>>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY BY BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>>> IT'S THE LAST SHOW OF OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON.

AND WE'RE TAKING A LOOK BACK AT FIVE DECADES OF IDAHO POLITICAL HISTORY.

WHAT'S CHANGED, WHAT STAYED THE SAME, AND WHAT WE MIGHT SEE NEXT.

I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK BETSY RUSSELL OF THE IDAHO PRESS, KEVIN RICHERT, OF IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS, AND CHAD HOUCK, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE, JOIN ME TO DISCUSSION ELECTION ODDS AND FOR.

-- AUDITS AND MORE.

BUT FIRST "IDAHO REPORTS" IS THE LONGEST RUNNING PUBLIC POLICY CELEBRATED OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.

OVER THE PAST FIVE DECADES, MANY OF THE DEBATES AT THE STATEHOUSE AND AROUND IDAHO HAVE STAYED THE SAME, BUT A LOT AS CHANGED.

TONIGHT WE -- HAS CHANGED.

TONIGHT WE TAKE A LOOK BACK.

[SOUNDS OF TYPING] >> GOOD EVENING T RELEASE -- >> WE STARTED OUT TWICE WEEKLY, I THINK, AND IT WAS A BOISE-ONLY PROGRAM AND WE CALLED IT "THE REPORTERS," BECAUSE WE RELIED A LOT ON REPORTERS COMING IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT THE STORIES THEY WERE COVERING.

WE ALSO COVERED OTHER LOCAL STORIES.

AND IT GRADUALLY EVOLVED FROM THAT INTO A NIGHTLY INTERCONNECTED PROGRAM WHICH WAS REALLY TOO MY MIND THE WONDERFUL PART ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE WOULD DO STORIES FROM EASTERN IDAHO AND NORTHERN IDAHO AND WE HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE STUDIO IN ALL THREE OF THOSE LOCATIONS.

AND TALK TO THEM FROM HERE.

>> GOOD EVENING.

IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS SINCE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES VISITED IDAHO.

AND AS FAR AS ANYBODY CAN TELL, NO PRESIDENT HAS DONE WHAT JIMMY CARTER IS DOING HERE, RAFTING THE MIDDLE PARK OF THE SALMON RIVER.

>> WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING AROUND THE STATEHOUSE EVERY DAY AS I DID DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND PUTTING ON A HALF HOUR PROGRAM THAT NIGHT, BASED UPON WHAT YOU LEARNE DURING THE DAY AND TALKING TO A HALF DOZEN PEOPLE ON THE SET DURING THE PROGRAM, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD STUFF.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD ACCESS.

>> WE WERE LIVE EVERY DAY ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE STATEHOUSE.

WE HAD A LITTLE STUDIO UP THERE IN THE CORNER AND WE SAT OUT ON A DESK AND DID OUR REPORTING AND ONE OF MAY MAIN JURORS THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS WAS -- MY MAIN JOBS THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS WAS TO MAKE SURE THE FLOOR WAXER DID NOT START UP RIGHT WHEN WE WERE STARTING OUR PROGRAM, WHICH WAS LIVE!

>> AUDIO KILLER, AAH.

I SWEAR SHE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO START BUFFERING THE FLOOR JUST WHEN THE SHOW WOULD BEGIN.

>> WHEN I WAS FIRST HERE, WE WERE WORKING WITH TWO-INCH TAPE MACHINES AND BASICALLY NOBODY COULD TOUCH THEM EXCEPT THE ENGINEERS.

SO WE WERE RELIANT ON ENGINEERS TO HELP US EDIT OUR STORIES U.

BUT WE GOT THE ONE-INCH TAPE MACHINES AND THEY WERE A BONDER.

WE COULD DO OUR OWN EDITING AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> IN THE LATE '90S I THINK 1997, WE MOVED FROM A DAILY PROGRAM TO A WEEKLY PROGRAM.

>> WENT TO A WEEKLY SHOW AFTER FUNDING WAS CUT BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> BY THAT POINT I WAS MANAGING EDITOR AND HOST OF "IDAHO REPORTS."

AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DO.

I HAVE TO SAY.

>> THE ONE THING ABOUT "IDAHO REPORTS" THAT'S REMAINED CONSISTENT IS ITS QUALITY AND COMMITMENT TO COVERING STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> AND SOME WAYS FELT LIKE WE WERE TILTING AGAINST WINDMILLS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS BLOWN UP.

