A mother’s devotion to her child is unmatched. This love takes many forms: strength, compassion, wisdom, grace, joy, labor, humor and even grief, to name a few. The love between mother and child has helped shape America’s identity since the nation’s founding 250 years ago.
It is time to revisit the enduring American family traditions that have supported generations, while also recognizing the challenges for mothers of building both a career and a home. This balancing act reflects the realities women face today.
America’s strength is closely tied to the role mothers play in shaping character, education and moral order within families. From morning until night, mothers serve as the first teachers of empathy, aspiration and discipline. It is mothers who do so much to shape a child’s mind — how to think, how to distinguish right from wrong and how to persevere in challenging times.
The household is our nation’s smallest institution, yet it is the foundation of all others, including democracy itself. The values cultivated in homes often shape the moral voice of the next generation. Looking ahead, we must consider how to strengthen this vital role.
Being a modern mother demands the discipline and restraint to not disregard what came before us. In this spirit, the healthy evolution of the American family can best be achieved by preserving the elements of the past that have proven their worth. In doing so, America can restore the honor of motherhood after years in which feminism often placed career above family, with consequences to our nation.
Yes, women can thrive in both motherhood and business. But let’s be honest, extended families and strong support systems are often essential to providing a solid base for success. That’s why I admire the strength and dedication of single mothers in America, who often handle these responsibilities alone.
I note, too, that May is National Foster Care Month. Across America, tens of thousands of foster mothers selflessly provide safety and stability when it is needed most. Often, these moments create powerful bonds that can alter a child’s trajectory and even lead to a permanent home through adoption, changing lives forever.
American women today are finding unique ways to balance career ambition and family. The busy accountant who makes time during tax season to read with her kids before bedtime; the nurse who works a grueling shift starting at 6 a.m. but treasures being present with her children when they return from school. We all know these incredible women.
From these stories, we revisit a simple but enduring truth about being a mother: You make yourself available not just when it is convenient, but whenever your child needs you. This is the heartbeat of an everlasting connection between a mother and her child.
Children’s trust in their mothers grows over time, particularly when they know they are prioritized — before everything, including work. This holds true not only in moments of need, but also in ordinary moments: when a child wishes to talk, laugh or simply be together. In order to sustain this bond, a mother’s self-care is essential.
To be fully present for a child, mothers must occasionally take time to restore their own energy. Such care is not selfish, but an important part of caring for others. Through self-care, your devotion to your children and the rest of your family is more effective. This approach will enrich every aspect of your life, professional and personal.
Make time for yourself, while also welcoming challenges — learning new things, and discovering and building on your passions.
I constantly challenge myself, as first lady, to think beyond the traditional responsibilities of the East Wing. That has resulted in many new opportunities, including leading four reunifications of Ukrainian and Russian children with their families, addressing the U.N. Security Council on achieving peace through education, and, at the White House, launching Fostering the Future Together, a global effort to help children thrive through the safe and innovative use of technology. But family always comes first.
Together, let’s champion a new American model that restores the honor of motherhood by encouraging all women to lead boldly at work while also making family the cornerstone of our national future. I invite you to join me in prioritizing family as we shape a stronger America for the generations to come.
This column first appeared in The Washington Post,here.
ID Senator Christy Zito (photo credit: Christy Zito)
Strong families create strong communities, and strong communities create a strong state. The older I get, the more convinced I become that this is not just a political philosophy, it is an unshakable truth.
Every major issue we face in society eventually traces back to the condition of the family.
When families are healthy, children thrive. Communities are safer. Neighbors care for one another. Schools function better. People become more resilient, independent, and hopeful.
When families struggle, every institution around them feels the impact.
This is why I believe the family is the most important unit of society and civilization. Before government, before bureaucracy, before institutions, there was the family. It is where children first learn responsibility, faith, discipline, compassion, and love. It is where character is formed.
And children are not interruptions to life or inconveniences to be managed. They are blessings. They are our stewardship. They are the future we are entrusted to protect.
Idaho Families Are Facing Real Challenges
Across Idaho, families are under pressure.
