Idaho's 2025 Legislative Session
Idaho's 2025 Legislative Session
The Ranch Podcast and Truth In Media present Idaho Politics like never before. Enjoy long format interviews with Idaho’s political leaders, law makers, and elected officials about issues, bills, and the making of Idaho.
Thank You Idaho PTA for Supporting the 2025 Legislative Session production with office space! 👊
Law Enforcement Legislative Update with Chris Goetz
Chris Goetz is the Sheriff of Clearwater County. He came in to give a law enforcement legislative update about several bills that are points of concern or interest to Sheriffs in Idaho. There are quite a few! Enjoy.
The Proper Role of Government in Idaho with Brandon Shippy
Brandon Shippy is the District 9 Senator. He and I had a fantastic conversation about the proper role of government in Idaho and how that concept applies broadly across many decisions. The conflict between local and state control is real in Idaho, and speaking with Senator Shippy was very illuminating. Enjoy!
Using Federal Funds in Idaho with Jani Ward-Engelking
Jani Ward-Engelking is the District 18 Senator. She is also on JFAC and is concerned about the concept of eliminating federal funds within Idaho. Some people have proposed ending programs because of federal funding, but if we apply that idea broadly across Idaho, she feels it gives us terrible results. Enjoy!
Pornography and the Online Platform Defense with Steve Fullmer
Steve Fullmer is a child safety advocate focusing on removing online pornography from the hands of children. This is a rampant problem across our country that is degrading so many aspects of our fundamental lives, including the American family unit. There are many problems surrounding this, but the primary stumbling block that we discuss in this episode is the online platform defense which is ultimately the greatest roadblock to change. Enjoy!
Preserving Wildlands in Idaho with Monica Church
Monica Church is a District 19 Representative and a deep, deep lover of Idaho’s wildlands. She has profound ties to these wide open spaces that Idaho is so blessed with, and she is concerned that the tide is changing with views and perspectives on these state treasures. Enjoy!
Capital Punishment, Schools, and Housing in Idaho with Josh Tanner
Josh Tanner is a District 14 Representative who has been working intensely throughout the session on many bills and priorities. He came in to speak about a few, including Capital Punishment for Child Sex Offenders. We also spoke about prices of housing and the state of the economy that makes the American Dream more of a dream and less of a reality in Idaho. Enjoy!
Tax Cuts and Public Schools in Idaho with Jason Monks
Representative Jason Monks came in to speak about a number of things, including Tax Cuts for Idahoans to the tune of $400+ Million, our new school choice law, and more. I greatly appreciate him making the time! Enjoy!
Immigration Law & Idaho Enforcement with David Claiborne
David Claiborne is an Idaho attorney very familiar with the issues around immigrant labor and illegal residents. There are several bills in the legislature right now that would introduce more power and responsibility to Idaho law enforcement with detection, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants, but there are also several problems with this from a legal standpoint. Enjoy!
DOGE and Idaho Public Lands with Brian Brooks
Brian Brooks is the VP of Advocacy at the American Bird Conservancy and has been traveling back to DC regularly to meet with many people regarding wildlands, wetlands, birds, and conservancy projects. Our waterfowl populations are maintained by massive international cooperative agreements that produce healthy, predictable migration habitats and patterns. Brian came in to speak about DOGE and the actual economic value to our public lands and their conservation. The ROI on our wild lands is actually in the order of 100 to 1, meaning we generate roughly $100 for every $1 committed to our public lands conservation and management. Enjoy!
Farm Animals and Rural/Urban Idaho with Camille Blaylock
Camille Blaylock is the District 11 Senator and apparently did not understand the nature of the “family dog” until she was in college. Much of Senator Blaylock’s area is becoming more urbanized which brings with it shifting culture and ways of life, and it was great hearing her perspectives on this change. Enjoy!
Stripping Fireman Protections in Idaho with Rob Shoplock
Rob Shoplock is the president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho. He came in to explain a recent bill presented that would strip away any of the gains and agreements arrived at by the PFFI for the last five decades. This bill has gained national attention, and Rob kindly took the time to explain why this would be disastrous to our first responder community. Enjoy!
The Education Requirement in Idaho with Audra Talley
Audra Talley is a Homeschool Idaho board member and deeply engaged with our educational system and rights in the state of Idaho. Idaho has an incredible level of school choice, and homeschooling is one of those options. It is also very flexible with no standardized tests or huge requirements. However, there are requirements. Audra came in to explain the basics of what the state expects from our homeschooling community. Enjoy!
Medicine in Idaho with Josh Wheeler
Josh Wheeler is a District 35 Representative and is very connected to the medical establishment in Idaho. His spouse and several of his children are involved in the medical community, and as such he had a lot of say about what the limitations are within the state, what can be done, and what needs to be changed, especially considering the rural nature of so many Idaho communities. Enjoy!
911 Service & Idaho's Immigration Enforcement Ability with Andy Creech
Andy Creech is the Sheriff in Payette County and came in to speak about upgrading the 911 system and the detention and deportation issues that Idaho is facing. Our 911 system was developed decades ago and has a habit of routing emergency calls either out of the area, state, and sometimes the country. We are also grappling as a nation with individual state capacities to deal with illegal immigrants in our own states. Sheriff Creech came in to explain the is and the outs in detail.
Campaign Finance Reform in Idaho with Phil McGrane
Phil McGrane is the Idaho Secretary of State and is acutely aware of the problems around campaign financing. This last election cycle saw a huge problem with out of state funds coming into the state of Idaho to manipulate our elections. SOS McGrane is working with several legislators to pass laws to make that entire process more transparent so Idahoans are not as easily manipulated by outside forces. Enjoy!
