Episodes
April 2, 2026
Beer, Buds & the Big Sky Ep. 86 – Politics, Conspiracies & Montana Chaos
Episode 86 of Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky dives headfirst into politics, conspiracy theories, and the chaos of today’s headlines — all from a Montana perspective. We break down: Montana election dynamics and campaign money National politics and media narratives Conspiracies, Epstein discussions, and public trust Foreign policy, war, and global tensions The role of AI and where things are headed It’s raw, unfiltered, and sometimes completely off the rails — just the way we like it. Pour a...
March 27, 2026
Kaylee Peterson on Rural Politics, Public Lands & DC Chaos
This week on Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky, the guys are joined by Idaho congressional candidate Kaylee Peterson. We talk rural America, working-class politics, public lands, and what’s really happening in Washington — along with her unique approach of hosting “Question the Democrat” town halls in conservative communities. From veterans issues to energy costs to the realities of campaigning across a massive district, this is one of our more in-depth conversations — with plenty of classic BBB mom...
March 20, 2026
Joe Exotic No-Show, Iran Fallout, Gas Prices & Political Chaos
Joe Exotic was supposed to join the show this week, but the call never happened — so the guys rolled on without him. On this episode, the crew talks Joe Kent’s resignation, the growing fallout from the Iran conflict, soaring gas prices, stagflation fears, NCAA Tournament madness, and Montana politics. Plus Ed’s Quote of the Week, Steve Quinnell’s “In Case You Missed It,” and the usual mix of sharp takes, jokes, and total detours. Next up: Kaylee Peterson joins the show.
March 20, 2026
One Hitters: Alani Bankhead on Accountability, Service, and the Montana Senate Race
In this episode of One Hitters, we sit down with Alani Bankhead, a retired lieutenant colonel, former special agent, and candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana. We talk about her background in military and public service, why she decided to run, the role of accountability in government, and how Montana voters are responding to corruption, dark money, and the current political moment. Website: https://alaniformt.com
March 19, 2026
Cascade County Political Drama | One Hitter Series WTF406
In this One Hitter episode of Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky, we’re joined by Helena Lovick from Great Falls to talk through a strange and fast-developing political situation in Cascade County. With reports of Republican-affiliated candidates entering Democratic primaries, the conversation explores election strategy, open primary dynamics, and what this means for voters in Montana. Helena provides on-the-ground perspective from Great Falls, breaking down the motivations behind these moves and how...
March 16, 2026
BBB One Hitter with Congressional Candidate Sam Lux
In this episode of One Hitters, we sit down with Sam Lux, a farrier and congressional candidate running in eastern Montana. We talk about what it means to run a working-class campaign, why kitchen-table issues matter, the role of corporate money in politics, healthcare reform, and how Montana voters are responding to the current political moment. Sam also shares why he believes rural communities need more direct representation and less influence from big-money interests. Website: https://luxfo...
March 15, 2026
BBB" One Hitter": Adrianne Marsh on Rural Voters, AI Fears, and Democratic Messaging
In this episode of One Hitters, we sit down with Adrianne Marsh to talk about rural voters, the Democratic brand, and why fears about AI are showing up in a major way in voter research. We discuss what rural voters value, why Democrats have lost ground in red states, how AI is affecting trust and anxiety across generations, and why active listening may be the key to rebuilding political credibility. Website: https://www.altum-insight.com/
March 13, 2026
Matt Rains for Montana, Iran Escalation, Hegseth Spending & Farm Bailouts
This week on Beer, Buds & the Big Sky, the guys sit down with Matt Rains, candidate for U.S. House in Montana, for a long-form conversation about the state of Montana and the country. They cover the latest chaos around Iran, rising gas prices, reports of major Pentagon spending under Pete Hegseth, the pressure on farmers and ranchers, healthcare costs, tariffs, and why so many voters are frustrated with Washington. Matt also talks about his campaign, why he decided to run, and what kind of lea...
March 10, 2026
Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky
Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky Podcast delivers unapologetic political commentary with a heavy pour of biting satire. No Spin, no safe spaces - Just unfiltered opinions, sharp humor, and plenty of beer-fueled honesty.
March 10, 2026
Montana HD-01 Democratic Primary Roundtable | Busse, Cleveland, Rains & Forstag | Live from Whitefish
Grab a beer and settle in — this one is a big one. In this special episode of Beer, Buds & The Big Sky, we hosted a live candidate roundtable at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center featuring the Democratic candidates running for Montana’s 1st Congressional District. Instead of a traditional debate format, this conversation was designed to give voters a chance to hear directly from the candidates in a long-form discussion about the issues facing Montana — including affordability, public lands,...
