Voices of Montana

Click on the podcast as Montana Congressman Troy Downing breaks down the high‑stakes debate in Washington over Homeland Security funding and why he's backing the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration. He also spotlights his […] The post Congressman Downing: DHS Funding, SAVE Act, Tribal Housing first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Montana's housing shortage has driven prices to record levels—but new state laws aimed at removing development barriers may be starting to make a difference. click on the podcast as land-use planner and State Senator Forrest Mandeville discusses the housing reform […] The post Solutions to Montana Housing Crunch Moving Along first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Has the global market for critical minerals increased due to the war in Iran? Will that have an impact on Montana's Stillwater mine, now and into the future? Click on the podcast for an update on where the critical minerals […] The post Critical Minerals and Sustainability at Stillwater Mine first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Voices of Montana celebrates National Agriculture Appreciation Day with a special program highlighting Montana's number one industry.  Longtime farm broadcaster, rancher, and former legislator Dr. Taylor Brown kicked-off the show looking at the evolving challenges and opportunities in agriculture. Montana […] The post Showing Appreciation For The Hands That Feed the World first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Commander Zinke called it the Army/Navy Team! Click on the podcast as Rep. Zinke and Aaron Flint, a candidate vying for the Western District House seat being vacated by Rep. Zinke, discuss the campaign trail, the war in Iran, and […] The post Congressman Zinke, Candidate Flint on Voices of Montana first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Fraud is evolving fast in Montana, and AI is making scams more convincing than ever. Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Jim Brown joins Voices of Montana to break down the surge in crypto fraud, deepfake scams, and what you […] The post CSI Office Levels Up in the Fight Against Fraud first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Click on the podcast to hear stories about the real-life journey of some of your Made in Montana friends and neighbors. In this MIM Reprise we talk with: Deb Wheaton, of Gluten-Free Prairie, Westin Allen, with Blue Wing Woodcraft, and […] The post Made in Montana Reprise: The Entrepreneurial Spirit first appeared on Voices of Montana.

A controversial ballot initiative in Oregon is raising alarms across the country. Could it criminalize hunting, fishing, and ranching—and reshape how wildlife is managed in America? Click on the Voices of Montana podcast as “The Real Yellowstone” filmmaker Tom Opre […] The post Radical Animal Rights Proposal Threatens Hunting, Fishing, Agriculture first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Click on the podcast for a whirlwind tour of the 2026 Made in Montana Trade Show, featuring entrepreneurs, artists, new exhibitors, and Montana Commerce Department leaders. Highlights include speaking with the owners of numerous businesses, including K&K Metalworks, Ellie's Gourmet […] The post Broadcasting Live from the Made in Montana Trade Show first appeared on Voices of Montana.

NextEra Energy has suspended its Glendive Wind Project, citing market conditions — but shifting local politics may also be playing a role. McCone and Prairie County Commissioners have approved a citizen driven zoning initiative that would impact the project, and […] The post Glendive Wind Project Suspended, Citizen's Zoning Initiatives Break Through first appeared on Voices of Montana.

What happens when Montana takes control of 400,000 acres of federal forestland? Governor Greg Gianforte explains in discussing a first‑of‑its‑kind agreement he says could reshape wildfire prevention, recreation, and school funding. He also tells the story of a third grader […] The post Montana Enters Stewardship Agreement with US Forest Service first appeared on Voices of Montana.

How about a call from Morocco? REAL Montana Class IV is currently on its international study tour exploring global agriculture firsthand in the country of Morocco. Class members are visiting grain farms, dairy operations, research institutions, and export companies to […] The post Lesson in Real Time with REAL Montana in Morocco first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Who will ref the games? Like much of the country, Montana is facing a shortage of sports officials.  Click on the podcast as we talk with officials and the Montana High School Association about the challenges, the rewards, and how […] The post Referee Shortage Begs the Question – Who Will Ref the Games? first appeared on Voices of Montana.

University of Montana historian and Middle East expert Dr. Mehrdad Kia discusses the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. While military strikes and regional tensions dominate headlines, Kia says the most important question may be what happens […] The post Is There a Path to Iranian Regime Change first appeared on Voices of Montana.

