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George Ochenski

George Ochenski

CounterPunch

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No, Governor, You Can’t Cancel Our First Amendment Rights

There’s not much ambiguity in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of...

15.03.2026 5

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

If MAGA’s the Name, Then Chaos is the Game

Faced with a revolt among his MAGA faithful over his decision to join Israel in starting a war with Iran, our increasingly demented and delusional...

09.03.2026 10

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

Montana’s Wildlife Moves Closer to Extinction as Trump Administration Targets Endangered Species

This week the Trump administration, with the most corrupt cabinet in the nation’s history, moved to gut the Endangered Species Act while the world...

24.11.2025 7

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

Montana Can’t ‘Meet the Demand’ to Supply More Water to New Developments

This week’s news brings us another story that’s starting to get very old — especially for Montana’s existing residents.  Namely, the City of...

27.10.2025 10

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

Cracks Start to Show in MAGA Cult, in Both Montana and D.C.

Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel could barely get the words out of his mouth when he had to say: “I agree with Marjorie Taylor Greene.” It was his...

13.10.2025 10

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

Death by Data for Big Hole Trout

The incident was first reported by Craig Jones of Great Divide Outfitters, who was on the 3.8 mile stretch between the Jerry Creek and Greenwood...

29.09.2025 10

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

We Cannot Fail to Uphold Our Constitutional Values

The historical pattern is clear and documented worldwide. When dictators decide to take over a nation, the first thing they do is purge their...

08.09.2025 10

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George Ochenski

A Paean to Bud Lilly, a Trout’s Best Friend

A paean is “a fervent expression of joy or praise.”  When it comes to the long and ongoing struggle to preserve the incredible legacy of...

25.08.2025 10

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George Ochenski

Conservation Collaborators’ Appeasement Chickens Come Home to Roost

About 30 years ago the industry-spawned strategy of “collaboration” entered the policy arena to influence and neuter the “conservation...

07.07.2025 10

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

We’ve Reached Our Critical Tipping Points

Discussions about “tipping points” have been getting plenty of coverage in the last few years as the planet hurtles forward in a climate crisis we...

16.06.2025 10

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

Will Montana’s Leaders Stand Up to TACO Don?

It hasn’t been a good week for the guy who decided he was going to be a king and spent his first four months in office ignoring the law, declaring...

03.06.2025 10

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George Ochenski

The Battle for Clean Water: Regulate or Capitulate

The average American would be shocked to know what’s in their water — as well as what passes through both fresh and wastewater treatment plants....

19.05.2025 10

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George Ochenski

When ‘No’ Means ‘No’: Selling Public Lands or Taking Over Canada

Every kid has heard “No means no!” when they want something their parents don’t think they should have. This week that phrase got a couple high...

13.05.2025 10

CounterPunch

George Ochenski

How Sanders Won Montana Again

How strange that due to the disastrous policies of “their president,” Montana’s all-Republican Congressional delegation and governor are now too...

21.04.2025 10

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George Ochenski

Oh, Canada, You’re Not the Enemy…That’s Coming From Within

Perhaps if you grow up in penthouse on top of a gilded tower in the middle of the predatory capitalist shark tank known as “New York City,” your...

19.03.2025 10

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George Ochenski

No Way to Run a State or Country

It sure didn’t take long for the chaos that seems to be a trademark of the GOP’s one-party government to flare across the nation. Only one week...

04.02.2025 10

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George Ochenski

Beware ‘Unleashing Freedom’ to Plunder and Pollute

In his recent inaugural speech, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte spoke about how we have what the rest of the nation wants, saying: “The American dream...

13.01.2025 10

CounterPunch

George Ochenski