Shared State

This fall, we’re going deep into our political landscape — from Montana’s constitution to the current candidates running for office, and why this election matters.  From the newsrooms of Yellowstone Public Radio, Montana Public Radio and Montana Free Press, this is Shared State a podcast about what’s driving Montana’s 2020 elections, and where the outcomes could lead us.  Listen on our websites, or wherever you get your podcasts, in September.

Every election cycle, politicians flaunt their Montana roots—or attack their opponents for their lack of them. This focus on so-called "authenticity" might make voters laugh or roll their eyes, but it's just the surface layer of a complicated dynamic. For some, it's supposedly a way to figure out who's trustworthy, who's acting in the public interest, and who doesn't belong. Montana Free Press's Brad Tyer explores this popular trope in Montana politics, and asks: when we say "We the people of Montana," who do we really mean?

Campaign season is here, and we’re in the thick of it. Politicians are on the airwaves claiming how their candidacies best reflect “Montana values.” But behind the political promises and rhetoric, there are actual policies up for debate. We’re talking about what’s really on the ballot in November — not just the contenders, but also the issues they stand for and argue over. Along the way, we’ll try to answer a few questions: What are Montana values? How are they changing? And how are they playing out in this election? We’re digging deep into Montana’s political landscape—from our constitution to the current slate of candidates running for office, to why this election matters.

Delegates included a nod to religion when they wrote Montana’s constitutional preamble. Decades later, ideas about God, faith and morality continue to influence how lawmakers approach policy issues, from access to abortion and civil rights for LGBTQ people, to debates over religious freedom.  This year, Montana’s Republican and Democratic candidates for governor are approaching these topics with different perspectives and religious philosophies. Depending on the outcome of the election, the political realities around these issues could change. 

Nearly 50 years ago, a group of Montanans pushed for strong environmental protections and the right to “a clean and healthful environment.” What they created was groundbreaking. Only about a half-dozen other states recognize environmental rights in their constitutions, and Montana is the only state that calls that right “inalienable.”  In this episode, Yellowstone Public Radio reporter Rachel Cramer dives into the events at the 1972 constitutional convention and how one aspect of our shared environment — public lands ‚ is playing out in the Senate race. When politicians talk about protecting our outdoor heritage in Montana, what exactly are they protecting, and whose interests are they serving?

National parks, jagged peaks, sprawling forests ... Montana is home to more than 30 million acres of public land. Our shared lands are beloved by many Montanans — and a huge draw for tourists from around the world. But just because those lands exist doesn’t mean people can actually get to them. When public land and private property collide, real conflicts over access arise.  And that’s a sticking point in this year’s race for governor. Montana Public Radio’s Charles Bolte explores what candidates are really talking about when they say they’re “for access,” and if that political rhetoric matches up with the issues Montanans are facing. 

Pledging to bring Montana more “good-paying jobs” is a time-honored cliche for politicians on the campaign trail. And for good reason: the isolation factor that defines the state’s rural economy means Montana workers often face low wages and limited career options. But what exactly can elected officials like the governor do to expand economic opportunity for Montanans? And  what concerns are Montanans weighing as they decide whether they can build the life they want here? 

Instead of exploring a political race or an issue on the ballot, this time on Shared State we’re looking at voting itself  — our democratic process in Montana. In 2020, there’s more uncertainty than ever about how to ensure we all have a say in this election. But in some ways, this uncertainty is nothing new. As long as Montana has held elections, there have been groups pushing to have their equal voice heard.

How we think about liberty and individualism shapes the fundamentals of politics: how strongly the government should figure into ordinary folks’ lives. Those ideas play a huge role in issues that run the political gamut — from managing public lands, to school choice, to social welfare programs. As November approaches, very particular perspectives on freedom and liberty are getting louder — especially as Montana officials grapple with implementing public health measures as coronavirus spikes in the state.  Montana Public Radio’s Nick Mott explores how we weigh the individual and the collective when we talk about freedom, choice and rights. 

The first rule of investigative journalism is: follow the money. But tracking spending this election cycle is trickier than ever before. Montana Free Press editor-in-chief John Adams tracks the ways corruption has shaped Montana, starting in the early days, when mining drove the state’s economy and politics. That legacy still plays out today, as politicians and watchdogs grapple with increasingly complex ways of hiding the sources of political spending and advertising.

In this final episode of Shared State, Montana Public Radio News Director Corin Cates-Carney, Yellowstone Public Radio News Director Nicky Oullet, and Montana Free Press Executive Director John Adams break down the results of Tuesday’s election. They answer: who won, what do the results say about Montana, and where we’re headed?