What would you write if you knew you had only minutes to live? Eighty‑three years after Montana's deadliest mining disaster, a new song, “Goodbye Wives (Wifes) and Daughters,” is reviving the story of the Smith Mine explosion and one miner's […] The post Saying Goodbye – 1943 Smith Mine Disaster Memorialized in Song first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Montana is at the center of the AI data-center boom. Are critics pushing misinformation about water and power use? Click on the podcast as energy expert Bob Morris, Lance Energy Chair at Montana Technological University  joins us with real numbers […] The post Hard Data on the Impact of Data Centers first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Constitutional Scholar Rob Natelson discusses the bi-decennial vote in Montana, as required by our constitution, where voters can choose to call a state constitutional convention. The post State Constitution a Conumdrum? first appeared on Voices of Montana.

With Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and Montana economist Dr. Patrick Barkey. The post Tariff Ruling and the No-So-Easy Road Back to Fiscal Responsibility first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Montana Revenue Director Brendan Beatty joins Voices of Montana to walk us through the new homestead and long‑term rental reduced‑rate programs, who qualifies, and how to apply, stressing the March 1 application deadline, which was extended to March 20 shortly […] The post The X's and O's Behind the Homestead/Long-Term Rental Exemptions first appeared on Voices of Montana.

How much are you aware of the presence and cost of invasive species in Montana? Everyone who loves and lives here should be aware of the problem, and a part of the victory.  Click on the podcast as the Montana […] The post Invasive Species – Keeping Up the Good Fight first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Featuring MACo President and Roosevelt County Commissioner Gordon Oelkers, Lewis & Clark County Commissioner Andy Hunthausen, and Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier The post County by County the Work's Getting Done – LIVE from MACo first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Is your Heart Healthy? Want to know for sure? Click on the podcast as cardiologists and specialists from Billings Clinic teach us about heart disease and prevention, rural challenges, and the warning signs you shouldn't ignore.  Plus, a powerful patient […] The post Is Your Heart Healthy? Here's How You Can Know For Sure first appeared on Voices of Montana.

What better way to learn the stock market then to jump right in … Click on the podcast as Dax Schieffer, Executive Director of the long-standing Montana Council for Economic Education talks about the Stock Market Game, one of the […] The post The Stock Market Game – Financial Literacy for Students first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Have you thought about running for a local political office? How much do you know about elections and campaign law? click on the podcast to learn a whole lot more about the process as Mike Sistak, Advocacy & Political Management […] The post Need Campaign Lessons – Try Campaign School first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Local–federal cooperation in immigration enforcement is under a fresh spotlight in Helena and across Montana, as the Helena City Commission approved a 4–1 resolution that directs the Helena Police Department to essentially not cooperate with federal immigration law enforcement. The […] The post Reactions to Helena's Pledge of Non-Cooperation with the Feds first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Today's show dives into earthquake and volcanic dynamics with one of the nation's leading experts — Dr. Jamie Farrell, Chief Seismologist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, and a University of Utah professor. Starting with the recent magnitude ~4.2 Montana earthquake […] The post Big Sky Rattled – 4.2 Quake and Other Seismic News first appeared on Voices of Montana.

NorthWestern Energy's 2026 Integrated Resource Plan, or IRP, is a long-range blueprint for how the utility plans to keep electricity reliable and affordable for Montana customers over the next 20 years. It's not a construction plan, it's not a final […] The post NWE's 2026 IRP a Blueprint for Meeting Energy Needs first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Sonja Nowakowski, joins us to discuss environmental policies, nuclear and geothermal energy potential, critical minerals, and more. The post The DEQ Agenda – With Director Sonja Nowakowski first appeared on Voices of Montana.

America turns 250 in 2026 — and Montana is already planning how to celebrate, educate, and engage. Click on the podcast for a discussion on the value of patriotism, civic engagement, and all the celebrations at hand. From Paul Revere's […] The post Celebrate, Reflect, 250 years of Freedom first appeared on Voices of Montana.

A group of current and former Montana republican legislators have filed a lawsuit against legislation passed in the 2025 session that shifted Montana's property taxes. They are asking a judge to throw out Senate Bill 542 for several key reasons. […] The post Senate Leadership Defends Suit to Upend Property Tax Shift first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Do you know what the growing trends are in your public schools? One way to find out is through more engagement. The “Educator for a Day” program is one of the ways the Education Foundation of Billings Public Schools is […] The post Want to be an Educator for a Day? first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Click on the podcast for an interesting look at an evolving economic and political landscape, as two union leaders discuss their support for new tech development projects that environmental organizations often oppose. Jason Small of the Montana AFL-CIO, and Riley […] The post Montana Labor Pitching the Facts on Data Centers first appeared on Voices of Montana.