BUT TO JUST HAVE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T AGREE WITH EACH OTHER SIT AROUND A TABLE AND TALK, AND >> ONE PARTICULARLY GOOD MOMENT THAT I REMEMBER WAS RIGHT AFTER THE 1982 ELECTION.

JOHN EVANS RE-ELECTED AS GOVERNOR, DEFEATING PHIL BATT.

LARRY CRAIG WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS AND JOHN HANSON WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

AND WE DID AN HOURLONG SPECIAL THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION AND WE GOT ALL THREE OF THEM ON THE PROGRAM TOGETHER.

AND I DID INDIVIDUAL INTRODUCE WITH EACH ONE OF THEM, AND THEY ENGAGED IN A ROBUST DISCUSSION OF IDAHO PRIORITIES AND POLITICS FOR, YOU KNOW, THE 30 MINUTES OR SO.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY FASCINATING.

>> OUR CONGRESSMEN ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE ECONOMY AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

HOW ABOUT THE BALANCED BUDGET?

WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE THERE?

IT'S THE CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES TO ACCOMPLISH THAT PARTICULAR GOAL.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GOAL TO SUCCEED IN, BUT IF THE PRESIDENT ISN'T SUCCESSFUL, THAT HE CAN'T GET THE CONGRESS TO GO ALONG, THEN THE PRESIDENT IS PROBABLY GONNA SUFFER AS A RESULT OF IT.

>> I REMEMBER I GOT UP IN MY APARTMENT IN 1982, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, I THINK, AND THE APARTMENT WAS SHAKING.

AND I THOUGHT, OOH, I THINK I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING TODAY.

>> DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR CUSTER COUNTY.

THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE OVER THERE IS EXTENSIVE.

WE'VE LOST TWO CHILDREN WHO WERE KILLED ON THE MAIN STREET OF CHALICE.

>> AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THE EARTHQUAKE HAD CENTERED OVER IN CHALLENGEACE, WHICH IS -- CHALICE, WHICH IS A MILLION MILES FROM ANYWHERE.

BUT WE HAD A WOMAN NAMED PAULA WHISTLE, WONDERFUL WOMAN, WHO GOT IN HER CAR WITH HER CAMERA GUY AND WENT AND DID A STORY.

AND HAD IT BACK FOR US, I REMEMBER WE WERE EDITING THAT -- WE AIRED AT 6:30 AND WE WERE EDITING THAT STORY UP UNTIL ABOUT 6:TENT TBFER.

-- 6:25.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IT ENABLED US TO DO, WHICH NOBODY ELSE AT THE TIME COULD DO.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORIES I COVERED FOR "IDAHO REPORTS" WAS THE 1990 ABORTION BILL THAT.

WAS A HUGE BILL.

IT WAS A TEST KAY.

THEY WERE TRYING TO PASS A VERY STRICT ABORTION BILL SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY AND IDAHO WAS WILLING TO BE THE TEST SUBJECT AND IT GOODED THAT LEGISLATURE.

AND THEN IT BEGAN TO DIVIDE THE STATE.

[CHANTING] >> THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING EVERY NIGHT ON THE CAPITOL HILL BUILDING AND -- CAPITOL BUILDING.

>> I DID NOT TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE AS -- FOR GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF IDAHO TO PUT MY NAME ON BAD LEGISLATION.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEREFORE, I HAVE VETOED HOUSE BILL 625 AND RETURNED IT TO THE HOUSE FROM WHENCE IT CAME.

[APPLAUSE] >> HE WANTED THE BONDS TO BE APPROVED, TO SLOWLY PAY THAT OFF AFTER MAKING A BUNCH OF MONEY.

THE LEGISLATURE DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO THAT SPACE.

HE SAT DOWN WITH A -- EVERY BILL THAT HAD BEEN PASSED ON HIM.

HE SORT OF SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO IT AND NOBODY BELIEVED HIM.

AND HE GRABBED 12 OF THEM AND JUST VETOED THEM.

>> THOSE THAT ARE SUGGESTING THAT THIS MAY BE JUST A DAY OR SO LEFT OF THE SESSION, I'M WILLING TO STAY AS LONG AS IT TAKES.