In 2009, Montana was caught up in a heated national debate over whether terminally ill patients could expedite their deaths by taking lethal, physician-prescribed medication. More than a decade later, the state is still mired in disagreement about medical aid in dying, in part because courts and elected lawmakers have sidestepped the political hot-potato. Meanwhile, individual Montanans are confronting profound and personal questions about death in their own ways — including whether “good” deaths are even possible.    BONUS LINKS: Read former Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim Nelson’s reflection on the Baxter decision here. Watch one of the Montana Legislature’s 2021 hearings on a bill to prohibit medical aid in dying here.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Mara Silvers. It was edited and produced by Nicky Ouellet, with additional editing and hosting by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

There’s not much certainty for the coal industry these days. In Montana, four of the six owners of the Colstrip Power Plant live in states where legislation is requiring companies to wean themselves off of coal energy. Residents of Colstrip — a town that has grown and prospered because of that resource —  fear that any bad news for the industry will be even worse for them. Up against shifting markets and corporate interests, how can advocates for Colstrip ensure future stability for its residents?   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Southeastern Montana Economic Development’s diversification strategy for Colstrip. Learn more about what else the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund pays for.  Follow the Montana Legislature’s interim study of the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Melissa Loveridge and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Nick Mott and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

For decades, housing affordability has been a hot-button issue in Bozeman politics, a clear community pain point where the city’s elected leaders haven’t managed to deliver significant relief. As insider and outsider candidates campaigned for city offices in 2021, housing policy became the election’s key issue. The solution, some residents argued, was to elect working class advocates to positions of power. Key to getting the job done, others countered, is experienced, incumbent leadership.    BONUS LINKS:  The One Valley Community Foundation’s 2021 Regional Housing Study: onevalley.org/regionalhousing  Follow Urban Institute housing researcher Corianne Scaley on Twitter @CorianneScally   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Eric Dietrich and edited by Nick Mott. It was produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

Whitefish has a reputation as a charming ski destination in Montana’s northwest corner that welcomes wayward strays, whether that’s for a season or a lifetime. That attitude has helped grow small businesses and local watering holes, and keep friendly faces on the slopes and behind the bar. But in recent years, more and more people have been drawn to the good thing Whitefish has going on. Locals fear that surging popularity — and skyrocketing cost of living — could push out the very characters that make this place so special.   BONUS LINKS:  Read the 2016 Whitefish Area Workforce Housing Needs Assessment here. Watch Gene live his dream here. More vintage Big Mountain footage here and here.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Justin Franz and edited by Nick Mott. It was produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

It’s not surprising for Montanans to have plenty of political disagreements. What’s more uncommon? Neighbors whispering about each other at grocery stores and disrupting entire public meetings with passionate tirades. Welcome to the era of COVID-19, when debates about public health, personal liberties and science have reached a fever pitch. Those disagreements are tugging at tightly-knit towns and counties, making some residents wonder how their communities will survive in more ways than one.   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Ravalli County Board of Public Health’s COVID-19 policies here. Check out more Kaiser Health News reporting here on public health officials and new pandemic-era regulation passed in different states.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Katheryn Houghton of Kaiser Health News and Alex Sakariassen. It was edited by Mara Silvers, produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Taunya English, Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

For many Montanans, the Badger-Two Medicine is synonymous with one of the most significant grassroots conservation successes in recent decades. That story is about Blackfeet tribal traditionalists, political leaders, and conservation groups coming together to defeat oil and gas leases in one undeveloped expanse of wilderness in Montana. Now, thecoalition faces thorny questions — what does long-term protection and management of the Badger look like, and who gets to decide?   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Badger-Two Medicine on the Blackfeet Nation’s website. Find out about the documentary we referenced, Backbone of the World, here. Listen to “Land Back” by A Tribe Called Red.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Aaron Bolton and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Mara Silvers and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

By October 2021, all of Montana was in severe drought — the worst the state had seen in decades. But Montana has seen bad dry spells before, forcing ranchers, farmers, conservationists and recreators to confront a collective dilemma: when water is in short supply, how can there be enough for everyone?    BONUS LINKS: Find out more about Montana’s new draft drought management plan here. Go here for more on arctic grayling and the effort to protect them.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Shaylee Ragar and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Mara Silvers and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

In the summer of 2021, Livingston residents Kascie and Dan were preparing for a wilderness float trip in Idaho. Before heading to the river and leaving cell service behind, they stocked up on supplies at Dan Bailey’s, an outdoor gear shop. What happened there was caught on video and viewed millions of times. It ignited a political firestorm across the country. That conflict just kept spiraling, providing one example of how today’s political disagreements can have far-flung consequences.   BONUS LINKS: Pew Research’s Political Typology Quiz can be found here. Follow Prof. Jessi Bennion on Twitter @JessiBennion.    This is the first episode of Shared State, Season 2, a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Nick Mott, edited and produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.