Montana Politics

Controversial BLM director nominee clears first Senate hurdle. Dillon City Council appoints new mayor. Court upholds state law that allows insurance companies to factor gender, marital status into rates. Bozeman-based candidate withdraws from State Department nomination process.

Montana Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy joined Capitol Police as they ejected a man protesting military action in Iran from a committee hearing. Sheehy ran to help the officers remove Brian McGinnis, a Marine Corps veteran and Senate candidate. During the scuffle, McGinnis’s arm appears to snap.

Montana’s congressional delegates are united in their support for the war in Iran. Sen. Daines and Rep. Zinke also say they’ll vote against a war powers resolution that would limit Trump from taking additional unilateral action in the region.

Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke announced Monday he’s retiring from office at the end of his term in January. His exit opens the door for new candidates to run.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned many of the Trump administration’s tariffs on foreign imports. The ruling is welcome news for Montana agriculture producers, who have been facing rising costs and shrinking markets.

A Bozeman-based candidate nominated for a top U.S. Department of State job is facing bipartisan backlash after a congressional hearing last week. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee questioned Jeremy Carl about past statements they called racist and anti-Semitic.

Laurel residents have been raising concerns about city and state transparency in selecting Laurel for a new facility that would treat criminal defendants before they stand trial. What’s required of the government when it comes to public input isn’t straightforward.

A southwestern Montana community is searching for new leadership after its mayor abruptly resigned.

A former Montana solicitor general has been nominated to become one of the state’s three federal judges. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is being sued for refusing to draft a national recovery plan for wolves. Montana’s highest court has upheld the conviction of a Kalispell man for obstructing police officers while he was filming a traffic stop.

Montana’s top attorney is investigating the city of Helena. City commissioners recently passed a resolution stating Helena will avoid assisting federal immigration enforcement efforts. Gov. Gianforte called for the investigation and warned of penalties for cities defying state law.