State owes hundreds of thousands to ACLU lawyers.

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country.”– President Donald J. Trump about Pope Leo XIV.

Clerks and election administrators throughout Montana are reminding voters of a change in the law that caused some ballots in the Treasure State to be rejected. A new law says that voters must also include their birth year at the appropriate place on the ballot envelope, or risk having the ballot rejected. Ballots for some local elections and school boards should be sent out within the next few weeks.

In a rather surprising move, President Trump on Sunday appears to have started a fight with the leader of the largest Christian denomination in the world, Pope Leo XIV of the Roman Catholic Church. Trump accused the pontiff of being soft on crime and nuclear arms. The American-born Leo sidestepped the comments, saying that he spoke not as a politician but a theologian.

Four members of the United States House of Representatives — two Democrats and two Republicans — could face expulsion from the body after a bipartisan group of their fellow House members move to expel them for various ethical and legal violations.

In a continuation of a trend, our colleagues at Stateline News report that both fertility rates and birth rates continue their slide in the United States — as many people are choosing not to have children as the cost of housing and living continues to be stubbornly high.

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

Trump had an active night on social media on Sunday. In addition to picking a fight with Pope Leo XVI (please see above), he also drew nearly instant rebuke from some of the most conservative and religious members of his base as he posted what appeared to be an AI-generated picture of him in a white robe, looking somewhat messianic, as he was helping a sick man. The Washington Post reports that even some of his most faithful supporters think the image bordered too close to blasphemy.

In news much lighter, a cute, odd and rotund bird, the American woodcock, has been amusing New York residents because of its quirky dance moves. Harrumph! Of course, when I make dance moves as odd or as rotund as I may be, they don’t seem so delightful.

One of the readers of The Daily Montanan and “The Hook” said that after reading the headlines on Monday and watching the news this weekend, he was just plain mad.

But he said that he was also frustrated. He said something that may be relatable for many people: He said that at times he forgot how long he has been mad. He said that by his calendar, he thought the news had been upsetting for around a decade. He also commented how it is odd to live in that state for so long that you kind of either forget or readjust to what normal means.

That’s a whole lotta heavy stuff to put out there for a Tuesday. However, he also said when he feels like that, he often turns to music — another commonality among some of us, looking for a momentary reprieve from the very somber and sobering weight of the news.

The song he found — the one he turned to — was a great recommendation, and like so many John Prine songs, it’s profound and should be listened to several times.

Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
By John Prine

My heart's in the ice house come hill or come valley
Like a long ago sunday when I walked through the alley
On a cold winter's morning to a church house
Just to shovel some snow

I heard sirens on the train track howl naked gettin' nuder
An altar boy's been hit by a local commuter
Just from walking with his back turned
To the train that was coming so slow

You can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder
Throw your hands in the air, say "what does it matter?"
But it don't do no good to get angry
So help me I know

For a heart strained in ange, r grows weak and grows bitter
You become your own prisoner, as you watch yourself sit there
Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
Chain of sorrow

I been brought down to zero, pulled out and put back there
I sat on a park bench, kissed the girl with the black hair
And my head shouted down to my heart
"You better look out below!"

Hey, it ain't such a long drop don't stammer don't stutter
From the diamonds in the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter
And you carry those bruises to remind you wherever you go

You can gaze out the window get mad and get madder
Throw your hands in the air, say "what does it matter?"
But it don't do no good to get angry
So help me I know

For a heart strained in anger, grows weak and grows bitter
You become your own prisoner, as you watch yourself sit there
Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
Chain of sorrow

My heart's in the ice house come hill or come valley
Like a long ago sunday when I walked through the alley
On a cold winter's morning to a church house
Just to shovel some snow

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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