Weekly Email 4/13/2026

Loire Valley, France

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

As you are aware, we recently announced that David French is the keynote speaker at our Spring Gathering. Consistent with our nonpartisan goals to inform voters, encourage civil dialogue, support principled politics and government, and defend the U.S. Constitution and rule of law, we are proud to host Mr. French, who has a message of great importance during this election year and time of political division.

We invite all, regardless of political party or ideology, to come together and hear Mr. French. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most prominent and influential voices in America today.

Topic of the Week: David French — A Conservative Voice for Constitutional Democracy

In a political moment defined by loyalty tests and tribal allegiances, David French stands out for a simple reason: he says what he believes, even when it costs him. And it has cost him plenty.

French spent decades as a pillar of the conservative movement, litigating First Amendment cases, writing for National Review, co-founding The Dispatch, and volunteering to serve in Iraq at an age when most lawyers stay home. By any measure, he is a conservative's conservative. Yet today he finds himself denounced by the very movement he helped build, simply because he refused to abandon his principles when it became politically inconvenient to hold them.

That is exactly why we invited him to Western Colorado.

At a time when so many political voices are telling us to pick a side and stop asking questions, French offers something rarer: honest, principled analysis that puts the Constitution above party loyalty, civic virtue above political victory, and truth above tribalism. He is not asking anyone to change their politics. He is asking all of us, left, right, and unaffiliated, to care about the health of our democracy more than the success of our team.

That's a message worth hearing. We hope you'll join us on May 21.

Who is David French?

David French is a conservative. A veteran. A Harvard-educated constitutional lawyer. A devout Christian. And today, one of the most controversial figures in American politics, not because of what he believes, but because of what he refuses to do: fall in line.

Once a fixture at National Review and a co-founder of The Dispatch, French now writes for The New York Times, where his willingness to challenge his own party has made him a target for the MAGA right, and a reluctant hero for those who believe conservatism means something more than loyalty to one man. The irony is striking, a lifelong conservative who volunteered for military service after 9/11, earned a Bronze Star in Iraq, and spent his career defending First Amendment freedoms now finds himself cast out of the movement he helped build, simply for saying what he believes.

"The American constitutional order is worth defending — even when it's your own side threatening it."

That is the message French brings to Western Colorado on May 21. And in a moment when so many political voices are telling us to pick a team and stop asking questions, it's a message worth hearing.

Born in Alabama and educated at Lipscomb University and Harvard Law School, French built a distinguished legal career focused on constitutional law, religious liberty, and free speech. He served as senior counsel for major public-interest organizations before becoming a prominent writer and commentator. After September 11, he volunteered for military service, receiving an age waiver to join the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, and deployed to Iraq during the 2007 Surge, earning a Bronze Star.

In his book Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation, French argues that rising extremism on both the right and the left poses a serious threat to national unity, and that the solution lies in a renewed commitment to pluralism, federalism, and the constitutional order that protects all Americans across ideological divides.

His Christian faith shapes his public voice. He emphasizes humility, compassion, and the dignity of every person, and frequently challenges the fear-driven politics that he believes distorts religious commitments and corrodes civic virtue.

Want to learn more before the event? 

David French's NYT Column — His ongoing commentary on democracy, faith, and American political life. A good place to get a feel for how he thinks and what he's been writing about lately.

Why America Went Crazy and How You Can Stay Sane — A BYU address that captures French at his best: honest, thoughtful, and deeply concerned about where we're headed, and what we can do about it. Well worth 30 minutes of your time.

Join Us — Two Ways to Attend

Grand Junction — Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 6:30–9:00 p.m. | CMU | Get Your Tickets Here

Durango — RTB La Plata Watch Party — Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO | Get Your Durango Tickets Here

Space is limited at both locations. Reserve your spot early!

Upcoming Events

April 15 — RTB Social Hour | 4:30–6:30 p.m. The Ale House, Grand JunctionNote: change of venue!

April 21 — RTB Roundtable on Healthcare | 7:00–9:00 p.m. Redlands Community Center, 2463 Broadway, Grand Junction.Only a few spots left! Reserve your seat here.

May 21: RTB Annual Spring Gathering | 6:30–9:00 p.m. Guest speaker: NYT columnist David French. 

On the Radar: Local Government Meetings

• Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9am

• Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30pm

• Town of Palisade Board of Trustees Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6pm

• Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7pm

• D51 School Board: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5pm (public comments accepted on 3rd Tuesdays only)

• Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30pm

• Public Health Board: Monthly Tuesdays @ 3pm

Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming!

Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter?

Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update.

You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

Submit your recommendations here

Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together.

Don't forget to vote in 2026: June primaries, November general.