{"id":67991,"date":"2020-05-07T12:44:14","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T18:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/?page_id=66422"},"modified":"2025-02-20T08:58:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T15:58:21","slug":"politics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/politics\/","title":{"rendered":"Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group newspack-pattern homepage-posts__style-15\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-uncropped \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"262727\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-westerndev category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/03\/03\/christi-jacobsen-zinke-western-house\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/secretary-of-state-christi-jacobsen_720.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-uncropped size-newspack-article-block-uncropped wp-post-image\" alt=\"Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen joins contest for Zinke\u2019s western U.S. House District seat\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/03\/03\/christi-jacobsen-zinke-western-house\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen joins contest for Zinke\u2019s western U.S. House District seat<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Jacobsen made her announcement on Facebook with a campaign video portraying her as both a political outsider and the favorite of Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-03T12:29:26-07:00\">03.03.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-03-03T22:45:03-07:00\">03.03.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha ts-3 \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Latest Politics Reporting<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"262642\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-westerndev category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/03\/02\/rep-ryan-zinke-retire-health\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Western Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke said he won\u2019t seek reelection citing health problems\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-post-subtitle newspack-post-subtitle--in-homepage-block\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRadio personality Aaron Flint and former state senator Dr. Al Olszewski announced plans to run as Republicans in Zinke\u2019s stead.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;I have made the decision to leave office at the end of my fourth term and not seek re-election,&#8221; Zinke said Monday in a letter to constituents.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-02T14:07:20-07:00\">03.02.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-03-03T16:32:39-07:00\">03.03.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"262325\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-greg-gianforte tag-montana-contitution tag-montana-supreme-court tag-mountain-states-policy-center tag-rob-natelson category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/02\/25\/conservative-think-tank-promotes-revising-montanas-constitution-as-protesters-object\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Conservative think tank promotes revising Montana\u2019s Constitution, as protesters object<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-post-subtitle newspack-post-subtitle--in-homepage-block\">\n\t\t\t\t\tOpportunities to rewrite the document come along every 20 years. The next public vote on the question is in 2030.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dozens of protesters gathered outside a Helena hotel as conservatives met inside to argue for rewriting Montana\u2019s Constitution. Opponents warned that changes could threaten long-standing protections for the environment, voting rights, and personal privacy as the state approaches its next constitutional convention vote in 2030.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-02-25T10:43:37-07:00\">02.25.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-02-25T10:43:47-07:00\">02.25.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"261866\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-elections tag-ryan-zinke tag-save-act tag-steve-daines tag-tim-sheehy tag-troy-downing category-elections type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/02\/12\/federal-bill-boosting-voter-registration-requirements-passes-u-s-house\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Federal bill boosting voter registration requirements passes U.S. House<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-post-subtitle newspack-post-subtitle--in-homepage-block\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThe SAVE America Act would require Americans to produce a paper birth certificate or passport when registering to vote. It now heads to the Senate. \n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A Republican push to ratchet up voter ID requirements nationwide has passed the House with the support of Montana\u2019s representatives and will now head to the Senate. The SAVE America Act is intended to make voter registration more secure \u2014 and too difficult for many Americans to comply with, opponents say. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-02-12T18:43:37-07:00\">02.12.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-02-12T18:43:47-07:00\">02.12.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group newspack-pattern subscribe__style-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n<span data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\" class=\"everlit-audio everlit-no-audio\" data-everlit-no-audio=\"true\"><span data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\" class=\"everlit-audio everlit-no-audio\" data-everlit-no-audio=\"true\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-white-color has-dark-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-no-shouting-no-name-calling-just-award-winning-local-journalism-for-montanans-by-montanans\"><strong>No shouting. No name calling. Just award-winning local journalism <em>for<\/em> Montanans <em>by<\/em> Montanans.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:22px\">Sign up for our free weekday newsletter.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-newsletters-subscribe newspack-newsletters-subscribe \"\n\t\tdata-success-message=\"Thank you for signing up!