Podcasts about montana free press

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 yesterday that construction of President Trump’s White House ballroom can continue. The Washington Post’s Justin Jouvenal explains why the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued and lost. Mail-in ballots for the November midterms are about to start going out — and the rules around them are still unsettled. The AP’s Nick Riccardi walks through Trump’s executive order to overhaul the mail-voting system, the legal challenges that have put it on hold, and what it all means for voters this fall. It’s been the worst wildfire season in a decade in the American West. Montana Free Press reporter Robert Chaney explains recent federal changes to firefighting efforts. Plus, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is resigning, a man was convicted in the murder of Tupac Shakur after 30 years, and Lionel Messi said goodbye to Argentina’s national team. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

On June 5, 2017, 20-year-old Ashley Loring Heavy Runner reportedly went to a couple of house parties on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana. The next day, she and her sister Kimberly Loring messaged each other on Facebook. That is the last time anyone in Ashley's family has heard from her. Dateline's Josh Mankiewicz talks with Kimberly Loring, Montana Free Press reporter Nora Mabie, and Haley Omeasoo, Ashley's high school classmate and founder of Ohkomi Forensics, about the crisis of missing Native Americans and the work being done to bring their cases to light. At the time of her disappearance Ashley was 5'2" and weighed about 90 lbs. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Ashley would be 29 years old today. Anyone with information on Ashley's whereabouts is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact their field office in Billings at (406) 248-8487. You can also submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Get more information and see pictures of Ashley Loring Heavy Runnerhere:  https://www.nbcnews.com/datelinemissing Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Washington state manufacturer of tooling and parts for advanced industries plans to establish its third production facility in Montana — and create about 2,000 jobs.Janicki announced Tuesday that it selected Great Falls, Montana, for the $800 million project, which would complement the company's existing production facilities in Northwest Washington and suburban Salt Lake City.The privately-owned engineering and manufacturing company, established in 1993, says it designs and builds tools, parts, assemblies and prototypes for a wide range of industries, including aerospace, defense, architectural and marine applications. It specializes in composite fabrication and precision machining utilizing its proprietary 5-axis mills, which it says are among the largest in the world.Janicki officials said in a statement that growth in its aerospace and defense programs, in particular, has pushed demand beyond its capacity in Washington and Utah. The Montana plant, they added, will be part of a “multi-state, phased growth strategy.”The company anticipates building a campus that would add 2 million square feet of production space over the next decade. The project would create about 1,000 jobs within the first five years and more than 2,000 jobs overall once construction is complete — a total that would roughly double its current workforce.Montana Free Press reported that Janicki would receive a 50% property tax break from the city and county over five years, which would then be gradually phased out over the following five years. The incentives would reportedly be applied separately to each of the project's four phases of construction.Janicki expects to begin construction next month and open the first phase of the new facility by the end of next year. #manufacturing, #aerospace, #defense, #advancedmanufacturing, #industrialnews, #manufacturingnews, #economicdevelopment, #jobs, #factory, #engineering, #supplychain, #composites, #precisionmachining, #madeinamerica, #industrynews

It's true all elections have consequences. But sometimes, a single vote can make a bigger splash than usual. That may be the case during Montana's June 2 primary election. Montana Free Press reporter Zeke Lloyd sat down with MTPR's Austin Amestoy to explain.

A longtime mechanic and beloved community member in Froid, Montana was detained by the U.S. Border Patrol in January. Roberto Orozco-Ramirez' arrest has forced a reckoning in the Republican stronghold on what President Trump's immigration policies mean on the ground. Nora Mabie of the Montana Free Press has been following the case and the community's response. She joined MTPR's Elinor Smith to break down the details.

In this episode, Tracie Powell speaks with John Adams, founder of Local News Day and Montana Free Press, about a new national effort to reconnect communities with trusted local news.They discuss the growing gap between trust and visibility in local journalism, why hyperlocal outlets — especially those serving underrepresented communities — are often overlooked, and how Local News Day aims to bring them into the spotlight.The conversation explores how the initiative works, what success looks like, and why audience engagement is key to sustaining local news.Plus, Adams shares powerful examples of how local reporting helps communities understand the real-life impact of national issues.