Parents are working harder than ever just to keep up with rising costs. Many feel like the culture increasingly dismisses the importance of motherhood, fatherhood, and parental authority. Families often feel unheard by systems that were supposed to support them.
Too often, the government responds by creating larger systems instead of strengthening the family itself.
I believe that approach is backward.
We should never be looking for ways to replace parents. We should be looking for ways to empower them.
That means protecting parental rights. It means ensuring parents remain the primary voice in their children’s education, healthcare, and upbringing. It means recognizing that children generally do best when they are surrounded by stable, loving family relationships.
It also means we must be willing to confront difficult realities honestly.
Some families are struggling with addiction, instability, poverty, trauma, or generational dysfunction. Those problems are real. But removing children from a home without addressing the underlying causes often only perpetuates the cycle.
We need solutions that restore families whenever safely possible, not systems that simply manage brokenness.
Restoration Over Replacement
When a child is struggling, the answer cannot always be to isolate the child from the family and hope everything improves. We have to ask deeper questions:
Why is the family struggling?
What support is missing?
How do we restore stability, accountability, and health inside the home itself?
Strong societies do not abandon families when they are struggling. They help restore them.
That does not mean ignoring abuse or dangerous situations. Protecting children must always come first. But we should never stop pursuing solutions that heal families and strengthen the home whenever possible.
Culture Matters
Policy matters, but culture matters too.
We live in a time when many foundational truths are being challenged. The value of marriage, the importance of mothers and fathers, the responsibility of parenthood, even the idea that children deserve protection and innocence, these things are increasingly treated as outdated by some voices in our culture.
I reject that completely.
Children deserve stability. They deserve protection. They deserve parents who are empowered and supported in raising them. And communities have a responsibility to reinforce those values, not undermine them.
A healthy society cannot survive if it loses sight of the importance of the family.
Hope for Idaho’s Future
Despite the challenges, I remain hopeful because I know Idaho families.
I have met parents, grandparents, foster families, pastors, teachers, and neighbors throughout our legislative district who quietly do extraordinary things every single day. They are sacrificing for their children. They are caring for aging parents. They are mentoring young people. They are building communities rooted in faith, responsibility, and compassion.
That spirit still exists in Idaho, and it is worth protecting.
The future of our state will not ultimately be decided in Washington, D.C., or even in the Idaho Capitol. It will be decided around kitchen tables, in family homes, in churches, and in communities where people still believe that children are blessings and families are worth fighting for.
Strong families build strong communities.
And strong communities build a strong Idaho.
God bless,
Senator Christy Zito, Idaho State Senate
District 8
(Social Security Administration Press Release, May 8, 2026)
Baltimore, MD – Olivia and Liam were America’s most popular baby names for 2025 – the seventh consecutive year both names have held the top spot. The baby names are drawn from Social Security card applications submitted at birth, making SSA the nation’s authoritative source for baby naming trends.
Last year, America’s most popular baby names remained consistent with years past, with minimal shifts in the top 10 rankings. Charlotte climbed to second place among girls, ending Emma’s six-year run in the runner-up slot. A top-10 fixture for years, Ava dropped from the list entirely – replaced by Eliana, which debuted at number 10. On the boys’ side, the top four names – Liam, Noah, Oliver, and Theodore – held their places.
Here are the top 10 boys’ and girls’ names for 2025:
Boys
Girls
1. Liam
1. Olivia
2. Noah
2. Charlotte
3. Oliver
3. Emma
4. Theodore
4. Amelia
5. Henry
5. Sophia
6. James
6. Mia
7. Elijah
7. Isabella
8. Mateo
8. Evelyn
9. William
9. Sofia
10. Lucas
10. Eliana
Social Security releases the list of the 1,000 most popular baby names each year in honor of Mother’s Day. The full list is available at www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames.
“Happy Mother’s Day to all the exceptional mothers who inspire us and guide future generations,” said Social Security Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. “As Mother’s Day draws closer, I find myself reflecting on the unwavering care, courage, and commitment my own mother instilled in my siblings and me as the glue that held our family together.”
