Welcome to May! Here are the topics we are starting the month with:
- Montana Campaign News
- James Henry Marshal
- Knudsen vs Cromwell
- Shutdown Ends
- The Kentucky Derby
- One More Thing
2026 MONTANA CAMPAIGN NEWS:
James Henry Marshal…
The Helena Independent Record (IR) is reporting that James Henry Marshal, a party-backed Republican candidate for the Montana Legislature (HD 84), is facing a trio of misdemeanor charges and, court records show, was accused several years ago of sexual abuse — allegations that GOP officials say they knew nothing about before lending their support.
The IR further reported that Marshal was arrested outside of Helena in November for allegedly operating a running vehicle while intoxicated and refusing to comply with commands from law enforcement, ultimately forcing deputies to conduct a “controlled takedown” in order to take him into custody.
The icing on the cake is that during a November 2025 traffic stop, the IR reported that Marshal stated he was a sovereign citizen.
Great googly moogly! A sovereign citizen is anti-government, but this clown wants to be a State Representative.
It feels like the Montana GOP doesn’t prioritize a clean record for its candidates. Personally, I believe a DUI should be a deal-breaker for anyone running. We’ll see how the Montana GOP handles this.
KNUDSEN VS CROMWELL:
According to a press release from the Montana Department of Justice:
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen invoked supervisory control over Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell, following her failure to follow the law and issue a memorandum clarifying that Gallatin County may share confidential criminal justice information (CCJI) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement functions.
On April 2, Attorney General Knudsen sent a letter to Cromwell demanding she rescind her unlawful policy refusing to recognize ICE as a “criminal justice agency” and share CCJI with them. She has since doubled down on her policy by refusing to do so.
“The cognitive dissonance in your reply is astounding. You have now sworn under oath that there is no policy regarding sharing CCJI with ICE. Yet you also maintain that, under your novel interpretation of Montana law, Gallatin County will not share CCJI with ICE for civil immigration enforcement purposes without a court order. Both things cannot be true,” Attorney General Knudsen wrote.
Attorney General Knudsen is exercising limited supervisory control over Cromwell’s office, directing her to:
- Share confidential criminal justice information with ICE for all lawful purposes, including civil administration immigration matters.
- Produce all documents, records, and communications related to the matter and specified in Attorney General Knudsen’s April 30 letter.
Cromwell has 30 days to produce the records.
I think Knudsen’s entire existence is a masterclass in mediocrity fueled by an unearned ego. He’s a parasite on the public’s time, obsessed with a ‘power’ that everyone else finds laughable. Leave Cromwell alone!
SHUTDOWN ENDS:
In case you missed it, President Trump signed a funding bill on Thursday that reopens the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ending a record-breaking 76-day standoff—the longest departmental shutdown in U.S. history. (Source)
So, who won? Axios had this headline:
House Republicans cave to Senate with vote to end 75-day DHS shutdown
Trump is responsible for the longer shutdowns. I doubt this will be the last one.
THE KENTUCKY DERBY:
Don’t forget that the 152nd Kentucky Derby is scheduled for this Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, with a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast on NBC and USA Network, with streaming on Peacock.
More information can be found HERE.
ONE MORE THING:
A police officer came to my house. He asked me where I was between 5 and 6. He seemed irritated when I said, “Kindergarten.”
## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##
The Western Word 
During his tenure Knudsen has blustered and badgered, filing an incredible number of lawsuits almost entirely directed at issues and entities that have little or nothing to do with the well-being of Montana or its citizens.
He wants to be viewed as a dominant figure on the national stage, sucking up to trumpsky and his cadre of incompetents.
On a more positive note, at least Knudsen doesn’t put his hat on backward, although it might help him actually accomplish something.
So let me get this straight. Austin is a parasite but illegals with criminal records aren’t.
Austin is acting like a dictator with this move. Totally uncalled for.
There is no public evidence that Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell has been charged with or proven to have broken any laws. What’s happening is a legal dispute, not a confirmed violation.
By the way, illegals already have a criminal record. That’s what they are illegal. They should be deported. -JmB
Can’t deport them if a rogue DA won’t tell Austin where they’re at.
Come on – there is no evidence that Cromwell is hiding or refusing to disclose the locations of undocumented immigrants.
We should commend her for making sure the Feds obey the laws and check all the boxes before she discloses confidential records. -JmB
She’s not refusing to tell anyone where illegal aliens are, she’s insisting that people follow the law as far as obtaining confidential records that are protected under Montana law. ICE had requested confidential criminal records for a civil matter and didn’t have the court order to get them. If the law says they need a court order they should get a court order. Seems simple enough.
Or has the MAGA creed now become “laws for thee but not for me”?