Interview Only w/ John Adams - Bringing Local News Back From The Brink John Adams, editor of the Montana Free Press, joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that local journalism has been in crisis — and that saving it might be one of the most important things Americans can do for their democracy. Adams is on the show to promote Local News Day on April 9th, a nationwide effort involving 700 local newsrooms aimed not at fundraising but at spreading awareness. He traces the origin story of the Montana Free Press back to his appearance in the documentary "Dark Money", a story about outside money quietly trying to buy Montana politics at the local level with zero disclosure — and the journalists best positioned to expose it were losing their jobs. Adams argues the economics of local news changed drastically as advertising revenue collapsed and audiences became hypnotized by social media and smartphones, but that the need and appetite for local reporting never went away. The conversation turns to the deeper consequences of local news deserts: the loss of trusted community voices created a vacuum that bred distrust in the national press, because people no longer had local "character references" — journalists they knew and saw at the grocery store — to anchor their understanding of how media works. Adams warns that the rise of AI-generated misinformation makes reliable local sources more important than ever, noting that while younger people tend to be savvier at spotting junk online, older generations are particularly vulnerable. They close by noting that strong local news doesn't just serve democracy — it helps local businesses target customers, creating an economic ecosystem that benefits everyone — and that journalism ultimately has to reach enough people to really matter, which is exactly what Local News Day at localnewsday.org is designed to help make possible. Go to https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 John Adams (Montana Free Press) joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:45 The importance of local news & purpose of Local News Day, April 9th 03:15 Why create Local News Day? 04:15 The crisis with local news isn’t new, been happening for years 05:30 It’s easier to get international news than news from your community 06:30 The need and appetite for local news has never gone away 07:45 Local news has become en vogue like a local craft beer 09:45 People embrace their local identity 12:15 Origin story of the Montana Free Press 12:45 “Dark Money” documentary about fight against Montana copper barons 15:00 Big outside money was trying to buy Montana politics at the local level 17:15 None of the outside money was disclosed 18:00 John lost his reporting job during the 2015 legislative session 20:00 Three of the most experienced local journalists were jobless 20:30 MFP founded on principle that local journalism is essential as a nonprofit 22:15 Economics of local news changed drastically, made newspapers expensive 24:00 Audiences are highly distracted by social media & smartphones 25:30 We need good new sources of information to combat misinfo from AI 26:45 Younger people are savvier online, older generations struggle with AI 28:30 It’s easier to trust local news sources because they’re in your community 29:15 Journalists have to almost “sell” their info for people to see it 31:30 It’s important to report on what your audience cares about 33:00 AP reporter in Montana was attacked and then the reporter was doxxed 35:15 Loss of local news character references created distrust in national press 36:30 Importance of local “service journalism” 40:00 Recreating the equivalent of morning drive news radio as a podcast 40:45 Using google trends questions to help inform your journalism 42:00 Algorithms only give people what they want, not what they need to know 42:45 Local news at its best reflects what the community cares about 43:45 Localnewsday.org is where people can find ways to help & connect 45:30 The better local news does, the better local businesses can target customers 46:30 700 local newsrooms are taking part in Local News Day 47:30 Goal of Local News Day isn’t to raise money, it’s to spread awareness 50:30 Journalism has to reach enough people to really matterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd surveys a political landscape where multiple crises are converging on the Trump administration simultaneously — and none of them are going well. The Iran war, which Chuck reiterates is a war of choice, appears to be devouring Trump's presidency: the administration burned through nearly $6 billion in munitions in just two days, is sending contradictory messages of reassurance and escalation that appear designed to manipulate markets, and seems to be operating entirely by the seat of its pants. He warns that asymmetric warfare has never gone well for the United States, that energy markets are in turmoil as Iran deliberately tries to inflict economic pain, that the threat of stagflation and energy shortages is very real, and that Trump's threat to use the Fed to shape oil markets has alarmed economists. He argues that if Trump could undo the war he would — but this won't be Venezuela 2.0, because there's no opposition on the ground to coordinate with, you can't change a regime without boots on the ground that Trump won't commit, and if the regime simply survives, that counts as victory for Iran. Meanwhile, Trump naively buys Putin's claim that Russia isn't helping Iran with targeting, and that new polling shows a majority of Americans oppose the war — with MAGA influencers notably against it even as older rank-and-file supporters stick with Trump. Beyond Iran, Chuck hits the Ticketmaster settlement as proof that Trump talks a big populist game but the lobbyists always win, warns that a partial DHS shutdown risks snarling air travel and punishing the flying public while ICE has already been funded, and cautions Democrats not to overplay their hand on the shutdown. Then, John Adams, editor of the Montana Free Press, joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that local journalism has been in crisis — and that saving it might be one of the most important things Americans can do for their democracy. Adams is on the show to promote Local News Day on April 9th, a nationwide effort involving 700 local newsrooms aimed not at fundraising but at spreading awareness. He traces the origin story of the Montana Free Press back to his appearance in the documentary "Dark Money", a story about outside money quietly trying to buy Montana politics at the local level with zero disclosure — and the journalists best positioned to expose it were losing their jobs. Adams argues the economics of local news changed drastically as advertising revenue collapsed and audiences became hypnotized by social media and smartphones, but that the need and appetite for local reporting never went away. The conversation turns to the deeper consequences of local news deserts: the loss of trusted community voices created a vacuum that bred distrust in the national press, because people no longer had local "character references" — journalists they knew and saw at the grocery store — to anchor their understanding of how media works. Adams warns that the rise of AI-generated misinformation makes reliable local sources more important than ever, noting that while younger people tend to be savvier at spotting junk online, older generations are particularly vulnerable. They close by noting that strong local news doesn't just serve democracy — it helps local businesses target customers, creating an economic ecosystem that benefits everyone — and that journalism ultimately has to reach enough people to really matter, which is exactly what Local News Day at localnewsday.org is designed to help make possible. Finally, on the day of the Mississippi primaries, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 All-Time statewide races in Mississippi and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Go to https://zbiotics.com/CHUCKTODDCAST and use CHUCKTODDCAST at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.” Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. American Finance Disclaimer: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1081, for details about credit costs and terms. Or https://apply.americanfinancing.net/thechucktoddcast Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:30 Despite runoff, Dems shouldn’t get hopes up for MTG’s district 01:30 Bennie Thompson survives primary challenge in Mississippi 07:15 War of choice in Iran could devour Trump’s presidency 08:00 Administration messaging appears to be manipulating markets 09:30 We got both a message of reassurance and escalation on Monday 10:30 Administration seems to be operating by the seat of their pants 12:00 Administration has eroded trust in institutions for years 13:00 Eventually markets will stop reacting to government statements 13:30 Administration burned through nearly $6B in munitions in two days 14:30 Asymmetric warfare has never gone well for the United States 15:15 Energy markets are in turmoil, Iran wants to create economic pain 16:00 Threat of stagflation & energy shortages are very real 16:45 Trump threatens to use the fed to shape oil markets, alarming economists 17:30 Partial shutdown of DHS agents risks snarling air travel 18:30 When do Dems declare victory on partial shutdown? Noem was fired 19:45 ICE has already been funded. Shutdown punishes the flying public 20:30 Democrats need to be careful not to overplay their hand in shutdown 21:00 If Trump could undo the war, he would. It won’t be Venezuela 2.0 22:15 We’ve always paid to rebuild countries we’ve bombed 23:00 If the regime survives, that’s victory for Iran 24:15 Can’t change regime without boots on the ground, which Trump won’t do 25:15 There’s no opposition on the ground to coordinate with 26:00 Trump buys story from Putin that Russia isn’t assisting Iran w/targeting 26:45 U.S. using up munitions headed to Ukraine is best case for Russia 28:00 DOJ agrees to incredibly friendly settlement with Ticketmaster 28:45 Live Nation lobbyists went straight to Trump, then deal is cut 29:15 Trump talks a big game on populism, but the lobbyists always win 30:45 Young independents hate corporate power & Trump sides with corporations 31:30 New polling shows majority of Americans are against war with Iran 32:15 Older voters continue to be strongest supporters of Trump & war 33:00 MAGA influencers are against war, but rank & file support Trump 42:30 John Adams (Montana Free Press) joins the Chuck ToddCast 43:15 The importance of local news & purpose of Local News Day, April 9th 45:45 Why create Local News Day? 46:45 The crisis with local news isn’t new, been happening for years 48:00 It’s easier to get international news than news from your community 49:00 The need and appetite for local news has never gone away 50:15 Local news has become en vogue like a local craft beer 52:15 People embrace their local identity 54:45 Origin story of the Montana Free Press 55:15 “Dark Money” documentary about fight against Montana copper barons 57:30 Big outside money was trying to buy Montana politics at the local level 59:45 None of the outside money was disclosed 1:00:30 John lost his reporting job during the 2015 legislative session 1:02:30 Three of the most experienced local journalists were jobless 1:03:00 MFP founded on principle that local journalism is essential as a nonprofit 1:04:45 Economics of local news changed drastically, made newspapers expensive 1:06:30 Audiences are highly distracted by social media & smartphones 1:08:00 We need good new sources of information to combat misinfo from AI 1:09:15 Younger people are savvier online, older generations struggle with AI 1:11:00 It’s easier to trust local news sources because they’re in your community 1:11:45 Journalists have to almost “sell” their info for people to see it 1:14:00 It’s important to report on what your audience cares about 1:15:30 AP reporter in Montana was attacked and then the reporter was doxxed 1:17:45 Loss of local news character references created distrust in national press 1:19:00 Importance of local “service journalism” 1:22:30 Recreating the equivalent of morning drive news radio as a podcast 1:23:15 Using google trends questions to help inform your journalism 1:24:30 Algorithms only give people what they want, not what they need to know 1:25:15 Local news at its best reflects what the community cares about 1:26:15 Localnewsday.org is where people can find ways to help & connect 1:28:00 The better local news does, the better local businesses can target customers 1:29:00 700 local newsrooms are taking part in Local News Day 1:30:00 Goal of Local News Day isn’t to raise money, it’s to spread awareness 1:33:00 Journalism has to reach enough people to really matter 1:35:00 Take action on April 9th to support local news 1:35:30 ToddCast Top 5 All-Time Mississippi statewide campaigns 1:40:00 #1 1959 gubernatorial 1:42:00 #2 1978 senate race 1:43:30 #3 1978 gubernatorial 1:45:00 #4 1999 gubernatorial 1:47:00 #5 2014 senate Republican primary 1:49:30 Honorable mentions 1:52:30 Ask Chuck 1:52:45 Do you have a Top 5 list coming for New Jersey? 1:56:00 How do we keep getting into wars without declaration from congress? 1:59:30 What will it take for the U.S. to rebuild trust on the world stage? 2:03:00 Will abortion become an issue in 2028 or has Dobbs taken it off the table? 2:06:30 Should Democrats break norms to prevent authoritarianism?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's campaign promise of mass deportations helped him win. But the reality of enforcement is hitting people hard. Even in red states. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Dustin DeSoto and Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Photo by Lauren Miller, Montana Free Press, CatchLight Local/Report for America. Further reading: You can follow Montana Free Press coverage at this link: https://montanafreepress.org/froid. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A surge of measles cases has health experts around the country worried. Erika Edwards of NBC News breaks down the numbers and explains how current outbreaks got so bad. The acting director of ICE defended the agency’s actions on Capitol Hill Tuesday. The Washington Post reports on the contentious hearing. A community in Montana that overwhelmingly supported Trump is grappling with the detainment of a popular local auto mechanic by U.S. Border Patrol. Nora Mabie of Montana Free Press discusses the case. Plus, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted he maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein for years longer than he previously claimed, an unsealed affidavit revealed the FBI’s reasoning for confiscating election materials from Fulton County, and Team USA’s breakout men’s figure-skating star takes a big lead in the individual competition. Today’s episode was hosted by Cecilia Lei.