THIS MAY BE A VERY LONG SESSION, FOLKS.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THESE HOUSE BUSINESS.

-- HOUSE BILLS.

>> THAT SOUNDS SENDS A STRONG -- >> BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM.

AND IT BASS -- IT WAS KIND OF COOL AND EXCITING, RIGHT?

YOU DON'T GET THAT KIND OF -- ANYTHING EXCITING FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT.

>> MOST OF THE SAME ISSUES STILL EXIST.

>> THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> THE REINTRODUCTION OF WOLVES, SALMON RECOVERY, CONFINED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS.

>> THE FUTURE OF THE IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY.

>> ABORTION, EDUCATION FUNDING, WATER RIGHTS.

>> THE -- EVERY YEAR ANNUAL BUDGET FIGHT OVER SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HIGHER EDUCATION IS ONE ENDURING THEME IN IDAHO POLITICS.

>> THE ISSUES MAY NOT BE THAT MUCH DIFFERENT, BUT THEY'RE LARGER.

>> YOU ARE BASICALLY COVERING THREE PARTIES NOW.

AND WE ONLY HAD TO COVER TWO.

WE HAD YOUR STANDARD DEMOCRATS AND YOUR STANDARD REPUBLICANS.

AND THERE WERE ALWAYS MORE OF THE LATTER, BUT THERE THEY WERE.

YOU'VE GOT YOUR DEMOCRATS, WHATEVER FEW OF THEM THERE ARE, YOU'VE GOT YOUR ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS.

AND THERE IS A WAR GOING ON FOR IF SOUL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> THE DEBATES TODAY SEEM TO ME TO BE LESS SUBSTANTIVE THAN THEY WERE BACK IN THE '70S AND '80S IN PARTICULAR, AND PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS IDAHO HAS BECOME AN EVEN MORE ONE-PARTY STATE THAN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THOSE DECADES AGO.

>> I THINK THIS WHOLE IN YOUR FACE POLITICS WAS NOT PRESENT 40 YEARS AGO.

AND I THINK IT'S THE RESULT OF SOME MOVEMENT INTO THE STATE, BUT I THINK PRIMARILY IT'S A NATIONAL THING.

AND RESULTS FROM THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE RISE OF DONALD TRUMP.

WHAT I REMEMBER ARE MANY, MANY, MANY DISAGREEMENTS ON ISSUES.

BUT I DON'T REMEMBER MANY QUESTIONING OF MOTIVES.

>> I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

NOR DID I GO DOWN THERE I BUMPED INTO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COMING BACK FROM THE LUNCH HOUR WITH REPRESENTATIVE KERNS RIGHT BESIDE ME AND HE TOLD ME HE SPENT THE OPINION FORTHWITH TO THE HOUSE.

THE LADY DEMANDS AN APOLOGY OF THE GENTLEMAN.

>> THE LADY'S POINT IS BEFORE THE GROUP.

DO YOU CARE TO RESPOND?

>> IF THE LADY DIDN'T DISCUSS THE MATTER, THEN I WAS MISINFORMED AND ON THAT ONE POINT I WILL APOLOGIZE TO THE LADY.

>> DOES THE LADY ACCEPT THE APOLOGY?

>> TO BE PENA DIFFERENT MR. SPEAKER IS TO BE ALMOST INNOCENT.

THEREFORE, THE LADY ACCEPTS THE APOLOGY.

>> IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO INDOCTRINATE OUR CHILDREN OR SOMETHING.

OR YOU WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE GOVERNMENT.

THERE WASN'T A LOT OF QUESTIONING OF MOTIVES.

THERE WAS, HERE'S A PROBLEM, AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AS TO HOW TO FIX IT.

AND MAYBE WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND AND MAYBE WE DON'T AND THE REPUBLICAN VIEW PREVAILS.

BUT IN ANY EVENT, THERE WASN'T THIS IN YOUR FACE -- YOU ARE EVIL, YOU KNOW.

AND THE DESIRE TO SENSOR THINGS -- CENSOR THINGS, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY DANGEROUS TREND.

>> WE NOW TAKE YOU OUT TO THE SCENE OF THE REDEDICATION CEREMONY ON THE STEPS OF THE COAT.

