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Government

What the Helena

by Forward Montana
Explicit Government

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Latest episodes

  • Missoula’s Data Center Crossroads: Power, Water, and the Interim Study

    October 26, 2026 · 17 min

    When an AI data center proposal at the old Bonner Mill site sparked intense public pushback this past summer, Missoula County took action passing an emergency moratorium on new industrial computing facilities. But under state law, a pause…

  • Indian Country: Denise Juneau on the Future of MT Politics

    October 19, 2026 · 33 min

    What does true political representation look like when it’s built from the ground up? In this episode of What the Helena?, I sit down with historic leader Denise Juneau, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the first…

  • Who Controls Montana’s Laws? Inside the Fight for CI-133 with Dani Hess

    October 12, 2026 · 19 min

    Since 1906, Montanans have used the citizen initiative process to pass pivotal laws, from expanding public lands access and raising the minimum wage to protecting healthcare choices and restricting lobbying. But in recent years, mounting…

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

    October 5, 2026 · 24 min

    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 Initiative 194 (also known as "The Montana Plan") a ballot measure designed…

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

    September 28, 2026 · 23 min

    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 federal proposal could open up nearly 60 million acres nationwide to…

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

    September 21, 2026 · 28 min

    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 sits down with David Quattrocchi, an organizer with the Unhoused…

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

    September 14, 2026 · 54 min

    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 Montana organizers Julie Sanders and Sage Bennett to break down what…

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

    September 7, 2026 · 23 min

    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 Nelson to discuss Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132) and the…

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

    August 31, 2026 · 31 min

    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 corporate special interests out of judicial rulings. But with political…

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

    August 24, 2026 · 29 min

    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 roadblocks, and attempts to politicize state courts are threatening…

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

    August 17, 2026 · 32 min

    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 rapid buildout of artificial intelligence collides with rural resource…

  • No Ride, No Job: The Flathead Transit Trap

    August 7, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min

    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 rapid growth, how does a lack of public transit impact young people…

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About the show

What the Helena is a podcast from Forward Montana that attempts to answer the questions: what the hell is going on in the Montana State Legislature, and why should I give a shit? Each week, we will provide updates on the goings-on at the Capitol, as well as tell listeners exactly what they can do to make their voices heard.