Dear Friends: We at the Gem State Patriot are a not-for-profit service for the people of Idaho. We have been serving Idahoans for nine years and we seldom, if ever, ask for donations. Unfortunately, like so many other conservative organizations, we suffer from time to time from a lack of recognition of the services we […]
There is a phrase from the Bible, specifically John 8:7, where Jesus tells those ready to stone a woman caught in adultery that the one without sin should throw the first stone. I was baptized both Lutheran and Catholic and have studied both religions and their histories. With all due respect, Pope Leo seems to […]
Bob Neugebauer welcomes Ron Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, to break down the newly released 2026 Idaho Freedom Index — the annual scorecard rating every legislator and the governor based on how they actually voted, not what they promised. With the legislature adjourned, the full session’s votes have been compiled against 430 rated […]
Letter From the President of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, Ronald Nate IdahoFreedom/org/26index Welcome to the 2026 Idaho Freedom Index! In its 14th year, the Idaho Freedom Index remains the most comprehensive and powerful indicator of how our legislators’ votes reflect the principles of restoring liberty, protecting rights, limiting government, reducing taxes, and honoring the Constitution. […]
Blackfoot, We Have A Problem, Part 1 and 2, explored how local officials violated both state and local codes to push forward a proposed development that current residents oppose, and how Idaho courts have previously upheld that a city can go unpunished for code violations if a citizen is supposedly not harmed by those violations. […]
“Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember—the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” Zig Ziglar Critics of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) claim that efforts to vet candidates, make recommendations, and uphold the principles in the Republican Party Platform are destructive to the party […]
Open the newspaper or turn on the evening news and you’ll see members of the other party complaining about what Idaho’s Republican majority is doing. They insist that if they were in charge—rather than Republicans holding a supermajority in the Legislature—things would be different. But it’s worth taking the time to evaluate ideology by its […]
Dear Friends, Across the country, corrections officers are watching drones fly over prison facilities carrying drugs, weapons, and cell phones directly to inmates. They can see it happening. Under current federal law, they often cannot legally stop it. In March, I joined 20 other attorneys general in a letter to Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Senior Director […]
When experts speak, they seldom preface their assertions with the words, “This is my opinion.” In every sphere of life, experts disagree—scientists, lawyers, theologians, generals, and even Popes. Yet we often treat their statements as if they were final, unquestionable truths. In my own life there have been three places where adding the phrase “in […]
Bob Neugebauer and Dylan Stocker take a hard look at Idaho’s 2025 legislative session on The Idaho Pulse, examining how the governor’s post-adjournment veto power undermines bills that passed with strong legislative support. They break down the procedural mechanics — from the constitutional 10-day veto window to Senate committee structures — that give a small […]
How Could It Change America This is a critically important question that touches on the long-term future of our country. Here’s what the data currently shows, drawing from U.S. Census Bureau projections, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), and Pew Research data. The Current Birthrate Numbers: The Center for Immigration Studies estimated 225,000–250,000 annual births […]
In Blackfoot, We Have A Problem Part 1, a general introduction was given about a development issue in Blackfoot. Details in the article focused on the potential development’s density, state statute violations, Comprehensive Plan (CP), overburdened water and sewer system, and the Blackfoot Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) not addressing any of those issues in an accountable way. […]
Can you believe the 2026 legislative session is already over? It feels like it just got started. Time flies, but a lot happened in those three months. By my count, lawmakers considered more than 800 bills, resolutions, and memorials dealing with a wide range of issues, including water, property rights, education, protecting children, occupational licensing, […]