\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<form id=\"newspack-subscribe-1\" data-newspack-recaptcha=\"newspack_newsletter_signup\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"newspack_newsletters_subscribe\" value=\"1\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"lists[]\" value=\"2\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-newsletters-email-input\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\t\t\tid=\"newspack-newsletters-subscribe-block-input-86536-email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tname=\"npe\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tautocomplete=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Email Address\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"submit-button has-background-color\"type=\"submit\" style=\"background-color: #f75028;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"submit\">Sign up<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-newsletters-subscribe__response\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-newsletters-subscribe__icon\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-newsletters-subscribe__message\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group newspack-pattern homepage-posts__style-9\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-political-coverage\">MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group newspack-pattern homepage-posts__style-3\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-style-default is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"261368\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-christi-jacobsen tag-donald-trump tag-election-security tag-secretary-of-state category-elections type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/02\/04\/secretary-of-state-christi-jacobsen-complies-with-federal-demand-for-montana-voter-data\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230126-news-capitol7851-1200x900.jpg?crop=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Emails say Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen complied with federal demand for Montana voter data\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230126-news-capitol7851-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230126-news-capitol7851-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230126-news-capitol7851-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230126-news-capitol7851-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230126-news-capitol7851-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/02\/04\/secretary-of-state-christi-jacobsen-complies-with-federal-demand-for-montana-voter-data\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Emails say Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen complied with federal demand for Montana voter data<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Emails from her office say Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen has handed over confidential voter data to the U.S. Department of Justice, which has asked the state to remove, upon demand, any voters who may be deemed ineligible by federal officials. The apparent provision of voter data, as well as the federal government\u2019s proposal\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-02-04T16:39:53-07:00\">02.04.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-02-05T16:02:42-07:00\">02.05.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"261343\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-birthright-citizenship tag-michael-black-wolf tag-steve-daines tag-tim-sheehy category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/02\/04\/sheehy-signs-onto-brief-arguing-for-end-to-birthright-citizenship\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP25014709126276-1200x900.jpg?crop=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Sheehy signs on to brief arguing for end to birthright citizenship\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP25014709126276-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP25014709126276-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP25014709126276-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP25014709126276-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP25014709126276-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/02\/04\/sheehy-signs-onto-brief-arguing-for-end-to-birthright-citizenship\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Sheehy signs on to brief arguing for end to birthright citizenship<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sheehy is one of 12 Republican senators and 16 Republican representatives who have signed onto a brief headlined by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, which argues for a narrower interpretation of which children count as falling under U.S. \u201cjurisdiction\u201d for the purposes of the automatic citizenship guarantee enshrined\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/edietrich\/\">Eric Dietrich<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-02-04T15:34:00-07:00\">02.04.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-02-04T16:19:23-07:00\">02.04.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-default wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape is-style-default\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"261248\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-citizens-united tag-dark-money tag-jeff-mangan tag-on-tester tag-the-montana-plan category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/02\/02\/tester-bipartisan-group-push-plan-to-block-corporate-dark-money-in-montana-politics\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lede-image-e1770840969189-1200x900.jpg?crop=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Tester, bipartisan group push plan to block corporate dark money in Montana politics\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lede-image-e1770840969189-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lede-image-e1770840969189-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lede-image-e1770840969189-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lede-image-e1770840969189-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lede-image-e1770840969189-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/02\/02\/tester-bipartisan-group-push-plan-to-block-corporate-dark-money-in-montana-politics\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Tester, bipartisan group push plan to block corporate dark money in Montana politics<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A bipartisan group including former Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester made its pitch for a ballot initiative to ban corporate spending in Montana elections.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/phoebe-tollefson\/\">Phoebe Tollefson<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-02-02T16:22:23-07:00\">02.02.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-02-11T13:16:27-07:00\">02.11.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-style-default is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"260791\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-alex-pretti tag-billings tag-bozeman tag-cora-neumann tag-donald-trump tag-helena tag-ice tag-immigration tag-minneapolis tag-minnesota tag-missoula tag-renee-good tag-ryan-zinke tag-shannon-obrien tag-steve-daines tag-tim-sheehy tag-troy-downing tag-u-s-immigration-customs-and-enforcement category-immigration category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/26\/montanans-turn-out-en-masse-to-protest-ice-killings\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_6382-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Montanans protest ICE, Trump\u2019s immigration policies\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/26\/montanans-turn-out-en-masse-to-protest-ice-killings\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Montanans protest ICE, Trump\u2019s immigration policies<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Members of Montana\u2019s all-GOP federal delegation have called for an investigation into Alex Pretti\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/aeggert\/\">Amanda Eggert<\/a><\/span> and <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-26T18:13:26-07:00\">01.26.