by Ken Toole | Aug 8, 2025 | Cascade County, Republicans
Far right opponents of Representative Llew Jones have been circulating the above graphic on social media
The internal war in the Montana Republican Party rages on. The recent controversy at the State GOP convention continues to draw attention to the feud between the more centrist “Solutions Caucus” supporters and the far-right “Montana Freedom Caucus.” After the convention, the Freedom Caucus turned to social media and radio to attack fellow Republicans they deemed to be RINOs (Republicans In Name Only).
GOP Convention Rumble In Helena
The GOP convention was held in Helena in late June. In violation of party rules, Senator Barry Usher moved to “not recognize” nine senators who had worked with Democrats during the 2025 legislative session, stripping them of their right to participate as convention delegates. Despite being ruled out of order by the party chairman, the vote proceeded, and Usher’s motion was approved, resulting in the senators being unable to vote in the convention. 🔗 Source
Three of the nine senators are currently challenging that decision and are calling for a “do-over” of the convention voting. In a lawsuit filed in Lewis and Clark County District Court on August 5th, Senator Jason Elsworth of Hamilton, Denley Loge of St Regis and Shelly Vance of Belgrade are asking the court to restore their voting rights and force a new vote on party leadership. https://montanafreepress.org/2025/08/06/disenfranchised-at-convention-republican-lawmakers-sue-mtgop/
Art Wittich- Far Right And Sleazy
New officers elected at the convention included Art Wittich, an attorney and longtime political operator, who was elected chair of the party. Former Republican legislator Russ Fitzgerald from Teton County put it this way:
“More alarming, the Freedom Caucus elevated Art Wittich to state party chair. I now call him the ‘Cleanser-in-Chief’ for leading this pogrom in the state party. Wittich’s past includes a $68,000 fine—one of Montana’s largest—for campaign finance irregularities during his 2010 Senate campaign.”
In 2016, Wittich was convicted of violating Montana campaign laws after failing to report nearly $20,000 spent in his legislative race in Gallatin County. That figure did not include additional money spent by “independent expenditure” groups promoting his candidacy. Wittich featured prominently in the 2018 documentary film Dark Money, which provided a detailed exposé of corruption in our political process.
🔗 More on Wittich
Grulkowski Loses Another Election
Former Cascade County Commissioner, election denier, and purveyor of wild conspiracy theories Rea Grulkowski was defeated in a bid to be GOP vice chair by Stacy Zinn. Grulkowski was clearly the darling of the Freedom Caucus crowd. She was nominated by Theresa Manzella, the founder of the Montana Freedom Caucus and an election denier extraordinaire.
🔗 See our previous post
Manzella pointed out in her nomination speech that Grulkowski was not officially endorsed by the MT Freedom Caucus, although her nomination was seconded by Senator Barry Usher, who has served as the treasurer of the Montana Freedom Caucus. Manzella said Grulkowski was not formally supported because she did not know enough of the members. Grulkowski was ultimately defeated by Stacy Zinn, a retired DEA agent and former unsuccessful candidate for Montana’s Eastern District congressional seat. Zinn received 124 votes; Grulkowski had 106.
Then There Were The Battles During The Legislature
The 2025 legislative session was characterized by infighting among Republican legislators. Right out of the gate, a group of nine Republican senators objected to the committee assignments they were given, calling those assignments a “parking spot.” They worked with the Democratic minority to stifle the rules proposed by Republican leadership, bringing the Senate to a virtual standstill. As the session progressed, the nine senators proved to be staunch allies of Governor Greg Gianforte and joined a bipartisan group of 20 to 25 representatives to pass property tax cuts and Medicaid expansion. (That’s what we call moderates?!)
🔗 More on that
What Ever Happened To Matt Rosendale
It’s hard to recap all the battles in the Republican civil war—there have been so many. Ten years ago, the Cascade County Republican Central Committee imploded after a far-right Freedom Caucus push to sanction and remove members they didn’t like.
🔗 Read the story
Then there’s the mysterious case of National Freedom Caucus leader and Montana Representative Matt Rosendale. After weeks of playing coy with the media about whether he would challenge Jon Tester for his Senate seat, Rosendale finally announced he was in. Then, six days later, he withdrew after Trump announced he was endorsing Tim Sheehy in the Republican primary—likely because Rosendale had snubbed Trump by refusing to take his call on the House floor.
