Year In Review
What an incredible year it was
On January 7th, 2022, I published my very first post on the Gem State Substack. I shared it on Facebook and Twitter and was gratified that a handful people were willing to subscribe. Today, I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from readers like you.
In February I attended the Ada County Republicans dinner with Michelle Malkin. It was neat to meet Malkin in person, as she was one of the first conservative columnists I ever read more than twenty years ago. I wrote a piece sharing the vision she gave us that night:
By the end of February I was hitting my stride. I was maintaining a three-posts-per-week schedule and taking any opportunity to meet political candidates and figures. In March I wrote what would turn out to be a much more consequential piece than I could have predicted at the time. I lamented how the library, the crown jewel of Western Civilization, had fallen to progressive activists, and I urged Christians and conservatives to get involved:
In April I fired my first major broadside against the political establishment, especially those who join with the left in attacking conservatives who they claim are extreme:
In May we went to the polls to vote to conclude what had become a long and grueling Republican primary. I went out on many limbs with my endorsements, which sometimes came down to metaphorical coin flips between two great candidates. After the dust had settled I looked at the results to see what lessons we could learn for next time:
In June I began a series of posts explaining the Great Reset and how the globalist left is using CRT, Queer Theory, DEI, ESG, and SEL to radically transform our society. I shared the story of Helena Kirschner, a young woman who fell victim to the transgender propaganda that is harming thousands of young people today, but came back from the brink. (Another detransitioned girl, Chloe Cole, will be at Capitol Clarity on February 2nd to share her own story!)
In July I had the privilege of serving as an Ada County delegate to the Idaho GOP State Convention in Twin Falls. I took part in debate in the Resolutions Committee and then joined with hundreds of delegates from across Idaho to elect Dorothy Moon as our new state chair:
In August I reflected on a conversation I had with Ada County Commissioner candidate Tom Dayley, who would go on to win election in November. He lamented that conservatives allowed their distaste for government to drive them away from getting involved exactly where they are needed the most:
September was a busy time! After writing a piece for the Idaho Freedom Foundation about taxpayer money supporting Boise Pride Fest, I decided to attend myself to see first hand what was going on. Beneath the gaudy outfits and bright colors I saw a lot of pain, hurt, and damage, and it profoundly affected my perspective on how to debate this issue:
In October, with the general election just a few weeks away, I took a serious look at independent gubernatorial candidate Ammon Bundy. I concluded that he represented a similar sort of wild card as did Donald Trump in 2016. While Bundy would go on to lose the election, the fact that over a hundred thousand people voted for him should be a wake-up call to the Republican Party:
In November I joined the What’s Happening Network with my own video podcast What’s Happening Gem State. I released seven weekly episodes before taking a break for Christmastime and I am looking forward to returning to the studio soon.
Finally, in December I analyzed what seemed to be a random meeting of the Idaho GOP Judicial Committee and looked at how it represented an ongoing conflict within the party over principles, strategy, and tactics. People on both sides of the issue complimented the way it was written, and it became the most-read piece of the year:
I concluded my debut post in January with a mission statement:
I intend to use this newsletter to share my thoughts on what is happening in Idaho and in our country. I want to help you be informed, to know what is going on, and to understand the historical context. I want to encourage and motivate you to get involved at the local level, to build a movement that is capable of saving our state and our country. I invite you to join me on this journey as we struggle to preserve the Gem State for our own posterity.
I believe that I have upheld that mission this year, and because of that I have seen doors open I never thought possible. I have had the opportunity to meet political leaders and activists from across the state, to help shape the discussion of important issues, and to gain a deeper understanding of the political process in Idaho. I have been overwhelmed by your support, as you subscribe, share, and even give your hard earned money to support this endeavor. Thank you so much!
I would like to wish you all a very happy New Year. In 2023, may God grant you and your families peace and prosperity in the midst of a turbulent world. Here at Gem State Substack, we are just getting started. Next month I will bring you news from the 2023 legislative session, and I will continue to analyze the issues that affect our communities, our state, and our country. My mission remains to help keep Idaho the freest, safest, and most prosperous state in the nation.
In the words of the late great Rush Limbaugh, we’ve only just begun!
Thank you for providing this look back, Brian! I missed a few of the early columns, but it's clear you are forging a path of dedication to truth, careful analysis of the issues, and excellence in communicating that analysis. You are going places, literally and figuratively.
I hope you will gather more like-minded people into becoming active for conservative voices. I'll try to help you spread the word, as I hope all your readers will do.
I wish you and your family a great 2023 and look forward to your upcoming posts.