All Episodes - Plain Talk
Plain Talk is a podcast hosted by Rob Port and Chad Oban focusing on political news and current events in North Dakota. Port is a columnist for the Forum News Service published in papers including the Fargo Forum, Grand Forks Herald, Jamestown Sun, and the Dickinson Press. Oban is a long-time political consultant.
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603: 'Nobody in the nation is doing what North Dakota is doing'
Though his instance on a "skin in the game" provision in property tax reform -- effectively a cap on how much of the primary residence credit property owners could receive -- was one of the major flash points during this year's legislative session, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue says he's satisfied with the outcome overall. More than that, really. He was downright enthusiastic on this episode of Plain Talk. "Nobody, whether you measured it on a per capita basis, whether you measure it on a percentage of your surplus that you gave back to the taxpayer, nobody in the nation is doing what North Dakota is doing," he said. "You know, what Minnesota did last session when they had a surplus, they don't have a surplus this session. So, guess what? No tax relief," Hogue said. "Montana, the same thing. They are trying some income tax relief." Hogue also extolled a provision in the property tax package that went overlooked by many, but which he sees as important. "Our rural legislators were interested in seeing more funding for rural infrastructure, but they were also interested in seeing that funding source be something that isn't flat and static like our gasoline tax," he said. "And so in addition to using the Legacy Fund earnings to fund the primary residents tax credit, we also tied 2% of those Legacy Fund earnings to go into the DOT budget and specifically to fund rural infrastructure. County roads. Bridges." Which isn't to say that he thought the property tax package was perfect. "The biggest issue that probably went unreported was how many people are eligible for the primary residence tax credit and how many are going to claim it," Hogue said. The Tax Commissioner's office was estimating around 160,000 eligible homes, he continued, while the Senate's estimate was around 144,000. "If you do that math, that's 16,000 primary residence applications times two in a bienium. That's 32,000 homes times a $1,600 tax credit," he said. "That's a $50 million item of difference that you're trying to factor into the amount of tax relief." He expects the Tax Commissioner may be coming to lawmakers for more funding for the property tax credits. Also on this episode, my co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the public reaction to my story about Jesse Burgum being misleading about her dad Doug Burgum's financial involvement in her fiml career and news that once-disqualified and infamous baseball legends like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson are now eligible for the Hall of Fame. This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota’s abundant lignite resources. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electricity, synthetic natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit www.Lignite.com/Podcast to connect and learn more. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
602: 'We are horrible at telling our success stories'
Nick Archuleta and North Dakota United, the state's combined teacher and public workers union, are touting a report showing that our state is sliding down the rankings in terms of teacher pay. We're now 40th in the nation, down significantly from roughly a decade ago. But Archuleta admitted during an interview on Plain Talk that educators could be doing a better job of giving the taxpayers some context around the pay issue. "We are horrible at telling our success stories," he said. "We have to do a better job," he added, rattling off some examples of the stories that could be told. "Eighth graders are second in the nation in mathematics. Fourth graders are third in the nation in mathematics. Archuleta said it's also time to "tone down the rhetoric surrounding K12 education" and back off some of the expectations, from the left and the right, that educators be central to the culture wars. "Everybody that I know that has gone into education goes into it because they want to make sure that every child has the best educational outcomes that they can possibly have," he said. "They don't go into it to be part of a political scrum and they shouldn't. That's exactly the wrong reason to get into education." As for teacher pay specifically? Archuleta said that North Dakota is "not increasing salaries very quickly." He also noted that other states like Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico have "done things that actually raise salaries faster." This is impacting North Dakota's ability to recruit new teachers. "We have an acute teacher shortage in North Dakota" that "has gotten to the point, this is particularly true in rural areas but also in our larger areas, where we're depending more and more on foreign based teachers, particularly from the Philippines." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about how on-going chaos in the North Dakota Republican Party and a possible legal fight with the state Ethics Commission may impact the upcoming election cycle. We also take a look at the last bills from the recently-concluded legislative session that are on Gov. Kelly Armstrong's desk and what he might do with them. (Full disclosure: Oban also works for North Dakota United.) This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota’s abundant lignite resources. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electricity, synthetic natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit www.Lignite.com/Podcast to connect and learn more. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
601: 'We found out about it in the newspaper'
"The Minot State one took us by surprise," U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak told us on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the cuts of nearly two dozen staff at the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities. One of those workers, Kyle Erickson, who lives with cerebral palsy and not only works for the center but received services from it as a child, joined us to talk about the cuts on a previous episode of Plain Talk. "We found out about it in the newspaper, and we've been trying to get to the bottom of it, and I'm not sure that we have yet," Fedorchak said, expressing some mild frustration with how President Donald Trump's administration has been going about these cuts. "I do wish that some of the sudden cuts that are coming out, that the the administration is unleashing, would be a little bit more clear," she said. "That we'd have more heads up, that we understood the grand scheme and how these things are working out. What the big plan is, because I think that's what's hard. It's not having time to prepare for them. Or be thoughtful about them." "You know, if I was doing it, that's not how I would do it," Fedorchak continued, responding to a question about how DOGE and Elon Musk have presented their efficiency efforts to the public. "I would I would not talk about it this way, but I'm not in charge." Still, Fedorchak supports the overall effort. "In my opinion, we do need to be retracting and right-sizing the federal government," she said. "It isn't sustainable. There has been out of control spending and we have to correct that for ourselves and for the future citizens of our country." Fedorchak also pushed back on claims that Medicaid is being cut and that Republicans are pushing for tax cuts for the rich. She said the rate of growth in Medicaid spending is to be slowed, and that Republicans only want to renew existing tax policy. Also on this episode, Minot-based rapper Dakotah Faye performed his song '925,' discussed how he's managed his burgeoning career as a performing artist from North Dakota, and talked about his work with the F5 Project as someone who has struggled with addiction in the past. This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota’s abundant lignite resources. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electricity, synthetic natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit www.Lignite.com/Podcast to connect and learn more. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
600: 'We're going to have problems with the caps'
During the closing hours of the legislative session, lawmakers came to a consensus around a property tax plan endorsed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong which provides $1,600 credits for the primary residences of North Dakotans and a 3% cap on the growth in overall property tax bills. Rep. Scott Louser voted for that plan, and encouraged his colleagues to vote for it, but in a surprise move, also announced in a floor speech that he had drafted language for a ballot measure campaign for his own property tax plan which had been amended into oblivion earlier in the session. "I wanted everybody to vote for property tax relief," he said of his eyebrow-raising move. "I just think there's a better way to do it." Louser wants the state to buy out the 60 mills funding school districts across the state, something he estimates will cost $750 million. He says his plan wouldn't nullify the plan lawmakers did pass, but he pointed out that the primary residence credit would have to be reauthorized by lawmakers next session anyway, and that his expectation would be, if voters approve his ballot measure, that lawmakers reduce of eliminate the credit. But wouldn't that mean some people, who saw their property tax bills eliminated by the primary residence credit, would start getting bills again? Louser said the next legislative session ould have to take that issue up, too. "If this were to pass, we are going to be in a situation next session where we have to evaluate for all of those people that had their taxes zeroed out," he said. "How do you balance that? How do you keep it at zero at a lower amount and then continue to step up the credit in the future?" Though Louser also indicated that he's not entirely decided on whether to go forward with his measure campaign or not. "It's hard for me to answer, 'are you going forward?'" he said, indicating that he like to do some polling of the public first. "If the polling shows that it's a 25 point no, why proceed with it? I don't have that answer yet." Louser also expressed frustration about the failure of a campaign finance reform bill which was originally intended to require legislative candidates to disclose beginning and ending fund balances, as well as campaign expenditures but ran into a wall of what was at times viscerally angry opposition in the House chamber. "It was almost all about process and not about the product," Louser said of the debate. "In the end, it's the product that we that we leave for the for the public to see. And the product that we have now is nothing. Nothing changed," he continued, referring to the fact that the legislation, drained of any real reform by the House, ultimately failed. Louser pointed out that taxpayers have "spent a little over a million dollars" on a new campaign finance system for the Secretary of State's office"to make this reporting easier for us as legislators, easier for the public to read," but that system now won't be fed with better data. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
599: 'We are 100% in a no-win situation with this'
Like many organizations and government entities across our region, the Fargo School Board has had to weigh how to react to an erratic president who is on a seek-and-destroy mission for anything with even a whiff of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Katie Christensen Mineer is the president of the school board. She and her fellow board members have come under fire for removing from their website four "philosophies" related to how they handle students in the LGBTQ community. Some critics have accused her and her board of capitulating to President Donald Trump. "We did this when we did because we were in the process of applying for and renewing a lot of our federal grants, which is $19.7 million," she said on Plain Talk. "And we wanted to protect those dollars." But she added that the philosophies didn't really have any bearing on how the school district conducts its business. "I believed in these statements for sure and I think some people liked seeing them there," she said, "but the actual, like, inner workings of our district, that is rooted in our strategic plan and that is rooted in our policies." Christensen Mineer also said that former Superintendent Rupak Gandhi, who very publicly proclaimed that he would ignore state laws regulating bathroom and pronoun use in our schools after the 2023 session, put her district in the political crosshairs. "A part of me is proud of him and I spoke in support of that and then a part of me is like, 'Oh, crud. What did we just do here?' Because yeah, I mean, we became this target then." Also on this episode, the Trump administrations chaotic approach to slashing federal spending has resulted in 23 workers losing their jobs at a Minot State University center that served disabled people. One of them, Kyle Erickson, wasn't just a worker at the center, but also received services from it. "It was kind of a neat little full circle moment for me because one of the projects that [the North Dakota Center for Pesons with Disabilities] runs is called infant development and they do a lot of work with, you know, early intervention, early diagnosis, screening, that type of thing. And I was born with cerebral palsy," he said. "I spent a lot of my youth in infant development." "I've been involved with this organization my entire life as a client and now I'm an employee fighting to keep this place running for, you know, people that were like me 10, 20 years ago that do rely on the good work." This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
598: 'Fodder for just trolling and fishing'
On this Plain Talk, Sec. of State Michael Howe and Rep. Ben Koppelman joined us to discuss a surprisingly contentious issue in the closing days of the legislative session. Namely, a debate over laws requiring more rigorous campaign finance disclosures from legislative candidates. Howe supports the legislation, saying he wants better data for a new online database his office is implementing. Rep. Koppelman, however, suggested that the information wasn't that important to the public and would be "fodder for just trolling and fishing." He said that allowing the public to "really microscope every movement" is "not a practical or I would argue even a useful reason" to require greater disclosure. But without better disclosures, how could the public and the news media detect if a candidate is engaged in fraudulent or otherwise untoward activities with their campaign money? Koppelman said public officials are expected to "behave with high moral standards and follow these rules in a way that they can defend." Howe, meanwhile, said his office's goal is "to make this easy for the filer and for the public." Koppelman also weighed in on the closing debate over property taxes, saying he's not confident that the public is going to get enough property tax relief to head off another ballot measure. Koppleman called the legislation backed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong "the wrong approach from the get-go" and suggested that it's a futile endeavor. "I don't see any point in passing the bill, quite frankly, because it's like people aren't asking me for three drops in the bucket of relief from their property tax bill," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the state of the property tax debate, and when this legislative session is likely to be over. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
597: 'We're at the point where we're ready to throw fists here'
"Everybody's frustrated with everybody right now," Rep. Jeremy Olson said on this episode of Plain Talk. Olson is a Republican from Arnegard, and serves as the Majority Caucus Leader, and is well known as a "gentle giant" of North Dakota politics. Which is to say that his comment about fist fights was tongue-in-cheek, but he was expressing a real sense of frustration as lawmakers reach the hectic end of their session. Lawmakers are locked in tough debates over things like property taxes, budget bills, and school choice, though the last of those bills failed earlier this week. In particular, Olson spoke about the incessant division of complicated budget bills, such as the appropriation for the Commerce Department, which saw its amendments divided, and then the final bill amended, with most of that action being led by Rep. Ben Koppelman, a Republican from West Fargo. "When some people get up or when some divisions happen, you can kind of hear an audible groan in the room," Olson told us. "I'll leave it at that." Olson also spoke of legislation he's championed to incentivize oil exploration. Specifically, House Bill 1483 and Senate Bill 2397 which would lower tax burdens for oil exploration outside of the hottest areas of the Bakken and Three Forks formations. "They could find the next big boom in the Williston Basin," he said. "So, in order to help them offset that cost, that risk, we're giving them a financial incentive." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the bitter and surprising way this sessions debate over school choice bills ended, and analyze who has the strongest hand to play in the final fight over property tax reform. This episode is presented by Bakken Backers. Bakken Backers is a coalition of businesses, leaders, workers, and citizens who support energy production from the Bakken formation and its many benefits for North Dakota. Learn more at www.BackTheBakken.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
596: 'I'm kind of a free speech absolutist'
Just before Gov. Kelly Armstrong appeared on this episode of Plain Talk, he issued two vetoes for two very controversial bills passed by the legislature. The first was a rejection of Senate Bill 2307, a book ban bill sponsored by Sen. Keith Boehm. "I'm kind of a free speech absolutist," Armstrong said of his decision to spike the legislation, "because nobody's ever figured out who polices the policers." Armstrong criticized the legislation for making librarians and educators subject to potential civil and criminal penalties based on complaints filed against books from anywhere in the country. "They don't have to be in North Dakota. It's any individual," he said, calling the process the legislation set up "untenable and unworkable." Armstrong, who is a proponent of school choice policies, said he vetoed House Bill 1540, sponsored by Rep. Ben Koppelman, because it "is only for private school." What would a better school choice bill look like? One that "allows more parents more options to do more things and have more autonomy over their kids' education," he said. "And that includes a small rural school district that is 150 miles away from the closest private school." The governor is urging support for Senate Bill 2400, backed by Sen. Michelle Axtman, which is still alive in the legislative session. That bill would make education savings accounts available for all students for approved education expenses beyond just private school tuition. Also on this episode, singer and songwriter Chuck Suchy, new minted as North Dakota's official state troubadour, talked about that honor, and his musical career. "I am very grateful," he said, adding that he's happy "the state community embraces music, and I hope art and humanity." This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
595: 'I couldn't care less that this comes from Donald Trump'
Dane DeKrey is a criminal defense attorney with the Moorhead-based lawfirm Ringstrom Dekrey. He recently signed onto an amicus brief in a legal fight over an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which exacts retribution on a law firm Trump feels has wronged him. It does so by, among other punitive measures, revoking the firm's security clearances and prohibiting its personnel from entering government buildings. In his order, Trump accused the law firm WilmerHale of engaging "in obvious partisan representations to achieve political ends" and "the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes and trafficking deadly drugs within our borders." But from another perspective, that's just engaging in the political process and representing criminal defendants. DeKrey says his support for the law firm isn't about politics. It's about principles. "I couldn't care less that this comes from Donald Trump," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I care that the rule of law is being questioned and as lawyers and as my law firm...we defend people who are not sympathetic the vast majority of the time. And if a person who is not sympathetic cannot call out for a lawyer and have someone answer, we are in a dangerous territory and I don't want to be there." Also on this episode, Sen. Kyle Davis, a Republican from Fargo, took a break from his work on the Appropriations Committee to talk to us about the progress toward funding a new state hospital in Jamestown, the challenges the state faces in delivering mental health services, and the debates over school choice policies and property taxes. He also commented on a last-minute amendment to the budget for the Office of Management and Budget to create a "life education committee" that would promote alternatives to abortion. The committee, which would be appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, would have $1.5 million in funding and would be tasked with contracting with a third party entity to provide pro-life education services. "I've always pushed back on bills that get added in the last minute," Davison said of the amendment, adding that he has "a bit of frustration in regards to it not being a standalone bill." "Those standalone bills that make it all the way through have had a minimum of four hearings, two of them in appropriations and they're better pieces of legislation because of it when they pass through like that," he said. "Especially when you're setting something up new and it's a new appropriation." He also said that lawmakers are mindful of last year's state Supreme Court ruling, which struck down the OMB budget from the 2023 session for not complying with the state constitution's single-subject mandate. "There is no question in my mind that we as a legislature are paying attention to that decision made by the Supreme Court in regards to the OMB budget," he said. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
594: 'I hope it's not that I'm some kind of junky for chaos'
When former Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford accepted the job as interim chancellor of the North Dakota University System, he said a long time colleague contacted him to say he's "proven that you like dysfunction and you like to jump into that." Sanford said he laughed it off. "I hope it's not that I'm some kind of junkie for chaos for goodness sakes, but there's a lot in in in higher ed in general, especially with what's happening at the federal level," he said on this Plain Talk. "I mean, there's a lot of people that say, 'Why in the world would you want to go this direction?'" Speaking of chaos at the federal level, North Dakota State University recently announced that a foreign student who was here legally on a work and education program was detained for deportation by ICE. Sanford said that's going to be a significant challenge for a university system that has many staff, faculty, and students who aren't citizens. "Canadians are even nervous about this," he said. "I was just talking to a gentleman at breakfast that said down in Arizona the snowbirds that are Canadians are selling their house. They're not only offended but they're scared about this." "I hope we get this under control and return to an environment where we're respecting legal immigration," Sanford added. It should be noted that, after serving as Lt. Governor, Sanford headed up a recruitment program operated by North Dakota's oil industry that sought to recruit workers from Ukraine. Looking ahead, Sanford's initial focus as Chancellor will be on accountability, transparency, and conducting a "listening tour" across the state to understand the needs of stakeholders. He also said he was open to making his appointment as chancellor a permanent one. "I can say that pretty comfortably even though I haven't even started," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the latest twists and turns in the property tax debate, the likely fate of Sen. Keith Boehm's book ban bill should it be sent to Gov. Armstrong's desk, and Rep. Lori VanWinkle playing the victim card against criticism of her mid-session ski vacation. This episode is presented by Bakken Backers. Bakken Backers is a coalition of businesses, leaders, workers, and citizens who support energy production from the Bakken formation and its many benefits for North Dakota. Learn more at www.BackTheBakken.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
593: Ethics process is 'ready for exploitation and weaponization' without good reforms
"The way the current process is set up, it is ready for exploitation and weaponization," Rebecca Binstock said on this episode of Plain Talk. Binstock is the executive director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, and she admits that there are problems with the status quo. For instance, public servants who have a complaint filed against them are prohibited, under threat of criminal penalty, from talking about it, even though the person who filed the complaint is free to say whatever they want. She also says that complaints take too long to process because they require the commission to host what can be a lengthy and often fruitless mediation between the complainant and the respondent. But rather than fix these issues, Binstock says lawmakers seem more interested in making the commission's job harder. Recently, a House committee that is considering the commission's budget cut funding for a new staffer-- currently the staff consists of just Binstock and two others--and imposed a 180 day time limit for a complaint. While Binstock said a deadline might make sense in some circumstances, in this context, it may make their jobs next to impossible. In response to the committee's actions, the Ethics Commission put out a statement saying the changes are "a roadblock intended to hamper the commission’s work.” That language--specifically the use of the word "hamper"--is interesting because the ethics amendment to the state constitution states, "Laws may be enacted to facilitate, safeguard, or expand, but not to hamper, restrict, or impair" the ethics commission. Does the commission consider the committee's actions a potential constitutional violation? "It certainly has been a discussion," Binstock said, when asked. "I think the commission statement kind of speaks for itself," she added. Also on this episode, Sen. Jeff Barta, a Republican from Grand Forks, responds to the defeat of a so-called "parental rights" bill, the passage of a new legislation governing genders in bathrooms, and his work to create a collaborative process between the U.S. military and state/local interests when it comes to the impact of development and industrialization about military installations in our state. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
592: 'We have...lifelong Republicans saying I'm done. I've had it.'
