3 min read Newsletter

How Far-Right Extremists Infiltrated Idaho Government—and How Locals Are Fighting To Take It Back

How Far-Right Extremists Infiltrated Idaho Government—and How Locals Are Fighting To Take It Back
The Idaho State Capitol, in Boise.

In part one of my Idaho series, I wrote about the culture of fear around pregnancy engendered by the state’s numerous abortion bans.

Now, I’m excited to share that all three installments of the project are live.

In my second story, I profiled abortion “abolitionist” turned state senator Scott Herndon, a man whose rise from the hardline fringes of the anti-abortion movement into elected office is one of the most striking examples of how extremists have infiltrated Idaho government. However, Herndon is just one of many, so I broke down that broader phenomenon and how it relates to Idaho’s history. Plus, I spoke with Republicans who are working to take back their party. And in one of the most interesting interviews of my career, I spoke with an ex-member of Herndon’s anti-abortion group, who describes it as a “cult.”

There has been an awful lot of media coverage about people fleeing Idaho as it descends into fascism. But in every part of the state I visited, I encountered determined people who aren’t willing to call it quits just yet—far from it, in fact. So in third and final report from my trip, I wrote about the people who are staying in Idaho to fight. Come for the story of the local anti-fascists who let me watch them burn a Patriot Front flag, stay for the story of the progressive ballot measure that could put so-called “blue” states to shame in 2024.

All issues of Repro Report are available for free. However, if you would like to give my work an extra boost, please consider becoming a paid subscriber!

A photograph taken at night, of a flag made by the white supremacist group Patriot Front, which reads "OUR TOLERANCE IS AT AN END" in red and blue. It is hung upside down. Trees are visible in the background, and grass is visible below.
A banner belonging to the white supremacist group Patriot Front, captured by anti-fascist organizers in Boise.
A photograph of the Patriot Front flag, which has been lit on fire and is burning on the ground. Almost nothing is left. Two shadowy figures stand off to the sides, illuminated by the fire. Their surroundings are dark.
The same banner, on fire.

I am deeply proud of this work and incredibly grateful to all the people who made time to speak with me when I was in Idaho, and in follow-up interviews since. Don’t wait, go read this series!

This reporting trip was generously funded by the International Women’s Media Foundation, which also contributed to another reporting trip I took this month, to the Dominican Republic. Very much looking forward to sharing more from that experience in the New Year!

Liyah Babayan, an Armenian woman with black hair and wearing a black turtleneck with a gray dress over top, holds a reproductive health box containing emergency contraception, information about abortion, and more. Behind her is the checkout area of her boutique. It is a colorful space, with jewelry, clothing, and dress forms visible in the background.
Business owner Liyah Babayan, featured in part one of my Idaho series, poses with the reproductive health box she keeps in her boutique in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Finally, I put together a little thread looking back at all the work I’ve done this year on the site formerly known as Twitter, in case there’s anything you missed and want to catch up on.

Thanks for reading, and see you in 2024!

A wide-angle photograph of sunset over Lake Coeur d'Alene. The sun glows yellow just above the horizon, wiht notes of red, orange, yellow, and pink in the sky. The foreground of the photo shows trees, which are so dark they look black, and the winding blue waters of the lake. There are blue-purple mountains in the distance.
Sunset over Lake Coeur d’Alene, on my first night in Idaho.
Garnet Henderson

Garnet Henderson

Garnet Henderson is an investigative reporter and cofounder of Autonomy News. Contact Garnet with story tips at garnet.henderson@gmail.com or on Signal at garnethenderson.12