Around The Counter With Molly & Friends

Executive Summary: Utah is the youngest state in the nation, with Gen Z making up nearly 25% of eligible voters. Yet, young residents historically turn out at lower rates than older demographics. In this episode of Around the Counter with Molly & Friends, Molly Jones sits down with Jenessa Jimoh, Executive Director of Ignite! Utah and founder of D.I.V.A (Diversity, Inclusion, Values, Action).Drawing from a statewide survey of over 500 Gen Z Utahns, Jimoh breaks down the reality of youth voter priorities. Far from the media stereotypes, young voters across party lines share core concerns about basic material needs, housing costs, economic mobility, and healthcare. Learn how direct door-to-door engagement, clear civics education, and deep community building can bridge the gap between young Utahns and local governance. Key Takeaways: * Civic Leadership: Black women and diverse grassroots organizers are actively building crucial mentorship networks, job resources, and non-partisan engagement channels across Utah. * Kitchen Table Issues: 78% of surveyed Gen Z Utahns identify housing affordability, job opportunities, and healthcare—specifically mental health access—as their top priorities, regardless of political affiliation. * Localized Climate Priorities: Unlike national Gen Z profiles, Utah youth rate environmental quality and climate change significantly higher due to tangible local impacts like inversion, air quality, and the shrinking Great Salt Lake. * The Outreach Gap: Traditional political campaigns routinely overlook young voters in favor of high-propensity older voters. Personal door-knocking and basic civic education show high conversion rates for youth turnout. *Executive Summary and key takeaways generated by AI and edited by humans. Podcast is purely human. Thanks for pulling up a stool. Want to grab a glass and join the conversation? Here’s how: * Love it: Hit that heart button to show you like this post. * Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s piece. * Restack: Share this out to your personal feed to help us expand our reach. * Share the warmth: If this resonated, feel free to forward it to a friend. We can also be found on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aroundthecounter.substack.com

Executive Summary How do you flip a working-class swing district to the Democrats in a heavily Republican election year, and what happens when out-of-state PAC funds and redrawn district maps alter the playing field? In this episode of Around the Counter with Molly & Friends, host Molly Jones sits down with Clare Collard—former Utah State Representative and current Democratic National Committee Utah Committeewoman—to pull back the curtain on campaign mechanics and statehouse power dynamics. Collard breaks down her “secret sauce” for connecting with voters on human terms, explaining how decades of nonpartisan community service built the trust needed to win over skeptical neighbors. The conversation moves beyond campaign strategy to translate complex legislative policy into real-world impacts for working families. Collard details her work passing landmark protections against surprise emergency medical bills—which paved the road for federal legislation—and securing $50 million in state funding for affordable housing. From navigating Utah’s legislative supermajority to addressing cost-of-living pressures, small business struggles, and immigrant optimism, this episode provides an insider look at how policy gets made and how everyday citizens can take meaningful action in their communities. Key Takeaways * Community Roots Outweigh Partisan Labels: Winning swing districts depends on deep, long-term local engagement—such as PTA involvement, planning commission service, and community volunteering—which builds neighbor-to-neighbor trust that transcends political affiliations. * Dark Money and Redistricting Impact Local Races: Strategic district redrawing and sudden infusions of non-disclosed PAC funds can dramatically tilt closely contested state legislative seats, even with strong grassroots efforts. * Bipartisan Collaboration Drives Real Policy Wins: Lawmakers operating within a legislative superminority can still pass high-impact bills—like eliminating surprise ER medical charges and expanding affordable housing funds—by finding common ground on practical issues with colleagues across the aisle. * Kitchen-Table Economics Unify Voters: National political rhetoric often misses the mark locally; effective outreach should focus on everyday financial pressures like housing costs, childcare, minimum wage stagnation, and gas prices. * Civic Engagement Requires Direct Local Action: Countering political exhaustion starts with accessible participation: checking your voter registration, volunteering for campaigns, serving as poll observers, and having open conversations with neighbors. *Executive Summary and key takeaways generated by AI and edited by humans. Podcast is purely human. Thanks for pulling up a stool. Want to grab a glass and join the conversation? Here’s how: * Love it: Hit that heart button to show you like this post. * Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s piece. * Restack: Share this out to your personal feed to help us expand our reach. * Share the warmth: If this resonated, feel free to forward it to a friend. We can also be found on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aroundthecounter.substack.com