Ralph welcomes professor and historian Daniel Immerwahr to discuss the history of the United States' overseas possessions and his book "How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States."Daniel Immerwahr is a professor and historian at Northwestern University. He is the author of Thinking Small: The United States and the Lure of Community Development and How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States.What I wanted to do in the book was to look at the United States and to take seriously the parts of the United States that don't always feature in the textbooks—that are outside of the mainland, the contiguous blob. And what I discovered when I did that was that these places were often in the mainland's mind seen as peripheral places, but this was not a peripheral history…It turns out that once you've got the territories in view, you have a different understanding of them. And so a lot of US history (and really important parts of US history) has actually taken place outside of the part of the country that we normally think of as the United States.Daniel ImmerwahrI got really interested in the book in how it came to be and why it mattered that US standards prevailed and how other countries dealt with that by either jumping on the ship or trying to resist and that became difficult for them. And how emotionally hard it is for other parts of the world to [face] this onslaught of not just the US military, not just US planes, its bombs—we know all that stuff, and I don't want to diminish it, but all the US stuff and ways of talking and the English language and the dollar. And each one of those comes as a kind of challenge: Are you going to adopt this or not? Because life's going to be a little harder if you don't, but if you do, you're kind of a puppet. And everyone in the world has had to deal with that challenge on a daily basis—what screws they use, what language they speak, all that kind of stuff. And we don't talk about that a lot, but that actually strikes me as a really important facet of US power.Daniel ImmerwahrNews 1/23/26* Our first two stories this week come to us from New York City. On January 16th, Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew a line in the sand in an address celebrating a historic settlement with A&E real estate. While A&E is a serial offender, racking up “over 140,000 total violations, including 35,000 in the last year alone,” Mayor Mamdani made clear that this was to serve as an example for other landlords, saying “City Hall will not sit idly by and accept this illegality, nor will we allow bad actors to continue to harass tenants with impunity.” Mayor Mamdani made tenants rights a central pillar of his campaign and is signaling that it will be a major aspect of his administration as well, with the centerpiece being the “Rental Ripoff” hearings he plans to hold in all five boroughs. Yet again, Mamdani provides a blueprint for other Democratic elected officials in cities across the nation, if only they would pick up the mantle.* In other news out of New York, on January 13th New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced a “settlement ending Betar US's…campaign of violence, harassment, and intimidation against Arab, Muslim, and Jewish New Yorkers.” Betar, an extremist Zionist outfit, is considered so fringe that even the ultra-Zionist Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has labeled it an “extremist group” for its “embrace of Islamophobia and harass[ment] of Muslims.” Examples of Betar's bias-motivated harassment include labeling keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves – as “rape rags” and claiming that the number of babies who had died in Gaza was “not enough,” adding, “we demand blood in Gaza.” According to this announcement, Betar is seeking to dissolve its nonprofit corporation and intends to wind down operations in New York. Mayor Mamdani added, “For years, Betar has sowed a campaign of hatred across New York, trafficking in Islamophobic extremism and harassing those with whom they disagreed. There is no place for their bigotry in our politics, and I'm grateful for [Attorney General James's] unflagging pursuit of justice.”* In more Israel news, earlier this week Israeli human rights lawyer Alon Sapir recounted the following story on social media. “On Saturday, I represented an American Jewish activist in deportation proceedings from the country due to his leftism. In the hearing, they presented him with a photo from a demonstration in the US to link him to anti-Israel organizations.” The photo in question was “taken at a demonstration against the Nazis in Charlottesville [Virginia],” and the Israelis “apparently took it from a page that promotes white supremacy.” This deportation proceeding – wherein the Israeli government used a white-supremacist photograph of an activist protesting Nazism to deport him on the grounds of being anti-Israel, is of course, stunningly backwards. But, as Sapir writes, “Indeed, [this is] grounds for deportation from the Jewish state.” * In more news from abroad, the New York Times reports the People's Republic of China has hit a new economic milestone: the world's largest trade surplus ever. According to economic data released by the country's General Administration of Customs, “China's surplus, the value of goods and services it sold abroad versus its imports, reached $1.19 trillion, an increase of 20 percent from 2024.” As this piece notes, “The enormous trade surplus…came despite efforts by President Trump to use tariffs to contain China's factories.” While the tariffs succeeded in reducing China's trade surplus with the United States by 22% last year, Chinese firms compensated by increasing sales to other regions and “in many cases bypassing American tariffs by shipping goods to the United States through Southeast Asia and elsewhere.” In short, the tariffs have succeeded only in raising prices for American consumers by forcing Chinese firms to route their products through secondary markets instead of selling directly to Americans – further enriching China while further immiserating everyday Americans.* This trade surplus is expected to widen further with news of an economic thaw between China and Canada. AP reports Canada has “agreed to cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products,” according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney added that there would initially be an annual cap of 49,000 Chinese EVs coming into the Canadian market at a tariff rate of 6.1%, but this cap would grow to about 70,000 over the next five years. In return, China will “reduce its total tariff on canola seeds, a major Canadian export, from 84% to about 15%,” and allow visa-free travel to China for Canadian citizens, many of whom are of Chinese descent. This deal is obviously a humiliating disaster for President Trump, who sought to both isolate China economically and force Canada to further subjugate itself to the United States, going so far as to muse about annexing the country and making it the “51st state.” Like the Greenland fiasco, this is a case of Trump needlessly alienating American allies, driving them into the open arms of more rational partners like China.* Meanwhile, in South Korea, Al Jazeera reports former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in the failed coup attempt orchestrated by ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol. In a moving statement, Judge Lee Jin-gwan of the Seoul Central District Court, said Han “disregarded his duty and responsibility as prime minister,” and “As a result…South Korea was in danger ​of returning to the dark past ‌when the basic rights and liberal democratic order of the people were violated, potentially preventing them from escaping from the quagmire of dictatorship.” These words sound especially tragic to American ears at this moment, as our country slides ever further away from basic rights and liberal democratic order. Han is “the first member of Yoon's cabinet to be found guilty and sentenced to jail,” and his sentence gives an indication of how seriously the court is taking this matter. As we discussed last week, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Yoon himself.* Moving back to American politics, NOTUS reports Congresswoman and Senate hopeful Jasmine Crockett is amassing money from some unsavory donors. These include, “Tech titan and conservative provocateur Marc Andreessen [and] Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss of Facebook fame,” as well as several super PACs funded by the cryptocurrency lobby. Perhaps most damningly though, she has received donations from the PACs for BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, and massive defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Crockett's acceptance of these donations has sent ripples through the progressive community. Fellow Texas Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett called it “very troubling that she would be reliant on those kinds of contributions.” Adam Green, a co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, is quoted in this piece refuting characterizations of Crockett as in line with that group's preferences, saying “To call her in any way the progressive or leftist candidate is a misnomer...She's a somewhat effective anti-Trump troll and resistance liberal, but is not one of us when it comes to a progressive populist or anti-corporate warrior.” Green added that his group will likely endorse Crockett's opponent in the primary, Texas State Representative James Talarico. As of mid-January, Talarico leads Crockett 47% to 38% in the polls, with 15% undecided, per Emerson.* Another red state senate race, this one in Montana, just got more interesting in its own way. According to the Montana Free Press, “University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is expected to run for U.S. Senate as an independent,” which the paper claims is “part of an elaborate plan apparently backed by former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.” Apparently, this move has angered Montana Democrats, two of whom have filed long-shot bids to run against incumbent Republican Senator Steve Daines. The Free Press reached out to Tester for a comment, and he sent back a text message explaining his reasoning behind backing the independent bid, writing “Every race I ran as Montana Senator and U.S. Senator it was about distancing myself from the Democratic Party…. During my last two races the democratic Party was poison in my attempts to get re-elected.” Tester is likely taking some inspiration from the Independent Senate campaigns of Dan Osborn in Nebraska. Osborn ran against incumbent Republican Deb Fischer in 2024 and made the race unusually competitive, eventually losing 53% to 47%. Osborn is now running against Nebraska's other incumbent Republican Senator, billionaire Pete Ricketts, and the two are in a statistical dead heat in the polls.* Next, with tax season on the horizon, the neutering of the Internal Revenue Service is starting to be felt. More Perfect Union reports “The IRS is effectively unable to audit private equity, venture capital, and real estate investment firms,” because “Thousands of workers have been fired from the agency,” post-DOGE. According to the numbers, audits of the aforementioned giant enterprises have “dropped 80 or 90%.” Stunningly, Forbes reports that instead of fighting to re-fund the IRS and restore some oversight to the lawless corporate sector, lawmakers from both parties are seeking to slash $11.7 billion of the $80 billion allocated to the agency in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. As this piece notes, that number itself is deceptive; a report issued by the Treasury Inspector General, found that that $80 billion has already been shrunken down to just $37.6 billion, and the IRS has only spent about $13.8 billion of the IRA funding. The Treasury Inspector General's projections of the additional funds available to the IRS is approximately $19.3 billion, meaning an additional cut of $11.7 billion would effectively curtail any plans to expand the IRS to police large, complex financial entities.* Finally, on January 14th, Congresswoman Robin Kelly of Illinois formally introduced three articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. These articles, accusing Noem of obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust, self-dealing, and directing ICE to make “widespread warrantless arrests, forgo due process, and use violence against United States citizens, lawful residents, and other individuals,” initially garnered 80 Democratic cosponsors. But that list appears to be growing. Newsweek reports that as of January 21st, the list has grown to 100 cosponsors, nearly half of the 213-member Democratic caucus in the House. A successful impeachment vote is unlikely, as Republicans still control the House, but as provocative and unpopular actions across the country – by DHS in general and ICE specifically – continue to escalate, this list is only expected to grow. The larger question remains however: even if Noem is removed, will that force the administration to change course or will they simply appoint another pliant enforcer in her place. We can't know unless we try.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

