Your commencement speaker just started a whole new culture war
So here's the thing about Utah Valley University choosing their 2026 commencement speaker. You might think, okay, another university, another speaker, what's the big deal? Well, in Utah, everything becomes a cultural flashpoint sooner or later. UVU picked Sharon McMahon, and let's just say some of our more… *traditional* Republican leaders here along the Wasatch Front are not thrilled. They're calling it "tone-deaf," which, around here, is often code for "this doesn't align with our specific moral compass."
The actual story is that UVU decided to go with a non-traditional pick. McMahon runs a popular independent media platform, she's known for her non-partisan approach to political issues, and her "Governerd" podcast. For some, particularly those who prefer their higher education to maintain a certain ideological purity, that's just not going to fly. It's a classic Salt Lake City conundrum: trying to balance the old guard with the new, and the folks coming in from out of state who might have, you know, different ideas about things.
### What This Means for Salt Lake City
* **Another Culture War Battleground:** This isn't just about a speech; it’s about who gets to speak into the minds of graduating students. It's a microcosm of the larger ideological tug-of-war happening as Utah grows and diversifies. * **The UVU Angle:** UVU is down in Orem, south of the Point of the Mountain, but it's a huge institution, deeply connected to the entire valley. What happens there echoes up here in Salt Lake City. * **"Tone-Deaf" Decoded:** When you hear that phrase from local politicians, especially regarding anything that might challenge the status quo, it’s usually a signal that someone, somewhere, is feeling like their values are being overlooked.
It's one of those stories that just makes you shake your head and think, *yeah no, this is totally Utah*. We can argue about anything, from liquor laws to who gets to give a speech. That's the Crossroads, friends — greatest snow on earth and the weirdest liquor laws.
The gang on the Morning Wire breaks down stories like this every weekday. Catch them live at mornings.live.