This Year’s Fastest-Rising Names: Fire and Brightness
Beyond the top 10, 2025’s fastest movers tell their own story. The boys’ name Kasai, meaning “fire” in Japanese and Swahili, surged 1,108 positions to enter the top 1,000 for the first time, landing at 639. For girls, Klarity, a contemporary spelling of “clarity” evoking brightness and light, led all risers.
Here are the five boys’ and girls’ names that increased the most in popularity in 2025:
Boys
Girls
1. Kasai
1. Klarity
2. Akari
2. Rynlee
3. Eziah
3. Ailanny
4. Jasai
4. Naylani
5. Neithan
5. Madisson
Social Security began compiling the baby names list in 1997. The full database allows users to search name popularity by year going back to 1880 and by state. Visit www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames.
Additional Baby Names Information:
Most parents apply for their child’s Social Security number (SSN) at birth, during their hospital stay. Commissioner Bisignano encourages families to take this vital step in ensuring valuable protection for any benefits their children may be eligible for in the future.
An SSN is needed to claim a child as a dependent for income tax purposes or to open a bank account in the child’s name and buy savings bonds. More information on getting a child’s SSN and card is provided in Social Security Numbers for Children.
Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today that day-use access fees will be waived at all Idaho state parks on July 4, 2026, inviting residents to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary by experiencing the natural beauty and outdoor heritage of the Gem State.
“As we prepare to mark 250 years of American independence, there is no better way to celebrate than by getting outside with our loved ones and enjoying the freedoms and natural treasures that define our great nation. Idaho’s state parks showcase the very best of our state, and we are proud to welcome families, friends, and visitors to explore them free of charge during this special occasion,” Governor Little said.
The free day-use access applies to Idaho residents at all Idaho state park locations on July 4. Standard fees for camping, reservations, and other services will still apply.
From scenic lakes and rivers to rugged mountains and historic sites, Idaho’s state parks offer something for everyone — including hiking, boating, camping, wildlife viewing, and more.
The fee waiver is part of Idaho’s recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, a milestone that commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
“America’s story is one of freedom, opportunity, and enduring resilience. Here in Idaho, we are proud to carry those values forward. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to spend time outdoors, reflect on our nation’s history, and make lasting memories with loved ones,” Governor Little said.
Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, recreate responsibly, and follow park guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
For more information regarding advanced day use reservations please contact Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information about Idaho State Parks, including locations and amenities, visit parksandrecreation.idaho.gov.
(City of Pocatello Press Release, May 8, 2026; Cover photo credit: City of Pocatello)
Get ready for a little extra wild (and a whole lot of cute). Zoo Idaho has welcomed a new cougar kitten, and now the community is invited to help give her a name.
The approximately five-month-old female cougar arrived from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department after being found orphaned near Afton. When she arrived, she was underweight and not eating. Veterinarians at Alpine Animal Hospital diagnosed her with feline panleukopenia, a serious and often fatal disease in young cats.
Thanks to the dedicated care of Zoo Idaho staff and Alpine Animal Hospital, the kitten survived and is now thriving.
Described as both a survivor and full of personality, she’s already making her presence known with plenty of growls and hisses.
The cougar is expected to be on exhibit mid-summer, once she’s big enough to explore her habitat.
“The first few weeks were intense,” said Zoo Manager Peter Pruett. “But thanks to the incredible dedication of our zookeepers and the team at Alpine Animal Hospital, she pulled through.”
In the meantime, the public is invited to help name her. Submit one name suggestion in the comments on Zoo Idaho’s Facebook or Instagram pages or email yourzoo@pocatello.gov by May 22, 2026.
Zoo staff will select three finalists, and the winning name will be chosen through a public vote with a $5 donation. The name that receives the most donations will be chosen.
All proceeds from the naming contest will go toward improvements to the cougar habitat, including new platforms, climbing structures, shaded areas, and fresh natural ground cover.
For more information contact Zoo Idaho at 208-234-6264.
