It’s been a long road, and if I’m honest, there were moments I wasn’t sure I’d make it here. High Plains Pundit has always been my labor of love—a place to offer honest, common-sense insight into culture, politics, and the news of the day. Founded in 2009, my vision was simple: peel away the narratives, get past the talking points, and give readers an unvarnished look at what’s really going on.
But life has a way of forcing you to rethink everything. The past few years have been a personal reckoning—a period of struggle, reflection, and ultimately, transformation. Today, I want to share with you that journey, and the changes it has inspired for High Plains Pundit, both personally and professionally.
In late 2023, my world was turned upside down with a diagnosis I had long feared: advanced prostate cancer. I remember the day I got the call from my doctor as if it happened yesterday. The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp: “You have advanced prostate cancer.” Suddenly, every plan I had made for the future seemed fragile. The next steps were daunting: consultations, tests, scans, and a whirlwind of decisions that had to be made quickly.
2024 became a year defined by treatments, hope, fear, and determination. I went through an extensive regimen, enduring the physical and emotional toll that comes with fighting a serious disease. There were mornings I woke up feeling exhausted, nights I spent wondering if I would make it through. But there were also victories along the way—the small wins, the scans that showed progress, the moments when I realized my body was still capable of fighting.
By the end of 2024, I had finished my treatments. There was relief, of course, but also a new kind of awareness—a recognition that life was fragile and precious, that every day mattered more than it ever had. December 2025 marked a full year cancer-free. One year. That milestone brought not just relief, but a renewed sense of purpose.
But life isn’t done testing us, is it? In August 2025, I suffered a stroke. It was sudden, shocking, and humbling. Recovery has been ongoing, with physical therapy, speech therapy, and the slow rebuilding of strength and stamina. The stroke forced me to confront my limitations and, in doing so, gave me a new perspective. I’ve learned to listen to my body, to appreciate the small victories, and to focus on what truly matters—not just in life, but in the work I do and the legacy I hope to leave.
These experiences have reshaped my outlook on life and, naturally, on High Plains Pundit. I realized that the world of media, commentary, and public discourse doesn’t just need more opinions—it needs honesty, clarity, and insight rooted in lived experience. It needs content that challenges narratives without being cynical, that informs without preaching. And perhaps most importantly, it needs voices that recognize the human side of our shared struggles.
With that realization came a decision: it was time for High Plains Pundit to evolve. And I’m thrilled to share that my son, Timothy Butcher, has joined the team. Timothy is 18 now, full of energy, curiosity, and his own unique perspective on the world. Watching him grow up, I’ve seen the same spark that led me to start High Plains Pundit in 2009—the desire to dig deeper, to question conventional wisdom, to offer readers an honest view of what’s happening around them.
Having Timothy on board feels like passing the torch, but not in the way you might imagine. We’re not just keeping the site alive—we’re expanding its vision. Together, we aim to continue providing provocative insight into culture, current events, and politics, but with a renewed focus on common sense, clarity, and authenticity. High Plains Pundit has always been a place for thinking beyond the headlines, for questioning the accepted narrative. Now, we’re also a place where personal experience informs our perspective, where human struggles and triumphs intersect with the issues that shape our world.
Our readers have always expected incisive content from us—exclusive stories, interviews, and viewpoints you won’t find anywhere else. That mission hasn’t changed. But the lens through which we view the world has sharpened. After facing cancer, enduring treatments, and recovering from a stroke, I see stories differently. I see nuance where once I may have seen only conflict. I recognize resilience, courage, and the complexity of human experience in ways I didn’t before. And I believe that perspective will enrich the work we deliver.
Professionally, we’re also embracing new approaches. We are exploring deeper investigative pieces, more in-depth interviews, and stories that challenge conventional wisdom without sacrificing clarity or fairness. Timothy brings a fresh voice to this work, bridging generational perspectives while maintaining the core principles that have defined High Plains Pundit from the start. His energy, tech-savvy approach, and unfiltered curiosity are already pushing the site into exciting new territory.
Personally, the changes have been equally profound. Facing mortality and navigating recovery has taught me to value the present, to prioritize what truly matters, and to cultivate resilience. I am learning to slow down, to savor the simple moments with family and friends, and to find joy in small victories. These lessons naturally influence the work we do at High Plains Pundit because life and the news are inseparable—they shape one another. You cannot truly comment on the world without understanding the human stories behind the headlines.
High Plains Pundit was founded on a simple principle: give readers an honest view of what no one else is willing to tell them. That principle remains our guiding star, even as we adapt and grow. We don’t tell people what to think—we give them the tools, the context, and the insight to think for themselves. And in the process, we hope to foster a community that values critical thinking, curiosity, and the courage to challenge assumptions.
I want to be clear: this isn’t just about me or even just about Timothy joining the team. This is about all of us—the readers, the contributors, the thinkers, and the everyday people who engage with our content. High Plains Pundit is evolving to meet the needs of a world that is constantly changing, where narratives shift overnight, and where misinformation can spread faster than facts. We aim to be a constant: a source of common-sense analysis, grounded insight, and perspective informed by life itself.
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate deeply over the past few years is the importance of mentorship and legacy. I started High Plains Pundit with a vision, yes, but also with the hope that it would outlast me in some form, that it would inspire others to think critically and speak honestly. Having Timothy join the team is a fulfillment of that hope in ways I couldn’t have imagined. He brings a new energy, but he also understands that the core values—honesty, insight, and courage—are non-negotiable. Watching him contribute, question, and challenge is both inspiring and reassuring. The future of High Plains Pundit is bright, and it feels right that it’s being shaped by the next generation, even as we honor the principles that built it.
As we move forward, readers can expect the same incisive, thought-provoking content that has always defined us, but now with a renewed energy and perspective. Expect deeper dives, more personal insights, and stories that matter—not just for their headlines, but for what they reveal about our culture, our politics, and our shared humanity. We will continue to peel back the narratives, get beyond the talking points, and give you something rare in today’s media landscape: clarity.
I share all of this not just as the founder of High Plains Pundit, but as someone who has faced life-altering challenges and emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. Cancer, stroke, recovery—these experiences have forced me to look closely at what matters most. They have reminded me that life is fragile, that every moment is precious, and that our work—professional or personal—is enriched by honesty, courage, and compassion.
So, what does the new High Plains Pundit look like? It’s still the place for the stories you won’t hear anywhere else. It’s still the platform that challenges assumptions and inspires critical thinking. But it’s also a space informed by lived experience, shaped by resilience, and energized by a new generation. It’s a site where the personal and the political intersect, where insight is delivered with common sense, and where curiosity is celebrated as much as knowledge.
To our readers, thank you for sticking with us through the years. Your engagement, feedback, and loyalty are what make this work meaningful. To new readers, welcome. You’re joining us at an exciting time—a moment of growth, reflection, and bold ideas. High Plains Pundit has always been about more than just news or commentary; it’s about understanding the forces that shape our world and helping people navigate them with clarity and confidence.
As we embrace this new chapter, my hope is simple: that High Plains Pundit continues to provide value, insight, and perspective. That it sparks thought, inspires discussion, and challenges conventional wisdom without ever losing sight of the human experience behind every story. And that, in doing so, it honors the journey that brought us here—from the struggles of 2023 and 2024, to the triumphs of being cancer-free, to the ongoing journey of recovery and reflection.
Life is unpredictable. It’s messy, it’s challenging, and it’s beautiful. And so is the work we do at High Plains Pundit. Here’s to new beginnings, continued growth, and a fearless commitment to telling the stories that matter—honestly, boldly, and with common sense.