If you're a Republican on the ballot in North Dakota you're probably going to win. It wasn't always that way, and it won't always be that way, but it is that way now, and it makes a problem within the NDGOP, where a certain faction is playing games with the rules to control which candidates appear on the ballot as Republicans, all the more acute. "What's going on is we have some gamesmanship at the district level where the districts are basically telling the state party that they are autonomous and they can do their own thing and they don't have to answer to the state committee or the state Republican party," Robert Harms said on this episode of Plain Talk. What this means, as a practical matter, is that if you want to get involved in local politics, as a candidate or a district-level leader, or even as a just a rank-and-file party member, you may get locked out by political shenanigans. Harms is a former NDGOP chairman, who as served as legal counsel to multiple governors, and he is trying to get a law changed that prohibits political parties from setting uniform rules for their constituent districts. He said the status quo, which sees some district leaders trying to keep meetings and rules a secret, is alienating people. "I mean, we have former elected officials, statewide elected officials, long-time, lifelong Republicans saying, 'I'm done. I've had it. I'm not going to any more conventions, whether it's at the state level or the endorsing convention,'" Harms said. "I've had friends tell me, 'Harms, there is no way I'm going to engage with the Republican party any longer because of all the nonsense that's going on.'" Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the status of property tax reform in Bismarck, the local impact of the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) cuts, and what the last weeks of the legislative session may look like. This episode is presented by Bakken Backers. Bakken Backers is a coalition of businesses, leaders, workers, and citizens who support energy production from the Bakken formation and its many benefits for North Dakota. Learn more at BackTheBakken.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
591: 'We're going to be right back in this position fighting'
"I think we are for certain going to see another property tax measure if that's the version that we kick out." That's what Minot Republican Rep. Matt Ruby said of the watered-down version of Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax plan that the state Senate is currently backing. "I don't think that that measure failing by that amount was because people love paying property taxes," Ruby continued, referring to the Measure 4 proposal to abolish property taxes, which more than 60% of voters voted against last year. "If we don't have a stepped plan where eventually we get to the point where it's zeroed out as best as possible...we're going to be right back in this position fighting." Ruby also took questions about the failure of Attorney General Drew Wrigley's truth-in-sentencing legislation, and his decision to repudiate his vote in favor of a resolution opposing same-sex marriage. Also on this episode, Sen. John Hoeven talked about tariffs, trade, the Department of Government Efficiency, and impeaching judges. On that last, Hoeven called the push to impeach judges "concerning," saying it could threaten the independence of the judiciary, though he also said that there are things Congress can do to address practices such as judge shopping, or judges delaying infrastructure projects for years by allowing endless litigation. Hoeven also took questions about whether he'd hold town halls. "I do public meetings all over the state and people can come. I mean, everybody's got their own style in terms of a town hall, but these are public meetings and I've always done many of them all over the state and I'll continue to do them," he said. "I also come on and talk to guys like you. I answer questions to the press, to the radio. People can come in and see me. I have meetings. I work pretty hard on staying connected with uh North Dakotans, and I respect them, and it's an honor and a privilege to serve him." This episode is presented by North Dakotans for Public Schools. North Dakotans for Public Schools is dedicated to protecting and strengthening public education in North Dakota. United by the belief that public schools are the cornerstone of our communities; North Dakotans for Public Schools fights against harmful policies like voucher schemes that divert resources away from public schools. By bringing together educators, parents, school boards, and citizens; North Dakotans for Public Schools amplifies the voices of those who understand the critical role public schools play in shaping the future of North Dakota’s children and communities. Learn more and get involved at www.NDforPublicSchools.com. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
589: 'I think this is an unforced error'
It's an annual tradition to have Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Plain Talk for a baseball-only episode contemporaneous to MLB's opening day. Unfortunately, we didn't keep our promise this time, since we're in the closing weeks of the legislative session in Bismarck, and there's a lot going on. When you have the governor on in that context, you have to ask some political questions. We asked Armstrong about amendments made to the property tax plan he's backing by the Senate Appropriations Committee at the behest of Senate Majority Leader David Houge. "I spent six years in D.C. where a lot of times Republicans would walk in and step on a rake before we go vote," the former congressman said. "I think this is an unforced error," he added, "and I think this is what happens when you have a small group of people decide they're going to put amendments onto a bill without vetting it publicly." Armstrong says he objects to lowering the tax credit homeowners would receive from $1,450 to $1,250, as well as the 75% cap on how much of a property tax bill that credit could offset. He also pushed back on intent language which aims to use Legacy Fund dollars to pay for non-primary residence properties which in many cases are owned by people who live out of state. Armstrong also commented on amendments he's backing to ban cell phones in schools, saying it's not making him that popular with his own children. "I have two teenagers at home," he said. "You can about imagine how it's going." Also on this episode, Rep. Dawson Holle, a Republican, and Rep. Jayme Davis, a Democrat, talk about their new Future Caucus, which seeks to bring together a bipartisan group of younger lawmakers so that they can find ways to work together. Holle said it's helpful to coordinate these efforts, especially since older lawmakers don't necessarily understand modern issues. He described one older lawmaker who was confused about artificial intelligence issues. "AI, is that artificial insemination for cows?" Holle says he was asked. "Oh my goodness, no, that is artificial intelligence," he replied. This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota’s abundant lignite resources. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electricity, synthetic natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit www.Lignite.com/Podcast to connect and learn more. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
588: 'Does everything in the library need to be at the at the level for a kindergartner?'
There is a big debate over criminal justice reform at the legislative session in Bismarck. Attorney General Drew Wrigley suggests the state has been soft on crime, and that's resulted in higher crime rates. He's pushing a bill to keep people convicted of many crimes locked up for longer. But Jonathan Holth, Gov. Kelly Armstrong's Commissioner of Recovery and Re-entry, pointed out on this episode of Plain Talk that, far from being soft on crime, North Dakota's incarceration rates have been climbing. According to state Department of Corrections data, he's right. The population in North Dakota's state prisons (not counting local jails) is up more than 15% over the last five years, and more than 47% in the previous 20. There is friction between Wrigley and Armstrong's administration over Wrigley's sentencing bill, but Holth joined Plain Talk to talk about another set of bills lawmakers are considering. House Bill 1425, 1417, and 1549, seek to create new tools to help those with addiction and mental health challenges navigate the criminal justice system and find peace and prosperity again. HB1425 addresses diversion and deflection programs, which gives law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges some flexibility to get a person help instead of arresting, charging, and incarcerating them; HB1417 seeks to reform the probation and parole process, addressing things like paperwork and fees that could land people back in jail on minor technicalities; HB1549 deals with helping people re-entering society have the the things they need, like up-to-date ID, to find housing and jobs. Holth says these three bills together provide "a comprehensive look at sort of the front end, the middle, and the back end" of the criminal justice system. Also on this episode, Minot-area librarian Randi Monley, a co-chair of Right to Read ND, gave an update on the progress of Senate Bill 2307, which is book ban legislation introduced by Sen. Keith Boehm, who argues that North Dakota's libraries and schools are showing children pornography. The legislation requires libraries to move supposedly offensive materials to places where children aren't allowed. "So in a K-12 library, what are you going to do? Are you going to have to have a separate space for just high school kids?" she asked. "I doubt many schools are going to do that. Or does everything in the library need to be at the level for a kindergartener?" Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed a hearing on Wrigley's legislation, Senate Bill 2128, which saw some less than truthful testimony. This episode is presented by Bakken Backers. Bakken Backers is a coalition of businesses, leaders, workers, and citizens who support energy production from the Bakken formation and its many benefits for North Dakota. Learn more at BackTheBakken.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
587: 'I don't know what President Trump's position on Canada is right now either'
Many North Dakotans are demanding that our state's federal delegation hold town hall meetings to take questions about the extraordinary beginning of President Donald Trump's second term in office. I've called for town halls, too. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak joined this episode of Plain Talk, and while that's not a town hall, she did take some questions on the topics that are motivating those calls for town halls. Like the administration's antagonistic and mercurial approach to relations with our northern neighbors in Canada. "I don't know what President Trump's position on Canada is right now either," she said, echoing a similar sentiment from North Dakota Farmer's Union President Mark Watne. "I can't control Trump's tariff approach, right?" she continued. "He's going to do that." She did say that Trump's approach is "not my style" and that she's "more about solutions." Fedorchak also took questions about the DOGE, or Department of Government Efficiency, arguing that there is waste and fraud in the federal government and that a shakeup was needed. Still, she indicated that the approach gives her pause. "You can disagree with how they manage it. I'm not defending them," she said. "They don't work for me. They work for President Trump." Fedorchak also expressed support for interacting with constituents. "I agree with you on the the need for constant communication with constituents and I have been doing that since day one," she said, listing numerous open-pto-the-public events she's held with various interest groups. But she argued that these interactions should be "back and forth, hearing from constituents, delivering answers, facing questions, not uh, waving signs and shouting everybody down." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the ugly new revelations about former state Sen. Ray Holmberg's repugnant activities, and the sometimes partisan reaction to them, as well as the latest from the legislative session. This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota’s abundant lignite resources. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electricity, synthetic natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit Lignite.com to connect and learn more. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
586: 'The people who ultimately get hurt in this...are the patients'
MINOT — Our attitudes about health insurance shift, depending on the context we're in. When we're healthy and paying premiums, we want costs to be low. When we're sick or hurt or sitting alongside a family member suffering some malady, we want expansive coverage and not a lot of bureaucracy. Unfortunately, these things are in tension with one another; part of it is the process of prior authorization. What is that, specifically? "When a provider requests a procedure, a prescription, or anything like that, what they do is they request this through the insurance provider to make sure that it's covered," Sen. Scott Meyer said. That can sometimes be a lengthy process, taking days or weeks, which aren't happy days or weeks when a person is hurting. Sen. Meyer has sponsored Senate Bill 2280, which targets a specific type of insurance (self-funded policies) for regulation on prior authorization. "If we're going to be reviewing a prior authorization with the insurance company, it needs to be done by a physician rather than a business analyst, an algorithm or AI," Sen. Meyer said of his bill. "The people that ultimately get hurt in this, though, are the patients," added Andy Askew, who is the Vice President of Public Policy for Essentia Health and appeared alongside Sen. Meyer. "This is meant, again, to help these folks that need help, need care, and to get it in a timely manner." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed a Minnesota lawmaker backing legislation to define criticism of President Donald Trump as a mental illness (and his recent arrest for soliciting sex from a child), the progress on a book ban bill, the status of Gov. Kelly Armstrong's proposed property tax reform, and how my reporting ended up on a Court TV live stream. This episode is presented by North Dakotans for Public Schools. North Dakotans for Public Schools is dedicated to protecting and strengthening public education in North Dakota. United by the belief that public schools are the cornerstone of our communities; North Dakotans for Public Schools fights against harmful policies like voucher schemes that divert resources away from public schools. By bringing together educators, parents, school boards, and citizens; North Dakotans for Public Schools amplifies the voices of those who understand the critical role public schools play in shaping the future of North Dakota’s children and communities. Learn more and get involved at www.NDforPublicSchools.com. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
585: 'We're going to need massive amounts of CO2'
It's no secret that the oil industry is central to North Dakota's economy. Still, it's surprising even for in-the-know citizens to look back at the remarkable growth of that industry over the last couple of decades. The North Dakota Petroleum Council routinely commissions studies into the economic impact of their industry, and the findings are eye-popping. The first study was conducted in 2005. "At that time, the oil and gas industry, we were producing 92,000 barrels of oil a day. We had 3,300 mostly tired oil wells from non-Bakken formations. We employed about 5,000 people," NDPC President Ron Ness said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Today we are a three $3.2 billion industry." "We employ 63,000 people," he continued. "We produce 1.2 million barrels of oil a day. "It's as you said, the rise has just been incredible." But what about the future? Ness says there are opportunities to find new avenues for growth that North Dakota must seize lest oil production and its attendant boons in terms of economic impacts and tax revenues ebb. "With the best technology in all the world focused on this resource, out of every 100 barrels of oil, we're still leaving 85 in the ground," he said. "If we can get another 15%, that's a doubling of the ultimate recovery, and it will add generations and generational wealth and opportunities for future North Dotans. Without that, we're going to we're going to deplete this resource." How do we seize this opportunity? "We're going to need massive amounts of CO2," Ness said, pointing out that the NDPC, along with partners at North Dakota's universities, have been pursuing enhanced oil recovery methods using carbon dioxide. "We've been studying enhanced oil recovery through the use of carbon dioxide since 20 3 with the [University of North Dakota Energy and Environment Research Center]," Ness said. "The uniqueness about carbon dioxide and what it does is it mobilizes new oil off the rock. You've got to keep that that pressure up in that reservoir. Natural gas will help that. It'll do some of that, but CO2, as proven by EERC in Bakken rock, will mobilize new oil." Also on this episode, Sen. Paul Thomas, a Republican from Velva, joined us to discuss the rural perspective on the property tax debate. One concern he has is that the focus of House Bill 1176, which was introduced by Rep. Mike Nathe and is supported by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, is exclusively on property tax relief for primary residences. Thomas argues that this could create a political unbalance that has the spending promoted by a majority of voters supported by a minority of farmers and business owners. "In many of the counties, agricultural land provides the majority of the tax base for that county," he said. "In certain communities, obviously if you go to you know Ward County or you go to Cass County with the larger cities, it's not going to be as high a percentage, but when you get out in the in the other rural counties, the agricultural land is providing a majority of the tax." HB1176 provides property $1,450 tax credits for primary residences. Thomas says he'd like to see that combined with House Bill 1168, sponsored by Rep. Scott Louser of Minot, which buys out school credits. The combo, Thomas argues, would deliver the direct and dramatic relief for homeowners that Gov. Armstrong has asked for while also delivering some relief to business owners and farmers. This episode is presented by North Dakotans for Public Schools. North Dakotans for Public Schools is dedicated to protecting and strengthening public education in North Dakota. United by the belief that public schools are the cornerstone of our communities; North Dakotans for Public Schools fights against harmful policies like voucher schemes that divert resources away from public schools. By bringing together educators, parents, school boards, and citizens; North Dakotans for Public Schools amplifies the voices of those who understand the critical role public schools play in shaping the future of North Dakota’s children and communities. Learn more and get involved at www.NDforPublicSchools.com If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
581: 'I'm taking the heat for it'
Rep. Scott Louser, a Republican from Minot, is one of a handful of North Dakota lawmakers who, after casting a vote in favor of a resolution asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn precedent striking down state bans on same-sex marriage, came to regret the decision. "I'm taking the heat for it," Louser said of his change of heart on this episode of Plain Talk. "I don't have a fantastic answer that's going to satisfy everybody," he said when co-host Chad Oban and I asked him about how he came to change his mind. "The best that I could do was tell the world I regretted what I did." "I don't go tell the public, you know, I wish I would have voted different on a bill every time," he continued. "This one warranted that. I made a mistake and I've apologized for it, but probably that's not going to satisfy everybody. I understand that." Louser also discussed the property tax debate. His bill was one of three packages for property tax reform and relief that the House sent the Senate before the crossover break. Why did the House send three bills instead of coalescing around one? He said there was a directive from leadership to "send all three out to the floor of the House and let the whole house decide as opposed to one committee." "The strategy was give the Senate the best ideas that we've had and see what they think," he continued. Also on this episode, Sen. Sean Cleary spoke about his objection on the floor of the Senate to comments characterizing North Dakota's educators and librarians as groomers and pedophiles, and his opposition to the bill they were made in support of. "We're basically bringing law enforcement into a conversation about books in the library," he said of Senate Bill 2307, adding he "just couldn't support a bill like that." Cleary also spoke about a constitutional amendment he proposed which would ban the use of revenues from charitable gaming for political purposes. Legislation defeated in the House before crossover would have directed local governments to deem political organizations like campaigns and parties as "public-spirited" and eligible for the proceeds. Cleary said that bill made him realize "that we have some pretty serious concerns when it comes to gaming in this state." Senate Concurrent Resolution 4027 is "low hanging fruit"when it comes to addressing some of the challenges the explosion in gambling in North Dakota has wrought. This episode is presented by Dakota Resource Council. For nearly 50 years, DRC has worked across North Dakota to protect our land, water and future. Become a member, volunteer and take action, or donate today at www.DRCinfo.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
580: Introducing dozens of bills is 'poor legislation' says lawmaker
On Tuesday, February 25, lawmakers in the state House of Representatives worked late into the evening to finish work on the hundreds of bills introduced in that chamber this session so that they could be sent over to the state Senate for consideration. This legislative session has seen a lot of bills introduced — the most since the 1990s — and that's put a strain on the process. So much so that state Rep. Landon Bahl, a Republican from Grand Forks, says it's precluding lawmakers from giving important issues the attention they deserve. Bills get "ramrodded" into up or down votes, Bahl said, with lawmakers sometimes approving bad legislation in the hope that their colleagues in the other legislative chamber will address the flaws. Bahl sponsored House Bill 1408 with an eye toward addressing some of these problems. The bill, which passed the House by a wide margin earlier this month, would move lawmakers to annual sessions, albeit within the same 80-day constitutional limit they already have. Bahl thinks that would allow the Legislature to do a better job of keeping up with North Dakota's needs, but on this episode of Plain Talk, he said more is needed. Like a cap on the number of bills any lawmaker can introduce. Bahl pointed out that some of his colleagues have introduced dozens of bills. He said he started the session with just three introduced. "I guarantee you other lawmakers do not know their 10, 20, 30 bills inside and out. And I think that's poor legislation," he said. Bahl also said he'd support giving the Legislature's interim committees more power to finalize their work on bills so they can be brought immediately to the floor for votes when the legislative session begins. He'd also like committees to be able to kill legislation without it coming to a floor vote. "I think that streamlines government," he said. "It's a better use of our time. The efficiency is going to increase. Our work, the quality of our work is going to increase. The committees have the time to dive in." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss Rep. Austin Foss's emotional comments against a resolution opposing same-sex marriage which passed the House this week, as well as progress on property tax legislation, a controversial sentencing bill, and the failure of legislation funding school lunches for all North Dakota children. This episode is presented by Dakota Resource Council. For nearly 50 years, DRC has worked across North Dakota to protect our land, water and future. Become a member, volunteer and take action, or donate today at www.DRCinfo.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
577: Will the Legislature pass education savings accounts?
