Inside: Governor Scott Walker’s Message on Charlie Kirk
September 22, 2025
Dear Friends,
Our students loved Charlie Kirk. Some knew him because they attended Turning Point USA events in addition to Young America’s Foundation’s programs. Others knew him because they listened to his podcasts and broadcasts. Most knew him from his viral moments on social media.
I wasn’t alive when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, but I believe that is what this feels like for conservatives—young and old. It is a very sad time for America.
I first met Charlie when he introduced me at CPAC years ago. He started TPUSA on the night we won the 2012 recall election in Wisconsin. Being from Illinois, he supported our efforts to fight back against radicals in my home state. He was an amazing young man.
Over the years, I spoke at several TPUSA conferences, both of my sons knew and worked with Charlie, and I supported his organization’s work in my state. I was with him in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, earlier this year when he participated in an event for the state Supreme Court race.
The last time I saw Charlie was at Wrigley Field this summer. My Brewers were playing his Cubs. I was there with a YAF supporter and went up to the box before the game to see Charlie and his family. I told his parents how proud they should be of their son. I can’t stop thinking about them now.
One of Young America’s Foundation’s 9/11: Never Forget Project campus memorials includes a special American flag in honor of Charlie Kirk.
Within hours of the horrific news, some were calling on groups like YAF to stop sending conservative speakers to campuses. While we are reviewing our security measures to do all that we can to ensure the safety of our students, speakers, and staff, WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN.
In fact, plans are underway for YAF to bring MORE speakers to campuses this school year. None of our speakers have backed down. In fact, most want to speak at more events. It will cost us more as we will add security measures, including metal detectors, at our venues. I hope college and university leaders will help cover the costs of security for all speakers on campus. Regardless, we will do what is necessary to be both safe and strong.
That has been my message to our students: Be safe, but be strong. We can do both. We must do both.
This edition of Libertas was finalized before we learned about this tragedy. It is filled with good news about the work we are doing with college, high school, and middle school students. Instead of delaying these reports, we are sharing this edition with you. That said, I could not wait to pay tribute to Charlie.
Thank you for your amazing support of our Movement. Please continue to pray for Charlie’s family and all who were touched by him here on earth. Please pray for the young people who are heartbroken. And please continue to pray for America!
Keep Fighting for Freedom,
Governor Scott Walker President
Libertas, the Latin word for liberty, is a publication of Young America’s Foundation which highlights the programs, events, students, alumni, supporters, and staff of the Foundation. You may contact Libertas and Young America’s Foundation by writing to: Young America’s Foundation, National Headquarters, 11480 Commerce Park Drive, Sixth Floor, Reston, Virginia 20191; calling 800-USA-1776; or visiting yaf.org.
Editor: Raj Kannappan; Publisher: Governor Scott Walker; Publication Design: Jonathan Briggs; Assistant Editors: Christopher Byrnes, Kelleigh Clarke, Patrick X. Coyle, Kacie Elmer, Kyle Ferrebee, Madison Habersetzer, Clare Hinshaw, Jessica Jensen, Ella Johnson, Bre Marsh, Rico Riccardi, Tom Robinson, Ellen Saakashvili, and Connor Vogelsong; Washington,
photographers: David
and Bob Updegrove; California event photographers: Amy
YAF Campus Leaders Honor Greatest Generation
Building on a 65-year record of teaching and inspiring young people with the principles of a strong national defense, Young America’s Foundation launched the Normandy Summit on Liberty & Leadership in 2025. This unique program offered a select group of top YAF student leaders the opportunity to stand on the historic shores of Normandy, where they encountered the courage and sacrifice that defined D-Day.
The inaugural Normandy Summit coincided with the 81st anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed in Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.
Before departing for Europe, students gathered at YAF’s National Headquarters in Reston, Virginia, where they participated in classroom training sessions with Lt. Col. Allen West, YAF President Governor Scott Walker, and author and YAF Director Wynton Hall. Students learned about the legacy of the freedom fighters who came before them and sharpened their skills to effectively advocate for the principles of freedom on campuses today.
The group then traveled to Normandy for a week filled with history, learning, and commemorations.
Their first stop was the Normandy American Cemetery, where YAF hosted a private wreath-laying ceremony in
front of “The Spirit of American Youth” memorial statue. Students then walked among the many rows of headstones of American soldiers—many of whom were younger than the YAF students when they perished—remembering their brave countrymen who gave their lives to ensure freedom endures today.
The unforgettable trip also included visits to the memorials at Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and Juno Beach.
Additionally, students toured Pointe du Hoc, where President Ronald Reagan delivered his speech—“The Boys of Pointe du Hoc”—on June 6, 1984. The solemn setting reminded students of the courage it took for those soldiers to climb those same cliffs 81 years earlier.
At the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église, the museum’s director joined the YAF group for stops at key exhibits, including the Reagan Conference Center, a World War II glider, and a paratrooper jump simulator.
A highlight of the program was a World War II Airborne Operation reenactment featuring Lt. Col. West and dozens of others who parachuted over Saint-Martin-de-Varreville.
To conclude the memorable journey, students attended a banquet hosted by the Amis des Vétérans Américains (Friends of American Veterans), where they met World War II veterans and expressed their gratitude for all the veterans did to preserve freedom for future generations.
University of Dallas YAF activist Angela Philpott reflected on her experience, stating,
This trip was incredible and transformative...Whether it was walking on the once-bloodied sand, hearing our national anthem be given such deep respect by a grateful people, squinting through rain as paratroopers dropped from the sky, or being able to thank the fallen heroes of D-Day myself at the Normandy American Cemetery, I will never forget this trip. I am going home with a profound understanding of the cost of freedom, which will inform my actions and hopefully lead to my own “rendezvous with destiny.”
During YAF’s inaugural Normandy Summit on Liberty & Leadership, top student activists visit Pointe du Hoc to commemorate the 81st anniversary of D-Day.
Recent University of Texas at El Paso YAF Chairwoman Paola Martinez thanks a World War II veteran for his service.
YAF Student Activists Win First Amendment Fight at Golden West College
young america’s foundation’s student activists have led the fight for free speech on college campuses since the organization’s founding, refusing to let “high-profile” speaker requirements, discriminatory security fees, and other forms of censorship go unchallenged. YAF has won legal victories in recent years against the University of California, Berkeley; California State University, Los Angeles; and many other colleges and schools for constitutional violations.
In the latest legal fight, YAF—represented by the Institute for Free Speech (IFS)—has won a federal lawsuit against Golden West College (GWC) in Huntington Beach, California, for the school’s First Amendment violations against student attempts to form and operate a Young Americans for Freedom chapter.
The lawsuit began when GWC YAF activists Matin Samimiat, a U.S. citizen originally from Iran, and Annaliese Hutchings exercised their First Amendment right to free speech by displaying messages such as, “Hamas is a terrorist organization, and they must be wiped from the face of the earth.”
Radical students reacted with hostility, with some filing complaints against Samimiat and shouting, “Go back to your f***ing country.”
Stephanie Smallshaw, GWC’s director of student life and leadership development, unconstitutionally sided with the radicals and attempted to stop Samimiat from speaking. As a disciplinary officer, Smallshaw had the authority to use vague language in GWC’s Student Code of Conduct to punish Samimiat and Hutchings for supposedly “hateful” and “disgraceful” behavior. Smallshaw ordered Samimiat to stop using language that “dehumanized” people and said he had no right to share his “opinion” that Hamas is a terrorist organization. According to Smallshaw, Samimiat was to blame for the resulting hostility because he “triggered” others.
All this followed Samimiat and Hutchings’ long-fought battle to gain official school recognition for their YAF chapter over claims that YAF was “too political” for criticizing communism. The group responsible for official recognition— which was led by fellow students and overseen by Smallshaw— initially voted YAF down in a viewpoint-discriminatory process. Smallshaw even threatened to discipline Samimiat for calling the recognizing group “student tyrants.”
