{"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":"<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\"><div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-uncropped  has-text-align-left\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<style id=\"newspack-blocks-inline-css\" type=\"text\/css\">\t\t.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-title {\n\t\t\tfont-size: 1.2em;\n\t\t}\n\t\t.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .entry-meta {\n\t\t\tdisplay: flex;\n\t\t\tflex-wrap: wrap;\n\t\t\talign-items: center;\n\t\t\tmargin-top: 0.5em;\n\t\t}\n\t\t.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-meta {\n\t\t\tfont-size: 0.8em;\n\t\t}\n\t\t.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .avatar {\n\t\t\theight: 25px;\n\t\t\twidth: 25px;\n\t\t}\n\t\t.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail{\n\t\t\tmargin: 0;\n\t\t\tmargin-bottom: 0.25em;\n\t\t}\n\t\t.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail img {\n\t\t\theight: auto;\n\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t}\n\t\t.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail figcaption {\n\t\t\tmargin-bottom: 0.5em;\n\t\t}\n\t\t.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles p {\n\t\t\tmargin: 0.5em 0;\n\t\t}\n\n\t\t.wpnbha.ts-3 .entry-title{font-size: 1em}.wpnbha.ts-3 article .newspack-post-subtitle, .wpnbha.ts-3 article .entry-wrapper p, .wpnbha.ts-3 article .entry-wrapper .more-link, .wpnbha.ts-3 article .entry-meta {font-size: 0.8em;}.newspack-post-subtitle--in-homepage-block {\n\t\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 0.3em;\n\t\t\t\t\tmargin-bottom: 0;\n\t\t\t\t\tline-height: 1.4;\n\t\t\t\t\tfont-style: italic;\n\t\t\t\t}\t<\/style>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"235987\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-elections category-no-republish partner-associated-press 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\/2025\/01\/21\/supreme-court-rejects-gop-backed-case-regarding-montana-election-laws\/\" 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=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-1200x676.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-uncropped size-newspack-article-block-uncropped wp-post-image\" alt=\"Supreme Court rejects GOP-backed case regarding Montana election laws\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-1200x676.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-2048x1154.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-1568x883.jpg 1568w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-2000x1127.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25013492883347-e1737485038406-706x398.jpg 706w\" 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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2025\/01\/21\/supreme-court-rejects-gop-backed-case-regarding-montana-election-laws\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Supreme Court rejects GOP-backed case regarding Montana election laws<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Supreme Court turned back an election law case out of Montana that relied on a controversial legal theory with the potential to change the way elections are run across the country.<\/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\/lindsay-whitehurst-associated-press\/\">Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-01-21T11:40:22\">01.21.2025<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-01-21T11:45:10-07:00\">01.21.2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha ts-3  has-text-align-left\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\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=\"235877\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-2025-legislature tag-jason-ellsworth 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<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2025\/01\/20\/montana-state-senator-backs-off-controversial-contract\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Montana state senator backs off controversial contract<\/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\tIn prepared remarks Monday, Sen. Jason Ellsworth said \u201cattacks on the contract are a thinly veiled political ploy\u201d that derailed Senate work.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Montana state Sen. Jason Ellsworth is being accused of entering into an inappropriate contract. He counters that he\u2019s the subject of political attacks.<\/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=\"2025-01-20T15:26:54\">01.20.2025<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-02-03T11:51:43-07:00\">02.03.2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"233405\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-jimmy-carter tag-max-baucus tag-ryan-zinke 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<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/12\/30\/montanans-remember-jimmy-carter\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Jimmy Carter remembered in Montana<\/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\tBaucus, Zinke recall interactions with the former president.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cHe was an outsider,\u201d former Sen. Max Baucus said Monday following former president Jimmy Carter\u2019s death at age 100. \u201cPeople were tired of politicians in Washington, Watergate and so forth.\u201d Baucus and Rep. Ryan Zinke recall their interactions with the former president.<\/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=\"2024-12-30T18:26:16\">12.30.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-30T18:26:24-07:00\">12.30.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"232414\"\n\t\tclass=\"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<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/12\/20\/independent-initiative-notes-strengths-weaknesses-in-montana-elections\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Independent initiative notes strengths, weaknesses in Montana elections<\/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\tNonpartisan observers of the November election report broad strong security in Montana, as well as space for legislative improvement.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Leaders of a large-scale effort to independently observe Montana\u2019s 2024 general election shared their initial takeaways regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the state\u2019s elections, teasing a first-of-its-kind report of the full findings.<\/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\/asakariassen\/\">Alex Sakariassen<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-12-20T13:57:05\">12.20.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-20T13:57:11-07:00\">12.20.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\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\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>\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\"><hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\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-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\"><div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><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<p style=\"font-size:22px\">Sign up for our free weekday newsletter.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\"><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-76505-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<input class=\"nphp\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" name=\"email\" type=\"email\" autocomplete=\"off\" placeholder=\"Email Address\" \/>\n\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><\/div><\/div>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><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\"><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-political-coverage\">MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE<\/h4><\/div><\/div><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\"><div class=\"wp-block-columns is-style-default is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape  has-text-align-left\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"231450\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-matt-rosendale tag-us-house-of-representatives category-politics type-post\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/12\/13\/matt-rosendales-anti-farewell\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Matt Rosendale\u2019s anti farewell<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale wasn\u2019t among the departing members of Congress offering farewell addresses in December. He spent his week instead staying on his anti brand, opposing a $98 billion presidential disaster relief package that included $37 million for the blown-out St. Mary siphon, a piece of Milk River Project irrigation infrastructure on which 18,000\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=\"2024-12-13T16:31:55\">12.13.