🔗 Rosendale drama
Within a couple of weeks, Rosendale announced that he was not running for re-election to his seat in Congress. There’s little question he would have been a shoo-in to retain his seat. His decision prompted widespread speculation about the “real” reason. On a political podcast, North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp said the rumor in D.C. was that he had allegedly impregnated a 20-year-old congressional staffer. Whatever the reason, Rosendale quickly exited public life and politics.
🔗 Rumor recap
They’ll Be Back!
In the last election, three Freedom Caucus supporters in Cascade County—Steven Galloway, Lola Sheldon Galloway, and Rae Grulkowski—were defeated in the Republican primary thanks to the work of more centrist Republicans and progressives who crossed over to vote in the Republican primary. (There was only one contested Democratic primary on the ballot.) If the Freedom Caucus crowd has demonstrated anything, it’s that they don’t give up or compromise. They’ll be back in the 2026 election. Stay tuned.
by Ken Toole | Jul 15, 2025 | City, E-City Beat Watch, Mayor, Public Library, Republicans
Mayor Cory Reeves is responding to criticism that he, and the City Commission, reduced funding for the library after the public voted to increase its budget. He wants us to buy his spin about his support for the decision to take funding from the library.
He starts his explanation with the following, “At no point did the City Commission “remove” any voter-approved library mills. That’s simply not true.” Then he explains, at great length, that the city simply renegotiated a reduction to an existing contract with the library. While denying that it had anything to do with the library mill levy which voters approved. Nor did he say much about the fact that money taken from the library was channeled to “public safety” after the voters failed to approve a much larger public safety mill levy request.
A remarkable bit of bureaucratic double speak. The library’s over-all budget, which included mills approved by the voters, was reduced. Funding from an existing contract with the city, which had been in place since 1993, was taken from the library and given to public safety activity, which had been rejected by the voters. Reeves’ effort to split hairs about the source of funds whether voted mills or existing contract is simply a ploy to avoid accountability now that he is running for re-election.
Put simply, the voters approved additional funding for the library. The voters rejected additional funding for public safety. The City Commission and Reeve’s then reduced the library’s funding and gave it to public safety.
But that’s not the whole story. As is often the case, when far-right culture warriors enter the electoral arena facts disappear and wild conspiracies theories take their place. This is especially true when libraries are involved. The library mill levy election was so contentious a judge ordered a special monitor to oversee the election to assure it was run competently and fairly. Thanks to the hard work of dedicated supporters of libraries the mill request passed. The opponents of the library temporarily retreated to their Freedom Caucus and Pachyderm Club meetings and focused on the internal fighting among Cascade County Republicans.
But here is the rub, unfortunately the majority of the city commission, including Mayor Reeves, is more aligned with the opponents of the library. And they used their power to take a pound of flesh out of the library. Ironically Reeves ended his spin about reducing the library’s budget with the following, “As mayor, I will always prioritize facts over spin, and I’ll continue to protect core services, public safety chief among them.”
The reduction to library funding smacked of political retribution and the “renegotiation” of the existing contract was a done deal before the parties even sat down at the table.
The Electric has provided an excellent time line about the library and public safety levies here. https://theelectricgf.com/2024/09/24/timeline-library-public-safety-levies/
by Ken Toole | Jul 11, 2025 | Republicans, Schools
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen was arrested for driving under the influence in Belgrade on June 22.
The arresting officer reported observing Hedalen driving 50 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone. When her car approached an intersection, she reportedly cut off other motorists who had the right of way. After stopping her vehicle, the officer said he detected a strong odor of alcohol. In addition, he stated that Hedalen’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, she had a dazed expression, and she was slurring her speech.
According to court documents, Hedalen acknowledged having one glass of wine. She failed a field sobriety test and subsequently refused to take a breathalyzer test. She was transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital for a blood test, which was sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis.
Hedalen’s office released a statement saying:
“I apologize and take full responsibility for my lapse in judgment that led to this incident. I want to thank the Belgrade Police for their professionalism and commitment to public safety. As I move forward from this personal issue, it will in no way impact my service to the people of Montana.”
Her chief of staff clarified that she was not on state business at the time of the incident.