Now, Samimiat and Hutchings have achieved a total victory against GWC, with the College agreeing to a settlement that applies to more than 40,000 students and requires it to:
• Repeal its ban on “hateful behavior”
• Repeal its ban on “infliction of mental harm,” defined as behavior that “purposefully demeans, degrades, or disgraces any person”
• Enshrine language that protects students’ First Amendment rights
• Pay compensatory damages to Samimiat and Hutchings in the amount of $17.91—which represents the year the First Amendment was ratified
• Pay plaintiffs’ legal fees
Following this free speech victory, Samimiat remarked,
This settlement reminds us that the First Amendment still means something in America. When I came to this country from Iran, I never imagined I’d have to fight for the same free speech rights here that were denied to me there. But thanks to this victory, future students won’t have to choose between expressing their deeply held beliefs and facing discipline under an unconstitutional speech policy.
To learn more about YAF’s free speech defense work, please visit YAF.org/legalbattles
The Golden West College Young Americans for Freedom chapter’s campus advertising leads to unconstitutional speech suppression from the school’s administration.
Remembering Freedom Fighter David Horowitz
young america’s foundation mourns the passing of david horowitz, a dear friend and one of America’s staunchest proponents of Western values.
Horowitz was the founder and president of the Horowitz Freedom Center, the mission of which is to defend free societies whose moral, cultural, and economic foundations are under attack by enemies in America and abroad.
Born in New York City to Jewish communist parents, Horowitz was an alumnus of Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley, and an early activist involved with far-Left causes such as the Black Panther Party and Ramparts magazine.
His ideological conversion from an avowed Marxist to a
conservative made him a leader in combating the efforts of the Left and its radical Islamic allies to attack core American values, especially following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
A prolific speaker, writer, and public intellectual, Horowitz was a staple of YAF’s premier campus lecture program— speaking at more than 140 events organized by the Foundation —and student conferences for more than three decades.
Horowitz’s willingness to debate anyone, anywhere took him to YAF events at the most liberal campuses, including the University of California, Berkeley; Oberlin College; The George Washington University; University of California, Los Angeles; and University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Among Horowitz’s many attributes, one that was evident at his YAF campus lectures was his ability to make leftists reveal their true, underlying views. In one such instance, during an event at the University of California, San Diego, Horowitz elicited a chilling admission from a student—during the question-and-answer session—who refused to condemn Hamas and instead stated that she supported Hezbollah’s hope for Jews to gather in Israel so Iran-backed terrorists would not have to hunt Jews down around the world.
For his invaluable contributions to the modern Conservative Movement, YAF awarded Horowitz its Lifetime Achievement Award at the Foundation’s National Conservative Student Conference in 2010.
YAF Vice President Patrick Coyle remarked,
David was a dedicated freedom fighter and frequently spoke to student audiences on college campuses. He never hesitated to appear at YAF events and always reminded young conservatives never to capitulate to the tyrannical Left.
David Horowitz’s fearlessness inspired thousands of YAF activists who now carry on his work. While his loss to the Conservative Movement is significant, his brilliant speeches and writings live on as a guide for future generations to protect and preserve America’s founding values.
A frequent speaker at Young America’s Foundation’s student programs, David Horowitz addresses college students during one of his appearances at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, California.
Speaking at Bowling Green State University—one of the more than 140 campuses he visited with Young America’s Foundation—Horowitz makes an unapologetic case for Western values.
Following his speech at YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference in 1993, Horowitz signs copies of his book, Surviving the PC University, for attendees.
Jordan, Bruce, and Jashinsky Address YAF’s Annual Reagan Forum
hundreds of students interning in washington, d.c., attended young america’s foundation’s annual reagan forum on capitol hill The event, which coincides with the anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s passing in 2004, educates the next generation of young conservatives and future leaders about the values and legacy of President Reagan.
This year’s program—titled “Putting America’s Enemies on Notice: Reagan and Trump’s Approach to Advancing Freedom Worldwide”—featured remarks by Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-04), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Department of State Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, a longtime YAF ally. YAF Director Emily Jashinsky, host of the new video podcast After Party, moderated the discussion, which explored the ideological and policy parallels between Presidents Reagan and Donald Trump.
YAF’s staff and William & Berniece Grewcock Intern Scholars welcomed attendees to the program and discussed opportunities for students to become involved with the Foundation on campus, including Young Americans for Freedom chapters and YAF’s individual membership program.
During his remarks to attendees, many of whom were interning in congressional offices, in Conservative Movement
organizations, or at media outlets in the nation’s capital, Congressman Jordan praised President Trump’s unwavering resolve to protect American interests at home and abroad. He encouraged students to embrace courage and conviction in the face of adversity.
Spokeswoman Bruce delivered a moving reflection on her personal journey to conservatism—first inspired by President Reagan’s optimism and later solidified by President Trump’s boldness. She discussed key current policy issues, including America’s role on the world stage, border security, and the importance of national sovereignty, connecting both Presidents’ approaches to restoring American strength and pride.
Jashinsky concluded the event by challenging the young leaders to be bold advocates for freedom—not only during their internships in the nation’s capital, but also on their college campuses and beyond.
A standing-room-only audience of interns participate in YAF’s annual Reagan Forum on Capitol Hill.
Deputy United Nations Ambassador nominee Tammy Bruce discusses her experience of becoming a conservative after being inspired by President Ronald Reagan’s leadership.
Congressman Jim Jordan challenges students attending the 2025 Reagan Forum to boldly promote conservative values among their peers.
Forever Tie Your Name To The LegacY oF roNaLd reagaN
Sponsor
an Acre at Rancho del Cielo •
“From the first day we saw it, Rancho del Cielo cast a spell over us.” — Ronald Reagan
“We hope that our ranch will be a spark for many bright young Americans in the years ahead.” — nancy Reagan
“A place to see the real Ronald Reagan” — Washington Post
“Rancho del Cielo has allowed the foundation’s reach to transcend generations.”
— Los angeLes times
For more than 60 years, Young America’s Foundation (YAF) has worked closely with President Ronald Reagan and his family to inspire young people with the ideas of individual freedom, free enterprise, a strong national defense, and traditional values.
Since 1998, YAF has preserved Reagan’s 688-acre Rancho del Cielo in California, where thousands of young people have walked in the President’s footsteps to learn about his character, values, and vision for America.
You can permanently tie your name to America’s greatest modern champion for freedom by sponsoring one of the few remaining acres at the Reagan Ranch. Join an exclusive group of patriotic Americans by protecting this priceless national treasure for the benefit of future generations.
When you sponsor an acre at Rancho del Cielo, you will:
• Have your name permanently recognized on Rancho del Cielo’s Freedom Wall and at the Reagan Ranch Center, YAF’s Schoolhouse for Reaganism in Santa Barbara, California
• Have the opportunity to take a private, unforgettable tour of the Reagan Ranch
• And more!
Rancho del Cielo is preserved exclusively through private support. Young America’s Foundation accepts no government funding.
YAF Supporters Gather for Largest-Ever Rawhide Circle Retreat in Asheville
By Ilinca Biggs, Senior Development Officer & Events Manager
Young America’s Foundation’s supporters from across the country convened in Asheville, North Carolina, for the 2025 Rawhide Circle Retreat. Since 2002, YAF has hosted an annual retreat for Rawhide Circle members, who provide the backbone of support for the Foundation’s mission and work.
This year’s retreat—the largest in YAF’s history—brought together 87 families from 20 states, totaling nearly 200 supporters, at the Grove Park Inn and Biltmore Estate to spend time with YAF’s team and prominent conservative leaders. The Blue Ridge Mountains provided a stunning backdrop for discussions about YAF’s nationwide youth outreach efforts and plans for significant growth in the coming years.
The program began with a reception at the Grove Park Inn, where YAF President Governor Scott Walker welcomed guests and highlighted the crucial role Rawhide Circle members play in ensuring the Foundation and its thousands of students nationwide can effectively advance America’s core values.