-- COAT -- CAPITOL.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M LORI OTTER AND WELCOME TO THE IDAHO STATE CAPITOL!

>> I THINK SOME WAYS THE STAYS HOUSE STOP HATE HOUSE REED MONTHEL MIGHT HAVE CONTRIBUTED, BECAUSE BEFORE THE WINGS WERE THERE EVERYTHING WAS OUT IN THE OPEN.

THERE WERE NO SECRET EXITS.

THERE WERE NO -- EVERYBODY CAME IN AND OUT THE FRONT DOORS OF EVERY ROOM.

IF YOU WANTED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY THAT DAY, YOU FOUND THEM.

I THINK WITH THE WINGS, AND FOR A LOT OF THE RIGHT REASONS, PUTTING IN ALL THE -- THERE WERE SOME MORE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS OR BACK DOORS AND HALLWAYS THAT PEOPLE WOULD USE.

AND A LOT MORE OFFICE SPACE.

IT JUST -- IT PROFESSIONALIZED THINGS IN A WAY THAT CREATED DISTANCE.

AND SO WHEN THAT DISTANCE IS CREATED, I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO FIND NEW WAYS TO BE HEARD AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, TO A DEGREE.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING SEEN A PROTEST THAT WOULD HAVE SHUT DOWN A HOSPITAL LIKE WE HAD HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, A FEW MONTHS AGO.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING SEEN THAT 30 OR 40 YEARS AGO.

>> IT SEEMS TO ME ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS CHANGED IS THAT IT'S MORE DIFFICULT NOW TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING THAN IT WAS WHEN I WAS TRYING TO DO IT.

THERE WAS NOT THE LEVEL OF ANIMOSITY DIRECTED TOWARDS REPORTERS AND PEOPLE WHO WERE ASKING POLITICIANS AND OTHERS DIFFICULT QUESTIONS.

IT WAS KIND OF EXPECTED TO BE PART OF THE -- PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT, PART OF THE GAME, THAT IF YOU WERE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OR ASPIRING TO BE, YOU HAD TO SHOW UP FOR THE DEBATES AND YOU HAD TO ENGAGE IN THE DISCUSSION AND YOU HAD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

SOMETIMES THAT WERE NOT TERRIBLY COMFORTABLE.

AND I THINK -- TO SOME DEGREE THAT HAS CHANGED FAIRLY DRAMATICALLY.

AND IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT NOW TO PRACTICE THE KIND OF GOOD, STRAIGHTFORWARD, DOWN THE MIDDLE JOURNALISM THAT YOU GUYS PUT ON THE AIR ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MORE SKEPTICAL OF THE MEDIA IN GENERAL, AND ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN AGENDA AS OPPOSED TO JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND AN OUTLET FOR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

>> WHAT "IDAHO REPORTS" DOES IS SO CRITICAL TO DEMOCRACY.

AND TO JOURNALISM.

FOR 50 YEARS, "IDAHO REPORTS" HAS BEEN KEEPING IDAHOANS IN TOUCH WITH THE LAWS THAT ARE BEING MADE FOR THEM, WITH THEM, WITH THEIR TAX MONEY.

>> LET'S GIVE AWAY THE SURPLUS, NOT THE ONGOING REVENUE.

LET'S GIVE THAT BACK TO THE TAXPAYER, THE SURPLUS.

>> WE'RE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION AND WE CAN CUT RATES.

>> WE MUST LEAVE IT THERE.

WE WILL CARRY ON THIS HOUSE CONVERSATION SOME OTHER TIME OR LET YOU TWO CARRY IT ON OUTSIDE THE SET.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> JOINING ME THIS WEEK FOR THE PUNDITS ARE BETSY RUSSELL OF THE IDAHO PRESS, KEVIN RICHERT OF THE IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS WEBSITE, AND CHAD HOUCK, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE.

KEVIN AND BETSY, I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND YOUR REACTION TO THE LOOK BACK ON THE LAST 50 YEARS.

WOULD YOU AGREE, BETSY, THAT IT'S NOT THE TOPICS THAT HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH, IT'S THE TENOR OF THE DEBATES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO MANY OF THOSE TOPICS WERE SO FAMILIAR.

THEY'RE EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE ARE COVERING TODAY.

