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

• Cascade County Detention Center
• Trump’s Press Ban
• Will Trump Campaign in Montana?
• One More Thing

CASCADE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER:

I found it interesting to read the MTN News story that the Cascade County Detention Center is facing a critical staffing shortage. MTN also reported that the facility is designed for 90 detention officers but currently has just 51, according to Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter. 

The current vacancy of 39 positions didn’t happen overnight. It represents a prolonged failure of retention and recruitment planning by the Sheriff, which has now put the facility into an emergency operational deficit. 

TRUMP’S PRESS BAN:

I think that President Donald Trump is crossing a dangerous constitutional line with his banning of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. The First Amendment is clear: the government cannot restrict press freedom or discriminate against media outlets based on their perspective.

By explicitly tying press bans to editorial views—labeling outlets “FAKE NEWS” and retaliating against critical coverage—the administration is engaging in clear viewpoint discrimination.

I strongly support the decision by CNN, MS NOW, and Politico to file a joint lawsuit against President Trump. Press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, and revoking credentials based on viewpoint discrimination cannot stand. Seeing major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX News) unite in solidarity—proving that an attack on one journalist is an attack on the entire free press—is a powerful and necessary defense of our constitutional rights.

Irony alert: those quick to label Democrats as ‘Communists’ fail to realize that suppressing the free press and silencing opposing viewpoints is a core tactic of actual communist regimes.

WILL TRUMP CAMPAIGN IN MONTANA?

With the campaign season entering its critical final stretch, the digital landscape is being flooded with political crossfire and unverified claims. You can usually tell which campaign is panicking by the amount of shit they are throwing.  

In the MT-01 congressional race, MAGA candidate Aaron Flint’s campaign recently attacked Sam Forstag about lobbying. ABC/FOX NonStop Local quickly put the attack to bed by researching the issue. (Background)

Did that attack happen because polls now show Forstag ahead of Flint? If Forstag maintains the lead, will Flint bring President Trump in to shore up support? With Montanans facing record fuel prices, sky-high grocery bills, damaging trade tariffs, and what looks like an endless war, it’s worth asking: is Trump really the asset the Flint campaign needs?

The same question could be asked of Republican Kurt Alme if he finds that he is being threatened in his race for U.S. Senate. 

ONE MORE THING:

My daughter asked for a cat for her birthday.

Usually we have pizza, but whatever makes her happy. 

## THE END ##