The group gathered for several informative sessions the next day. Following introductions from first-time Rawhide Circle attendees, YAF Vice President Patrick Coyle moderated
an inspiring campus activism panel featuring some of YAF’s top student leaders, including Benjamin Isbell from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, Caitlyn Helm from the University of Florida (see page 22), and Trenton Buffenbarger from the University of Alabama (see page 18).
Governor Walker then offered a briefing to the Foundation’s
Recent RNC Chairman Michael Whatley discusses the Trump administration’s efforts to implement conservative policy reforms.
Members of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors participate in their annual meeting during the retreat.
key stakeholders on YAF’s Campaign to Save America, the threeyear plan to recruit significantly more students nationwide, at younger ages, with more effective communication.
The afternoon provided an opportunity for attendees to explore Asheville through memorable excursions, including golf, hiking, a trolley tour, a winery tour, and horseback riding.
Later in the day, the opening dinner banquet—emceed by YAF Director Kate Keeler—featured Hillsdale College
Distinguished Fellow Dr. Burt Folsom, YAF’s longest-serving speaker and a leading economic historian, who set the stage for
the next day’s visit to the Biltmore Estate. Delivering a speech based on his popular book, The Myth of the Robber Barons, Dr. Folsom highlighted the lasting impact of America’s early entrepreneurs, including Cornelius Vanderbilt, whose wealth provided for the construction of the famed Biltmore Estate.
Following their tour of the Biltmore Estate the next morning, attendees gathered for a luncheon on a picturesque hilltop overlooking the historic home. Governor George Allen, chairman of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors, offered remarks highlighting the need to preserve and pass
Nearly 200 YAF supporters from across the country attend the 2025 Rawhide Circle Retreat in Asheville, North Carolina.
Governor Scott Walker, Young America’s Foundation’s president, offers a briefing on YAF’s Campaign to Save America.
Governor George Allen, chairman of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors, and former Virginia First Lady Susan Allen join fellow conservatives for a memorable luncheon at the historic Biltmore Estate.
on President Ronald Reagan’s freedom philosophy to future generations. Guests also enjoyed entertainment in the form of live bluegrass music and dancing.
To conclude the program, Governor Walker emceed the closing dinner featuring recent RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, who was joined by his wife, Suzanne, and son, Michael Whatley Jr., a Clemson University YAF chapter member. During his remarks and question-and-answer session, Whatley discussed the lessons of the 2024 Presidential election and conservatives’ efforts to restore election integrity,
create greater economic prosperity for all, and protect America’s borders.
Additionally, during the retreat, members of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors held their annual meeting, in which they discussed the latest projects at Rancho del Cielo and the Foundation’s progress on expanding Midwest outreach at the Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon, Illinois. Young America’s Foundation thanks all Rawhide Circle members for investing in educating and training the next generation of young conservative leaders.
(From left) YAF Vice President Patrick Coyle moderates a panel featuring top YAF student activists Benjamin Isbell from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Caitlyn Helm from the University of Florida, and Trenton Buffenbarger from the University of Alabama.
Join the Club!
Become a member of one of Young America’s Foundation’s exclusive, annual giving clubs to help save America.
Members of President’s Club, Rawhide Circle, and Defenders of Freedom provide the backbone of support for YAF’s efforts to pass on your conservative values to future generations of young Americans.
Benefits include permanent recognition at the Reagan Ranch, invitations to exclusive giving club events, private visits to the Reagan Ranch for you and your family, and much more.
Young America’s Foundation’s Giving Clubs
President’s Club Benefits (annual giving of $2,500+)
• An invitation to the annual President’s Club Weekend
• A permanent engraving of your name on Freedom Wall at the Reagan Ranch
• Open invitation to visit the Reagan Ranch or the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home for a private tour
Rawhide Circle Benefits (annual giving of $10,000+; or lifetime giving of $100,000+)
• An invitation to the annual, exclusive Rawhide Circle Retreat
• A unique Rawhide Circle recognition plaque to acknowledge your membership
• All benefits included in YAF’s President’s Club giving level
Defenders of Freedom Benefits (annual giving of $100,000+; or lifetime giving of $1,000,000+)
• Invitations to exclusive Defenders of Freedom events around the country
• Prominent, permanent recognition on Freedom Wall at the Reagan Ranch
• VIP access to YAF events around the country featuring Foundation leaders and conservative dignitaries
• All benefits included in YAF’s President’s Club and Rawhide Circle giving levels
For more information, please contact Director of Development Jason Barbour at jasonb@reaganranch.org or (336) 543-4536.
YAF’s Latest Poll Illuminates Rightward Shift of Generation Z
By Spencer Brown, Chief Communications Officer
As the principal youth outreach organization of the Conservative Movement, Young America’s Foundation routinely surveys the rising generation to gain insights regarding the priorities, concerns, and ideological makeup of America’s youth.
In the wake of the 2024 election, much was made about young voters’ shift to the right, most notably among young men but also among young women. When compared to the 2020 Presidential election, it is clear that the significant change in support among 18 to 29-yearold voters helped propel Donald Trump to victory—in every swing state, the Electoral College, and the popular vote.
To better understand what young Americans were driven by last November—and what they expect
“On the issue of America’s national debt...Sixty-nine percent of this demographic feels it is unfair for the federal government to spend more money than it takes in, leaving the rising generation responsible for addressing the growing debt. ”
moving forward—YAF partnered with Echelon Insights, a leading data and polling firm with expertise in reaching young Americans, to survey a nationally representative sample of more than 1,000 18 to 29-year-old voters.
Among the key takeaways were the following:
• More young liberals voted for Donald Trump than young conservatives voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential election.
• More than half of young liberals said their views on social issues have shifted “much more” to the Left in recent years.
• Young conservatives say their political views are informed
by their own experiences, families, and religion— not being “brainwashed” by prominent influencers online.
• In the wake of the 2024 election, young conservatives are emboldened and more likely than their liberal or independent peers to feel comfortable sharing their views.
• The cost of living, jobs, and the economy remain the top concerns for young Americans.
• Most young Americans feel the U.S. should have a role—albeit a minor role—in resolving the conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and its foes.
• A plurality of young liberals, conservatives, and independents agree that the mainstream media cannot be trusted.
• Most young people think the federal government needs significant reform.
• Sixty-nine percent of young voters say it is unfair for the government to continue spending that adds to the national debt, a burden they do not want to undertake.
When asked about their priorities in choosing a candidate in 2024, nearly 60 percent of young Trump voters said the most important attributes they considered were a strong leader and someone who gets things done. Among Harris voters in this demographic, young people favored someone who cares about people like themselves and who they believe is honest and trustworthy.
Eighty-four percent of young Trump voters said their vote was for Trump, while 15 percent said they chose him as more of a vote against Harris. Conversely, just 58 percent of Harris voters said they voted for her as a candidate, while 40 percent cast their ballots as a vote of opposition against Trump.
Within this rising generation of voters, Trump attracted a more ideologically diverse coalition that pushed him to victory. Perhaps more notably, warnings that young conservatives would vote en masse for Harris in protest of Trump never materialized. Instead, more young liberals voted for Trump than young conservatives voted for Harris.
When asked how their views may have shifted in recent years, young conservatives report moving rightward on economic and social issues—69 percent and 61 percent, respectively—while 79 percent of young liberals said their views on social issues have become more liberal, including nearly half who said their views have moved “much more” leftward.
Young voters still say their personal experiences, family members, and faith are most influential in determining their views on public policy issues. Among young conservatives, 19 percent said their religious beliefs were what influenced them the most, compared to just three percent of liberals. Despite claims that those who shifted to the right in 2024 were merely brainwashed by media personalities, the data shows that young people instead made conscious choices informed by their own experiences, families, and religion.
In the wake of Trump’s decisive victory, YAF’s survey with Echelon Insights also looked at current policy proposals and concerns about the state of the country to understand
what young voters want and expect to see as a result of the election.
