Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky Podcast

Between the latest twists in the Epstein files, the usual political insanity, and headlines that somehow keep getting worse, there was plenty to unpack. Unfortunately, we ran into some technical difficulties and weren’t able to go live—but the conversation still happened, and it was exactly as unfiltered, opinionated, and candid as you’d expect. Same chaos, same takes, just without the livestream....

Dark money. Corporate influence. Voter power. Jeff Mangan joins the show to break down The Montana Plan — a bold voter initiative designed to remove dark money from Montana elections by cutting off corporate political spending at the source. We talk about how money moves through Montana politics, why disclosure laws haven’t been enough, and how this initiative uses state constitutional authority t...

🎙️ Sam Forstag joins the show! On this episode, the boys sit down with Sam Forstag — Montana smokejumper, union leader, and Democratic candidate for Montana’s 1st Congressional District — to break down all the craziness in the world and drop their Songs of the Week . Sam is a wildland firefighter who parachutes into remote fires with the U.S. Forest Service and currently serves as vice president o...

On this episode of Beer, Buds and the Big Sky , Tristan Scott — editor of the Flathead Beacon — joins the crew to break down how today’s national media coverage shapes public perception and political polarization. We get into how narratives are framed, what gets lost in translation to everyday Americans, and why local voices still matter. Expect unfiltered discussion, sharp critique of mainstream...

In this episode of Beer, Buds and the Big Sky , the crew sits down for honest, unfiltered discussion on the state of politics, media narratives, and cultural outrage — all flavored with Montana perspective and plenty of sharp humor. From where national discourse is headed to what really matters to everyday people, this episode blends political commentary with raw, honest conversation brewed over a...

Healthcare costs are soaring, groceries are up, and politicians keep arguing about everything but the bills. We talk Medicare for All, Tom Cotton, and why voters are fed up. We’re joined by Hallie Shoffner, who’s running for Senate in Arkansas. https://www.hallieshoffner.com/

The boys gather around the mic for a Christmas edition of What the F*** Is Happening in DC? This week: the Epstein files drop and somehow get more redacted than a CIA document, Congress skips town while your health insurance premiums double, and JD Vance tells white men to stop apologizing. Also on the list — Nicki Minaj's surprise political alliance, Turning Point USA's America Fest, Demo...

Kelly McDowell flies in from San Francisco to join the crew for a packed Christmas-week episode. Trump's big prime-time speech was supposed to be must-watch TV and delivered exactly nothing. Christy Gnome walks out of a congressional hearing like a toddler. The KKK still isn't classified as a terrorist organization but somehow Antifa is — and Benny Thompson calls out the FBI on it live. Me...

Essie from The Dark Left joins the crew for a wide-open conversation about what it's actually going to take for the left to fight back. We cover the Republican fear machine, convenient Christians, abortion as a 50-year political pyramid scheme, why COVID was the moment America split in two, the anti-vax movement, and whether Gavin Newsom is the only Democrat willing to go scorched earth. Plus...

Special Guest Episode: U.S. Senate candidate Reilly Neill headlines this episode with a deep dive into her vision for Montana and the major issues shaping her campaign. She’s joined by House District 1 candidate Russell Cleveland , who brings a significant update on a proposed mine in the Bitterroot. Rounding out the conversation is Jesse James Mullen , who breaks down his early push to launch a s...

Russ Cleveland joins us from Washington D.C. to discuss impeachment pledges and the rapid push for AI data centers — and what it could mean for Montana’s water, energy grid, and economy. We also cover: • Marjorie Taylor Greene stepping away from Congress • The collapse of “Doge” • Trump’s healthcare plan (still pending) • The House vote condemning socialism • Momdami meeting Trump • And the politi...

This week the Epstein story escalates again. We discuss: • Newly released Oversight Committee emails • Whether Trump can survive the fallout • MAGA’s internal fractures • Redactions and media silence • Tariffs, grocery prices, and the migrant cattle narrative • Why Fox News says skip grandma’s Christmas gift Plus: Vegas updates, Montana football, and a reminder to support your local food banks. Mo...

