The Montana Middle

Episode 28 features Montana Attorney General Tim Fox. DC Update covers border security and public lands. Last Word is a clip from State Senator Terry Gauthier about his bill to fund state parks and public access. This episode is made possible by the Montana Mint and the historic Hotel Finlen in uptown Butte. Thanks for listening!

Episode 27 features AshLee Strong, who grew up in Montana and became Communications Director for former House Speaker Paul Ryan. DC Update covers campaign finance, public lands, and border security. Last Word contains clips from Gov. Bullock’s state of the State address, and the Republican response by State Senate President Scott Sales. This episode is made possible by the Montana Mint and the historic Hotel Finlen in uptown Butte. Thanks for listening!

Episode 26 features former Montana Congressman Pat Williams. DC Update covers recent developments about the government shutdown, and Last Word is a clip from Sen. Tester’s speech to the Montana State Legislature earlier this week. This episode is made possible by the Montana Mint and the historic Hotel Finlen in uptown Butte. Thanks for listening!

Episode 25 features Rob Saldin, University of Montana political science professor at the University of Montana, and contributor to Montana Public Radio’s politics shows Campaign Beat and Capitol Talk. We cover the 2019 Montana State Legislative Session. DC Update includes the government shutdown and a bipartisan public lands package. Last Word is Governor Bullock at a recent public lands rally held at the Montana State Capitol building in Helena. This episode is made possible by the Montana...

Episode 24 recaps the 2018 election results and President Trump's speeches in Missoula and Bozeman. This episode is brought to you by the Montana Mint and the Hotel Finlen in Butte.

Episode 23 provides an overview of campaign ads and candidate endorsements for the U.S. Senate Race between Jon Tester and Matt Rosendale, and the U.S. House Race between Greg Gianforte and Kathleen Williams. This episode is made possible by the Montana Mint and the historic Hotel Finlen in uptown Butte.

This episode recaps the Montana House debate between Republican incumbent Greg Gianforte and Democratic challenger Kathleen Williams.

Episode 21 features Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton. DC update Brett Kavanaugh and Zinke’s Paradise Valley mineral withdrawal. Last word is Steve Daines’ floor speech on the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Episode 20 recaps the Senate debate between Democratic incumbent Jon Tester and his Republican opponent, Matt Rosendale. DC update covers appropriations, public lands, and Brett Kavanaugh. Last word is Greg Gianforte’s speech about the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act. This episode is made possible by the Montana Mint and the historic Hotel Finlen in uptown Butte.

President Trump visits Montana for the second time in two months. DC update covers Jon Tester’s floor speech on healthcare and Steve Daines and Greg Gianforte’s letter to FEMA. Last word is #plaidshirtguy’s CNN interview. This episode is made possible by the Montana Mint and the historic Hotel Finlen in uptown Butte.

Lt. Governor Mike Cooney joins the show. DC update covers the passage East Rosebud Wild and Scenic River Act and the National Defense Authorization Act, and rural broadband. Last word is a clip of Governor Bullock at the Iowa State Fair. Outro music provided by the Boy and Sister Alma.

State legislator Shane Morigeau (HD-95) joins the show. Montana’s congressional delegation talks about trade tariffs, the Farm Bill, and the National Parks maintenance backlog. Last word is a clip between Congressman Gianforte and Crow Tribal Chairman Not Afraid at a House Oversight Committee hearing on tribal energy resources. Outro music provided by Supaman.

DC Update includes Sens. Tester and Daines floor speeches about the Farm Bill, and Rep. Gianforte's Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act gets a hearing in the House. Clips from President Trump's speech in Great Falls. Last word is Pearl Jam's 2012 endorsement of Jon Tester at a concert in Missoula. Outro music is a Pearl Jam cover of Fortunate Son from that concert.

Episode 15 is up! DC Update includes Jon Tester standing up for affordable education and Steve Daines and Greg Gianforte calling for forest management reform. John Hansen from the Montana Mint returns to the show to give a primary recap and a state legislature overview. Last word is Absaroka Energy CEO Carl Borgquist talking about pumped hydro storage at the 2018 Montana Energy Summit in Billings. Outro music is provided by Tom Catmull.

Matt Rosendale joins the show, just in time before the June 5 primary. DC Update covers a banking bill and veterans bill that passed, and a farm bill that didn't. Matt Rosendale talks about his childhood and political career. Last Word is a public service announcement from Governor Bullock and Lt. Governor Cooney urging Montanans to be bear aware this summer. Outro Music provided once again by Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, out of Bozeman.

DC Update covers Senator Tester's recent quarrel with President Trump over Trump's nominee for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary. Main segment is a rundown of US House and Senate primary ads airing across the state. Last Word are clips of Max Baucus and Steve Daines both acknowledging the need to cooperate with China. Outro music is again provided by Rob Quist. Thanks to the Montana Mint for supporting this podcast.

Justin Hodges and Richard Wagner, Presidents of the College Republicans and Democrats at Montana State University, join the show. Montana's congressional delegations grills robocallers, commemorates National Parks Week, and celebrate tax day in the DC Update. Last Word is from Montana Senator John Melcher. Outro music provided by John Floridis.

Democratic House candidate, Grant Kier, joins the show. DC Update is short with Congress in recess and Last Word is a prayer that opened the Republican Senate debate hosted by MSU College Republicans. Outro Music is provided by the Lil Smokies.

John Heenan, Democratic House candidate, joins the show. Congress passes a spending bill and Ryan Zinke speaks Japanese at a House hearing. Outro music provided by John Floridis.

Republican Senate candidate, Dr. Al Olszewski ("Ol-chef-ski"), joins the show. DC Update includes several bills Montana's congressional delegation are pushing, and the Last Word is about paying for our National Parks maintenance backlog. Outro music provided by the Lil Smokies.