Improving Idaho Education with Andy Grover
Andy Grover is the president of the Idaho Association of School Administrators. He also worked as a superintendent of a rural Idaho school district for over a decade and took it from the bottom quartile to the top quartile in a matter of years. He is intimately aware of the struggles of our rural schools and students, and is working to help bridge the gap between policy makers and educators to provide the best education possible for the children of Idaho. Enjoy!
Digital Literacy with Idaho Kids with Reid Stephan
Reid Stephan is on the Idaho Technology Council and working on developing digital literacy requirements for Idaho public schools. This is an incredibly complex curriculum to develop considering the pace of technology and changing industries world wide. Reid’s insights and the direction of the program blew my mind. Enjoy!
Representing Teachers in Idaho with Alicia Purdy
Alicia Purdy is a conservative Idaho educator running to represent Idaho with the National Teachers Union. She has been in education for decades and feels we need balance in representing our educators. Enjoy!
Fixing Childcare Access in Idaho with James Ruchti
James Ruchti is the District 29 Senator and is very worried about childcare access in Idaho. There are many restrictions that attempt to make the safest possible environment for children and working parents. There is a bill that is working to reduce the restrictions to increase access, but Senator Ruchti feels these restrictions would decrease the quality of the service. Enjoy!
Protecting Idaho Youth from Big Tech with Kevin Cook
Kevin Cook is the District 32 Senator and is very concerned about Big Tech in Idaho. He has been working to increase safeguards with technology sold in this state, and for years has been getting hammered by the big tech companies coming to try to stop him. He’s also running a bill to make parents aware of the very real and severe risks that come along with school technology that is administered to over 100,000 Idaho children each year. He is truly a champion for our Idaho schools and families. Enjoy!
Education, Ag, and Commerce in Idaho with Lori McCann
Lori McCann is a District 6 Representative. She is deeply concerned about the agriculture industry in the state of Idaho and the lack of functional labor programs for our varied industries. She is also extremely worried about our education system. Enjoy!
Idaho's Medical School System with Dr. Joseph Holmstead
Dr. Joseph Holmstead is a graduate of Idaho’s WWAMI program, a multi state collaborative program that helps create more Idaho doctors. Idaho leads the country in many areas, but access to medical professionals is not one of those places. In fact, Idaho ranks at the bottom for the number of specialists and second to last for primary care physicians per 10,000 residents. The WWAMI program is an amazing partnership working to correct this. Enjoy!
Honoring Constituent Issues with Jack Nelsen
Jack Nelsen is a District 26 Representative and is very focused on finding a way to address all of his constituents in his very mixed district. There are problems with schools and energy projects and communicating in public venues that plague his area. As a farmer, he’s looking for practical, functional solutions for all. Enjoy!
Speaking to Main St with Brennan Summers
Brennan Summers is the host of Main St Idaho Podcast, a show based out of east Idaho and focused on politics and main st politics. Brennan has hosted the show since the start and has traveled around the state to meet and connect with people. Similar to what I’m attempting to do, Brennan and Main St are trying to popularize a middle of the road approach to communication. Enjoy!
Medicaid Reform, SNAP, and Welfare with Jordan Redman
Jordan Redman is a District 3 Representative and is bringing several impactful bills forward. We spoke extensively about the details of the Medicaid Expansion Reform bill, the SNAP program product restriction, and welfare benefits for illegal aliens. Enjoy!
H5 Bird Flu & Weather Mod with Tammy Nichols
Tammy Nichols is the District 10 Senator and is working on a few very specific things right now with Ag. She is the Chairwoman of the Ag committee and as such very concerned about the H5 Bird Flu and the effects of the disease. She’s also working to ensure that our valuable water resource that we all depend on is preserved with Cloud Seeding Transparency. Enjoy!
Idaho's Base Level of Services with Jim Woodward
Jim Woodward is the District 1 Senator. He is deeply concerned about the basic level of services that we have in the state of Idaho, such as education and law enforcement. We, Idaho voters, are allowed to vote for or against different tax districts, but at some point, our organizations will not be able to increase efficiency and we’ll just receive a lower quality service. This is a hugely important thing to consider. Enjoy!
Revenue, Cell Phones, & Trails in Idaho with James Petzke
James Petzke is a District 21 Representative who is working on a number of great things, specifically cell phone free schools and non-motorized trail maintenance. Idaho, like most states, has an education system being swarmed by tech issues, and getting our schools to have distraction free policies is crucial. We also have the best trail system in the country for hunting, fishing, recreating, and travel, and maintaining these trails is an overwhelming good for the entire state and country. Enjoy!
Death By Social Media with Nicki Reisberg
Nicki Reisberg is a national voice for the real dangers of tech in children’s lives. She has been sounding the alarm for years, and is leading a charge to hold tech companies, schools, and organizations accountable for the tech and inherent risks associated that people are forcing onto our youth. We are so lucky to have her fighting for all of our children.
Immigrant Labor, Land, and Power with Mike Simpson
Mike Simpson is Idaho’s 2nd District US Congressman. He came in to speak on three very critical things in Idaho, namely consistent Ag labor, land management, and power supply. All of these three have very real ties to our federal government policies, and Rep. Simpson is fighting hard to get the best deal for Idaho. Enjoy!
Considering the Ballot Initiative Process with Michael Angiletta
Michael Angiletta works with Secure Idaho to consider different ways of protecting this incredible state. The ballot initiative process is something that concerns him because some feel it is very susceptible to outside funding and influence, making a direct democracy process dangerous. I learned a ton from this conversation. Enjoy!
