Greetings! Here are the topics for today’s column:

• GOP Midterm Convention
• States that Vaccinate the Most
• Planned Parenthood of Montana 
• One More Thing

GOP MIDTERM CONVENTION:

In case you missed it, the Republican Midterm Convention is happening in Dallas on September 9/10. 

President Donald Trump is telling Republicans to pretend he is on the ballot in November. 

“The problem that we have is they say that Trump does great when he’s on the ballot,” said Trump, speaking in the third person. “But when he’s not on the ballot, his people don’t come and they don’t vote.

“So, what I really want you to do is pretend please, that I am on the ballot,” Trump said at the rally for South Carolina Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who is running for her seat this fall. (Source)

There’s a small problem. Trump has a 33% approval rating. (Source)

Republicans from Montana are attending the event. MTN News is reporting that about 30 delegates, alternates, and guests from Montana are in attendance. Attorney General Austin Knudsen was scheduled to kiss Trump’s ass speak at the convention. (Source)

MTN also reported that several Republican officeholders and candidates from Montana are staying away from the convention. 

STATES THAT VACCINATE THE MOST:

From my friends at WalletHub…

With vaccines preventing 3.5 to 5 million deaths per year worldwide, according to the WHO, the personal-finance company WalletHub released its report on the States that Vaccinate the Most in 2026, as well as expert commentary, to identify where Americans are most protected from preventable diseases.

WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 16 key metrics, ranging from the share of children, teens, and adults vaccinated against various diseases to the share of people without health insurance. 

Montana is ranked #36.

I am glad they released this report. It reminded me to schedule my annual Flu and COVID vaccinations. 

Read the complete report HERE. 

PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MONTANA:

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) and other sources are reporting that Planned Parenthood of Montana is opening a clinic in Bozeman. 

MTFP also reported that Planned Parenthood of Montana has clinics in four major Montana cities — Great Falls, Helena, Missoula and Billings — where they offer a range of services, including prescribing medication for abortions earlier in pregnancy. But the nonprofit only offers in-clinic abortions for patients at two of those locations: Missoula and Helena. Other abortion providers — Blue Mountain Clinic and All Families Healthcare — also offer medication and procedural abortions in Missoula and Whitefish.  

The Bozeman clinic will offer abortion services. 

MTFP pointed out that abortion in Montana is legal and constitutionally protected up to the point of fetal viability following the passage of CI-128 in 2024.  

While my personal hope is for fewer abortions in our country, I respect individual autonomy. A woman’s reproductive choices should be left to her, her medical provider, and her faith—free from outside interference.

ONE MORE THING:

Someone threw a bottle of mayo at me. I said, “What the Hellmann!” 

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