Greetings! Here are the topics for today’s independent commentary: 

• Gender-Affirming Medical Care
• IVF Hypocrisy
• The Biden Pardon
• Get Out of Dodge

GENDER-AFFIRMING MEDICAL CARE: 

The Associated Press (AP) reported Wednesday that a Montana law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors will remain temporarily blocked, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, after justices unanimously agreed with a lower court judge who found the law likely violates the state’s constitutional right to privacy. The case against the Montana law now goes to trial before District Court Judge Jason Marks in Missoula.

Of course, this ruling sent the MAGAs into a tizzy with most of their attacks directed toward the Montana Supreme Court. It’s the only branch of government the MAGAs don’t control, yet. 

Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr — the first transgender woman elected to the state’s Legislature had the following to say about the decision according to the AP:

The Montana Supreme Court “has reaffirmed what we have known all along — gender-affirming care saves lives, and like all health care decisions, it should be left between doctors and patients.”  

Zephyr has been treated terribly by the Republicans in the Montana Legislature last session and the MAGAs constantly attack her on social media. 

IVF HYPOCRISY:

Scripps News is reporting that the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) could have eased that burden by potentially moving to expand insurance coverage for IVF to members of the U.S. military. However, it was not included in a compromise bill.

Scripps reported that in a letter to the Armed Services committees in both the U.S. House and Senate, Republican Congressmen Matt Rosendale of Montana and Josh Breechen of Oklahoma argued that expanding IVF to service members will, “…cost taxpayers approximately $1 billion per year. While we have great sympathy for couples who are having difficulty starting a family, IVF is ineffective, leads to the destruction of innocent human life, and does nothing to treat the root cause of a couple’s infertility.”

Scripps News found out that starting in 2025 members of Congress and their staff will have access to fertility treatments, like IVF, through their government health insurance.

That’s pretty hypocritical of Congress, to say the least.

Ironically, Rosendale ended up voting against the NDAA. It passed the U.S. House 281-140. Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01)voted for the bill. (Source) (Source) 

THE BIDEN PARDON:

According to a poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he would do no such thing. (Source) 

As frequent readers may know, I supported the President’s pardon of his son.  

My MAGA friend, talk radio host Aaron Flint, responded to my post of the AP story on X with, “Looks like you are well represented as one of the 2 in 10!” He added a smiley face.

I responded with, “Yes! I sleep well at night, too,” with a smiley face. 

GET OUT OF DODGE:

The Associated Press (AP) and several sources are reporting that FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job.

I don’t blame Wray for deciding to leave the FBI early. I think the shit is going to hit the fan after Trump is sworn in. Since Trump is above the law as President, who knows what will happen to those who don’t follow him and his rules exclusively? Wray does not need the headache. 

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