The ongoing extreme atmospheric river has rendered Western Washington and northwestern Oregon in a state of emergency response. Despite a temporary easing of rainfall, the ramifications of major to catastrophic river flooding persist, with additional atmospheric rivers anticipated in the forthcoming week. FEMA's operations continue to address evacuations, shelter provisions, and transportation disruptions in the affected regions. As we traverse various states, we note that Alaska grapples with blizzard conditions while other areas, such as New York, face significant lake effect snow. Throughout this episode, we remain vigilant in monitoring the evolving weather scenarios across the nation, emphasizing the need for preparedness and safety in light of these severe conditions.The recent EM Morning Brief delineates the ongoing challenges faced by Western Washington and northwestern Oregon as they grapple with the aftermath of an unprecedented atmospheric river event. The episode opens with a somber acknowledgment of the severe flooding that has afflicted these regions, emphasizing that while the immediate rainfall has subsided, the repercussions are far from over. The Weather Prediction Center has issued dire warnings regarding significant river flooding, which may persist for an extended period, compounded by the potential for additional atmospheric rivers in the forthcoming week. The episode articulates the crucial role of FEMA in orchestrating evacuations and providing shelter, underscoring the collaborative efforts in federal tribal coordination to mitigate the disaster's impact.The discussion further elaborates on the broader meteorological landscape across the United States, with a particular focus on the Arctic air masses sweeping southward and the impending lake effect snow that threatens the Great Lakes region. Alaska is highlighted for its harsh conditions, including blizzard advisories and travel disruptions due to severe marine weather. The nuances of state-level responses are meticulously detailed, particularly California's proactive measures in deploying Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces to assist in flood response operations in Washington. This segment of the episode encapsulates the interconnectedness of state responses to natural disasters, illustrating the importance of mutual aid systems in times of crisis.In addition to these primary themes, the episode touches upon localized weather phenomena affecting Idaho, Minnesota, and New York, where residents face their own sets of winter hazards and flood warnings. The narrative concludes with a call for vigilance and safety amidst the ongoing turmoil, reiterating the importance of staying informed through reliable channels. This comprehensive overview not only serves to inform but also to remind listeners of the resilience required in the face of nature's formidable challenges.Takeaways:* The atmospheric river has significantly impacted Western Washington and northwestern Oregon, necessitating ongoing emergency responses. * FEMA is currently coordinating evacuations, opening shelters, and managing transportation disruptions in the affected regions. * Flood warnings remain in effect across Idaho, with specific rivers experiencing critical flooding conditions. * Minnesota has issued cold weather advisories due to dangerous wind chills and snow hazards expected this weekend. * In Oregon, river flooding continues, prompting the National Weather Service to maintain flood warnings and advisories for local communities. * Texas is experiencing dense fog conditions, impacting visibility and travel safety across the coastal region. Sources[NWS Fairbanks | https://www.weather.gov/afg/][Alaska Marine Highway—Service Notices | https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/service_notices.shtml][Office of the Governor | https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/12/11/governor-newsom-deploys-resources-as-atmospheric-river-causes-catastrophic-flooding-in-the-pacific-northwest/][NWS Spokane—Flood Warnings | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?lat=47.9744&lon=-116.3059&product1=Flood+Warning][Bonner County Daily Bee | https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2025/dec/12/flood-emergency-declared-in-shoshone-county-coeur-/][NWS Duluth—Hazards | https://www.weather.gov/dlh/][City of Libby—Boil Order (Dec. 11) | https://cityoflibby.com/][Montana Free Press | https://montanafreepress.org/2025/12/11/atmospheric-river-drives-flooding-in-northwest-montana/][NWS Buffalo—Lake-Effect Snow Warnings | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=buf&wwa=lake%20effect%20snow%20warning][Democrat & Chronicle | https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/weather/2025/12/12/lake-effect-snow-warning-new-york-how-much-snow-totals-snowstorm-forecast/87730027007/][NWS Portland—Watches/Warnings | https://www.weather.gov/pqr/][The Astorian | https://www.dailyastorian.com/news/local/flood-warning-issued-for-highway-101-at-seaside/article_b5fd6266-1d0b-11ef-a72a-931dbd6c3e83.html][NWS Corpus Christi | https://www.weather.gov/crp/][Laredo Morning Times | https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/weather-nws-fog-mist-visibility-hazardous-traffic-21237911.php][NWS Seattle—Watches/Warnings | https://www.weather.gov/sew/][Governor of Washington—Emergency Proclamation | https://governor.wa.gov/news/2025/washington-state-responds-severe-weather-emergency-proclamation-issued] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

