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August 28, 2025
John Sivlan’s phone has been incessantly receiving robocalls targeting state Republican Rep. Llew Jones. A savvy, 11-term legislator known for navigating party lines, Jones has been criticized in these calls for aligning with Democrats. Despite the Commissioner’s advice that the calls were out of jurisdiction, Jones sought a review from the Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP), only to receive an AI-generated response stating the robocalls were permissible.
Sivlan, an 80-year-old lifelong Republican from Conrad, found the early campaign-style attacks distasteful. “They were coming in hot and heavy in July,” Sivlan said. The robocalls questioned Jones’ alignment with Democrats and urged recipients to act. These messages, alongside social media ads and streaming service commercials, did not disclose their sponsors.
Jones indicated that while these campaigns aimed to sway voters ahead of the June 2026 primary, many were not convinced. The AI response from COPP clarified that only ads within 60 days of an election could be regulated if they explicitly instructed voting behavior.
Commissioner Chris Gallus acknowledged the AI’s limitations. The system is being developed for the 2026 elections, with responses based on Montana laws. The Montana Legislature recently imposed limits on AI in government, mandating disclosure and oversight.
Gallus explained that 3M Data is building the system with a budget of about $38,000. The pre-primary activities of the Montana Republican Party are testing the AI’s capabilities, revealing gaps in campaign law enforcement, particularly concerning streaming services, which now account for 45% of all TV viewing, as reported by Nielsen.
Ads on streaming platforms lack the disclosure requirements of traditional media. The FCC and FEC have struggled with this since 2011. Republicans within the party are pushing more centrist members out, with MTGOP hardliners rescinding recognition of those who collaborated across party lines. The party has shifted under new leadership, no longer staying neutral in primaries and issuing candidate questionnaires to determine support.
Here’s what’s Cooking
Emma Carlson faced planning woes after booking Helena’s Anchor G for her June 2025 wedding, owned by Abbey Lee Cook. After a promising start, Cook became unresponsive, forcing a change of plans. Carlson later learned Cook faced federal wire fraud charges linked to her campaign compliance business.
Cook is accused of embezzling $253,000 from political committees. Beyond wedding planning, her business dealings left many clients dissatisfied, with reviews on The Knot reflecting unmet commitments. Legal troubles are expanding with complaints from Montana legislators like Sen. Cora Neumann and Rep. Zooey Zephyr citing financial mismanagement during campaigns, leading to strained vendor relations and potential police involvement.
Brad has receipts
After passing a $16.6 billion budget, Montana legislators were advised by Gov. Greg Gianforte to balance it through vetoes. Rep. Brad Barker tracked legislator votes on vetoes to see if actions aligned with their rhetoric. “What surprised me was what people said versus what they did,” Barker noted.
Barker found that only six legislators accepted all vetoes, despite concerns over excess spending. Gianforte cut $31 million directly from the budget bill and vetoed an additional $349 million. Some legislators attempted to restore significant amounts of funding, highlighting discrepancies between public statements and voting behavior.
Sen. Carl Glimm, who backed some vetoes, noted lawmakers don’t always agree with gubernatorial actions. Two bills, including one for Colstrip’s water supply, were successfully overridden, defending $10.2 million in spending. Glimm criticized Barker’s newfound concern over spending.
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