Regarding free expression, young conservatives are likelier to speak out on their views than their liberal or moderate peers. Still, more than half of young voters—including 53 percent of young liberal voters—think publicly funded colleges should lose funding for failing to protect free speech. In addition, 57 percent of this demographic say it is unfair for biological males to compete in women’s sports.
Asked about Trump’s policies, the President’s plans to cut taxes ranked as the most popular proposal, with 53 percent supporting additional or permanent reductions.
Of the issues facing the country and their generation, young voters registered the cost of living as their biggest concern, followed by jobs and the economy. Notably, topics regularly exploited by the Left—such as race relations, the environment, and abortion—were less concerning to young voters than political corruption, immigration, and taxes.
When asked about economic conditions, young conservative voters were significantly more optimistic about their personal economic situation and that of the United States as a whole: sixty-five percent and 68 percent, respectively, said the economic situation was improving, while just 23 percent and nine percent of liberals said the same.
Young liberals are also out of step with their conservative and moderate peers in their view of the United States. Fiftyseven percent of this demographic never or rarely feel proud of their country, while that number drops to 25 percent for moderates and just 11 percent for conservatives.
The outlets from which young voters get their news reveal
another interesting divide: twenty-five percent of men rely on TikTok compared to 46 percent of women, whereas 34 percent of men rely on X, formerly Twitter, compared to just 15 percent of women.
While there are clear ideological divides on some issues, there is notable agreement among those on the right, left, and center of the spectrum on some key issues. For instance, 42 percent of young voters—including 50 percent of liberals— say the United States government needs a major overhaul, and 15 percent say it “needs to be completely torn down so we can start from scratch.”
In addition, a plurality of young voters—46 percent— think the mainstream media cannot be trusted to present fair and accurate information most of the time. Along ideological lines, conservatives, moderates, and liberals agree—at 47 percent, 46 percent, and 46 percent, respectively.
On the issue of America’s national debt, concern about consequences for this demographic transcends ideology. Sixty-nine percent of this demographic feels it is unfair for the federal government to spend more money than it takes in, leaving the rising generation responsible for addressing the growing debt.
The findings from this latest survey are encouraging. They convey the positive impact of the work of Young America’s Foundation and other like-minded organizations in persuading young Americans to consider and adopt conservative values. They also convey the biggest opportunity conservatives have had in decades to shape the future of public policy in America for decades to come.
Challenging the Dangerous Gender Agenda
By Chloe Cole, Young America’s Foundation Speaker
About Chloe Cole
Chloe Cole is a poised and articulate 21-year-old woman who passionately advocates against the practice of transitioning minors.
Driven by a desire to safeguard children from harmful ideologies and medical interventions, Cole draws from her personal experiences to shed light on the distressing consequences of “gender-affirming care” for adolescents.
Having embarked on her own transition journey at the age of 12, only to subsequently detransition at 16, Cole speaks with first-hand authority on the deeply traumatic effects experienced by minors undergoing such procedures.
To invite Chloe Cole or other Young America’s Foundation speakers to visit your school, please contact Campus Events Coordinator Bre Marsh at bmarsh@yaf.org or 800-USA-1776.
My name is Chloe Cole, and I’m the five-foot-four 21-year-old whom the Left is terrified to allow on campus. I’m a detransitioner, and my story undermines the radical gender ideology being forced on the rising generation.
Administrators at one school, EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, were so scared of the truth I had to share with students that they repeatedly blocked Young America’s Foundation’s student activists from bringing me to campus to tell my story.
Why was I not allowed to speak about my personal experience of being harmed by the gender-medical industrial complex? Why couldn’t I advocate for the safety of children? Or explain why children need to be shielded from mutilation or sterilization before they’re old enough to drive a car? Why wouldn’t Embry-Riddle let me say that America’s children deserve better than that?
The explanation that administrators at the school gave to YAF’s students was
“I’m grateful that YAF has students’ backs when they come under attack and ensures conservative students and speakers— like me—can speak out against the radical Left’s dangerous agenda.”
— CHLOE COLE
that “discussions about the number of genders” could not “take place in outdoor or other public spaces.” Yes, really.
Yet, even while telling conservative students that they couldn’t host me or even discuss the biological reality that runs as deep as our DNA, Embry-
Riddle’s student counseling center posted about the “Transgender Day of Remembrance.”
What’s more, the administrator who told YAF’s students they couldn’t host me had a transgender pride flag hanging outside her office on campus. YAF was not about to let this discrimination against conservatives continue. The Foundation took swift action to expose the school, demand protection of students’ rights, and seek a remedy that would allow me to share my story.
Thanks to Young America’s Foundation, I was able to speak about my experience as a detransitioner on Embry-Riddle’s campus—but only after YAF issued a demand letter to the school, exposed the biased double standard being used to silence conservative students, and filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
It was a hard-fought victory that wouldn’t have been possible without YAF, but this is the outrageous level of persistence it takes to uphold students’
Chloe Cole shares her powerful personal story of detransitioning with students participating in YAF’s High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch.
freedom of speech and ensure the truth gets a fair hearing.
I’m thankful to YAF for standing with me and having my back.
We are making huge strides every single day, and it is important to celebrate wins like this one. But here’s the thing: the Left isn’t just going to go away because some of these ideas are being questioned. Many people have built entire careers and massive empires on expanding woke practices and gender ideology.
Doctors, surgeons, activists, and, yes, even college administrators depend on these frameworks for their livelihoods. They are deeply invested in ensuring this radical ideology remains unquestioned and unchallenged.
So, we cannot let our guard down. The Left’s ideas thrive where free speech is stifled. We need to create a culture where our conservative, Judeo-Christian values are the norm again.
The battle is not going to be over until all children are safe from the kind of irreversible harm done to me. The waters of wokeness may recede for a
time, but our foundations are still not fully prepared—we risk being flooded all over again if we do not continue to stand up for truth and ensure it is heard far and wide.
We have come so far, and it’s within our reach to fundamentally repair America. That’s why I partner with
Young America’s Foundation to share my story with the rising generation on campuses across the country.
I’m grateful that YAF has students’ backs when they come under attack and ensures conservative students and speakers—like me—can speak out against the radical Left’s dangerous agenda.
Detransitioner Chloe Cole addresses a student audience at the University of Utah as part of YAF’s campus lecture program.
The University of Iowa YAF chapter meets with Chloe Cole following her campus lecture to a standingroom-only audience.
University of Alabama YAF Defeats the Campus Gender Cult
By Trenton Buffenbarger, University of Alabama YAF Chairman
Become a Young Americans for Freedom Member
Whether you have been in a Young Americans for Freedom chapter for years or are brand new to the organization, you can now become an official member of YAF.
Please visit YAF.org/become-a-member to apply for your membership or call YAF’s National Headquarters at 800-USA-1776 for more information.
Students who are 13 or older and enrolled full-time in school are invited to join YAF. Once you become a YAFer, you will receive:
• A welcome packet that includes a t-shirt and other YAF swag
• Your own membership card
• A free copy of the book, 11 Principles of a Reagan Conservative, by renowned historian Dr. Paul Kengor
• Opportunities to attend VIP, members-only events at YAF conferences and retreats
• First opportunities and discounts to register for key YAF conferences and other programs
Becoming a member is free and easy, and once you sign up you do not need to renew—ever! You will receive a confirmation email once your application has been received, and, if approved, you will receive your very own membership card and welcome packet.
As a young conservative at the University of Alabama (UA), I thought my campus was free of the gender ideology cult that has infected many college campuses. But I recently learned that this was not the case.
A team of UA lawyers reworked our school’s non-discrimination clause, inviting leftist ideology to stand in the way of conservatism on campus—and my Young Americans for Freedom chapter was a clear target.
School administrators informed UA YAF that, going forward, the following
clause would be required in any oncampus student club’s constitution:
Membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to race, religion, sex, ability, status, national origin, color, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, or veteran status except in cases of designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.
Trenton Buffenbarger leads the University of Alabama Young Americans for Freedom chapter.
