On the show today, we dove deep into the final, heated days of the Idaho Falls mayoral runoff between Lisa Burtenshaw and Jeff Alldridge. We expressed our frustration and disappointment over how the race has devolved into a smear campaign fueled by tens of thousands of dollars in outside dark money. We feel the contest is no longer about the two candidates, but has become a battle of “Jeff versus the establishment.” We discussed the misleading mailers and ads, particularly the dishonest claim that Jeff wants to eliminate impact fees, and we questioned why a candidate as established as Lisa Burtenshaw requires so much outside help from PACs and powerful endorsers. Our primary concern is that this negative turn is creating a deeply divided community, which will present a major challenge for whoever wins.
Throughout the program, we analyzed how the overwhelming establishment support for Lisa might actually be backfiring by sending a subconscious message that she can’t win on her own merits. We also took calls from listeners, which highlighted the misinformation circulating in the community and prompted us to debunk a rumor on-air. Ultimately, we feel that the people surrounding the candidates have made the race about themselves, overshadowing what should have been a debate between two qualified individuals. As Neal Larson and Julie Mason concluded, the negativity is exhausting, and it’s a disservice to the voters of Idaho Falls.
Other Topics:
**National & Other Political Races:**
* U.S. Senate candidate Todd Achilles and his ad about U.S. military power and Venezuelan drug smugglers.
* A runoff race in Tennessee for a candidate nicknamed the “AOC of Tennessee.”
* President Trump’s economic policies, specifically the impact of tariffs on consumer prices.
* Predictions for the upcoming midterm elections.
* Federal tax credits and their potential to boost the economy.
**Sports:**
* College Football, including BYU’s ranking, their upcoming championship game, and rumors of their coach being courted by Penn State.
* Boise State University’s football team going to the Mountain West Championship.
* The Denver Broncos winning their game against the Washington Commanders.
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