The Oversight Committee releases new Epstein documents and we dig into what they show — and what’s still missing. Why has accountability taken so long, why does the media keep tiptoeing, and how fast will “redactions” become the word of the year? Plus: MAGA fractures, the administration blaming high beef prices on migrants smuggling cattle, grocery tariff backtracks, and the new holiday message: “...

This week on Beer, Buds & the Big Sky : • Election night reactions and the “blue wave” narrative • NYC’s new mayor Mandami and the power of an affordability-first message • Rent freezes, transit, groceries, and why simple policies resonate • Government shutdown fallout and furloughs • SNAP benefits being halted • Tariffs, rising costs, and media spin • Speaker drama and political accountabilit...

This week the crew is joined by country artist Brian Andrews to talk about: • Protest music in modern country • Backlash from right-wing media • Why culture wars distract from real economic pain • Farmers hit (again) by tariffs and trade policy • SNAP benefit cuts and working families • Montana’s property tax mess • The future of political messaging and social media Is country music changing? Are...

Milk is $6.29 a gallon, candy bars are pushing $8, and Russ Cleveland checks in with what he’s seeing on the ground across Montana — packed rooms, real frustration, and the same question everywhere: how are people supposed to afford life right now? We hit: rising grocery costs, insulin jumping from $10K to $14K/month, tariffs and chaos in ag markets, beef imports and country-of-origin labeling, th...

Russ Cleveland joins the show to talk Montana’s congressional race, dark money, and why he refuses PAC funding. Then we break down the government shutdown, exploding grocery prices, tariff taxes, and why Congress keeps surrendering its power. We react to Tim Sheehy’s shutdown messaging, the Argentina bailout talk, energy policy whiplash, and MAGA turning on the new American Pope. Also: Portland pr...

Chicken wings, corporate media, bribery investigations, Christian nationalism, and delivery robots — just another normal week in America. We debate whether Democrats are losing the message, whether Republicans are abandoning the rule of law, and whether AI is about to replace half the workforce. Plus: Bad Bunny triggers the NFL outrage machine, healthcare costs explode, and DoorDash robots roll in...

We’re joined by longtime Montana writer and political insider Bill Lombardi for a wide-ranging conversation on what’s broken — and what might be fixable — in Montana Democratic politics. We dig into: Why Democrats keep losing rural counties (and why it’s getting worse) Fundraising reality: national money drying up + no statewide “anchors” The party’s bench problem and why candidates aren’t lining...

This week we break down: Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and the new era of “cancel culture” The push to raise the Social Security retirement age Surging electricity prices driven by AI data centers Elon Musk promising universal income after automation wipes out jobs Farmers underwater as tariffs crush export markets Healthcare bills arriving six months late Latino voters souring on Trump Oklahoma manda...

This episode spirals — in the best way. We break down the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting, the media reaction, political violence stats, cancel culture contradictions, and Trump’s now-infamous ballroom comments. Then we pivot to the Montana Democratic Convention: party infighting, rural strategy failures, consultant class drama, and whether Democrats can rebuild outside urban strongholds. W...

This episode covers a lot. We start with the upcoming Montana Democratic Convention — party insiders vs rural Democrats, delegate fights, consultant politics, and whether the party can actually rebuild outside Missoula and Bozeman. Then we dive into the national storm: The assassination of Charlie Kirk and the political reaction America’s growing violence problem Trump renaming the Department of D...

Helena Lovik with WTF406 joins us in the basement. https://wtf406.com/

Former Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial joins us for a wide-ranging and unfiltered conversation on the biggest issues facing America and Montana today. We cover: The role of mental health in school shootings Why police departments are struggling with retention Community policing vs. militarized responses ICE, immigration enforcement, and extremism Trump’s executive power and growing authoritarian...

Former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer joins Beer, Buds & the Big Sky for a candid conversation about the future of Montana politics and the Democratic Party. We cover: How Schweitzer won statewide in a red state Why Democrats are losing rural voters Organizing in all 56 counties Trump’s redistricting push & authoritarian concerns Federal troop deployments in Washington, D.C. Medicaid cu...