Unraveling Parts of Idaho with Melissa Wintrow
Melissa Wintrow is the District 19 Senator and is very worried about parts of our state that are starting to fundamentally change. School choice, Medicaid reform, and even our local government capacity to fly flags that the community supports are part of her concerns. As a super minority leader, she speaks with many smaller groups of Idahoans that feel Idaho is unraveling in many ways.
Protecting Idaho Students and Families with Shawn Dygert
Shawn Dygert is a District 23 Representative, retired teacher, and champion for transparency in schools when it comes to safety. As it stands right now, misguided youth that are convicted of violent crimes can enroll in Idaho public schools without disclosing their pasts to the schools. This has and will continue to lead to unaware young men and women mixing with violent felons on school campuses. Rep. Dygert is fighting for transparency so that, at the very least, schools are informed about violent criminal pasts so they can figure out how to best offer an education to those with a troubled past and keep innocent Idaho students safe.
Integrating AI Into Idaho with Jeff Ehlers
Jeff Ehlers is a District 21 Representative who sits on Idaho’s Artificial Intelligence committee. This group is tasked with considering the current and future applications of AI, the implications, the consequences, and the ways, if any, that Idaho needs to integrate this exceptionally powerful but complex technology. Enjoy!
The Cost of Saving Money with Medicaid Repeal with Hillarie Hagen
Hillarie Hagen works with Idaho Voices for Children and came in to explain why the Medicaid Expansion Reform bill is really a repeal bill, and what that would do to Idaho. Medicaid Expansion is actually a net benefit financially to the state of Idaho because it covered many programs that filled the gap with uninsured and indigent populations as well as many other groups. It also is responsible for generating over $40 million in tax revenue for the state because it inserts roughly $900 million of federal dollars into our economy. Enjoy!
Making "Johns" into Felons in Idaho with Britt Raybould
Britt Raybould is a District 34 Representative who is working to kill the market for sex work in the state of Idaho. Human trafficking is an ever increasing issue in the nation and the state, and sex work is commonly an end goal when people traffick in human beings. Rep. Raybould is trying to decrease the market for this kind of extortion, and thereby decrease the human suffering exacted on innocents who are trafficked.
Idaho's Election Integrity & Adoption and Foster Care Programs with Brandon Mitchell
Brandon Mitchell is a District 5 Representative and passionate about both election integrity and foster care in Idaho. He entered into the legislature because he was concerned about our election system, and along the way has worked extremely hard to improve our systems to care for our most vulnerable population: children. Enjoy!
The Homeless Industrial Complex and Idaho with Alison Rabe
Alison Rabe is the District 16 Senator and involved heavily in fighting homelessness in Idaho. She spent several years in places inundated with homelessness and came in to speak about how Idaho can avoid developing a homeless industrial complex that perpetuates industries around fighting homelessness and never solves the problem. This was an incredibly eye opening conversation as I’ve always known there was a massive industry in places like SF and Seattle, but I never knew what the specifics were and never knew how we could do better. Enjoy!
Removing Tech in Schools and Out Of State Bad Actors in Idaho with Treg Bernt
Treg Bernt is the District 21 Senator and is passionate about improving our education system through addressing cell phones and personal tech devices in schools. This is an incredible problem nationally, and Senator Bernt is pushing for a state level requirement that does not prescribe specific actions to districts but instead requires them to develop and implement an effective policy that matches their individual communities and helps address this issue. Enjoy!
The Medicaid REPEAL Problem in Idaho with Ben Fuhriman
Ben Fuhriman is a District 30 Representative and an insurance professional. He came in to speak about the impossible nature of the Medicaid reform bill, and more specifically what the reform bill and its failure would mean to Idahoans.
Energy and Data Centers in Idaho with John Gannon
John Gannon is a District 17 Representative. He is extremely concerned about the growing power consumption in Idaho, especially considering the impact the Micro expansion and incoming data centers will have on Idaho Power. Idaho is growing in population, but it is also an attractive place for data centers which need cheap power, labor, and land. These centers also generally get extremely favorable deals with property taxes, stripping the surrounding area of much needed property tax relief. Enjoy!
Protecting Idaho from Online Pornography Addiction with Steve Fullmer
Steve Fullmer is an Idaho citizen who has been helping other Idahoans fight against online pornography addiction. As an addict himself, he understands the nature of the beast and works within small groups to help men take back their lives and families from the grips of this online evil. He is also working with many legislators to get common sense reform so we can protect our young men and women from being exposed to this for as long as possible. This is a sobering conversation, but hearing Steve’s own story opened my eyes to the depths of the problem that must be addressed if we’re to have a future generation of strong family units in America.
Stopping Violence Against Idaho's Elected Officials with Britt Raybould
Britt Raybould is a District 34 Representative and the target of violent, credible threats to her life as a result. The environment around politics and politicians in America has reached a point where extreme and violent threats and actions are being taken against our state and local politicians. Britt has not only put herself on the line as an elected official, but also as someone loudly speaking out against this horrendous behavior. We, as Americans, need to be better.
Removing Education in Idaho with Todd Achilles
Todd Achilles is a District 16 Representative and a huge advocate for education in Idaho. We got connected initially because of a piece of content he made throwing away a joint resolution to remove the education requirement from Idaho’s state constitution. There is a movement within the state to put the requirement of education onto parents, not onto the state, meaning if there was a child in an urban or remote area of the state and parents did not have the time or desire to educate the child, the state would not provide any assistance. Education used to be understood as a cultural and social good in America, and Todd and I talked about how the state of Idaho is coming to see it as something different than it has classically been understood. Enjoy!
