Ellen Jovin and Brandt Johnson

The State of Montana

1×

0:00

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -48:05

-48:05

Ellen Jovin and Brandt Johnson

Rebel With a Clause - Book and documentary

Russell Rowland

and

Ellen Jovin

Mar 11, 2025

Transcript

One fall day in 2018, Ellen Jovin set up a folding table on a Manhattan sidewalk with a homemade sign that said “Grammar Table.” Right away, passersby began excitedly asking questions, telling stories, and filing complaints. What happened next is the stuff of grammar legend. Ellen and her filmmaker husband, Brandt Johnson, took the table on the road, visiting all 50 states as Brandt shot the grammar action. Out of this journey was born both a book and a docu-comedy. But this story transcends grammar. It’s the story of an epic quest to bring us closer together in a divided time.

For information about how to order Ellen's book, or to find viewings for the film, or to schedule a viewing yourself, visit:

Rebel with a Clause

Discussion about this episode

The State of Montana

Montana has a long history of very complicated politics, often influenced by major corporations, as with the Copper Kings in our early history, or oil money. But we also have a strong track record of very progressive milestones, the most significant of which was the election of the first woman to ever serve in Congress, Jeanette Rankin. We also have what most constitutional historians consider one of the strongest state constitutions in the country. We have always boasted a very significant balance of power as well, but recently that has changed, and I want to understand why, and what can be done about it. So I'm going to interview some of our more high-profile citizens, not necessarily politicians, to explore this issue. My first guest will be Dorothy Bradley, who was the first woman to run for governor of the state. Dorothy just barely lost to Marc Racicot in 1992.

Listen on