Sunday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. 84 years ago today, Japan attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing more than 2,400 sailors, soldiers, Marines, and civilians, and bringing the United States into the Second World War.
The American people would quickly mobilize to, as President Franklin Roosevelt declared the next day, achieve absolute victory through their righteous might. Our nation, and the world, was never the same. Yet those momentous world-altering events should never overshadow the individuals who lost their lives that day, and the families who carried on without them.
Never forget.
As you know, the Gem State Chronicle is reader supported:
- Paid subscribers via Substack get bonus notes with some articles, giving me an opportunity to share behind-the-scenes thoughts with supporters, as well as early access to podcasts.
- Do you have a small business you want to advertise? I’ll put your ad on the top of the Chronicle homepage, on the article sidebar, and will shout it out on any podcasts I release during the sponsorship. I’ll also write an article on behalf of sponsors, whether about a particular issue or just sharing their story. Send me a message and we’ll get it done. Take the time to visit my regular sponsors, Lynn Bradescu’s Keller Williams Realty and Money Metals, as well as our latest sponsor New Saint Andrews College. I appreciate the support!
- I’ve relaunched the Merch Store with a couple of new branded items. Let me know if you have any ideas for items you’d like to see made available.
- Make sure you’ve bookmarked Idaho Insider, your one stop shop for everything you need to know about your elected officials.
The past week at the Chronicle…
Did you catch the Gem State Report? I brought my Friday night live show back as we get closer to the 2026 legislative session. Last week I spoke with Rep. Jeff Ehlers about the work of the DOGE Task Force, Sen. Scott Grow about the budget, and Ryan Spoon about why he got free beer from Old State Saloon:
On Monday, I wrote about the political machine that kicked into gear to ensure that Lisa Burtenshaw won the Idaho Falls mayoral runoff.
On Wednesday, I looked back at that election, as well as the special election in Tennessee, to see what Republicans need to learn.
On Friday, I explained why I do what I do—trying to bring focus to the signal amidst the noise.
I also published regular columnist Savanna DeHay’s guide to getting over the flu. Being politically engaged is that much harder when you’re sick!
I also published op-eds and newsletters by Sen. Jim Risch, Idaho GOP chair Dorothy Moon, KCRCC chair Brent Regan, Tim Oren, Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, and Congressman Mike Simpson.
Make sure also to check out the numerous press releases issued by political figures throughout Idaho.
Whether we agree or disagree with our elected officials and influential political figures, I think it’s important to hear what they have to say. The Gem State Chronicle is a resource for as much information as possible to help you be more effective and engaged.
If you would like Gem State Chronicle to publish your work, please submit it to [email protected]. We are pleased to provide an outlet for a wide variety of figures in the world of Idaho politics to share their own messages.
In other news…
Substack:
- Sen. Brian Lenney continued his crusade against voter affidavits in place of showing ID at the polls.
- Wayne Hoffman said that think tanks need to be stronger in calling out the failures of the public school system.
- Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld shined a light on how urban renewal districts shift your property tax dollars.
- Author Aaron Renn explained why he believes abolishing property taxes is a bad idea.
- Gem State Chronicle sponsor Money Metals wrote about why the high price of silver might not be a bubble this time.
- Josiah Lippincott says that a 50-year mortgage is a bad idea.
- Anonymous writer Conundrum Cluster suggests we should bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Videos:
New YouTuber Jake the Lawyer explains the decisions behind Ford’s reaction to the way in which their Pinto cars tended to explode:
One of my favorite new follows, author Hilary Layne, explains how concepts from fanfiction have infected literature today:
Rufo and Lomez returned for a dive into the Somali fraud scandal, in which Minnesota taxpayers saw their cash being funneled to terrorist groups in Africa:
John Doyle discussed the targeting of alleged narcoterrorists from Venezuela:
Upcoming events:
Idaho Freedom Foundation will present what it calls a conservative budget plan tomorrow afternoon at the Capitol:
Thank you all for your support as I continue to bring you news and analysis that empowers you to make positive change in Idaho. Make sure to subscribe, follow me on Twitter, and follow the Chronicle on Facebook, Telegram, YouTube, and Rumble. Have a great rest of your weekend!
Gem State Chronicle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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.