A nearly century-old private college in Great Falls is on the ropes as it confronts a massive budget deficit. The University of Providence lost funding from the hospital system that supports it. Administrators are now laying off staff and changing course offerings in a bid to stay afloat. Montana Free Press reporter Matt Hudson is following the restructuring and joined MTPR's Austin Amestoy with details.

Someone looking to move to any of the Native American reservations in Montana will have a hard time finding a home. A three-part series by the Montana Free Press finds there is a chronic shortage of housing on Native land caused by confusing land ownership frameworks, hurdles for conventional financing, and a lack of infrastructure. The government shutdown, funding cuts, and other changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could only exacerbate the struggle Native people have for finding homes. Native people typically have the worst housing needs in the country. We'll hear about the problems facing Native homeowners and some of the innovative ways tribes are working to solve them.

Someone looking to move to any of the Native American reservations in Montana will have a hard time finding a home. A three-part series by the Montana Free Press finds there is a chronic shortage of housing on Native land caused by confusing land ownership frameworks, hurdles for conventional financing, and a lack of infrastructure. The government shutdown, funding cuts, and other changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could only exacerbate the struggle Native people have for finding homes. Native people typically have the worst housing needs in the country. We'll hear about the problems facing Native homeowners and some of the innovative ways tribes are working to solve them.

A wind energy development project in southeast Montana is facing pushback from neighbors. At the same time, the Trump administration is pushing for further investment into gas and oil energy. Montana Free Press' Tom Lutey joined Elinor Smith to explain.

The median home value across the state rose by two thirds in the last 4 years. Montana Free Press' Eric Dietrich crunched the numbers and joined MTPR's Elinor Smith to break them down.

photo credit Amanda Peterson Back in April of this year, Tell Us Something traveled to Butte, America to bring Tell Us Something to an enthusiastic group of listeners at The Covellite Theatre. Founder and Executive Director Marc Moss shared a story about the first time we held a Tell Us Something event in Butte, which was at The Covellite. The first time in Butte, back in 2019, Marc had to buy time because the evening's first storyteller, Pat, was late. Listen as Marc shares that story, which is more than just a story of Tell Us Something in Butte, it’s an honoring of his friendship with Pat Williams. Pat Williams shared this story at Tell Us Something in front of a live audience on February 18th, 2014, at the Top Hat Lounge in Missoula, MT. The theme was “What Are You Waiting For”. Bing Crosby spends time in Butte, MT to fish and get away from the spotlight fame brought him in the 1940s and 50s. He is mis-recognized by a pedestrian on the street. Bing then shares a story with Pat about Blue the Bear in the Jungle Book (Phil Harris) and drinking whiskey. Pat Williams • October 30, 1937 – June 25, 2025 Pat Williams, Montana's longest-serving U.S. House member, dies at 87 Click here to read Pat’s tribute at The Montana Free Press.

