Fifty-six thousand Montanans recently got a text from the political committee supporting ballot issue I-186, which would tighten regulations on the mining industry. The group that sent out those messages said they were not "robo-texts," although a messaging app helped send them out.

The outdoor clothing company Patagonia announced this Friday that it’s endorsing Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester’s re-election campaign. That may not be surprising for people familiar with the company, but campaign finance experts say it could be a first. “It may be the first time that a for-profit corporation has come out with an endorsement on their website for political candidates,” said Peter Quist, the research director at the National Institute on Money in Politics in Helena.

President Donald Trump is sticking by remarks he made during last night’s campaign rally in Missoula praising Congressman Greg Gianforte for assaulting a reporter last year. “Any guy that can do a body slam, he’s my kind of guy," Trump said. This earned Trump criticism amid international furor over the apparent assassination of a Washington Post columnist inside a Saudi Consultant in Istanbul two weeks ago. A reporter asked Trump today if he regretted making those remarks in light of that

Sally Mauk, Chuck Johnson and Rob Saldin talk about President Trump's rally in Missoula and his contradictions and vendettas; the Senate race spending spree; the latest nasty ads; and the tightening House race between Greg Gianforte and Kathleen Williams. Listen in now on "Campaign Beat," MTPR's weekly political analysis program.

Shortly before sunset Thursday, President Donald Trump walked out of Air Force One in the foreground of the Bitterroot mountains and on stage in an airplane hanger in Missoula, extending his feud with Senator Jon Tester amid a call for Republican reinforcements in Congress.

The ‘Love Trumps Hate’ rally, progressive Missoula’s answer to President Donald Trump’s appearance Thrusday drew roughly 1,500 people to Playfair Park. The rally served as an emotional release for some participants.

On the day President Trump visited Missoula, his third to Montana to stump for Republican Senate-hopeful Matt Rosendale, his Democratic opponent, Sen. Jon Tester , was in Butte with veterans of all political stripes.

UPDATED 7:15 pm Wed. 10/17: Missoula International Airport issued this statement on parking and logistics: "Parking for the Presidential Visit will NOT be on Airport property. It will be East of Northstar off Corporate way. Shuttles from the remote parking area will start at 2:00 PM. Please refrain from driving in front of the terminal unless picking up or dropping off passengers.

“The Dude” is stumping for Democrat Jon Tester . Actor Jeff Bridges spoke to the College Democrats of Montana in Bozeman Wednesday, Oct. 17, in the latest celebrity appearance of the state’s increasingly high-profile U.S. Senate race. The actor famous for his chill, bathrobe-wearing character "The Dude" in the film "The Big Lebowski," drew a young crowd of nearly 400 people that local Democrats tried to turn into immediate voters.

On Thursday the head of Montana’s health department will speak publicly about recent deep budget cuts. She’ll be on a panel with state lawmakers that a progressive political group in Helena is hosting.