This week, we continue to hear from the candidates running to be Montana’s next governor. Libertarian Kaiser Leib worked as a software developer before starting his stand up comedy production company in Helena. We’ll talk today about how he views taxation, transgender rights, and climate change and how tangible libertarian ideals really are. After last week’s presidential debate, it was interesting to hear what the inner structures of the libertarian party look like. Leib speaks to the question of what political parties should be, commenting that when the libertarian party focuses on winning elections, they compromise their message.

I don’t have anything scheduled regarding the Biden campaign and its struggles after last Thursday’s debate, but if you have any questions or interview recommendations, please reach out. Also check out reporting from past News Nerds guests including the NYTimes's Peter Baker.

We have reached out to Governor Greg Gianforte, the Republican candidate, and continue to ask for an interview.

Ezra

From 1995 to 2020, Ryan Busse worked in the gun industry as the vice president of sales for Kimber America. This sparked his 2021 book, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America, and a period in his life when he began to question his political beliefs. His sons were 2 of the 16 plaintiffs in Held v. Montana, a landmark climate lawsuit fought against the state government that alleged state agencies have implemented policy in violation of the right to a "clean and healthful environment," which was ratified into the 1972 Montana State Constitution. A state court sided with the plaintiffs and struck down two state laws preventing agencies from considering the climate impacts of proposed projects.

Busse announced his candidacy for governor against incumbent republican, Greg Gianforte in 2023 and tapped Raph Graybill as his running mate for lieutenant governor. Graybill is a lawyer based in Helena and has argued 12 lawsuits against the Gianforte administration. He’s won cases related to abortion and mail ballot access. He was former Democratic governor Steve Bullock’s chief legal counsel and ran for Attorney General in 2020. During his time with the Bullock administration, Raph worked at the Department of Military Affairs chairing the Montana State Emergency Response Commission.

We have reached out to Governor Gianforte for an interview and are waiting for a response

Ezra

During the pandemic, I learned to love cooking. I picked up a copy of the Art of Simple Cooking ad started experimenting with salad dressings, pie dough, and breads. My guest today is who I have to thank for that. Alice Waters built her restaurant, Chez Panisse, off of the food culture in France, where she visited at 19, and the values of Maria Montessori. Waters focused on organic, local, and seasonal produce and paid the farmers - not the distributors - the price for their crops. In 1995, Alice founded the Edible Schoolyard Project, an initiative that engages students in growing and cooking their own food as part of school curriculum. Today, Chez Panisse remains at its original location in Berkeley after 50 years. Since the last time we talked in March of 2021, Alice opened a new restaurant in Los Angeles called Lulu with the former head chef at Chez Panisse, David Tanis, announced the creation of the Alice Water Institute for Edible Education at UC Davis, and wrote a book. She shared with us today that she’s organizing an event called Climate, Food, Hope on the National Mall this October before the presidential elections.

As you might have guessed, I won’t be publishing episodes as frequently as once a week anymore; I’ve gone into high school but still want to bring important conversations like this to you every few months.

Ezra