The state's largest utility company is now charging customers 17 percent more for electricity. It made that price bump without the approval of state regulators. Montana Free Press' Amanda Eggert sat down with MTPR's Ellis Juhlin to talk about her reporting on the change.

Mike Koshmrl has been an environmental reporter and journalist for over a decade. He previously worked with Jackson Hole News & Guide and currently writes for WyoFile, reporting on environmental, conservation and natural issues concerning the state of Wyoming. Amanda Eggert has been an environmental reporter with Montana Free Press since 2021. She has also written for other publications including Explore Big Sky, Explore Yellowstone & Mountain Outlaw. Both shared their experiences in writing this combined piece, The Year of the Wolves documenting the first steps to wolves being reintroduced to the Northern Rockies. Read the story below at both publications websites. The Year of the Wolves (Wyofile) The Year of the Wolves (Montana Free Press)Amanda Eggert StoriesMike Koshmrl Stories@wyofile@mtfreepress@thewolfconnectionpod

What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us? - Job 15:9   This Episode's Links and Timestamps: 00:00 – Scripture Reading 12:13 – My Commentary on Job 15-17 31:29 - Tom Cotton: America Needs To Adjust To The Future Of Warfare – Daily Wire News 46:24 - Ex-Pastor J.D. Hall guilty of embezzlement, ordered to pay restitution to Montana church – Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Montana Free Press, Billings Gazette 1:01:26 - The gods must be angry: Mexico ‘cancels' statue of Greek god Poseidon after dispute with local deity – Fabiola Sanchez, AP 1:18:07 - When Magical Management Thinking Gets People Killed – Aaron Renn 1:35:10 - ‘Knowledge and Power' by George Gilder - Goodreads

Federal regulators last year criticized the Montana health department as “severely out of compliance” with rules that require applications for nutrition assistance to be processed in a timely manner, according to reporting from Montana Free Press.

New analysis of state data by Montana Free Press confirms what many homeowners in the state may have already noticed: Residential property taxes are up substantially this year. At the same time, some large industrial businesses are paying millions of dollars less.

In today's episode we share some wildlife wins and go over what to do if you come face to face with a bear. Share with your friends and rate, review, subscribe!Find us on all the things: http://linktr.ee/bearsandbrewspodcast Links We Discussed:https://www.bearsmart.com/play/bear-encounters/https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htmSources Cited:Eggert, Amanda. “BLM Bans Cyanide Bombs Used to Control Predators.” Montana Free Press, 28 Nov. 2023, montanafreepress.org/2023/11/28/blm-bans-cyanide-bombs-used-to-control-predators/#:~:text=The%20decision%20comes%20after%20conservation,245%20million%20acres%20it%20administers.&text=The%20Bureau%20of%20Land%20Management%20has%20banned%20the%20use%20of,a%20minimum%20of%20five%20years. Herrero, Stephen. Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance. Lyons Press, 2018.Juhlin, Ellis. “Judge Orders Shorter Wolf Trapping Season to Protect Grizzly Bears in Montana.” Montana Public Radio, 1 Dec. 2023, www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2023-11-30/groups-ask-court-to-shorten-trapping-season-to-protect-grizzly-bears. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Graham is the Executive Editor of NewsBusters and is the Media Research Center's Director of Media Analysis. Check your bias at the door. John Adams, Editor and Chief of Montana Free Press brings his insight to what is needed […] The post Who fact checks the fact checkers? first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Is there a coin shortage in the U.S.? Is there an increase in kids smoking weed at school? And: what's the deal with Montana politics?   All of these questions were asked by you, our listeners. Throughout the life of this podcast, we've asked you to pick up the phone and leave us Assignments – and you have delivered. We love getting these messages. We took these three Assignments and called up three reporters who could give us some answers. Joining us this week, CNN Business reporter Clare Duffy @claresduffy, CNN Health reporter Jacqueline Howard @JacqEHoward, and Montana Free Press editor, Brad Tyer.  Read the Montana Free Press at MontanaFreePress.org and follow them at @mtfreepress.  We're only getting started with your Assignments, so if you want to leave us one, please do! You can send an email to theassignment@cnn.com or leave us a voicemail: 202-854-8802 To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Is there a coin shortage in the U.S.? Is there an increase in kids smoking weed at school? And: what's the deal with Montana politics?   All of these questions were asked by you, our listeners. Throughout the life of this podcast, we've asked you to pick up the phone and leave us Assignments – and you have delivered. We love getting these messages. We took these three Assignments and called up three reporters who could give us some answers. Joining us this week, CNN Business reporter Clare Duffy @claresduffy, CNN Health reporter Jacqueline Howard @JacqEHoward, and Montana Free Press editor, Brad Tyer.  Read the Montana Free Press at MontanaFreePress.org and follow them at @mtfreepress.  We're only getting started with your Assignments, so if you want to leave us one, please do! You can send an email to theassignment@cnn.com or leave us a voicemail: 202-854-8802  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A “constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment”. That's why 16 young people between ages 5 and 22 are suing the state of Montana seeking a transition to a less carbon-intensive energy policy. The trial has been called historic in Montana and could have implications nationwide on climate litigation. Amanda Eggert has been following the case for the Montana Free Press and she shared her reporting with Climate Cast.

A group of young environmentalists in Montana are suing the state for not taking climate change seriously enough. Amanda Eggert, environmental reporter at Montana Free Press, breaks down the latest in the case as it enters its second week.

Do Montanans have a constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment? According to the state constitution they do. And a group of young people are using that language to sue the state over its energy policies. The case is called Held v. Montana, and the plaintiffs want to prove the state's energy policies directly harm the Montana environment. In today's episode of The Weeds, we'll dig into the case with Amanda Eggert (@amandaleggert), environmental reporter at the Montana Free Press, and also hear from a plaintiff about why she decided to join the lawsuit.  You can read more reporting from Amanda on the Montana legislature, state energy policy, and the environment at MontanaFreePress.org We reached out to the Montana attorney general's office for comment. Here is the full statement below:  “Following the legislative session, there are no existing laws or policies for the district court to rule on. A show trial on laws that do not exist, as the district court seems intent on holding, would be a colossal waste of taxpayer resources. This same lawsuit has been thrown out of federal court and courts in a dozen other states — and it should be dismissed here in Montana as well.” —Emily Flower, spokeswoman for Attorney General Austin Knudsen “This entire lawsuit is a meritless publicity stunt to increase fundraising for their political activism at the expense of Montana taxpayers. Our Children's Trust is a special-interest group that is exploiting well-intentioned Montana kids — including a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old — to achieve its goal of shutting down responsible energy development in our state. Unable to implement their policies through the normal processes of representative government, these out-of-state climate activists are trying to use liberal courts to impose their authoritarian climate agenda on Montanans.” —Kyler Nerison, communications director for Attorney General Austin Knudsen Credits: Jonquilyn Hill, host Sofi LaLonde, producer Cristian Ayala, engineer A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gov. Greg Gianforte Wednesday approved more than $300 million in grants for telecom companies to bring broadband to Montana's underserved areas. Montana Free Press deputy editor Eric Dietrich has been following the commission's work and joined MTPR's Austin Amestoy to break down the latest developments

