![Split-screen close-ups of two men debating]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/OP-ED-image-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":4821},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/OP-ED-image-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":8928},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/OP-ED-image-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":20646},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/OP-ED-image-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":48018},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/OP-ED-image-1024x474.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":57791}})
Will the presidential debates move the needle?
By Colby Etherton On June 27, 2024, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump had their first of two scheduled debates, bucking tradition. Typically, the Commission on Presidential Debates
Op–Ed
![Split-screen: two men gesturing assertively during debate]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Op-Ed-image-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":6406},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Op-Ed-image-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":12459},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Op-Ed-image-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":29063},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Op-Ed-image-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":70905},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Op-Ed-image-1024x474.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":77273}})
Trump Holds Narrow Lead Going into Election
By Colby Etherton We’re nearly halfway into 2024, and as such, the presidential election is mere months away. In five months, the rematch between President Biden and former president Trump
![A split photo of donald trump and joe biden.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/OP-ED-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":5520},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/OP-ED-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":10556},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/OP-ED-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":24764},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/OP-ED-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":58673},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/OP-ED-1024x474.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":64736}})
Will Biden and Trump debate?
By Colby Etherton It has been a mainstay in politics for decades, going back to 1960: the general election presidential debates. We typically see the Democratic and Republican candidates debate
![A man and woman face to face in front of each other.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/OP-ED_Image-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":7676},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/OP-ED_Image-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":12716},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/OP-ED_Image-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":30064},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/OP-ED_Image-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":82707},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/OP-ED_Image-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":94710}})
The inevitable rematch is official
By Colby Etherton President Biden and former president Trump have officially garnered enough delegates from their respective party primaries to be their parties’ presumptive nominees, meaning that what we’ve known
![A woman in blue is smiling and holding her hands over her chest.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OPED_Image-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":7443},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OPED_Image-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":11740},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OPED_Image-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":25788},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OPED_Image-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":66746},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OPED_Image-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":59990}})
Nikki Haley’s and the entire Republican field’s missed opportunities
By Colby Etherton With the 2024 presidential election season officially underway, the field has narrowed to two candidates on the Republican side: former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador
![A couple of people standing next to each other.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/OPED_Image-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":10069},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/OPED_Image-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":17191},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/OPED_Image-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":36541},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/OPED_Image-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":89009},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/OPED_Image-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":96053}})
Presidential race starts year with hefty Trump lead
By Colby Etherton Time is running out for GOP presidential candidates. Then again, is there ever enough time? On January 15, 2024, the Iowa caucuses will officially kick off 2024’s
![A side by side of two men in suits.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":8129},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":12943},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":26327},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":61965},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":67113}})
Where do things stand in the 2024 presidential race?
By Colby Etherton It’s official: the 2024 presidential election is less than one year away. More likely than not, 2024 is shaping up to be a redux of the 2020
![A man in suit and bow tie standing at a podium.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":28350},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":62687},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":159472},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":428058},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-1024x434.png","width":1024,"filesize":468844}})
GOP slow to coalesce around candidate for Speaker
By Colby Etherton For the first time in history, on October 3, 2023, the House of Representatives voted to remove a sitting Speaker. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats in attendance
![A person with an american flag on his shirt is holding a megaphone.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":7349},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":11179},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":21756},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":48527},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":50080}})
Republican infighting stifled government shutdown mitigation efforts
By Colby Etherton At this point, Congress being incapable of reaching consensus is the standard. Increased partisanship and polarization has pretty much meant that bipartisan agreement is a thing of
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Republican debate season begins in Milwaukee
By Colby Etherton On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, the first debate of the GOP 2024 primary season was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The debate featured eight candidates: South Carolina Senator
![A man and woman wearing sunglasses standing next to each other.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/OpEd_Image_Aug3_2023-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":7751},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/OpEd_Image_Aug3_2023-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":12075},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/OpEd_Image_Aug3_2023-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":23885},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/OpEd_Image_Aug3_2023-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":53287},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/OpEd_Image_Aug3_2023-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":50866}})
‘BIDENOMICS’ | Why is the President touting this phrase?
By Colby Etherton Lately, President Biden has been hitting the campaign trail emphasizing “Bidenomics†and how it’s helped the country make progress against inflation, unemployment, moving past the pandemic, and
![A pink and blue sky with clouds in the background.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OPED_Image_July-5_2023-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":26003},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OPED_Image_July-5_2023-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":63493},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OPED_Image_July-5_2023-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":182418},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OPED_Image_July-5_2023-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":538053},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OPED_Image_July-5_2023-1024x434.png","width":1024,"filesize":573666}})
How will the U.S. Senate map look for 2024?
By Colby Etherton With a presidential election on the horizon next year, it can be easy to forget that the Senate, House of Representatives, and local races are just as