Spare Me the Dishonest Calls for Unity

About a decade ago, legislative leadership launched an effort to bring more civility to Idaho politics. Sen. Brent Hill and others brought in so-called civility experts to lecture political figures on how to conduct themselves in the public arena.

Yours truly received an invitation to a private meeting that included others from the media sphere.

At the time, Twitter (now X) was on the rise, and political conversations were getting rowdier by the day. Leadership was, for some reason, interested in tamping down social media flare-ups.

After sitting through the civility chat, I realized the real message leadership wanted to send: raucous conservatives needed to quiet down, fall in line, and ride for the brand.

They called that “civility.” (Meanwhile, Hill and other leaders routinely used every trick in the book to sideline conservative voices and policies in the Capitol. I distinctly remember Hill sticking a bill to end juicy pension payoffs for lawmakers into a pet committee where he knew it would never receive a hearing. Funny—that wasn’t covered in the seminars. But I digress.)

I was unimpressed by Hill’s efforts.

I’m equally unimpressed by the modern-day version of the same campaign, dressed up in different language but aimed at the same goal.

Recently, Brian Almon went on the attack because I’ve been critical of his work at the Gem State Chronicle. He devoted several paragraphs to me, then turned his sights on John Heida of Stop Idaho RINOs.

A few things stood out in his dishonest hit piece.

First, Almon condemned so-called gatekeeping:

“Because this isn’t about ideology—none of the people coming after me are interested in debating my ideas. It’s about gatekeeping: controlling who gets to be part of the conversation and who gets shut out.”

Then, he closed by urging party unity as leftists prepare to place a radical abortion initiative on the 2026 ballot.

To be sure, I’ve been highly critical of Almon’s recent work. In my opinion, he’s become something of a mouthpiece for the New Establishment, which has led to some less-than-honest takes on Idaho politics and personalities.

His hit piece on me and Heida is a prime example.

I have a reputation. I’m self-aware enough to know I don’t mind sparring on social media. I get that it can be off-putting.

As Greg Pruett explained a few weeks ago, I left X to preserve some peace within the conservative movement and to focus on my day job.

In short, I know what I am.

Yet while Almon calls on me and Heida to stop what he sees as inappropriate and undeserved attacks, he refuses to lay a single glove on the two most vile figures in Idaho politics today: Lauren Walker and Brandy Paradee.

Pruett did an excellent job exposing Walker and Paradee for their disgusting attacks on Sens. Glenneda Zuiderveld and Christy Zito—two lawmakers I deeply respect and admire. I suggest you read his piece.

Walker and Paradee have no boundaries. They harass and attack anyone who dares challenge their political allies, including moderate House Speaker Mike Moyle and his top lieutenant, Rep. Heather Scott. Criticize anyone in the Walker/Paradee camp, and you’ll face a barrage of insults, smears, and personal attacks.

Keep in mind that Paradee went so far as to file a campaign finance complaint against Maria Nate over a tweet Paradee didn’t like. The Secretary of State’s Office quickly dismissed the complaint and cleared Maria.

Talk about gatekeeping, Brian.

Throughout the past month or so, as principled conservatives have pushed back against the moderates’ mudslinging, Walker and Paradee have attacked and smeared the Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action, Idaho Freedom PAC, the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, Stop Idaho RINOs, The Idaho Dispatch, and countless others in the principled conservative camp.

The vitriol has been disgusting.

Yet Almon says nothing.

Actually, that might not be entirely accurate. Instead of holding his tribe accountable for their part in this rift, he’s doubled down on his moral grandstanding:

“Today’s opponent might be tomorrow’s ally, and vice versa. Burning bridges helps no one. Legislators must learn to disagree without holding grudges, or they risk standing alone when it matters most.”

On the surface, that sounds all well and fine—but keep in mind Almon pals around with the two most divisive people on Idaho X and has said nothing about their disgusting attacks on conservative lawmakers and activists.

That’s the problem with his work and the reason I’ve been highly critical of the Gem State Chronicle lately. Almon has clearly picked a side in this ridiculous rift—while pretending he hasn’t.

What’s particularly galling is that Almon knows what I know: conservatives made massive gains in the Magic Valley, electing many of the same lawmakers Walker and Paradee regularly attack. Wouldn’t pushing back on the nonstop vitriol hurled at those lawmakers do more to protect our conservative progress?

Just as Sen. Brent Hill once wielded “civility” to hush conservative dissenters, Almon now invokes “unity” to demand that conservatives who disagree with the new establishment sit down and shut up.

He doesn’t want unity. He wants unilateral disarmament—while his friends continue to lob personal attacks at some of the best conservatives in the Statehouse and the groups that helped make Idaho a conservative stronghold.

Unilateral disarmament is no longer an option.

If Almon and others sincerely desire unity, they ought to seek it from all parties in this factional conflict.

But I suspect the New Establishment, led by Moyle, wants exactly what the old establishment wanted: for conservatives to sit down, shut up, and fall in line.

That’s not going to happen.