WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.180 Welcome back to the Deep Dive. You've stacked 00:00:02.180 --> 00:00:04.040 your sources and now we are here to pull out 00:00:04.040 --> 00:00:05.820 the essential knowledge and insights you need. 00:00:05.980 --> 00:00:08.060 Today we're taking a sharp left turn from the 00:00:08.060 --> 00:00:11.019 coastal hype and heading deep into the interior 00:00:11.019 --> 00:00:14.480 of the American West. We are. Today we are undertaking 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:18.420 a deep dive into a state of, well, intense geographical, 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:22.559 economic, and political contrasts. Idaho. Right. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:24.579 And it's a state that's often lazily summarized 00:00:24.579 --> 00:00:27.629 by its most famous crop, right? The potato. Exactly. 00:00:27.789 --> 00:00:30.390 But our sources reveal a place that's really 00:00:30.390 --> 00:00:33.789 defined by extremes. I mean, from Hell's Canyon, 00:00:34.049 --> 00:00:36.490 which is the deepest gorge in the U .S. Deeper 00:00:36.490 --> 00:00:37.950 than the Grand Canyon, believe it or not. Deeper 00:00:37.950 --> 00:00:39.770 than the Grand Canyon, all the way to a population 00:00:39.770 --> 00:00:42.030 growth rate that is right now one of the fastest 00:00:42.030 --> 00:00:44.450 in the entire nation. OK, let's unpack this. 00:00:44.490 --> 00:00:46.210 We're focusing on Idaho, officially known as 00:00:46.210 --> 00:00:48.869 the Gem State. It was admitted as the 43rd state 00:00:48.869 --> 00:00:53.990 on July 3, 1890. And its motto is Esto Perpetua. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:57.100 Which is Latin for let it be perpetual. Let it 00:00:57.100 --> 00:01:00.560 be perpetual. And given everything we are about 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.299 to discuss, the booms, the contradictions, the 00:01:03.299 --> 00:01:06.420 political volatility, that motto takes on a really 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:08.640 fascinating significance. It absolutely does. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:11.939 We are diving into a comprehensive stack of material 00:01:11.939 --> 00:01:14.920 that covers... Everything. I mean, ancient human 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:18.260 history that overturns textbook timelines, the 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:21.379 massive economic shift from, you know, mining 00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:25.180 and agriculture to high tech and the complex 00:01:25.180 --> 00:01:27.019 political structure that is currently grappling 00:01:27.019 --> 00:01:29.099 with some of the most cutting edge legal issues 00:01:29.099 --> 00:01:31.819 in the country. So our mission here is to provide 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:34.840 you, the listener, with a thorough understanding 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:37.709 of Idaho that, you know. respects its complexity, 00:01:37.769 --> 00:01:40.609 goes far beyond that iconic potato status. To 00:01:40.609 --> 00:01:42.650 start, let's go straight to the first and frankly 00:01:42.650 --> 00:01:45.670 most absurd discovery in our sources. The origin 00:01:45.670 --> 00:01:48.030 of the name Idaho itself. Yes. This is less about 00:01:48.030 --> 00:01:50.519 ancient history and more about, well... A spectacular 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:52.859 piece of political theater and fabrication. It's 00:01:52.859 --> 00:01:55.480 a classic aha moment in American history for 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:58.340 sure. So in the early 1860s, Congress was busy 00:01:58.340 --> 00:02:00.780 organizing territories in the Rockies. And this 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:03.340 man, a guy named George M. Willing, he shows 00:02:03.340 --> 00:02:06.219 up. He's claiming to be an unrecognized delegate 00:02:06.219 --> 00:02:08.879 from this unofficial, self -proclaimed Jefferson 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:12.520 territory. And he suggests the name Idaho. And 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:14.099 he didn't just suggest the name, right? He gave 00:02:14.099 --> 00:02:16.500 it this whole elaborate backstory that sounded 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:19.939 so official. you know, crucially beautiful. Exactly. 00:02:20.259 --> 00:02:23.419 Willing claimed that Idaho was derived from a 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:26.039 Shoshone term. He asserted it meant something 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:28.879 like the sun comes from the mountains or maybe 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.340 gem of the mountains. Which is the perfect pitch. 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:34.460 It's the perfect pitch. It's tailored for a pristine, 00:02:34.539 --> 00:02:37.560 mineral -rich western region. You couldn't write 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:39.479 it better. But here's the central deception, 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:42.539 and it's a big one. It was later conclusively 00:02:42.539 --> 00:02:44.800 revealed that no such Shoshone term actually 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:47.020 existed. Not at all. The name was a complete, 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.639 deliberate fabrication. Willing eventually confessed 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:52.680 that he might have been inspired by meeting a 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:55.039 little girl named Ida. A little girl named Ida? 00:02:55.060 --> 00:02:57.199 I mean, the initial reaction from Congress was, 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:00.400 understandably, deep skepticism. Because the 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:03.539 name appeared fabricated and untrustworthy, they 00:03:03.539 --> 00:03:07.189 just rejected it outright. In February 1861, 00:03:07.430 --> 00:03:09.949 they opted instead to organize the land that 00:03:09.949 --> 00:03:13.550 would have been Idaho as the Colorado Territory. 00:03:13.669 --> 00:03:18.229 So the name was tossed out, deemed a fraud. And 00:03:18.229 --> 00:03:20.650 that really should have been the end of it. It 00:03:20.650 --> 00:03:22.409 should have been. But momentum is a strange force 00:03:22.409 --> 00:03:24.990 in history, isn't it? And the name had already 00:03:24.990 --> 00:03:26.750 started to stick in the public consciousness 00:03:26.750 --> 00:03:29.439 even before it was official. That's right. Before 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:32.180 the official rejection, the town of Idaho Springs, 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:35.159 Colorado, had already been named based on Willing's 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:37.639 initial very high profile proposal. The name 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:39.620 was just out there and it was attached to a place 00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:42.080 people were finding gold. And this is where the 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:44.680 name gets its lifeline. and truly takes root 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:47.500 not through the fabricated Shoshone origin, but 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:51.120 through, of all things, maritime transport. It's 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:54.199 a great irony. So in that same year, 1861, the 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:56.680 name was formalized way out in the western region 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:59.080 of the Washington Territory. A county was established 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:01.800 named Idaho County after a steamship named the 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:04.860 Idaho. This steamship had been launched in 1860 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:06.780 on the Columbia River. It was making regular 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:09.419 runs and was, you know, clearly very popular. 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:12.729 So to summarize that bizarre origin. A hoax leads 00:04:12.729 --> 00:04:15.710 to a town name, which leads to a steamship name. 00:04:15.849 --> 00:04:18.730 And the name just stuck so firmly to the county 00:04:18.730 --> 00:04:20.870 that when Congress carved up the region, they 00:04:20.870 --> 00:04:23.930 decided to ignore their original rejection. Basically, 00:04:24.009 --> 00:04:26.490 yeah. The original Idaho County became the heart 00:04:26.490 --> 00:04:29.370 of the newly established Idaho Territory in 1863. 00:04:29.629 --> 00:04:33.220 It's a perfect bureaucratic ghost story. A politician's 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:36.160 lie became cemented as truth through a combination 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:39.420 of local usage and a popular boat. A profound 00:04:39.420 --> 00:04:42.639 study in accidental etymology. And while the 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:44.860 name's origin is questionable, the human history 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:47.819 of the land itself is anything but. It's profoundly 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:49.959 deep, and it actually challenges our understanding 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:52.439 of how North America was first settled. Okay, 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:54.100 here's where it gets really interesting for those 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:55.480 of you who track the history of the continent. 