James Risch

Good, good, good.

Okay, so we'll just chat with you, ask you questions like you got into singing, maybe a little bit about Jim's competition that happened, anything else you do.

Have you competed in like pageants or anything? I actually have.

I'm

Can I do a little quiz on you, Julie? Yeah.

And this is not designed to make you look dumb, okay? It's another point that I'm trying to make.

Who's Jim Risch running against?

Well, the independent candidate is Todd Achilles.

Among Friday's guest speakers will be Boise Police Chief Chris Dennison, Boise Fire Division Chief Roy Mitchell, and U.S.

Senator Jim Risch.

It's been 25 years.

I think there are so many people now who, whether it's just because they're young or just because life has changed, it's hard to remember kind of what life was like pre-9-11, but just putting that memory into context and letting it remind people how it really serves our mission today.

I asked Todd about his career, his views on the parties and running as an independent, about the political culture of Idaho, and related matters.

If you're interested in how Todd is working to beat the antique Trump-supporting incumbent Republican Jim Risch in a very red state, you should listen.

So, after a quick word from my sponsor, my interview with Todd Achilles.

This episode is brought to you by Graphicacy.

I mean, the last thing we want is a politicized military.

Hegseth, hands down, he is the worst Secretary of Defense in the history of the position.

My opponent, Jim Risch, confirmed him.

He got confirmed by one vote.

But, uh, there's an ind- the Democrats have yielded the field to an independent who's a very impressive veteran, uh, and, uh, moderate, you know, independent candidate.

Uh, the Republican is Jim Risch, who's 83.

I didn't realize this.

I don't know, he's like, he's quite old.

You know, I'll tell you why I know what makes a difference.

A good friend of mine is a Senator named Jim Risch.

He's a probably the most conservative.

I mean, arguably the most conservative Senator in the Senate.

And he said he did not want to drop out and he did not endorse Achilles, but he felt like he just didn't have a path forward.

So, Laura, before we wrap this up, now that Roth is officially out, what does the Senate race look like then between Jim Risch and Todd Achilles? And I mean, there are other candidates, but the race really comes down to these two now.

Yeah, there will be another independent candidate on the ballot, Natalie Fleming and a libertarian, Matt Loseby.

But Achilles' campaign has kind of made the case that the race is really between them.

Let's hear them again.

Receiving a medal from his former college and a formal public apology from United States Senator James Risch, citing past diplomatic insults and political friction.

I mean, I have to pause here because this sounds almost fictional.

We were talking about critical international peacekeeping missions, complete with a neutral mandate backed by global organizations, being stalled by a demand for a personalized diplomatic apology from a foreign legislator.

And so it was me, Lindsey Graham.

It was Jim Risch, Rick Scott and Joni Ernst.

It was the five of us who were there.

And we were talking beforehand.