It’s actually conservatives who play up fear as a tool; check out the article in today’s Tribune about it. Given that Utah’s majority lawmakers are gerrymandering conservatives, it’s remarkable to see an article openly and honestly criticize them as “the party of fear mongering.” Already they’ve passed bills targeting trans people using bathrooms and defining Utah as “sovereign with no ties to the U.S. government.” And it’s already early in the legislative session. A truly fucked up state.