Politics & Government
The Daily Inter Lake’s Politics & Government section delivers updated local and national political coverage, featuring legislative developments, elections, policy debates, and government actions shaping Montana.
Counting machines add vote of confidence to elections security
The conference room of the Flathead County Elections Department whirred with noise. Volunteers rattled off strings…
Daines, Tester weigh in on ag tariffs
Both of Montana’s U.S. senators lamented the impact of escalating tariffs on Montana’s agricultural economy Thursday. But while Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., exp…
Putin says he wanted Trump to win in 2016, didn't interfere
HELSINKI (AP) — Russia's Vladimir Putin said Monday he did want Donald Trump to win the 2016 U.S. presidential election but took no action during the campaign …
12 Russians accused of hacking Democrats in 2016 US election
WASHINGTON (AP) — Twelve Russian intelligence officers hacked into the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton presidential campaign in the run-up to the…
Trump pardons ranchers in case that inspired 2016 occupation
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned two ranchers whose case sparked the armed occupation of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon.
Scandal-plagued EPA Administrator Pruitt resigns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned Thursday amid ethics investigations of outsized security spending, first-…
Trump urges Tester's ouster at rally for Montana Republican
GREAT FALLS, (AP) — President Donald Trump declared it was “time to retire” U.S. Sen Jon Tester on Thursday as he campaigned in Montana against the lawmaker he…
Justice Kennedy retiring; Trump gets 2nd Supreme Court pick
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement Wednesday, giving President Donald Trump the chance to cement conservative con…
Supreme Court deals big setback to labor unions
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that government workers can’t be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bar…
Daines, Tester tout work on farm bill proposal
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines hopes one of his amendments to the Senate’s proposed farm bill will create economic growth in the sagging timber industry in Northwest M…
Zinke deletes photo of his Trump socks after complaints
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has deleted a photo of himself wearing socks with President Donald Trump's face and the slogan "Make America Great Again" after m…
Supreme Court upholds Trump travel ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries, rejecting a challenge that i…
Trump Jr. rallies Republicans to defeat Montana Sen. Tester
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Donald Trump Jr. urged Montana Republicans to rally against U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in the fall election and said Friday that the two-term …
High Court: Online shoppers can be forced to pay sales tax
WASHINGTON (AP) — States will be able to force shoppers to pay sales tax when they make online purchases under a Supreme Court decision Thursday that will leav…
Sen. Tester tackles issues in Whitefish
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester spoke Sunday morning at the Montana Broadcasters Association Conference at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, where he told people what voters should expect out of him if they re-elect him to another…
Dunn, Illi face off in HD9 primary
State Representative Randy Brodehl has reached his maximum number of terms representing House District 9, which covers Northeast Kalispell and Evergreen.