IT'S ALMOST EERIE HOW MANY OF THE TOPICS ARE THE SAME AND ALSO SO MANY OF THE FACES.

THOSE PHASE LOOK DIFFERENT NOW.

-- FACES LOOK DIFFERENT NOW BUT THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE!

>> THERE WERE SO MANY CLIPS THAT WE FOUND THAT WE DIDN'T USE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY FAMILIAR FACES IN THE ARCHIVES.

>> JUST THE EXCHANGE BETWEE MIKE SIMPSON AND RACHEL GILBERT, WHICH WAS A POINTED EXCHANGE.

IT ALMOST FEELS QUAINT BY COMPARISON TO THE DISCOURSE AND RANCOR THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

MADE KNEE NOSTALGIC IN A WEIRD WAY.

>> IT WAS A CHARMING PUNCHINESS.

AS WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THEMES STAYING THE SAME BUT THE RHETORIC CHANGING, WHAT WOULD YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO, BETSY?

>> WELL, OUR SOCIETY CERTAINLY HAS CHANGED IN MANY WAYS.

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, THE SPLINTERING OF MASS COMMUNICATIONS INTO NICHES WHERE PEOPLE REINFORCE THEIR BIASES RATHER THAN TRY TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE THAT'S CHANGED THE NATURE AND THE TENOR OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

>> AND THE ALGORITHMS, TOO, CERTAINLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA ONLY FEED INTO THAT.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S -- SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ALMOST INCENTIVIZE WHAT HAD WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF DISCOURSE AND THE DEBATE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE ALL KIND OF HOPE IT CHANGES.

I THINK FOR EVERYBODY'S GOOD, WE ALL KIND OF HOPE IT DIALS BACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENS OR WHETHER THAT HAPPENS.

>> CERTAINLY ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE DEBATES THAT SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCED IN IDAHO AND AROUND THE NATION WAS ELECTION INTEGRITY.

AND WHILE SOME STATES MAY HAVE HAD DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, THERE WERE BASSLESS CLAIMS IN IDAHO FROM MIKE LINDAL, THE MY PILLOW -- LINDEL, THE MY PILLOW GUY, CLAIMING IDAHO HAD SOME DISCREPANCIES ITS FIND COUNTS.

I WANT -- FINAL COUNTS.

I WANTED TO GET YOUR RESPONSE ON THAT, CHAD.

>> IT'S VERY,ING THAT WE HAVE NATIONWIDE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT CLAIMS BEING MADE.

BUT THERE'S BEEN VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE EVER BROUGHT FORWARD.

AND IN THE CASE OF THE LINDELL SITUATION, THAT WAS THE FIRST INSTANCE WHERE WE HAD ACTUAL EMPIRICAL NUMBERS PUBLISHED SOMEWHERE PUBLICLY THAT MADE A CLAIM THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED NOT JUST IN A SPOT IN IDAHO BUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF IDAHO AND EVERY ONE OF OUR 44 COUNTIES.

>> SPECIFICALLY IN THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

>> EXACTLY.

AND IT ALLEGED EFFECTIVELY THAT EVERY SINGLE COUNTY IN IDAHO WAS MANIPULATED ELECTRONICALLY BY ABOUT 8 1/2% AND CREATED THAT ERROR, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THAT HAD OVER 30% LEAD IN THE STATEWIDE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WE'VE ALWAYS SAID, IF YOU HAVE ACTUAL EVIDENCE, IF YOU HAVE ACTUAL INFORMATION THAT WE CAN VALIDATE AGAINST OR THAT WE CAN INVALIDATE, BRING IT TO US AND WE'LL INVESTIGATE THAT.

WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.

IN THIS CASE WE FINALLY HAD SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT.

QUESTION WENT OUT AND DID THAT AND FOUND IT TO BE COMPLETELY BASELESS.

>> AND THIS QUESTION YOUR OFFICE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A POST-ELECTION AUDIT, WHICH IS A FAIRLY NEW PROCESS FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

THAT IS A PROCESS THAT GOT SET INTO MOTION EVEN BEFORE THE ALLEGATIONS -- FALSE ALLEGATIONS FROM THE 2020 ELECTION.

CAN YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO AUDITS ARE NOT ANYTHING NEW IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE NOT ANYTHING NEW IN ELECTIONS.