According to these administrators, all student organizations on campus would be required to use this “EXACT language” to form, renew, or operate our clubs. This even extended to Greek life, which has already faced challenges with biological men identifying as women in order to join sororities. This move would have prohibited UA YAF from participating in any activity on campus.
Our YAF chapter refused to validate radical gender ideology. We know that gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, and other such terms are euphemisms often used to manipulate the truth. As YAFers, we stand for the truth, even when it is uncomfortable.
Therefore, UA YAF informed the university that we would not add a gender ideology clause to our constitution. The university promptly denied our renewal application. Not just that, administrators also informed us that we would immediately lose the ability to host events or meetings on campus unless we included the updated clause and resubmitted our constitution.
In response, Young America’s Foundation—our national parent organization—helped our chapter write a formal complaint to our university president, and we called on our in-state allies in public office, including Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, to push back against this attack on our club’s free speech rights. We were not about to be bullied by leftist administrators.
Just one day after we submitted our complaint, the university department overseeing student organizations sent us a written response stating that the university president had shared our complaint with the department and UA YAF would receive an exemption!
But we did not stop there. We did
“What we young conservatives at the University of Alabama learned from this experience is that impact only requires a few committed individuals and a worthy cause for which to fight.”
— TRENTON BUFFENBARGER
not want any club at the University of Alabama to have this kind of thought control forced upon them. So we fought until the university retracted this requirement for all student clubs. The clause now reads:
Membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without
regard to race, religion, sex, ability, status, national origin, color, age, or veteran status except in cases designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.
To build on our momentum, our YAF chapter decided to host a campus lecture featuring Seth Dillon, CEO of the Babylon Bee, one of the world’s most popular satire websites. Young America’s Foundation helped us throughout this process, providing financial support and guidance on advertising and event promotion.
Leading up to Seth’s visit, the campus Left was determined to intimidate us. They resorted to erasing our promotional chalking, tearing down our advertising flyers, and verbally accosting our chapter’s members across campus. The day before Seth spoke, we saw a post from the UA College Democrats group chat stating that six leftist organizations were banding together to protest YAF.
Despite this opposition, Seth gave a timely and much-needed speech about
Members of the University of Alabama Young Americans for Freedom chapter meet with Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon (fourth from left) following his campus lecture during the spring 2025 semester.
the reality that free-thinking students face on campus. He remarked,
Much more problematic than hard censorship, where they’re actually doing the work of taking down your content, is the soft censorship that occurs when people fear some kind of consequence for speaking their mind. In that way, the tyrants trick us into doing their work for them.
After a successful event with Seth, we ventured to the campus quad to view the planned leftist protest for ourselves. We initially thought we had missed the protest, as we saw plenty of tape and traffic cones but no more people than usual. Then, we noticed a group of about 30 students and activists.
This small gathering consisted of the six leftist organizations and a
“If you are a conservative student on campus, Young America’s Foundation has your back!”
— TRENTON BUFFENBARGER
professional activist whom the groups had hired from our state’s capital, Montgomery, to lead their efforts. This individual identified himself on social media as “Black Moses” with the pronouns “He/They.” He proceeded to lead the protestors in chants such as, “YAF, we call you out, we’ll fight for our right, there is no doubt,” and,
“The South shall not rise again”—the latter of which was perplexing to passersby, as race had nothing to do with the ongoing campus debate.
In addition, the protestors referred to the “CAUCASITY of white fragility” and created chalk displays stating, “white silence = violence,” and, “Live, Laugh, Lesbian.”
As the leader of UA YAF, I was also the target of dozens of personal online attacks.
But this opposition paled in comparison to the positive impact that UA YAF had on our campus. Importantly, our efforts also drew local and national media attention, giving us a platform to express our views and motivate students on other campuses.
What we young conservatives at the University of Alabama learned from this experience is that impact only requires a few committed individuals and a worthy cause for which to fight. Sometimes, all it takes is a little pushback for leftist administrators to back down.
In particular, I am grateful for several UA YAF members who contributed to our club’s success, including Isabella Dini, Cyrus Harshbarger, Nathaniel Bryner, Kaitlyn Matthews, AJ Torilla, Gregory Grimshaw, Colleen Grimshaw, and Lillie Phillips.
Lastly, I want to convey that if you are a conservative student on campus, Young America’s Foundation has your back! Fighting this battle allowed University of Alabama YAF to show that conservatives are going to boldly stand for our beliefs.
A protest organized by radical leftist organizations on the campus quad fails to restrict the free speech rights of University of Alabama YAF’s student activists.
Walking in My Great-Grandfather’s Footsteps During YAF’s Normandy Summit
By Caitlyn Helm, University of Florida YAF Alumna
Eighty-one years ago, brave American soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, altering the course of history. As a student of history, I’ve read countless accounts of World War II—but nothing prepared me for the feeling of standing where it all happened during Young America’s Foundation’s Normandy Summit on Liberty & Leadership (see page 4).
Walking along Omaha and Utah Beaches, looking out from the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, and standing at the American Cemetery in Normandy, one understands what words can’t fully capture. These men, many younger than I am now, ran headlong into gunfire. They understood the stakes. They
knew the odds. And still, they moved forward—for freedom, for each other, for us.
These men answered the call for freedom. They heard the cries of a continent in peril. Jews were imprisoned and murdered in concentration camps. Much of Europe—France included—was gripped by Nazi tyranny. Brave civilians risked their lives smuggling intelligence to the Allies, holding out hope for a rescue, for liberation.
The United States, together with Allied forces, prepared for what
would become one of the bloodiest invasions in world history. Secrecy was paramount—decoy missions and false reports were deployed to mislead the Germans. But the mission was unmistakably clear: land on those beaches and liberate France. Despite knowing the slim odds of survival, they strapped on their gear, boarded their ships and planes, and marched into history.
In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the thunder of artillery and aircraft shook the Normandy coast. Paratroopers dropped behind enemy
Helm reflects on a letter from her great-grandfather, Captain Edward Orbann, that discusses the efforts of his unit, the U.S. Army 35th Field Artillery Regiment, during D-Day.
Recent University of Florida YAF Chairwoman Caitlyn Helm participates in a training session at YAF’s National Headquarters in Reston, Virginia, prior to departing for Normandy, France.
lines. Rangers scaled the sheer cliffs of Pointe du Hoc. And American forces surged onto the beaches. Against all odds, they broke through the German defense and began the push inland, turning the tide of the war.
D-Day marked the turning point of World War II. Though the fighting would rage on, this was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. For millions under occupation, this moment was more than a military assault. It was the arrival of hope. The prayer for freedom had been answered.
Throughout France, I saw hundreds of American flags, children dressed in U.S. military uniforms, and the unmistakable sound of American planes and vehicles echoing along the coast. The French call this week La Libération, honoring the Americans who gave them hope in their darkest hour.
Eighty-one years ago, my greatgrandfather stood on Omaha Beach as a captain in the U.S. Army. When I think of an American hero, I think of him. I am profoundly grateful for his sacrifice
“We carry the responsibility to remember the sacrifice of the Greatest Generation. We carry the obligation to tell their stories. We carry the privilege of living in the freedom they secured.”
— CAITLYN HELM
and honored to share in his legacy. He was part of the Greatest Generation. Few words can fully capture the emotion of being the first person in my family to return to Omaha Beach. Standing at the edge of the clear blue water, waves crashing at my feet, I looked up at the rolling hills of Normandy and
felt the weight of history. It was chilling to realize that the last time a relative of mine stood on this sand, he was running towards those hills under Nazi artillery fire, a rifle in hand—the very rifle that now rests in my home.
As I walked on the beaches of Normandy, I was there not as a visitor, but as a witness—a witness to the sacrifice and courage of something far greater than myself. My greatgrandfather’s footsteps, now buried in sand and time, became vividly real. His story is not just my family’s story; it is an American story, one that we must carry forward for generations to come.
Freedom is not inherited—we must defend it. Each day, we face the choice to uphold it. This requires vigilance, courage, and commitment. It is a cause worthy of our defense. This is our duty as Americans.