Making Families in Idaho with Dr. Kyle Tobler
Dr. Kyle Tobler is a fertility specialist with the Idaho Center for Reproductive Health and a bona fide genius when it comes to IVF medicine. We are seeing an ever increasing starting average age of women with regard to family creation, and IVF is one of the few modern medicine miracles that can help older couples conceive and successfully create a family of their own. Enjoy!
The Sugar Beet Queen of Idaho with Sam Parrott
Sam Parrott is the Sugar Beet Queen of Idaho. She represents the hundreds of sugar beet farmers in the state, and as Idaho is a leading sugar beet grower, Sam has a huge part of representing the industry as a whole on a national level. We spoke MAHA, the Farm Bill, financial nuances, and the future of sugar in the US. Enjoy!
Living & Thriving in Idaho with Monica Church
Monica Church is a District 19 Representative and multi-generation Idahoan. We spoke extensively about what it takes to live and thrive in Idaho, and how there is a disconnect between individuals like myself who have moved from other states to the great state of Idaho and those that have been here for some time. This is going to be one of the greatest chasms that we, as a state, have to bridge together as we’re all Americans and find ourselves not understanding each other but occupying the same great land. Enjoy!
Medicaid Repeal, Revenue Shortfall, and Marriage in Idaho with Ilana Rubel
Ilana Rubel is the House Minority Leader from District 18. She came in to speak about the shortfall in revenue that is being reported, medicaid repeal, and marriage in Idaho. She also happens to be an attorney by trade and was able to speak extensively on the legal implications of repealing the 2015 same-sex marriage decision laid out by the Supreme Court. Marriage, unlike many other decisions, requires ongoing affirmation in many areas such as child custody, medical decisions, tax code, etc. Repealing the decision would put many Idahoans and their families in precarious positions that I did not understand until recently. Enjoy!
Tax Reduction, Ag Labor, Medicaid, and more with Mike Moyle
Mike Moyle is the Speaker of the House for the state of Idaho. He ran in 1998 on reducing taxes, and that has been his mission ever since. We spoke extensively about his plan to give back over $400+ million in taxes to Idaho tax payers, as well as Ag labor, medicaid expansion, ballot initiatives, and more. Enjoy!
The Heart of an Idaho Farmer with Bryan Searle
Bryan Searle is the president of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. As a lifelong farmer, he has gone through the entire range of life experiences that farming offers. The love, the loss, the joy, and the misery that are all offered by this way of life are very well known to him. The reality of our food production system is no longer common knowledge to the average Idahoan and American, so hearing and understanding his story is crucial to understanding and preserving our way of life. Enjoy!
Bibles in Schools, Medicaid Work Requirement, & Residency Alternatives with Jordan Redman
Jordan Redman is a District 3 Representative who is advocating for many things, and today we specifically talked about mandatory reading of the bible in schools, adding a medicaid work requirement, and adding alternatives to medical residency programs. Enjoy!
Defending Medications for Idaho Mothers with Dr. Megan Kasper
Dr. Megan Kasper is a pro-life OB/GYN in Nampa, and she agreed to come in and explain why two medications that have come under fire should not be removed from the toolbox of doctors. The two medications in question are used to stop bleeding postpartum as well as help mothers who have had a failed pregnancy and are carrying a deceased fetus in their uterus. Although these two drugs have very clear, accepted uses, they are also used in other states in chemical pregnancy terminations. Elective pregnancy terminations are already illegal in the state of Idaho, and therefore the use of these drugs to that end is also already illegal. Making the drugs illegal categorically only reduces options for medical practitioners in procedures that are legal and necessary and makes mothers’ lives more difficult and dangerous.
Fire Preparation in Idaho with Dustin Miller
Dustin Miller is the Director of the Department of Lands in Idaho. Idaho has been working closely with many state and federal agencies to combat wildfires within our state and also prepare for future fires. The Governor’s budget included a 60 million dollar line item to replenish what we spent fighting fires previously and a 40 million dollar line item for ongoing, recurring expenses with fires so Idahoans do not get caught unprepared. Enjoy!
Fixing Idaho Residency and Medical Ed. Options with Susie Keller
Susie Keller is the CEO of the Idaho Medical Association, the largest association in the state representing physicians and medical practitioners. Idaho has consistently ranked lower in the country for physician to patient ratios and also struggles attracting medical professionals in a wide variety of specialities. These issues have many causes, but part of the problem is lack of residency programs and education opportunities. Susie and IMA have been working extremely hard to improve both of these issues and provide Idaho with an abundance of medical options. It’s a long road, but they’re making substantial progress. Enjoy!
Saving Idaho's Cloud Seeding & Chickens with Tammy Nichols
Tammy Nichols is the District 10 Senator and also the chairwoman for the Senate Ag. Committee. She has been working on several crucial bills for Idahoans, specifically one that bans weather modification and another that works to save our cloud seeding program through transparency and reporting. Idaho’s Ag sector fundamentally operates on water supply, and the cloud seeding program in Idaho not only supplies that crucial ingredient, but it also provides clean electricity, and Sen. Nichols is one of the industry champions working to secure this for Idaho. She is also running a bill to offer every day Idahoans a little more food security with a chicken bill. She is doing a lot! Enjoy!
