BALDWIN — Collin Arthrell is sitting at a table filled with young people at a luncheon in this middle-class suburban Pittsburgh borough. He’s dressed neatly in a suit, his curly hair neatly cropped. He is seated with several other young people at a table.

Four years ago, you would not have seen this many young people not just psyched about voting in an off-year cycle. But a lot of things have changed since President Donald Trump’s re-election, in addition to some profound cultural changes, from Trump approving of the U.S Steel facilities to the gruesome murder of Charlie Kirk.

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All around the luncheon are posters, photos, and a display that lets attendees touch the hard hats, flame-retardant overalls, and even the coke and steel itself. They all serve as reminders not just of how much that deal meant to these Mon Valley suburbs in terms of stability, but also to young people who now are keenly aware they can have a future here, a stability that had been missing for decades.

Many of the parents and grandparents in attendance are multigenerational steelworkers. This included Don German, the plant manager for the Irvin Works in nearby Dravosburg, and Scott Buckiso, the executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer at U.S. Steel, who began his career at the Clarion Works at the same time German did in the 1990s.

Collin Arthrell, a 15-year-old, does something you rarely see from a young person at these events. He walks up to the microphone at the podium to speak.

“I am a sophomore, as well as the President of Club America TJ,” he said, the initials standing for his high school, Thomas Jefferson.

“First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to the West Jefferson Hills Republican community for inviting us here today. So thank you guys. I appreciate it. In 2018, I established a nonprofit organization called Collin’s Elves that focused on supporting military members through care packages, and since that time, I’ve distributed over 15,000 care packages worldwide,” he explained to gasps.

“This journey has taught extraordinary lessons in leadership and has humbled me in recognizing everyday comforts we often take for granted,” he said.

“Following the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk, I felt a strong urge to bring people together and further his mission of truth. In the past few weeks, there was a significant effort required to get our clubs approved within the school district, and I’m thrilled to announce that as of last week, we succeeded, with over 60 students signed up to carry on,” he said.

Arthrell explained that Charlie Kirk’s work will never be forgotten and young people will not waver in their commitment to our future.

“Together this chapter holds a potential to accomplish remarkable things for the youth in our community. It will not only unite us as conservative students, but also empower us to educate ourselves on truth and morals, enabling us to share this knowledge with others,” he said.

Arthrell said he was very impacted by a commencement speech that Admiral William McCraven delivered at the University of Texas, highlighting the significance of making your bed each day. 

“He said, every task, no matter how large or small, represents an achievement that contributes to our broader goals. Each goal sets a bench warrant for who we aspire to be and how we will advance toward our vision,” he said.

The sophomore said that while these tasks may sometimes prove challenging, they’re crucial for young people’s growth toward affecting change, improving themselves, and standing firmly on their beliefs.

“I stand before you today, uncertain of what this new chapter will involve, yet filled with hope. I sincerely hope that my fellow classmates and peers will come together to grow into confident and positive adults. We’ll educate ourselves and raise awareness about the realities of being a young conservative, steering clear of any false ideas,” he said.

Arthrell looked around at the crowd, in particular the young people in the front tables and said urged young people to step up.

“We’re a crucial juncture in restoring our country to its wholesome values, ensuring the future we can believe in, look forward to, and most importantly, feel proud of. We can take pride in the choices we make as I continue to make my bed each day. I will also encourage others to do the same, rather than allowing others to infringe upon our rights. We’ll learn to read the Constitution, not rewrite it,” he said.

Buckiso says he’s blown away, and also reminds everyone there to continue encouraging young people to realize their purpose.

This event is just one of dozens I have seen, not just since Kirk’s murder, but over the past year, where young people have become much more vocal in their conservatism, in particular, young men who have been lost in the past few years as our culture has demonized them. The shift began during the dark days of COVID when early precautions turned into heavy control in their education and in our culture.

There are two forces at work here, and it’s nuanced, so it is easy to miss from 30,000 feet. The overall emotional and economic impact that happened when U.S. Steel made that deal with Nippon caused a collective sigh of relief that came from the workers, retirees, and their children and grandchildren. There is high value given in places like Western Pennsylvania on retaining that connective tissue that allows you to have Sunday dinner with your parents and grandparents.

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The other factor is, of course, the young people. As California Gov. Gavin Newsom plays video games and talks about Fortnite and Snoop Dog to try to win back young people, he misses that Trump didn’t win young people doing any of those things. He won them over, with a healthy dose of J.D. Vance, by talking right to them, seeing them, and seeing that what they wanted was to know their “place” was going to be okay.

It is the nuance many top Democrats and their strategists still have failed to grasp.