In 2025, U.S. Dollar fell against every major currency. Good for exports/trade deficit; bad for consumer purchasing power, inflation.

Why did #Trump take out #Maduro and what's interest in #Venezuela? Pick one or comment with more. -Oil -National Building -Narcotics -Distract from US Econ -Other?

Focusing on America: Consumer sentiment pretty down in n last year. Year-over-year change shows steep declines in current economic conditions, expectations for future. #Economy @umich.edu Surveys of Consumers.

What we watch=how we rate Trump. @gelliottmorris.com

Washington Monument in D.C. to be lit up for six nights starting tonight as part of initial celebrations for 250th U.S. anniversary. Think it looks pretty great.

GOP's biggest accomplishment this year (per Speaker): Tax bill that harms lowest earners (left) and helps the very highest earners (right).

Some great skiing today. #winter

NEWS: The corporate playbook for next year? Don’t hire. @wsj.com

In last year big business hired, while small companies shed #jobs.

Friday Data: Personal outlays (consumption) by income.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." -Luke 2: 13-14

Not a great new thing:

More inspiration... @theathletic.com

NEWS: Grizzly spotted in December in Bangtails outside #Bozeman. @montanafreepress.org #mtnews #Montana montanafreepress.org/2025/12/23/g...

The kids are isolationist. Younger Americans much less likely that older adults to say U.S. should have active international role.

Sunday Data: @waymo.bsky.social reports far fewer car crashes than human drivers. h/t @bpmehlman.bsky.social

American voters: Price of #healthcare is a big problem.

Ready for #wintersolstice? Sunday, Dec. 21 at 8:03AM Mountain time. Tomorrow is shortest day of year (for Northerners!) #mtwx

Saturday Data: Labor force participation rates in Montana and Wyoming have continued to drop in last 5 yrs while Dakotas have steadied. Thoughts?

Employment in largest #Montana cities (metro areas) since 2000. Bozeman passed Missoula to be 2nd largest in 2018. #mtnews As of September, 2025: -Billings: 97K -Bozeman: 74.1K -Missoula: 70.5K -Helena: 45.7K -Great Falls: 37.6K

Top issues Americans believe President & Congress should focus on: inflation, jobs/economy, health care, senior programs, corruption in government. @navigatorsurvey.bsky.social

Timeline of changes in #Bozeman employment (for other #Montana cities, see earlier post below). First non-recession, non-seasonal jobs drop for Bozeman/Gallatin County in many years. MSA=Gallatin County. #mtnews #mtpol

Montana Metro Area Employment % Change, Sept 2024-25: -Billings: 0.7% -Bozeman: Down 3.6% one of largest drops nationally. -Great Falls: -0.3% -Helena: 1.6% -Missoula: 0.3% #mtnews #mtpol

NEWS: "If you throw out the year of the Coronavirus, 2025 is the worst year for job creation since 2009, and the Great Recession." @jamiedupree.bsky.social

Job Creation? In 2024, #Job gains averaged 186,000/month. In 2025 it's a fraction of that. #Employment

Op-Ed: Freedom From Want--How Our Moral and Common-Sense Obligation Provides a Better Life by MT Sen. Andrea Olsen #mtpol #mtleg dailyinterlake.com/news/2025/de...

In terms of strong support for federal #Healthcare (earlier post below), an even strong share of Americans support Medicaid funding to hospitals for uninsured.

Hope is in the air! Lindsey Vonn Just Won a Ski Race at Age 41—on a Reconstructed Knee

Americans have surprisingly strong view (2-1) that it's the "responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have #healthcare coverage."

hare of aggregate income over time (by quintile). The wealthiest 20% have seen their share rise, everyone else has dropped.

Sunday Data: Mdian household income for 2024: $83,730. Figure below, inflation adjusted, breaks out over time by race & Hispanic origin.

More Americans want to live in the past than the future (earier post). What's the breakout? -GOP 2x more likely than Dems to want to live in distant past; -College grads less likely to want to live in distant past; -Whites more likely to want to live in distant past.

Saturday Data: Far more Americans say they'd like to live in the past than the future. -45% would live sometime in past; -40% in present; -14% sometime in future. 1/2

Temporary or a new era? Total employment growth in #Montana has leveled since June, 2024. #mtnews #mtpol

Interesting graphic intersecting top issue for voters (left column) w/generic congressional ballot, #Trump approval, and Trump on economy/inflation. Largest plurality of voters prioritize #Inflation, econ, jobs and are heavily anti-Trump, GOP. @gelliottmorris.skystack.xyz

Worth the Read: NWE and Colstrip, what a PSC member calls a "dumpster fire." -Can utility tap customer credit for costs -Can it set up shell company #mtnews #energy @keilaszpaller.bsky.social @dailymontanan.com dailymontanan.com/2025/12/09/n...

Column: time to restore affordability in the American dream. #mtnews #mtpol Link in post below.

It's Time to Restore Affordability and the American Dream, op-ed by Gallatin County Montana Dems chair Joe Hancock. #mtpol #mtnews www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/gue...

A whole lot of nothing. #Health costs are up, insurance rates rapidly rising, Americans frustrated--and the Senate GOP plan? Do nothing. Senators to oppose Dems' policy but unlikely to offer solutions later this week on floor vote.

Where are homes losing value? Zillow calculates 53% of homes nationally lost value in last year as of October. Bozeman, 77% lost value Billings, 56% Great Falls, 54% Helena, 56% Missoula, 64% #mtnews #Montana Note: Even w/declines median home value still 67% up since bought. 1/2

Sunday Data: What's most important to Americans in 2026 congressional elections? Cost of living, especially healthcare.

Main Street Pain: Small businesses shed jobs (below). For November, the private sector shrank by 32,000 jobs per ADP. Small firms,<50 employees, accounted for all the losses.

Column: How cutting #HealthInsurance premium tax credits harms Montana self-employed, small businesses. #mtnews #mtnews billingsgazette.com/opinion/colu...

Thursday Data: Americans' impression of the job market drops to near COVID recession lows.

Frustrated Nation: Americans haven't been satisfied with "the way things are going in the U.S." for more than 20 years.

Americans' Acceptance of Political Violence, Demographic Breakout.

NEWS from @wsj.com: U.S. manufacturing contracted for 9th straight month in November, a decline manufacturers attribute largely to #TrumpTariffs. “It really is all about tariffs,” said ISM Chair Susan Spence.

Tuesday Data: Some good news. Mass killings down in U.S. Incidents where 4+ people killed at 20-year low.

Monday Data: Who's in the stock market, sorted by income. @wsj.com

Flathead Beacon story today on rising #healthcare prices for many Montanans. #mtnews #mtpol Full story: flatheadbeacon.com/2025/12/01/r...