March 6, 2026
Iran, Epstein & Montana’s Political Meltdown feat. Ryan Busse
This week on Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky, the crew is joined by U.S. House candidate Ryan Busse for a wild, unfiltered conversation on the growing chaos at home and abroad. They dive into the fallout from the Iran war, rising gas prices, the state of the economy, the continued Epstein file backlash, and why major Montana Republicans like Zinke and Daines seem to be heading for the exits. Along the way, the guys take aim at political corruption, healthcare insanity, dark money, and the growing f...
Feb. 27, 2026
Who Runs Montana Politics? Dark Money Networks Explained-The Montana Resistance
Grab a beer and settle in — this one gets into it. The Beer Buds Big Sky crew welcomes Andy Boyd, founder of the Montana Resistance, for a deep dive into the dark money networks shaping Montana elections. From "The Table" — the behind-the-scenes power circle controlling Democratic strategy in the state — to the staggering sums being shuffled between PACs, C4s, and 527s on both sides of the aisle, Andy breaks it all down with the kind of candor you won't hear from the consulting class. The guys ...
Feb. 25, 2026
State of the Union Live Reaction | Chaos, Fact Checks & Montana Perspective
We watched the entire State of the Union live — and reacted in real time. No script. No edits. No spin. We break down the biggest moments, fact-check claims, talk about executive power, immigration, the economy, military recognition, culture politics, and what this all means heading into the midterms — especially in Montana. This one is raw. If you’re tired of cable news shouting matches and want regular people working through it together, this episode is for you. — Beer, Buds & The Big Sk...
Feb. 19, 2026
Feb. 19, 2026 "The Bryan Andrews Experience"
Grab a drink, buckle up, and prepare to question your life choices — because we’re just a handful of Montana guys trying to make sense of the madness. This is Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky — where the beer is cold, the takes are hot, and nothing is off limits. For our Special Guest tonight: We have country music star Bryan Andrews. Tonight we have more half time show, the save act, and lots of censoring. So crack one open, settle in, and let’s get into it.
Feb. 12, 2026
Feb. 11, 2026 "Four-way Primary"
Grab a drink, buckle up, and prepare to question your life choices — because we’re just a handful of Montana guys trying to make sense of the madness. On this episode of Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky, we’re joined by: Russell Cleveland — candidate for Montana’s First Congressional District Jordan Herrera — congressional candidate out of Missouri We break down the Super Bowl halftime show, dive headfirst into dark money (with Mike Jopek leading the charge), and unpack all the political chaos and ...
Feb. 8, 2026
Feb. 5, 2026 " Technical Difficulties"
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. We’ll be back live next week.
Jan. 30, 2026
Jan. 30, 2026 Jeff Mangan "The Montana Plan"
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 to challenge corporate influence without violating free speech. This episode covers the legal hurdl...
Jan. 23, 2026
Jan. 22, 2026 Sam Forstag
🎙️ 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 of his federal employees’ union. He’s running for Congress to bring a working-class voice to Washingt...
Jan. 16, 2026
Jan 15, 2026 Tristan Scott
The editor of the Flathead Beacon joins the show alongside guest host John Repke. Sit back and listen as we unpack the absurdity of today’s national media.
Jan. 9, 2026
Jan. 9, 2026 Paul Lance
This week on Beer, Buds, and the Big Sky: Paul Lance joins the crew for a session of “How the Hell Did We Get Here?” Check him out at 👉 paulandrewlance.com
Dec. 30, 2025
Dec. 29, 2026 Hallie Shoffner for Senate
The boys still have a little Christmas cheer left in them for their year-end reviews and predictions. For tonight’s special guest, we’re joined by Hallie Shoffner, who’s running for Senate in Arkansas. https://www.hallieshoffner.com/
Dec. 23, 2025
Dec. 22, 2025 Festivus Special
The feats of strength were a battle—wading through the filth of the Epstein files........... or the lack thereof!!!!
Dec. 19, 2025
Dec. 19,2026
Special guest Kelly McDowell joins the show to wade through all the BS from the last week.
Dec. 11, 2025
Dec. 11, 2025 "The Dark Left"
Join the boys for our weekly update for US House Candidate Russell Cleveland and our bs session with Essy from the "Dark Left" Russel Cleveland for US House of Representatives https://russellcleveland.org/ The Dark Left https://www.instagram.com/thedarkleft/