Some legislative races have already broken six figures.

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

Hello folks,

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In a story that feels and sounds a lot like deja vu, attorneys who were successful when the 2023 Montana Legislature tried to rewrite the definition of man and woman in Montana law, only to have it struck down as unconstitutional, have filed a lawsuit against a very similar measure passed by the 2025 Legislature, but held by Montana Speaker of the House Brandon Ler for more than a year.

In the 2026 Election coming up in November, there will be a near-historic number of members of Congress who have chosen not to run for reelection. That will drastically change the complexion of the nation’s legislature, no matter which political party emerges victorious.

Just a day after announcing a two-week ceasefire with Iran, officials are wondering: Is there really a ceasefire? Iran continues to attack America-aligned targets and there have been some accusations that military operations against Iran are still ongoing.

Note: some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall

With threats of annihilating the Iranian people, and other statements issued by President Donald J. Trump, The Washington Post reports that after a ceasefire was called by the president, the sudden and erratic escalation has left even some of the leader’s supporters rattled.

Apparently bumblebees don’t have very big brains. That’s not surprising. However, Smithsonian magazine reports that while the bees don’t have big brains, they’re remarkably well adapted to shaking their bee-hinds to rhythm.

Attorney and columnist John Heenan says that while the Department of Justice has been busy paying allies of President Donald Trump, it still refuses to acknowledge the Northern Cheyenne victims who have been injured by the actions of Bureau of Indian Affairs officers, even when there’s evidence and convictions.

This is part confession and partly a peek into how “The Hook” is made. Some have suggested that there’s a master list of songs that I have kept of every edition of “The Hook.”

I would love to tell you that’s true.

When we first launched “The Hook,” and even The Daily Montanan, we weren’t sure if readers would respond, and we certainly weren’t sure if they’d like a small, daily feature about an often obscure piece of music.

Thankfully, you’ve told us repeatedly that “The Hook” is something that you like and look forward to each morning. In the five-and-a-half years we’ve been doing this, that translates to more than 1,400 songs we’ve featured — hopefully you’ve discovered a few new favorites, or have had a momentary distraction from the heavy headlines that seem to become a daily occurrence.

I wish I would have tracked them, but by the time I even thought about it, we were about 1,000 songs deep, and going back through each email didn’t seem as important as whatever was happening in the news. That’s a nice way of saying: The tracking is done in one aging and imperfect memory.

That being said: I try hard not to repeat songs. A few of you have been frustrated because I didn’t feature a song you suggested, only to have me search and find the original presentation. We try not to repeat because there’s an entire world of interesting, new or forgotten music. And great new music is still being created.

Still, there’s no guarantee that we don’t sneak a repeat in.

And that bring us to today. Just like yesterday, when a number of you suggested featuring John Lennon’s “Give Peace A Chance,” we have had several people this past week suggest Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War.” The choice is a pretty good one when you survey the news of the world. We continue to see the war in Iran escalate far beyond the borders of that country, threatening to make it a growing conflict. We originally featured Dylan’s masterpiece back in November of 2023 (even though I don’t keep a master list, I can search).

One of the reasons I wanted to do this feature is because I am addicted to words, especially when set to music. The challenge of saying something meaningful or profound, coupled with the power of music is irresistible.

I guarantee repeats will not be a trend, and if they happen, it will be more of an accident. However, the lyrics of this song, coupled with the profound world events and the requests by several of you very smart Hooksters, compel this rare repeat.

Masters of War
Lyrics by Bob Dylan

Come you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you sit back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
While the young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good?
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could?
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death will come soon
I'll follow your casket
By the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

If you have a song that you’d like to share, or would like to get in touch with us, please send us a note at [email protected]

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