Friday, May 20, 2022 | 
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Samuel Benson

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

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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., Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
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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Culture
Is America’s most controversial artist trolling the left — or the right?
Jon McNaughton released a Trump-themed NFT collection last week.
By Samuel Benson
 
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., listens during a media availability after the Senate Policy Luncheon on Nov. 29, 2016, in Washington.
Politics
One of the nation’s most powerful politicians was also a steadfast ‘home teacher’ at church
Harry Reid’s legacy started with his rise from poverty in rural Nevada, eventually becoming the U.S. Senate majority leader.
By Samuel Benson and Hal Boyd
 
Scott O’Neil, 51, head coach for The Pennington School girls varsity basketball team, watches warmups in Pennington, N.J., on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.
InDepth
Former 76ers CEO and Latter-day Saint convert Scott O’Neil wants a championship — just not in the NBA
The NBA executive recently stepped away from the highest echelons of the sports world. He’s now finding his next big act closer to home.
By Samuel Benson
 
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Culture
Summer sales: Some make millions. Others are sold a bill of goods
Sales figures can be alluring to some, but many never come close to those numbers.
By Samuel Benson
 
Fireworks above the White House in Washington
Politics
Why Republican candidates are blowing things up — literally
GOP candidates in state and national races are using explosions, guns and ammo in their commercials.
By Samuel Benson
 
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The West
Inside anti-government activist Ammon Bundy’s run for Idaho governor
The controversial activist promises to ‘take back’ federally owned land.
By Samuel Benson
 
Evan McMullin talks about his campaign to challenge Mike Lee for the Senate.
Politics
The Never-Trumpers are back — with a new strategy
Prominent Trump critic Evan McMullin is joining the 2022 U.S. Senate race. He says he’s not the only one.
By Samuel Benson
 
U.S. citizens and their families board a plan to the U.S. in Germany
Politics
These 3 Afghans made it out of their country. Now, they must rebuild their lives
The U.S. military withdrawal included an “underground railroad”-style evacuation of thousands of Afghan allies.
By Samuel Benson
 
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Faith
America’s Rabbi has an orthodox love for Latter-day Saints
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach takes an unorthodox approach to Orthodox Judaism.
By Samuel Benson
 
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Politics
The rise and fall of the Trumpiest Never-Trumper
Steve Schmidt, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, sought to take down Donald Trump. But some believe he took himself down in the process.
By Samuel Benson
 
In this Aug. 24, 2020, file photo, delegates arrive for the first day of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Politics
2020 election had ‘serious problems and failures,’ new RNC report says
At a national level, claims of voter fraud or irregularities sufficient to change the outcome of the 2020 election have not prevailed in courts of law.
By Samuel Benson
 
Afghans run alongside a U.S. Air Force plane as it leaves Kabul, Afghanistan
U.S. & World
Abandoned U.S. allies in Afghanistan detail heartbreaking stories
“The only thing we know is that we will not survive,” one Afghan ally of the U.S. military told the Deseret News
By Samuel Benson
 
John Sullivan, a self-proclaimed activist and journalist, filmed Ashli Babbitt’s death at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He now faces criminal charges.
Politics
John Sullivan: Antifa, journalist or criminal? The story of the man who filmed Ashli Babbitt’s death
John Sullivan, a self-proclaimed “journalist-slash-activist,” recorded 39 minutes of the Capitol attack on Jan. 6. It may get him sent to prison.
By Samuel Benson
 
Tamyra Mensah-Stock holds the U.S. flag after winning Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Olympics
Witness the unmitigated patriotism of this U.S. Olympic gold medalist
Tamyra Mensah-Stock, after becoming the first Black U.S. woman wrestler to win gold, said, “I love representing the U.S. I freaking love living there.”
By Samuel Benson
 
Mike Lee and Glenn Beck eat patriotic ice cream in Utah
Politics
Glenn Beck and Mike Lee faced off in Utah’s most patriotic ice cream eating contest
Prominent Utah and national conservatives headlined a Founding Fathers-themed ice cream eating contest in Herriman, Utah
By Samuel Benson
 
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Coronavirus
The newest door-to-door salesmen: ‘Vaccine missionaries’
The Biden administration is encouraging door-to-door outreach to educate about the COVID vaccine. ‘Faith-based approaches’ may be more effective, poll says.
By Samuel Benson
 
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and other Republicans negotiating a $1 trillion infrastructure bill with Democrats, have reached an agreement.
Politics
Romney, bipartisan infrastructure group reach agreement on $1 trillion bill. What will it do?
The largest investment in infrastructure in nearly a century passed a procedural vote Wednesday night in the U.S. Senate.
By Samuel Benson
 
The Alaska assistant attorney general who allegedly runs a #DezNat-related Twitter account, is no longer employed, it was reported Tuesday.
U.S. & World
BYU Law deans respond to ‘venomous and hateful’ #DezNat Twitter account
Matthias Cicotte, the former Alaska assistant attorney general who allegedly runs a #DezNat-related Twitter account, is no longer employed, the Anchorage Daily News reported on Tuesday.
By Samuel Benson
 
A refugee man holds an American Flag at the Capitol in Salt Lake City.
Opinion
Modern Christian pioneers need our help, too
The U.S. is on track to admit an astonishingly low number of refugees this year. Many of them are fleeing religious persecution.
By Samuel Benson
 
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InDepth
BYU graduate, Alaska prosecutor under investigation for anonymous #DezNat account
Some affiliated with #DezNat have hurled bigotry and vitriol at their opponents on social media for years.
By Samuel Benson
 
Voters cast their ballots at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
Politics
Something Biden and these Republicans can agree on — protecting voting rights
A new group called “Republicans for Voting Rights” challenges Trump’s election fraud claims.
By Samuel Benson
 
A U.S. soldier walks past an American flag in Kunuar, Afghanistan
U.S. & World
Our allies in Afghanistan are running out of time
As the U.S. finishes its withdrawal from Afghanistan, thousands of Afghan interpreters and aides are left without protection.
By Samuel Benson
 
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Politics
Is the future of Utah women in politics on the upswing?
150 years after Utah women were the first to vote, more and more are participating in politics — including two candidates for the U.S. Senate.
By Samuel Benson
 
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