The Ranch Podcast

James Ruchti, a passionate District 29 Senator, dives into the heated school choice debate. He shares intriguing national data on educational options and funding. Ruchti critiques the lack of oversight in voucher programs and advocates for accountability in taxpayer spending. He also discusses the innovative paths for the most underserved students and reflects on how COVID-19 reshaped perceptions of public and private education. Through it all, he emphasizes the power of parental choice while stressing the obligation to maintain quality education for every child.

Mark Niemeyer is the Fire Chief of Boise and is working extensively with surrounding state and federal agencies to make sure the Urban-Wildlands Interface where our communities meet enormous fire risk environments stay as safe as possible. We are experiencing a new age of fire risk, and with Idaho’s exploding population, we need everyone participating to preserve life and property. Enjoy!The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcast.orgThe Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state of Idaho. The Boise area is home to many counties and ways of life. It’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Scott Bedke is the Lt. Governor of Idaho and came in to speak about the SPEED Council, a group formed by an executive order from Governor Little comprised of several state agency directors that will expedite the review of permits, increase collaboration with project proponents, boost public transparency, and seek to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary statutes and rules. The world supply chain problems exposed over the last few years made it abundantly clear that if we are to have consistent defense capabilities and predictable energy sources, we must find a way to maintain high quality reviews and regulations but also expedite these processes to attract more private industry leaders into Idaho. That’s exactly what the SPEED Council does. Enjoy!The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcast.orgThe Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state of Idaho. The Boise area is home to many counties and ways of life. It’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Brett Wilder is an Ag Economist, Proprietor of Boise River Lamb, and an incredible lamb chef. He kindly agreed to smoke a boneless leg of lamb to bring in that we devoured and share his recipe. The more I engage with local providers and find out how they work their homegrown proteins, the more I’m drawn to cooking at home myself with high quality, locally sourced food. My mouth is watering recounting this! Thank you as always to FARE Idaho for connecting us. Enjoy!www.theRanchPodcast.orgThe Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state of Idaho. The Boise area is home to many counties and ways of life. It’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Rod Gramer is the former president of Idaho Business for Education. This is a group comprised of hundreds of leading businesses in the Gem State that work together to advocate for a pragmatic, effective education system that yields competent, employable business leaders of tomorrow. I invited Rod in to better understand what businesses in Idaho actually need from our education system. As a father of three young men, I want to make sure that they’re positioned to be as successful as possible as they graduate from school, move out, and engage the real world. Enjoy!The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcast.orgThe Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state of Idaho. The Boise area is home to many counties and ways of life. It’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Nick Fasciano, Executive Director of Idaho Wildlife Federation, passionately discusses key wildlife and conservation issues. He highlights challenges to public land access due to wealthy landowners and the growing conflicts between landowners and hunters over elk populations. Fasciano delves into the complexities of water management amid dry conditions and its impact on fish and agriculture. He also addresses the dynamics of wildlife management, focusing on grizzly bears and legislative changes. Finally, he explores the interplay between modern hunting technologies and regulatory efforts, underscoring the need for collaboration.

Ilana Rubel, House Minority Leader from Idaho's District 18, shares vital insights on the state's recent $300+ million tax cut. She breaks down the tax cut components, highlighting how it favors wealthier residents while leaving lower-income individuals with minimal support. The conversation dives into property tax effects, contrasting renters and homeowners, and addresses the challenges of Idaho's healthcare financing, particularly in light of Medicaid expansion. Ilana's expertise sheds light on the complexities of tax policy and its real-world impacts on the community.

Heather Scott, a District 2 Representative in Idaho, advocates for state rights regarding same-sex marriage, pushing to revisit the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling. She discusses the complexities of local flag displays and the implications of labeling alternative meats, including lab-grown options and bug proteins. Scott emphasizes the tension between federal mandates and state sovereignty while sharing her unexpected journey into politics. Light-hearted moments blend with serious debates on food transparency and patriotism, making for a compelling listen!

Bobbi-Jo Meuleman is the CEO and President of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. She advocates for local patronage of businesses and services in the greater Boise area as well as advocates for effective policy on behalf of her membership with state and local governments. We spoke about education, housing, stresses on the area, and more importantly, where to get the best Ribeye in Boise. Enjoy!The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcast.orgThe Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state of Idaho. The Boise area is home to many counties and ways of life. It’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Brad Richy is the Director of the Idaho Office of Emergency Management. He recently helped organize just over 100 local firefighters to go assist in the fire crisis in California. We spoke about the organizations involved in this type of work, the cost to the take payers, and why this is good for Idaho. We also moved away from fire talk to discuss other emergency management issues including emergency evacuations, earthquakes, and floods in Idaho. This state is not only beautiful and amazing, but we also have an incredible team of individuals working everyday to make sure that if the worst should come to pass, we have the best and most effective responses. Enjoy!The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcast.orgThe Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state of Idaho. The Boise area is home to many counties and ways of life. It’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com