00:04:56.009 --> 00:04:58.170 We've had evidence of early human activity in 00:04:58.170 --> 00:05:00.870 Idaho for a long time, like artifacts found at 00:05:00.870 --> 00:05:03.569 Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls. Right. And 00:05:03.569 --> 00:05:06.550 those date back 14 ,500 years. Which is already 00:05:06.550 --> 00:05:08.610 pre -Clovis, the traditional benchmark for North 00:05:08.610 --> 00:05:10.870 American settlement. But the truly game -changing 00:05:10.870 --> 00:05:13.670 discovery came much more recently at the Cooper's 00:05:13.670 --> 00:05:16.160 Ferry Site near Cottonwood. Excavations there 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:19.800 in 2019 unearthed artifacts that were conclusively 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:22.879 dated using advanced radiocarbon methods. To 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:27.279 when? To between 15 ,300 and 16 ,600 years ago. 00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:31.879 Wow. So why does that specific date range change 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:34.000 the narrative so much? Why is that such a monumental 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:36.639 finding? Well, because for decades, the accepted 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.000 theory, the one in all the textbooks, was the 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.660 Beringia Land Bridge theory. Right. That theory 00:05:41.660 --> 00:05:43.800 said that people crossed a frozen land bridge 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:46.620 from Asia into North America and then migrated 00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:48.800 south through an ice -free corridor that only 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:52.139 opened up much later. But at 16 ,600 years ago, 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:54.600 that land -based corridor was still solidly blocked 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:56.740 by ice. So if they weren't walking across the 00:05:56.740 --> 00:05:58.740 land bridge, how did they get there? Well, this 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:01.040 finding strongly supports the competing theory. 00:06:01.860 --> 00:06:05.639 The Pacific Coastal Water Route. The people who 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:07.920 first inhabited Cooper's Ferry must have traveled 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:11.579 along the coast, likely using some form of rudimentary 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:14.139 watercraft, and eventually settling south of 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:16.439 the massive ice sheets. And what's fascinating 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.680 here is the physical evidence that connects Idaho 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:23.100 across the ocean. Yes. The tools found at Cooper's 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:25.759 Ferry Bear striking similarities to artifacts 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:28.040 discovered in Japan, some dating back as far 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:31.720 as 16 ,000 to 13 ,000 years ago. Incredible. 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:34.199 The scientific conclusion is that the Columbia 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:36.339 River mouth, which is very accessible to Idaho, 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:39.160 essentially served as the ultimate ancient off 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:41.480 ramp from that coastal migration route. So it 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:43.899 was the first viable interior access point. Exactly. 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:45.980 The first viable path into the continent south 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:48.899 of the ice sheet. Idaho was quite literally one 00:06:48.899 --> 00:06:51.500 of the first deep interior. destinations for 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:53.699 the earliest North Americans. An incredible history 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:56.360 of migration. So moving forward, before permanent 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:58.740 U .S. settlement, we see the established cultures 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:01.339 of the American Indian peoples. Right. The two 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:03.220 predominant groups were the Nez Perce in the 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:05.410 north. And the northern and western Shoshone 00:07:05.410 --> 00:07:07.990 in the south. And when European contact finally 00:07:07.990 --> 00:07:10.769 accelerated, it wasn't initially American, was 00:07:10.769 --> 00:07:12.750 it? It was French -Canadian. Precisely. And they 00:07:12.750 --> 00:07:14.670 left their linguistic mark all over the place. 00:07:14.850 --> 00:07:16.990 I noticed that. French -Canadian trappers and 00:07:16.990 --> 00:07:19.490 traders are responsible for so many of the place 00:07:19.490 --> 00:07:22.490 names that still exist today. Nez Perce. Pierce 00:07:22.490 --> 00:07:25.829 Nose. Coeur d 'Alene. Heart of the All or Sharp 00:07:25.829 --> 00:07:28.829 Heart. And of course, Boise, meaning wooded, 00:07:28.850 --> 00:07:32.790 and Payette. This presence predates the famous 00:07:32.790 --> 00:07:35.829 Lewis and Clark expedition, which itself relied 00:07:35.829 --> 00:07:39.069 heavily on French and Métis guides. Lewis and 00:07:39.069 --> 00:07:42.470 Clark crossed Idaho in 1805 and 1806, generally 00:07:42.470 --> 00:07:45.389 following the Clearwater River system. Our sources 00:07:45.389 --> 00:07:48.129 note that Idaho was one of the last states settled 00:07:48.129 --> 00:07:51.009 by European Americans. Why the delay? Well, it 00:07:51.009 --> 00:07:53.750 was a mix of geography and geopolitics. Idaho 00:07:53.750 --> 00:07:56.269 was part of the huge Oregon country, which was 00:07:56.269 --> 00:07:58.910 subject to a major boundary dispute between the 00:07:58.910 --> 00:08:01.639 U .S. and Great Britain. And that dispute wasn't 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:04.519 resolved until the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:06.680 finally gave the U .S. undisputed jurisdiction. 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:09.660 But even with jurisdiction, I mean, the distance 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:12.980 and the incredibly rugged terrain made it daunting. 00:08:16.189 --> 00:08:18.410 Tentative non -indigenous settlement arrive. 00:08:18.750 --> 00:08:21.629 The first was Cully Spell House in 1809, established 00:08:21.629 --> 00:08:24.709 on Lake Pandore by the Northwest Company for 00:08:24.709 --> 00:08:27.089 fur trading. But these were really just temporary 00:08:27.089 --> 00:08:30.250 outposts. Not real communities. No. The first 00:08:30.250 --> 00:08:32.789 true attempts at organized permanent communities 00:08:32.789 --> 00:08:36.370 began much later, in 1860, established by Mormon 00:08:36.370 --> 00:08:38.970 pioneers moving north from Utah. And the first 00:08:38.970 --> 00:08:41.330 actual incorporated community. That was Lewiston 00:08:41.330 --> 00:08:44.409 in 1861, which benefited greatly from the initial 00:08:44.409 --> 00:08:46.860 gold rushes in the territory. And this early 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:48.899 period was incredibly diverse, something that's 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:51.080 often forgotten today. I want to pause on one 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:53.480 data point that truly underscores that diversity. 00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:56.899 The Chinese immigrant population. It is a staggering 00:08:56.899 --> 00:08:58.899 figure, especially when you view it against modern 00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:01.240 perceptions of the state. Early in its territorial 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:04.460 history, Idaho saw a huge influx of Chinese immigrants 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:07.460 drawn by mining and labor opportunities. How 00:09:07.460 --> 00:09:10.149 huge are we talking? By 1870, get this, Chinese 00:09:10.149 --> 00:09:13.570 immigrants made up about 28 .5 % of the territory's 00:09:13.570 --> 00:09:16.049 entire population. Almost a third of the population. 00:09:16.309 --> 00:09:18.330 That must have completely reshaped the early 00:09:18.330 --> 00:09:21.090 economy and, I imagine, generated significant 00:09:21.090 --> 00:09:23.549 tension. It did on both fronts. They played a 00:09:23.549 --> 00:09:26.250 vital economic role in mining, railroad construction, 00:09:26.409 --> 00:09:29.610 and service industries. But their presence also 00:09:29.610 --> 00:09:33.250 fueled intense anti -Chinese sentiment and political 00:09:33.250 --> 00:09:35.929 movements that pushed for exclusionary legislation, 00:09:36.309 --> 00:09:38.259 you know, reflecting broader... tensions across 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:40.539 the American West at the time. A huge contribution 00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:43.120 that was often sidelined later on. Absolutely. 00:09:43.179 --> 00:09:45.379 Their contribution to the foundations of Idaho 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:47.899 is undeniable, even if the subsequent historical 00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:50.659 narrative often ignored it. So by the time Idaho 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:53.759 was pushing for statehood in 1890, the territorial 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:56.580 period was marked by some serious internal struggles 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:58.700 and political infighting. Well, it was far from 00:09:58.700 --> 00:10:01.289 smooth. Three major struggles really define that 00:10:01.289 --> 00:10:05.210 era. First, the hugely controversial and, frankly, 00:10:05.370 --> 00:10:07.730 illegal transfer of the capital from Lewiston 00:10:07.730 --> 00:10:10.830 to Boise in 1864. Which we will detail later. 