Lawmakers in Bismarck are considering a number of school choice bills which would, in various ways, make public dollars available for parents to use toward private school tuition. The most important one, perhaps, is Senate Bill 2400, introduced by Sen. Michelle Axtman, and it does a whole lot more than just fund school choice. As currently amended, it would create what's called education savings accounts, making at least $1,000 available for every student in North Dakota who attends a public school or is home-schooled. For students attending participating private schools, there would be $4,000 available per student for families making 300% of the federal poverty level or less, $2,000 for families making up to 500% of the poverty level, and $1,000 for everyone else. These funds could be used not just for tuition, but other things as well, like a STEM camp or tutoring, but there's a big price tag attached. The most recent fiscal note attached to the legislation estimates its cost at north of $200 million per two-year budget cycle. Sen. Axtman joined Plain Talk to discuss this legislation, including its cost, the impact it may have on funding for public schools, and the process through which North Dakotans would access these funds. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talked about the status of culture war bills in the Legislature, as well as Rep. Lori VanWinkle's vile comments about infertile women. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
576: 'That is a blatant falsehood'
At the beginning of this episode of Plain Talk, Attorney General Drew Wrigley took exception to my recent reporting suggesting that he and Gov. Kelly Armstrong are at odds over sentencing legislation and the performance of state prison officials. Based on what would follow, I think the conflict between two of North Dakota's top elected officials is positively overt. According to Wrigely, the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, headed by director Colby Braun, is lying to state lawmakers and the public. He took particular issue with a recent fiscal note issued by the DOCR indicating that so-called "truth in sentencing" legislation he supports, which would mean that inmates serve a larger percentage of their sentences, will cost taxpayers as much as $269 million. "Their quest is to make it extraordinarily expensive to turn people away from the bill," he said. "That is a blatant falsehood," a stormy Wrigley told guest-cost Erin Oban and I. "It is not worth the paper it's written on," he continued about the fiscal note. "It would be a joke if it weren't a matter of serious policy debate," he said. Wrigley also said that DOCR officials have been hiding data from the public and lawmakers, and making misleading statements about rising crime rates. "What an absolute abdication of responsibility," concluded. These are serious accusations -- lying, abdication of responsibility, etc. -- but Braun isn't an independent operator. He has a boss. That's Armstrong, who was also scheduled to appear on this episode to discuss the progress of property tax reform, which he has made his primary focus during this legislative session. I asked Wrigley if he felt Braun should be fired, and he demured, saying it wasn't his place to advise the governor on personnel issues. As for Armstrong's feelings about Braun? "I have total confidence in Colby," Armstrong told us when I asked him about Wrigley's remarks. "I try not to make things personal," he added. Armstrong said he hadn't yet reviewed the fiscal note issued by DOCR in response to Wrigley's legislation, which is Senate Bill 2128, but expressed some sympathy with its conclusions about cost. "It turns out when you lock people up, it's expensive," he said. Armstrong also said that while he'll take advice from his staff and cabinet into consideration, if he is ultimately asked to sign something like SB2128 into law, the decision will ultimately be based on his consideration of its merits. As for the progress on property taxes, Armstrong said he's pleased with the debate, though he's worried about lawmakers watering down the caps in his bill. House Bill 1176, which was introduced by Rep. Mike Nathe and carries the governor's plan, was amended in policy committees to allow local governments to set aside a 3% cap on spending increases for as much as 10 years if approved by a vote. "The way it was done probably means there aren't really caps," Armstrong said of the change, later arguing that it was a loophole so big "you could drive a grain truck through it." This episode is presented by Dakota Resource Council. For nearly 50 years, DRC has worked across North Dakota to protect our land, water and future. Become a member, volunteer and take action, or donate today at www.DRCinfo.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
575: Rep. Nico Rios didn't show up
In our promotions for this episode of Plain Talk, we had indicated that state Rep. Nico Rios would be joining us. Rios has made some fairly ugly headlines over the past year or so. He derated two law enforcement officers with bigoted and homophobic comments during an arrest for DUI. More recently, with regard to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, he wondered in an X post "if the CIA would help Trump overthrow and kick this Jew out of power in Mexico." He's also introduced a resolution, in the current legislative session in Bismarck, which would have the State of North Dakota "acknowledge the Kingship of Jesus Christ over all the world," something that likely violates the state constitution, the U.S. constitution, and would not be in keeping with what many North Dakotans -- those of the Jewish faith, or Islamic, etc. -- believe to be true. Me and my co-host, Chad Oban, were looking forward to a respectful interview with Rios about these words and actions. Unfortunately, just minutes before the agreed-upon time for the interview, Rios backed out. "Ay dude I'm not going on your boring little show," he told me in a text. "When I initially agreed to come on Sunday afternoon I thought it was just to promote my Christ is King Resolution, but you seem to be focusing on my social media. NOT NEWS. Got more important things to do than chat Capitol gossip." We did have a very good interview with state Rep. Mike Nathe, who spoke about his property tax bill (which carries Gov. Kelly Armstrong's plan for reform) as well as legislation he's backing that would require all candidates seeking a political party's nomination to collect signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Currently, candidates endorsed at party conventions do not have to collect signatures. "I'm just glad they got this one out so everyone can see it," he said of his property tax bill, which just emerged from the policy committee with a "do-pass" recommendation and some amendments. The committee added the option for local voters to approve a 10-year exemption from the budget caps promoted by Gov. Armstrong. It also lowered the amount of the primary residence tax credit by roughly $100, and added an income tax cut. "If it was my desire that would have been in a separate bill," he said of the income tax portion. Nathe also responded to some of the controversy around Rep. Rios. "I don't agree with it," he said of Rios's words and actions. "My colleagues don't agree with it." Asked if he felt his party should remove Rios from the caucus, and strip him of committee assignments, Nathe deferred to House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, though he did have this message for the people who elected Rios: "The people of Williston have got to stand up." This episode is presented by Dakota Resource Council. For nearly 50 years, DRC has worked across North Dakota to protect our land, water, and future. Become a member; volunteer and take action; or donate today at www.DRCinfo.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
573: 'If we had less bills we could have more meaningful debates'
Property taxes are complicated, so is it any surprise that reforming the property tax code is similarly complicated? We talked about the property tax issue on this Plain Talk (again) because it is, without a doubt, the most complicated and consequential question before lawmakers in Bismarck during the 2025 session. Rep. Scott Louser, a Republican from Minot, discussed his property tax plan, which includes coupling a spending cap on local governments with a buydown of property tax mills. He also critiqued Gov. Kelly Armstrong's plan, saying he's worried that his proposed primary residence tax credits could depress North Dakota's real estate markets. Sen. Mark Weber, a Republican from Casselton, talked about his role in this process as the chair of the Finance and Tax committee, which will need to sort through these bills. Weber represents a largely rural area, and said that the owners of farm land are worried about being left out in the cold on property tax relief. In some rural areas, the bulk of property taxes are paid by a relatively small number of land owners. Is that fair? And what sort of a situation are we creating if a small number of voters, who don't pay the property tax thanks to the state's primary residence credits, can vote to raise taxes on a much smaller number of land-owning voters who do? "Everybody should pay a little property tax," Sen. Weber said. He also expressed frustration with the number of bills introduced this legislative session, which close to a record for the last 20 years. "I think we are introducing entirely too many bills in the legislature," he said. "If we had less bills we could have more meaningful debates," he added. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
572: 'Prions don't exist'
There is a fight in the Legislature between the North Dakota Game & Fish Department and a group of hunters and landowners over regulations aimed at curbing the impact of chronic wasting disease on North Dakota's wildlife populations. But is that fight really about CWD? Or is this another front in the culture war spurred by (in some respects not entirely unreasonable) frustration with Game & Fish regulations? Dusty Backer is an activist (I don't use that word pejoratively, though he objected to being described that way) who joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the issue. He argues that concerns over CWD are feigned by state officials, federal officials, and academics as an avenue toward "controlling people." "Prions don't exist," he told us (CWD is described by health officials as "a prion disease"). He said that the state's efforts to regulate bait hunting, implemented as one method to control the spread of CWD, are unreasonable and an affront to property rights. Also on this episode, we've heard a lot about Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax plan, but Rep. Ben Koppelman, a Republican from West Fargo, has an alternative he says is better, though he admits that he likes broad portions of Armstrong's proposal. "The cap in the governor's plan I agree with," he said, referring to a 3% limit on growth in local budgets which he says the governor took from him. "I'm honored he would take that idea and put it in his plan." "Where I disagree is on the relief portion," Koppelman continued, saying that his plan delivers more tax relief on primary residences more quickly than Armstrong's plan by buying down a percentage as opposed to providing a fixed credit. He says there is political risk in not delivering tax relief swiftly. "I think we're going to set ourselves up for another measure," he said, referring to Measure 4, a proposal to abolish taxes on property values which voters defeated by a wide margin last year. Koppelman argues that, under his plan, a broader crossection of property owners will feel relief on a shorter timeline than under the governor's plan. "The idea is everyone should get to zer [property taxes] together," he said. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
571: Should North Dakota have an ID requirement for online porn?
There's no denying that the easy availability of explicit content on the internet is a major problem for parents, not to mention schools. We all agree, children shouldn't be looking at pornography, but how we go about regulating access (and even how we define what is and is not pornography) are tricky problems. Rep. Steve Swiontek, a Republican from Fargo, has proposed a bill that would create a requirement for the purveyors of explicit content online to implement age verification, but the government wouldn't enforce it. Instead, the legislation creates a legal liability for the companies allowing them to be sued by private citizens, or classes of citizens, if they aren't doing verification. "I do have a passion for this one," Rep. Swiontek said on this episode of Plain Talk. Also on this episode, we discussed a growing trend in the insurance industry that's worrisome for people obliged to take expensive medications. Basically, the insurance companies aren't counting payments made on prescription drugs with third-party money toward a patient's deductible. If the patient gets a coupon or a gift card to cover a portion of their out of pocket payment, that doesn't count. If they get some help from family, or a charity or a church, that also doesn't count. That can leave those patients stuck on an out-of-pocket treadmill for much longer than they would need to be. Rep. Karen Karls, a Bismarck Republican, joined this Plain Talk alongside Bill Robie from the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, to talk about proposed legislation prohibiting this practice. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
570: 'That does hurt'
Former President Joe Biden spent the last moments of his time in office issuing preemptive pardons to family members and political allies. He also pardoned thousands of people convicted of crimes, often to the bewilderment of judges and prosecutors, including some here in North Dakota. New President Donald Trump, meanwhile, spent the first moments after his inauguration releasing hundreds of people who participated in the violent January 6 attack on Congress which was inspired by his lies about the 2020 election. Mac Schneider has spent the last couple of years working in the justice business. The Justice Department, specifically, as the U.S. Attorney for North Dakota. How does he feel about these pardons? "The folks I work with are incredibly serious about upholding the rule of law," he said on this episode of Plain Talk, adding that the "wreckage" created by many of those pardoned persists even as their accountability disappears at the stroke of a politician's pen. "When you get news of that variety, I think of the victims," he said. "That does hurt." Also on this episode, first-term state Rep. Austin Foss, a Democrat from Fargo, talks about his experiences in his first legislative session, as well as legislation he's proposed that would require employers to give people interested in serving in the legislature a leave of absence. What does Foss think of the Legislature so far? "I'm surprised by the number of Republicans that do want to work with us," he said. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
569: 'I'm patient...but our patience is wearing thin."
Participatory politics is what makes our democracy work, but it also supposes that those who are participating are doing so in good faith. How do we handle people who want to use the tools of participation -- things like open records requests and open meetings -- as soap boxes for narcissistic jeremiads? What if the people participating aren't intent on being constructive, but instead are out to just burn everything down (figuratively speaking)? The City of Dickinson will soon hold a special election in which the incumbent, city commissioner Jason Fridrich, who was recalled to the ballot by petitioners, will run unopposed after the leader of the petitioning campaign, a local gadfly prolifically active on social media and in the public comment period at city meetings, chose not to run. This exercise in futility will cost the taxpayers of Dickinson tens of thousands of dollars, and what does it accomplish? Satisfying the ego of a minority faction of malcontents? "I bite my tongue," Dickinson Mayor Scott Decker said on this episode of Plain Talk of his efforts to keep his composure while getting berated during public meetings. "I'm patient," he continued, "but our patience is wearing thin." Decker and his community are struggling with balancing the sort of openness and transparency that allows certain members of the public to verbally abuse elected officials, and accuse them of all manner of perfidy, with the need to just get on with the public's business. Why should members of the public, attending a city meeting to learn about budgets, or taxes, or a zoning issue, be subjected to long-winded tirades that often have little to do with city business? This isn't just a Dickinson problem. Local governing entities across North Dakota -- indeed, across America -- are struggling with these problems. During his interview, Decker offered some fascinating insight on what it all looks like from a seat in local government. Also on this episode, Travis Finck, North Dakota's top public defender, talks about his office's struggles amid funding shortfalls, and his efforts to convince lawmakers to fund his lawyers on par with what prosecutors receive. "Right now we're not worried about a level playing field," Finck told us. "We're not even in the arena. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
568: A legislative fight over chronic wasting disease
In North Dakota, game and fish officials have the authority to restrict bait hunting in order to protect animals from diseases like chronic wasting disease. And that's what they've been doing. When a case is found in the deer population, they ban the use of bait for hunting in an area 25 miles around it. This has a very vocal faction of the hunting community incensed. Many of them insist that chronic wasting disease is a hoax, or at the every least an exaggerated threat, and they want state officials stripped of the ability regulate bait hunting. There are three versions of bills to do that before lawmakers in Bismarck. Brock Wahl is a fifth-generation North Dakotan and chair of the North Dakota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers organization. On this episode of Plain Talk, he told co-host Chad Oban and I that while regulation of bait hunting hasn't been perfect, it is necessary, and it is protecting state deer populations from CWD. "It's undoutable that this is making a difference," he said. As for the opponents? "I think some of these folks are on a disinformation campaign." Wahl spoke at length about the history of prion diseases like CWD, or other maladies like so-called "mad cow disease, calling them "both vertical and horizontal" threats. Part of what he means by that is CWD can spread to other species. Is that a threat to livestock, which is an important part of North Dakota's economy? Wahl said he didn't want to exaggerate the threat. "I don't know that it's a significant concern," he said. But he argued it's like playing the lottery. The odds may be against it, but buy enough tickets, and eventually you'll have a winner. Wahl said that some opponents of baiting regulation invoke property rights, arguing that they should get to do what they want on their property, but Wahl pointed to Article XI, section 27 of the state constitution, which states, "Hunting, trapping, and fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage and will be forever preserved for the people and managed by law and regulation for the public good." The property may be privately owned, Wahl said, but the wildlife belongs to everyone. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss the debate over bills mandating the 10 commandments and the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools, the first hearing over Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax proposal, and the debate over the explosion in charitable gaming. This episode is presented by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation. ND Petroleum Foundation provides education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advances quality of life initiatives, and promotes and enhances the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
567: Auditor Josh Gallion wants subpoena power
By his own admission, Auditor Josh Gallion had a rocky relationship with lawmakers last session, which resulted in the Legislature appropriating funding for an audit of Gallion's office. That audit has been completed. It had findings related to communications issues and confusing invoices. The review also found that Gallion has implemented measures to improve these issues, and that they have improved. Gallion joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the audit of his office, as well as a request he's making to lawmakers to give him subpoena power to help his office review public/private partnerships. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate the feedback that we received last legislative session," Gallion said. He said there was some "additional emotion" on both sides of the relationship between his office and the Legislature during the 2023 session, but that he hopes to put that in the past. "We definitely needed to improve the communications and the detail and the training. So, that's the feedback that we really appreciated last session," he said. As for subpoena power, a growing number of government entities in North Dakota are working with or through private entities like nonprofits. Sometimes, the nonprofits are even created by the government entities themselves. This presents a challenge for Gallion and his team because their authority "really stops at the edge of that government organization," he told co-host Chad Oban and I. "If we do need to follow the money, there are times where we have challenges and these private entities may not have to necessarily comply with the public records," he continued. Gallion's office has submitted a proposal for subpoena power to lawmakers. Also on this episode, Dean Mitchell from DFM Research talked about a survey he conducted which was sponsored by North Dakota United, the state's teacher and public worker's union which Oban also works for. The survey found strong support for universal school lunches and property tax reform, as well as opposition to using public dollars to fund private school tuition. Mitchell walked us through the survey's results. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota - learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
566: Gov. Armstrong and Attorney General Wrigley are at odds over criminal justice reform
The public and media reaction to Gov. Kelly Armstrong's first address to the state Legislature has focused on his bold and aggressive plan for property taxes. That's understandable. There's a near-consensus in the state's political circles over property taxes being the most pressing issue facing this legislature. But Armstrong's state-of-the-state address telegraphed another hot issue that could put him at swords' points with another of North Dakota's top elected officials. During the 2023 session, Attorney General Drew Wrigley was combative with lawmakers who opposes his efforts to implement new mandatory minimum sentences in state law. Ahead of the 2025 session, he told reporter April Baumgarten that he will "lock horns" on the issue again. But during Armstrong's address, he made blunt reference to the fact that North Dakota's jails are full. On this episode of Plain Talk, I asked the governor if there's tension between his stance and Wrigley's. It seems there is. "I don't think we have the space" in the state's jails and prisons, Armstrong said. He added that his staff was briefed on Wrigley's plan the same day as his address and that he "hasn't even looked" at the legislation Wrigley is backing. When asked directly if it were something he'd support, Armstrong said, "I don't know yet," though he added that he's never seen a mandatory minimum sentencing bill that he's supported. "It's expensive to incarcerate people," he said. He promised during his address, and during our interview to be working on what he described as the "cheapest and quickest way to free up prison space," but wasn't ready to provide details, saying he'll announce the plan during a budget address further into he session. Armstrong is a former defense attorney — he described himself as an "old street lawyer" during our interview — and has been passionate about criminal justice reform since he was first elected to the Legislature as a state Senator in 2012. Wrigley, too, is outspoken on the issue. We could see some fireworks. Armstrong also discussed his property tax plan with co-host Chad Oban and I, and former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp also joined to discuss the demise of the so-called "Chevron doctrine" in American jurisprudence, which may be the most consequential political issue you've never heard of. Why is Congress so dysfunctional? Because they aren't writing laws anymore, instead punting them to regulatory agencies in the executive branch. Why are presidential politics out of control? Because the power Congress has ceded to the executive branch has raised the stakes for presidential elections through the roof. "Congress needs to exercise its Article I authority and write the laws," Heitkamp said. She's leading a bipartisan group creating a roadmap for Congress on how to reclaim that authority. It's a fascinating discussion, and not nearly as boring as it may seem. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
565: Tax Relief, Energy Policy and the Pledge of Allegiance
Guest hosts Jessica and Michael Bell welcome Representative Anna S. Novak for a wide-ranging conversation on the upcoming legislative session. From property tax proposals to requiring the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, they explore the policies that will shape classrooms and communities statewide. Rep. Novak and the hosts also tackle energy reliability, including the role of coal and the potential for nuclear power. The Bells wrap up the episode with their perspectives on upcoming legislative priorities and President Trump's cabinet appointments. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
564: Rerun interview with former Fargo television personality Chris Berg
"Turn off the TV and talk radio," Chris Berg said in this February 6, 2024 interview, which we're re-publishing during our holiday break. Berg worked in those media for over a decade, earning the most notoriety (and, depending on your perspective, infamy) as a television host in the Fargo market. But Berg says he now has some regrets. I invited him to talk on this episode of Plain Talk after he responded to an article I posted on Twitter saying that leaving talk radio and television behind was the best decision he could make for his mental health. "I felt like I was dragging myself to the microphone," he told me. He ultimately decided to step back from that line of work, and decamp to the west coast. He said that shortly after he moved to California, news broke of a school shooting in Tennessee, and despite the awful news, he felt a sense of relief that he wouldn't have to spend hours having the same old shout-fest about it without anything meaningful getting done. "The sad thing about the media business is the more anger and hate you sow, the more money you make," he said. "Take off the red or blue glasses and challenge yourself," he added. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
563: Rerun interview with Ethics Commission executive director Rebecca Binstock
We're in holiday mode here at Plain Talk, so we thought we'd bring you some reruns of a few of our best interviews from 2024. This interview with Rebecca Binstock, the executive director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, was originally published on July 26, 2024. "Ethics commissions alone do not create ethical government," Binstock told us, adding that it also requires a robust news media and an engaged electorate. Binstock also noted that, while complaints filed with the commission tend to get the most attention, her goal is to reduce the number of complaints filed by holding seminars and information sessions to prevent them from happening in the first place. The voters created the ethics commission on the ballot, and since then it's become a larger part of North Dakota government. And, unfortunately, politics. This election cycle we saw multiple incidents of politicians and activists announcing that they had filed ethics complaints against individuals on the ballot, with a clear intent to manipulate voters, even though the complaints are officially confidential, and those they're filed against are prohibited by law from speaking about them. We hope you enjoy this rerun, and enjoy your holidays. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
562: A very Plain Talk Christmas
It was an excellent year for the Plain Talk podcast. Our audience grew by leaps and bounds and is larger than ever. For that ,we have you to thank, dear listener. Thank you for tuning in. This Christmas, we wanted to reflect on the year that was, and the year that's ahead of us. On this episode of Plain Talk, Chad Oban and I talk about the highlights (and lowlights) of 2024. The Doug Burgum era of North Dakota politics came to an end, and the Kelly Armstrong era has begun. The North Dakota Republican went through a bruising primary season, but emerged after the general election as dominant as ever. At the national level, former President Donald Trump became president once again. We talk about all that, and more, and also look ahead to what 2025 might have in store for us. And, most of all, Chad and I and everyone involved in producing the Plain Talk podcast hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
561: Biden's commutation of North Dakota man 'despicable' says prosecutor
McLean County State's Attorney Ladd Erickson has not been mincing words in his reaction to some of President Joe Biden's pardons that impact our region. He's called them "ridiculous" and "despicable," though he wants to be clear that this didn't have anything to do with politics. "Some of the stuff that President Trump said he's going to pardon is despicable," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. But at least one of Biden's pardons is very, very personal to him. Erickson was involved in bringing Hunter Hanson to justice. Hanson defrauded dozens of people to the tune of about $11 million, but as Erickson explained to us on the show, his victim pool is larger than that. Whole businesses, some of which were the pillars of their small, rural communities, collapsed as a result of Hanson's actions. And President Biden commuted his sentence. Why? "I have no idea," Erickson told us, "and that's one of the frustrations." Also on this episode, Sen. Dale Patten, a Republican from Watford City, weighs in on the controversy over the proposed Maah Daah Hey National Monument. A group of activists are pushing hard to get President Biden to create this monument with an executive order on his way out of office, but Patten says it's far too big a decision to be made unilaterally in Washington D.C. "This is 140,000 acres," he said. "This is twice the size of Theodore Roosevelt National Park." He also said that Biden using the authority of the Antiquities Act would be in appropriate. "It's a circumvention of congressional intent when wilderness is declared a national monument." Patten said his criticism of the project isn't political. "As the proposal sits, I don't care who the president is, there would be opposition." He would prefer that local stakeholders in North Dakota -- from agricultural interests to industrial interests to tribes and all levels of state and local government -- work together on a plan to address whatever protections these lands need. "Do we need to include the federal to do that? No we don't," he said. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
560: Paying for school lunches, and Luigi Mangione is no hero
A national survey reports that a shocking number of Americans under the age of 30 condone the murder of health industry CEO Brian Thompson, an act allegedly committed by Luigi Mangione. Me and Chad Oban discuss that survey on this episode of Plain Talk. Do the people justifying the murder of Thompson understand that people they don't like so much might decide to play by the same rules? What happens when other sorts of political extremists begin justifying violence this way? Also on this episode, a coalition calling itself Together for School Meals has formed to begin advocacy for legislation that would pay for school lunches for all North Dakota students. Tony Burke, a government affairs director for the American Heart Association, which is one of the groups in this coalition, joined us to make the case for the initiative. "It's broader than just school lunches," he told us, arguing that it's "about healthy students." How much will the initiative cost? How will it be implemented? What impacts will it have on existing federal funding for North Dakota's school lunch program? We asked, and Burke answered. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
559: 'It's damning. It's aboslutely horrible.'