We carry the responsibility to remember the sacrifice of the Greatest Generation. We carry the obligation to tell their stories. We carry the privilege of living in the freedom they secured.
Helm (second from right) joins fellow top YAF activists in France for the Foundation’s inaugural Normandy Summit on Liberty & Leadership.
High Schoolers From 25 States Gain Inspiration at the Reagan Ranch
Taormina Falsitta, Reagan Ranch Center Intern
Eager students representing 25 states and 157 high schools gathered for Young America’s Foundation’s June High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch. YAF’s largest-ever summer high school program also welcomed parents, supporters, and community members to select portions of the weeklong event.
During the program, students walked in President Ronald Reagan’s footsteps at his beloved Rancho del Cielo, gained knowledge and inspiration from conservative leaders and faculty members, and formed meaningful relationships with like-minded peers from around the country.
The conference began with an energizing session featuring commentator and podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey, who called on students to reject America’s idolization of “toxic empathy.” She argued that “politics matters” because “people matter,” encouraged students to think critically about culture war issues like the right to life and radical gender ideology, and urged them to speak the truth with their peers.
movie Reagan, portions of which were filmed at Rancho del Cielo. The movie stars Dennis Quaid and chronicles the 40th President’s remarkable life and lasting accomplishments.
Later in the day, North Korean defector Grace Jo shared her powerful story of escaping tyranny in her country for freedom in America. “Each time we were sent back to North Korea, we suffered. But we always escaped again, because we still believed in freedom,” she remarked.
Economic historian and Hillsdale College Distinguished Fellow Dr. Burt Folsom followed, delivering an important lecture on how free enterprise unleashed American prosperity, contrary to the narrative often presented in high school U.S. history courses.
“If the truth offends somebody, their problem is with the truth, not with you.”
— nick freitas, virginia delegate
The following day, students experienced a memorable tour of the Reagan Ranch, which has become a rite of passage for young conservatives nationwide. Since the Reagan family entrusted YAF in 1998 with preserving the 688-acre Rancho del Cielo, the Foundation has used this premier Presidential property as a venue for educating and training young people with our 40th President’s freedom philosophy.
Students gained an appreciation for Reagan’s ideas and lasting accomplishments by exploring the property’s modest adobe home, hay barn, Secret Service Command Post, and Freedom Wall—where the names of YAF’s generous supporters are engraved in honor of their commitment to passing on Reagan’s values to future generations. High schoolers also had the unique opportunity to hear from Rear Admiral JJ Quinn, who served as U.S. Naval Aide under President Reagan, and Barbara Riggs, former deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service.
The transformative experience of visiting the Reagan Ranch was reinforced when students watched the 2024
The next day of the conference featured YAF President Governor Scott Walker, who reflected on the lessons he learned from serving as governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019. He urged students to remain unintimidated in defending their values, describing how 100,000 protestors stormed the Wisconsin State Capitol but failed to cancel his conservative reforms.
Christina Bennett, a pro-life advocate and Live Action news correspondent, then exposed the dark truths of Planned Parenthood; and detransitioner Chloe Cole revealed the dangers of the gender transition industry for young Americans.
Dr. Folsom returned to the stage to teach students how great entrepreneurs like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, not government, lifted millions out of poverty. Fellow Hillsdale College faculty member Dr. Michael Clark followed, leading students in an interactive session on basic free market principles.
On the heels of these topical sessions, podcast host, Green Beret, and Virginia Delegate Nick Freitas addressed students, supporters, and parents with a motivational speech during the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable, which was held in conjunction with the conference. Students participating in YAF’s Middle School Expedition also joined the high schoolers for this session.
(Continued on page 26)
Virginia Delegate Nick Freitas delivers an inspirational speech during the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable, held in conjunction with YAF’s High School Conference.
During the conference’s opening dinner banquet, podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey discusses how young conservatives can win the battle for ideas among their peers.
Young conservatives enjoy a rooftop reception in downtown Santa Barbara, California.
(Continued from page 24)
In his riveting speech, titled “God, Grit, and the Constitution,” Freitas made the case that defending freedom requires responsibility, courage, and daily conviction. “If the truth offends somebody, their problem is with the truth, not with you,” he stated.
The final day of the program kicked off with commentator Vince Everett Ellison discussing how the Left manipulates language, race, and religion to gain power. Paula Scanlan—a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer and teammate of biological male athlete William “Lia” Thomas—shared her experience of being forced to unquestioningly welcome a man to her women’s swim team. Scanlan explained how, after years of being bullied into silence, she finally spoke up for her rights
“If you’re not willing to stand up for your beliefs, how can you expect anyone else to do it for you?”
— paula scanlan, former university of pennsylvania swimmer
and those of her fellow female athletes. She encouraged the young audience to do the same, asking, “If you’re not willing to stand up for your beliefs, how can you expect anyone else to do it for you?”
Commentator Vince Everett Ellison reveals how the Left seeks to control free thought and expression.
YAF National Conference Director Madison Habersetzer kicks off the largest-ever High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch.
Recent NCAA swimmer Paula Scanlan urges students to fight for women’s rights in sports.
High school students enjoy a Jeep tour on the trails of the Reagan Ranch.
YAF President Governor Scott Walker meets with the Foundation’s interns and students who help organize the conference.
To help students put Scanlan’s message into practice, YAF Program Officer for Chapter Services Charlie Jones led a session on how to engage in effective campus activism.
Throughout the program, students also participated in several breakout sessions, including how to start a Young Americans for Freedom chapter at their school and how to pursue a career in journalism.
The conference fittingly concluded with remarks from Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow—a YAF alumnus and National Journalism Center Board of Governors member—who emphasized the importance of being bold, polished, and unapologetically conservative.
As their week in Santa Barbara came to a close, many students reflected on all they learned throughout the
program. Audrey Zhou from the Cambridge School in San Diego, California, remarked,
Not only have I gained new ideas, but I have also developed better virtues, such as courage. Now, I will speak with confidence, discernment, and discipline, especially in debate.
Zhou’s fellow participants similarly departed Santa Barbara with a greater appreciation for conservative principles and the values upon which America was founded. In a post-conference survey, nearly 90 percent of students responded that they are more likely to become involved in the Conservative Movement and advancing conservative ideas at their school.
YAF alumnus and Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow concludes the conference by encouraging students to boldly stand for their patriotic values.
Former Deputy Director of the U.S. Secret Service Barbara Riggs and Rear Admiral JJ Quinn share their first-hand experiences serving under President Ronald Reagan.
Students participate in an interactive session, led by historian Dr. Burt Folsom, on the great entrepreneurs who built America.
Student Josh Morris engages in a lively debate with Virginia Delegate Nick Freitas about the dangers of socialism.
“Leading the Fight to Recruit Conservative Leaders” An Interview with YAF Alumni Jeff & Judy Kane
By Jason Barbour, Director of Development
Jeff and Judy Kane are accomplished alumni of Young Americans for Freedom who have been involved with the Conservative Movement for more than 50 years. Their early leadership in the 1970s helped YAF grow into the leading conservative youth organization in America. They first met at a YAF convention in 1975 and have been married for 46 years.
Today, Jeff and Judy invest in YAF’s mission through their philanthropic support, recently endowing the Judy & Jeff Kane Lecture Series to bring prominent conservative leaders to speak on college campuses nationwide. They have also been involved with YAF’s annual Rawhide Circle Retreat, luncheon events in Naples, Florida, and other programs.
Libertas: Can you share a little bit about your upbringing? How did you become conservatives?
Jeff and Judy’s life story has served as an inspiration for YAF’s leaders and activists for decades, and their values will be passed on to future generations of young Americans through their generous support of YAF’s mission.
Jeff: I grew up in a conservative household in Spokane, Washington, in the eastern part of the state. My mother was particularly influential. Not only did we discuss politics, but she was also very active in the 1964 Goldwater for
President campaign. I still have a political button that reads, “If I Were 21, I’d Vote for Barry.” I was 13 years old at the time.
