by Ken Toole | Apr 6, 2026 | Cascade County, Corruption, Law enforcement
(Kevin Leatherbarrow and Tony Rosales pictured promoting the Cascade Effect Podcast)
The Cascade Effect Podcast bills itself as “A true-crime anthology podcast investigating corruption and negligence of law enforcement in Cascade County, Montana, a county that is known for its heavy-handed police work as well as the incarceration and harassment of innocent civilians.”
The first season of The Cascade Effect investigates a confrontation between a sheriff’s deputy and a man named Michael Hanson which resulted in the death of Hanson and wounding of the deputy. Last summer a coroner’s jury deliberated for a short time and came back with a unanimous decision that the shooting was not by criminal means. The Coroner’s Jury found no wrong doing in Hanson’s death. (It’s a long, complicated story, thoroughly covered by The Electric) https://theelectricgf.com/2024/06/04/inquest-determines-feb-23-fatal-shooting-by-deputy-justified/
Subsequently, local Libertarian activists Tony Rosales and Kevin Leatherbarrow (both are currently running for legislative seats as Republicans) and local militia promoter Bart Crabtree all filed a writ of mandamus with the Montana Supreme Court seeking a citizens grand jury to investigate the determination of the coroner’s action absolving the deputy of wrongdoing. They were joined in this request by Jake Green, the producer of The Cascade Effect.
What Does Recovery Centers of Montana have to do with all of this?
Recovery Centers of Montana (RCM) has had a relationship with the sheriff’s office to provide referrals for rehabilitation services to inmates from the Cascade County Detention Center. Recently, Recovery Centers of Montana also became a sponsor of The Cascade Effect. Jake Green posted on Facebook that, four days after announcing their partnership, RCM received the email below from the sheriff’s office.
Good afternoon. Please see the directive below. From this point forward the Cascade County Detention Center will no longer facilitate or fund services for inmates associated with Recovery Centers of Montana. It has come to our attention that RCM is a sponsor of The Cascade Effect which is a podcast promoting false narratives about members of the Cascade County Sheriff’s office which we believe is a conflict of interest in dealing with RCM. Despite our differences we still intend to encourage defence attorneys and inmates to diligently work together in getting their clients into any and all forms of treatment including treatment from RCM. If you have any questions contact undersheriff Scott Van Dyke. Thank you for your time. Alicia Otis, Community Care Coordinator.
RCM said that they have not received any referrals from the sheriff’s office since receiving the email.
Those of us who have served in public office generally understand that we will have critics, and that those critics will make all kinds of public statements. But Sheriff Jesse Slaughter, in his desire to get back at The Cascade Effect because he doesn’t like their coverage of his office, has crossed a line. Not only is it unprofessional and peevish, it is likely a violation of the Montana Governmental Code of Fair Practices’ prohibitions of retaliation for human rights activity. Both The Cascade Effect and RCM can claim damages and seek payment from Cascade County. Whether either entity will do that remains to be seen. We have to wonder where County Attorney Josh Racki was while all of this was going on.
by Ken Toole | Mar 7, 2026 | Independent, Politics, Republicans
Most of us were stunned at the Machiavellian maneuvering on the last day of the filing period for public office in Montana.
After a brief period of “will he or won’t he file as a Democrat,” Seth Bodnar filed as an independent for Montana’s U.S. Senate seat on March 4 at 9:17 AM.
Some time after that Steve Daines withdrew from the Senate race.
Billings lawyer, Kurt Alme, filed to run for the Senate seat at 4:52 PM on March 4, just eight minutes before the deadline.
So here’s one reason for the last minute shuffle on the filing deadline.
Republicans understood that Seth Bodnar could be a compelling candidate if he filed as a Democrat. Much less so if he filed as an independent. Incumbent Daines is the strongest person to protect that Republican seat from a serious Democratic challenge.
Early in the morning of the last day to file Bodnar files as an independent which kicked off this Spy vs Spy conspiracy. Daines resigns. Hours later Alme announces he is running with the support of Daines, President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy and Gov. Greg Gianforte. Obviously this plan has been in the works for some time.
But why would Daines do this now rather than waiting until after the election? It’s hard to argue that Alme or anyone else in the Republican ranks would be as strong a candidate as Daines, who has the power of incumbency and $4.9 million in the bank before the race even starts.
The answer is simple. If Daines resigned after the election the process to fill a vacant Senate seat is that the State Republican Central Committee nominates three people, and the Governor selects from those names. And the truth is the GOP in Montana is dominated by far-right looneys and Daines and his pals didn’t trust them to nominate someone who doesn’t wear a tin hat to bed. Someone like Alme (who would be a big improvement over Daines in the Senate).
Or it could just be that Daines is a megalomaniac who couldn’t stand not choosing his successor.
You decide.
See our previous posts on the Montana Senate race
Handing Steve Daines The Next Election?
Open Letter To Seth Bodnar
Tester Disses Democrats
by Ken Toole | Feb 17, 2026 | Facebook, Fight, Politics, Republicans
The Conservative Choice for Cascade County! Vote George Nikolakakos
It all started when local Republican legislator George Nikolakakos posted an award he won from the Conservative Political Action Conference for conservative achievement. Sleazy Jake just couldn’t stand it, and the fight was on.