If you get into an accident involving a local political subdivision in North Dakota -- maybe a garbage truck side-swipes your car, or you slip on some ice outside of a school -- you may find yourself dealing with what's called the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund. This self-insurance fund, paid for by local entities, handles those claims. And, according to a scathing report from Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread's office, it hasn't been handling them fairly. "It's damning," Rep. Austen Schauer said on this episode of Plain Talk. "It's absolutely horrible." Schauer, a Republican from Fargo, sits on the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee, which received Godfread's report. He called NDIRF's treatment of claimants "callous" and "an abuse of public dollars." He argues that the way NDIRF handles claims, "the victim has to prove they were victimized." "There's no appeals process other than you hire an attorney," he added. Schauer says he'd like to see the current fund eliminated, and replaced with something new, be it a new fund with a better governance structure, or a private sector option. "If there's a legitimate claim, you pay it," he said. "If you have to raise premiums, you raise premiums." Also on this episode, Chad Oban and I discuss Gov. Doug Burgum's comments about his biggest regret from eight years in office. He says it's not doing more to put the blame for property taxes on the local governments that levy them. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
558: 'The good, the bad, and the ugly' of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence. Whether you love it, hate it, or are indifferent, it's here, and there are important questions about how it will be used, and what sort of opportunities it presents for our region, which policymakers need to discuss. Rep. Josh Christy is a first-term Republican lawmaker from Fargo who is heading into his second legislative session. He's also what you could call an AI professional. He's an entrepreneur, a software development executive, and a consultant who works with AI and AI policies on a regular basis. "Two years ago, generative AI was not something anyone was talking about," he said, referring to his first session in Bismarck. But now it's here. Teachers are using it. Students are using it. The business community is using it. On this episode of Plain Talk, Christy argued that it's time for North Dakota's laws to catch up. "With any type of technology, there's the good, the bad, the ugly," Christy said, and he's got legislative proposals for each of those. One bill he has developed in conjunction with Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office would address abusive uses of AI. Say, to develop images or videos of public figures for nefarious purposes or of children for sexual gratification. "People are using this to generate images of children in compromising positions," Christy said, and current law doesn't necessarily address that. But other initiatives Christy proposes would seek to welcome the AI industry into North Dakota as a partner. Christy proposes leveraging North Dakota's oil, gas, and coal resources to help power data centers. He wants to develop "computing credits" that could help facilitate the data industry's move into the state. He'll be pushing this bills during the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January. Also on this episode, Chad Oban and I discuss the on-going controversies around Burleigh County auditor Mark Spolonskowski, the efforts to recall Dickinson city commissioner Jason Fridrich, the arrest of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of gunning down an insurance industry executive in Manhattan, and what all those stories mean for our society's notions about right and wrong. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
557: 'Nobody's getting what they want'
When state Rep. Eric Murphy decided to introduced an abortion bill that, while perhaps representing where most of the public is on the issue, is likely to incite blowback from activists on both sides, he decided he wasn't going to ask any of his fellow lawmakers to co-sponsor it. "This is going to be a charged bill," he said of the draft legislation, which he'll introduce next month during North Dakota's legislative session. He said he felt "no need to expose anyone" to the threats and vitriol the bill could inspire. Murphy joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the proposal, which would make abortion legal as an elective for the first 15 weeks of of a pregnancy, illegal after 26 weeks, and allowable between 16 and 26 weeks only with approval from a panel of medical professionals who deem it medically necessary. Is Murphy's bill a pro-life bill? That side of the argument would probably say no, because abortion would be completely legal for the first 15 weeks. Is it a pro-choice bill? That side of the debate would likely say no, because abortion is restricted after 15 weeks, and completely banned after 26. But that middle ground between the two extremes on the issue is precisely where Murphy wants to be, and where he thinks most Americans, and most North Dakotans are. He told co-host Chad Oban and I that "we have to move away from the morality play" that the abortion issue is typically cast as. "Nobody is getting what they want," on this contentious issue, Murphy argued. He says it's time to start creating laws we can live with. Also on this episode, columnist Gary Emineth joined us to discuss property taxes. In a recent column, Emineth, who supported the constitutional amendment to abolish all taxes on property values which failed on the November ballot, argued for the Legislature to pass a somewhat narrower ban on property taxes, specifically removing them from only residential properties. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
556: 'The bounds are being pushed' on gambling in North Dakota
I don't make a habit of referencing things Plain Talk podcast guests say off the air, but Deb McDaniel, the director of the gaming division in Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office, casually mentioned this jaw-dropping statistic on co-host Chad Oban and I after our interview on today's episode. In October 2024, electronic pull-tab machines in North Dakota saw over 200 million button pushes. The machines saw $80 million in cash run through them that month. That's one month, a state with just over 783,000 citizens. That works out to roughly $100 for every beating heart in the state. It's an astounding figure, and it illustrates how acute the issue of charitable gaming has become in North Dakota. Both Wrigley and McDaniel joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about their efforts to regulate this exploding industry, as well as a looming push in the upcoming legislative session to take gaming regulation authority away from Wrigley's office. Also on this episode, we react to Gov. Doug Burgum's last budget address as a lame-duck governor, and the tightrope Sen. Kevin Cramer is walking around some of President-elect Donald Trump's nominees. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
555: Tony Bender remembered
Chad Oban and I are off for the holiday, so today's podcast is a rerun. This is an interview I recorded with columnist Tony Bender three years ago this month, in November of 2021. In it, we discuss divides in the North Dakota Republican Party that were apparent at the time, and still are today. We also discussed the tribalism of American politics in 2021, redistricting, and the special session of the Legislature in Bismarck. Tony was a good friend of mine, and passed away recently. Missing him, I went back and listened to this old interview, and thought you, the audience, might enjoy it, too, as a holiday rerun. Especially since so many in my audience were part of Tony's audience, too. Regular episodes of Plain Talk will resume next week If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
554: Reforming North Dakota's campaign finance laws
Plain Talk co-host Chad Oban says North Dakota's campaign finance laws are a joke. They're not transparent, he argues, and there's little in the way of consequence for those who flout them. Sen. Sean Cleary, a Republican from Bismarck, wants to change that. He joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss his idea for putting more information about campaigns and candidates before the voters, and creating some stiffer penalties for those who don't comply. Legislation Cleary is drafting for the upcoming legislative session, which commences in January, aims to require more frequent campaign finance reports from candidates and expand the information being reported. It also seeks to make reporting requirements more consistent across different types of campaigns, from those run by candidates to those backing ballot measures. Cleary is also looking at increasing the fines for non-compliance to put more of a "stick behind it," and he wants to require that both candidates and incumbents have to file statements of interest more regularly, disclosing certain facts about their holdings so that voters can scrutinize how they might intersect with the public's business. Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss my recent story about a plan for the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation to pay retention bonuses to UND President Andrew Armacost. We also honor the passing of my friend and fellow columnist Tony Bender. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
553: The strange bedfellows in the carbon capture debate
When reporter Adam Willis set out to profile the debate in North Dakota over Summit's Midwest Carbon Express pipeline for Bloomberg, he wanted to focus on the people who are for it, rather than against it. Much of the reporting on that topic, to date, has focused on the naysayers, he told Chad Oban and I on this episode of Plain Talk. During out interview, Willis described what he learned about the people who are working to make carbon capture projects, including Summit's, a reality in North Dakota, as well as some of the strange political bedfellows between the left and right the debate has created. Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss what may be the new political divide in America, which is less along the lines of ideology than the vagaries of pragmatism. The debate, increasingly, seems to be between people who are unflinchingly loyal to their party or buried to their necks in ideology, and those who just want to pursue good ideas. We also discussed the state of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet appointments, and some of the blowback Governor-elect Kelly Armstrong has received for appointing an outgoing Democratic lawmaker to his cabinet. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy—leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
552: 'There will be caps'
Heading into their 2025 legislative session, which starts in January, North Dakota lawmakers will consider dozens and dozens of bills dealing with property taxes. That makes sense because despite a ballot measure aimed at abolishing property taxes face planting on the statewide ballot, North Dakotans are not satisfied with the status quo. What property tax reform and relief will look like coming out of this legislative session is an open question, but Senate Majority Leader David Hogue told Chad Oban and me on this episode of Plain Talk that there is one certainty. "There will be caps," he said. Which is to say, lawmakers will be capping property tax increases, though Hogue explained that how those caps will be structured will be an open debate. Will the caps apply to all local spending or only that funded by property taxes? Will the caps be a flat percentage or tied to inflation? We'll see, but after years of demuring on caps, won over, Hogue said, by the local control argument, the Legislature is ready to get it done. Hogue also spoke about steps the Legislature plans to take to strengthen its oversight role in policy. The majority leader says the plan is to move dozens of executive branch officials who evaluate policy to the legislative branch. Which makes sense. If the Legislature wants to measure the success or failure of a given policy, it might not make a lot of sense to get that analysis from someone working for an agency head who lobbied for the policy in the first place. This move is also aimed at addressing the challenges presented by term limits. Now that the legislature is going to see more turnover, by law, it's going to be losing some level of institutional knowledge. Moving these workers to the legislative branch serves as a buttress to that brain drain. Hogue also spoke to impending debates over state jail and prison populations and state-provided mental health services, including the push to build a new state hospital in Jamestown, which he said is far too expensive. Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong's decision to appoint Democrat (and erstwhile Plain Talk gust host) Rep. Corey Mock to his administration, and provide some local analysis of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet choices. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy—leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
551: Tackling Property Taxes & Trump's Cabinet Picks
In this episode of Plain Talk, guest hosts Corey Mock and Jessica Unruh Bell are joined by Minot Representative Scott Louser. Together, they dive deep into the complexities of North Dakota's property tax system, dissecting the legislative response to the failed Measure 4 and exploring innovative proposals for property tax relief and reform. Mock and Bell close the episode with their perspectives on upcoming legislative priorities and the latest developments in President Trump’s cabinet appointments. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy—leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
550: The Bell Bump and the Mock Block
In this special episode of Plain Talk, guest hosts Corey Mock and Jessica Unruh Bell welcome Senator Dick Dever from District 32 for a candid conversation on legislative insights and challenges. Senator Dever shares reflections on his experience in the legislature, discussing the impact of term limits, the significance of interim committees, and his personal goal to restore honor and civility in North Dakota politics. The discussion also covers the evolving responsibilities of policy advisory roles and predictions on how term limits might reshape the state’s government structure. Following the interview, Corey and Jessica exchange their own insights on the upcoming legislative session and the recent reporting about Securities Commissioner Karen Tyler. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy—leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
549: 'I don't give platitudes'
Governor-elect Kelly Armstrong, fresh off a landslide victory on the statewide ballot, is coming in hot. He's still got a term in Congress to finish out -- he's said he'll resign shortly before midnight the day before he's sworn in as governor on December 15 -- but he's got big plans for his time in Bismarck. "I don't give platitudes," he told me and Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. Armstrong campaigned on property tax reform. He opposed Measure 4 -- he said in a previous Plain Talk interview that he hated the proposal -- but he also isn't a fan of what the Legislature has been doing to address the issue in previous sessions, which as amounted transferring local spending into the state budget. "Don't send me another buy down without significant reform," he told us. "It hasn't worked in the past. It's not going to work going forward." He also talked about his philosophy when it comes to staffing his new administration. "I have a small alaw firm mentality for how I operate," he said (Armstrong practiced as an attorney before his political career). "I hire smart people and empower them to make decisions. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy—leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
548: 'The importance of showing up'
The vote is in, and despite weeks of polling gurus telling us it was going to be a close election, it wasn't particularly close. It wasn't a Reaganesque national landslide, either, but former President Donald Trump won not only the Electoral College vote but the national popular vote as well. Legendary North Dakota political operative Pat Finken joined me and Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the national election, as well as local elections, where Finken, through his Brighter Future Fund political action committee, campaigned against the Measure 5 legalization of marijuana and as well as a couple of Republican legislative candidates. The high turnout election, both in North Dakota and nationally, showed "the importance of showing up," Finken said. We also discussed how the election will impact the divides in the North Dakota Republican party, and how that coalition will govern in Bismarck. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy—leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
547: Expect better from the politicians
The legislative races in the Grand Forks area have gotten ugly. Incumbent state Sen. Scott Meyer, a Republican from District 18, sent his opponent threatening social media messages. Incumbent state Rep. Emily O'Brien from District 42 has been accused of not living in her district. Now Sarah Grossbauer, a Democratic-NPL candidate in District 42 -- one of O'Brien's opponents -- is dodging questions about drug use after a Republican (and former friend) leaked a photo of her allegedly using cocaine in the bathroom of a downtown Grand Forks bar. Me and Chad Oban talked about it all on this episode of Plain Talk (full disclosure, Oban works for North Dakota United, as does Grossbauer). One complicating factor in all of this is our propensity -- and I really mean "our" because we're all guilty of this -- of being hypercritical of candidates we don't like while rationalizing the behavior of those we do. It has to stop. We can expect more from our elected officials. Auditor Josh Gallion also joined this episode to talk about what he's done during his two terms in office to justify voters giving him a third. Among his arguments? He's modernized the office. "We had walls of filing cabinets with paper records," he said. Now, much of that data has been digitized, and is available online. Gallion also talked about his office's greater efforts to communicate audit information to the public, but at times that's gotten the incumbent in some hot water. His critics in the Legislature, and in local government, have accused him of sensationalizing funding. Gallion responded to those criticisms, and others related to the costs of his office's audits. Finally, Chad and made our 2024 election predictions. How will North Dakota's statewide races shake out? Which ballot measures will be approved? Will the partisan balance in the Legislature change much? And who is going to win the national election? You'll have to listen to find out what we think. And, after Tuesday, maybe you can make fun of us for being wrong. Speaking of which, we have a new way for you to communicate with us. Just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy—leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
546: Bank of North Dakota president responds to conspiracy theories
We live in an age of misinformation. The internet is chock full of false narratives and egregious bunkum that can seem plausible to some if for no other reason than the sheer volume of it orr, perhaps, because it confirms certain biases and attitudes the audience already has. Recently a website called the Gateway Pundit, which was forced to print a retraction as a part of a settlement in a defamation lawsuit brought by Georgia election workers published what it purports to be a news story about the Bank of North Dakota. Citing anonymous sources and critics, the "story" insinuates that the BND is involved in a cover-up of bad loans, bailouts, and other nefarious activities. The one on-the-record statement was given by Sen. Kent Weston, a Republican who serves in District 9. Normally, one might think it unwise to respond to internet cranks, but we live in an era where talk radio host Alex Jones was able to convince 1 in 5 Americans that the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax. These things can't be taken lightly. BND President Don Morgan joined this episode of Plain Talk to provide factual answers. "The only part of the article that is true is they got our name right," Morgan told Chad Oban and me. "As it kind of got picked up by some locals, we decided we want to get some facts out there," he continued. Morgan says the bank is in strong financial shape, and it hasn't received bailouts. He also said that Sen. Weston hasn't, to his knowledge, contacted the bank about the claims made in the article. Also on this episode, Democratic-NPL auditor candidate Tim Lamb joined to discuss his campaign. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
545: A legislative debate all of North Dakota should listen to
"Even the most extreme ends of our legislature vote the same way 60+ percent of the time," a Plain Talk listener and sitting state lawmaker texted me recently. He was making a point about the way we talk about politics, where we emphasize our disagreements more than our agreements. "Difference in ideology is great. We need more civil debate and strengthening ideas through discourse," he said. "But the gap between left and right is much narrower than most people realize." He's right, and the voting records bear it out. We do agree more than we disagree, what gets the heat, what draws our attention for reasons having to do with human nature (and, if we're being honest, the sort of content that drives clicks and shares and views) is our differences. I was thinking about while recording this episode of Plain Talk, which featured Chad Oban and I moderating a debate between District 10 Sen. Ryan Braunberger, a Democrat, and challenger George Roughead, a Republican. As we covered education topics like student performance, school choice, and school lunches, and as we hit on working-class issues like child care, and as we delved into culture war issues like LGTBQ issues and book bans, these two bright, engaged, well-informed candidates spent a lot of time agreeing on what North Dakota's challenges are. They often disagreed, sometimes sharply, on what the solutions to those problems are, but when it comes to what the job before them would be if elected to another term in the Legislature? Both men were over the target. "I was a very good voice for my district," Braunberger told us when asked why voters should give him another term. He mentioned his work on child care and his efforts to work with Republicans. "Being one of only four Democrats in the Senate, you have to work across the aisle," he said. Roughead, who works as a teacher, said he wants to focus on education. "The Senate doesn't have any active teachers," he said. District 10 features one of the few competitive races in North Dakota, and that's probably because it's one of the few places with mixed partisan representation. The debate in District 10 can tell us a lot about the debates that are happening (or that would be happening if they featured competitive races) in legislative campaigns around North Dakota. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
544: Sen. Scott Meyer should resign
Chad Oban and I have a lot of disagreements while hosting the Plain Talk podcast, which is what you'd expect. He's left-of-center; I'm right-of-center. Today, however, we were singing from the same choirbook. Sen. Scott Meyer, a Republican running for re-election in Grand Forks-area District 18, who admitted to me that he got drunk and sent threatening messages to his opponent, Democratic-NPL candidate Kyle Thorson, should resign. We each made our case for why on today's episode of Plain Talk. Also joining us was former NDGOP chairman Perrie Schafer to discuss the work his LegeNDary Fund is doing to promote traditional, "normie" conservatism in North Dakota. "There are a certain group of people who are loud and make a lot of noise," he said. "They are not the majority." He said he wants to bring what he calls the "80%" of reasonable North Dakota Republicans back into active engagement with the NDGOP. "When the loud side of either party makes a lot of noise, the 80% are quiet." Also joining us was Treasurer Thomas Beadle to respond to criticisms of the State Investment Board made by two of our previous guests, Rep. Bernie Satrom and Rep. Mitch Ostlie of Jamestown. They claim that North Dakota's Legacy Fund investments are transparent enough, and have proposed legislation to require an online database detailing where the fund's money is at. Beadle says he supports the idea, but pointed out some limitations. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
543: 'Where are the dollars invested?'