Grocery Tax Benefits for Idahoans with Jason Monks
Jason Monks is a District 22 Representative who is running a bill to increase the grocery tax rebate. Idaho has a grocery tax, but we also have a rebate program where every man, woman, and child that files tax returns can get a large portion of that money back. My family, for instance, gets enough grocery tax rebate to eliminate all taxes on any groceries bought up to around $12,000. The question remains, then, why do we have a grocery tax? Rep. Monks explained the benefits to my family and all Idahoans perfectly. Enjoy!
Prosecution in Idaho with John Shirts
John Shirts is a District 9 Representative, an Air Force Jag, and Federal Prosecutor. We spoke at length about predation on tech, problems developing as we move more towards tech communities, and trafficking in Idaho. Although a heavy topic, this is hugely important for our youth and our future, and John’s insights were powerful. Enjoy!
Fixing Idaho Public Schools with Clint Hostetler
Clint Hostetler is a District 24 Representative and brought forth a school choice bill this year. There have been so many debates and conversations about school choice, but Clint and I focused instead on articulable issues that we both felt are dragging down our public schools. No matter what school choice bill passes or fails, we’re still going to need the best possible public school system, and figuring out specific things that might be dragging it down or things that people just don’t like is crucial. Enjoy!
In Memory of Officer Mark Stall, Boise PD with Ron Winegar
Ron Winegar is a former Boise Police Chief, an Idaho Medal of Honor recipient, and a true servant to Idaho. He was with Officer Mark Stall in 1997 when Mark Stall was killed in the line of duty in downtown Boise. It is difficult to overstate the heroic nature of our men and women who defend us everyday, all day, and it is imperative as a community, state, and nation that we not forget this event and what we ask our law enforcement officers to do everyday.
Housing & Community in Boise with Lauren McLean
Lauren McLean is the Mayor of Boise. She came in to speak about what the city is doing to address the housing crisis that we all feel the effects of as well as what is being done so the city grows together instead of apart. We also discussed the preservation of the surrounding hills and open spaces that the citizens of Boise have paid millions to put into trust so we, as all Idahoans, will have access to beautiful, undeveloped lands just outside our Capital city forever. Enjoy!
Ag. Labor, Public Lands, and Tapping Natural Resources with Ron Taylor
Ron Taylor is a District 26 Senator. We spoke extensively about the Ag. Labor, ownership and management of our public lands, and harvesting of both minerals and timber in a responsible manner so that we, as Idahoans, can benefit from our natural resources without losing our unparalleled open spaces and recreation opportunities. Enjoy!
The Urban-Wildlands Fire Interface with Mark Niemeyer
Mark Niemeyer is the Fire Chief of Boise and is working extensively with surrounding state and federal agencies to make sure the Urban-Wildlands Interface where our communities meet enormous fire risk environments stay as safe as possible. We are experiencing a new age of fire risk, and with Idaho’s exploding population, we need everyone participating to preserve life and property. Enjoy!
The Value of Rural Idaho Public School Communities with Jason Sevy
Jason Sevy is the Marsing School District School Board Chair and the president-elect of the Idaho School Boards Association. He is also a Marsing graduate and a lifelong supporter of his community and the school community. He answers the question very clearly that few like myself in an urban environment understand, which is, what is the real value of a rural public school? Enjoy.
National Voucher Data with James Ruchti
James Ruchti is a District 29 Senator who is very passionate about the school choice debate. He brought with him many data points from the national debate that I had not heard before. I am pro-education, and if that means we fund public schools, private school contractors, charter schools, home schoolers, I am here for all of it, but I certainly want to understand how and why our dollars are going to the best thing. Senator Ruchti gave me a ton to think about. Enjoy!
The Administration Burden on Public Schools with Stoney Winston
Stoney Winston is the superintendent for Fruitland School District. He came in to speak on some of the issues facing public schools, including administration bloat, special ed population explosion, ESL populations, and lower competing pay when compared to bordering states. Whether the school choice bills come to pass or not, we need to figure out a way to continue improving Idaho public schools, and Stoney gave me a ton to consider. Enjoy!
What Idaho Businesses NEED from Education with Rod Gramer
Rod Gramer is the former president of Idaho Business for Education. This is a group comprised of hundreds of leading businesses in the Gem State that work together to advocate for a pragmatic, effective education system that yields competent, employable business leaders of tomorrow. I invited Rod in to better understand what businesses in Idaho actually need from our education system. As a father of three young men, I want to make sure that they’re positioned to be as successful as possible as they graduate from school, move out, and engage the real world. Enjoy!
Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Legislative Analysis with Nick Fasciano
Nick Fasciano is the Executive Director of Idaho Wildlife Federation, the oldest association dedicated to representing hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts in the state of Idaho. During the legislative session, Nick and IWF watch legislation and advocate on behalf of sportsmen and conservationists. He came in to give me a legislative analysis through the lens of wildlife and conservation. Enjoy!
Idaho's $300+ MILLION Tax Cut with Ilana Rubel
Ilana Rubel is the House Minority Leader from District 18. She has been in the Idaho legislature for roughly a decade and came in to speak on the take cut that just passed. The $300+ million was put together with many small pieces, like property and grocery tax cuts, as well as one big income tax cut. Ilana picked apart these pieces and shed light on who the winners and losers were from this structure. Enjoy!
Gay Marriage, Flags, & Bug Protein in Idaho with Heather Scott
Heather Scott is a District 2 Representative and brought a joint memorial as the first act of the 2025 legislative session to tell the SCOTUS to re-visit its 2015 decision on gay marriage. She feels it is a state’s rights issue and not something to be determined by the federal government and Supreme Court. She is also bringing bills regarding local rights to fly flags as well as labels for alternate meats, including lab grown meats and bug proteins. Enjoy!
