I am proud to officially unveil the new platform I have been working on this past month. It has been amazing to see so many people come to see this Substack as a trusted source of information and analysis without the hyperbole and emotion that often accompanies political writing. After talking with some trusted friends I came to the conclusion that I needed something beyond Substack to really take things to the next level.
Before you worry, this Substack is not going anywhere. In fact, I hope that the new platform will drive even more traffic and engagement here. Substack will remain the home of most of my content, the subscription engine for my platform, and a place where paid subscribers will continue to receive early and exclusive access to articles, videos, and podcasts.
The new face of this platform is the Gem State Chronicle, bringing you news and analysis that empowers you to make positive change in Idaho. In addition to the regular content you are familiar with from Substack, the Chronicle will also be a place for guest articles and essays, news snippets that aren’t enough for a full Substack post, as well as the Session Snapshot, a continually updated page showing the status of the most important bills in the Legislature.
I am particularly excited about the latter item. I plan to be at the Capitol every day during the session and will use the Session Snapshot as a way to keep you updated about bills that will affect us and our families. I will post regular alerts on the Chronicle throughout each day and then a daily or weekly wrap-up on Substack depending on how much happens.
I am still working on the merch store, but once that is done you’ll be able to buy Gem State Chronicle swag straight from the website. I hope to have that ready for prime time soon. If you know of good local sources for things like clothing or stickers, let me know!
I also look forward to posting a few unobtrusive ads from local businesses — get in touch with me if you would like to advertise your business!
I have created a list of resources and outlets on the website as well. The Resources tab has links to the 2024 legislative website, the Sunshine report, Email Idaho, the Freedom Index, and several organizations that do good work in conservative politics. The Outlets tab links to other websites that bring you news and information from a conservative or objective perspective.
I am currently reposting guest editorials from Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon and KCRCC Chairman Brent Regan in addition to press releases from Attorney General Raúl Labrador. Drop me a line if you’re interested in submitting a guest editorial.
Gem State Chronicle will have a presence on Facebook as well as a Telegram channel, so make sure to like and subscribe if you are on those platforms. At this point I intend to keep using my personal Twitter account to repost content there.
The theme I used for the website has a built-in mode switcher, so click the crescent moon there and flip to dark mode. Click it again to switch back. It’s fun!
I am really excited to have this outlet ready for the legislative session that starts on Monday. I hope the Chronicle will fill a niche with regards to the information that powers Idaho’s conservative movement, working in concert with the other great organizations and platforms that are already on the front lines.
Thank you again for your support these past two years. I truly believe the best is yet to come, and I hope to see you all at the Gem State Chronicle. Make sure to subscribe on Substack to keep receiving daily posts in your email.
About Brian Almon
Brian Almon is the Editor of the Gem State Chronicle. He also serves as Chairman of the District 14 Republican Party and is a trustee of the Eagle Public Library Board. He lives with his wife and five children in Eagle.