An Idaho beauty salon is seeing customers “dropping like flies” after its owner called supporters of President-elect Donald Trump “racist, homophobic, and misogynistic” in a now-viral TikTok.
“Trump basically gave small men the ability and the courage to be misogynistic and hateful and say s–t like ‘Your body, my choice’ and ‘You won’t have a choice’ and ‘You will bear my child whether you like it or not,” Tiffney Prickett, the owner-operator of Voiage Salon in Coeur d’Alene, said in the video.
“The comments are so gross. The things men say to women are so gross. And I don’t know why more men don’t come to the defense of women. I don’t know why men witness aggression towards women and stand idly by and do nothing. I don’t understand,” the 40-year-old added.
Beauty salon owner Tiffney Prickett is losing lots of business after a viral rant about Trump voters. Facebook
The divorced mother of three suggested that men usually “shrug off” when another man is mistreating a woman.
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“I don’t understand why more men don’t have the courage to stick up to these small men who think they can do whatever they want and say whatever they want to women. And I’m just f–king sick of it,” the stylist concluded.
It did not take long for the businesswoman in the deep red state to find herself in a hairy situation with many of her patrons.
“So this is me suffering the consequences of my own action. I just had a client send her husband into my salon and demand a refund for gift cards — pre-purchased — because of my stance that if you support a racist, homophobic, misogynist rapist, and you’re OK with those things because you supported them that you are in fact those things,” she explained in a subsequent video.
“And she was so offended by that he said she did not feel comfortable coming to my salon anymore.”
She said that there was no love lost on her end for losing the 15-year client.
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Prickett called Trump supporters “racist, homophobic, and misogynistic” in a now-viral TikTok video. REUTERS
“I didn’t want to deal with them anyway because I knew that that whole family were Trump supporters because I’ve been doing her for 15 years, I’ve been to her family functions and family events. She’s given me gifts over the years. She was a very good client,” Prickett said, seeming to realize the depth of her loss as she recounted their past.
“I knew she was a Republican, which I don’t have a problem with you being a Republican. I have a problem with you wanting to strip human rights away from people,” she added.
“I will stand up for human rights and suffer those consequences.”
Clients are “dropping like flies” since the post. Facebook
After the backlash mounted, Prickett responded to comments that she was “wrong” and would “lose her business.”
“If I lose my business because … I posted a video that said if you support a racist, misogynist, homophobic, rapist, and you’re OK with it, then you are those things, I guess I lose my business,” she said unapologetically.
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Prickett’s website for the salon doesn’t appear to be active anymore. Facebook
In another rant, Prickett responds to someone who suggested she keep an open mind and allow for agreeable political disagreements.
Prickett responded simply, “No” and explained that the difference between Trump supporters and herself is not one of “opinion” but of “morals.”
In a video from last week, Prickett revealed that she lost even more Trump-supporting clients, saying, “They’re dropping like flies.”
Prickett added for emphasis that she would “rather go work at Chipotle,” than allow Trump supporters to “feel comfortable” in her salon.
Since her tirade went viral, the website for Prickett’s Voiage Salon no longer appears to be active.
BOISE, Idaho — The death of eight-year-old Mora Gerety earlier this month on Harrison Boulevard has renewed calls for safer streets in Boise’s North End.
Neighbors say the incident highlights long-standing concerns about vehicle speeds and pedestrian safety in the neighborhood.
WATCH | North End Neighbors call for safer streets —
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Boise’s North End pushes for safer streets after death of 8-year-old
“Every time we have a fatality like this where a child is put in danger and killed or seriously injured, it elevates the conversation because people realize how dangerous our streets are for young people to navigate,” said Cynthia Gibson, who chairs the North End Streets Committee.
Gibson, who has lived in the North End for more than 30 years, is among those advocating for lowering local residential speed limits to 20 mph. She also encourages residents to join the North End Neighborhood Association, volunteer with ACHD’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee or participate in state legislative discussions around street safety.
“They need to be slow and cautious and aware of people trying to cross the streets. A lot of our streets have schools on them, kids are trying to get to school,” said Gibson.
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The conversation also echoes a 2023 crash that killed Boise High School student Jadin Zurawski just blocks away on 16th Street. In response, ACHD added raised crosswalks and flashing warning lights at that intersection to alert drivers of pedestrians crossing.
At Harrison Blvd and Ada St, ACHD says crews began assessing safety conditions the morning after the crash and are evaluating possible improvements for pedestrians. The agency extends their condolences to Mora’s family.
— How you can weigh-in on safer streets —
A public meeting will be held Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Rockies, where ACHD staff will solicit input from Ada County residents on street safety.
Neighbors can also share feedback through an online safety survey.
POST FALLS (Idaho Capital Sun) — A major Idaho health insurer this week asked the Idaho Department of Insurance to investigate the billing practices of a new North Idaho hospital.
Blue Cross of Idaho claims that Post Falls ER & Hospital has refused offers to be part of the insurer’s network of in-network providers, and has instead relied heavily on a last-resort financial protection that lets health care providers dispute insurer payments.
Blue Cross of Idaho Chief Strategy Officer Drew Hobby said the insurer wants to protect consumers from rising health care costs.
“We have a responsibility to help Idahoans get access to high quality, affordable care. And we’re very concerned and alarmed with this process, which we would say is driving up unreasonable costs and unreasonable rates to Idahoans,” he told the Idaho Capital Sun in an interview.
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The Idaho Department of Insurance is reviewing the issue, agency spokesperson Julie Robinson said in a statement.
The Post Falls ER & Hospital opened in 2024. The facility was Nutex Health Inc.’s first micro-hospital in Idaho.
Post Falls ER & Hospital could not be immediately reached for comment.
Outside of the Post Falls ER & Hospital, 100% of hospitals in Idaho are in Blue Cross’s network, Hobby said. Blue Cross also asked the Department of Insurance to help get the hospital’s owners to meet with Blue Cross.
What is the billing practice Blue Cross wants Idaho to investigate?
In its letter to the Idaho Department of Insurance, Blue Cross asked for a probe into whether the Post Falls ER & Hospital has misused a process called independent dispute resolution.
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The process, created by the federal No Surprises Act, allows health care providers to challenge denials and payments by health insurers for services that are out of network, triggering arbitration to decide the final payment.
Each week in recent months, Blue Cross received an average of 75 dispute requests from the hospital, the insurer said in its letter. That is much more than the insurer says it received from all other health care entities in Idaho. On average each month, Hobby said Blue Cross only received 14 dispute requests from other providers in Idaho.
“Compared to the rest of providers that we work with … the volume is alarming,” Hobby said.
The payments sought in that process are often high, Blue Cross told the Department of Insurance. One example Hobby shared was a claim for nearly $2,900 to treat a runny nose, which was well over the $376 that is the median commercial rate for nasal congestion.
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With more than three decades of public service, Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Chief Deputy Director and Chief Operations Officer Dan McElhinney has announced he is leaving state service.
McElhinney focused on relationships and working with local leaders and community members to improve safety on Idaho’s transportation system. A significant advocate for stakeholder partnerships, he established the work zone safety task force and strengthened the Construction Partnering program with the Idaho Associated General Contractors.
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“I am so grateful for Dan’s dedication and emphasis on connecting with communities and overseeing the historic investments in construction focused on safety and mobility, which have enhanced quality of life for Idahoans,” said ITD Director Scott Stokes.
ITD Chief Engineer Dave Kuisti has been named acting Chief Operations Officer until permanent leadership position changes are determined.