THEY'RE JUST SOMETHING NEW IN IDAHO AND IT'S BEEN ANN AGENDA OF SECRETARY DENNY SINCE HE CAME INTO OFFICE FOR HIS FIRST TERM TO TRY AND LOOK AT -- AT THAT TIME THERE WERE ONLY MAYBE A DOZEN STATES OR SO THAT WEREN'T DOING SOME FORM OF POST ELECTION AUDIT NATIONWIDE.

THAT NUMBER DWINDLING TO NINE BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR LEGISLATION PASSED.

BUT WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS IN 2017, IN 2018 WE GOT A FEDERAL GRANT AND EARMARKED SPECIFIC FUNDS FOR BOTH RESEARCHING AND EXECUTING POST-ELECTION AUDITS IN 2018 AND THOSE HAVE BEEN IN THE REPORTS AND HOLDING ALL THE WAY THROUGH WHILE WE LOOKED AT THIS.

IN FACT, WE USED THOSE FUNDS TO GO DOWN TO COLORADO AND WATCH COLORADO'S RISK LIMITING AUDIT, ACTUALLY GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN EXECUTING THAT RISK LIMITING AUDIT IN 2018.

WE'VE BEEN FINDING OUT WHAT WORKS OR WHAT COULD WORK FOR IDAHO, BUT IDAHO IS UNIQUE IN HOW WE PRODUCE OUR ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE 44 SEPARATE ELECTIONS.

WE CALL IT A BOTTOMUP MODEL WHERE IT'S RUN IN THE COUNTIES, OVERSEEN BY THE STATE, BUT THAT MEANS YOU HAVE 44 DIFFERENT POTENTIAL PROCESSES THAT YOU HAVE TO GO IN AND AUDIT AND THAT MEANS FINDING A COMMON ENTRY POINT AND THAT WAS THE BIG DIFFICULTY IS FIGURING OUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IN IN A WAY THAT'S MEANINGFUL THAT PRODUCES MEANINGFUL RESULTS OR FINDINGS, WHICH IS YOUR GOAL, WITHOUT IT BEING JUST LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER RECOUNT.

AND WHAT WE CAME UP WITH IS THE FACT THAT THE ONE COMMON PIECE ACROSS ALL 44 COUNTIES IS IDAHO'S PAPER BALLOT SYSTEM.

SO YES, IT STARTS IN THE SAME PLAZAS A RECOUNT.

IT GOES -- PLACE AS A RECOUNT, IT GOES DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, BUT THAT'S HOW WE PUT TOGETHER THE LEGISLATURE, GET THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR CYBER SECURITY TASK FORCE TO GET THAT MOVEMENT.

CERTAINLY AIDED BY THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN SWEANS BECAUSE THAT CHANGED THE TENOR OF THE -- SWEANS BECAUSE -- 2020 BECAUSE THAT CHANGED THE TENOR.

>> YOUR OFFICE IS STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AUDIT, BUT CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS THAT YOU'VE HAD SO FAR?

>> AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE ITAL DIFFERENTIATES ITSELF FROM -- EXACTLY WHERE IT DIFFERENTIATES ITSELF FROM THE RECOUNT.

THEY COME FROM THE ATTORNEY ATTY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

THEY'RE IN CONTROL OF THAT PROCESS.

THERE ARE IN FACT -- WE'RE IN BANNOCK COUNTY TODAY AND BANNOCK IS GOING TO BE DOING A RECOUNT IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER WE'RE OUT LOOKING AT THE EXACT SAME BALLOTS.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, WE'RE NOT THERE FOR THE COUNT.

WE'RE USE HAG STARTING POINT TO -- USING THAT STARTER POINT TO SEE IF WE CAN PRODUCE THE SAME RESULTS OR IF WE HAVE VARIATIONS, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH PROCEDURES, COUNTERBALANCES, CHECKPOINTS AND PROCESSES IN PLACE THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN WHY THOSE ARE DIFFERENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN ONE COUNTY RECENTLY WE HAD PLUS 2 FOR MCGRANE.

THEY WERE REVIEWING THE SECRETARY OF STATE RACE.

PLUS 2 FOR MOON, AND PLUS 1 FOR SOUZA.

FOR A NET OF FIVE THERE.