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-20T06:51:49-07:00\">12.20.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape  has-text-align-left\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"220657\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-2024-election-guide tag-jon-tester 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\/2024\/09\/13\/watchdog-challenges-pro-tester-committees-financial-reporting\/\" 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=\"600\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/US-Capitol_for-Web-e1726245558615-600x450.png?crop=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-intermediate size-newspack-article-block-landscape-intermediate wp-post-image\" alt=\"Watchdog challenges pro-Tester committee\u2019s financial reporting\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/US-Capitol_for-Web-e1726245558615-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/US-Capitol_for-Web-e1726245558615-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/US-Capitol_for-Web-e1726245558615-200x150.png?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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/09\/13\/watchdog-challenges-pro-tester-committees-financial-reporting\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Watchdog challenges pro-Tester committee\u2019s financial reporting<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From September 2023 through February, Last Best Place PAC treated its independent expenditures related to media buys targeting Sheehy as operating expenses. Operating expenses get reported quarterly, meaning they can stay off campaign reports for months. Independent expenditures must be reported within 48 hours.<\/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=\"2024-09-13T10:42:41\">09.13.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-09-17T14:39:07-06:00\">09.17.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><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 has-text-align-left\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"220648\"\n\t\tclass=\"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\/2024\/09\/13\/political-consultant-laments-nationalization-of-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\/2024\/09\/9-6-24_JohnStember_45979-e1726243617671-1200x900.jpg?crop=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Political consultant laments nationalization of Montana politics\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9-6-24_JohnStember_45979-e1726243617671-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9-6-24_JohnStember_45979-e1726243617671-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9-6-24_JohnStember_45979-e1726243617671-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9-6-24_JohnStember_45979-e1726243617671-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9-6-24_JohnStember_45979-e1726243617671-200x150.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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/09\/13\/political-consultant-laments-nationalization-of-montana-politics\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Political consultant laments nationalization of Montana politics<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cI went and had my team pull the 10 organizations that are currently advertising on television and social media in Montana. Per voter, there\u2019s more money being spent in Montana than any place in the country. None of the ads today, 49 ads \u2014 none of the ads were on a local issue,\u201d said former\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=\"2024-09-13T10:12:23\">09.13.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-09-18T08:39:12-06:00\">09.18.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-style-default is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-4 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape  has-text-align-left\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"219032\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-austin-knudsen tag-christi-jacobsen tag-montana-legislature tag-montana-supreme-court tag-u-s-supreme-court 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\/2024\/08\/30\/secretary-jacobsen-seeks-u-s-supreme-court-action-on-2021-montana-election-laws\/\" 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=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/US-Supreme-Court-1200x675-2-800x600.png?crop=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Secretary Jacobsen seeks U.S. Supreme Court action on 2021 Montana election laws\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/US-Supreme-Court-1200x675-2-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/US-Supreme-Court-1200x675-2-900x675.png 900w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/US-Supreme-Court-1200x675-2-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/US-Supreme-Court-1200x675-2-200x150.png?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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/08\/30\/secretary-jacobsen-seeks-u-s-supreme-court-action-on-2021-montana-election-laws\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Secretary Jacobsen seeks U.S. Supreme Court action on 2021 Montana election laws<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Montana Supreme Court struck down 2021 laws ending same-day voter registration and prohibiting paid ballot collection in March. Now Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for a reversal.<\/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\/asakariassen\/\">Alex Sakariassen<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-08-30T15:25:18\">08.30.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-08-31T10:52:29-06:00\">08.31.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape  has-text-align-left\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"217740\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-2024-election-guide tag-2024-elections tag-jon-tester tag-michael-downey tag-robert-barb tag-tim-sheehy tag-u-s-senate 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\/2024\/08\/21\/green-party-candidate-files-to-join-u-s-senate-race\/\" 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=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Untitled-design-2024-08-21T190059.284.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Green Party candidate files to join U.S. Senate race\" 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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/08\/21\/green-party-candidate-files-to-join-u-s-senate-race\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Green Party candidate files to join U.S. Senate race<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Robert Barb has filed to replace Michael Downey as the Green Party challenger to Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.<\/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=\"2024-08-21T17:03:11\">08.21.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-08-22T13:47:46-06:00\">08.22.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><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 has-text-align-left\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"216253\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-2024-election-guide tag-greg-gianforte category-no-republish category-politics partner-associated-press 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\/2024\/08\/14\/montana-gov-gianforte-continues-to-rake-in-outside-income-as-he-seeks-a-second-term\/\" 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=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Untitled-design-2024-08-14T130316.910.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Montana Gov. Gianforte continues to rake in outside income as he seeks a second term\" 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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/08\/14\/montana-gov-gianforte-continues-to-rake-in-outside-income-as-he-seeks-a-second-term\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Montana Gov. Gianforte continues to rake in outside income as he seeks a second term<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte reported more than $23 million in income over four years ending in 2022, as the former technology executive who is seeking reelection to a second term continues to rake in money from investments, according to tax records released by his campaign.