The Businesses and Services in Boise with Bobbi-Jo Meuleman
Bobbi-Jo Meuleman is the CEO and President of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. She advocates for local patronage of businesses and services in the greater Boise area as well as advocates for effective policy on behalf of her membership with state and local governments. We spoke about education, housing, stresses on the area, and more importantly, where to get the best Ribeye in Boise. Enjoy!
Preparing Idaho for the Next Emergency with Brad Richy
Brad Richy is the Director of the Idaho Office of Emergency Management. He recently helped organize just over 100 local firefighters to go assist in the fire crisis in California. We spoke about the organizations involved in this type of work, the cost to the take payers, and why this is good for Idaho. We also moved away from fire talk to discuss other emergency management issues including emergency evacuations, earthquakes, and floods in Idaho. This state is not only beautiful and amazing, but we also have an incredible team of individuals working everyday to make sure that if the worst should come to pass, we have the best and most effective responses. Enjoy!
Securing Energy and Critical Minerals in Idaho with Scott Bedke
Scott Bedke is the Lt. Governor of Idaho and came in to speak about the SPEED Council, a group formed by an executive order from Governor Little comprised of several state agency directors that will expedite the review of permits, increase collaboration with project proponents, boost public transparency, and seek to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary statutes and rules. The world supply chain problems exposed over the last few years made it abundantly clear that if we are to have consistent defense capabilities and predictable energy sources, we must find a way to maintain high quality reviews and regulations but also expedite these processes to attract more private industry leaders into Idaho. That’s exactly what the SPEED Council does. Enjoy!
Energy, Minerals, and Taxes in Idaho with Russ Fulcher
Russ Fulcher is a United States Congressman representing the great people of Idaho. He has been working on several things, including finding a way to improve management of our public lands, ways to supply more and better energy to Idaho, and a way to eliminate income taxes on overtime pay. He also offered an explanation about why Idaho has public lands owned by the federal government that I had never heard before, which was fascinating to say the least. Enjoy!
The SPEED Council with Rich Stover
Rich Stover is the Administrator of the Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. The SPEED Council has recently been created to offer a more streamlined, efficient process for companies to engage in to bolster our energy production and mineral harvesting processes. This is NOT a rubber stamp program, but instead one focused on making a more attractive review and regulation process for companies looking to work and produce things like power and crucial materials in Idaho. Enjoy!
The Idaho School Board Association with Quinn Perry
Quinn Perry is the Idaho School Board Association Government Affairs officer. She advocates on behalf of the elected school board officials from across the state of Idaho. We spoke about education extensively, as you might imagine, and she brought up points like due process and parental vs school rights that I had never heard before. Enjoy!
What Makes Idaho, Idaho with Monica Church
Monica Church is a District 19 Representative, school teacher, and ferociously Idahoan. She has a very clear perspective on what makes Idaho, Idaho, and her articulation about what Idaho was and is becoming was something I had never heard so clearly before. I greatly appreciated her time and energy and am confident this is the first of many. Enjoy!
The Best Schools in Idaho with Dr. Derek Bub
Dr. Derek Bub is the superintendent for West Ada School District, the best public school district in the state of Idaho and one of the best in the country. The district is not just academically successful, but it also has culturally conservative policies in place, like banning all flags other than US and Idaho flags, removing inappropriate books from libraries, and prohibiting political speech in classrooms. Idaho is working feverishly to figure out what the structure of their publicly funded school should be, and West Ada is an extremely good example of academic and cultural proficiency. Enjoy!
Repealing A Grocery Tax No One Likes with David Leavitt
David Leavitt is a District 25 Representative fighting to repeal the grocery tax. This particular tax in Idaho is not popular among the populace and many attempts have been made to repeal it with no success. The state does offer a grocery tax rebate that you can file to recoup some of your tax burden, but that naturally begs the question, why have a tax in the first place if I can file to get it back? Enjoy!
Financing The State of Idaho with Janie Ward-Engelking
Janie Ward-Engelking is a District 18 Senator who has been on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for years. JFAC is responsible for establishing a revenue estimate and then dolling out said revenue. This is a crucial piece of the entire legislative process as the legislative session cannot conclude until Idaho has a budget. Enjoy!
Living With Idaho's APEX Predators
Brody Harshbarger is one of seven Idaho Fish & Game commissioners directly appointed by the Governor, a rancher, and a wildlife enthusiast. He also has grizzly bears walking around his yard where his children play. Much conversation has been had regarding ranchers on public lands and what that relationship should be with wild predators, but very little is being said for individuals who are engaging in their everyday lives that have to contend with our apex predators on a daily basis. His perspective and experiences were quite informative. Enjoy!
Funding Idaho's Rural Schools with Soñia Galaviz
Soñia Galaviz is a District 16 Representative, a teacher, and a champion for addressing the problems with our rural school funding system. Funding for public schools in Idaho has a lot of pieces, including gross property value of the area, attendance in schools, and community willingness to fund said schools. This comes into conflict frequently with the constitutional obligation to provide a free public education to all Idaho children who want it as our rural schools have difficulty with tax bases and community capacity to self fund. Rep. Galaviz is working to address this problem. Enjoy!
Unraveling The Idaho Education System with Dr. Julie Yamamoto
Dr. Julie Yamamoto is a former Idaho State representative and chair of the house education committee, and is also currently on the board of several charter schools. She is a member of the group Idaho Children Are Primary and has insights into the difficulty with educating large populations of people and what we can do to improve our system. Enjoy!
