Friday’s finally here! I’m wrapping up the week with a sharp, unfiltered look at the stories that actually deserve your headspace. Top off your coffee, and let’s dive in: 

• Montana Campaign News
• Other Political News
• A Milestone
• Big Sky Aquatic
• Trump Anointed
• Noem is Out
• One More Thing

2026 MONTANA CAMPAIGN NEWS:

Candidate filing in Montana ended Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. A total of 380 candidates filed for office in Montana, per the Secretary of State’s online registry. 

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

The Primary election in Montana is Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Now the battles begin for those who have contested primaries. 

You can see who filed for state and federal office by clicking HERE.

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

Your vote is your voice—don’t let administrative barriers silence it. If you’re living outside of Montana, the clock is ticking: click HERE now to register or update your status before it’s too late.

OTHER POLITICAL NEWS: 

The Daily Montanan has a lengthy report on Congressional candidate Aaron Flint that you should read. Here is part of what was written:

In an era where it can be difficult to understand a candidate’s viewpoints, Flint’s show gives a deep and clear look into his worldview.

Most of Montana Talks’ airtime, especially in recent months, has been dedicated to attacking immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ people and even fellow Republicans. More than 50 episodes included references to illegal aliens, a main focus of the show during the last six months.

Flint and Brittain have also embraced COVID-19 conspiracy theories on the air and make demeaning comments regularly — at one point Brittain openly mused as to whether Marjorie Taylor Greene was going through menopause and said she “pressed the self-destruct button” after she “went against” President Trump.

“It is amazing to watch, and it is a unique character trait to a lot of those of the female sex,” Brittain said on Dec. 8.

The show includes tepid support for Vladimir Putin, the Russian dictator, as well as overt references to so-called “white replacement theory,” a conspiracy theory that, in part, says Democrats have embraced illegal immigration in an effort to get more votes and political power.

It’s a jumbling and often rambling collection of theories that often boil down to one line said a number of different ways — Democrats, progressives and leftists are destroying the country, and conservatives are trying to save it.

“What the Democrats are doing is systematically trying to oppose every single element of President Trump’s plan to keep America safe,” Flint said on Dec. 19. “I mean, think about that. Think about what they are doing to make America more dangerous.”

Flint has attacked several Montana media outlets on his radio show, including the Daily Montanan.

I have known Aaron Flint for years. As many did with the coming of Trump, he went to the far right several years ago and embraced the MAGA way of life. 

I’ve never cast a vote for Trump and generally steer clear of anyone who adopts the MAGA platform. I believe they’ve compromised their core principles for short-term power (sold their souls), and eventually, those decisions will come home to roost. 

You can read the complete report from the Daily Montanan HERE. 

A MILESTONE FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE: 

George Nikolakakos wins the race for the first campaign mailer I’ve received! View it HERE and HERE. Nikolakakos and Randy Pinocci are running against each other in the Republican primary for State Senator in District 12. Pinocci claims he is a “RINO hunter” (Republican In Name Only). 

We’ll see how that works out for him. 

BIG SKY AQUATIC & RECREATION CENTER:

I happened to catch a Facebook post from Great Falls City Commissioner Rick Tryon about the Scheels Aim High Big Sky Aquatic and Recreation Center. 

Tryon writes:

The new indoor pool and rec center is a really nice, modern facility. It’s also losing money at a rate that’s unsustainable – between 20-30k per month. The City has hired a professional consultant firm to study and look at a broad range of options which will be offered for public vetting soon. I assume those options will include, among others, bringing on a private management company, like we have done with the golf course which has worked out very well financially.

It’s hard to understand how it is losing that much money per month. The best option may be a private management company, as Tryon says.

TRUMP ANOINTED BY JESUS?

Sometimes you read something and think, “That can’t be true.” 

I checked it out, and the following story is true.

Esquire reported:

A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that Pres. Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to a complaint by a non-commissioned officer.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) has received over 200 calls from more than 50 military installations across all the services since Saturday, reporting similar disturbing pronouncements from their Christian zealot commanders. (Source)

As a person of faith, I believe military leaders should respect the diverse beliefs of their teams and refrain from imposing their own religious views on those they command.

NOEM IS OUT:

Kristi Noem will soon be out as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and will be taking on a new role as “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere,” according to a post on social media from President Trump.  

A media frenzy erupted over Noem’s dismissal, fueling a surge of criticism from her longtime opponents. She wasn’t really fired, as many outlets reported, but it draws clicks. 

This may not be the end for Noem. She has served in the South Dakota State Legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, and as the Governor of South Dakota. U.S. Senator John Thune will probably not run for reelection in 2028, and that would give Noem a chance to serve in the U.S. Senate. 

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a full-blown MAGA, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026. 

ONE MORE THING:

If you are disliked by the herd, you are probably on the right path. 

## SPRING FORWARD SUNDAY ##