00:10:10.889 --> 00:10:14.070 It's a great story. It is. Second, the federal 00:10:14.070 --> 00:10:17.429 disenfranchisement of Mormon polygamists, a major 00:10:17.429 --> 00:10:19.370 political battle between the federal government 00:10:19.370 --> 00:10:21.690 and a large established portion of the population. 00:10:22.169 --> 00:10:25.850 The U .S. Supreme Court upheld that disenfranchisement 00:10:25.850 --> 00:10:29.080 just as Idaho achieved statehood. And the third 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:32.600 struggle was existential. I mean, Congress almost 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:36.539 disassembled Idaho entirely. Yes. There was a 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:39.100 very serious federal attempt to split the territory, 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.100 giving the northern panhandle to Washington, 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:44.519 which achieved statehood in 1889, and the southern 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:46.480 portion to Nevada, which had been a state since 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:49.600 64. So Idahoans had to rally politically just 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:51.879 to keep your territory intact. They did. They 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:53.480 had to prove they could function as a cohesive 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:55.519 entity and fight to maintain their boundaries 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:58.860 before finally achieving statehood in 1890. Moving 00:10:58.860 --> 00:11:00.820 from the contested history to the contested geography, 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:04.200 Idaho is undeniably defined by its rugged landscape. 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:06.340 It's landlocked, bordering six U .S. states, 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.700 Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Montana, and 00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:11.779 Wyoming. And it shares a short international 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:13.720 border with the Canadian province of British 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:16.259 Columbia. And what really stands out and what 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:19.039 defines Idaho's relationship with its land is 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:21.759 the immense proportion of protected federal territory. 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:24.320 The United States Forest Service holds about 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:27.309 38 percent of Idaho's land. That is the highest 00:11:27.309 --> 00:11:30.110 proportion of any state in the nation. This means 00:11:30.110 --> 00:11:33.090 much of Idaho is actively managed for resources 00:11:33.090 --> 00:11:35.990 or preserved as wilderness. And within that vast 00:11:35.990 --> 00:11:38.629 federal estate, there's one area that is truly 00:11:38.629 --> 00:11:42.230 colossal. It represents a commitment to preservation 00:11:42.230 --> 00:11:45.710 that's unmatched in the lower 48, the Frank Church 00:11:45.710 --> 00:11:48.860 River of No Return Wilderness Area. At 2 .3 million 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:52.379 acres, this area is simply massive. It is the 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:55.419 single largest contiguous area of perfected wilderness 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:58.200 in the entire continental United States. And 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:00.779 the name itself, River of No Return, hints at 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:03.179 its nature. It really does. Once you went in, 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:05.940 the middle fork of the Salmon River was so turbulent 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:08.320 and remote, it was incredibly difficult to return 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:10.740 upstream. It just encapsulates how vast and wild 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:12.919 this state truly is. The wilderness creates these 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.200 vertical extremes that are just staggering. We're 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.000 talking about almost 12 ,000 feet of difference. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.980 an elevation between the highest and lowest points. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:21.820 The range is immense. The high point is Bora 00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:24.620 Peak in the Lost River Range, standing at 12 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:29.299 ,662 feet. The lowest point is Lewiston, way 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:32.740 down at 710 feet, where the Clearwater and Snake 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:35.179 Rivers converge before flowing into Washington. 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:37.720 And the Snake River, which defines so much of 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:40.620 the state's human and agricultural history, has 00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:42.460 carved two of the most dramatic geographical 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:45.419 features. Let's start with Hell's Canyon. Hell's 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:48.820 Canyon is a critical geographical fact. It's 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:51.039 carved by the Snake River along the border with 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:54.080 Oregon, and it is universally recognized as the 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:56.919 deepest gorge in the United States. To put that 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:58.820 into perspective, you have to remember it's deeper 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:01.159 than the Grand Canyon, though, you know, far 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:04.059 less famous. Much less famous. The scale is immense, 00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:06.700 with sheer walls dropping thousands of feet down 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:08.799 to the Churning River. And then there's Shoshone 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:11.220 Falls. Shoshone Falls, located near Twin Falls, 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:13.840 is often called the Niagara of the West for good 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.370 reason. It's a stunning natural feature, and 00:13:16.370 --> 00:13:18.929 at 212 feet, it is actually a waterfall that 00:13:18.929 --> 00:13:21.269 is higher than Niagara Falls. So you have the 00:13:21.269 --> 00:13:23.509 deepest gorge and a waterfall taller than Niagara. 00:13:23.789 --> 00:13:26.710 That really confirms Idaho's status as a land 00:13:26.710 --> 00:13:29.850 of geological extremes. It does. And while the 00:13:29.850 --> 00:13:32.330 Sawtooth Range, with its jagged peaks, is often 00:13:32.330 --> 00:13:34.429 considered the state's most famous mountain range 00:13:34.429 --> 00:13:37.370 and a symbol of its beauty, if you want to understand 00:13:37.370 --> 00:13:39.269 where people live and where the money is made, 00:13:39.450 --> 00:13:41.669 you have to focus on the critical Snake River 00:13:41.669 --> 00:13:44.350 Plain. The Snake River Plain is the economic 00:13:44.350 --> 00:13:48.190 and demographic heart of Idaho. Absolutely. Geologically, 00:13:48.370 --> 00:13:51.129 it's a vast crescent -shaped valley that runs 00:13:51.129 --> 00:13:54.269 east -west across southern Idaho, formed by the 00:13:54.269 --> 00:13:56.610 path of the Yellowstone Hotspot over millions 00:13:56.610 --> 00:13:59.769 of years. It's flat, fertile, and it contains 00:13:59.769 --> 00:14:02.110 the vast majority of the state's population and 00:14:02.110 --> 00:14:05.909 agricultural land. What made this plain so crucial 00:14:05.909 --> 00:14:08.070 historically, beyond just being a good place 00:14:08.070 --> 00:14:10.610 to grow things? It was a vital transit corridor. 00:14:10.830 --> 00:14:12.950 For settlers on the Oregon Trail, navigating 00:14:12.950 --> 00:14:15.789 the Rocky Mountains was the biggest hurdle. The 00:14:15.789 --> 00:14:18.509 plane provided a surprisingly accessible, relatively 00:14:18.509 --> 00:14:21.450 easy passage. Right. And crucially, as settlers 00:14:21.450 --> 00:14:24.169 traveled, many realized they didn't need to push 00:14:24.169 --> 00:14:26.710 onto the Oregon coast through the famously treacherous 00:14:26.710 --> 00:14:29.490 Blue Mountains and Cascade Range. The combination 00:14:29.490 --> 00:14:32.690 of easy travel and abundant volcanic soil made 00:14:32.690 --> 00:14:34.730 settling right there on the plane the path of 00:14:34.730 --> 00:14:37.070 least resistance. So the easiest way through 00:14:37.070 --> 00:14:39.850 the mountains became the population center. We 00:14:39.850 --> 00:14:42.350 should probably define the two main regions within 00:14:42.350 --> 00:14:45.230 the plain because they represent distinct areas 00:14:45.230 --> 00:14:48.269 of commerce and identity. Good point. The western 00:14:48.269 --> 00:14:50.730 segment is the Treasure Valley, centered around 00:14:50.730 --> 00:14:53.730 the capital. This is the region seeing the explosive 00:14:53.730 --> 00:14:57.039 urban and technological growth. containing Boise, 00:14:57.220 --> 00:15:00.559 Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell. And further east? 