But first a little background. Most of our readers know that Nikolakakos is a “traditional” Republican legislator from Cascade County. The Liberty Bell, a far-right paper you find at some local stores, compares Nikakakolas and his legislator wife, Melissa, to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. The Rosenbergs were convicted of espionage and executed in 1953 during the Cold War.
Jake Eaton is a right-wing political operative out of Billings. He has most recently aligned himself with the most right-wing elements of the Republican Party. Beyond that he has a long record of playing fast and loose with facts and money. For some details about Eaton, check out WTF406.com’s previous post. The background on Eaton begins about halfway through this post about attack ads directed at Matt Rosendale. https://wtf406.com/2023/10/rosendale-slimed-in-new-tv-ads/
Let’s Get Back to the Fight. It begins with George’s announcement.
(the below exchange is copied directly from Facebook. No edits have been made)·
Jake Eaton responds
In no world is George a conservative. He voted for higher taxes and huge increases spending. Along with supporting Democrats efforts to block judicial accountability. He could generously be called a moderate Republican. The only way you could call him a conservative is if you were referring to him as a conservative Democrat.
George Nikolakakos to Jake Eaton
I appreciate your “generosity” Jake! Why would our conservative Governor support these “higher taxes” and huge spending increases? No one buys that bullshit. Why do you hate our Governor so much? I’m proud to stand by his agenda and our accomplishments.
Also you’re right! I’ve knocked many thousands of doors… The way we turned Great Falls from blue to red in 5 years is because old school common sense conservative ex-democrats and independents have rejected woke BS and want normal people to represent them. Tester won my district while I won it by 25 points. That’s because the people of Great Falls still want independent minded, real, common sense conservatives, not burn it all down cos-play garbage.
Jake Eaton to George Nikolakakos
everyone can see that your tax shift raised taxes on farmers, ranchers and small businesses. They just look at the bills and see they are higher than last year – pretty simple. I’d think even a dimwit like you could read the tax bills and understand that. This legislature spent billions more than the Governor’s proposed budget. $1 billion alone in the Llew Jones bureaucracy slush fund.
George Nikolakakos to Jake Eaton
Funny because when I’m knocking doors I pull up I-tax and show people their tax bills. Almost every time it’s $500+ less. That’s because for 90%+ plus it is. And what they can’t see is the other 500 that would be higher if we didn’t pass the Governors Homestead exemption. Why are you standing with out of state Big Sky short term rental billionaires against hard working Montanans trying to raise families and retire here? Sad!
Eric Hinebauch, Chair of the local Republican Central Committee, to Jake Eaton
you are a hard one to figure out! You sure like to run your mouth against our local legislators, but here’s the deal Cascade County homeowners experienced real tax breaks. So keep running your mouth, but Cascade County knows better than to listen to some career hired gun. Jake you are the SWAMP in Montana, we need more George Nikolakakos’s and less SWAMP creatures like Jake Eaton!
Jake Eaton to George Nikolakakos
yes you shifted taxes from homeowners to farmers, ranchers, renters and small businesses. You didn’t reduce the amount of money being collected you just shifted who pays for it. Ask the renters who are seeing double digit rent increases thanks to your vote how much they care that you saved $500. Ask the small businesses paying thousand more on their commercial space if they care about their $400 rebate on their house. Also you clearly don’t even know what you voted for, the homestead exemption hasn’t even gone into effect yet, that begins in tax year 2026.
Jake Eaton to Eric Hinebauch
homeowners may see a break but thanks to the tax shift renters, farmers, ranchers and small businesses are paying more. We didn’t actually cut taxes or reduce the money being collected from property taxes we just shifted who pays it. Cascade county does have some good legislators, George is not one of them.
George Nikolakakos to Jake Eaton
lame talking points paid for by the folks who buy your mouth as a hired gun. Ag was made whole which is why Farm Bureau and others didn’t oppose our prioritizing real Montanans. Small businesses saw a cut. The big players who saw cuts at our expense over the last 10 years are back at less than inflation increases, still less than they paid a few years go. We’re not paying for your crony special interests anymore bud. And we cut every. single. human Montanans income tax. And we balanced the budget. And we saved for a rainy day. And we properly funded law enforcement, roads, trades education, firefighting etc. My comments are not bought and paid for my special interests. Who is paying for your commentary today?
Jake Eaton to George Nikolakakos
I like that you totally ignored renters and small businesses and tried to focus on ag, when in reality they are also seeing increases. The difference between us actual conservatives and big government republicans like you is that you are fine with every increasing government spending, we are not. We all want to fund firefighting, police and roads but there is room to cut local spending and reduce the overall property tax burden. For example the Great Falls city administrator makes $70,000 more than the Governor. In Billings it’s $80k more. The Great Falls Public Schools Superintendent makes $50,000 more than the State Superintendent of schools. In Yellowstone county it’s $75k more. These local budgets are even more bloated than Llew Jones’ state budget and there is plenty of room to cut and reduce property taxes across the board.
