What the Helena

The Montana Plan: How I-194 Can End Dark Money with Russell Cleveland

Every election cycle, millions of dollars in untraceable dark money flood Montana mailboxes, TV screens, and text messages. But this fall, Montanans are voting on Initiat

6 Million Acres on the Line with MontPIRG’s Madison Morgan

From the Rattlesnake Valley to the Beartooth Range, Montana’s roadless areas offer clean water, world-class outdoor access, and pristine wildlife habitat. But a new feder

"Put a Fire Out with Gasoline": Unhoused Voting Rights in Missoula

How do you exercise your constitutional right to vote when you don’t have a mailbox, an ID, or a fixed address? In this episode of What the Helena?, host Caleb Klaus sit

The Rent Is Too Damn High: Not an Avocado Toast Problem

Montana now holds the worst price-to-income housing ratio in the entire country, surpassing Los Angeles, New York, and Hawaii. In this episode, we sit down with Forward M

Democracy Isn’t a Spectator Sport: Justice Jim Nelson on Nonpartisan Courts

Should political party bosses dictate who sits on state courts? In this episode of What The Helena?, Caleb Klaus sits down with retired Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim

Defending Montana’s Judiciary: CI-132 and The Fight for Fair Courts with Trent Bolger

When partisan politics enters the courtroom, everyday citizens lose. For over 90 years, Montana has elected judges on a nonpartisan ballot, keeping party bosses and corpo

Montana’s Direct Democracy Under Fire? Alice Boyer Breaks Down CI-132 & CI-133

Montana has a long history of voters stepping up when politicians refuse to act, a tradition rooted in direct democracy since 1906. But today, extra filing fees, legal ro

AI Data Centers: Big Tech, Policy Vacuums, and Rural Montana

As tech giants race to build hyperscale AI data centers across the country, developers are eyeing Montana’s open land and local energy grid. But what happens when the rap

No Ride, No Job: The Flathead Transit Trap

Having a car in the Flathead Valley is often framed as freedom, until your vehicle breaks down, gas prices spike, or a $1,000 repair bill hits. In a region experiencing r

68. So long for now: a leg session wrap up

In our final legislative session episode of the year, Zuri & John are joined once more by the rest of the team. They chat about all the highs and lows in: LGBTQ+, Repro,

67. A moment with Humanity with Rep. Karlen

We are so fortunate to be joined this week by Representative Karlen from house district 98 in Missoula! OH and ALSO this week was sine die: meaning it was the last week o

66. Mutual Aid & Mayhem with Catalyst's Dillion and Julia

Another week has gone by and we wanted to have more friends on the show. So this week we are joined by some folks from Catalyst Montana! Julia and Dillion share with us h

65. They can't unwind the clean energy clock with MEIC's Derf Johnson

We love our friends at MEIC and how lucky Derf was able to join us this week. Zuri and John chat with Derf about how the session so far has looked for MEIC and what they

64. There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for...with Morgan Syring

You might need the bill tracker for this one! If you're eyeing our title yeah... we know... we're nerds! Zuri & John are joined by FMT's Morgan Syring - our LGBTQ + Org

63. Call (406) 444-4800

406-444-4800. Call the Capitol Switchboard! Zuri is running things solo this week! They cover everything from Trans Visibility Day, to Climate, housing and repro updates

62. Hi it's the Constitution remember me?

This week we give you all your legislative updates, from the nasty nine, to a handful of folks who seem to have forgotten what our constitution says. Zuri & John tell us

61. Housing, climate, and a little bit of hope for the future with Sage Bennett

Our representatives have not lost momentum in the the transmittal break. Let’s jump back in. Sage, from our FMT legislative team joins us again to give us a little updat

60. We have friends on the pod with MontPIRG's Tess & Carl

This week didn’t make us cry! Yay!! Oh also, John and Zuri have some guests! But before that… This week was transmittal - hope you got your rest. We are now diving into t

59. Halfway there ft. FMT's Legislative Team

Well we made it! Halfway through the legislative session. This week John & Zuri are joined by the rest of the legislative team: Morgan, Sage, & Taryn. Together they updat

58. Late nights at the capitol

The pressure is on with transmittal coming up! This week some updates on the judiciary attacks as well as some good and bad bills we have been watching! Feeling lost wi