Sometimes you just have to accept that some people are shitty humans and stop trying to see the good that isn’t there. – Unknown

In today’s column, I take a quick look at these people/issues:

• Fourth Montanan & Daines
• One Year Ago
• Happiest Cities in America
• One More Thing

FOURTH MONTANAN & DAINES:

In what should have been the lead story on the local news, it was reported later in the MTN Newscast that a fourth Montanan has been accused of participating in the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The Montanan, Isaac Steve Sturgeon of Dillon, has ties to U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) – so much so that Daines’ office issued a statement about it.

MTN reported it this way:

A search of his name shows that Montana U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped Sturgeon return from Morocco in March of last year, at the start of the pandemic. An email from Sen. Daines office dated March 21, 2020, said Sturgeon became stuck overseas due to the coronavirus outbreak and was trying to return home to family. In a statement to MTN News, Daines’ office said that the Senator had helped Sturgeon at the request of Sturgeon’s parents who know Senator Daines.

It was also reported that Daines helped Sturgeon with a passport issue last year.

Finally, MTN News reported this denial from Daines:

Senator Daines’ office said neither the Senator nor the team’s caseworker had knowledge of Sturgeon’s alleged involvement in the Capitol riot and that the office handles hundreds of requests for passport assistance each year. They said they disclosed the assistance provided to Sturgeon be transparent. They also reiterated that the Senator has denounced the events of January 6 and condemns all violence. 

It’s been reported that the FBI is investigating communications between lawmakers and Capitol rioters. CNN reported that Justice Department officials have assigned more than two dozen prosecutors, including some from outside Washington, to delve into more complex questions, including possible funding of insurrectionists and whether political figures, including lawmakers and staff, aided the attack, the US official said.

Is there anything there with Daines and Sturgeon? Maybe. Maybe not. I bet it will be investigated.

Read the complete MTN report by clicking HERE.

ONE YEAR AGO:

It did not take the pro-Trump crowd long to show a video from a year ago when Dr. Anthony Fauci said we did not need to wear masks. Those remarks were made on March 8, 2020, during a 60 Minutes interview.

A few weeks later, Reuters reported that on April 3, 2020, the CDC updated its previous advice and recommended people wear cloth face coverings “in public settings when around people outside their household, especially when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.”

The Washington Post interviewed Fauci in July and he explained how his thinking has evolved on masks, asymptomatic transmission.

In battle, the enemy changes tactics often and we have to adapt. What works today, may not work tomorrow. We had a President who downplayed the pandemic and caused the deaths of thousands. We have morons who decided that wearing a mask was political.

As for me, I will be listening to healthcare professionals, like Dr. Fauci, the CDC, and my county health experts. I’ll listen and follow their advice instead of listening to politicians, like Governor Gianforte, and my county/city commissioners.

HAPPIEST CITIES IN AMERICA:

Congratulations to Missoula, Montana! According to WalletHub, Missoula is the 29th happiest city in America. Billings was way down the list at 73. No other Montana city made the list. C’mon Great Falls!

Billings took hits for a high depression rate and high suicide rate. Missoula was ranked high for the fewest work hours (let the jokes begin).

Fremont, California, came in first. Detroit was ranked last on the list at 182.

Read the full report and methodology by clicking HERE.

ONE MORE THING:

Don’t forget to vote in The Western Word poll that asks your thoughts about the filibuster in the U.S. Senate. Click HERE to participate.

The results will be posted in my “Thursday Numbers” column.

## WEAR A MASK TODAY ##