The Legacy Fund was launched in 2010 when North Dakota voters approved a legislatively-initiated constitutional amendment to create it. Now, thanks to the share of oil tax revenues it receives, as well as the investment returns its generated, it sits with a balance of about $10.7 billion. And it's become something of a political football. It can seem as though we are endlessly debating how the fund is invested and what we should do with the fund and its earnings. On this episode of Plain Talk, a couple of Republican lawmakers from District 12, in the Jamestown area, talked about legislation they'd like to see passed during the 2025 session which, they feel, would help inform those debates. Because one of the biggest problems of the Legacy Fund is that we don't know how a lot of the money is invested. Rep. Mitch Ostlie, and Rep. Bernie Satrom, estimate that about $3.1 billion of the fund's investments are opaque to public scrutiny. "Where are the dollars invested?" Rep. Ostlie asked. Their proposal is called the Legacy Fund Transparency Act, and it's pretty simple. It would require that the State Investment Board list the Legacy Fund's investments in a public way. Perhaps on the SIB's website. The lawmakers feel this would not only help inform debates over what we should be doing with the Legacy Fund, but also help us identify problematic investments, like when the fund was invested in Russian bonds. "We were literally funding the Russian government," Rep. Satrom said. The lawmakers were also somewhat critical of the current members of the State Investment Board, which includes among its number elected officials like Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, Treasurer Thomas Beadle, Rep. Glenn Bosch, and Sen. Jerry Klein. "This has just been incredibly hands off," Rep. Satrom said. "We were able to find out...that we were in Russian bonds," he continued at another point in the interview. "Couldn't they see? They're just trusting the experts and not having common sense." Also on this episode, Chad Oban and I discuss what are probably the most important legislative races in the North Dakota, in Districts 10, 24, and 46, and we also talk about U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer's recent criticisms of his opponent Julie Fedorchak. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
542: A nostrum for our civic despair
People who are familiar with my body of work probably aren't inclined to think of me when they have an appetite for warm, fuzzy, feel-good stories, and yet that's precisely the sort of story we began today's episode of Plain Talk with. Which is a good thing, because as we survey the political landscape, there's not a lot to feel positive about. Joe Kolosky works for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. He says one of the favorite parts of his job is overseeing a program through which veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam, can apply to receive the high school diplomas they missed out on when they shipped out to war zones. The Legislature created the program in 2001 for WWII veterans, and expanded it to include Korea and Vietnam veterans in 2003, and since then it's issued over 300 honorary high school diplomas including, most recently, two Korean War veterans. Koslosky says it means a lot to him that he gets to help these veterans, but more important, it means a great deal to the veterans themselves. Those who feel they or someone they know may qualify for it should contact the Department of Public Instruction. Officials only need you to fill out a one-page application, and provide a the veteran's paperwork verifying their service. Also on this episode, Chad Oban and I discuss the recent FEC filngs in North Dakota's federal races, our thoughts on the likely outcomes of those races, and the future of the North Dakota Republican Party's dominance in electoral office. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
541: A feisty debate between superintendent candidates
By the time her current term ends, Kirsten Baesler will have been the Superintendent of Public Schools in North Dakota for 12 years, having first been elected in 2012. She's currently running against Jason Heitkamp, a distant relative of former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp and a former lawmaker who served one abbreviated, two-term in the state Senate as a Republican from 2021 to 2022 (redistricting forced him to run for re-election after two years, a campaign he lost). Heitkamp and Baesler met on this episode of Plain Talk for what has been, and perhaps will be, their only debate. Each presented sharply contrasting views of the job of superintendent, and repeatedly accused one another of lying or misleading. For her part, Baesler championed her performance in office since 2012. "I've accomplished a lot," she said, noting that she's reduced the number of employees in her office from 101 to 82 while simultaneously maintaining the highest level of job satisfaction among state agencies. She also touted her background as an educator. She's worked as a teacher, and served in administrative and governing positions at the local level. "A lot of people don't know who I am," Heitkamp said by way of introduction but pointed out that in addition to his legislative service, he's also served on two city councils and as a county commissioner. He also accused both the incumbent and public school educators generally of performing poorly. "We can't afford another four years of what's happening in our state," he said. The candidates took questions about student attendance issues, teacher recruitment and retention, vaccination rates, and classroom challenges related to mental health and education. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
540: A school choice debate, and a conservative's case for voting for Harris
On this episode of Plain Talk, Chad Oban and I spent some time talking about the column in which I outed myself as a Kamala Harris voter. Or, more accurately, I spent some time expanding on my explanation, and Chad listened. But the more important part of this episode was our conversation with Sen. Michelle Axtman, a Republican from Bismarck who is something of a rising star in her party (she was transparent about her ambitions during our off-air conversation, saying her goal is to be elected governor one day). Axtman is heading up a legislative tax force on the school choice issue that has drawn some heat for not being as open as it should be to the public, and some criticssay (including Chad, who works for North Dakota United) not including as wide a swath of education stakeholders as it could have. Axtman took those questions, and answered them, but also delivered a clearer picture of just what it is they're working on. School choice is a fraught topic because, when most people think about it, their minds turn to vouchers. They envision parents getting money to use for private school tuition. That's the part that many public school educators and their advocates don't like. They're afraid that the money will drain resources from public schools and create more profits for private schools that are, for the most part, doing pretty well. But what Sen. Axtman describes is a program that goes far beyond that. Yes, it would provide some money for tuition, but the framework she and her colleagues are working toward could also make money available for people with children in public schools. Money that could be used to get a tutor for a student struggling with a subject, or to pay for online lessons to help a student pursue a particular interest like coding or languages, or even to help a student with special needs -- maybe they're dealing with dyslexia or another challenge -- get some help beyond what the schools can provide. It's a fascinating proposal, and it will be a fascinating debate in the upcoming legislative session. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
539: 'The only tax people like is the one somebody else pays'
We are 31 days away from election day and, here in North Dakota, the hottest race in the state probably isn't for the U.S. Senate, or the U.S. House, or even the governor's seat. It is, arguably, Measure 4 which, if passed, would eliminate taxes on property values and order the Legislature to compensate local governments for that loss of revenue at 2024 levels. It's such a hot issue that when Prairie Public recently hosted a debate between U.S. Senate candidates Kevin Cramer and Katrina Christiansen, they asked the candidates about Measure 4, even though that issue really has nothing to do with the federal office they're running for. Aaron Birst joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss Measure 4, and what's driving both the support for it and opposition to it. Aaron is the executive director of the North Dakota Association of Counties. "The only tax people like is the one somebody else pays," he told Chad Oban and I. Birst isn't arguing that there are no problems with local taxing and spending. "Do we need to have a conversation about how much we spend at the local level? Sure," he said, though he argued that Measure 4 just isn't the right fix. "We can try something different. I'm just not sure we're going to find something better," he said. He also argued that passing Measure 4 could create legal and policy-making chaos that would be with North Dakota for a long time. "If this passes...we're probably going to have a decade of court cases to figure out what this means." Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss the recently-released polling in North Dakota's statewide races, and some intrigue at the North Dakota Industrial Commission. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
538: 'We can't have District 46 be the front lines of a culture war'
Todd Reisenauer says he'd like to get elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives so that he can take Fargo-area District 46 in a new direction. He said he'd like to focus on issues like housing, healthcare, childcare, and property taxes. What he doesn't want to do, he says, is emulate the approach taken by one of incumbents in that district, state Rep. Jim Kasper, who has been in the center of debates over social issues like book bans and issues surrounding our transgender neighbors. "We can't have District 46 be the front lines of a culture war," Reisenauer told Chad Oban and I on this episode of Plain Talk. The legislative races in District 46 are worth watching. The jurisdiction represents one of the few purple districts in North Dakota and has a history of mixed-partisan leadership. Reisenauer said he admired the work done by another of the Republican incumbents in the district, outgoing Rep. Shannon Roers, who opted not to run for reeelction. He said he got interested in the race when he heard Roers was retiring, and that he wants to continue her work of making District 46 "a bipartisan, get things done kind of district." "We're burning people out," Reisenauer said, addressing the polarized nature of politics in 2024. "I'm not an activist," he added, saying he has no interested in playing partisan politics and "selling fear." "I don't want to be a part of that," he said, adding that he's "not afraid to say conservatives have good policy ideas, and that sometimes Demcorats overshoot." Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss the vice presidential debate between Sen. J.D. Vance and Gov. Tim Walz, and the news of a North Dakota man, the son of a Republican legislative candidate in District 24, getting arrested for his alleged participation in the January 6 attack on Congress. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
537: Debating Measure 5's legalization of recreational marijuana
Steve Bakken is the former mayor of Bismarck, and the chair of the committee backing Measure 5, which seeks to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota. Pat Finken is a long-time advertising professional and political activist. He's a part of the coalition opposing Measure 5. These gentleman came together on Plain Talk to make their respective cases. The contrasts in their arguments, as you might expect, were sharp. Bakken says Measure 5 is a "very conservative" legalization that gives state officials plenty of latitude to regulate lawful use of the drug. The measure "gives all the power to the state," he said. But Finken painted the measure as exacerbating North Dakota's existing problems with substance abuse. "The marijuana of today is not safe," he said. "It's ten times more powerful" than what Americans have may been smoking in past decades. He rejected the argument that marijuana legalization is inevitable, saying that even if North Dakota were the last state in the union without legal access for recreational use, he wouldn't mind it. "I'm perfectly content for North Dakota to remain an island," he said. Bakken, for his part, argued that Finken's alarmism is out of date. "That reefer madness mentality goes back to the 50s." To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
536: Litigation costs, abortion, and 'raging Rob'
Is Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office wasting money on unnecessary litigation? Is North Dakota's Republican majority in the Legislature being something less than good stewards of our fiscal resources by passing controversial bills that invite litigation? House Minority Leader Zac Ista, who led his caucus in voting against approving attitional litigation funds for Wrigley's office at a recent meeting of the Legislature's Budget Section committee, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. Though, given that one of the laws currently being litigated is North Dakota's restrictive ban on most abortions, that dominated the conversation, which had my co-host Chad Oban calling me "raging Rob." Admittedly, I have been a bit feisty lately. But abortion litigation isn't the only cost North Dakota is facing. The biggest line item for litigation costs recently is related to our state's suit against the federal government over the expenses associated with responding to the violent, protracted protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. And aren't we prone to seeing the efficacy of any given litigation through the lens of our feelings about the policy being litigated? Isn't it natural that Democrats might not like the policy and legal priorities of a Republican majority, and a Republican attorney general? Rep. Ista answered those questions and more. Also on this episode, we discuss the odds of Measure 4 passing on the November ballot. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
535: A totally not boring conversation about Measure 3
If you read the ballot language for Measure 3 and still didn't understand just what it is the proposed constitutional amendment does, I wouldn't blame you. I don't think that's anyone's fault. It's just a somewhat arcane topic, but that doesn't mean it's not important. State Rep. Corey Mock joined us on this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the proposal, which would make some changes around the Legacy Fund, which these days is sporting a balance of around $11 billion. Currently, lawmakers have the statutory authority to spend up to 15% of the principal of that fund. Mock said that was written into the original amendment that created the fund to ensure that at least some of it was available to lawmakers should some emergent situation make it necessary. But when the Legacy Fund was created, nobody expected it to grow as far and as fast as it has. Mock said the original projects for the fund expected it to cross the $1 billion threshold by like 2021. Clearly, we're well beyond that, but the Legislature's authority to spend as much as 15% of it has resulted in some lost opportunities. The fund managers have to keep those funds liquid, because theoretically the Legislature could come calling for them. Measure 3 shrinks that from 15% to 5%. Given that the Legacy Fund is much, much larger now than we expected when that original 15% limit was written into the constitution, lowering still leaves plenty of money available to lawmakers in an emergency, but allows the fund managers to invest more of the principal and get bigger returns. Also on this episode, guest co-host Jamie Selzler and I discuss the state of the presidential race. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
534: A sometimes heated conversation about Measure 2 and the limits of direct democracy
Are the proponents of Measure 2 "elite and out of touch?" Are they "condescending" and "disrespectful" to the electorate? Or do they view North Dakota's initiated measure process -- particularly when it comes to amending the state constitution -- as flawed and needing reform? Measure 2 is a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the Legislature, which would prohibit people who aren't North Dakota residents from collecting petition signatures for initiated measures. It would limit measures to a single subject. And, for constitutional measures, it would raise the signature requirement from 4% to 5% of the state's population and require that those proposals be approved through two statewide votes: once on the June primary ballot and again on the November general election ballot. Ellie Shockley, a columnist for the Bismarck Tribune, joined this episode of Plain Talk to make the case against the proposal. It's her words that I'm quoting above. She views this proposed amendment as motivated by a desire among lawmakers to diminish the will of the people in making policy. Sen. Janne Myrdal, a Republican from Edinburg, also joined this episode, and she argued that it's become too easy for deep-pocketed, often out-of-state interests to hire professional signature gatherers (who themselves are often not North Dakotans) to force a vote on complicated policy proposals that aren't often explained well to the voters. This point-and-counterpoint conversation at times got heated, because it deals with some of the bedrock assumptions we make about our system of government. The political power in our republic ultimately comes from the people, but as a question of process, is legislating what are often complicated policy proposals at the ballot box where a distracted electorate, already asked to evaluate candidates for everything from weed control boards to president of the United States, really a good way to make sound policy? The Plain Talk Podcast is the voice of North Dakota politics. To subscribe, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or click here for more information.
533: Should North Dakota end property taxes?
In November, North Dakota voters will be asked to decide the fate of Measure 4. If approved, it would amend the state constitution to prohibit taxes on property values. It would also lock in an obligation for the state legislature to replace current property tax revenues to local government with other revenues, but only at 2024 levels, with no mechanism to change that level in the future. On this episode of Plain Talk, we had a debate about that proposal. Making the affirmative case for it is former Fargo City Commissioner Tony Gehrig. Making the case against it is Robert Harms, a former chair of the North Dakota Republican Party who also served in the administrations of former governors Ed Schafer and John Hoeven. Former state lawmaker Rick Becker, the chair of the committee sponsoring the measure, declined to participate in the debate, saying the Plain Talk podcast is the only place where he won't speak about the proposal. Both Harms and Gehrig agree on some key issues. They say that property taxes are a problem in North Dakota in need of a solution. They both also agree that taxing property values is problematic. As property values rise, they drive almost automatic increases in tax burdens that aren't tied to local needs. Where they differ is the nature of the solution. Harms argues that abolishing property taxes would shift too much power over local spending to lawmakers in Bismarck. He also said that it "freezes some unfairness" in the state constitution by locking in funding for local governments at 2024 levels. A local government that made a big bond payment in 2024 would continue to be compensated for it by state taxpayers well into the future, even after the bond is paid off. A local government that kept property taxes low, on the other hand, would be punished for their conservative budgeting. For his part, Gehrig argued that eliminating property taxes would be an economic boon to the state, drawing new investment. During his time in office, Gehrig was an outspoken opponent of policies that seek to incent economic development by easing or eliminating property tax burdens, but he used that stance as an argument for Measure 4. "If you believe those policies work, then you have to believe in Measure 4," he said. The Plain Talk Podcast is the voice of North Dakota politics. To subscribe, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or click here for more information.
532: 'No one else has done this for pretty good reasons'
"The property tax is a good tax," Jared Walczak told Chad Oban and I on this episode of Plain Talk. "You may not love it, but you will not like the alternatives better." Walczak is the state projects director for the Tax Foundation, a right-of-center think tank that focuses on -- you guessed it -- tax policy. His organization recently published an article critical of Measure 4, a constitutional amendment that would prohibit taxes on property values. Walczak has also presented his group's arguments to state lawmakers. Walczak's argument is not that North Dakotan's shouldn't feel upset about their property taxes. "There's legitimate frustration," he said. The problem is that eliminating the property tax would produce "real economic upheaval" by shifting tax burdens from a tax that "has very little economic drag" to others, like income taxes or sales taxes, which do. Eliminating the billions collected locally in property taxes would mean replacing those revenues with tax dollars collected state wide. "You're talking about essentially doubling your other taxes at the state level," Walczak argued. "No one else has done this for pretty good reasons," he said, and he's not just talking about state governments in America. He said that no other country in the developed world has eliminated its property taxes. What should North Dakota do to address the genuine public consternation over property taxes? He says state policymakers should look at caps on how much locals can raise through property taxes, coupled with some pressure relief valves that would allow the taxing jurisdictions to exceed those caps in specific circumstances, like if the voters ok the increase on the ballot. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, including everything from Harris's facial expressions to Trump's blood libel attack on immigrants. The Plain Talk Podcast is the voice of North Dakota politics. To subscribe, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or click here for more information.
531: Gubernatorial debate, Kelly Armstrong vs. Merrill Piepkorn
North Dakota's gubernatorial race features to affable, well-liked candidates, who clearly like one another as well. Republican Kelly Armstrong was first elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2012, and served there until the 2018 election cycle, when he campaigned successfully for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. That's where he's currently finishing out a term, while also campaigning for governor. Democratic-NPL candidate Merrill Piepkorn has also served in the state Senate. He's been there since he was elected in 2016, and had a one-session overlap with Armstrong's service. On this Plain Talk, the two candidates compared and contrasted with one another under questioning from me and my co-host Chad Oban. We covered everything from internet pornography (Armstrong says he'd like to see North Dakota implement an ID requirement to access it), to political accountability (Piepkorn says long-time Republican supermajorities in North Dakota have created an "environment of entitlement"), to property taxes (both candidates oppose Measure 4 on the November ballot which, if passed, would abolish taxes on property values). To address North Dakota's chronic workforce shortages, Armstrong says "you have to concentrate on cops, teachers, and nurses." Piepkorn, meanwhile, says the state Legislature has been too-focused on the culture war, passing "bad bills that are repelling people." Armstrong said he's "really glad North Dakota has gotten to where it's at" on mental health issues, but added that if he's "blessed to win, in eight years we will still need more work." Piepkorn said that to address North Dakota's childcare shortages, he sees a three-pronged strategy: "help parents, help children, help businesses." These are two candidates who, again, are likable, and like one another, but they have very different visions for how North Dakota should be governed. It was our pleasure to bring their contrasting views to you on Plain Talk. Want to follow Plain Talk and be kept up to date on all of these debates? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
530: How do we do politics in the classroom?