The Governor’s office has been opposed to the controversial grazing permits and variances awarded the “non-profit” American Prairie, which has purchased roughly $100 million in Montana Ranch land since 2012. Click on the podcast as Governor Gianforte discusses why the […] The post Gov. Gianforte On Grazing Rights, Economy, Taxes, Rail Merger first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Montana Farm Bureau's Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck breaks down a major win for Montana ranchers. The Bureau of Land Management has reversed its 2022 decision that allowed the American Prairie Reserve to graze bison on federal allotments specifically designated […] The post MFBF Responds to Favorable Grazing Rights Ruling first appeared on Voices of Montana.

The 51st Annual Economic Outlook Seminar series from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research will launch in the coming weeks. The series this year takes a deep dive into Montana's tax structure, asking what appears to be a now […] The post Sales Tax Talk is a Full-On Agenda Item for 2026 Economic Outlook Seminars first appeared on Voices of Montana.

The fight against human trafficking isn't happening in the shadows anymore. It's happening in data centers, on encrypted networks, and inside the software we all use every day. What's it like on these new battle lines, and how effective are […] The post Human Trafficking – Montana's DeliverFund Fighting Fire with Fire first appeared on Voices of Montana.

We're talking a century of Western tradition — dude ranches, and Montana cowboy Hall-of-Famers.  The Dude Ranchers' Association is celebrating 100 years, and their national centennial convention is in Billings. Click on the podcast as we visit with Bryce Albright […] The post Western Heritage Celebrations on Tap first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Join us for a fun and educational journey through the new federal government nutrition guidelines, with Dr. Janna Hibler, a Bozeman nutritionist, who  joins us to discuss the new standards and talk about how the foods you eat, and don't […] The post Nutrition Guidelines – Out with the Old, In with the New first appeared on Voices of Montana.

The hurricane-level wind speeds of the mid-December storms had a broad impact across the Treasure State. Well over 100,000 electricity users were without out power in every geographic direction of our 147-thousand square miles. The vastness and rural nature of […] The post Restoring Power – Utilities Recap Major Windstorm Efforts first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Iran and Venezuela are two of the hottest global flashpoints that could affect our country. Thousands of protestors (12,000 according to our guest) are reported dead amid unrest in Iran, while the Islamic regime in power there threatens U.S. military […] The post Iranian People Fighting For Freedom first appeared on Voices of Montana.

With Founder and President Dallas Knight, and Erin Alexander, a Navy veteran helping the organization as it expands into the Bozeman area. The post Operation Juliet Addresses Unique Challenges for Women Veterans first appeared on Voices of Montana.

The Hot Topics from Business Days at the Capitol Taxes, Energy, Mining, Tourism, Workforce The post The Hot Topics from Business Days at the Capitol first appeared on Voices of Montana.

FWP Director Christy Clark joins the show to look back at some of the key issues in wildlife and recreation in 2025. Grizzly bear and wolf management are on that plate. What's the status of the proposal to have them […] The post 2025 FWP Key Issues, with Director Christy Clark first appeared on Voices of Montana.

The U.S. House has recently passed a Healthcare funding measure – it's one that will get the ball rolling as Congress has yet to tackle the impending deadline for the end of the Covid-19  ACA insurance subsidies. Montana Congressman Troy […] The post House Healthcare Bill Kick-Starts Reform Discussions, with Rep. Troy Downing first appeared on Voices of Montana.

What were some of the key stories coming out of Washington D.C. in 2025?  I’d prefer a Montana perspective on that…. and fifth-generation Montanan Drew Lesofski, a longtime grassroots organizer and political strategist provides just that! The post 2025 DC Takes, with Drew Lesofski first appeared on Voices of Montana.

When roadways and bridges are impacted by some of Montana's harshest weather conditions, how does the transportation department assess the damage, keep you safe, and plan for repairs? Click on the podcast as special guest Chris Dorrington, Director of the Montana […] The post From Assessment to Repair – Storm Damaged Roads and Bridges first appeared on Voices of Montana.