This week's guest is Eric Dietrich, deputy editor at Montana Free Press, where he leads the Long Streets Project, an initiative that conducts in depth reporting on Montana's economy. Eric's recent reporting has focused on housing, and in particular, Governor Greg Gianforte's Housing Task Force. In this conversation, Justin asks Eric about the state of play of housing in Montana and what the key battlegrounds are on both sides of the debate on how to make more housing. Eric describes how the Housing Task Force came to be and gives a summary of its recommendations to Montana Governor Greg Gianforte. Eric talks about Airbnbs and how they erode the line between housing for residents and tourists and explains what he's going to watch for in the upcoming legislative session. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SF96WYg0A8w_1XTMyOwyoxswXvLkCN6xYZWxegm0Htw/edit

As is my tradition, this being our five-hundredth episode, let's recap the last hundred episodes, and draw out some observations and take-aways. Average podcast length doesn't seem to be much of a factor. The highlights - or ten most popular episodes - are almost three times as popular as the lowlights; yet the most popular episodes are 10% longer. What's more, I had two episodes over 2 hours long – one about Doug Wilson, and one about the Montana Free Press expose of the JD Hall situation. And these were my longest podcast episodes to-date by a long shot. But, interestingly, listenership did not seem to be adversely affected. That likely is due to subject matter. Contrasting the single most popular episode with the very least, there were over four times as many listens when I talked about a Biblical word study centered on Lynyrd Skynyrd's song ‘Simple Man' compared with the Battle of Bannockburn and what the Southern Poverty Law Center found in polling Americans about their attitudes toward the legitimacy of political assassination as an instrument of change or saving the country. The difference between the top and bottom ten episodes is, on average, a factor of two to four. Lynyrd Skynyrd, G.K. Chesterton, Sinclair Ferguson, David Morrill, Doug Wilson, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, AD Robles, Jon Harris, and JD Hall - the names of notable men crop up in the most popular episodes. And there does seem to be something to focusing on a particular character that seems to highlight and make more interesting the exploration of more general truths and principles. Meanwhile, Christian nationalism, Christian unity, Christian universalism, and the election are recurring themes in the least popular episodes. And, yes, names crop up in some of these as well, but not as many. Only Jonathan Leeman, Herschel Walker, Raphael Warnock, and Joe Rogan mentioned. But most of these are less well known in relation to the question of theology, ecclesiology, or Christian political philosophy, and that is probably decisive for many of you in whether you tune in. As usual, there is a three month difference, on average, between when the top and bottom 10% of episodes were published, with the older episodes getting more plays over time. From July to October, we went from more summertime cares and concerns to either wanting to deep-dive into election news and analysis, or desperately wanting to have the election over so we could move on with normal life again. And this too is meaningful, since it speaks to a kind of growing weariness which we do well to think about and be intentional regarding. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/support

Wednesday, July 20th, my cell phone rang. A number I didn't recognize showed up, and I answered. On the other end was Arren Kimbel-Sannit, a reporter with Montana Free Press in Helena. He wanted to know if I had time for an interview regarding J.D. Hall. I still want to know how he got my number. Nevertheless, on September 13th, the result of that interview and Arren's other investigations were published at MTFP in an article over 7,000 words long titled 'The gospel - and the GOP - according to J.D. Hall.' In this episode, I intend to talk through the quotes and references contained in this article related to platforms, persons, positions, and principles which I know to be important to my home state of Montana, my country America, and both myself and many of my friends and family across the U.S. On the front end, I will confess to suspecting long ago the whole ugly business would end up here - that conservative Christian views on a wide array of issues being tied to Hall, an effort would be summarily made to decry all together as repressive, offensive, harsh, and ignorant. Even in saying that, I hope and pray this is not the end. So long as important lessons can be learned from the cautionary tale of a power-drunk opportunist egomaniac, and of the consequences - both personal and political - of endorsement and acquiescence of his antics by turn, perhaps we will see a silver lining. Make no mistake, Hall was enabled and inspired by the bad behavior of many - right, left, and center. And this is what comes of being most interested in "getting things done," and leaving principles where the handling of truth and the folks who disagree are concerned on the threshing floor. God's grace in Christ Jesus can shine on those who have erred greatly here, both through sins of omission and commission, and I pray that it will. God surely will answer prayers for wisdom for them that heed the warning and ask the Lord for wisdom. But I begin to feel in reading this article as though all parties concerned in American politics these days - even in remote Montana - need to be reminded that either the whole counsel of God is authoritative or else none of it is. Moreover, and along similar lines, I would remind my fellow Montanans on all sides of this that Christ himself reserved his fiercest rebukes for hypocrites, those who only play-acted at having principles when the same applied to everyone but themselves and their allies. And such can indeed be found on all sides, as it turns out. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/support

In part two of Megan's conversation with journalists Emily Stifler Wolfe and Jason Thompson of the “Common Ground Series” published by Montana Free Press, they discuss the threat of desertification, succession planning challenges family farms face and the sixth soil health principle of context.

Ben and Amory are, sadly, not the type of people who truly "unplug" when they go on vacation, but this week's story is proof that those people do, in fact, exist! It comes to us from "Shared State" — a podcast from the Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio — and it's the story of a couple who returned from a vacation off the grid to discover that they were entangled in a viral political feud with one of Fox News' most controversial commentators.