The Montana Democratic Party called for her resignation:
“Hedalen made a dangerous decision to put lives at risk, and we demand full accountability and believe she must step down immediately.”
The Montana Republican Party declined to comment.
It seems that quite a few Republican officials have had encounters resulting in arrests or criminal legal proceedings. Here’s a list of our previous posts:
Thank you to the Montana Free Press for its coverage of this story. Read the full article here:
https://montanafreepress.org/2025/06/30/hedalen-apologizes-after-dui-arrest/
by Guest Writer | Jul 10, 2025 | Politics, Republicans
Ross Fitzgerald is a former Republican legislator from Teton County and the current chair of the Teton County Republican Central Committee. This is an editorial he wrote about the recent Republican convention in Helena and the elevation of Art Wittich to the state party chair.
“More alarming, the Freedom Caucus elevated Art Wittich to state party chair. I now call him the “Cleanser-in-Chief” for leading this pogrom in the state party. Wittich’s past includes a $68,000 fine—one of Montana’s largest—for campaign finance irregularities during his 2010 Senate campaign.”
I attended the recent Montana GOP Convention in Helena, representing the Teton County Republican Central Committee, never expecting to witness a blatant power grab. I was appalled to watch the Freedom Caucus, an extremist faction within the GOP, orchestrate the purge of nine sitting Republican state senators by stripping them of all voting privileges. Celebrated as a “cleansing” by Representative Nelly Nicol, the Freedom Caucus took a page right out of the authoritarian playbook, disenfranchising the 190,000 Montanans represented by those senators in the process. It’s an egregious attempt by the Freedom Caucus to crown themselves arbiters of the Republican Party, undermining the foundation of our democracy.
The purge began when Freedom Caucus Leader Senator Barry Usher moved to strip the senators’ credentials. Their offense? They voted for the best interests of their districts on issues like infrastructure and education over the demands of Senate President Matt Regier. Usher ignored the Republican Party’s bylaws, which grant legislators voting rights at the convention. Rep. Jane Gillette, another Freedom Caucus member, outmaneuvered former party chair Don Kaldschmidt, who correctly ruled the motion out of order. Gillette argued the GOP, as a “private association,” can decide who qualifies as a Republican. This extremist group, just 130 votes in a small room, overrode the will of Montana’s 350,000 Republicans. Rep. Nicol, also a Freedom Caucus member, even posted a Facebook video celebrating this purge, boasting, “As other states watch us to find clear pathways to cleanse their state’s party…” This chilling use of “cleanse” signals an attack on independent thought, not a strengthening of the GOP. The Montana Freedom Caucus PAC is now using this purge as an online fundraising tool.
More alarming, the Freedom Caucus elevated Art Wittich to state party chair. I now call him the “Cleanser-in-Chief” for leading this pogrom in the state party. Wittich’s past includes a $68,000 fine—one of Montana’s largest—for campaign finance irregularities during his 2010 Senate campaign. Court records show he accepted unreported campaign donations. Leaked 2013 emails from his time as Senate Majority Leader reveal plans to purge Republicans who didn’t conform, aligning with this “party first” mindset. It’s no surprise the Freedom Caucus chose Wittich to lead their effort to reshape the GOP in his own image.
In a representative republic, elected officials must prioritize their conscience and the needs of their constituents over party demands. A true Republican Party values individual liberty, not rigid loyalty. The Freedom Caucus, however, believes they alone get to decide who is and isn’t a Republican, dismissing the voice of the voters.
This purge is a wake-up call. Montanans now see how a few insiders at a closed event can override voter intent. These senators, chosen by their districts, face expulsion for representing their constituents. If representatives can be “cleansed” or bullied into compliance, your vote becomes meaningless. As conservative Republicans, we must act. Attend precinct meetings, contact your local GOP committee, and demand transparency. Elect representatives who prioritize Montanans, not out-of-state influencers. The Freedom Caucus’s exclusionary tactics, rule-bending history, and potential plans—like closed primaries or loyalty oaths—risk creating a single-thought party. Wittich’s past and this purge raise serious concerns. We must push back to preserve a Republican Party that serves all Montanans, not a radical few.
I call on every Republican to spotlight this betrayal. Show up. Speak out. Demand our party return to its roots. The “Cleanser-in-Chief’s” reign must not destroy what it means to be Republican.