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:02.960 Further east, the central region is known as 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.440 the Magic Valley, primarily centered around Twin 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:08.259 Falls, and that region remains heavily focused 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:11.039 on agriculture and food processing. Now let's 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:13.100 get into the practical implications of this geography, 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:16.500 specifically the time zone split. This is pretty 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:19.279 rare for a state and signals a genuine cultural 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:22.179 and economic divide. It does. Idaho is officially 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:24.580 split into two time zones, with the dividing 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:26.139 line running roughly through the middle of the 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:28.960 state. The crucial distinction lies in the northern 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.879 panhandle. Which operates on Pacific time, aligning 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:34.700 it with Seattle and eastern Washington. Exactly. 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:37.179 This northern region, including Coeur d 'Alene, 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:40.100 Moscow, and Lewiston, shares strong economic 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:43.019 and cultural ties with Washington state. And 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:45.539 importantly, this entire region contains less 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:47.500 than a quarter of the state's population and 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:50.799 land area. So the vast majority of Idaho, the 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:54.639 entire Snake River Plain, including Boise, Idaho 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:58.559 Falls, Bocatello, Twin Falls operates on mountain 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:01.279 time. Right, which ties it closer to Utah and 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.120 Denver. It's a literal geographic expression 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:06.120 of being pulled in two different directions. 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:08.840 Finally, we have to look at the climate, which 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:11.000 is often misunderstood because of Idaho's inland 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.860 position. Yeah, the climate really defies simple 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:16.639 categorization. Despite the state's western border 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:19.240 being about 330 miles from the Pacific Ocean, 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:22.080 the maritime influence is still significantly 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:25.059 felt. How so? That moisture helps moderate temperatures, 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:27.759 especially in the winter. It prevents the cold 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.919 from reaching the extreme sustained levels you 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:32.200 might find in truly continental locations further 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.460 east. And the surprise here is the existence 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:37.779 of an actual inland temperate rainforest. That 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:39.960 sounds totally contradictory to the image of 00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:42.480 a semi -arid mountain state. It does, but it's 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:45.379 real. The north central Rockies forests receive 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:48.700 high levels of precipitation, creating microclimates 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:51.500 that constitute the North American Inland Temperate 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:55.120 Rainforest. It's a biodiversity hotspot. But 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:58.080 as you move eastward. That maritime influence 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:01.000 fades completely. It does. And the climate becomes 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:04.720 a classic semi -arid continental one. The precipitation 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.559 patterns actually reverse in the east. They see 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:10.200 wetter summers and drier winters, and the temperature 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:12.559 swings become far more extreme. And we have the 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:15.339 records to prove it. Oh, we do. The highest recorded 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:18.319 temperature was a blistering 118 degrees Fahrenheit 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:21.960 recorded at Orofino in 1934, which sits at a 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:24.500 very low elevation. And the lowest. The all -time 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:26.859 lowest temperature was a staggering... minus 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:29.460 60 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded at Island Park 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:33.460 Dam in 1943. Wow. 178 degree difference. That 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:35.539 underscores just how much environmental resilience 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:37.579 is required to live and work in the gem state. 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:40.440 When we transition to the economy, we're moving 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:43.779 from a land of extremes to an economy of contrasts. 00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:46.279 You have this ancient, extractive, wealth -meeting, 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:48.839 cutting -edge technology. And yes, we have to 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:51.250 start with the famous spud. You have to. The 00:17:51.250 --> 00:17:53.630 potato cannot be ignored, but it needs context. 00:17:54.210 --> 00:17:57.029 Idaho is the undisputed top potato producing 00:17:57.029 --> 00:17:59.809 state, supplying nearly one third of the entire 00:17:59.809 --> 00:18:01.990 nation's yield. And this is all centered on the 00:18:01.990 --> 00:18:04.529 Snake River Plain. Overwhelmingly centered on 00:18:04.529 --> 00:18:07.069 the irrigated fertile soil of the Snake River 00:18:07.069 --> 00:18:09.710 Plain. But if we look beyond the potato, Idaho 00:18:09.710 --> 00:18:12.829 is a much broader agricultural powerhouse. What 00:18:12.829 --> 00:18:15.190 are some of the specific niche areas where it 00:18:15.190 --> 00:18:17.539 leads the nation? Well, it's a major producer 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:21.079 of aquaculture, specifically trout. It also leads 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:23.299 the nation in the production of Austrian winter 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:26.500 peas and lentils. So it has a diverse, intensive 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:29.440 agricultural output that feeds directly into 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:32.259 its extensive food processing industry. And this 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:34.400 is where we find that very cool, highly specific 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:37.160 detail about the scale of industrial food processing. 00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:39.359 Yeah. The world's largest factory for barrel 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.339 cheese. Right. Located in Gooding. This factory 00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:43.839 belongs to the Glanvia Group. And barrel cheese 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:46.490 is the raw product used. primarily for processed 00:18:46.490 --> 00:18:49.109 cheese. So think sliced cheese, fast food dairy 00:18:49.109 --> 00:18:52.170 products. And the scale is just immense. It is. 00:18:52.450 --> 00:18:57.150 120 ,000 metric tons per year. This demonstrates 00:18:57.150 --> 00:19:00.529 that Idaho isn't just growing raw goods. It's 00:19:00.529 --> 00:19:03.170 a critical industrial hub converting those raw 00:19:03.170 --> 00:19:06.150 goods into mass market food products for global 00:19:06.150 --> 00:19:08.710 consumption. Moving underground, the state's 00:19:08.710 --> 00:19:12.049 nickname, the Gem State, is well -earned. It 00:19:12.049 --> 00:19:14.470 stems from his production of 72 varieties of 00:19:14.470 --> 00:19:16.990 precious and semi -precious stones. And mining 00:19:16.990 --> 00:19:19.349 played a foundational role in statehood. It was 00:19:19.349 --> 00:19:22.029 the original wealth generator. Gold, silver, 00:19:22.210 --> 00:19:24.589 and lead mining were hugely significant early 00:19:24.589 --> 00:19:26.970 in the state's history, fueling the initial population 00:19:26.970 --> 00:19:29.410 booms. And while that reliance has lessened, 00:19:29.509 --> 00:19:32.710 modern mining remains strategically vital, especially 00:19:32.710 --> 00:19:34.470 when we look at certain geological formations. 