May 7, 2026 (Cover Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)
Musings on Ideology
By: Brian Almon
Brian Almon
I’ve been pondering the concept of ideology lately and how it interacts with politics. I presume that most in our circles are motivated by ideology. We believe there are moral laws that govern the universe, put in place by our Creator, and that society should be structured in a way that supports those moral laws. We ban murder not because it is a net drain on the economy, but because it is morally wrong to wantonly take the life of another human being. We extend that principle to the unborn, recognizing that they too bear the image of God and that destroying them is morally evil.
Those of us motivated by ideology often find it difficult to evaluate political figures who are not. Yet it’s true that many in politics are motivated by other factors, such as pure pragmatism, economics, or simply maintaining their own power and prestige. It can be hard for ideologues to discern the motives of non-ideologues because we assume they are operating from the same perspective we are. Obviously, that is not always the case.
Yesterday, five of the seven statewide constitutional officers—Gov. Brad Little, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, Controller Brandon Woolf, and Superintendent Debbie Critchfield—expressed support for Sen. Jim Guthrie. To me, and presumably to many of you as well, that is mind-boggling. Guthrie voted with Democrats on numerous important issues, including keeping men out of women’s restrooms and protecting children from being socially transitioned without parental notification. He also boasted on the Senate floor this year that he voted against hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts. Yet Republicans in the executive branch still want to see him reelected.
Why?
It doesn’t make sense from an ideological perspective. But if you take ideology out of the equation, there is a certain logic to it. Guthrie has been around a long time and has surely built relationships with many of these figures. They probably know they can count on him to do what they believe needs to be done—even taking the blame for holding bills they would rather not see reach the Senate floor. How many favors have been traded over the past decade?
What I’m suggesting is that their political calculus is different from ours. I still disagree, don’t get me wrong. Kudos to Attorney General Raúl Labrador for publicly supporting David Worley, who I hope will unseat Guthrie and send him somewhere more suited to his views—perhaps the Idaho Statesman editorial board. But it is valuable to take the time to understand why people do what they do so we can better compete in the political arena. Remember: Patton beat Rommel by first reading his book.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Gem State Chronicle. I encourage our readers to visit their website and consider subscribing. Find this and other informative articles at the Gem State Chronicle here: About – Gem State Chronicle
On March 31, 2026, Rizzoli released Views of America: The Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the U.S. Department of State, a richly illustrated volume celebrating the fine and decorative arts housed in 42 rooms at the Harry S. Truman building in Washington D.C. These rooms, which are open to the public, are home to a significant yet little-known cultural collection.
Many of the objects in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms were created, owned, and used by the men and women who dreamed of self-government and who made independence a reality. The collection reflects the pride, craftsmanship, and spirit of 18th- and early 19th-century America.
Remarkably, the Rooms and their collection were constructed, amassed, and continue to be maintained exclusively through the private gifts of philanthropic and patriotic individuals. Collectively, they are a testimony to the civic engagement and generosity of the American people and to their desire to advance American diplomacy.
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio penned the following foreword to Views of America:
Perhaps the greatest architectural symbol of American diplomatic hospitality is named in honor not of a Secretary of State or President but of one of our first diplomats. At first glance, the monumental Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room – with its gold-topped neoclassical columns, expansive and sumptuous carpets in the style of the finest 18th century British country estates, and magnificent views of our capital city – might seem at odds with the homespun reputation of the father of American diplomacy.
This porcelain group depicts Louis XVI of France in courtly martial costume, united with the American cause for independence, represented by Benjamin Franklin, plainly clothed and gesturing humbly.
But on reflection, besides being an appropriate tribute to an American hero, the room reflects the uniquely American perspective on diplomacy that developed even from Franklin’s vital diplomatic mission during the Revolutionary War, when he set sail for France in the months following our Declaration of Independence two hundred and fifty years ago.
In the Court of Versailles, Franklin presented an image of America that was cultured, literate, witty, and at the forefront of scientific research in its leisurely mid-eighteenth-century mode. At the same time, by intentionally setting aside the fashionable clothes he had worn in his earlier 1767 visit in favor of a more frontier-like demeanor, with a homely brown suit, spectacles and (famously) a large fur hat, he symbolized a new democratic polity. Franklin intrigued his audience in the court of Louis XVI through this synthesis of Old World charm with the virtues of the New World to create an American original.
