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News

We are asking for your help!

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 […]

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Bob's Words

Should You Trust What Your Government Tells You?

This is the most important a citizen can ask, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a comforting one. The answer is: no, you should not extend unconditional trust to either your federal or Idaho state government but the more useful question is not whether to trust, but how to verify. The Numbers Tell […]

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News

2026 Idaho Freedom Index

The Idaho Freedom Index is a product of the Idaho Freedom Foundation. Full details and scores are available at index.idahofreedom.org Request a full digital or physical copy at idahofreedom.org/26index Dist. Chamber Name Freedom Index Spending Index Overall Score 1 Senate James Woodward (R) 45.1% / F 9.4% / F 27.2% / F 1 House, Seat A Mark Sauter […]

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Podcast

PODCAST: Idaho Teacher Pay, Flock Cameras, and 2026 Primary Elections

Bob Neugebauer welcomes Ron Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, to discuss teacher pay, surveillance technology, Republican Party integrity, and the upcoming 2026 primary elections. With Election Day one week away, the conversation turns to several issues that return to a central question: whether Idaho voters will hold candidates accountable to conservative principles or […]

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Opinions

Fulcher OP-ED: Geothermal, The Energy Powerhouse Idaho Already Understands

Geothermal has the potential to be an energy powerhouse for America. This abundant, clean natural resource rests right beneath our feet, largely untapped across the nation, but not in Idaho. Today, Boise is home to the largest municipally operated geothermal system in the country. This innovative network warms buildings across the area, including City Hall, […]

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Opinions

Fulcher Votes to Reauthorize Veterans’ Programs and Support Servicemembers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2026CONTACT: Christianne.Allen@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01) released the following statement after voting to advance H.R. 8469, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2027 (MilCon-VA). “Having the backs of those who serve—and those who have served—our nation must always remain a national priority,” said Congressman […]

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Opinions

Fifth Industrial Revolution

Much ado has been written about the World Economic Forum (WEF), and now ousted Klaus Schwab’s Great Reset, and its radical Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Covid-19 was the catalyst used to justify the initiation of 4IR that “represents a fundamental change in the way we live, work and relate to one another.” The focus was […]

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Opinions

AG Labrador Meets with U.S. Attorney General, FBI Director at White House for National Police Week

BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to participate in a National Police Week roundtable at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building alongside Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel. The roundtable brought together attorneys general and law enforcement leaders from across the country to discuss public safety […]

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Opinions

Op-Ed: It’s Time to Vote

Voting is one of the most important privileges citizens have in our republican system, but it’s not enough to cast your ballot in the General Election. Here in Idaho, whoever wins in May almost always wins in November. Next Tuesday is your opportunity to have a say in the direction of our society, and I […]

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John Livingston

Misplaced Compassion

I recently read a Substack article by Dutch Rojas titled, ”The Language of Compassion Is Doing the Work.” The title is close to the truth—but not quite. My concern is not with the logic of his argument, which is largely sound, but with the linguistic distortion that underlies many progressive approaches to modern social problems. Compassion, properly […]

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John Livingston

The Stakes Are High

American politics has drifted into theater, and the reporting of news has followed close behind. What once aimed at informing the public now often entertains it. In that environment, celebrity-seeking politicians’ demagogue for attention, trading reasoned argument for applause lines, while intuition and virtue signaling increasingly substitute for disciplined thought. A recent interview between Representative […]

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Bob's Words

Is Idaho Still the “Reddest of the Red States”?

By the Numbers, Yes. Using raw partisan metrics, Idaho remains one of the most Republican states in America. It ranks as the 5th most Republican state with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+18. Trump won Idaho with 63.8% in 2020. Republicans have held a trifecta (Governor, House, Senate) for 31 consecutive years. The last […]

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Opinions

Labrador Letter: Cracking Down on Illegal HOA Fees

Dear Friends, My office recently reached settlements with two Idaho homeowners’ associations and an HOA management company after receiving complaints that homeowners were charged transfer fees that were never disclosed in their governing documents, in violation of the Idaho Homeowners Association Act and the Idaho Consumer Protection Act. Idaho law requires HOAs to explicitly disclose […]

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