00:19:34.869 --> 00:19:37.170 Yes, and I want to focus on the Idaho Cobalt 00:19:37.170 --> 00:19:39.410 Belt, which is located in the Salmon Chalice 00:19:39.410 --> 00:19:42.519 National Forest. Okay, why is this specific resource 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:45.059 so critical today? Well, cobalt is a strategic 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:47.500 national resource. The Idaho Cobalt Belt is one 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:49.640 of the largest cobalt deposits in the U .S. and 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:51.539 potentially North America. And why does that 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:54.240 matter now? Because COPEL is essential for modern 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:57.400 energy storage. It's a key component in the lithium 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.339 ion batteries used in electric vehicles, consumer 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:02.839 electronics and defense technology. So having 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:05.799 a domestic supply is huge. It's huge. It insulates 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:08.680 the U .S. from supply chain disruptions and geopolitical 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:12.019 volatility. This deposit links Idaho directly 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:15.220 to 21st century energy and defense policy. So 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:19.579 we have potatoes, gold, strategic metals. But 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:22.319 Idaho successfully diversified its economy. to 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:24.880 include a massive science and technology sector, 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.599 which must have been a conscious effort during 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:29.019 the 1990s. It was a highly successful expansion. 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:32.579 Between 1991 and 2002, the state aggressively 00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:34.859 invested in and courted the science and technology 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:37.839 sector. And by 2001, this sector accounted for 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:41.279 over 25 % of Idaho's gross state product. A quarter 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:44.079 of the entire economy. A quarter. This rapid 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.779 shift established a very complex economic base, 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:49.839 deep industrial agriculture, crucial resource 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:52.019 extraction, and high -tech electronics manufacturing 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:54.240 centered primarily in the Treasure Valley. We 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.480 also can't overlook tourism, which feeds directly 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.920 off that 38 % of federal wilderness land we talked 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:02.220 about. Tourism is essential. Idaho's natural 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:05.539 resources attract a huge number of outdoor enthusiasts 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:08.460 for activities like camping, hunting, fishing, 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:11.140 and whitewater rafting on the Salmon River. And, 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:13.829 of course, skiing. Right. Sun Valley is probably 00:21:13.829 --> 00:21:16.230 the most famous resort, and it holds a unique 00:21:16.230 --> 00:21:18.750 historical distinction. It does. It's home of 00:21:18.750 --> 00:21:20.569 the world's first chairlift. The first one ever. 00:21:20.789 --> 00:21:24.609 Installed in 1936. Sun Valley is also North America's 00:21:24.609 --> 00:21:27.869 oldest ski resort. That speaks to Idaho's longstanding 00:21:27.869 --> 00:21:30.890 connection to outdoor recreation and luxury tourism, 00:21:31.029 --> 00:21:33.789 which continues to be a major economic driver. 00:21:34.069 --> 00:21:36.670 Moving to infrastructure, the way Idaho generates 00:21:36.670 --> 00:21:40.089 and consumes energy presents a profound and, 00:21:40.190 --> 00:21:42.720 well, perhaps unsettling. sustainable paradox. 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:45.220 This is something we must emphasize because it 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:47.079 leads directly into our final thought. Yeah, 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:49.359 what's fascinating here is Idaho's genuine commitment 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.579 to clean energy. Renewable sources accounted 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:54.680 for 75 percent of Idaho's total electricity generation 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:58.420 in 2022. 75 percent. That's a huge number. It 00:21:58.420 --> 00:22:00.799 gives the state the fourth highest share of renewable 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:03.519 electricity generation of any state. And the 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.839 backbone of that is hydroelectric power. Which 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.880 makes sense with all the rivers. Half of the 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:10.519 state's utility scale generating capacity is 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:13.039 from hydro plants. The rest comes from other 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:16.099 cleaner sources like wind, solar and geothermal, 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:19.119 with natural gas making up the remaining 25 percent. 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.839 So they're definitely green on the generation 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:23.480 side. But the consumption side tells a completely 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:26.730 different and worrying story. It's the core tension. 00:22:27.109 --> 00:22:29.650 Idaho consumes almost four times more energy 00:22:29.650 --> 00:22:31.990 than it actually produces. Four times. Which 00:22:31.990 --> 00:22:34.630 means they are a massive net importer of energy. 00:22:35.009 --> 00:22:37.990 This high consumption rate places intense pressure 00:22:37.990 --> 00:22:41.069 on regional energy grids and means their sustainability 00:22:41.069 --> 00:22:43.109 metrics are often balanced against dependence 00:22:43.109 --> 00:22:45.950 on neighbors. When you combine this fact with 00:22:45.950 --> 00:22:49.109 the population boom, you see a major infrastructural 00:22:49.109 --> 00:22:51.589 challenge ahead. And to finish the economy section, 00:22:51.849 --> 00:22:54.089 let's discuss transportation access, which is 00:22:54.089 --> 00:22:56.329 surprisingly robust. given the mountainous terrain. 00:22:56.750 --> 00:22:59.230 The port of Lewiston is a logistical miracle. 00:22:59.690 --> 00:23:02.289 It truly is. The Port of Lewiston is the farthest 00:23:02.289 --> 00:23:04.349 inland seaport on the West Coast, accessible 00:23:04.349 --> 00:23:08.529 to deep draft barges. It sits 465 river miles 00:23:08.529 --> 00:23:11.190 from the Pacific Ocean at Astoria, Oregon. That's 00:23:11.190 --> 00:23:13.950 incredible. This access is maintained by a comprehensive 00:23:13.950 --> 00:23:17.289 system of dams and locks along the Snake and 00:23:17.289 --> 00:23:20.269 Columbia Rivers, allowing Idaho's massive agricultural 00:23:20.269 --> 00:23:22.730 and manufacturing outputs to be barged straight 00:23:22.730 --> 00:23:25.369 to the Pacific. And it's equally connected by 00:23:25.369 --> 00:23:28.809 land. It is. Idaho is served by three major transcontinental 00:23:28.809 --> 00:23:32.619 rivers. railroads, BNSF, Union Pacific and Canadian 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:35.839 Pacific Railway. And although Amtrak's Empire 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:38.700 Builder only clips the northern panhandle, stopping 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:41.180 just once in Sandpoint, the freight rail network 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:43.519 is crucial for moving goods across the continent. 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:46.000 It's clear Idaho has fantastic infrastructure 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:48.220 for moving goods out of state. But the real question 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:50.240 is, does it have the infrastructure, the water, 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:53.359 the power, the roads? for moving millions of 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:55.240 people into the state. And that's the issue. 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:57.180 Let's dive into that extraordinary population 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:59.619 boom, which is fundamentally reshaping the gem 00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:01.819 state. The growth statistics are remarkable. 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:04.500 Idaho's population is now approximately 2 million 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:07.599 people in 2024. More importantly, the state saw 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:11.079 a massive 17 .3 % increase in population between 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:14.900 2010 and 2020. 