<\/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\/associated-press\/\">Associated Press<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-08-14T11:06:37\">08.14.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-08-15T09:26:51-06:00\">08.15.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\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\"><div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-5 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)\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\"><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\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\" id=\"h-empower-your-community\"><strong>Empower your community.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\" id=\"h-power-the-press\"><strong>Power the press!<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\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 ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and help bring high-quality, independent journalism to more communities in our state.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\"><a href=\"#XETGYZDF\" style=\"display: none\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-political-reporting\">MORE POLITICAL REPORTING<\/h4><\/div><\/div><div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-4 is-1 is-landscape  has-text-align-left has-more-button\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"67991\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"212729\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-christi-jacobsen tag-mike-menahan 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\/2024\/07\/26\/state-judge-signs-injunction-verifying-inactive-voter-signatures\/\" 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=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Untitled-design-2024-07-16T194650.208-1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Montana judge signs injunction verifying inactive voter signatures\" 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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/07\/26\/state-judge-signs-injunction-verifying-inactive-voter-signatures\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Montana judge signs injunction verifying inactive voter signatures<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A new injunction continues the freeze on Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen\u2019s efforts to disqualify signatures on three constitutional initiatives involving primary elections and abortion, which now appear primed to appear on the fall ballot.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-07-26T15:14:45\">07.26.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-07-29T12:04:32-06:00\">07.29.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"212367\"\n\t\tclass=\"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\/2024\/07\/25\/youth-question-to-vote-or-not-to-vote\/\" 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=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Untitled-design-2024-07-24T145812.985.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"To vote, or not to vote?\" 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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/07\/25\/youth-question-to-vote-or-not-to-vote\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">To vote, or not to vote?<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Nationwide, public opinion polling shows that young people have grown more disillusioned with government and political institutions than previous generations. Nearly a third of young Americans believed democracy to be no longer viable, a December 2023 YouGov poll found. Trust in the president among 18-to-29-year-olds was just 20%, according to an April Harvard Youth Poll.\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-07-25T11:02:23\">07.25.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-07-25T11:02:32-06:00\">07.25.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"212233\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-christi-jacobsen tag-montana-supreme-court 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\/2024\/07\/23\/supreme-court-unswayed-by-secretary-of-state-in-petition-lawsuit\/\" 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=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Untitled-design-307-800x600.png?crop=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Supreme Court unswayed by secretary of state in petition lawsuit\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Untitled-design-307-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Untitled-design-307-900x675.png 900w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Untitled-design-307-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Untitled-design-307-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Untitled-design-307-200x150.png?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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/07\/23\/supreme-court-unswayed-by-secretary-of-state-in-petition-lawsuit\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Supreme Court unswayed by secretary of state in petition lawsuit<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Montana Supreme Court Tuesday rejected Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen\u2019s request that it intervene in a recent lawsuit stemming from her office\u2019s handling of the 2024 ballot issue petition process.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-07-23T17:53:13\">07.23.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-07-25T10:51:34-06:00\">07.25.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"211341\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-austin-knudsen tag-commissioner-of-political-practices tag-logan-olson 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\/2024\/07\/19\/montana-attorney-general-knudsen-cleared-in-ghost-candidate-complaint\/\" 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=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Untitled-design-28.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Knudsen cleared in \u2018ghost candidate\u2019 complaint\" 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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/07\/19\/montana-attorney-general-knudsen-cleared-in-ghost-candidate-complaint\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Knudsen cleared in \u2018ghost candidate\u2019 complaint<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Allegations against Attorney General Austin Knudsen and primary challenger Logan Olson have been dismissed by the state commissioner of political practices.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-07-19T12:58:06\">07.19.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-07-19T12:58:14-06:00\">07.19.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"210768\"\n\t\tclass=\"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\/2024\/07\/17\/donations-top-57-million-in-montanas-u-s-senate-race\/\" 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=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Untitled-design-94.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Donations top $57 million in Montana\u2019s U.S. Senate race\" 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<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/07\/17\/donations-top-57-million-in-montanas-u-s-senate-race\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Donations top $57 million in Montana\u2019s U.S. Senate race<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>New campaign finance reports show U.S. Sen. Jon Tester maintains a large fundraising advantage over Republican challenger Tim Sheehy, while Republican candidates for U.S. House hold an edge in their races.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-07-17T15:00:19\">07.17.2024<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2024-07-17T16:29:56-06:00\">07.17.2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\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;includeSubcategories=1&#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=left&#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>","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":[],"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 - ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ<\/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=\"http:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/politics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ\" \/>\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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