The Gem State Brief

Curated by Locus Lectorum

January 15, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

✍️ By Our Members

GSB Episode 2 -- Brian Almon

"GSB Episode 2 -- Brian Almon" — In this episode, Caleb and Brian discuss local Idaho politics, the upcoming legislative session, the influence citizens can have on their local representatives, and the impact outside money has on Idaho policies. (GSB Staff)

Governor Little emphasizes state budget in 2026 State of the State Address

State Capitol | January 12 | Idaho Capital Sun

Governor Little's State of the State address covered a wide range of topics, noting Idaho's close cooperation with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement and American manufacturing. Closer to home, Little focused heavily on his plan to allow for a balanced state budget despite lowered state incomes, while emphasizing that education and affordability for Idahoans will not be affected.

Supreme Court hears argument regarding transgender athlete ban

Washington DC | January 13 | Idaho Capital Sun

Idaho's Solicitor General, Alan Hurst, argued before the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday asking that the court uphold the Idaho law banning transgender participation in sports. Multiple states have joined in supporting Idaho and West Virginia as the Supreme Court is considering two cases, one from each state, regarding if a ban on transgender athletes violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

This story is the latest in a series, view the full thread here → 🧵


Protestors gather prior to Idaho Legislative session

State Capitol | January 11 | Idaho Press

Around 1000 protestors gathered outside the statehouse on Sunday prior to the opening of the 2026 Idaho legislative session this week. Many people said they were gathering in support of Renee Good, the Minnesota woman killed by ICE agents last week, while others urged the passage of "inclusive legislation".

This story is the latest in a series, view the full thread here → 🧵


Idaho law preventing transgender birth certificate amendments reinstated

State Capitol | January 9 | Idaho Capital Sun

A 2018 ban on the Idaho law that forbids transgender people from changing their birth certificate sex has been lifted by a federal judge. The judge cited the fact that the two plaintiffs in the original case were not being adversely affected by the law as the reason for lifting the ban. Because the ban was lifted primarily based on a technicality rather than a new ruling, it is possible new legal action will be taken against the state's law.

New co-chair of JFAC criticizes Governor Little's budget

State Capitol | January 13 | X

Josh Tanner, the co-chair of the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee, released a statement this week stating the governor's budget used "gimmicks to make the numbers work". While the governor recommends a budget each year, JFAC and the Legislature have final budgeting authority. Tanner's statement included a commitment to create a "true balanced budget".

Highlights & Insights

"The Budget Battle Begins" - Recent GSB Podcast guest Brian Almon breaks down Governor Little's proposed budget plan and some of the critiques leveled at it from various viewpoints.

🏛️ Apologetics Fact

One of the strongest evidences of the faithful copying of the New Testament is the diversity of locations where ancient manuscripts are found. Archeologists have discovered manuscripts all across Asia and North Africa dating back to the earliest centuries AD. Not only does this provide strong evidence for the spread of the gospel, it also shows it would be immensely difficult for a single person or even group of people to control or change the reproduction of the texts after they were written. The geographical separation would have made any such effort infeasible.

🗣️ Quote

"The retaliation is apt to be in monstrous disproportion to the supposed offense; for when in anybody was revenge in its exactions aught else but an inordinate usurer?" — Herman Melville

🏅 Person: Jean Parisot de Valette (1495-1568)

Jean Valette was a French nobleman who joined the order of the Knights Hospitaller in 1514 at the age of around 20. He rose through the ranks of the Order distinguished for his valor and piety, and was eventually elected Grandmaster in 1557. His greatest achievement of note was the defense of Malta in 1565. At the age of 70, with a mere 600 knights and roughly 2,000 other soldiers, de Valette held the Order's forts on the island against roughly 40,000 Ottoman Turks. He led the defense of the forts from the front and multiple times was noted for his ability to hold together the wavering soldiers and townspeople with his inspiring speech. When the siege was finally lifted after 4 months, only around 100 of the Order's soldiers were still able to man their posts on the walls, including de Valette, compared to the Ottoman losses of at least 25,000 men.

📕 Book: The Two Swords of Christ

Raymond Ibrahim's newest book details the history of the often misunderstood and forgotten military orders of the Crusades, the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaler. From their humble beginnings as refuges and protectors for weary pilgrims, to the eventual naval power of the Hospital that restrained Ottoman expansion into Europe for decades on end, Ibrahim excels at telling the stories of real knights whose exploits outshine any fictional character, while still digging deeply into primary historical sources in order to uncover what motivated these men.

Non-AI Generation Disclaimer: All elements of the Gem State Brief (headlines, summaries, highlights, insights, original articles/videos, etc.) are produced exclusively by members of the Locus Lectorum book club (learn about each member here), not AI. This is news by humans for humans.