Perhaps, Franklin was making the most of things in his own canny way. One suspects that he did not usually wear the rustic fur cap with which he charmed the Parisian salons when he was out and about on the streets of Philadelphia. But the contrast of these two missions to France, the rejection of a mere imitation and an embrace of the power of an authentic American perspective, reflects a deeper truth about the wellsprings of American diplomacy.
In the courts of the European powers, American diplomats faced key disadvantages. In the social milieu of diplomacy, rank, seniority, and access depended in part upon the personal rank of diplomats within the aristocratic hierarchies of Europe. Emissaries representing monarchs attained diplomatic privileges that those representing republics did not. The United States, a republic headed by a lowly citizen, ranked lower in diplomatic etiquette than the smallest European monarchy until well into the 19th century.
Many of the objects in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms were created, owned, and used by revolutionary Americans.
The United States did not have many diplomats from families found in the Almanach de Gotha or Debrett’s Peerage. So, what could this young country hang its diplomacy on? The answer that began to emerge, even in the waning days of colonial rule, was an emphasis on classical inheritance and excellence in all that we did.
The Founding Fathers and their generation did not believe themselves to be colonial subjects of one far-flung outpost of the British Empire. Rather, they understood themselves to be inheritors of a great tradition, the descendants (through a British common law branch) of Christian Europe and of classical Greco-Roman civilization. The foundations of statesmanship they learned in Plutarch, Cicero, and Aristotle were more ancient and prestigious than any European noble house, and they taught the virtue and dignity of republican government for the common good of a free citizenry. This classical tradition (as renewed and reclaimed in the work of Montesquieu, Locke, and others) gave the early leaders of our country confidence and pride in the American experiment in self-government, one that sustained them in the face of European condescension and disregard.
And one lesson, clearly conveyed in the Roman histories which our Founders knew intimately from their schoolboy days, was the central importance of virtue and merit to the long-term success of a republic. As Thomas Jefferson and John Adams agreed in their post-presidential correspondence, the United States needed to be led by a “natural aristocracy” consisting not of inherited wealth or privileged birth but of those who had been endowed by their Creator with the “virtue and talents” necessary for good government and successful enterprise. Meritocracy was, for our Founders, a vital ingredient in the “long and perilous contest for our liberty and independence,” an advantage against European states still hidebound by hereditary class and monarchical privilege.
This commitment to excellence without ostentation, rooted in our classical Western inheritance, defined American diplomacy, extending to the architecture and decorative arts of the places in which it was practiced. In this respect, the Diplomatic Reception Rooms are an outstanding symbol of the heart of a uniquely American diplomacy. In interiors crafted by classical architects inspired by the 1960s Americana revival, these 42 rooms pull together a unique collection of furniture, art, and artifacts generously provided by the American people through private donations to reflect the best of our traditions of craft and art.
This desk and bookcase was made by Benjamin Frothingham in 1753 when he was 20 years old. It is the first documented piece of bombé-shaped furniture made in America.
The excellence and craft that suffuses these rooms speaks to the dignity and worth of the American worker, and the ability of the United States to cultivate the best talent in the world. On July 4th, 1821, our 8th Secretary of State (and later president) John Quincy Adams gave a speech reflecting on what the young country had already contributed to the world in not yet half a century. While focusing on the glories of American liberty, Adams also extolled the industry, invention, and skill of America’s great craftsmen, artists, and entrepreneurs.
In a humbling way, the beauty of these objects contains a bitter lesson about the Americans we at the State Department are privileged to represent. At some point between the early years of the Republic (represented artistically and architecturally in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms) and the present, America’s foreign policy leaders lost sight of the everyday Americans they were called to represent. As we see throughout the Secretary of State’s office suite and the Diplomatic Reception Rooms, the Western tradition and a commitment to excellence are married in the very objects of our diplomatic practices. But the important industries that sustain that harmony have been destroyed by reckless policies. In the ten years after the U.S. lowered tariff barriers and agreed to let China join the WTO in 1999, more than half of the furniture makers in North Carolina lost their jobs. The halls of the State Department are still filled with furniture made in America, but today too few homes in this country or around the world can say the same.