We all know the old saying. You don't talk about religion and politics in polite company. Only, does that advice make sense in a society like ours, where we practice self-governance? How can we govern ourselves if we can't talk to one another about politics? And, more pertinent to this episode of Plain Talk, how do we teach our kids how to participate in discourse over challenging issues like abortion or gun control if teachers are afraid to tackle politics in the classroom? Lindsey Galvao is a long-time educator -- the social studies curriculum specialist at GBH and a multiplatform creator for public media, and curriculum writer for the Civics Collection on PBS LearningMedia. Ben Klutsey is the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University whose work is featured in the documentary "Undivide US." They recently co-authored an op-ed about politics in the classroom, and joined my cohost Chad Oban and I to talk about that very conundrum. "We disagree and that's ok," Klutsey told us. The problem, he argues, is that so many people say "we disagree and you're a threat to my existence." Both Klutsey and Galvao say that teachers need to be unafraid to host discussions about even fraught social and political questions, but that their focus should be on listening and encouraging students to understand one another. But how do we deal with misinformation? Kids who might have gotten the idea that the Sandy Hook school shooting didn't really happen, as right-wing talk radio host Alex Jones has claimed, or that the world is flat? Galvao said she would encourage teachers to ask those kids, "How do you know what you know?" They should be encouraged to explore the basis for their point of view. "We have to think about abiding by certain core principles," Klutsey said, identifying them as respect, authenticity, and curiosity. Which is to say that we need to respect those who disagree with us, represent our own views authentically, and be curious about why others disagree with us. Though, he acknowledged, that doesn't mean making room for false information. "Facts are facts," he said, "and you have to engage on facts as an educator." Want to follow Plain Talk and be kept up to date on all of these debates? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
529: Republican Julie Fedorchak and Democrat Trygve Hammer square off in the U.S. House debate
When U.S. House candidates Julie Fedorchak (a Republican) and Trygve Hammer (a Democrat) sat down for a debate on the Plain Talk podcast with me and my co-host Chad Oban, one of the first questions I asked them was why they wanted to be elected to Congress. Hammer, a Marine Corps veteran, said it's because less than 80 of the current 435 members of the House of Representatives have served in the military. He also said he wants to promote an atmosphere where leaders talk to one another instead of past one another. Fedorchak wants to focus on issues like border security, "record high inflation," and energy policy. One of the last questions I asked them was about their top priorities if elected. Hammer said a new farm bill and the national debt, as well as "talking to North Dakotans continuously" and taking his cues from the people. For her answer, Fedorchak said constituent services, arguing that, even if progress on making policy is stalled, members of Congress can still "be a force" for individual North Dakotans. Our debate covered a myriad of issues, from campaign promises made by national candidates to eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security benefits (Fedorchak wouldn't commit to supporting either, Hammer said he supports both with some caveats), to the national debt, to civility in politics, to America's foreign policy in Ukraine and Gaza. One area where the candidates agreed very closely was the need for a new farm bill. Both acknowledged that American agriculture has been operating under an old and badly out-of-date farm bill. An area where the candidates disagreed sharply was on the issue of abortion. Asked about her support for a national abortion ban -- something presidential candidate Donald Trump has come out against -- Fedorchak described her position as wanting a national "gestational limit" on abortions after around 15 or 16 weeks, with exceptions for the life of the mother and rape or incest. This "would allow states within that framework to be a little stricter," she argued that it would put the United States in line with "every civilized country in the world." Hammer said he does not support a national abortion ban and argued that even state-level bans are often "unnecessarily cruel." He pointed to the failure of a pro-life ballot measure in 2014 as evidence that North Dakotans don't want government interference in the abortion issue "at any level." Our intent with the Plain Talk debates is to foster conversations where the candidates can compare and contrast with one another on the issues. As with our previous U.S. Senate debate between Democrat Katrina Christiansen and Republican incumbent Kevin Cramer, Hammer and Fedorchak engaged civilly, providing robust answers while disagreeing without being disagreeable. Want to follow Plain Talk and be kept up to date on all of these debates? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
528: 'I'm grateful for every minute I have in this job'
"This is the best job I could ever imagine," North Dakota U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider said on this episode of Plain Talk. Schneider was appointed to that position by President Joe Biden. Later this year, when America elects a new president, he may be out of a job, depending on how the country casts its ballots. A Republican president isn't likely to keep a Democratic appointee, but if Vice President Kamala Harris wins, would Schneider want another term in the office? He says yes. "I'm grateful for every minute I have in this job." My co-host Chad Oban and I asked Schneider about whether his office has seen any local blowback from national politics, where the FBI and the Department of Justice have, in recent years, been accused of political bias by both Republicans and Democrats. FBI Director Christopher Wray, who has rejected demands to resign from former President Donald Trump, the man who appointed him, and who recently visited North Dakota, has frequently been at the center of interparty food fights. Schneider says national-level drama has had little impact on federal law enforcement operations in North Dakota. "Not at all," was his reply to our question. "In North Dakota, the FBI is, rightly so, seen as law enforcement," he said. "I don't pick that up at all that there's any distrust of federal law enforcement here in North Dakota," he continued. We also asked Schneider about the recent federal prosecution of former Republican state Sen. Ray Holmberg, which resulted in a guilty plea to crimes related to traveling to Europe to pay for sex with minors. Schneider was recused from the case by the Department of Justice because he, like Holmberg, served the Grand Forks community in the state Senate. "You can just about imagine how I feel," he said when asked what it was like to watch someone he worked closely with plead guilty to those crimes. Also on this episode, Oban and I discussed school schedules, and how their complexities can make things hard for parents, and also the on-going struggles of the North Dakota High School Activities Association to deal with terrible, often bigoted behavior at sporting events. Want to follow Plain Talk and be kept up to date on all of these debates? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
527: U.S. Senate debate between Sen. Kevin Cramer and challenger Katrina Christiansen
When we organize candidate debates on the Plain Talk podcast, our intent is to foster a competition that's not bogged down by a lot of rules and restrictive formatting, nor plagued by shouting and candidates talking over one another. We don't really even want a competition. We want a conversation. A thoughtful discussion between two candidates on important issues of interest to the voters. I think we achieved that with the debate my co-host Chad Oban and I hosted between incumbent U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican, and his Democratic challenger Katrina Christiansen. Our conversation covered everything from partisanship, to social security, the national debt, the state of the farm bill and Congress's inability to pass an updated iteration of it, the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and the role of government in our lives. The candidates found places where they agree. Both say they're committed to America's continued backing of Ukraine against Russia's war of aggression. Both support Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism. Both described border security as a crisis for our country. In other areas, however, there was sharp disagreement. Christiansen hit Cramer for voting against a bipartisan border bill negotiated in part by Sen. James Lankford, one of the most conservative members of the Senate and, Cramer revealed, a roommate of the incumbent. Cramer, for his part, pointed out that while Christiansen may be more moderate than some of her national Demcoratic counterparts, her presence in the Senate is a vote toward liberal Democrats leading the chamber. Overall, it was precisely the conversation we were hoping to get. Specifically, a back and forth between two engaged, well-informed candidates. We will have more debates upcoming on Plain Talk. On August 30, the U.S. House candidates, Republican Julie Fedorchak and Democrat Trygve Hammer, will face off. On September 6 we'll host the gubernatorial candidates, Republican Kelly Armstrong and Democrat Merrill Piepkorn. On September 13, supporters and opponents of the Measure 4, the property tax proposal, will make their cases. We also have a preliminary agreement between the candidates for Superintendent of Public Schools, incumbent Kirsten Baesler and former state Sen. Jason Heitkamp. I'll have more on that once it's confirmed. Want to follow Plain Talk and be kept up to date on all of these debates? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
526: Marijuana and the Democratic national convention
"Every law enforcement officer I've spoken to has said this has been hard on our state and hard on law enforcement." That's what Burleigh County Sheriff Kelly Leben had to say on this episode of Plain Talk. He's referring to Measure 5 on North Dakota's November ballot which, if passed, would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. "I'm very big on personal freedom," Sheriff Leben told co-host Chad Oban and I, but added that those liberties have to be balanced with the needs of public safety. He rejected the oft-made argument from marijuana supporters that legalization will make less work for law enforcement, arguing that "prices" for illicit marijuana will still "entice the black market." Leben did credit the backers of Measure 5 with taking a thoughtful approach to the issue. "I would have to concede that they're trying to get it right," he said, but added that the costs of legalization outweigh the benefits. Also on this episode, Jamie Selzler, a North Dakota delegate to the Democratic National Committee, spoke to us from his party's national convention in Chicago. He reflected on the speeches, the security and protests, and the heartbreak he felt when actor Mark Hamil, of Luke Skywalker fame, was too tired to pose with him for a selfie. Want to follow Plain Talk? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
525: 'For many years the locals have blamed the legislature'
"Let's take valuations away." That's what state Rep. Ben Koppelman proposed on this episode of Plain Talk. He's referring to a plan for property tax reform that he's proposed should Measure 4 -- a constitutional ban on taxing property values -- fail on the statewide ballot in November. Koppelman would like to see property taxed on size, not value. His plan would levy mills on the square footage of properties, and the structures on those properties, with residential property owners seeing their bill defrayed by credits akin to the state's existing Homestead Tax Credit. "For many years the locals have blamed the Legislature" for the property tax problem, Koppelman said, arguing that, whatever happens with Measure 4, it's time for the Legislature to implement some more dramatic property tax reform to address what is a perennial source of consternation for North Dakota's voters. Koppelman said he's not for or against Measure 4, saying he's got his personal feelings but doesn't want to "twist the arm of voters." However, in the 2023 session, he did oppose Legislation that would have abolished property taxes. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the politics around the Measure 4 debate, recent polling in North Dakota's U.S. Senate race that shows Democratic candidate Katrina Christiansen putting up strong numbers, and some of the upcoming debates we have scheduled for the podcast. Want to follow Plain Talk? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
524: 'Bill Gates doesn't need another tax break'
Even if North Dakota voters approve Measure 4, a constitutional amendment that would disallow taxes on real estate values, our state and its elected leaders will still need to figure out how to replace the roughly $2.4 billion in revenues those taxes generate very budget cycle. We're going to pay for it. The question is how. Neal Messer, a farmer, businessman, and commissioner in Stark County, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss what that problem might look like from a local level. One upshot? Property owners may still be stuck with a property tax. "It does open the door where we could tax property based on square footage," Messer told us, though he added that the measure itself is "not very well written." "The challenge is five years from now," he added, pointing out that Measure 4 obligates state lawmakers to replace the revenues from property value taxes, but only at four years from now. Messer argues that, thanks to things like inflation, the cost of something like paving a road is going to cost more in five years than it does today, and yet Measure 4 would pin the Legislature's obligation for paying for local government eternally in 2024. Messer also says he's worried about giving big companies and out-of-state landowners a big tax break by eliminating the tax on property values. He pointed to Marathon Oil, which pays a big tax bill in his county that in turn does a lot to fund local schools, but would be able to keep that money in their out of state headquarters should Measure 4 pass. There are also wealthy, out-of-state landowners who would benefit as well, he argues. "Bill Gates doesn't need another tax break." Also on this episode, my co-host Chad Oban and I discuss why I was wrong about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz being bad pick as runningmate for Vice President Kamala Harris. Want to follow Plain Talk? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
523: 'There's a new pep in our step'
The emergence of Vice President Kamala Harris as the top-of-the-ticket candidate for Democrats, nationally, has created an undeniable wave of enthusiasm among our liberal friends. North Dakota's Democrats are no different. "There's a new pep in our step," state Rep. Zac Ista told my co-host Chad Oban and I on this episode of Plain Talk. Ista is a Democrat from Grand Forks and the House Minority Leader, and he had some very pragmatic things to say about the chances Democratic legislative candidates have on the ballot this year. Ista pointed out that Democrats already elected to the Legislature have been punching above their weight. They have only 16 seats in the state Legislature, but saw over 50 bills sponsored by Democratic lawmakers passed. He also praised his party's candidate recruitment efforts. Acknowledging that Democrats have struggled to fill all of the legislative races in past cycles, particularly in western North Dakota, he said his party has filled 80% of the races this cycle. Still, even if Democrats win every race they have a candidate in, they couldn't take a majority in either chamber of the Legislature. It's not mathematically possible. "We don't have enough candidates on the ballot," Ista said, but he does see an opportunity for Democrats to make up some ground. But that will require those candidates to get out into their communities and prove they're something more than "someone with a D in parentheses behind their name" on the ballot. Ista also said he's opposed to a constitutional measure that would abolish property taxes, which will almost certainly be on the ballot in November. Asked why voters should trust lawmakers to address the property tax problem meaningfully, given that it's an issue that has rankled voters for decades, Ista said that while dangling "carrots" in front of local governments to inspire them to lower property tax burdens, "we have to get more serious about talking about sticks," he said, referencing possible caps on property tax increases. Also on this episode, Oban and I talk about the controversy former President Donald Trump has created around Kamala Harris's racial background, and who Harris might choose as vice president. Want to follow Plain Talk? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
522: 'I get frustrated because we're pretending like we're doing something'
Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who is currently in the midst of a campaign to become North Dakota's next governor, has had a long career in public service. On this episode of Plain Talk, he told my co-host Chad Oban and I what his proudest moment has been from that career (so far, he's still a young man in political years). He said it was helping his hometown, Dickinson, build a new baseball complex. It was a reminder that Armstrong's track record of public service didn't begin in elected office. In fact, that's probably true of most of our elected leaders, even at the highest levels of government. We can be cynical about politics. We're certainly given good reason to be much of the time. But there's something nice in being reminded that political careers often start with public service at a granular level. Unfortunately, much of what we discussed on this episode is the sort of thing that justifies our cynicism about political leadership. Armstrong expressed frustration about the House of Representatives going out on recess without having completed the appropriations process. "I don't think Congress has done a budget in 25 years that's an actual budget," he said. "I get frustrated because we're pretending like we're doing something," he added. Armstrong also weighed in on the presidential race, saying Democrats are enjoying a "sugar high" around their new candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, while acknowledging that the rollout of Sen. J.D. Vance as former President Donald Trump's running mate has been rocky. Armstrong also talked about what his priorities in Bismarck might be should he be elected come November, and one of them is the state's budget. "Our growth in spending has been pretty significant since 2012," he said, and while much of that was "necessary" when it happened, it may be time to curb the growth. Want to follow Plain Talk? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
521: 'Ethics commissions alone do not create an ethical government'
In 2018, North Dakota voters approved a ballot measure creating the state Ethics Commission. The commission was implemented in 2019, and that first year, it received just 2 complaints. There were 3 in 2020, 9 in 2021, then a spike (right around election time) in 2022 to 14. There were 14 complaints again in 2023, and so far in 2024 (another election year) the number has spiked to 25 as of July 25. Those numbers came from Rebecca Binstock, the executive director of the ethics commission, who joined this episode of Plain Talk to advertise the fact that the commission is currently accepting applications for new members (find more on that in their press release). "Any North Dakota resident can serve on the ethics commission," Binstock told us, though there are some exemptions. For instance, if you're currently an elected official, or in a leadership position in a political party, you need not apply. But Binstock also discussed with my co-host Chad Oban the fact that the Ethics Commission has become much more visible in North Dakota politics, and governance, and what it does, and what it should do, are becoming increasingly important questions. "Ethics commissions alone do not create ethical government," Binstock told us, adding that it also requires a robust news media, and an engaged electorate. The Ethics Commission gets the most attention from its complaint process, where members of the public can allege unethical behavior by state officials that is then reviewed by the commission, but Binstock argued that some of its other missions, such as educating state and local officials about ethics policies and promoting more transparency, are as, if not more, important. She also discussed the commission taking a larger role in enforcing state campaign laws. Want to follow Plain Talk? Click here for an archive of past shows, and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
520: 'I've never spoken to the chancellor'
Many Republicans are trying to argue that President Joe Biden opting to end his re-election campaign, and the subsequent consolidation of Democrats behind the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris, was a "coup." Was it? My co-host Chad Oban and I discussed it on this episode of Plain Talk, where we were also joined by Trista Keith, a now-former member of the Dickinson State University nursing faculty. That faculty has resigned, and the administration at DSU has moved on, opting to use personnel from Mayville State University to provide instruction to its nursing students. Craig, who came on the program to rebut claims made in our previous interview with North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott, said she and her fellow nurses resigned because the credit hour requirements in their contracts were untenable. Hagerott, echoing claims made by DSU President Stephen Easton (who has also resigned though remains in his position as higher ed leaders work on finding a replacement), also claimed that the program was costing a half-million dollars a year to graduate just 16 students. Keith acknowledged that the program's graduation numbers were down, but attributed that to a blip from the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's completely unfair not to take COVID into consideration," she said. She said the pandemic scared a lot of prospective students away. "Nobody wanted to become a nurse," but she said things have been recovering, noting that the DSU program had 60 incoming students. She also said she was "disappointed" in Hagerott's comments, saying she expected that "someone int hat leadership position" would "get the other side of the story." "I've never spoken to the chancellor," she said. Want to follow Plain Talk? Click here for an archive of past shows, and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.
519: 'Nobody pushed President Biden out of anything'
When President Joe Biden announced an end to his re-election campaign, Adam Goldwyn, chairman of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL, participated in a call with his counterparts from around the country that resulted in a unanimous endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris to replace the incumbent at the top of the party's national ticket. "There was overwhelming support for her in that group," Goldwyn told me and my co-host Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. Responding to complaints from Republicans that Biden was pushed out undemocratically after Democratic voters around the country cast their primary ballots for him, Goldwyn said, "there was no cigar-filled back room." "Nobody pushed President Biden out of anything," he said, adding that the party's convention process is now "open" and that the delegates "could vote for anyone they want." Goldwyn says he senses a lot of enthusiasm from Democrats after the shake-up. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss how Harris's ascendence may impact the race, what she should do to win a national election, and who her running mate might be. Want to follow Plain Talk? You can search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, listen to new episodes on YouTube, or click here for an archive of our episodes and to find subscribe links for some of the most popular podcasting services.