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-27T10:33:19-07:00\">01.27.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"260678\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-jason-ellsworth tag-matt-regier category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/23\/ellsworth-pleads-not-guilty-claims-legislative-immunity\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260122-Ellsworth-0002-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Former state Senate president Ellsworth pleads not guilty, claims legislative immunity\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/23\/ellsworth-pleads-not-guilty-claims-legislative-immunity\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Former state Senate president Ellsworth pleads not guilty, claims legislative immunity<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p> Former Republican state Senate president Jason Ellsworth pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor official misconduct charge in Lewis and Clark County District Court.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-23T08:30:39-07:00\">01.23.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-23T14:04:43-07:00\">01.23.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-default wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape is-style-default\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"260581\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-montana-elections tag-primary-elections category-elections type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/21\/earlier-montana-primary-election-challenges-schools\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20251028LM-HelenaElections-0002.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Earlier Montana primary election challenges schools\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/21\/earlier-montana-primary-election-challenges-schools\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Earlier Montana primary election challenges schools<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Efforts to move up Montana\u2019s primary election in time for the 2028 presidential race are running into resistance from public schools. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-21T16:59:26-07:00\">01.21.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-21T16:59:34-07:00\">01.21.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<span data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\" class=\"everlit-audio everlit-no-audio\" data-everlit-no-audio=\"true\"><span data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\" class=\"everlit-audio everlit-no-audio\" data-everlit-no-audio=\"true\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide newspack-pattern donation__style-3 has-white-color has-dark-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-99bea790 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/MTFP-Logo-Gold-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68553 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/MTFP-Logo-Gold-3.png 500w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/MTFP-Logo-Gold-3-300x144.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\" id=\"h-empower-your-community\"><strong>Empower your community.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\" id=\"h-power-the-press\"><strong>Power the press!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<span data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\" class=\"everlit-audio everlit-no-audio\" data-everlit-no-audio=\"true\"><span data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\" class=\"everlit-audio everlit-no-audio\" data-everlit-no-audio=\"true\">\n<p id=\"h-our-mission-is-to-produce-in-depth-journalism-that-creates-positive-change-in-the-lives-of-our-local-communities-but-we-need-your-help-to-make-our-journalism-possible-and-keep-it-free-for-all-readers\">Fuel the future of independent, public-powered news in Montana. Become a member of Montana Free Press and help bring high-quality, independent journalism to more communities in our state.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<a href=\"#XETGYZDF\" style=\"display: none\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-political-reporting\">MORE POLITICAL REPORTING<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-4 is-1 is-landscape  has-more-button\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"260538\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-jon-tester tag-seth-bodnar tag-steve-daines tag-university-of-montana category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/21\/bodnar-will-resign-university-of-montana-presidency\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/um_bodnar-e1768434105939.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Bodnar will step down as UM president as rumors of Senate bid swirl\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/21\/bodnar-will-resign-university-of-montana-presidency\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Bodnar will step down as UM president as rumors of Senate bid swirl<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>University of Montana President Seth Bodnar will resign after eight years of leading one of the state\u2019s flagship universities. The announcement comes a week after news broke of a potential Bodnar candidacy for U.S. Senate as an independent. Bodnar didn\u2019t indicate when his last day would be.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-21T11:13:13-07:00\">01.21.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-21T15:56:27-07:00\">01.21.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"260515\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-christi-jacobsen tag-donald-trump tag-immigration tag-kelly-kortum tag-secretary-of-state tag-voter-fraud category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/20\/montana-secretary-of-state-political-mailers-cost-197000\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260114LM-ChristiJacobsen-0001.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Montana Secretary of State political mailers cost $197,000\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/20\/montana-secretary-of-state-political-mailers-cost-197000\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Montana Secretary of State political mailers cost $197,000<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The 467,000 postcards sent to Montana households with pictures of Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and President Donald Trump cost $196,829 to produce and mail, according to the Montana Department of Administration.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-20T12:31:32-07:00\">01.20.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-20T12:31:40-07:00\">01.20.