Employment and Marriage Law in Idaho with Bill Mitchell
Bill Mitchell is an attorney and advocate for equal rights in Idaho. He graciously came in to explain a large confusion most people have regarding employment law. Idaho is a right to work state as well as an At Will state, but even with these two designations, you cannot fire people for a protected reason, like their race or gender. You can, however, fire them because they are gay. Although title VII does provide protection on a federal level, it does not apply to organizations under a certain employee threshold. We also spoke about the vote that just passed the house to tell the SCOTUS to revisit its 2015 decision to legalize gay marriage. These are heavy topics but important to understand.
Re-Inventing Public Schools and Preserving Idaho for Idahoans with David Lent
David Lent a District 33 Senator and recently waded into the School Choice discussion. Many people have criticized School Choice bills for having little or no accountability from the state on private schools that get state funding. Senator Lent has proposed a version of this but also indicated that if we are going to offer private schools funds with no strings attached, then we should do the same for public schools while still observing Federal Requirements. He also educated me on the movement to preserve or at least offer preference to Idaho residents within the Parks and Rec world. Idaho is the worst kept secret in the nation and its beautiful state parks and attractions have been flooded with out of state visitors in recent years. This pushes out families and traditions in Idaho, but the Idaho state government is working to fix that. Enjoy!
The State of Policing in Idaho with Tracy Basterrechea
Tracy Basterrechea is the Chief of Police in Meridian, Idaho. He has been in public service for several decades and is a champion for continuous officer training. He and the Chief of Police Association are also advocating for a revision in the law regarding searches of felons in the absence of a parole officer. Enjoy!
Fixing Housing in Idaho with Alison Rabe
Alison Rabe is a District 16 Senator and passionate about addressing the housing crisis in Idaho. Idaho prices have skyrocketed in recent years, but rents have also jumped up as well making Idaho and specifically the Treasure Valley one of the most unaffordable housing markets in the nation. Senator Rabe has several ideas about addressing this issue, and rent control is NOT one of them. Enjoy!
Medicinal Marijuana in Idaho with Jeremy Kitzhaber
Jeremy Kitzhaber is a vet, cancer survivor, and advocate for medicinal marijuana in Idaho. In his extensive medical procedures, he has found marijuana to be the best assistance for things related to diet and weight gain. He also believes there are ways we can regulate it to minimize cross over problems with underage and non-medical use. Idaho as a state has been staunchly against any legalization of the plant, even as almost all surrounding states have liberalized their views of it. Enjoy!
The Health and Welfare of Idaho with Megan Egbert
Megan Egbert is a District 17 Representative and sits on the Health and Welfare Committee. The difficulties with staffing rural hospitals and providing adequate medical specialists for the citizens of Idaho are profound. We fundamentally do not have enough education options to grow our own professionals within the state, and attracting them from other parts of the country is exceedingly difficult when considering the wage structure and other compensating factors. Taking care of the health of all Idahoans is not a partisan issue, and I greatly appreciated hearing Megan’s perspective. Enjoy!
Grocery Tax, School Choice, Immigrant Labor, and Economics with Ron Nate
Ron Nate is the President of Idaho Freedom Foundation. In this conversation, we spoke extensively about the Grocery Tax, School Choice, Foreign labor, the fundamental drivers of economics, and more. He always provides an exciting conversation for sure. Enjoy!
Preserving Property Insurance for Idahoans with Dean Cameron
Dean Cameron is the Director of Insurance in the state of Idaho. Property insurance and access to such is a huge concern in this age of wildfires, and nationally we can see heartbreaking examples of states and insurance companies at odds, which ultimately results in losses for individual citizens. Idaho is working extremely hard to make sure that insurance companies have good reason to voluntarily engage in business in this beautiful state. There is currently legislation to assist in addressing some of the more common concerns and roadblocks that would otherwise dissuade insurance companies. Director Cameron did a fantastic job of explaining how Idaho’s government is again standing up for and supporting its citizens. Enjoy!
The Idaho Dairy Catch-22 with Rick Naerebout
Rick Naerebout is the Director of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. The Dairy Industry nationally has been in a horrible bind since 1986, which was the last time there was a meaningful reform made to unauthorized workers in the United States. Because dairy is an agricultural industry, BUT it requires year round labor, the only real mechanism to get a foreign employment base is to have those individuals apply for green cards, which is a 20 year waiting list. The standard H2A visa program is intended more for seasonal Ag employment, and dairy cows make milk no matter the season. This was an incredibly enlightening conversation. Enjoy!
Grocery Tax, Flags, Energy, & More with Lauren Necochea
Lauren Necochea is the head of the Democratic Party in the state of Idaho. This is her second visit in the legislative session, and we talked extensively about different tax issues, flags in public schools, energy production, and more. Enjoy!
Defending The Citizens' Initiative in Idaho with Luke Mayville
Luke Mayville is a northern Idaho native and has been at the center of three recent citizen lead initiatives: Medicaid Expansion, School Funding, and last year’s Prop 1. He came in to speak about his experience with the initiative process as well as why he feels that increasing the voter threshold from a simple majority to pass to 60% voter approval to pass is a mistake. Voter initiatives have a rich history in Idaho, and as we saw in the cases of Prop 1 (which lost conclusively) and Medicaid Expansion (which won conclusively), these initiatives do function to reflect the direct will of the people. Enjoy!
