Welcome to The Western Word. You’re in the right place for honest, down-to-earth perspectives. Today, we’re cutting through the noise to look at:

• Operation Epic Fury
• Montana Campaign News
• Tryon’s Diatribes
• Primary Election Day
• Threats Against Federal Judges
• One More Thing

OPERATION EPIC FURY: 

Update from the U.S. Central Command…

TAMPA, Fla. – As of 4 pm ET, March 2, six U.S. service members have been killed in action. U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region.  

Major combat operations continue. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification. (Source)

Please join me in praying for the fallen service members, their families, and their friends. 

2026 MONTANA CAMPAIGN NEWS:

It was an exciting day in the Montana political world. Read on for the news!

A total of 293 candidates have filed for office in Montana as of Monday evening, per the Secretary of State’s online registry.

Candidate filing in Montana ends on March 4, 2026, (Wednesday) at 5:00 p.m.

The Primary election in Montana is Tuesday, June 2, 2026. 

You can keep track of who files for state and federal office by clicking HERE.

The Electric has the list of local (Cascade County) candidates HERE. 

Make sure your voice is heard! Check your Montana registration HERE today. 

Don’t let administrative hurdles or outside interference prevent you from casting your ballot. If you reside outside of Montana, click HERE to register to vote or to update your registration. 

The most exciting news of the day came from U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke. Via a press release, it was announced:

Today, after more than 30 years in public service and four terms in Congress, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) announced he will not seek reelection in November. His career includes serving 23 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer (1985-2008), four years in the Montana State Senate (2009-2013), two years as Secretary of the Interior under President Donald J. Trump (2017-2019), and four noncontiguous terms in Congress (2015-2017; 2023-2026). 

There were many negative comments about Zinke on social media that were uncalled for. Haters should show some maturity and thank him for his service.

It did not take long to figure out that the exit for Zinke had probably been planned for a while. Not long after the announcement, MAGA radio talk show host Aaron Flint announced that he was running for Congress in Montana’s second congressional district (MT-02). I have known Flint for many years, ever since my days with U.S. Senator Conrad Burns. He has a wonderful family, and he is a fellow veteran. Flint took a hard turn to the right during the Trump years, and I stopped listening to his radio program. 

Flint has already been endorsed by several prominent Republicans in the state, including Zinke. I have not seen an endorsement from U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who is the senior senator. 

Another Republican quickly filed to replace Zinke. Former Montana State Senator Al Olszewski filed to run for the seat. 

There are four Democrats (who are probably pretty happy today) who have filed to run for MT-02. They are Russell Cleveland, Matt Rains, Ryan Busse, and Sam Forstag. 

With the seat being open, I think it does give Democrats a better chance of winning.

TRYON’S DIATRIBES: 

Great Falls City Commissioner Rick Tryon has been pretty upset the past few days because he does not like the “trashing” of our President and Commander in Chief. He posted the following extra-long sentence on his Facebook page: 

If you are trashing our President and Commander in Chief right now while our military is actively engaged in dangerous combat operations and our young men and women are putting their lives on the line for our country, and if you’re hoping that Operation Epic Fury fails because it will make Trump look bad, then you are a despicable human being and a disgrace to America, and you deserve to be called out and shamed.

Stay the f**k away from me and mine.

A day or so later, he was triggered again and posted the following on his Facebook page: 

I’ll just go ahead and say it:

If you actually believe that Trump launched Operation Epic Fury in order to “deflect from the Epstein files”, then you need to either put the crack pipe down or seek professional help for mental illness.

Saying, or even implying, that kind of delusional nonsense is proof that you are not a serious or sane person and is a clear sign that you should be avoided by common sense folks.

Maybe the commissioner should stay away from social media and Fox News for a few days and clear his mind. 

PRIMARY ELECTION DAY:

Today is Primary Election Day in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas.  

Click on the name of the state to see primary information. 

THREATS AGAINST FEDERAL JUDGES:

It is a grim reflection of our current political climate that judges now require heightened security simply for doing their jobs. 60 Minutes did a piece about the threats, and it is alarming. 

One judge said, I’ve been at this for 44 years. I have never encountered the hostility toward the judiciary that has existed in this country in the, the last year. And I don’t think it’s’ because we’re making bad decisions. I think it’s because there are people who think that they can make a lot of political hay out of criticizing the federal judiciary.

You can read the reporting from the 60 Minutes piece HERE. 

ONE MORE THING: 

The difference between humans and animals? Animals would never allow the dumbest ones to lead the pack.

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