17 .3%. That was the second fastest 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:17.660 rate of growth of any state that decade, only 00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:20.410 trailing Utah. That level of growth isn't usually 00:24:20.410 --> 00:24:23.529 driven by natural birth alone. The sources show 00:24:23.529 --> 00:24:26.789 the net migration figures are huge. The majority 00:24:26.789 --> 00:24:29.440 of this growth is people moving in. Between 2010 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:32.319 and 2018, the total population increase included 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:35.440 a net migration increase of over 75 ,000 people. 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:39.039 75 ,000. And a striking statistic is that over 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:42.480 61 ,000 of those people were internal migrants, 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:45.400 meaning they moved from other U .S. states. They 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:47.880 are seeking the lifestyle and a relative affordability 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:50.299 of Idaho, though that affordability is rapidly 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:53.500 eroding due to this very influx. And this rapid 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:55.900 movement has focused almost entirely on the Snake 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:58.910 River Plain. fueling incredible urban sprawl, 00:24:58.910 --> 00:25:00.990 particularly in the Boise metropolitan area. 00:25:01.390 --> 00:25:03.309 The growth in the Treasure Valley is exponential. 00:25:03.750 --> 00:25:06.410 Cities like Meridian and Nampa are textbook examples 00:25:06.410 --> 00:25:09.049 of explosive sprawl. Meridian, which had fewer 00:25:09.049 --> 00:25:12.329 than 10 ,000 residents in 1990, exploded to over 00:25:12.329 --> 00:25:16.009 75 ,000 by 2010. That's incredible growth. Nampa 00:25:16.009 --> 00:25:18.609 followed suit, going from under 29 ,000 to over 00:25:18.609 --> 00:25:21.309 81 ,000 in the same period. Managing that kind 00:25:21.309 --> 00:25:23.769 of rapid expansion, especially for water, roads, 00:25:23.829 --> 00:25:30.839 and schools, is a huge political challenge. of 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:34.000 European descent with large historically entrenched 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:36.440 ancestry groups. Right. German ancestry is the 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:39.440 largest group at 17 .5 percent. followed closely 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:43.079 by English ancestry at 16 .4%. These groups reflect 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:45.019 the early waves of settlers who came via the 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:47.339 Oregon Trail and subsequent migration. However, 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:50.140 the demographic profile is diversifying quickly, 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:52.319 which we can see clearly in birth data. Yes. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:55.440 The Hispanic or Latino population is the fastest 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:58.700 growing non -European group. In 2023, the Hispanic 00:25:58.700 --> 00:26:02.240 Latino population accounted for 19 .0 % of births, 00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:05.920 a significant rise from 15 .3 % in 2013. And 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.819 the largest group within that is Mexican. Mexican, 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:10.480 yes. reflecting both modern immigration and historical 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.920 migration patterns related to agricultural labor. 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:15.200 And if we look at modern global immigration, 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:18.180 what are the top origins? The top countries of 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:21.539 origin for immigrants in 2018 were Mexico, Canada, 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:24.900 the Philippines, China, and Germany. It highlights 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:27.839 the continued global appeal of the state, especially 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.980 for work and education. And, you know, we already 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.759 mentioned the incredible historical diversity, 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:36.319 specifically the 28 .5 % Chinese population in 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:39.019 1870, showing that these cultural shifts are 00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:41.299 not new to Idaho. Moving back to the original 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:43.980 inhabitants, Idaho is home to five federally 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:46.519 recognized tribes. These include the Shoshone 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:48.740 -Bannock and the Shoshone -Paite, the Coeur d 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:51.539 'Alene, the Kootenai, and the Nez Perce. Their 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:53.700 lands and water rights continue to be a significant 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:56.119 factor in resource management discussions across 00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:58.180 the state. Finally, let's look at the religious 00:26:58.180 --> 00:27:00.779 landscape, which is heavily Christian, but highly 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:03.220 concentrated in certain specific denominations, 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:07.069 creating a unique social texture. Idaho is overwhelmingly 00:27:07.069 --> 00:27:10.130 Christian, with 72 % of the population identifying 00:27:10.130 --> 00:27:12.670 as such in 2022. The largest self -identified 00:27:12.670 --> 00:27:15.910 group is Protestant at 37 .0%. The single largest 00:27:15.910 --> 00:27:18.670 denomination is Mormonism. Correct. Specifically, 00:27:18.849 --> 00:27:20.609 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints 00:27:20.609 --> 00:27:24.150 accounting for 24 .0 % of the population. This 00:27:24.150 --> 00:27:26.630 concentration has profound cultural and political 00:27:26.630 --> 00:27:30.049 impacts, particularly in eastern Idaho. But mirroring 00:27:30.049 --> 00:27:32.670 national friends, the religiously unaffiliated 00:27:32.670 --> 00:27:35.609 population is also very significant. Yes. The 00:27:35.609 --> 00:27:38.109 unaffiliated population, those identifying as 00:27:38.109 --> 00:27:40.269 atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular, 00:27:40.450 --> 00:27:44.549 makes up 26 % of the state as of 2022. So while 00:27:44.549 --> 00:27:46.670 the religious identity is strong, particularly 00:27:46.670 --> 00:27:49.630 the LDS influence, a quarter of the population 00:27:49.630 --> 00:27:52.109 identifies outside of any formalized religion. 00:27:52.410 --> 00:27:54.789 So if the demographics are defined by rapid change, 00:27:55.029 --> 00:27:57.269 the political structure of Idaho is defined by 00:27:57.269 --> 00:28:00.859 deep, almost unbroken tradition. The story here 00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:02.859 is one of Republican dominance that has lasted 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:05.039 for generations. It is one of the most consistently 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:07.099 Republican states in the country. The clearest 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:09.500 data point is the presidential vote. Idaho has 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:11.279 not supported a Democrat for president since 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:15.140 Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Since 1964. Wow. And 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:16.900 that allegiance is strongly reflected in current 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:19.319 voter registration figures. Looking at October 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:22.640 2025 data, the numbers are stark. Republicans 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:27.539 account for 61 .71 % of registered voters. Unaffiliated 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:31.140 voters make up 25 .07%. percent, leaving Democrats 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:34.539 with only 11 .79 percent. And that electoral 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:37.599 reality translates directly into legislative 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:40.279 control. Absolutely. Both the state Senate and 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:42.380 the House of Representatives have been continuously 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:45.559 controlled by Republicans since 1960. Since 1960. 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:47.779 It's important to note, however, that this isn't 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:50.460 a perfect monolith. Democrats routinely win seats 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:53.140 in the key urban and recreational pockets, the 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:55.599 university hubs of Boise and Pocatello, Blaine 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:57.920 County, which contains the very affluent Sun 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:00.400 Valley. areas in the northern panhandle closer 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:02.759 to Washington state. We mentioned earlier the 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.740 fascinating historical friction that existed 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:07.180 during the territorial period. The early politics 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.720 were actually much more contested. They were. 