The Birth of Idaho's Rangeland Fire Protection Associations with Charlie Lyons
Charlie Lyons is a multi-decade Idaho rancher who found himself at odds with BLM over fire management for almost two decades. In a heart breaking and awe inspiring story, Charlie told me about being at odds with government agencies and what it took to find a way to both work with the establishment and also be an instrumental part of protecting his property and other Idaho ranchers’ properties. I find his story to be so uniquely Idahoan, centering on citizen led solutions to enormous problems, and in true Idaho fashion, because there wasn’t a solution, Charlie created one. This was beautiful. Enjoy!
The House Education Committee Chairman - Doug Pickett
Doug Pickett is a District 27 Representative and sits as Chairman of the House Education Committee. He was formerly on the Revenue and Tax Committee and does not have a background with the Ed Committee. We spoke at length about what he sees in education, what Idaho does with tax dollars, what he sees as the value of small rural schools vs larger, urban schools, and more. Enjoy!
Fighting for School Choice in Idaho with Sen. Lori Den Hartog
Lori Den Hartog is the District 22 Senator in Idaho and is bringing the first School Choice Bill of the 2025 Legislative session forward this coming week. This is structured as a refundable tax credit and would be available to anyone who educates their children outside of the public school setting. There are a lot of details involved, and Lori and I spoke about many, including what accountability actually means with this system. As most people are extremely anxious to see and understand the bill, she offered a ton of details and graciously agreed to come back on as soon as the bill drops to talk about it. Enjoy!
The Bolter-Stall Bill and Capital Punishment with Rob Gillis
Rob Gillis is a law enforcement advocate and president of the organization Idaho Tough on Crime. He works with many legislators advocating for bills and revisions in law to support law enforcement, and we spoke specifically in this interview about enhanced sentencing for a criminal who murders a police officer with the Bolter-Stall Bill as well as a bill that would deliver the possibility of capital punishment for a child predator. This was a sobering conversation but an important one, too.
Kids and Crime in the Treasure Valley with Senator Codi Galloway
Codi Galloway is the District 15 Senator in Idaho and served one term in the same district as a representative from 2020-2022. She has a background in education and business and deeply cares about children, both on an education front as well as prosperity front. There is an increasing population of homeless individuals and children and increasing cost of living in Idaho and especially the Treasure Valley, and Senator Galloway is focused on finding ways the government can help the community thrive without intervening with the big hand of government. Enjoy!
License Plate Readers in Idaho with Mike Miraglia
Mike Miraglia is a former Boise PD detective and the current legislative chairman for the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police. We spoke extensively about the utility and value of license plate readers in detective and police work. The value spans immediate use for things like bank robberies or in the pursuit of the would-be assassin on the golf course that targeted our president elect as well as longer term uses as in murder investigations and missing person cases. Mike explained what the LPRs do, and more importantly, what they DON’T do. Enjoy!
Gov. Little's Budget: Labor and Law Enforcement with Lori Wolff
Lori Wolff is the Administrator of Division of Financial Management for Gov. Little's office, which means she is intimately aware of what is in Gov. Little's proposed budget. There are pages of key points of the budget, but we spoke specifically today about the Labor market (a topic where Idaho leads the nation in many places) and about Law Enforcement. This was definitely the first of many conversations to unpack everything the Governor is asking for from us, the citizens. Enjoy!
Human Rights in Idaho with Senator Melissa Wintrow
Melissa Wintrow is the District 19 Senator for and has been in the legislature for 10 years. She came in to speak about human rights issues in Idaho as they pertain to same sex marriage and discrimination based on sexual preference. This was an eye opener for me for many reasons, but specifically I did not know that it is 100% legal in the state of Idaho to fire someone from a job or evict them from a home based solely on the fact that the employee or tenant is a homosexual. This was very informative, to say the least.
Long Term Planning in Idaho with Steve Berch
Steve Berch is the first democratic representative for District 15. He has historically sat on many committees, and when he came in we spoke extensively about taxation and school funding. He brought up considerations that I had never heard expressed about Idaho, like questioning the plan of borrowing to fund schools while cutting spending at the same time. Enjoy!
$30 Million for Idaho Water with Jeff Raybould
Jeff Raybould is the chairman of the Idaho Water Board, an eight member board directly appointed by the Governor. In the Governor’s there is a new, $30 million annual allotment to invest in our water resource. This includes things like recharge sites for our aquifers, more research on water quality, and research on addressing issues like Moscow’s failing aquifer and Mountain Home’s water scarcity. The water in this state is the lifeblood of not just our economy but also of our growth. Jeff does a great job explaining what the $30 million will go towards and why it’s necessary. Enjoy!
Idaho's Democratic Party with Lauren Necochea
Lauren Necochea is a former legislator and head of the Democratic Party in Idaho. She came to speak with me about the democrat priorities for the session, and as we discussed property tax, we both realized we barely scratched the surface of what makes the party similar and unique. We’re already lined up for a second show at the end of the month. Enjoy!
Vouchers, School Safety, and Tech in Schools with Chris Mathias
Chris Mathias is the District 19 Representative. He is working to shore up problems with public school safety, but on the prevention and response sides, as well as working towards tech safety in schools. We spoke about these issues as well as the concept that is gaining steam with funding private schools with public money as an alternative to public schools. If you’re watching education issues this legislative session, this one's for you!
Parents, Teachers, and the 2025 Legislative Session with Alexis Morgan
Alexis Morgan is the Idaho State PTA President. She is also a month of four with students currently in Idaho’s public schools. Education in the state has become a hot topic for many reasons, but none as large as looming as the conflict between those who want to improve the quality and funding of our existing schools and those who want to provide alternate, non-government run schools with public dollars to educate our children. We spoke on this and several other issues that are things to look out for in this session. Enjoy!