As we celebrate the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation, let us rededicate ourselves to a foreign policy for the common good of the American people. Inspired by the art and architecture of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms, let us restore a diplomacy rooted in the Western inheritance and the cultivation of virtue. The essays and artwork of this volume are a noble tribute to our fine tradition of uniquely American diplomacy, and a fitting inspiration for the work remaining to us, to ensure a bright future for the next two hundred and fifty years of this great nation.
Marco Rubio was sworn in as the 72nd Secretary of State on January 21, 2025. The Secretary is creating a Department of State that puts America First.
You’re invited to attend a public meeting to learn about projects on I-15 near Blackfoot. This is an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and provide feedback! Drop in anytime between 4 – 6:30 p.m.:
Fort Hall: Tuesday, May 12 • Shoshone-Bannock Convention Center (777 Bannock Ave.) Blackfoot: Wednesday, May 13 • Ridge Crest Elementary School (800 Airport Rd.)
(Idaho Parks and Recreation Department Press Release, May 6, 2026; Cover photo credit: Idaho Parks and Rec)
Be part of Idaho history as we celebrate the opening of Twin Peaks Ranch State Park, the first new Idaho State Park in 30 years!
Join us in the wide-open mountains just outside Salmon for a one-of-a-kind celebration in a place defined by big skies, rugged peaks, and unforgettable views.
Set on 677 acres of stunning high-country landscape, Twin Peaks Ranch State Park is your gateway to adventure featuring access to over 2,000 miles of trails, incredible wildlife viewing, peaceful fishing ponds, and sweeping views of the Bitterroot and Lemhi mountain ranges. It’s a place where elk roam, stars shine brighter, and Idaho’s wild spirit truly comes to life.
And now, it’s officially yours to explore.
Event Details
Twin Peaks Ranch State Park (20 miles south of Salmon, Idaho)
Saturday, June 27
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Mountain Time)
This isn’t just a ribbon cutting it is going to be an incredible celebration you will not want to miss.
Come help us make history as we cut the ribbon, explore the park, tour the lodge and cabins, and experience this incredible new destination firsthand. From scenic overlooks to backcountry access, this park offers a rare kind of quiet and connection you won’t find just anywhere.
Bring your friends, bring your family, and come ready to celebrate the future of outdoor recreation in Idaho.
Everyone is welcome so spread the word far and wide!
We’re proud to create spaces like this for our community, and we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with you.
(Idaho Secretary of State Press Release, May 8, 2026)
The Primaries are coming!
There are two ways to remind Idahoans that the Primary Election is almost here:
ride through town yelling from horseback… or launch a statewide ad campaign.
We chose option two. (Paul Revere was unavailable.)
Our new America 250-themed campaign is designed to help Idaho voters know when, where, and how to vote ahead of the May 19 Primary Election. If you haven’t caught one of the ads during a commercial break of Jeopardy! yet, you can check them out here.
And while the campaign may be fun, the information is important.
Early voting is underway in many counties across Idaho, and today [May 8] is the last day to request an absentee ballot. Whether you plan to vote early, absentee, or on Election Day, VoteIdaho.gov is your one-stop shop for election information.
Learn more about Idaho’s voting process and election security
One of the most useful tools available to voters is the personalized sample ballot feature, which allows you to see exactly what will appear on your ballot before heading to the polls.
This year’s primary ballot includes races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate, State House of Representatives, county offices, judges, precinct committeemen, and local races and measures across Idaho.
So, whether you vote early, absentee, or at the polls on May 19, now is the time to make your plan.
The Primaries are coming, so get out and vote!
Phil McGrane
ABOUT SECRETARY PHIL McGRANE
Phil McGrane was elected Idaho’s twenty-eighth Secretary of State and took office on January 2, 2023. McGrane served as elected Clerk of Ada County from 2019-2022.McGrane holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a juris doctorate, and a Master of Public Administration. As a fourth-generation Idahoan, Phil has dedicated his career to making elections in the state of Idaho accessible, secure and transparent.
