Welcome! Here are the topics for today’s common-sense commentary:

• Government Shutdown Ends
• Congressman Troy Downing
• Trump & Epstein
• One More Thing

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ENDS:

The long national nightmare called the “Trump Shutdown” is finally over after 43 days.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 222-209 to reopen the Federal Government on Wednesday night. (Source) Both of Montana’s Representatives, Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing, voted for the bill. Previously, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy voted for the bill. All four are Republicans.

President Donald Trump signed the bill into law around 10:25 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday night, but not before he slammed Democrats, demanded the filibuster be done away with, and crowed about the stock market. 

The Hill takes a look at the shutdown HERE. 

This was the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The second-longest shutdown also happened when Trump was President. Isn’t it ironic? 

What will we do now? Maybe devote our attention to the Epstein files! 

CONGRESSMAN TROY DOWNING:

My Congressman (MT02), Troy Downing, who is also a fellow Air Force veteran, pulled the trigger on his social media post a little early Wednesday night, saying, “After more than 42 days, Congress has finally reopened the government.” (Source)

That was a couple of hours before the bill was signed into law. 

I responded with, “The President has not signed the bill, therefore the government is not officially open.” (Source) 

Downing responded with:

^troll (Source)

I responded: “I am your constituent, bubba. A fellow veteran.” (Source)

Downing responded:

“My apology. Thanks for the correction. We expect this to be signed into law in 45 minutes.” (Source)

Maybe I should send a copy of “How a bill becomes a law” to the freshman Representative. 

Overall, I like Downing, but I think he should have an office in Great Falls so he can have staff closer to Malmstrom AFB and the Montana Air National Guard. When we had only one Representative in Montana, they had an office in Great Falls.  

TRUMP & EPSTEIN:

As more and more correspondence comes out about Jeffrey Epstein, it is not looking good for President Donald Trump. 

Wednesday morning, the New York Times reported that House Democrats on Wednesday released several emails that were obtained from the estate of the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying they showed that President Trump may have been more aware of Mr. Epstein’s conduct than he has publicly acknowledged.

Snopes already fact-checked part of the documents HERE. 

No matter what is released, the MAGAs will still support Trump. 

What is happening is that approval of the way President Donald Trump is managing the government has dropped sharply since early in his second term. A poll from the Associated Press (AP) found that only 33% of U.S. adults approve of the way the Republican president is managing the government, down from 43% in an AP-NORC poll from March.

If Trump were a CEO, he would be fired. 

I think that Trump is destroying the country. The people who support him will have a lot of explaining to do, and history will not be too kind to them. 

But first, the 2026 midterms may not be very kind to Trump and the Republicans.

ONE MORE THING:

REMINDER: There are far more people working for justice, equality, and diversity than opposing them. Don’t let hopelessness trend in your head.

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