a vision alive while commemorating its founder, and the difficulty of maintaining a coalition after its biggest champion is gone.
Through intimate conversations with Turning Point leadership it became clear why Charlie was irreplaceable — but also why the organization is hopeful students will pick up the mic.
Below you can find my article with exclusive interviews with @AndrewKolvet, @tylerbowyer, @JustinStreiffAZ, @Michael_McCoyy, @BlakeSNeff, @AndrewSypher, @CalebChilcutt & @BasedMikeLee.
Suzanne Bates retweeted
New from me: John Curtis has quietly become a Republican to watch in his first 1.5 years in the Senate. He tanked one Trump nominee, was an initial holdout on AG Blanche, and has been vocal on asserting Congress' authority in the Iran conflict.
As senators watched to see if he would take on a similar brand as his predecessor Romney, Curtis sought out a different path.
He wouldn’t be a rubber stamp for the president, he decided. But he wouldn’t be a constant naysayer, either. As a self-branded conservative, he’s searching for areas where Republicans and Democrats can coexist — and crafting his own playbook to help keep bipartisanship alive.
In conversations with half a dozen Senate Democrats as well as those in GOP leadership, senators told the Deseret News about Curtis’ unique role in building coalitions — and how it positions himself as a key player in the Senate.
deseret.com/politics/2026/09…