THEN WE HAD A MINUS 1 AND -- SO YOU ENTUP WITH THIS NEG -- END UP REQUEST THIS NEGATIVE 1 OVERALL IF YOU BALANCE THE VOTES OUT.

A RECOUNT WOULD SEE THAT AS A DIFFERENCE OF ONE.

WE SAW THAT AS A DIFFERENCE OF SEVEN.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE VARIATIONS AND TRYING TO EXPLAIN THEM.

>> AND THOSE CAN BE BECAUSE OF LIGHT MARKINGS ON THE BALLOT THAT THE COMPUTER DOESN'T NECESSARILY PICK UP OR MULTIPLE -- >> IT CAN BE THE LIGHT MARKINGS ON A BALLOT IN A SPACE WHERE THEY'RE USING A MATCH TABULATION SYSTEM AT A PRECINCT.

THAT MACHINE IS JUST GOING TO READ THAT AS AN UNDERVOTE.

BUT A HUMAN MIGHT DISCERN THAT VOTER'S INTENT.

THE STATUTES LAYS OUT TWO DIFFERENT PROCEDURES VOTER INTENT ONLY PLAYS IN IN A HAND COUNT COUNTY WHERE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE BALLOT.

SO IT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND YOU HEAR COUNTS REINFORCING, MARK YOUR BALLOT CLEARLY, FILL IN THE BUBBLE FULLY, SO THE MACHINE IS ABLE TO CATCH THAT INTENT.

>> 44 DIFFERENT COUNTIES HAVING 44 DIFFERENT PROCESSES.

ON SOME LEVELS MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT CUSTER COUNTY IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN ADA COUNTY.

BUT ARE THERE SOME PROCESSES WHERE IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE TO HAVE THAT STANDARDIZED ON A STATE LEVEL?

>> WELL, YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT TO BALANCE OF THE EFFICIENCY, COSTS, AND THEN OF COURSE THE ACCURACY AND DID ABILITY TO REPLICATE CERTAIN THINGS IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

SO WHEN YOU GET OUT INTO SOME OF OUR MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES, WE DON'T HAVE STILL TO THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF BROADBAND FOR CONNECTIVITY SO WE CAN GET, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ELECTRONIC POLL BOOK CONNECTION TO FALL INTO A SMALL RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT OUTPOST THAT'S BEING USED AS A POLLING LOCATION.

SO YOU HAVE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN START TO SEE MORE COMMON GROUND AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT.

90% OF IDAHO IS USING ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE -- CLARK COUNTY, 176 VOTERS IN THE LAST ELECTION, TO TRY AND TELL THEM THAT THEY NEED TO SPENT $6 OR THERE ARE 7,000 TO SET UP AN ELECTRONIC TAPLARITY TO COUNT 176 BALLOTS, IT'S JUST UNREASONABLE.

>> WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF THIS PROGRAM LOOKING AT THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

AS WE LOOK AHEAD, KEVIN, DO YOU THINK THAT THE EXTREMISM IS GOING TO SHAPE THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS OF IDAHO POLITICAL DISCOURSE OR HAVE WE HAD -- ARE WE SEEING A COURSE CORRECT AS THIS IS BECOMING A BIGGER -- CORRECTION AS THIS IS BECOMING A BIGGER PART OF THE DIALOGUE?

>> I DON'T SEE A CORRECTION.

I SEE A HARDENING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT WAS SUCH A SPLIT VERDICT.

YOU KNOW BETWEEN MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS WINNING AND HARD LINE REPUBLICANS WINNING.

I DON'T SEE IT AS A COURTS CORRECTION AND I THINK -- COURSE CORRECTION AND I THINK THE HARDENING OF POSITIONS, THE EXTREMISM IN POLITICS WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS THERE'S SUCCESS TO BE HAD AT THE POLLS.

I MEAN, POLITICS JUST KINDS OF WORKS THAT WAY.

IT'S VERY RESULT-ORIENTED.

AS LONG AS THERE ARE RESULTS, THAT IS WHAT WE'LL SEE IN THE FUTURE.

>> I THINK THERE'S SOME ENCOURAGING NEWS IN WHAT CHAD WAS TALKING ABOUT.

SO THIS YEAR THE VOTE TO INSTITUTE THESE POST-ELECTION INTEGRITY YACHTEDS WAS -- AUDITS WAS UNAM MUST IN BOTH HOUSES.

