I had a great time at the Ada County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday night. US Air Force Undersecretary Matthew Lohmeier gave a sharp and sobering speech to attendees, explaining how President Trump and Secretary of War Hegseth have transformed the US Armed Forces from a social justice experiment back into the elite warfighting organization it was meant to be.
Down the road, Minnesota governor Tim Walz spoke at the Idaho Democrats’ annual Frank and Bethine Church Gala. I can only imagine what he talked about. Under his watch, Minnesota has become known for promoting transgender surgeries for children, allowing abortion up until birth, and—of course—Somali daycares and NGOs that have potentially defrauded American taxpayers on the order of billions of dollars.
What a contrast, and what a reminder that elections matter.
As you know, the Gem State Chronicle is reader supported:
Paid subscribers via Substack get bonus notes with some articles, giving me an opportunity to share behind-the-scenes thoughts with supporters, as well as early access to podcasts. Subscribe now. I’ve also been experimenting with AI-assisted podcasts narrating each of my articles. Check it out on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Do you have a small business you want to advertise? I’ll put your ad on the top of the Chronicle homepage, on the article sidebar, and will shout it out on any podcasts I release during the sponsorship. I’ll also write an article on behalf of sponsors, whether about a particular issue or just sharing their story. Send me a message and we’ll get it done. Take the time to visit my regular sponsors, Lynn Bradescu’s Keller Williams Realty and Money Metals, as well as our latest sponsor New Saint Andrews College. I appreciate the support!
Make sure you’ve bookmarked Idaho Insider, your one stop shop for everything you need to know about your elected officials.
Remember that you can now access the Gem State Chronicle as a web app. Follow the instructions here and bring not only articles, op-eds, and press releases to your fingertips, but also the powerful tools of Idaho Insider.
The past week at the Chronicle…
Monday saw Tim Oren’s regular column mapping the Legislature. There have been enough votes now to see the expected factions begin to emerge.
Also on Monday, I shared a call to action to try to save two strong immigration enforcement bills that were sent to die in Senate State Affairs.
Savanna DeHay posted her monthly column on health and nutrition, taking a closer look at probiotics.
On Tuesday, I updated readers on the budgeting process, as the Rescissions Act hit the floors this week.
On Thursday, I examined the question of so-called predatory lending. Does government have a role in protecting people from their own choices?
Finally, on Friday I shared one more call to action. Tell Sen. Dan Foreman to hear H745, prohibiting taxpayer subsidies for teacher’s unions.
I also published op-eds and newsletters from Congressman Russ Fulcher, Sen. Ben Toews, Idaho GOP chairwoman Dorothy Moon, legislative candidate Karey Hanks, Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, Sen. Jim Risch, and Congressman Mike Simpson.
Whether we agree or disagree with our elected officials and influential political figures, I think it’s important to hear what they have to say. The Gem State Chronicle is a resource for as much information as possible to help you be more effective and engaged.
If you would like Gem State Chronicle to publish your work, please submit it to editor@gemstatechronicle.com. We are pleased to provide an outlet for a wide variety of figures in the world of Idaho politics to share their own messages.
PS: Primary Pulse is back! Let this be your one-stop shop for information about every Republican legislative candidate as you decide not only for whom to cast your vote, but where to send your hard-earned money.
In other news…
Wayne Hoffman posed an interesting question: is our ever-expanding welfare state a symptom of members of our society losing our compassion for our fellow man? Or is it a cause?
Peachy Keenan provided an insightful answer to the question of why President Trump chose to attack Iran at this time. It’s one I’ve been mulling over for the past week as well.
Sen. Brandon Shippy laid out his case for why E-Verify is government overreach. Michael Angiletta responded. Who do you think makes the more compelling case?
Logan Finny of Idaho Reports spoke with Secretary of State Phil McGrane about what to expect with this year’s primary elections:
Idaho’s own Niklas Kleinworth, now with Paragon Health in Washington DC, explained to Matt Edwards on Idaho Signal how the Medicaid money laundering system works:
Rufo & Lomez spoke with Jeremy Carl, whose nomination to serve in the Trump Administration is facing resistance from Democrats and even Republicans who are upset that Carl has called out anti-white racism:
Michael Knowles and John Doyle had an interesting and provocative conversation while playing a drinking game together:
Finally, Nick Solheim of American Moment spoke with Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, about why you should work for the government. It’s a subject I’ve written about before as well:
Upcoming events…
It’s Lincoln Day season. Check out the master list at the Idaho GOP website so you can find one near you.
Thank you all for your support as I continue to bring you news and analysis that empowers you to make positive change in Idaho. Make sure to subscribe, follow me on Twitter, and follow the Chronicle on Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, YouTube, and Rumble. Have a great week!
Feature image courtesy of Daniel Murphy.