Ross Fitzgerald is a former Republican legislator and current chair of the Teton County Republican Central Committee.
by Ken Toole | Jun 25, 2025 | False Flag, Politics, Propaganda, Republicans
Webster’s Dictionary: FALSE FLAG- noun: a hostile or harmful action (such as an attack) that is designed to look like it was perpetrated by someone other than the person or group responsible for it.
It is beyond disappointing to see local Republican Representative Steve Gist blaming the “left” for the recent assassination of Democratic Representative and former Speaker of the House in Minnesota, Melissa Hortman, and her husband in their suburban home. Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife were wounded at their home the same evening.
Background On The Assassinated Legislators And Alleged Perpetrator
In the 2023 legislative session, Rep. Hortman helped to pass legislation which expanded abortion rights, legalized recreational marijuana, and made employers in Minnesota offer paid medical and family leave. Sen. Hoffman was a fourth term senator and served as the chair of the Human Services Committee.
Fifty-seven-year-old Vance Boelter was arrested two days after the shootings. When Boelter arrived at the victims’ homes, he was driving a black SUV with flashing police lights. Authorities said he disguised himself as a police officer wearing a tactical vest with a badge, black gloves, and a mask. He allegedly also went to two additional public officials’ homes but did not succeed in shooting them. In his vehicle police found a list of 70 potential targets.
A close friend said that Boelter voted for Trump in the last election and was a strong opponent of abortion rights. In the late 1980s, he enrolled at Christ for the Nations Institute, an unaccredited institution rooted in the Pentecostal tradition. He posted some of his sermons online. In one he said, “There’s people, especially in America, they don’t know what sex they are, they don’t know their sexual orientation, they’re confused. The enemy has gotten so far into their mind and their soul.” Authorities also said he and his wife are “doomsday preppers.”
Politicians and Propagandists Blame The “Left” For the Killings
Shortly after the attack, U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah released a post on X saying, “This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way” along with a picture of Boelter wearing a latex face mask. He issued a second post with a photo of Boetler under the caption, “Nightmare on Waltz Street,” an apparent reference to Minnesota’s Democratic Governor and former candidate for Vice President. Elon Musk also weighed in, posting on X, “The far left is murderously violent.”
Lee subsequently removed the posts. He was roundly condemned around the country and in editorial comments from the Deseret News, Utah’s leading news paper. Elon Musk , of course, could give a shit.
Local Legislator, Gist Joins In, Promoting The False Flag Conspiracy
Montana Republican Representative Steve Gist engaged in his own little false flag operation. Regarding the assassinations in Minnesota, Gist uploaded a post saying, “The Extreme Left is sure pushing their luck, time to go after the head of the snake.” Below that heading, he copied a post from David J Harris Jr., a far-right national propagandist.
The Montana Democratic Party issued the following statement about Gist’s post, “The Montana Democratic Party is aware of Representative Steve Gist’s social media post and unequivocally condemns his violent, incendiary rhetoric.
Violence has no place in our democracy, and the language used in Gist’s post stokes division and contributes to the extremist toxicity that exists online and perpetuates political violence.
We are appalled by the silence from Montana Republican leaders and call on Senator Daines, Senator Tim Sheehy, Governor Gianforte, Senate President Matt Regier, House Speaker Brandon Ler, and MTGOP Chair Don Kaltschmidt to denounce Gist’s actions.”
The Missoulian interviewed Gist about his post. Gist said he was referring to “dark money,” but then went on to say, “It’s political warfare, you know, unfortunately. You don’t ever stop it, and it’s gotta stop.” Hard to imagine how it is going to stop if our politicians engage in the kind of propaganda Gist is circulating.
WTF406.com has written about Gist previously, questioning his eligibility to run for his legislative seat representing the town of Cascade and surrounding area, since his business and campaign were run out of a house he owned in Whitefish where his wife lived. https://wtf406.com/2022/10/where-in-the-world-does-steve-gist-really-live/
by Guest Writer | May 23, 2025 | Candid Cartoon, Republicans
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By jcolemanmoore on May 17, 2025 |
Our congressional delegation makes no effort to engage with their constituents. They hide behind spokespersons and press releases.
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What the Funk 406