THE VOTE TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY WAS UNANIMOUS.

THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED IT AND THE RESULTS ARE EXTREMELY ENCOURAGING WITH REGARD TO THE INTEGRITY OF IDAHO'S ELECTION SYSTEM.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FROM THE FINAL ONES FOR THE FINAL DAY, BUT ON THE FIRST DAY WHEN THEY AUDITED THE STATE'S LARGEST COUNTY, IT CAME OUT PERFECT.

NO VARIANCE AT ALL.

THAT REALLY PUTS THE LIE TO A LOT OF UNSUBSTANTIATED TALK ABOUT HOW OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK, OUR ELECTIONS DON'T HAVE INTEGRITY, THERE MUST BE FRAUD OUT THERE.

AND I GUESS THE NUGGET OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT I SEE THERE IS PEOPLE CAN LIE, PEOPLE CAN MAKE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS.

BUT WHEN THERE ARE FACTS AND HARD DATA RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM ENDORSED BY ALL SIDES IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND IN OUR LEADERSHIP, THAT TELLS US THE ACTUAL TRUTH.

HOPEFULLY THAT CAPTURES ATTENTION AND THAT SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT FOCUS ON -- ON STANDARDIZING THESE ELECTIONS AND INCREASING PUBLIC TRUST IS GOING TO CARRY OVER WITH THE NEXT SECRETARY OF STATE, WHETHER IT'S PHIL MCGRANE OR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE?

>> I THINK IT'S LESS ABOUT THE STANDARDIZATION AND MORE ABOUT THE SHARING OF IDEAS.

THAT'S -- AS BETSY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE ADA COUNTY COUNT CAME IS OUT EXACTLY ON.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE BIGGEST STORY OUT OF THE ADA COUNTY AUDIT.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE SECONDARY REPORTS FROM OUR OFFICE ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE AUDIT THAT WERE AMAZING WEREN'T THE FACT THAT ADA COUNTY WAS DEAD ON.

IT WAS THE DIFFERENT MEANS BY WHICH THEY GOT TO THAT POINT.

THE EASE AT WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE VARIOUS BALLOTS THAT WE ASKED FOR, BECAUSE THEY WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED.

BUT WE WERE FIND THEM EASILY.

THEY WERE ALL WELL ORGANIZED.

THIS LITTLE GUY RIGHT HERE IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST THING THAT WE CAME OUT OF ADA OUT AND IT'S A GREEN PEN.

AND IT WAS THE FACT THAT BEFORE OUR TEAM WAS ALLOWED TO GO ON THEIR FLOOR WITH THEIR BALLOTS, WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO EMPTY OUR ROCKETS OF ANY BLUE OR BLACK INNGZ AND WE WERE GIVEN GREEN MESS.

SO WE COULDN'T MESS UP A BALLOT AT THAT POINT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS THE END OF OUR BROADCAST SEASON, BUT WE'LL BE BACK ON THE AIR IN OCTOBER.

YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND POLITICAL ANALYSIS AND IN-DEPTH REPORTING FROM AROUND THE STATE ON THE "IDAHO REPORTS" ONLINE SITE, INCLUDING OUR WEEKLY PODCAST AND NEWSLETTER.

YOU CAN FIND ALL THAT AND MORE AT OUR WEBSITE, I'D IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

>> CLOSING NOTE, PERSONAL IN FAUR TONIGHT, A GREAT MANY PEOPLE WORK ON THIS BROADCAST, AND MANY HAVE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST THREE MONTHS TO PREPARE AND PRESENT IT.

PRESENTING A DAILY BROADCAST ON THE GOING ON OF THE LEGISLATURE IS A MAJOR CHANGE AND WE THINK IT IS A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION.

WE CONTINUE AND WILL CONTINUE TO REPORT ON THE ACTIONS AND TO ANALYZE THE RESULTS OF THIS SESSION IN THE DAYS THAT LIE IMMEDIATELY AHEAD.

WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE THERE.

NOW IF YOU WILL, SIT DOR JUST A MOMENT AND READ THE CREDITS AS THEY ROLL TONIGHT.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS BROADCAST WORK.

I'M MARC JOHNSON.

GOOD NIGHT FROM BOISE.

>>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY BY BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.