Blue Bench Podcast

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!

Ravalli County Republican Senator Jason Ellsworth is banned from the Senate Floor. Shannon and Gaby discuss updates on the budget and what we can expect in the last month of the session. Gaby interviews former Montana Supreme Court Justice Mike Wheat about MTGOP attacks on the judiciary.

It was a historic week in the Montana Legislature! A MTGOP lawmaker faces calls for expulsion from his own party. Plus, Medicaid Expansion is signed into law! Shannon interviews Senator Derek Harvey from Butte. You don’t want to miss this episode.

Special co-host guest (and Montana Democratic Party Development Director!) Tiffany Williams joins us this week for Blue Bench. Tiffany shares her insights on slashes and cuts to the Department of Education and bills making their way through the Legislature. Shannon sits down with former lawmaker and lobbyist for Big Sky 55+, Margie Macdonald.

It's half time in the 2025 legislative session! The Montana Legislature has reached transmittal and Gaby and Shannon breakdown the good, the bad, and the ugly at the halfway mark of the session.

Welcome to week nine of the Montana Legislative session! This week, Shannon interview Representative Jonathan Karlen about property taxes and childcare bills.

Next week, the Montana Democratic Party will host a virtual town hall with leadership from the Montana House and Senate Democrats. Join us!