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

• Alcohol Delivery
• Dignified Transfer
• Freedom of the Press
• One More Thing

ALCOHOL DELIVERY:

When I read the news about alcohol delivery being approved in Montana, I thought about the following quote from the movie, Dumb and Dumber:

Harry Dunne: “You know, Lloyd, just when I think you couldn’t possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this… and totally redeem yourself!”

That’s probably how many people feel about the Montana Legislature after reading about the alcohol delivery bill. 

Maybe not.

In case you missed it, MTN News is reporting that Montanans will soon be able to have beer and wine delivered directly to their doorsteps thanks to House Bill 211, which was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025. 

The law goes into effect on January 1st, 2026, so you have time to put your list together!  

I think this is a good thing and could possibly help keep drunk drivers off the roads. 

THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER:

Snopes rated the following information true:

On April 4, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend the dignified transfer of the remains of four U.S. soldiers killed in Lithuania and was at his golf club in Florida when it took place. (Source)

Snopes also reported that the claim that Trump was at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, during the April 2025 dignified transfer of soldiers’ remains was true. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the event on behalf of the Trump administration.

I understand that a President is very busy, but Trump was playing golf. That was it. He should have attended the dignified transfer. 

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS:

The MAGAs are going to hate it, but several sources like the Associated Press (AP) reported that a federal judge ordered the White House on Tuesday to restore the Associated Press’ full access to cover presidential events, affirming on First Amendment grounds that the government cannot punish the news organization for the content of its speech.

The federal judge who made the ruling was appointed by President Donald Trump. 

We need to have the press reporting about our government, even if the members of the government don’t like it. 

ONE MORE THING:

[History test question in the year 2075] (Source)

Which did Trump NOT place tariffs on in 2025?

A) Sweden

B) Canada

C) Penguins

D) Russia

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