Judy: My father was a businessman and apolitical. My mother was a graduate of Radcliffe College and had a master of social work degree, yet she was a staunch conservative. She and my aunt—who was a big fan of William F. Buckley, Jr., and Firing Line—would spend hours on the phone railing against the Kennedys, Lyndon B. Johnson, and the “profligacy of the liberals.” I developed more of an aversion to liberalism and big government than a solid base in conservative philosophy. But when I attended my first Young Americans for Freedom convention in Chicago in 1975, I was amazed to hear the various speakers present thoughts that made so much sense. It was an eye-opening experience. I felt like a part of the group!
Libertas: Where did you attend college, and what were your experiences like?
Jeff: I attended Whitman College, a small liberal arts college in Walla Walla, Washington. Although the community
Starting with their early involvement and leadership in Young Americans for Freedom in the 1970s, Jeff and Judy Kane have loyally served as alumni and philanthropic supporters of YAF to inspire young people with conservative values.
was conservative, the campus had plenty of left-wing activity. The Vietnam War was enraging students, the first Earth Day was held in 1970, and the counterculture revolution of drugs and free love was prevalent.
Judy: I graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1973, during the Vietnam War and Watergate. I had hoped to have a nice college experience. Instead, there was visible tension on campus throughout my four years.
So much was politicized, though not as much as today. Meal discussions invariably included topics like Richard Nixon, the War, and Cesar Chavez’s sympathy for the grape pickers. Classroom discussions stayed pretty much on topic, although the sociology department was rampantly and openly liberal and political.
Needless to say, my college experience was not at all what I expected or liked. I was very lucky to meet a cadet from West Point whom I dated through my college years. Visiting West Point on most weekends—to be with people who were patriotic, pro-America, conservative, and wholesome—was a breath of fresh air. I also dated a fellow from Princeton who introduced me to the publication Human Events. That was another wonderful way to absorb the conservative message.
Libertas: How did you first learn about Young Americans for Freedom?
Jeff: When I was a senior in high school in 1969, one of my friends gave me a flyer that contained the Sharon Statement and a YAF membership application. I filled out the application and sent in my $3.00 membership fee.
Judy: I learned about the 1975 YAF convention from Human Events. I knew nothing about YAF, but my reason for traveling to Chicago was to see the keynote speaker, William F. Buckley, Jr. I’d developed my aunt’s admiration for Buckley and couldn’t wait to see him in person. He didn’t disappoint!
Libertas: What were some of your most memorable experiences with Young Americans for Freedom?
Jeff: I founded the YAF chapter at Whitman College and recruited about 30 conservative students who weren’t afraid of being identified as conservatives.
We raised money from local businessmen and brought speakers to campus. Most of our speakers were controversial, but they were allowed to speak—freedom of speech still existed. We hosted Jay Parker, a black conservative; the CEO of Boise Cascade, as there was a nearby papermill that the Left thought should be shut down; and Congressman Jack Kemp, who spoke on benefits of the free market.
“When you consider that Nancy Reagan entrusted YAF with Rancho del Cielo, you can trust that your planned gift to YAF will be well taken care of.”
— JEFF & JUDY KANE
Perhaps the most memorable moment was when President Nixon landed in Walla Walla to refuel Air Force One, on his way to visit Chairman Mao. The staff must have thought that Walla Walla would be a quiet place to land. Not so.
Our YAF chapter and other YAFers from around the area showed up with signs that read, “Don’t Shake the Bloody Hand of Mao,” and chanted, “Don’t go.” The Secret Service was so paranoid about our announced efforts to picket that they even sent agents to my fraternity house.
Interestingly, the Left didn’t picket Nixon. After the visit, the headlines in
the campus newspaper chastised the Left for its no-show. The paper was astonished that the Right, not the Left, was challenging Nixon.
Judy: Some of my most memorable YAF experiences came after meeting Jeff, who became the national chairman of YAF at the 1975 convention. As a result, I met all of the YAF board members and enjoyed interesting and intelligent conversations about U.S. and world politics.
It was so stimulating to attend National Review’s 20th anniversary dinner and several other YAF events where Ronald Reagan spoke. We also attended the 1976 GOP convention in Kansas City, where Governor Reagan almost unseated Gerald Ford for the Presidential nomination.
A bonus of Jeff’s affiliation with YAF was being able to attend President Reagan’s inauguration and inaugural ball in 1981.
Libertas: Who or what were key influences on you as young conservatives?
Jeff: I read a lot. National Review and Human Events were my primary sources, as well as periodicals from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and books and articles written by Milton Friedman, Stan Evans, and William Rusher.
Judy: My key influence was being with other young people who had solid conservative philosophies and were actively expressing themselves in the public arena. I’m an introvert, so I never became an “activist,” but I so respect those who are.
Libertas: How did the two of you meet?
Judy: When I attended the YAF convention in 1975, Jeff was running to become the national chairman of YAF. I thought he was a nice guy, but that was about it. Then he won!
As fate would have it, I was having breakfast where the event was held,
and sitting beside me at another table were Jeff’s mother and brother, who were attending to bring moral support to Jeff’s endeavor. Mrs. Kane was gregarious, a staunch conservative, and a golfer, so we had much to talk about.
Since Jeff had won the YAF chairmanship, William F. Buckley, Jr., was showcasing him and the new YAF board on Firing Line, which was being filmed that day in downtown Chicago. Mrs. Kane invited me to attend the filming, even though she had absolutely no authority to do so! Needless to say, I jumped at the chance.
Jeff and I were seated on either side of the aisle on the bus ride to Buckley’s studio. A person in front of us dropped something in the aisle, and Jeff and I both went to pick it up. Love at first sight? We maintained a four-year, long-distance romance until we married in 1979.
We are so grateful for the divine intervention that brought us together when the odds were pretty steep that we would never cross paths.
Libertas: You each went on to accomplish a great deal through your careers. What are you most proud of?
Jeff: After going to law school, I ended up joining Judy’s family business—a beverage distributor in Maine. I ran the business for 35 years and am proud of how we grew and adapted successfully as beverage choices changed and multiplied.
I have also been active with local nonprofit organizations in Portland, Maine. My interests in music and art eventually led to me serving as president of the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Portland Museum of Art.
Judy: I earned a Ph.D. in psychology and established a private practice in Portland, where I grew up. I am proud of my professional accomplishments but have since retired and seriously taken up oil painting. That was a big shift. I love learning and have had the opportunity to host art shows and sell my work online.
Libertas: In addition to your involvement as alumni, YAF has been blessed by your generous philanthropic support. What prompted you to give to the organization with which you were involved as students?
Jeff & Judy: We reconnected with YAF through longtime friends—prior YAF President Ron Robinson and his wife, Michelle Easton. We became very excited by the success YAF was having in
During the 1977 Conservative Political Action Conference, YAF National Chairman Jeff Kane (second from left) presents a gift to Nancy Reagan as American Conservative Union Chairman M. Stanton Evans (second from right) and Governor Ronald Reagan look on. Photo credit John Troha and Maureen M. Bodo
bringing the conservative message to young people. The internet and social media have exponentially expanded YAF’s outreach ability since our early days of involvement.
Libertas: You recently made the significant decision to endow the Judy & Jeff Kane Lecture Series with a planned gift to YAF. How did you make this decision?
Jeff & Judy: The Left’s domination of our colleges needs to be challenged. YAF, in our opinion, is doing the best job of delivering the conservative message.
We can remember from our college days the importance of presenting alternative thinking. Jeff recently attended his 50th college reunion. He had several friends—who were certainly not conservative in college and who didn’t want the stigma that came with being seen as a YAFer—tell him that they had moved to the right and should have been more supportive of him and YAF during their college years. This was very gratifying. We were reaching young minds 50 years ago, even when we weren’t aware of our impact.