518: 'We're not going to be held hostage by 7 contract-rejecting faculty'
Dickinson State University, one of the North Dakota University System's four-year institutions, has been thrown into chaos by a labor dispute with a group of nursing faculty. First the faculty, after rejecting a new contract aimed at tamping down what DSU President Stephen Easton too much spending on a program that produces too few students, chose to resign en masse. Then Easton himself tendered his resignation alongside a lengthy statement in which he defended his approach to the dispute. "The simple reality is that, though we love DSU Nursing and want to help it survive, we cannot spend over half a million dollars in compensation expenses for 16 Registered Nurses," he wrote in that statement posted on DSU's website. "That does not work financially." "We're not going to be held hostage by 7 contract-rejecting faculty," Mark Hagerott, chancellor of the university system, said on this episode of Plain Talk. Hagerott told guest co-host Corey Mock and me that "the focus is on the students" who are set to resume classes for the fall semester in approximately five weeks, and said that Eason, who continues to serve as president until the State Board of Higher Education chooses a new leader, is still negotiating with the former nursing faculty to find a new contract. The chancellor noted that East was trying to apply the same standards for credit hours and instruction that apply to the rest of the faculty at DSU. "Seven people didn't sign their contract," he said. "Everybody else is moving forward." Will the DSU nursing program survive? And what will happen to the students currently enrolled in this program if the impasse continues? Hagerott said his expectation is that the program continues, and that if need be current students could be served by faculty at some of North Dakota's other public institutions. He also said he's had preliminary conversations with at least one state lawmaker about finding funds to help those students with scholarships to smooth over any hardships from that transition. Also on this episode, U.S. House candidate Julie Fedorchak joined to reflect on the Republican national convention she just attended in Milwaukee. "You could hear a pin drop when he was recapping the assassination attempt," she said of former President Donald Trump's speech accepting the convention's nomination. "You could see the weight on him," she continued, noting the less bombastic tone Trump struck during the address. She said it was "electric" in the convention hall, and that Trump's "drill baby drill" comments about expanding domestic energy production got the "loudest" reaction from the audience and was "music to my ears." Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
517: 'I'm bringing people together'
Sandi Sanford, chair of the North Dakota Republican Party, joined this episode of Plain Talk from the GOP's national convention in Milwaukee, where, she said, "the security plan changed drastically" after the attempted assassination of the party's presidential candidate Donald Trump. Republicans have been focused on unity at this event -- two of Trump's top rivals during the primaries, Gov. Ron DeSantis and former ambassador Nikki Haley, endorsed him in speeches at the convention -- but Sanford acknowledged to my co-host Chad Oban and I that this may be a heavy lift. "People know that what we're dealing with in North Dakota with the different factions," she said, initially calling the populist wing of the party the "far right" before correcting herself and describing them as "grassroots." The NDGOP delegation to the national convention wasn't necessarily behind Gov. Doug Burgum potentially being Trump's running mate (Burgum himself was passed over for a delegate slot by the NDGOP's state convention), but Sanford said she felt the delegates were "really confident in Donald Trump and his pick" "It gets dicey," she said of intraparty politics. "It can get cruel," but Sanford said her job is to keep the factions united. "I'm bringing people together." Sanford also addressed a visit to the North Dakota delegation from Matt Schlapp of the American Conservative Union (the organization which puts on the Conservative Political Action Conference). In March, Schlapp paid a nearly half-million settlement to a man he allegedly made unwanted sexual advances toward. "My delegation wanted to hear from CPAC," she said, adding that Schlapp was "on a speaking circle" addressing several state delegations. Also on this episode, we discuss how the assassination attempt on Trump might impact the rest of this presidential election cycle, and whether Democrats will replace incumbent President Joe Biden. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
516: 'They all had love for him at a certain point'
Gov. Doug Burgum has gone through a "transformation." That's what reporter Stephen Rodrick said on this episode of Plain Talk. He spent a lot of time in North Dakota for a profile of Burgum published recently by Politico. He wrote that the governor has been "rebranding" on his way to a potential place on former President Donald Trump's national ticket. That means that Burgum has, along the arc of his political career, but a lot of different things to different people. What Rodrick found, talking to people who knew Burgum during times in his life, is that many of them feel that many who liked him in the past perhaps feel differently now. "They all had love for him at a certain point," he said, even those who today might be fairly described as Burgum's enemies. "His transformation over the past 3 or 4 months if baffling," Rodrick told my co-host Chad Oban and I. And how will Burgum be received on the national stage if he is Trumps VP pick? Rodrick thinks observers will be surprised. "They're going to be like, 'wow he really didn't want anyone who has his own level of national charisma.'" Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss April Baumgarten's story about North Dakota First Lady Katyrn Burgum's primary ballot getting rejected because of a handwriting mismatch. Burgum World isn't offering anything in the way of an explanation for why that happened, which leaves an information vacuum that could be filled with some not-so-great conclusions. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
515: 'The idea that the pipeline is dangerous, I reject that'
Senate Majority Leader David Houge, a Republican from Minot, says that if voters approve a ballot measure eliminating property taxes, state lawmakers will be left with a mess. He said that the legislature's appropriators will be tasked with making big spending cuts. He said that members of the taxation and finance committees will have to find new ways to bring in revenues. He also said that reserve funds would likely have to be tapped to make up the roughly $2.6 billion in revenues property taxes generate for local governments every budget cycle. But in 2012, voters rejected a similar ballot measure to eliminate property taxes, in part based on promises from lawmakers that they would fix the problem. My co-host, Chad Oban, asked Hogue why voters should trust them this time around. "We have tried other things that haven't necessarily worked," he said, but this time he sees more willingness from his colleagues to implement things like caps on taxation. We also spoke with Hogue about his recent letter to the editor, which he co-authored with House Majority Leader Mike Lefor (R - Dickinson), making the case for carbon capture in North Dakota. He likened the debate over the opposition to the Summit Carbon pipeline to the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, pointing out that in both instances, the opposition said the pipelines were unsafe. "The idea that the pipeline is dangerous, I reject that," he said, going on to point out that capturing and sequestering carbon in North Dakota has many benefits for the state's agriculture and energy industries, though he also acknowledged that Summy Carton Solutions, the company behind the project, has made some mistakes. "They lowballed some landowners," he said, and acknowledged that Summit may have been too aggressive in using a state statute that allows surveyors to go on private land without permission. "That was a misstep as well," he said, though he added that since Summit has "corrected" a lot of its mistakes. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
514: 'The public does not yet have any sense of the breadth and depth of what's going to be coming out'
Disgraced former state Sen. Ray Holmberg has indicated, through his legal counsel, that he will be pleading guilty to federal criminal charges related to international travel to solicit sex with children. "When that happens," Attorney General Drew Wrigley said on this episode of Plain Talk, "everything that we have becomes a public record." An untold number of public documents, including email messages and more, are currently inaccessible by the news media and the public due to state law that exempts records related to on-going criminal investigations. But once Holmberg official pleads guilty, which will happen later this year, that exemption will go away, and Wrigley says his office will work to preemptively make as much information available to the public as possible. Wrigley also spoke with me and my co-host Chad Oban about the on-going rift between North Dakota and Minnesota over fossil-fuel energy. Minnesota has passed a law mandating that all energy used in the state be from sources that don't emit carbon by 2040. North Dakota, which has successfully sued Minnesota over similar legislation in the past, and which provides the bulk of Minnesota's electricity, much of it from coal-fired power plants, is objecting. Wrigley sits on the North Dakota Industrial Commission, which recently sent Minnesota a letter asking the state to reconsider or reform the law. "We're not at war with Minnesota," he said. "We're not even at war with their statute. But we could be." Also on this episode, Gannon University Professor Jeff Bloodworth, who authored a recent Washington Post article about the struggles Democrats are having with rural voters, took our questions about how Democrats might go about fixing that problem. "Urban educated liberals took over the Democratic Party and started booting out working class Democrats," he said. He argues that the party's leaders currently see little need to figure out why rural Americans aren't voting for them. "It's just easier to stereotype rural voters," he said. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
513: Chancellor Mark Hagerott, Rep. Brandy Pyle, and that terrible debate performance from President Joe Biden
We covered a lot of ground on this episode of Plain Talk. Rep. Brandy Pyle, a Republican from Casselton, joined to talk about her efforts to curb distractions from devices in the legislative committee she chairs, and to talk about the struggles our society is having with our phone addictions. North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott also joined to discuss the State Board of Higher Education's decision to move on from his leadership. Hagerott characterized it as an amicable transition, though he acknowledged that he doesn't get along with one board member. "I'm not on his Christmast list," Hagerott said, though he declined to mention which board member. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban discuss what we both agreed was a terrible, really bad, no good debate performance from President Joe Biden last night. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
512: Trygve Hammer and Keep It Local ND
The signature turn-in deadline for the committee backing a ballot measure to abolish North Dakota's tax on property value (but not, it's important to note, other types of property taxes) arrives on Saturday, June 29. The committee is expected to turn in the requisite number of signatures, which, if they pass muster, will kick off a repeat of a debate over property taxes voters here have had before. In 2012 a similar proposal to eliminate the tax on property value was put before voters, and it failed spectacularly. A coalition group calling itself Keep It Local ND rallied to persuade more than 70% of voters to cast their ballots against the measure. That coalition is back, and two of its organizers -- Andrea Pfennig from the Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce and my co-host Chad Oban, whose day job is with North Dakota United -- were on this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. Their arguments against the measure? It would eliminate about $2.6 billion in revenues for local governments every budget cycle with no real plan for how to replace it. And those voters who are frustrated with the Legislature's impotence in addressing this issue should consider, they argue, that it would be that same Legislature tasked with coming up with a revenue alternative. Also on this episode, Democratic-NPL U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer, fresh off his victory in the June primary, joined to discuss his general election campaign. He wants to make it clear to North Dakota voters that a Democrat winning a statewide vote in North Dakota is "not impossible." "I have an experience that's closer to what most North Dakotan's have experienced," he said, touting his military background and blue-collar resume. "I've been boots on the ground in the oil patch." Hammer spoke about everything from border security to foreign affairs. Of Ukraine, "Putin has to be stopped," Hammer said. "Putin is a butcher." In the middle-east, Hammer said Israel absolutely has a right to protect itself, but sees a toxic relationship between the Islamic extremists who are a threat to the Jewish state and its current leadership. "Netanyahu needs Hamas and Hamas needs Netanyahu," he said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
511: 'You can't take these things seriously'
North Dakota's primary elecitons this year were brutal. Attack ads and dirty tricks are endemic to politics, but I think most people would admit that, by the standards of our state, the Republican campaigns in this cycle were rough. In legislative races, we saw ads suggesting that some incumbent lawmakers promote pornography to children, or that they would be unsafe to allow your children around. In the U.S. House primary, some unknown entity supporting Rick Becker's campaign was sending out text messages trying to fool voters into thinking Julie Fedorchak, who ultimately won that race, had pulled out. And in the gubernatorial race, Tammy Miller's campaign ran ads accusing Kelly Armstrong of enriching himself by helping child molesters avoid justice. But when Armstrong appeared on this episode of Plain Talk to recap the race, he shrugged the attacks off. "You can't take these things seriously," he told me and my co-host Corey Mock. Armstrong now faces Democratic-NPL candidate Merrill Piepkorn in the general election, but we asked him, if he should win in November, what the top priorities of his administration would be. "Property taxes," he said, pointing out that consternation about those tax bills are running so high that a ballot measure to abolish them, which may appear on the November ballot as well, could well pass. "If it passes, you have a real problem," he said. Armstrong said another problem is access to labor. He said past political leaders in North Dakota have campaigned on creating jobs, but that doesn't make a lot of sense right now. "We have 30,000 open jobs," he said. "Campaigning on jobs is great...trying to figure out how to get people here to take them is a harder conversation." Also, in this episode, Mock and I discussed the seemingly intractable problem of property taxes, and what the primary election results mean for the future of the divide in the North Dakota Republican Party. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
510: Julie Fedorchak recaps U.S. House primary win
"We knew we wanted to stay positive and above board," Republican U.S. House nominee Julie Fedorchak said on this episode of Plain Talk. Fedorchak just emerged from a bruising competition against former state lawmaker Rick Becker and three other candidates with a resounding victory. She received nearly 50% of the vote in a five-way race. The race was a nasty one. In the final days text messages in support of Becker (thought he candidate has denied involvement) disseminated false information, including the bogus claim that Fedorchak had withdraw from the race. Fedorchak told me and co-host Chad Oban that she heard reports from poll workers saying voters were showing up thinking she wasn't still a valid candidate on the ballot. Fedorchak says her campaign plans to pursue their complaint with the Federal Election Commission over what she described as "election fraud," as well as possible legal action. That sort of campaigning is "bad for your overall cause," Fedorchak told us. "It's bad for conservatism." Also on this episode, Oban and I talk about Kelly Armstrong's resounding victory over Tammy Miller in the gubernatorial primary, as well as victories for traditional Republican candidates in legislative primaries around the state. Our conclusion? Last night, voters rejected ugly, populist, culture war campaigning, and it was an act of civic hygiene. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
509: Our predictions for North Dakota's 2024 primary election
Will a ballot measure putting age limits on North Dakota's congressional delegation, and printing candidate ages on the ballot, be approved by voters? Will MAGA-aligned populists gain ground against traditional Republican legislators in the North Dakota Republican party's primaries? Who will win the NDGOP's primaries for governor and U.S. House? Can Democratic-NPL candidates across the state build enough momentum to be competitive in the general election? My co-host Chad Oban and I make our predictions on this episode of Plain Talk. On our next show, on Wednesday, we'll either be gloating because we were right, or eating our hats. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
508: 'We need to do away with some of this Washington D.C. politics'
Due to a scheduling mix-up with Attorney General Drew Wrigley -- he was coming on to discuss North Dakota's legal position in redistricting lawsuits -- this episode of Plain Talk was truncated. Still, despite the shorter show, we covered some good ground. Me and my co-host Chad Oban talked about the top election official in one of North Dakota's most populous counties winning a gift from U.S. House candidate Rick Becker's campaign. We also had Bismarck resident Lance Hagen on to discuss his FEC complaint against state Rep. Brandon Prichard and his federal political action committee Citizens Alliance of North Dakota, which has been running some wildly inaccurate ads and, Hagen alleges, may be violating federal rules on independent candidates colluding with candidates. Hagen also said he's concerned about Rep. Prichard shuffling money between political committees he's founded, arguing that money may be used for purposes the donors didn't intend. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
507: A heated conversation with Kelly Armstrong about Donald Trump's conviction
When we booked U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong for this episode of Plain Talk, we weren't planning on talking about Donald Trump. The plan was to get Armstrong's reactions to polls showing a prohibitive lead for him over Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller in the Republican gubernatorial primary. The plan was to discuss the debate the Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce just hosted between him and Miller. But then a New York jury convicted Trump on 34 criminal counts, and we were obliged to talk to Armstrong about it. All the more so because, just hours before the jury handed down that verdict, Trump had endorsed Armstrong in the primary. It was a respectful but heated conversation -- neither I nor my co-host Chad Oban are Trump fans -- but I'm glad we had it. And one thing I appreciate about Armstrong is that you can have vigorous disagreements with him, and it's never personal. Armstrong, a former criminal defense attorney, addressed some of the legal arguments around the case. My argument? I'm worried that the particulars of the legal arguments cause us to gloss over the grotesque behavior from Trump that's at the heart of the case. Namely, the fact that he paid off multiple porn stars to cover up extra-marital affairs, and colluded with a notorious tabloid to capture and kill negative stories about him. We didn't just talk about Trump, though. We also covered the debate, property taxes, and child care. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
506: Alex Balazs talks House race
U.S. House candidate Alex Balazs is still set on winning. On this episode of Plain Talk, he told me and co-host Chad Oban that he plans to finish the last two weeks of his primary campaign strong. There will be ads and billboards and travel, and the candidate, who received the North Dakota Republican Party's convention endorsement in April, thinks he can win, despite polls showing him in a distant 4th place. But if he doesn't, would he stay involved in politics? "I just don't know," he said. Balazs also took questions about Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York, with its looming verdict, and the level of assistance he's received from the North Dakota Republican Party. "They've been really good at helping," he said. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss the recent polling in the Republican House and gubernatorial primaries, dirty campaigning in legislative races, and more. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
505: 'People are fed up'
"I've been an outside viewer," Dustin McNally, a Republican candidate for the state Senate in Grand Forks-area District 42, said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I haven't really liked what I've seen. McNally was speaking about what he's been seeing from North Dakota's Legislature. "It's a lot of negative news. It's a lot of changes in the Republican party, and not for the better," he said. "I feel like they're not working for me," he added. "I feel like they're working for themselves." "People are fed up, he continued." McNally says he'd like to see more focus on pragmatic issues, and less on dramatic culture war topics. "I'm a frugal, fiscally conservative person," he said. "I'm not a headline grabber." Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban talk about the ominous silence coming from Epic Companies, a West Fargo-based company with projects in just about all of North Dakota's major communities that is widely rumored to be in distress but isn't being forthcoming with information. We also discussed the state of the Republican U.S. House primary, and how certain legislative races around the state may impact North Dakota's balance of political power. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
504: Coal industry endorses Fedorchak
U.S. House candidate Rick Becker recently took the unusual step of paying internet personality and trans rights activist Dylan Mulvaney to record a message praising the energy record of his primary rival, Public Service Commisisoner Julie Fedorchak. The message was done tongue-in-cheek -- though it hasn't sat well with some elements of the MAGA movement who take exception to Becker working with Mulvaney in even a joking way -- but Becker used it to attack Fedorchak's record on coal issues. "What’s not a laughing matter is how time and again Julie Fedorchack placed radical green energy proposals above the coal industry here in North Dakota," he wrote. That may have been a mistake. North Dakota's coal industry noticed Becker's stunt, and it has prompted them to endorse Fedorchak in the race. "That is a statement I can't even wrap my head around," Jason Bohrer, the president of the North Dakota Lignite Energy Council and chair of Lignite's political action committee, said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I don't understand where that statement comes from," he added. Bohrer told me and co-host Chad Oban that Lignite doesn't typically endorse in partisan primaries, but they feel this situation is different. "This is a place where we have to be clear," Bohrer said. "We do support Julie." He made it clear that the organization is endorsing Fedorchak in the race. Bohrer said he didn't want to spend a lot of time "attacking" Becker's record on coal issues while serving in the Legislature, but he did say that Becker "has never been supportive" of the industry's priorities on research and development. "We had a group of legislators we would go to for those things," Bohrer added. "He wasn't in it." Also on this episode, state Rep. Michelle Strinden, who is running for Lt. Governor alongside gubernatorial candidate Kelly Armstrong, took questions about being chosen as a running mate, the state of the race, and top issues like education and property taxes. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
503: 'Absolutely underhanded and unethical'
A civil war is playing out in the North Dakota Republican Party between traditionally conservative Republicans and MAGA-aligned populists. One front in that war is the NDGOP's legislative primaries, where a group called Citizens Alliance of North Dakota is trying to defeat traditional Republicans. State Rep. Brandon Prichard, a Republican from Bismarck, is the executive director of Citizens Alliance. His group has been sending mailers to voters suggesting that its preferred candidates in the primaries are backed by incumbents who do not support actually them. One of the candidates targeted by these tactics, Rep. Jeremy Olson, a first-termer from District 26 who is seeking another term in the state House, joined this episode of Plain Talk. He called Prichard's tactics "absolutely underhanded and unethical. Also, on this episode, guest co-host Ben Hanson and I and discuss former Fargo Mayor Jon Lindgren's argument that Gov. Doug Burgum is seeking to be disgraced former President Donald Trump's runningmate for the sake of being a moderating influence. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
502: 'I'm the only candidate that has consistently been a Republican'
"I like debates," Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorhcak told me and co-host Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. Fedorchak has come under fire from some of her opponents in the Republican U.S. House primary. Three of them — Rick Becker, Cara Mund, and Alex Balazs — participated in a recent debate sponsored by BEK Television. Fedorchak did not. "Last weekend was a balancing act," she said, noting that she's already participated in one debate with her opponents, with two more planned. She told us that the night of the debate was also her son's graduation party. "I wanted to devote my attention to my son on Friday night," she said. Fedorchak also responded to a recent independent poll I reported on, which shows her in a dead heat with Becker in the race (Mund is trailing as a distant third). She said she got into the race late and had a deficit in name identification with voters but that the poll "shows that we closed the gap" with Becker. She added that she feels confident about her position in the race. "I'm the only candidate who has consistently been a Republican," she said, referencing the fact that both Mund and Becker campaigned against Republicans as independents last cycle. "I have strong favorability in the polling we've seen," she added. That's something Dean Mitchell of DFM Research, who conducted the survey for North Dakota United, spoke about as well in a separate interview. Mitchell said the House race is tight but favors Fedorchak. "I'd rather not be Becker," he said. "I think he's at his ceiling. I think she (Fedorchak) has more room for growth." "I'd give the edge to Fedorchak," he added, though he acknowledged that the race is very close. "I wouldn't put much money on it." The NDU poll also covered the gubernatorial race, showing current U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong with a 38-point lead over Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, a nearly identical result to numbers released to me by the Armstrong campaign from a contemporaneous poll. "I don't want to say you can put a fork in it," Mitchell said, "but the silverware is on the table." To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
501: Anti-Becker mailers and governor's race polling
Pat Finken is a long-time political consultant in North Dakota who now heads up an independent political action committee called the Brighter Future Alliance. Finken and his group have come under fire from U.S. House candidate Rick Becker and his allies for mailers attacking Becker and his voting record. Finken joined this episode of Plain Talk my me and my co-host Chad Oban, and said his goal is to reveal for the public that Becker is a "show pony." "He is not a serious legislator," Finken added. As for Becker's response to his group's mailers? "This is what all politicians do when someone criticizes them," Finken said. "They play the victim." Becker has disputed Finken's assertions that, by voting against budgets for the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the North Dakota National Guard, he opposes law enforcement and the military. He argues that it's possible to object to a budget without objecting to what that budget funds. But Finken says the difference is that Becker was only voting no, not working to improve those budgets. "He didn't come back with an alternative," Finken said. "If he was a serious legislator he would have worked to make changes," he added. Also, on this episode, Oban and I discuss the recent polling released in the Republican guberantorial primary showing U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong with a massive lead over Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
500: A renewed legal battle over redistricting and teacher pay
The State of North Dakota is back in court over redistricting. This time, the state is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower court decision that the state had previously argued for. Specifically, the dismissal of a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of legislative subdistricts created by lawmakers in an attempt to enhance the state's Native American vote in two districts. The courts ended up striking down that map anyway and replacing it with a new one, but this separate legal action questions whether creating subdistricts in just two districts passes muster under the 14th amendment's equal protection provisions. Is it constitutional for some North Dakotans to vote for just two members of the Legislature on election day, while others get to vote for three? Robert Harms, an attorney (and a Republican candidate for the state Senate in District 2) joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the case. Also on this episode, Nick Archuleta, the president of North Dakota United, joined to discuss a recent study looking at teacher pay which indicates that North Dakota is moving down the rankings in terms of average salaries for educators. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
499: 'I don't look for racism'
Racial incidents keep happening at North Dakota school events. At basketball games. Proms. Hockey games. Part of the problem is, we don't know if they're happening more, or less. Maybe we're just noticing them more now that everyone has a smartphone in their pocket and the ability to document the taunts and jeers and boorish behavior. State Rep. Jayme Davis is a Democrat from District 9a, which covers the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. In the state House of Representatives, she's the minority caucus leader. She wants to do something about this problem. "I don't look for racism. That's not something I look for in my daily life," she said on this episode of Plain Talk. "But it shows up." During the 2023 session, Davis introduced a resolution calling for a study of racial incidents at North Dakota school events. It passed, but the the Legislature's interim committees chose not to take it up. But she says she's not going to stop trying. She'd like to see data collected about these incidents, to measure the scope of the problem, and she'd also liked to see more training for the state's educators, sports officials, and even lawmakers. Also on this episode, are North Dakota's political leaders being too tough on electric vehicles? And what was with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem bragging about killing a dog? Me and co-host Chad Oban discuss. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
498: ND coal industry distances itself from Summit carbon pipeline project
"I'm sympathetic to what they're doing while recognizing there's a better way to do it." Those are the words of Jason Bohrer, president of the North Dakota Lignite Energy Council, and advocacy and lobbying group that represents the state's coal industry. He was speaking on this episode of Plain Talk about the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions. That project has no ties to the coal industry. Rather, it seeks to bring carbon emissions gathered from ethanol plans across the upper midwest to North Dakota where it would be buried underground. Bohrer joined the program to discuss the controversy around the North Dakota Republican Party's resolution branding carbon capture as "fascism." The resolution had appeared to have been passed at the party's state convention earlier this month, but after a recount, it turns out it failed. But Bohrer says Lignite's larger concern is that public backlash against Summit's project may turn into generalized opposition against the concept of carbon capture. "An individual project differs from a technological opportunity," he said. "We're going to take a long term view," he added. Also on this episode, two board members from the North Dakota Association for Justice joined to discuss consternation in North Dakota's legal circles over Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller's gubernatorial campaign saying some ugly things about lawyers. "Politicians and trial lawyers often struggle with the truth," is a quote Miller spokesman Dawson Schefter gave me for an article about their campaign ad attacking their opponent in the Republican primary. "Kelly Armstrong is both, so it’s no surprise he lies about his opponent and his opponent’s ads." The NDAJ fired back, calling those comments "ill-informed and ignorant." Then Schefter came back again. “It’s no surprise lawyers and politicians are sticking up for each other," he told me in response to the NDAJ's statement. "While Kelly Armstrong was raking in cash defending drug dealers, a man who beat his wife unconscious, and a man who attempted to suffocate his daughter — Tammy Miller was growing a company and creating thousands of jobs. Job creator or trial lawyer is an easy choice.” "Frankly, we were offended," attorney Tatum O'Brien said. "She probably has a failing campaign," attorney Tim O'Keefe added by way of explaining why Miller's campaign would launch the attack. Both O'Brien and O'Keefe are board members of the NDAJ, and say that attorneys do important work defending the rights of citizens in court, from the 4th amendment protections against illegal search and seizure to our 7th amendment right to seek a jury trial in matters of civil law. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
497: Will ND voters legalize recreational marijuana?
