This week, we’re joined by Rebecca Miller and Johnny Ratka Skinner, Chair and board member of the Valley Neighbors of Flathead, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting immigrants to resources in the Flathead area, and equipping communities to provide resources for immigrants.

Our guests discuss challenges facing the immigrant community in the Flathead Valley, including the recent arrest and detention of a Venezuelan man who was pulled over for a broken headlight. He was here legally.

You don't want to miss this episode!

In the latest episode of the Blue Bench's new segment, No Time for Neutral, Shannon and Jorgia recap the GOP budget: How will Medicaid cuts affect Montana? Why do Republicans keep stealing from the poor to give to the rich?

They also talk higher education attacks, Governor Gianforte's latest vetoes, and Northwestern Energy's latest antics. There's also some good news too - finally!

Call the PSC before June 9 at 406-444-6150 and tell them no more rate hikes for Northwestern Energy!

Welcome to Season 2 of the Blue Bench Podcast. Now that the Legislative session is over, we're changing our focus to the national stage. Every week, we'll have interviews that help bring national news and issues home here to Montana. This week, we interviewed farmer and rancher from central Montana, Ben Peterson. Ben is on the board of the Farmers Union, Cattleman's Beef Board, and the Montana Democratic Party. Ben discusses everything from Trump's tariffs, to life as Democrat in rural Montana, to the proposed cuts to the USDA.

There's no time for neutral because sitting this out isn't an option.

Welcome to Blue Bench Season 2! We'll be splitting the podcast into two episodes so you get all the information you need - but don't worry, we're not getting rid of anything! In this season opener, Jorgia and Shannon recap the last week of politics and it's a doozy. They talk Trump's Qatari plane, habeas corpus, the GOP budget, and what's going on locally in Montana - and what you can do to protect your neighbors from the latest Republican attacks.

Call Reps. Zinke and Downing ASAP and demand a no vote on the House GOP budget!

Zinke: DC: (202) 225-5628, Missoula: (406) 317-0277

Downing: DC: (202) 225-3211, Helena: (406) 502-1435

Join us for our final episode of Blue Bench Podcast Season One, where we’ve been covering the Montana Legislature since January. We close season one with our very first guest, Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers.Senator Flowers answers our lingering questions about the session and shares his parting words of wisdom to future leaders.Don't worry! The podcast isn't over! MDP will continue dropping weekly podcasts in your feed. Standby for some exciting announcements regarding new content!

We're officially in the final stretch of the 2025 Legislative session. Today's talk of the town: property taxes, property taxes, and did I mention property taxes? Shannon breaks down property tax relief proposals and sits down with MFPE Executive Director Amanda Curtis to discuss labor and education.

Shannon sits down with special co-host guest Jorgie Hawthorne, the Gail Stoltz Fellow for MDP. Listen for updates regarding the legislative session, state budget, property taxes, and more! The two also debrief the max capacity rally in Missoula Wednesday afternoon, featuring Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

This week, Shannon and Gaby provide updates on property tax relief, attacks on Montana’s judiciary branch, and child care bills. There is some good news to report and, unfortunately, some not-so-great news. Plus, Shannon sits down and talks clean energy in Montana with Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) Executive Director Anne Hedges. Do you care about climate change, the environment, and what lawmakers in Helena are doing to promote a clean and healthful environment? Well, then you definitely don’t want to miss this amazing interview!