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"260374\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-christi-jacobsen tag-donald-trump tag-immigration tag-kelly-kortum tag-secretary-of-state tag-voter-fraud category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/15\/about-that-political-postcard-you-got-from-the-secretary-of-state\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260114LM-ChristiJacobsen-0001.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"About that political postcard you got from the Secretary of State\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/15\/about-that-political-postcard-you-got-from-the-secretary-of-state\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">About that political postcard you got from the Secretary of State<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A mass-mailed postcard sent by Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen embodies conservative Republicans&#8217; crusade to root out illegal voters in Montana&#8217;s upcoming midterm election. But election experts say that non-citizen voting isn\u2019t an active problem in Montana, and a Democrat said the postcard is political fearmongering with an unclear source of funding.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-15T16:09:15-07:00\">01.15.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-20T14:06:21-07:00\">01.20.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"260304\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-brian-schweitzer tag-jon-tester tag-seth-bodnar tag-steve-daines category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/14\/bodnar-plans-senate-run-as-an-independent-and-testers-apparent-support-angers-democrats-in-montana\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/um_bodnar-e1768434105939-1200x900.jpg?crop=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Bodnar plans Senate run as an independent, and Tester\u2019s apparent support angers Democrats in Montana\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/um_bodnar-e1768434105939-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/um_bodnar-e1768434105939-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/um_bodnar-e1768434105939-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/um_bodnar-e1768434105939-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/um_bodnar-e1768434105939-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/14\/bodnar-plans-senate-run-as-an-independent-and-testers-apparent-support-angers-democrats-in-montana\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Bodnar plans Senate run as an independent, and Tester\u2019s apparent support angers Democrats in Montana<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is expected to run for U.S. Senate as an Independent, part of an elaborate plan backed by former Sen. Jon Tester in a move that has angered Democrats. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-14T16:43:29-07:00\">01.14.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-15T07:48:32-07:00\">01.15.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"259997\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-dark-money tag-jeff-mangan tag-transparent-election-initiative category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/08\/group-refiles-corporate-political-spending-ban-days-after-court-setback\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20250909LM-HelenaVotes-0006.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Group refiles corporate political spending ban days after court setback\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/08\/group-refiles-corporate-political-spending-ban-days-after-court-setback\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Group refiles corporate political spending ban days after court setback<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Transparent Election Initiative, an anti-dark money group, filed with the Montana Secretary of State two ballot initiatives that aim to prevent corporate political spending. The filing came just two days after the state Supreme Court found an earlier version of the initiative legally insufficient. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-08T17:03:41-07:00\">01.08.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-08T18:14:29-07:00\">01.08.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-button__link\"  data-next=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-json\/newspack-blocks\/v1\/articles?moreButton=1&#038;showAuthor=0&#038;postsToShow=5&#038;mediaPosition=left&#038;categories%5B0%5D=549&#038;imageScale=1&#038;className&#038;showExcerpt=1&#038;showFullContent=0&#038;excerptLength=55&#038;showReadMore=0&#038;infiniteScroll=0&#038;readMoreLabel=Keep%20reading&#038;showDate=1&#038;showImage=1&#038;showCaption=0&#038;showCredit=0&#038;disableImageLazyLoad=0&#038;fetchPriority&#038;imageShape=landscape&#038;minHeight=0&#038;moreButtonText&#038;showAvatar=1&#038;showCategory=0&#038;postLayout=list&#038;columns=3&#038;colGap=3&#038;&#038;categoryJoinType=or&#038;includeSubcategories=1&#038;&#038;&#038;&#038;&#038;&#038;&#038;typeScale=4&#038;mobileStack=0&#038;sectionHeader&#038;specificMode=0&#038;textColor&#038;customTextColor&#038;singleMode=0&#038;showSubtitle=0&#038;postType%5B0%5D=post&#038;textAlign&#038;includedPostStatuses%5B0%5D=publish&#038;deduplicate=1&#038;page=2\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLoad more posts\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"loading\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"error\">\n\t\t\t\tSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and\/or try again.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE MORE POLITICAL REPORTING<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"single-wide.php","meta":{"everlit_article_id":"","everlit_hide_embed":false,"everlit_embed_size":"","everlit_generation_settings":[],"_everlit_article_id":"","_everlit_hide_embed":false,"_everlit_embed_size":"","_everlit_generation_settings":[],"_everlit_content_hash":"","_everlit_metadata_hash":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_primary_brand":0,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":false,"newspack_show_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"brand":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[2916],"class_list":["post-67991","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"yoast_head":"<title>Politics - Montana Free Press<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE                    MORE POLITICAL REPORTING\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/politics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Politics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE                    MORE POLITICAL REPORTING\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/politics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Montana Free Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/mtfreepress\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-20T15:58:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/MTFP-full-stack-1-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@mtfreepress\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"John S. 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