Executive Summary In this episode of Around the Counter, Molly sits down with Representative John Arthur. He’s a 6th-grade teacher, 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, and House District 41 Representative. Together, they strip away legislative jargon and peek under the hood of Utah’s public education funding. Arthur breaks down the heavy toll of unfunded legislative mandates on local schools and teachers, the reality of taking a pay cut to serve in the state legislature, and how supermajority dynamics impact working-class representation. Moving past hyper-partisan outrage, he explains the mechanics behind state tax funds and highlights why structural legislative fixes are vital for keeping local communities supported and informed. Beyond Capitol Hill, the conversation tackles hot-button local issues ranging from the Little Cottonwood gondola proposal to the controversies surrounding the Utah Fits All voucher program. Arthur shares how he builds bipartisan relationships, leverages authentic digital storytelling, and connects with center-right constituents on the doorstep, including a sweat-soaked door-knocking story that proves radical civility is still alive. Tune in for a grounded, insightful breakdown of how state decisions directly impact Utah classrooms and neighborhoods, delivered with curiosity and schoolhouse joy. Key Takeaways * Unfunded Mandates Strain Schools: Legislation requiring district actions without dedicated funding or additional personnel creates unstaffed burdens that accelerate educator burnout. * Low Legislative Compensation Limits Representation: Serving in the state legislature pays less than a public school teaching salary, creating financial barriers that discourage everyday working-class Utahns from seeking office. * Teacher Raises Tied to Vouchers: Utah’s teacher pay increase was legislatively handcuffed to the controversial Utah Fits All voucher program; if vouchers are ruled unconstitutional, teachers risk losing their raise unless the two are decoupled. * Immediate Canyon Traffic Solutions Exist: The proposed Little Cottonwood gondola will not be operational in time for the 2034 Olympics, making expanded 15-minute busing, reservation parking, and tolling more immediate and cost-effective solutions. * Bipartisanship Requires Respectful Dialogue: Effective policy outreach relies on focusing on real-world outcomes, avoiding personal attacks, and maintaining an openness to changing one’s mind based on new information. *Executive Summary and key takeaways generated by AI and edited by humans. Podcast is purely human. Thanks for pulling up a stool. Want to grab a glass and join the conversation? Here’s how: * Love it: Hit that heart button to show you like this post. * Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s piece. * Restack: Share this out to your personal feed to help us expand our reach. * Share the warmth: If this resonated, feel free to forward it to a friend. We can also be found on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aroundthecounter.substack.com

Executive Summary Local government often feels like an impenetrable black box, but civic advocate Turner C. Bitton demystifies how local advisory boards, transit projects, and housing policies directly shape daily life across Salt Lake County. From the mechanics of civilian oversight in policing to a historic $1 billion federal grant earmarked for double-tracking the FrontRunner commuter rail, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how city infrastructure gets built and funded. Turner illustrates why connected transportation networks and frequent service are essential for Utah’s rapidly growing regional footprint. The discussion shifts to Utah’s housing crisis, exploring why “missing middle” housing such as duplexes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) is vital for long-term economic prosperity. By reframing neighborhood character around vibrant, multi-generational communities rather than rigid architectural limits, Turner explains how policy initiatives can create accessible homeownership. Key Takeaways * Civic Boards Power Local Governance: Advisory entities like the Transportation Board, Housing Authority, and Police Civilian Review Board translate community input into actionable policy and oversight that can make real change in your community. * FrontRunner Upgrades Transform Commutes: A $1 billion federal grant to double-track FrontRunner rail will cut wait times to 15–30 minutes, increase service reliability, and pave the way for future electrification. * Missing Middle Housing Drives Affordability: Re-legalizing duplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes creates accessible homeownership options between high-cost single-family homes and large apartment complexes. * Regional Planning Demands Connected Transit: With 20% of regional residents commuting across county lines daily, housing policies must align with transportation infrastructure to maintain regional livability. * Neighborhood Character Belongs to People: Community vitality stems from diverse, multi-generational residents and walkable streets rather than exclusionary zoning practices. It’s a hot take, but we’re here for it! *Executive Summary and key takeaways generated by AI and edited by humans. Podcast is purely human. Thanks for pulling up a stool. Want to grab a glass and join the conversation? Here’s how: * Love it: Hit that heart button to show you like this post. * Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s piece. * Restack: Share this out to your personal feed to help us expand our reach. * Share the warmth: If this resonated, feel free to forward it to a friend. We can also be found on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aroundthecounter.substack.com

Executive Summary In this episode of Around the Counter, Molly Jones sits down with En Canada of the Wasatch Assembly to demystify how global human rights conversations translate into concrete, local political action at home. En shares how their Palestinian, Black, and Irish heritage informs their organizing, offering a perspective on why U.S. funding in foreign conflicts creates a direct moral responsibility for everyday citizens. The conversation breaks down the origin story of the Wasatch Assembly, tracing how high-stakes public comment at Salt Lake City Council meetings evolved into a structured, grassroots effort aimed at improving material conditions for working Utahns. En unpacks the Wasatch Assembly’s 2026 priorities including ending homelessness sweeps, passing expanding housing plans, and utilizing property taxes for long-term affordable housing while candidly discussing the tension between grassroots advocates and local elected officials. This episode delivers a clear, jargon-free breakdown of how everyday neighbors can engage with city hall to shape housing, immigration, and community policy. Key Takeaways * Global Roots to Local Action: En Canada highlights how their Palestinian lineage and ancestral history shape their activism, emphasizing that federal military funding creates an obligation for local voters to demand accountability at home. * The Wasatch Assembly Model: Designed to turn temporary activism into sustainable political strategy, Wasatch Assembly uses a year-round, three-phase cycle powered by ranked-choice voting to establish community-driven policy agendas across Salt Lake County. * 2026 Housing & Homelessness Agenda: The Assembly’s top voter-backed municipal priorities focus on ending homelessness sweeps, expanding city housing options, and enacting property tax measures to fund permanent affordable housing over short-term shelter systems. * Council Dynamics & Civic Levers: The episode explores the friction between city council members and grassroots organizers, examining how public comment limits impacted community engagement and how weighted survey scorecards are now used to hold local politicians accountable. *Executive Summary and key takeaways generated by AI and edited by humans. Podcast is purely human. Thanks for pulling up a stool. Want to grab a glass and join the conversation? Here’s how: * Love it: Hit that heart button to show you like this post. * Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s piece. * Restack: Share this out to your personal feed to help us expand our reach. * Share the warmth: If this resonated, feel free to forward it to a friend. We can also be found on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aroundthecounter.substack.com