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:11.079 Early territorial legislatures were Democrat 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:13.460 controlled, which led to constant, often aggressive 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:15.559 clashes with the Republican appointed territorial 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:18.920 governors. This era of friction really laid the 00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:20.839 groundwork for the future political intensity. 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:23.420 And this brings us back to that incredible anecdote, 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:26.480 the controversial move of the Capitol from Lewiston 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:29.980 to Boise, which you see. said felt like a heist 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:32.500 film. It basically was. Walk us through the details 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:35.339 of how an official stole the Capitol. OK, so 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:37.940 it was essentially a coup. The shift was decided 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:40.359 by the legislature, but the physical transfer 00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:44.450 was anything but orderly. In 1864, Clinton DeWitt 00:29:44.450 --> 00:29:46.849 Smith, the Secretary of the Territory who favored 00:29:46.849 --> 00:29:49.470 Boise, physically removed the territorial seal 00:29:49.470 --> 00:29:52.690 and the Constitution from a locked safe in Lewiston. 00:29:52.890 --> 00:29:55.210 He just took them. He took them and transported 00:29:55.210 --> 00:29:57.829 them to Boise. By taking possession of those 00:29:57.829 --> 00:30:00.190 essential documents and symbols, he unilaterally 00:30:00.190 --> 00:30:03.009 completed the capital transfer, bypassing formal 00:30:03.009 --> 00:30:05.690 protocols and establishing Boise as the undeniable 00:30:05.690 --> 00:30:08.319 seat of power. It set a precedent for high stakes, 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:11.220 aggressive political maneuvering. A truly wild 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:13.819 way to choose a capital city. Now, moving to 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:16.059 the governance structure today, the state still 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:18.740 operates under its original 1889 constitution. 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:22.000 What are the key operational features? Well, 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:24.720 one critical requirement enshrined in that constitution 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:27.670 is fiscal conservatism. The state government 00:30:27.670 --> 00:30:30.369 is legally required to maintain a balanced budget. 00:30:30.569 --> 00:30:33.069 Okay. On the administrative side, the state runs 00:30:33.069 --> 00:30:35.750 an alcohol monopoly through the Idaho State Literature 00:30:35.750 --> 00:30:38.410 Division. The state gambling lottery is also 00:30:38.410 --> 00:30:40.410 a significant revenue generator, contributing 00:30:40.410 --> 00:30:44.170 over $333 million to public schools and higher 00:30:44.170 --> 00:30:48.210 education between 1990 and 2006. And regarding 00:30:48.210 --> 00:30:50.630 personal finance, Idaho has adopted a relatively 00:30:50.630 --> 00:30:53.529 simple taxation structure. It does. A flat personal 00:30:53.529 --> 00:31:03.960 income tax of 5 .8%. And one key detail that 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:06.559 often surprises people is that food is taxed. 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:09.140 Right. General groceries and food items are subject 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:11.240 to the sales tax, though prescription drugs are 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:13.799 explicitly exempt. Now we have to turn to contemporary 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:16.059 legal and political issues, which have placed 00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:18.720 Idaho at the center of national debates. And 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:21.000 as always, we are reporting impartially on the 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.839 policy details contained in the sources. And 00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:24.559 these are some of the strictest laws in the U 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:28.029 .S. Yes. So Idaho has enacted one of the most 00:31:28.029 --> 00:31:30.769 restrictive abortion laws in the nation, effectively 00:31:30.769 --> 00:31:34.029 banning nearly all abortions in the state. And 00:31:34.029 --> 00:31:36.549 the Idaho Supreme Court reviewed the state constitution 00:31:36.549 --> 00:31:39.289 and ruled that there is no constitutional right 00:31:39.289 --> 00:31:41.789 to abortion within Idaho's borders, allowing 00:31:41.789 --> 00:31:44.309 that near total ban to stand. And the state has 00:31:44.309 --> 00:31:46.930 taken this a step further, crossing a key legal 00:31:46.930 --> 00:31:49.029 threshold regarding movement and jurisdiction. 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:52.740 In April 2023, Idaho became the first state in 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:54.960 the nation to restrict interstate travel for 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:58.700 abortion services. This law specifically criminalizes 00:31:58.700 --> 00:32:00.819 the transport of a minor out of state for an 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:03.359 abortion without parental consent. And the source 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:05.000 materials define this under the controversial 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:07.539 term abortion trafficking. That's the term used, 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:09.960 yes. So what have been the practical implications 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:12.480 of these highly restrictive laws on the state's 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:15.140 medical community and health care access? The 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:18.259 sources indicate a tangible and, well, detrimental 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:21.200 impact. on personnel. The strict laws have led 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:23.819 directly to an outmigration of physicians, particularly 00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:26.299 those specializing in maternal and fetal care. 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:28.960 So they're losing doctors. They are. And this 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:31.039 creates significant challenges, especially for 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:33.720 women in rural areas of the state, as the loss 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:36.099 of these specialized doctors concentrates expertise 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:38.900 in fewer locations, increasing the distance and 00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:41.960 difficulty in accessing comprehensive care. Finally, 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.880 we must mention the state's retention of the 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:46.480 death penalty and its authorized methods of execution. 00:32:47.069 --> 00:32:49.609 Idaho retains the death penalty, and in a move 00:32:49.609 --> 00:32:51.630 that received national attention, a bill passed 00:32:51.630 --> 00:32:55.009 in March 2023 authorized the firing squad as 00:32:55.009 --> 00:32:57.869 a method of execution. This decision is currently 00:32:57.869 --> 00:33:00.089 pending a legal challenge, but it highlights 00:33:00.089 --> 00:33:02.509 the state's staunch commitment to capital punishment. 00:33:03.470 --> 00:33:06.390 Let's shift gears to education and public health, 00:33:06.569 --> 00:33:08.829 areas where the state's political and cultural 00:33:08.829 --> 00:33:12.230 climate collides directly with governance. Starting 00:33:12.230 --> 00:33:14.910 with education, the system is overseen by the 00:33:14.910 --> 00:33:17.220 State Board of Education. Right, and Idaho's 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:19.920 higher education system is defined by three comprehensive 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:22.460 public universities. The oldest is the University 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:25.599 of Idaho in Moscow, founded in 1889, which is 00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:27.819 the state's land -grant institution and primary 00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:30.880 research university. Then you have Idaho State 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:33.339 University in Pocatello, which started in 1901, 00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:36.599 and Boise State University BSU, which has seen 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:39.039 massive growth and became a university in 1974. 