George Nikolakakos to Jake Eaton
when did you start caring about renters? I passed an overwhelmingly supported Elderly and Homeowner/renter tax credit increase and had the govenror sign my bill to cut millions in property tax relief on PTAP. Renters do well under the new law as landlords like me have seen decreases. I own dozens of rentals and have seen decreases as have landlord friends. Certainly administrators can work for less. I support local governments who control those decisions making them. You support centrally assessed out of state players getting relief on our backs.That’s because they pay your salary and for the the words coming out of your mouth.
So, what does all this mean?
#1. The Republican party is eating their own.
#2. It is laughable to consider Nikolakakos a “moderate” in view of his voting record.
(See our previous post: https://wtf406.com/2025/08/myth-of-the-moderate-republican/ )
#3. Republicans are attacking our freedoms no what matter what they call themselves.
by Ken Toole | Feb 11, 2026 | Democrats, Indigenous People, Native Americans, whitewashing history
“Montana’s Indigenous People survived these attempts at erasure; to disregard this history undermines future generations and risks the repetition of these atrocities.” – Lance Fourstar
Last March Donald Trump issued an executive order titled, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. Without getting into the details of the order, suffice it to say it is Trump’s effort to reshape historical facts to fit his bigoted view of history as a 1950’s western movie. And now it has landed in Montana at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
In a flurry of activity to comply with Trump’s order at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, exhibit text that described the United States being “hungry for gold and land” and breaking promises to Native Americans was ordered changed or removed. Another text describing how U.S.-run boarding schools for Indigenous children “violently erased cultural identities and language” was also deemed not to comply with Trump’s policy.
The whitewashing of history has attracted the ire of many people in Indian Country. The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council voted unanimously, 11-0, to oppose any changes to existing displays at the monument. Northern Cheyenne fought at the battle along with Lakota and Arapaho Tribes. Northern Cheyenne Vice President Ernest Littlemouth said, “We’re here just to confront what Trump’s trying to do. We want to teach our youth our history. That’s why we got the signage up there.”
Fourstar, who is currently running for the House District 31 in the Montana Legislature, said, “Removing mentions of the United States breaking promises to Indigenous People and the violent erasure of cultural identities in U.S.-run boarding schools is an affront to historical truth. The effects of intergenerational trauma from these policies remain apparent today. We must protect the truth to ensure these harms are never repeated.”
For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576908326703
https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/tribe-federal-officials-differ-over-proposed-sign-revisions-at-little-bighorn-national-monument
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/01/27/national-parks-signs-censorship/
by Ken Toole | Feb 9, 2026 | Democrats, Elections, Independent, Politics
Mr. Bodnar,
We are writing about the recent news coverage of your potential run for the U.S. Senate. If you are seriously considering such a run, we urge you to run as a Democrat rather than as an Independent.
Those urging you to run as an independent because a Democrat “can’t win” are wrong. Their opinion is apparently based on polling and Jon Tester’s recent loss to Tim Sheehy. Some “professional political people” in Montana are advocating that organizations and institutions forming the traditional Democratic base support moderate Republicans and Independents rather than Democrats out of desperation. They are mistaken. We wrote a blog post on the past performance of Independent candidates in Montana. We urge you to read it: https://wtf406.com/2026/01/handing-steve-daines-the-next-election/
Before going further, we would like to point out that the public discussion of this Independent scheme is all about strategy and game playing. Politics, at its best, is about the issues and policy initiatives to address those issues. At its worst, politics is anything-goes cynical game playing. . . and lots and lots of special interest money. Obviously, this Independent strategy falls into the second category.
In addition to the historical evidence in our post, we urge you to consider a couple other points.
First, the idea that your race as an Independent will avoid the tarnished brand of Democrats is naive. Before you have even announced, the Republicans are out with an attack ad: https://www.montanarightnow.com/montana/political-group-releases-ad-targeting-departing-um-president-seth-bodnar/article_309940b3-3514-463e-bbb9-ffd45149f759.html. The chair of the Missoula Republican Central Committee has an editorial circulating in papers around the state calling you “Sneaky Seth” among other things. Whether you run as an Independent or a Democrat, you will be smeared by the Republican attack machine. Steve Daines will be extremely well funded and will run a dirty campaign.
Second, Democratic base voters are a significant segment of the population you would have if you prevail in the primary. Instead of looking at polling, which is increasingly unreliable, we encourage you to look at actual election results in Montana. The 2024 election in the Eastern Congressional District illustrates the value of Democratic base voters. The Democratic candidate in that race was John Driscoll. Despite the fact that Driscoll ran virtually no campaign, he garnered 33.9 percent of the vote simply because he had a “D” behind his name on the ballot. That percentage would be even higher in the Western District. In the Eastern District race in 2022, Independent candidate Gary Buchanan captured only 22 percent of the vote.
As the deadline for filing approaches, we hope you will carefully consider which party more closely aligns with your beliefs on issues and realize that you have very little chance of prevailing as an Independent in Montana.
Sincerely,
WTF406
