Nick Shirley Recalls the Classroom Moment That Shaped His Politics at the WA GOP Annual Dinner

The Center Square YT

•

September 21st, 2026

DESCRIPTION

Independent journalist Nick Shirley recalls growing up in Gig Harbor, Washington, and describes his first political experience as an eighth grader. Shirley says he told his history teacher that he liked Donald Trump, and she responded that he could not say Trump's name in her classroom. Shirley also recalls sending the teacher a meme after Trump won the 2016 presidential election.

The Center Square YT

The focus of The Center Square's work is state and local level government and economic reporting. A taxpayer sensibility distinguishes our work from other coverage of state and local issues. As a result of this approach, our audiences are better informed about the focus of state and local government and its cost to the citizens whose tax dollars fund governmental decisions.