Happy Friday! I’m closing out the week with a bit of straight talk on the latest headlines. Here’s what’s on the menu for today’s post:

• Transparent Election Initiative
• U.S. Rep. Troy Downing
• Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen
• Trump Commemorative Coin
• In Case You Missed It
• One More Thing

TRANSPARENT ELECTION INITIATIVE:

It did not take long for the “industry organizations” in Montana to file a lawsuit against the Transparent Election Initiative (TEI). 

That means that the TEI must be hitting a nerve and doing something right. They must know that if TEI makes the ballot, it will pass easily. 

In case you are not acquainted with the Transparent Election Initiative, it is committed to ending the influence of corporate and dark money in our politics through the groundbreaking “The Montana Plan.” Backers believe that elections should be decided by voters, not by the size of corporate checkbooks.

Amen to that. 

The Helena IR reports that industry groups now seeking to block the campaign include the Montana Mining Association, the Montana Stockgrowers Association, the Montana Chamber of Commerce, and others.

On the TEI blog, they responded to the lawsuit:

“Montana has a long history of powerful corporate interests trying to control our politics and shut out the voices of ordinary citizens,” said Jeff Mangan, founder of the Transparent Election Initiative and former Montana Commissioner of Political Practices. “Just like the Copper Kings, these modern corporate barons will do anything to protect their grip on political power — even if it means trying to stop Montanans from having their say.”

“Think about it. They are telling the Court their voice is more important than the voices of our citizens and small businesses,” Mangan said. “This isn’t about protecting free speech — it’s about protecting the ability of big corporate interests to dominate our elections with money, while everyone else gets pushed aside.”

Let’s restore the integrity of our democracy. Supporting TEI is the only way to ensure our voices aren’t drowned out by corporate spending.

U.S. REP. TROY DOWNING:

U.S. Representative Troy Downing (R-MT02) held a telephone town hall on Thursday. The Daily Montanan covered the event and filed a report HERE. 

Spoiler Alert: Downing is 100% MAGA. He sold his soul to the MAGAs. 

People like Downing, who chose unconditional allegiance to Donald Trump over their own country, may find, with the passage of time, that the bargain was not worth the making. 

SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTI JACOBSEN: 

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen is wanted by the state legislature, according to reporting in the Daily Montanan. 

The Daily Montanan reports that Jacobsen, however, has not been present for at least a couple of recent meetings of legislative committees charged with oversight of the Secretary of State’s Office and audit responsibilities.

As a result, some legislators are considering their subpoena power, albeit reluctantly.

The mystery surrounding the funding for Jacobsen’s mailer (PHOTO) is creating a political firestorm, leaving her vulnerable as she runs for Congress.

TRUMP COMMEMORATIVE COIN:

On Thursday, a federal arts commission approved a design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin featuring President Donald Trump’s image to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. This coin is being produced under the Treasury Secretary’s authority rather than standard circulating currency laws. (Source) 

I believe one living president has appeared on a U.S. coin before. Calvin Coolidge was the first and only sitting president to be featured on a U.S. Mint-produced coin during his lifetime. (Source) 

Leave it to Trump’s camp to find a workaround for the rules.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

The national debt surpassed a record $39 trillion on Wednesday, a milestone that comes just weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. (Source)

For those keeping score at home, the national debt was approximately $36.22 trillion when Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term on January 20, 2025.

The Republicans control the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House. 

View the Debt Clock HERE. 

ONE MORE THING:

Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late. – Benjamin Franklin

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##