News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
In this episode of the Granite Discourse, Calvin Beaulier is a NH State Representative for Grafton County District 1. He is serving his first term, is an attorney and real estate broker, and also serves on the housing committee. Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its … Read more
Hey, did you hear? The alleged Brown University shooting suspect allegedly committed suicide in New Hampshire. We’re just waiting for them to announce that they cremated his body over the weekend, but while we wait, did you know this? The suspect found dead is also a New Hampshire weather headline. If you looked up the … Read more
Look at the document “Woodlock – DM’s Partial Victim Impact Statement” that was submitted on the eve of James Woodlock’s sentencing last week by David Vicinanzo and Russ Rilee. It was sent to the media as well. The media link goes into Jane Doe #146’s lawsuit, which states that Woodlock sexually penetrated (raped) Jane Doe … Read more
Let’s first narrow the details of the title question “are your elected officials naughty or nice?” I will narrow the field to members of legislative bodies that are state and local. That would include 400 reps, of which most communities have 3, and 24 senators, of which everyone has just one. If you’re in a … Read more
Remarks delivered at the 12/16/25 meeting of the Wilton-Lyndeborough School Board I’ve attended many school board and budget committee meetings over the past six years in person and online, and I have read all the minutes from both boards since August. I was surprised when an administrator at a recent meeting mentioned some recent standardized … Read more
New Hampshire’s public schools have problems. No matter how much money we pour into them, the results get worse. Money, therefore, mathematically, economically, academically, and scientifically, is not the answer. Money, practically speaking, leads to worse outcomes. This fact aligns two problems in a common solution. Schools are the reason why property taxes are so … Read more
Yes, I heard the cries of a number of you behind me begging me not to do it. Yes, I saw a goodly number of you stand up to walk out of the room to avoid the vote. I even stood for the request to register the vote via a roll call. It was, in … Read more
In 1968, our state constitution was radically amended. Voters were not fully informed of the consequences of the proposed changes. The voters’ guide said the amendment would “remove obsolete sectarian references.” There were exactly four sectarian terms (evangelical, Deity, protestant, and Christians), yet 140 words were removed from Art. 6 P.1 of the NH Constitution … Read more
Whenever I see legislation sponsored by Rep. Hope Damon, I wonder if she’s trying to be sneaky or if she’s just stupid. For example, not too long ago, Damon was prime sponsor on a bill to require homeschooled students to take standardized tests. The bill was so badly drafted, it provoked 500 independent home education … Read more
There is a particular kind of political jiu-jitsu that shows up every session in Concord: take a word conservatives like, twist it 15 degrees, and use it to do something conservatives should hate. HB1512 is that move. The bill would let a town hold a referendum to decide whether families in that town may access … Read more
In this gift-giving season, you might ask what’s special about New Boston. Pay attention if you or someone you know votes there because their rep (one of them) is Keith Ammon and Denise is their Senator. December 16 is their mutual birthday. What do you give them? Keith Ammon has an excellent record, which includes … Read more
“Now for the rest of the story,” as Paul Harvey used to say. Our tale resumes in the pivotal year of 1967. The Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire (BASNH), a creature born of the Legislature 94 years earlier and still a purely voluntary association, appeared before the General Court with a seemingly … Read more
This week on the NE Take, NH Rep. Paige Beauchemin, RN, PMH-C, is running for Congress against fellow Democrat, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. She and A. J. dive into the progressive v. establishment fight in the party and why she is running to unseat Goodlander. Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of … Read more
It has recently come to the attention of many members of our legislature that a big national war chest has been made available to the enemy camp in Concord. Many members have already taken to social media with requests for donations to (committees to elect) Team Red in both chambers and campaign coffers of their … Read more
Stop Panicking About Your Assessment This week on The Independents, with Caral Gericke, Property taxes in New Hampshire spark more panic than an unexpected October snowstorm—but most of it stems from misunderstanding how assessments actually work. Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its sponsors, readers, authors, … Read more
Someone mentioned to me recently that Rep. Hope Damon has introduced a bill to change the way school superintendents are credentialed. It’s classic Damon: Some parts of the bill refer to other sections of the bill that don’t exist. And the bill makes no reference to the Ed Rules that already exist. The bill reads like … Read more
A Voluntary Beginning Rooted in Legislative Charter In my previous pieces for Granite Grok—”An Open Letter to the People of New Hampshire” and “The Quiet Coup That Stole New Hampshire’s Legal Profession“—I delved into the current state of affairs within our state’s legal system, highlighting concerns over how power has shifted and consolidated in ways … Read more
We can’t imagine why Governor Ayotte, after promising not to ‘Mass Up New Hampshire’, signed several bills that would allow predatory developers from out of state to start soliciting homeowners in neighborhoods that were formerly zoned single-family with offers to help turn those neighborhoods into rental zones. Make no mistake, these companies are not interested … Read more
In the bustling marketplace of New Hampshire politics, the Republican Party (NHGOP) often resembles a frustrated store owner, pacing behind the counter, watching potential customers browse the shelves with skepticism. These customers, the grassroots voters, everyday conservatives driven by principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and transparency, aren’t just window shopping. They’re searching for something … Read more
In the Granite State, where political independence runs as deep as the White Mountains, a simmering divide threatens to fracture the Republican coalition just as the 2026 midterms loom on the horizon. On one side stands the New Hampshire GOP (NHGOP) establishment, polished, pragmatic, and focused on electability. On the other, a burgeoning grassroots movement, … Read more