45 Comments
User's avatar
Nicole Daniels's avatar

Spent a week up in whitefish in March and one of the things we noticed in and around that area was that no one was advertising their support for Trump. No one. No banners, no flags, no stickers seen. And aside from that and regardless of anyone’s politics we found the people there to be some of the nicest we’ve encountered.

Expand full comment
AHahn's avatar

And, today, China put a 125% tariff on USA goods, including beef and grain. Montanans should be furious at Trump and his gang of thieves.

Expand full comment
Fred klauber's avatar

I am a 200% Trump hate and would love to see an overwhelmin vote against MAGA termites l

Expand full comment
Greg Hayward's avatar

I am glad to hear this. Love the Big Sky!

https://youtu.be/lcDL0fvqTnY?si=Qqmfs0p1o9s1Dn0K

Expand full comment
Beth Waterbury's avatar

I attended Hands Off Missoula along with 3,000 energized, empowered souls. I think Zinke is vulnerable in 2026. Ryan, I'd love to see you run against him. Hope you're considering!

Expand full comment
Vibha Pinglé's avatar

Does this mean 2026 Montana Senate election can give Dems a win?

Expand full comment
Susan's avatar

I was out of state, but I wished to be there...

Expand full comment
Sharon White's avatar

I too, thought Montana was red through and through. So happy to see there is hope!

Expand full comment
Katie Mitchell's avatar

It is good to see citizens demanding decency and protection of our rights!! Also, just seeing the videos of the angry GOP voters at the wild town halls recently makes a strong suggestion that both the red and the blue voters are angry now. We outnumber the billionaires thankfully.

Expand full comment
Judith C Birenbaum's avatar

Hurrah for Montana! I was born in Billings, and for me Montana is the last best place almost like my spiritual home. I’m so happy to see you all standing up for the truth. There’s hope we can heal the terrible things. Trump has done so far… Judy B.

Expand full comment
Jennifer Wills's avatar

I attended the rally in Kalispell and was encouraged by the numbers. Ryan, one thing that I do not hear anyone talking about is how the reduction in VA facilities and personnel will affect American healthcare as a whole. Most people don’t realize that more than 70% of all healthcare professionals in the United States trained at a VA facility at some point in their training. It’s the largest organization for medical and mental health training in the United States. If they privatize the VA, then everyone will face a shortage of healthcare professionals. I became very aware of that after retiring as a police officer I returned to school at UM, earned a PhD in psychology, and became a licensed psychologist in Montana. I could never have completed my training and licensure without the VA.

Expand full comment
chery ehresman's avatar

Thanks for hanging in there...

Expand full comment
Diane Blank's avatar

Reposted in The Contrarian Chat—you are giving hope to a broader community. https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/b4cdf7fd-0045-42c2-b0b4-7e0163bb10c0?utm_source=share

Expand full comment
Joni's avatar

I attended the protest in Kalispell. It was the first protest I've EVER attended, and I'm in my sixties. Speaking for myself as a former Republican (now Independent) I hadn't been brave enough to speak my mind in public in Montana. However, the current administration went off the rails from day one and I was compelled to attend to protest Trump's scorched earth policies.

I was THRILLED when I arrived and saw HUNDREDS lining up along Main Street! I knew in that moment that something changed, and it's something BIG! MAGA would like to write us off as a bunch of left-wingers. Not true. There were people from all walks of life and across the political spectrum. There were people who just like me were lifelong Republicans until Trump came along and threatened the Constitution.

I went to the protest to contribute, but I left with so much more! Knowing there are THAT many people in deeply red Montana that are willing to speak out proves that the tide is indeed turning!

Expand full comment
Jenny Cummings's avatar

Thank you for sharing this unheard perspective!!! MT is a fascinating scenario for politics…

Expand full comment