Sunday, May 28, 2023 | 
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Samuel Benson

Samuel Benson is a staff writer for the Deseret News National team, focusing on politics and culture. He has written for POLITICO, The National Interest, The New Haven Register, The Orange County Register, The Harvard Crimson, and elsewhere. When not writing or reading, Benson enjoys cycling and hiking in Utah’s beautiful outdoors.

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Faith
Welcome to ‘Jewtah’! Population: 3
A Passover hangout with Gov. Cox, a rabbi and a Jewish policy wonk
By Samuel Benson
Donald Trump talks to Ron DeSantis.
Utah
’16 again? Trump losing favor among Utahns, poll finds
A new poll shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the early favorite to win the Republican Party presidential nomination among Utah voters.
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
The Deseret News interviewed Utah GOP county chairs ... and a majority want DeSantis over Trump
Speaking anonymously, the chairs expressed their doubts about Trump’s ability to win.
By Samuel Benson
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Faith
Diversity, equity, inclusion … and faith?
BYU business school event explores the role of religion in the workplace.
By Samuel Benson
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U.S. & World
Mexico’s delicate dance with democracy
Biden visits Mexico this week. Will he find a reliable partner, or a country in crisis?
By Samuel Benson
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Obituaries
Russell Pearce, Latter-day Saint and former Arizona Senate president, dies at 75
Pearce’s family said he lived a life of “service to God, family and country.”
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
Arizona lawmaker Rusty Bowers, 11 others to receive Presidential Citizens Medal
On the 2-year anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, Rusty Bowers — who resisted Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Arizona — will receive the nation’s second-highest civilian award
By Samuel Benson
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Faith
‘Don’t be embarrassed about who you are,’ Deseret Magazine executive editor advises journalists of faith
A new study suggests many religious journalists view their faith as a hindrance, instead of a strength, in covering religious topics.
By Samuel Benson
Verónica Basurto and Carlos Villa Roiz answer a question during a panel discussion on faith and media in Mexico City.
Faith
Faith and the media ‘can function together,’ Mexico City workshop emphasizes
Deseret Management Corp. — alongside the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Google News Lab and the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute — co-host a daylong workshop about religion and media for Mexican journalists.
By Samuel Benson
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Faith
The Latter-day Saint guide to fighting antisemitism
The author of “The Burning Book” discusses the unique relationship between Judaism and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
By Samuel Benson
Harvard professor Noah Feldman meets with the Deseret News editorial board in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022.
Politics
America’s greatest legal scholar has a message for you
America’s ‘single-greatest legal mind’ is fascinated by Latter-day Saints and fond of the Constitution. Does he believe they can help protect one another?
By Samuel Benson
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Faith
Why America needs Pioneer Day this year more than ever
Utah will celebrate the unique, even improbable, balance between individualism and community that pioneers built 175 years ago.
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
Q&A: Rusty Bowers opens up on Trump, the Jan. 6 committee and his Latter-day Saint faith
The Arizona House Speaker recently testified before Congress about Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
By Samuel Benson
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Faith
Why this BYU grad is running for president in Muslim-dominated Mali
Yeah Samaké is running for president in the poverty-stricken West African country.
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
Mike Lee’s populist campaign for BYU student body president
The 1993 BYUSA election was among the most contentious in school history, won by the “radical” son of university president Rex Lee.
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
When Becky Edwards won the trust of BYU’s greatest football coach
The Senate candidate met her father-in-law, LaVell Edwards, while at BYU. He encouraged her desire to serve.
By Brigham Tomco and Samuel Benson
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Politics
Ally Isom’s political launch from BYU’s poli-sci program
Isom’s first campaign experience stemmed from a BYU political science class
By Samuel Benson
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Culture
A dispatch from inside Glenn Beck’s surprising art show
The radio host showed off his oil paintings over the weekend in Park City.
By Samuel Benson
Andrew Yang, founder of the Forward Party and former presidential candidate, is photographed in New York City in 2022.
Politics
Why Andrew Yang left the Democratic party
The Democrat-turned-independent says democracy is ‘hanging by a thread.’ But he has a plan to save it.
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
Is the media more fair to Biden or Trump?
President Joe Biden slammed the media — again — during ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ appearance Wednesday.
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
Utah’s GOP Congressmen are talking climate. But the White House is not interested
On Thursday, GOP lawmakers released a landmark strategy to combat climate change.
By Samuel Benson
President Joe Biden speaks at the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity launch event in Tokyo on May 23, 2022.
Politics
What economists and pundits think of Biden’s plan to slash inflation
The Deseret News invited three experts to respond to President Joe Biden’s Wall Street Journal op-ed.
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
After Uvalde, most Americans agree on these gun reform measures
A new poll shows widespread support for background checks, mental health measures.
By Samuel Benson
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The West
An unresolved death, a political dynasty and an Arizona town’s quest to heal
The violent death of Rex Lee Sr. split St. Johns, Arizona, in two. The town is trying to move on.
By Samuel Benson
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Politics
Politico was right to publish Supreme Court draft, journalists say
A panel discussion on ethical journalism, hosted by the Deseret News in Washington, D.C., debated the ethics of this week’s Supreme Court leak.
By Samuel Benson
Police move barricades in place as a crowd of people gather outside the Supreme Court, Monday in Washington.
Politics
How abortion rights will shape November’s midterms
Democrats believe the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade could breathe new life into their efforts to maintain control of Congress.
By Samuel Benson
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, meets with reporters and members of the the Deseret News and KSL editorial board in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016.
Perspective
Perspective: Utah Sen. Mike Lee’s private texts complicate his public statements
I sat down with Sen. Lee last year to discuss the 2020 election investigation. Some newly released texts complicate what he told me then.
By Samuel Benson
Ritt Momney and Mitt Romney shake hands in Washington
Entertainment
Sen. Mitt Romney gets an office visit from singer Ritt Momney
Jack Rutter, a Utah-based musician who uses the spoonerism “Ritt Momney” as his stage name, was in Washington for a concert
By Samuel Benson
Former Judge Thomas B. Griffith at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Politics
Meet the conservative jurist and former BYU general counsel who endorsed Biden’s Supreme Court nominee
Thomas B. Griffith introduced Ketanji Brown Jackson before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. Now he’s trying to introduce America to a different kind of politics.
By Samuel Benson
Ammon Bundy enters his campaign RV in Idaho Falls on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Bundy is an anti-government militant and activist who is running for Idaho governor.
Politics
Idaho gubernatorial candidate Ammon Bundy ditches GOP, announces bid as independent
The activist ditches Idaho Republican Party, calling it “corrupt and wicked.”
By Samuel Benson
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