By setting up a lecture series, through which YAF’s leadership will have the resources to bring more speakers to college campuses to deliver the conservative message, we believe that we can have a lasting impact. We established a spending rule for our endowment, allowing just five percent of the corpus to be used each year, so we believe our lecture series will be around a long time and the impact will be substantial. We encourage others to consider a planned gift to YAF. Besides endowing a lecture series outright, a good way
to support YAF is using the required minimum distribution from one’s IRA or 401(k) to make a charitable gift. This provides support to YAF and helps one avoid income taxes on the withdrawal.
“YAF has trained many leaders and hopefully will train many more who can provide America with a better future.”
— JEFF & JUDY KANE
Libertas: What advice can you share with other supporters or prospective supporters who are considering making a planned gift to YAF?
Jeff & Judy: We believe that the stability of an organization—and its ability to thrive and grow—even after we have
passed, is an important criteria when deciding to make a planned gift.
YAF has been active since 1960, leading the fight to recruit conservative leaders who can make a difference. When you consider that Nancy Reagan entrusted YAF with Rancho del Cielo, you can trust that your planned gift to YAF will be well taken care of.
Libertas: Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of YAF and the Conservative Movement?
Jeff & Judy: It is our hope that the leaders who will emerge from YAF will have an impact on changing the direction of our country.
Until recently, we have had little optimism that America won’t go over a fiscal cliff and become a stagnated socialist state unable to compete with our many enemies.
We need to be the “shining city upon a hill.” YAF has trained many leaders and hopefully will train many more who can provide America with a better future.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Jeff and Judy Kane enjoy attending YAF’s 2024 Rawhide Circle Retreat at the Alisal Ranch in Solvang, California.
As Legacy Media Dies, the National Journalism Center’s Fire Rises
By Geoffrey Ingersoll, Director, National Journalism Center
What happened on December 17, 2024, was subtle but nonetheless significant.
Lifelong students of journalism and historians of American media are likely to note the date that PolitiFact released its annual “Lie of the Year” for 2024.
That lie? Awarded to Donald Trump and JD Vance for the “lie” that Haitian migrants were “eating pets” in Springfield, Ohio. And thus, the comic tragedy of legacy media in the age of Trump culminated in a whimper of sorts, right before Christmas.
No matter what PolitiFact claimed, the American people knew what the big lie of the year was.
I’m referring, of course, to the lie that President Joe Biden was mentally sound. Reporters spanning the media gamut routinely described Biden as “sharp” in both print and broadcast copy.
So, when Biden melted down on stage during a Presidential debate with Donald Trump on June 27, 2024—
“Preparing students to address the demand for new, independent, and importantly, fearless, journalism is a mission we are pursuing with optimistic zeal.”
— GEOFFREY INGERSOLL
another date to remember—it came as a shock, but only to progressive ideologues who relied on legacy media.
Americans who consumed independent media—those who subscribed to newsletters and podcasts and read mastheads not owned by one of the half dozen or so massive multinational media conglomerates—
were not surprised in the least. Nevertheless, the scope and impact of this lie was incomprehensible.
Once the cat was out of the bag, more reporting spilled into view. Biden, we learned, was having trouble making meetings just months into his tenure, in the run up to America’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. So, who had been running the country that whole time?
The lack of curiosity, urgency, tenacity, and honesty in legacy media was instantly thrown into stark relief. It blew up in a big way. It blew up progressives. It blew up the 2024 election. It returned Donald Trump to the White House an order of magnitude more potent than he was in his first term, carrying the House and Senate.
It is in this climate that the National Journalism Center (NJC), its mission, and its students will forge new trust with American news consumers. Never before in the history of media has the opportunity to upset, disrupt, and
The National Journalism Center
Young America’s Foundation’s National Journalism Center (NJC) is the nation’s premier journalism training program that combines hands-on media placements with education dedicated to promoting truth-seeking journalism.
Founded by M. Stanton Evans in 1977, NJC provides aspiring journalists with the opportunity to learn the principles and practices of responsible reporting. NJC’s paid 12-week internship program in the nation’s capital gives interns the tools and experiences to combat liberal bias in the mainstream media.
Students are matched with media outlets that reflect their interests and experiences, including The Federalist, Daily Caller, Roll Call, Washington Examiner, and others. These placements help young journalists develop practical skills and a better understanding of media, society, and public policy and how the three intersect in Washington, D.C., and across the country.
To learn more about NJC, please contact NJC Director Geoffrey Ingersoll at gingersoll@yaf.org or 800-USA-1776. To apply to NJC’s internship program, visit YAF.org/national-journalism-center
supplant calcified and largely leftist institutions presented itself more clearly and more urgently.
Many center-right and independent journalists have made names for themselves covering other falsehoods that traditional media either ignored or actively helped perpetrate. The border is “secure”? Hunter Biden’s laptop is “Russian disinformation”?
The environment is target-rich for anyone willing to ask the right questions, find the right angles, and aggressively pursue neglected lines of inquiry.
In this way, NJC stands at the center of a pivot point in American history. Preparing students to address the demand for new, independent, and importantly, fearless, journalism is a mission we are pursuing with optimistic zeal.
Founded by M. Stanton Evans and
Recent National Journalism Center alumna Reagan Reese (far left) reports on the Trump administration in her role as White House correspondent.
College students (from left) Ellie Fromm, Tayte Christensen, Reagan Reese, and Sally Lynne spend their 2025 summer gaining hands-on journalism skills through their NJC internships at the Daily Caller.
now in its 48th year, NJC offers a premier journalism training program that combines hands-on media placements with classroom training to ensure the next generation of media professionals is positioned to succeed.
Our team is focused on building on the strong foundation of the program, which has produced thousands of successful alumni in journalism and media.
From 2024 to 2025, we have doubled our internship class size. In 2026, with an aggressive recruitment plan in place, we plan to significantly increase not just the quantity of applicants, but also the quality of our students.
To attract and train the best and brightest young journalists, we are proactively recruiting students nationwide—at conservative liberal arts institutions like Hillsdale College and Grove City College as well as flagship state institutions like Florida
“The environment is target-rich for anyone willing to ask the right questions, find the right angles, and aggressively pursue neglected lines of inquiry.”
— GEOFFREY INGERSOLL
State University and the University of North Carolina, where new institutes of alternative thought are forming and serving as feeders for NJC. In sum, we are building a resilient and reliable pipeline of talent.
NJC’s 12-week internship program
is also getting critical updates. Media is evolving, and so are we. Our students should expect new coursework on artificial intelligence research tools, citizen journalism, and independent media right alongside the basics like how to ask effective questions, write news copy, and edit video content.
Recent graduates of NJC—like the Free Press’s Gabe Kaminsky, who has worked to unearth the Left’s censorship apparatus; Reagan Reese, who has vaulted into the White House correspondent role at the Daily Caller; and Samuel Mangold-Lenett, who went from writing for the Tucker Carlson Network to speechwriting at the White House—are the vanguard of modern media.
In the wreckage of old media, NJC and its mission will rise. We will raise up new voices, help restore trust, and build the future of journalism.
The National Journalism Center’s summer 2025 interns participate in their orientation at Young America’s Foundation’s National Headquarters in Reston, Virginia.
YAF President Governor Scott Walker and YAF Director Emily Jashinsky present NJC alumnus Gabe Kaminsky with the Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism in 2022.
University of Dallas student Barbara Najera practices her broadcasting skills during her National Journalism Center internship with UnHerd, a rapidly growing digital news outlet.
Crystal Penthouse Suite (CHV5)
Junior Crystal Penthouse Suite (RYVF)
Sapphire Veranda Suite (GSVM)
Sapphire Veranda Suite (GSVF)
Aquamarine Veranda Suite (SSVM)
Aquamarine Veranda Suite (SSVF)
Double Guest Room w/Veranda (CSVM)
Double Guest Room w/Veranda (CSVF)
Double Guest Room w/Ocean View (CSWM)
Single Guest Room w/Ocean View (SGWF)**
During Young America’s Foundation’s June 2025 High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch, students representing 157 schools walk in the footsteps of President Ronald Reagan and learn about the timeless principles of freedom that he championed.