This week's guest is Mara Silvers of Montana Free Press. Mara and her colleagues have teamed up with Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio to produce a second season of the amazing Shared State, a podcast about the strange political moment we're living through. Season one went deep on the meaning of Montana values in the lead up to the 2020 election. Season two, which just released, explores some of Montana's messiest political quagmires and the people trying to find their way through. In this conversation, we cover Mara's path to this project, and dive into episode topics from political fires in fly shops to the sovereignty of Badger-Two Medicine. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14eVT2tEX91tPsGbLQ9MHsao-z8quaVCvyXnE_kX47mE/edit?usp=sharing

This week we speak with Sarah Vowell and Brad Tyer. Sarah is a bestselling author, journalist and doer of many awesome things. Brad is an editor at Montana Free Press and manager of the newsroom. These two have teamed up to produce some special content to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Montana State Constitution and explore some of the amazing stories behind its creation. On March 22, the day of the actual signing by the delegates, Sarah and Brad's Montana Free Press colleague, John Adams, will moderate a panel event at Montana State University commemorating the anniversary. For more information visit: https://www.montana.edu/mt50/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B9X1YSjHlLZnbYT8EGVz4MoCO66L_ufZbcZ09Too9mY/edit?usp=sharing

There's not much certainty for the coal industry these days. In Montana, four of the six owners of the Colstrip Power Plant live in states where legislation is requiring companies to wean themselves off of coal energy. Residents of Colstrip — a town that has grown and prospered because of that resource —  fear that any bad news for the industry will be even worse for them. Up against shifting markets and corporate interests, how can advocates for Colstrip ensure future stability for its residents?   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Southeastern Montana Economic Development's diversification strategy for Colstrip. Learn more about what else the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund pays for.  Follow the Montana Legislature's interim study of the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Melissa Loveridge and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Nick Mott and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

Whitefish has a reputation as a charming ski destination in Montana's northwest corner that welcomes wayward strays, whether that's for a season or a lifetime. That attitude has helped grow small businesses and local watering holes, and keep friendly faces on the slopes and behind the bar. But in recent years, more and more people have been drawn to the good thing Whitefish has going on. Locals fear that surging popularity — and skyrocketing cost of living — could push out the very characters that make this place so special.   BONUS LINKS:  Read the 2016 Whitefish Area Workforce Housing Needs Assessment here. Watch Gene live his dream here. More vintage Big Mountain footage here and here.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Justin Franz and edited by Nick Mott. It was produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

For decades, housing affordability has been a hot-button issue in Bozeman politics, a clear community pain point where the city's elected leaders haven't managed to deliver significant relief. As insider and outsider candidates campaigned for city offices in 2021, housing policy became the election's key issue. The solution, some residents argued, was to elect working class advocates to positions of power. Key to getting the job done, others countered, is experienced, incumbent leadership.    BONUS LINKS:  The One Valley Community Foundation's 2021 Regional Housing Study: onevalley.org/regionalhousing  Follow Urban Institute housing researcher Corianne Scaley on Twitter @CorianneScally   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Eric Dietrich and edited by Nick Mott. It was produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

By October 2021, all of Montana was in severe drought — the worst the state had seen in decades. But Montana has seen bad dry spells before, forcing ranchers, farmers, conservationists and recreators to confront a collective dilemma: when water is in short supply, how can there be enough for everyone?    BONUS LINKS: Find out more about Montana's new draft drought management plan here. Go here for more on arctic grayling and the effort to protect them.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Shaylee Ragar and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Mara Silvers and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

In 2009, Montana was caught up in a heated national debate over whether terminally ill patients could expedite their deaths by taking lethal, physician-prescribed medication. More than a decade later, the state is still mired in disagreement about medical aid in dying, in part because courts and elected lawmakers have sidestepped the political hot-potato. Meanwhile, individual Montanans are confronting profound and personal questions about death in their own ways — including whether “good” deaths are even possible.    BONUS LINKS: Read former Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim Nelson's reflection on the Baxter decision here. Watch one of the Montana Legislature's 2021 hearings on a bill to prohibit medical aid in dying here.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Mara Silvers. It was edited and produced by Nicky Ouellet, with additional editing and hosting by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

For many Montanans, the Badger-Two Medicine is synonymous with one of the most significant grassroots conservation successes in recent decades. That story is about Blackfeet tribal traditionalists, political leaders, and conservation groups coming together to defeat oil and gas leases in one undeveloped expanse of wilderness in Montana. Now, thecoalition faces thorny questions — what does long-term protection and management of the Badger look like, and who gets to decide?   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Badger-Two Medicine on the Blackfeet Nation's website. Find out about the documentary we referenced, Backbone of the World, here. Listen to “Land Back” by A Tribe Called Red.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Aaron Bolton and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Mara Silvers and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

In the summer of 2021, Livingston residents Kascie and Dan were preparing for a wilderness float trip in Idaho. Before heading to the river and leaving cell service behind, they stocked up on supplies at Dan Bailey's, an outdoor gear shop. What happened there was caught on video and viewed millions of times. It ignited a political firestorm across the country. That conflict just kept spiraling, providing one example of how today's political disagreements can have far-flung consequences.   BONUS LINKS: Pew Research's Political Typology Quiz can be found here. Follow Prof. Jessi Bennion on Twitter @JessiBennion.    This is the first episode of Shared State, Season 2, a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Nick Mott, edited and produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

It's not surprising for Montanans to have plenty of political disagreements. What's more uncommon? Neighbors whispering about each other at grocery stores and disrupting entire public meetings with passionate tirades. Welcome to the era of COVID-19, when debates about public health, personal liberties and science have reached a fever pitch. Those disagreements are tugging at tightly-knit towns and counties, making some residents wonder how their communities will survive in more ways than one.   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Ravalli County Board of Public Health's COVID-19 policies here. Check out more Kaiser Health News reporting here on public health officials and new pandemic-era regulation passed in different states.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Katheryn Houghton of Kaiser Health News and Alex Sakariassen. It was edited by Mara Silvers, produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Taunya English, Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

A Yellowstone County District Court judge late last week temporarily blocked three new laws that restrict access to abortion just hours before they were set to go into effect. Montana Public Radio's Shaylee Ragar talked with Montana Free Press's Mara Silvers and the Montana State News Bureau's Holly Michaels about what happened and what's still up in the air.

Today's guest is Amanda Eggert of Montana Free Press. Amanda covers environmental issues and has written a series of deeply reported articles about the complex and confusing access and ownership issues in Montana's Crazy Mountains. The Crazies are a magnificent, wild, sacred and mysterious island range in central Montana. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uu7zSyiM-gVWtx2SooQSYFF4dlTajhL4Db1B7QjLApo/edit?usp=sharing

The 67th session of the Montana Legislature adjourned sine die Thursday, April 29.  During lawmakers' 80 days of work, 1,313 bills were introduced and as of mid-day Friday at least 302 had been signed into law.  In the final episode of The Session, Reporters from Montana Free Press, Yellowstone Public Radio and Montana Public Radio break down the outcomes.

The campaign rhetoric, struggles for political power and results of the 2020 election converge in the 67th meeting of the Montana legislature. Join us for The Session, a breakdown of the latest action we're watching in the Montana statehouse, produced by Montana Public Radio, Yellowstone Public Radio and Montana Free Press.