People want to be involved in politics — but not in the old, exhausting way.

They are tired of endless debates with no action. Tired of feeling like their voices don’t matter. Tired of being told to vote every few years without real tools to engage in what happens between elections.

People are looking for action-oriented ways to participate in democracy in a meaningful way.

They want to understand legislation, track government decisions and hold politicians accountable — without having to spend hours digging through legal documents or sending letters in hopes someone actually reads them.

Enter Wonk.

Two North Idaho entrepreneurs, Luke Dupin and Cal Habayeb, have developed an AI platform to give people real-time access to legislation, create their own policy anchors and finally see how well their representatives align with their priorities.

Wonk is already live, allowing people to see how many bills their state is proposing, get instant summaries and ask AI-driven questions about policies that directly impact their lives.

For the first time, government transparency isn’t just a promise — it’s a reality.

AI eats politics for breakfast

For too long, government has been designed for insiders, not the public.

Laws are written in dense legal jargon that no one understands. News coverage is fragmented and biased. Political parties expect people to vote blindly without real tools to track what their representatives are doing.

Even politicians admit they often don’t fully read or understand the legislation they vote on.

Wonk changes that.

“People are frustrated with government, and I get it,” says Dupin. “You’re told to vote, but you don’t have the time or tools to track what your representatives are actually doing. Wonk makes it possible to engage without frustration. You can now ask AI questions about a bill — any bill — and get clear, digestible answers instantly.”

With Wonk, everyday people can:

• See how many bills their state is working on.

• Click on any bill and get an AI-generated summary written in plain language.

• Ask Wonk real-time questions like “Does this raise taxes?” or “Who benefits from this?”

• Track legislation over time and see how bills evolve.

“This isn’t a theory — it’s live and running right now,” says Dupin. “Anyone can go in and see what’s happening in their state, without waiting for the media to filter it.”

    A screenshot of wonk in action at https://www.mountainstatespolicy.org/wonk-stateselec.
  

With Wonk, no one needs to rely on news outlets, lobbyists, or political parties to interpret laws for them. They can see it for themselves. 

The power behind Wonk: Meet Anchor

While Wonk makes legislation easy to track, it is powered by something much bigger — Anchor, the AI platform Dupin and Habayeb built to give people a clearer way to evaluate policies based on their personal values.

Right now, civic engagement is passive. People only interact with government when they vote — and even then, they are often guessing.

Anchor changes that.

Instead of sorting through endless news reports and biased commentary, Anchor allows people to create policy filters — called “anchors” — that track how well politicians, states and legislation align with their priorities.

“Instead of just looking at raw policy, you can now measure how well your representatives actually align with your beliefs,” says Dupin. “If you care about school choice, economic growth or health care reform, you can set up an anchor that automatically analyzes bills and representatives based on those issues.”

Instead of waiting for a news cycle to tell you what to care about, Anchor lets you take control of the information and track legislation in a way that makes sense for you.

Beyond civic life: Building the future in Coeur d’Alene

Wonk and Anchor are more than just AI-powered tools for understanding government. They are part of a much bigger vision being built right here in Coeur d’Alene — one where every resident is empowered to build their dreams and shape the future together.

The world is changing. AI, automation and new technologies are rewriting the rules of work, business and civic engagement. The future will not belong to those who simply adapt to it — it will belong to those who build it.

That’s why build_ coeur d’alene exists. Dupin and Habayeb are part of this growing network, designed to unleash the potential of every resident by providing the knowledge, resources, and connections needed to turn ideas into reality.

Luke Dupin credits build_ coeur d’alene and Nick Smoot for playing a major role in making Wonk and Anchor a reality:

“All the stuff I’m doing right now with Anchor — none of it would have started if it wasn’t for the work that’s been done with build_ and the Innovation Collective. You’ve really created the space, you sparked the community, got that spirit in there. You gave us all a place where we can congregate. And then you continually give us space every week to talk and share ideas and play stuff off of each other. It’s from that foundation that things like this have started to come out.”

This is a community of action — not just talk.

The old model Is dying. The future needs builders.

For too long, people have been living within an old model:

• Get a degree and work in a system designed for the last century.

• Hope the government fixes the economy instead of creating their own opportunities.

• Rely on corporations for employment instead of starting businesses that solve real problems.

That model is failing.

We are entering an era of builders — where the people who take action, experiment, and create will be the ones shaping the future.

    Luke Dupin, co-founder of Wonk, is seen in the background during a weekly AI event with other build_ members working on AI companies.
 

At build_ coeur d’alene, we are providing real tools to make that happen.

We host sessions on refining ideas, building pitch decks, finding business partners, AI classes, coding workshops, venture capital pitch days, hackathons, goal-setting groups and Q&As with industry leaders — including experts from Microsoft and Apple.

Whether you’re learning to build an app, launching a startup or exploring new technologies, this is the place to take action.

This isn’t some government initiative or a corporate-backed project. Build_ is powered by real people taking action together — launching startups, creating new opportunities and turning bold ideas into reality.

A community Is building the future — and you can be part of it

Right now, a community of builders in Coeur d’Alene is shaping the future — creating companies, developing new technologies and building what comes next.

You don’t have to sit on the sidelines. You don’t have to wait for permission.

The future belongs to those who build it.

If you’re an entrepreneur, innovator or problem solver ready to take your idea from concept to creation, build_ coeur d’alene is where it starts.

Come to a workshop. Learn a new skill. Launch something bold.

This is where the future takes shape. Will you be one of the builders?

This spring, build_ members have the opportunity to pitch their projects to investors and the founding CEO of Beats By Dre right here in Coeur d’Alene. 

Sign up at BuildJournal.Club and be part of the movement.

For the full 90-minute interview with the co-founder of Wonk go to https://www.buildjournal.club/adf.