COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – When a group of marketing-savvy homeschool kids became young adults, they decided to partner with Turning Point USA “to help revitalize the conservative movement.” The TPUSA North Idaho Activism Hub chapter meets on the last Monday of every month to advance their mission “to help the young patriots of North Idaho get connected and get on the same page.” The 25-year-old chapter president, Lilly Allman said, “We will always have differences, but the list of what unites us is long when you’re an American who actually loves America. We want to prepare ourselves for whatever is coming next, and support each other so that no one is fighting alone.”
At the last gathering, over 20 members participated in a round-table discussion on “how to talk politics with friends and strangers.” Several issues were mentioned as particularly challenging to discuss when their position was in conflict with another person’s viewpoint: the developing child’s right to life, vaccines, the history of America, and in-person voting.
The predominant advice was to be well-educated on the subject matter, don’t use typical talking points, try to understand the other position, stick with personal experiences, try to keep emotions out of it, and don’t behave like you know it all. “We lose people when we try to act like we have all the answers,” stated Allman.
Participants shared scenarios of each challenging issue which led to in-depth analysis and supportive suggestions on how to be effective when the topics come up in the future. Mainly, ease into conversations, find common ground, and operate with defined terms that both parties understand to avoid unnecessary confusion or discord.
When it came to in-person voting, several areas were addressed. First, they discussed how the Idaho Votes In-person campaign is focused on ensuring Idahoans always retain the right to vote in person, not limit or remove alternative voting options. The group discussed how elections in the state of Washington are solely by mail-in ballots, which is rife with fraud, and voters are denied the ability to cast their vote in-person. A study was mentioned in which 20 percent of Washington respondents admitted to voting multiple times since more than one ballot was received in the mail.
Additionally, during a recent election cycle, voters in Washington were required to mark whether they voted Republican or Democratic on the outside of the mailing envelope. One TPUSA member also observed that unsecured ballot drop boxes make it impossible to ensure “chain of custody.”
One young man advocated for able-bodied citizens to vote in-person only, leaving absentee ballots for those with infirmities and service members on deployment. He surmised that the vast majority of absentee ballot voters did it out of convenience, not need, and that it’s an area where Idaho elections are vulnerable to fraud and cheating. A young woman who works in the loan industry commented that many loan documents must be signed in-person only to confirm identity, and that it makes sense to do the same to have true electron integrity.
Many of the young adults expressed frustration that Christian conservatives seem to be sitting on the sidelines while the county slides further into the gutter. A guest, Rep. Tony Wisniewski (R-LD5), stated that Christians are the largest unregistered group, as well as the largest inactive voting block. This surprised the group and led to conversation about apathy and the misconception that Christians should submit to the state’s authority.
Henry Wolsten, the chapter’s 18-year-old vice president, pointed out that the Bible consistently shows how God sent people (prophets) to tell the heads of state (kings) to clean up their acts. He suggested that Christians should get involved in politics because their inaction is making it easier for those who don’t share their values to gain power. “We are commanded to see and confront evil,” Wolsten asserted.
Allman contended that Thomas Paine had to confront these same issues during America’s War for Independence in the 1770s. She referenced Common Sense, a pamphlet authored by Paine in which he appealed to Quakers and other groups to change their viewpoint on the religious and political doctrine of the legitimacy of the monarchy. At that time, many Christian sects held steadfast to the divine rule of kings, even while being upset with how King George III was treating the American colonies.
Discussion also included how to handle America’s sordid history with slavery, especially when chatting with people who have not been presented with a comprehensive education on America’s founding or the condition of human existence prior to the advancement of Western civilization. Wisniewski suggested that a thorough understanding of history shows that slavery is not unique to America’s past and must be viewed and discussed in context with the rest of humanity’s existence.
Bondage (slavery) has been a part of the human experience since documentation of such things has existed and nations throughout history have succumbed to the surge of enslaving others; from the tribes of Israel to the Greeks, the Romans, the Etheopians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Turks, the African tribes, and the Syrians. The group was warned of the fallacies that arise when holding people of previous centuries to the standards of modern day.
There was consensus amongst the group that hot-button issues should be approached in a spirit of kindness, while maintaining fidelity to truth, and to resist the urge to dismiss opposing people. One commenter said that “treating those with opposing views in a poor fashion isn’t likely to encourage them to investigate further or change their perspective.”
The members were very engaged and enjoyed the round-table discussion in which everyone was welcome to present ideas. The group’s current leadership consists of an energetic set of young entrepreneurs. The chapter president, Allman, has interests in politics, comedy, entrepreneurship, reading, sports, and keeping her old lawn-tractor running. She owns a video production agency called Deliberate Video, keeps up on local issues, and is often seen at political functions. Allman runs an Instagram account called “In the Know Idaho,” where she shares what she learns about local issues to make it easier for other people to participate. She stated that her first real experience with activism was supporting a mask-choice lawsuit in 2020.
Vice president Wolsten said he is “known as that guy that said that thing at the Stop Smart Cities town hall meeting.” He is a red-blooded American, born and raised in Idaho, and his interests and hobbies include screenwriting, martial arts, and watching Veggie Tales. He currently runs Spring Chicken Socials, a Social Media Management Company for small businesses in the area.
Lizzy Poling is the group’s treasurer. At 24-years-old, she describes herself as a filmmaker interested in politics, sociology, and fashion. Poling said she is privileged to be able to make money with her interests and hobbies of storytelling, sewing, acting, and photography. Originally from Washington, she began her journey to educate herself on local politics after seeing the effects of the 2020 lockdowns. She and her friends helped create the “In the Know Idaho” social media account.
The group’s secretary is Noah Holston, an 18-year-old homeschooler who “sees where the world is headed and is determined to make a difference.” Holston finds joy as a young entrepreneur, acting for film, being an uncle, watching sunsets, and driving trucks down dirt roads. He currently runs his own videography company in Northern Idaho.
Allman encourages 18- to 28-year-olds to join them at their next gathering on Monday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Axe Force One in Coeur d’Alene. There is no membership required, no cost to attend meetings, and free snacks. Interested parties can reach TPUSA North Idaho Activism Hub at tpusaniah@protonmail.com or through social media at facebook.com/tpusaniah and instagram.com/tpusa_niah.