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:42.380 And given the strong religious demographics we 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:45.039 discussed, the private institutions reflect that 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:47.880 influence. Absolutely. Brigham Young University 00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:50.240 Idaho in Rexburg is affiliated with the Church 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:52.380 of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints, and it 00:33:52.380 --> 00:33:55.240 draws a significant student population. We also 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:57.539 have Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa and 00:33:57.539 --> 00:34:00.079 the College of Idaho in Caldwell. And the K -12 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:02.740 system shows the incredible range of Idaho's 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:06.099 geography and population density. It has 105 00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:17.519 school districts and 62 charter schools. Wow, 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:20.519 two students. This huge variation in scale means 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:22.400 the challenges of funding and infrastructure 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:25.260 management are unique to almost every part of 00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:27.719 the state. They're moving to health policy. Idaho 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:29.679 was frequently in the national spotlight during 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:32.619 the COVID -19 pandemic, facing intense public 00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:36.059 health challenges that were exacerbated by the 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:38.440 political climate. This is a crucial area where 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:40.679 the state's strong political identity shapes 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:43.599 the health response. During the pandemic, hospitals 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:46.159 were so overwhelmed by COVID -19 patients that 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:48.900 Idaho was forced to enact statewide crisis standards 00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:51.199 of care. Meaning they were rationing resources? 00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:54.159 They were rationing resources. And at the same 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:56.519 time, the state had one of the lowest COVID -19 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:59.239 vaccination rates in the country as of late 2021. 00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:02.059 And the most recent development in 2024 shows 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:04.900 how contentious the vaccine issue remains at 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:07.530 the local level. This illustrates a major tension 00:35:07.530 --> 00:35:10.989 point in local governance. In October 2024, a 00:35:10.989 --> 00:35:13.349 local health department responsible for six rural 00:35:13.349 --> 00:35:15.789 counties voted for the three to stop providing 00:35:15.789 --> 00:35:19.030 COVID -19 vaccines to residents entirely. And 00:35:19.030 --> 00:35:21.429 this decision was made despite urgent pleas from 00:35:21.429 --> 00:35:23.730 mainstream health care providers and epidemiologists. 00:35:23.869 --> 00:35:26.449 It was. So what drove that local vote? Was it 00:35:26.449 --> 00:35:29.030 purely medical? According to the sources, the 00:35:29.030 --> 00:35:31.349 decision was heavily influenced by public comments. 00:35:31.530 --> 00:35:34.869 They received over 290 comments, many of which 00:35:34.869 --> 00:35:37.210 voiced strong opposition to vaccine mandates 00:35:37.210 --> 00:35:40.429 or critically opposed the use of taxpayer funding 00:35:40.429 --> 00:35:42.829 for the vaccines, even though there were no current 00:35:42.829 --> 00:35:45.389 mandates in place. So it reflects a deep political 00:35:45.389 --> 00:35:47.690 skepticism regarding public health intervention 00:35:47.690 --> 00:35:50.559 and funding priorities. That's right. Finally, 00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:53.280 let's wrap up with Idaho's place in popular culture, 00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:55.639 which often focuses on its stunning geography 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:59.420 and its unique cultural touchstones. The state 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:02.179 is really synonymous with outdoor sports and 00:36:02.179 --> 00:36:05.380 wilderness. Sun Valley, with its historical significance 00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:08.559 as North America's oldest resort, remains a major 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:11.300 draw. And its natural setting makes it a popular 00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:13.880 filming location for Hollywood, often standing 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:16.219 in for the rugged American West. And we have 00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:19.099 a great mix of classic westerns and quirky comedies 00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:22.260 filmed there. We do. Pale Rider from 1985, the 00:36:22.260 --> 00:36:25.000 Clint Eastwood Western was filmed extensively 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:27.360 in the Boulder Mountains and the Sawtooth National 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:30.579 Recreation Area. Right. Dante's Peak from 97 00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:33.059 used the town of Wallace as its primary filming 00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:35.579 location. And then you have the films that capture 00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:38.239 the unique, often eccentric, cultural spirit 00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:40.969 of the state. my own private Idaho, and of course 00:36:40.969 --> 00:36:43.849 the quintessential cult film, Napoleon Dynamite. 00:36:43.969 --> 00:36:46.809 Napoleon Dynamite, which takes place in Preston, 00:36:46.909 --> 00:36:50.349 the director's actual hometown. Hashtag tag tag 00:36:50.349 --> 00:36:54.190 outro. This deep dive has truly pulled back the 00:36:54.190 --> 00:36:57.070 curtain on Idaho, revealing a state that is just 00:36:57.070 --> 00:37:00.690 full of fascinating contradictions. We move from 00:37:00.690 --> 00:37:02.750 a naming story that was born as a political hoax 00:37:02.750 --> 00:37:06.320 and was saved by a popular steamship. to a prehistoric 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:08.380 settlement timeline that is rewriting the history 00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:10.619 books of the entire continent. We've explored 00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:13.900 a landscape of geographic extremes, home to the 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:16.940 deepest gorge and a waterfall higher than Niagara, 00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:19.980 and a massive population boom focused entirely 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:22.780 on the historic Snake River Plain. And we've 00:37:22.780 --> 00:37:25.079 seen an economy rooted in agriculture and strategic 00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:27.840 cobalt mining, but really driven by a high -tech 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:29.960 manufacturing sector. And we've highlighted a 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:32.000 political system steeped in Republican dominance. 00:37:32.699 --> 00:37:35.820 A system so conservative that it led to the controversial 00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:38.340 theft of the territorial capital, and which today 00:37:38.340 --> 00:37:40.139 grapples with some of the most cutting -edge 00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:43.159 complex legal issues in the nation. From abortion 00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:45.780 laws that restrict interstate travel to authorizing 00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:48.360 the use of the firing squad. Idaho is a state 00:37:48.360 --> 00:37:51.780 of intense contrasts, struggling to manage rapid 00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:54.659 modern growth alongside deep -rooted cultural 00:37:54.659 --> 00:37:57.199 and political traditions. It really is. So what 00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:59.500 does this all mean for the perpetual state? We 00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:01.420 have to revisit that infrastructural paradox. 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:04.360 We do. And here is a provocative thought for 00:38:04.360 --> 00:38:08.679 you to consider. Idaho utilizes 75 percent renewable 00:38:08.679 --> 00:38:11.690 energy. primarily hydro, yet it consumes nearly 00:38:11.690 --> 00:38:14.510 four times the energy it produces. Four times. 00:38:14.789 --> 00:38:17.070 This immense consumption gap, coupled with a 00:38:17.070 --> 00:38:20.130 17 % population boom fueled by thousands of new 00:38:20.130 --> 00:38:22.969 residents every year, places extraordinary pressure 00:38:22.969 --> 00:38:25.309 on the state's massive yet ultimately finite 00:38:25.309 --> 00:38:28.130 natural resources. And you have to remember that 00:38:28.130 --> 00:38:30.769 38 % of the land is protected federal territory, 00:38:31.030 --> 00:38:33.610 creating this constant tension between growth 00:38:33.610 --> 00:38:35.769 and preservation. So the question is this, what 00:38:35.769 --> 00:38:38.329 future trade -offs in water rights in land use 00:38:38.329 --> 00:38:40.860 policy? in energy imports will Idaho have to 00:38:40.860 --> 00:38:43.760 make to perpetually maintain its gem state identity 00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:46.519 while managing the infrastructural demands of 00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:48.500 being one of America's fastest growing states? 00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:50.519 A truly challenging question for the state's 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:52.000 future. Thank you for joining us for The Deep 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:52.300 Dive.