By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief
"The biggest thing I heard was a real frustration with people that campaigned as conservatives and then went to Helena and became Democrats. And I think you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone in my district that feels that way about me." – Rep. Jerry Schillinger, a Republican from Circle and the leader of the state’s Freedom Caucus.
Ignorance isn’t bliss — it’s a tax strategy for Montana’s largest city
by Darrell Ehrlick
As the re-election campaigns spool up in Montana, a series of letters and newspapers columns have volleyed back and forth arguing about who is to blame for property taxes or businesses that have felt an increased burden. For all the debate centering on the extent that the 2025 Legislature “fixed” residential property taxes, virtually no […]
Civil liberties groups say state Supreme Court wrongly decided free speech case
by Darrell Ehrlick
The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression are asking the Montana Supreme Court to reconsider a 2003 decision as it relates to a current free speech case because they said it sets a dangerous precedent by placing addition hurdles for speech to get protection, contrary to the […]
Ellsworth files for reelection — in Eastern Montana against Schillinger
by Jordan Hansen
State Sen. Jason Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican who has been charged with official misconduct, has filed for election in House District 34, which is in southeastern Montana. That seat is currently held by Rep. Jerry Schillinger, a Republican who is chairperson of the Freedom Caucus. Schillinger has been in the Montana House since 2020 and […]
MORE FROM MONTANA
It has indeed been a strange “winter” — as unseasonably warm temperatures have made Montana feel … well, less like Montana. And during the weekend and even into the early part of this week, the National Weather Service was once again warning of very high winds.
COMMENTARY
Columnist and attorney Doug James said that the last-minute switch from Steve Daines to Kurt Alme leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Now, both men should do the right thing and tell the truth.
GOOD READS
Note: some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall
The entire world has been watching the struggles of little Punch the Macque monkey that was rejected by his mother and then shunned by the rest of the group. Our friends at Smithsonian magazine say that while the case has caused an outpouring of sympathy, for those who study the monkeys, it’s actually not surprising behavior. Ouch.
The next two selections we share are from our next-door neighbors at the Idaho Capital Sun, who report that lawmakers in the Legislature are steamed at Boise. When it passed a law banning certain flags from being “official,” Boise went and adopted flags that often represent the LGBTQ+ community. Now lawmakers want to pass legislation that would fine the city as much as $2,000 per day, per flag in fines.
Meanwhile, the Idaho Secretary of State has assured residents and lawmakers there that despite the Trump administration’s insistence that it turn over voter identification information, the state will not release all the information it has, protecting the privacy of Gem State residents.
THE HOOK
As we’ve said before, most forms of American music share similar historical roots and DNA. That becomes evident with the folk music and blues — both having deep roots and connection to the people, and reflecting the attitudes and sentiment of the time. Even if you don’t know the style of “talking blues,” you’ve certainly heard it. The melody of these songs is pretty standard, but the words — spoken — change. It was a form of blues and folk that was pioneered in the late 1930s and early 1940s and can be heard in many of the grandfathers of folk, including Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.
While listening to some pretty obscure folk music that I happened to pick up on the Folkways record label, I came across a song that was written during the early days of experimentation with atomic and nuclear energy. As we once again enter a war based on concerns of nuclear enrichment, bombs and multi-nation war, I came across this song, which traces its roots back to 1940. That means the song is pushing 90 years old, and somehow it seems more to speak to us in a very contemporary way. Though several artists have done versions of this song, here’s Sam Hinton’s “Talking Atomic Blues.”
See if you agree that the words (and message) seem sadly contemporary.
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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