Marijuana is already legal in North Dakota. At least for medicinal reasons. But the backers of a new ballot measure want recreational use of marijuana to be legal as well. The campaign is calling itself New Economic Frontier. Their measure was just approved by the North Dakota Secretary of State's office for circulation. They have until July 8 to get it on the November ballot, though if they miss that deadline they'll still have a year from the date they began collecting signatures to qualify for the next statewide vote. Steve Bakken, the former mayor of Bismarck, and current member of the Burleigh County Commission, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the measure. North Dakotans have said no to recreational marijuana before, though the "no" side of the argument has been shrinking. In 2018, just over 40% of voters cast their ballots for a proposal to legalize. In 2021, another legalization proposal passed in the state House of Representatives on a 56-38 vote, though it failed in the state Senate with just 10 Senators approving it. In 2022, just over 45% of voters cast a ballot for another legalization proposal. Bakken says that's progress, and they're relying on it to get this measure over the finish line, though Bakken says he isn't planning on partaking if it's successful. "I'm not interested in using it," he said, but he does think the status quo creates problems, such as dangerous marijuana products mixed with other drugs. "It's tragic when you see someone who smokes some canabis and then dies from a fentanly overdose," he said. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
496: 'Supporting Ukraine puts America first'
U.S. Senate candidate Katrina Christiansen says the incumbent in her race "isn't that popular." Christiansen is running unopposed for the Democratic-NPL's nomination, and the incumbent she's referring to is Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, who is seeking a second six-year term. The challenger says she has polling suggesting that only 33% of previous Cramer voters are committed to voting for the incumbent again. "I think that shows the race can be competitive," she told me and my co-host Chad Oban, though she acknowledges that she has her own challenges. "My name rec is not great," she said, referring to name recognition, a common campaign metric, especially for challengers. We talked mostly about the question of federal policy on abortion -- Christiansen said she would vote to "codify Roe" in federal law -- and foreign policy. On the latter, Christiansen said Congress should have passed more aid funding for Ukraine "six months ago." She also spoke strong in support of Israel, though she says she supports a ceasefire. Still, "Supporting Ukraine puts America first," she said. "Supporting Israel puts America first." Christiansen said that if elected, she'll be "a foreign policy hawk." Also on this episode, we discuss the first debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Tammy Miller and Kelly Armstrong, as well as my story about Miller's running mate, Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen, and some personal conflicts of interest he had with his work in the Commerce Department under Gov. Doug Burgum's administration. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get our podcasts, or click here for more information.
495: 'The House doesn't really need more bulls in a China closet'
It wasn't on purpose, but bipartisanship and moderation ended up being the themes of this episode of Plain Talk. Whether we're talking about a Republican Speaker of the House, under siege from the MAGA wing of his own party, reaching out to Democrats to get things done, or democracy engaging on the issue of abortion now that the Roe v. Wade precedent has been overturned, it's clear that process matters. And when we engage in the process, and we have the debates, and we don't let ourselves be derailed by all the various flavors of theatrical obstructionism, the outcomes we get are further from what the extremes might want, and closer to what most of us can live with. Co-host Chad Oban and I talk about renewed controversy about delegate votes at the NDGOP state convention and whether U.S. House candidate Rick Becker's promises to help contribute to the chaos in Congress if elected is going to help him with North Dakota voters. We asked the guest for this show, Sen. Kevin Cramer, about that last point. "I think it's consistent with how Rick Becker has behaved in the Legislature," he said, arguing that Becker's campaign trail posturing is authentic. "It might be a good tactic to being the largest vote getter in a five-way race, he added. But also, "the House doesn't really need more bulls in a China closet," Cramer added. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
494: U.S. House candidates Julie Fedorchak and Cara Mund
"I don't think he's a good person," U.S. House candidate said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to former President Donald Trump. "I'm appalled at how much people have caved," she also said, saying her opponents in the North Dakota Republican Party's primary are too Trump loyal. "I'm the only candidate in this race who is not worshiping Trump,"she added. "I support women," she continued, referencing her fiercely pro-choice position on the issue of abortion, "and I will not bow to Trump." But when I asked her how she'll vote in November, she didn't rule out casting a ballot for Trump. "I'm considering the options for both," she said, adding that she did vote for Trump in 2016. Mund also discussed other policy positions, such as the issues at the border and support for Israel, and told my co-host Chad Oban and I that despite her passion about keeping legal access to abortion, she doesn't want to be known as a single-issue candidate. Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak also joined this episode, and talked about her evolving position on a federal abortion ban. When we interviewed her on Plain Talk in February, Fedorchak said she opposed a federal abortion ban. Now she says she supports one. What gives? Fedorchak says she supports the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe, and send the issue back to the states, but that she also isn't opposed to the federal government setting national guideline, though it wouldn't be an immediate priority. "Would this be my goal in the first 100 days in Congress? It wouldn't," she said. Fedorchak also hit both Mund and Becker for what she characterized as convenient political posturing. "They have changed parties as opportunists," she said, referring to Becker's decision to challenge Republican Sen. John Hoeven in 2022 as an independent, and Mund's strong support from Democrats as an independent U.S. House candidate that same cycle. As for Mund's contention that she worships Trump? "The only person I worship is my god," she said, adding that she plans to support Trump in 2024, and has no comment on his personal lifestyle choices or legal challenges. "I'm not going to pass judgment on Trump and his personal issues," she said. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
493: 'I have not heard in 12 years that families are asking us for more Christianity'
Kirsten Baesler has been the elected Superintendent of North Dakota's Public Schools for nearly 12 years. She's now seeking a fourth term. Before each of her previous three elections to this office, she sought and received the North Dakota Republican Party's endorsement. She sought it again this year, but was denied it by the convention's delegates by a wide margin. They instead chose home schooling advocate James Bartlett, who has campaigned on bringing the 10 commandments and other Christian tenets to our state's public schools. On this episode of Plain Talk, Baesler told my co-host Chad Oban and I about her experiences at the state convention, Bartlett's push for more religion in schools, and why voters should give her a fourth term in office. "I have not heard in 12 years that families are asking us for more Christianity," she said. She added that she sought the NDGOP's endorsement knowing full well "things had shifted quite a bit in the Republican party" toward a new sort of populism. She said that whether or not to seek the endorsement at the convention was "weighing" on her mind. "I decided in the end I was going," she said. "I needed to make my case." Also on this episode, we discuss the politics around North Dakota's five-way Republican U.S. House primary that now features a traditional Republican in Public Service Commisisoner Julie Fedorchak, a populist Republican in former state lawmaker Rick Becker, former Miss America Cara Mund who campaigned against a Republican House incumbent as an independent last cycle, and two newcomer candidates, Alex Balazs and Sharlet Mohr. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
492: 'If you just want to stir things up you're not doing your job'
Alex Balazs, the out-of-nowhere candidate who won the North Dakota Republican Party's convention endorsement last week, ended his interview on this episode of Plain Talk by joking about the tough questions we asked him. We did run him through the ringer, on everything from abortion, to Trump's claims about the 2020 election and January 6, to the farm bill, Ukraine, and Social Security. One question I thought was important to get him on the record about was how he'd handle the dysfunction that has roiled the Republican caucus in the United States House of Representatives. One of his opponents, former lawmaker Rick Becker, has promised to go to Washington D.C. and contribute to the chaos by being a "bull in a china shop." "If you just want to stir things up you're not doing your job," Balazs told us of that approach. Balazs says he was "very humbled" to receive the convention endorsement. He said he made his decision to run for Congress "at the kitchen table." "I guess you could call me a Trump Republican, he said when asked about his support for the former president, "but I'm also the first one in the kitchen to say 'why did he have to say that?'" Did Trump win the 2020 election? "We went through a process that elected Joe Biden," he said, though he also said there was some fraud in the voting, and that Democrats should acknowledge it. As for January 6? "There was no insurrection," he said. "I'm never going to support anyone who broke a window or something," he added, but said he felt there have been many people put in jail for merely walking into the capitol that day. He added that what happened on January 6 was "less wrong than what happened after." On abortion, Balazs says "the answer is no on a federal abortion ban" but that he's a "conception to death kind of person" who wants to put "more teeth in the law." Balazs also said his campaign is mostly self-funded. He claims to have raised only $2,035 from contributors so far. So far in his campaign, he's leaned heavily on his resume in the military. When asked if he could offer documentation to substantiate that record, he said he doesn't want personal information made public --"they're very sensitive documents," he said -- but would be willing to make arrangements to have them reviewed. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
491: North Dakota's primary election just got a lot more interesting
By the time you listen to this podcast, we will know if Cara Mund is going to turn the three-way Republican House primary into a four-way race. Whatever choice the former Miss America makes, North Dakota politics has gotten a lot more interesting since the North Dakota Republican Party's state convention in Fargo. And the Democratic-NPL's convention, as well. On this episode of Plain Talk, co-host Chad Oban recap the convention, and analyze what it will all mean for the June primary vote, and the November general election. A political unknown named Alex Balazs won the U.S. House endorsement over Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, but former lawmaker Rick Becker, who was ineligible for the endorsement, encouraged his supporters to try and spoil the vote. Now Mund may enter the race, adding an additional level of complexity. Also, the convention endorsed James Bartlett for Superintendent of Public Schools despite an amateurish campaign promoting some pretty extreme ideas, such as pushing the Christian 10 commandments into classrooms. Is the NDGOP's convention even still relevant? Also, Oban attended the Democratic-NPL convention, saying the energy level there was higher than in past years behind statewide contestants like gubernatorial candidate Merrill Piepkorn, U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer, and U.S. Senate candidate Katrina Christiansen. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
490: 'I don't even know what AOC stands for'
When state Sen. Merrill Piepkorn, gubernatorial candidate for the Democratic-NPL, joined this episode of Plain Talk with me and my co-host Chad Oban, the first question I wanted to ask him was how he plans to unite North Dakota voters at a time when even Republicans here seem deeply divided against themselves. Piepkorn accused me of not "pussy footing around." Joking aside, he thinks the right approach is "making the effort" to get to know people and understand their issues. The candidate says one of the challenges Democrats running in North Dakota have is that they get lumped in with the national Democratic brand. Which, he argues, isn't nearly so moderate as the North Dakota iteration of the party. "I don't even know what AOC stands for," he said, referring to the oft-used initials of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most visible national figures representing the progressive wing of the Democratic party. Piepkorn also took questions about what his agenda would be for North Dakota, if elected, how he feels about the ballot measure to abolish property taxes (he's against it), and how he might try to appeal to Republican voters who are feeling disillusioned. His answer to that last was candidate. He says he doesn't know, and that he'd rather say that than "make stuff up." "I have stuff to do," he said. "We're going to talk to people and find out," he added. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss Gov. Doug Burgum's trip to Mar-a-Lago to schmooze Donald Trump, and the controversy over District 37's delegates to the NDGOP's state convention. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
489: 'Let's get back to making North Dakota better for its citizens'
Resolutions are, once again, causing headaches for North Dakota Republicans ahead of the 2024 statewide convention. One party resolution to be voted on at the convention calls for laws that would put a pregnant woman who seeks an abortion in jail, along with anyone who helped her. Another denigrates public schools as places where children are indoctrinated. Yet another opposes vaccinations using demonstrably false information. Rep. Jim Jonas, a Republican from West Fargo, was on the committee that screened these resolutions. He joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about the process and why, from his point of view, most of them "don't align" with the majority of Republicans. Jonas told co-host Chad Oban and I that he sees "authoritarianism" in the efforts to force elected Republicans to abide by policy resolutions developed and approved by a small sliver of North Dakota's Republican citizens. Jonas, a long-time educator, says he used to teach world history, and that this expectation of loyalty to party is the sort of thing you'd seen in places like China. "I'm going to represent the people of West Fargo," he said, adding that many of his fellow Republicans "would like to do away with this process." "Let's get back to making North Dakota better for its citizens" he said. Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss Tom Campbell's decision to bow out of the NDGOP's U.S. House primary. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
488: 'I'm in a campaign. I'm always nervous.'
"The reality is we knew the campaign team," U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong told me and my co-host Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. Armstrong was responding to a question about his decision to go negative first against his opponent, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, in North Dakota's Republican gubernatorial primary. "We are going to play the game by the rules as they are not as we wish them to be," he said, adding that the political team running Miller's campaign "has never not gone scorched earth." Asked if going negative so early is a sign that he's nervous about losing this election, Armstrong admitted that he is. "I'm in a campaign," he said. "I'm always nervous." The attack ad branded Miller as "Tall Tale Tammy." Asked about why he chose that approach, Armstrong said it's because he has a strong dislike of politicians who present themselves other than as they are. "The one thing I hate in politics, I just despise it, is inauthenticity," he said. I've reported on messaging polling that the Miller campaign has done, testing potential attacks on Armstrong. Some of the questions in that polling dealt with Armstrong's past work as a criminal defense attorney, pointing out that he represented clients accused of some heinous crimes, like spousal abuse and child abuse. But Armstrong said he was proud of his work. "I've been fighting for people's civil liberties, sometimes even in really unpopular venues," he said, pointing out that all Americans have a right to legal counsel in a criminal proceeding. "If they think I'm going to back away from my record as a criminal defense attorney, they're mistaken," he added. Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss my recent reporting about New Song Church in Bismarck, a religious institution with deep political connections that has seemingly embraced partisan politics and Christian nationalism. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
487: 'I'm not sure that we're achieving justice at this point'
It's campaign season, and unfortunately in the news cycle that often means substantive policy discussions takes a back seat to aspersions and invective from political campaigns. We have a bit of both on this episode of Plain Talk. Yes, we talk about U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong throwing the first punch in what promises to be a nasty gubernatorial primary against Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller. And yes, we interviewed U.S. House candidate Tom Campbell, who said one of his primary opponents, Julie Fedorchak, has "threatened" him in an attempt to force him out of what is now a four-way race. But before we got to any of that, we had a conversation with Travis Finck, the executive director of North Dakota's woefully underfunded public defender system. Finck recently delivered a report to state lawmakers detailing problems he has with filling open positions and providing legal services to criminal defendants who have a constitutional right to them. He said his office is very close to telling district court judges that they may have to prioritize cases, and may not be able to have someone appear at every hearing. "I'm not sure that we're achieving justice at this point," he told co-host Chad Oban and I on this episode of Plain Talk. Campbell, meanwhile, says he is under intense pressure to get out of the House race. "Julie's campaign called my campaign and threatened me," he said, claiming Fedorchak's people said they would bring up his supposed residency issues as well as his family's decision to sell farm land to billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Campbell said the residency issue -- which he says has to do with his owning a lake residence in Minnesota -- is "beyond ridiculous." As for the land sale, he says he's had questions about it on the campaign trail. "Once I tell them the truth they're like, you need to tell people about that," he said. He says he hopes North Dakota's House race doesn't get as negative as the gubernatorial primary. When I asked him how he squares that preference with his support for former President Donald Trump, who is notorious for his pugnacious demeanor, he said that "Donald Trump is his own enemy." He said Trump has done "immoral" things, and while he prefers the presumptive Republican nominee to the incumbent, President Joe Biden, "I wish we could have found someone better," he said. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information. And if you can, consider leaving a rating and review on whatever platform you use to listen.
486: 'Rob, sometimes you make us money'
The North Dakota Republican Party will be holding what will be a very interesting event on April 5. Interesting in the conventional way in that it will be a showcase of (most) of the party's statewide candidates. Interesting also in that there is a divide among Republicans between those who think the party's most ardent activists, the one who fill up the seats at the party's conventions, are increasingly out of touch with not only the larger electorate, but rank-and-file Republican voters as well. I don't know that this convention will be the answer to that debate, but it will be informative. Talking about that issue on this episode of Plain Talk is NDGOP executive director Andrew Nyhus. "Rob, sometimes you make us money," he told me and my co-host Chad Oban, referencing my frequent criticisms of the party. "The checks come in," he claims. He also spoke to rumors that there may be an attempt to set aside rules at the convention to allow U.S. House candidate Rick Becker to seek the convention endorsement. Becker is from the MAGA wing of the NDGOP, and the conventions are his base of political power. In 2022, after losing the convention endorsement to U.S. Senate incumbent John Hoeven, he then challenged Hoeven in the general election as an independent. The NDGOP has a rule stating that any candidate who seeks office as an independent, or the candidate for another party, cannot seek the Republican endorsement for three political cycles. "If you say you believe in the rule of law, and you have rules...you can't really suspend the rules," he said of potential efforts to get Becker before the delegates. "Suspending the rules is not possible," he added, and defended the rule barring Becker from the endorsement. His challenge to Hoeven in the general election "could have cost us a win," he said. "A U.S. Senate seat." Nyhus also discussed divides in the party over the platform, and the role of the party in activism. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss the recent polling in North Dakota U.S. House race released by Becker's campaign. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
485: A bellwether legislative race
There is a shift happening in North Dakota politics. Republicans are divided between Trump-style populists, and more traditional conservatives. The legislative primary in District 8 may well be a bellwether for the future of both North Dakota's dominant political party, and the way in which our state is governed. That jurisdiction is home to state Rep. Brandon Prichard, one of the most polarizing figures in state politics today, a young man just a few years removed from high school who has made a name for himself with vile and bigoted social media antics and professional activism aimed at defeating many of his fellow Republican lawmakers. Now, he's got primary challengers of his own. Mike Berg, the co-founder of an engineering firm in Bismarck, and Ken Rensch, who has a background in emergency medical response, have announced campaigns for the state House of Representatives in District 8. They'll be seeking the Republican nomination on the June primary, challenging Prichard and his fellow incumbent Rep. SuAnn Olson. "The people of District 8 could have people in the House of Representatives who represent them better," Berg said on this episode of Plain Talk. Also on this episode, we discuss politicians who say they aren't politicians, U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong's recent comments about double standards at a high-profile House Judiciary hearing this week, and Democrats making President Joe Biden apologize for saying "illegal immigrant." To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
484: 'It's strategically dumb'
"It's strategically dumb," says Sen. Kevin Cramer, referring to those who heckled President Joe Biden during the State of the Union address, and otherwise made a spectacle of themselves. Cramer joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the president's speech, the Senate's GOP's progress toward picking a new leader, and the prospect for tackling border security during an election year. Cramer had tough words in his assessment of the speech -- “I thought it was the worst State of the Union address I have ever listened to or sat through," he said in his official statement -- but thought those who felt the need to shout at the president during the speech were "giving up the moral high ground." He said those who got up to antics -- such as Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene wearing a Trump campaign hat -- "have to trust the view public more." Cramer also acknowledged that Biden is conceding some points on border security to Republicans, and that he believes Republicans ought to press the issue. He said he'd be in favor of the Senate passing a border security bill through regular order and sending it to the House, even though former President Donald Trump opposes making progress on the issue before he's elected, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has said that any such bill is "dead on arrival" in the House. Why, then, did Cramer vote against the border deal negotiated with Democrats by Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford? He says because it wasn't brought forward through regular order. As for the new leader for Senate Republicans, Cramer says that right now the race is between South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, but that he expects a third name to emerge. He wasn't ready to say who he supports, and added that the election of a new leader will take place after the November election, the results of which will have a big impact on the choice. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
483: Five for Fighting plays Fargo, Burgum won't say if he would have certified the 2020 election
For people of a certain age, who entered adulthood around the turn of the last century, the music of Five for Fighting is a cultural touchstone. The song, "Superman (It's Not Easy)" was an anthem post 9/11. John Ondrasik, the man who is Five for Fighting, performed it at the 2001 Concert for New York. Ondrasik, who will be playing the Fargo Theater in Fargo on March 26, accompanied by a string quartet, has never been shy about tackling controversial issues with his music. He wrote a song critical of the way American troops were ordered to depart Afghanistan. He wrote a song in support of Ukraine in their fight against the bloody, revanchist aggression of Vladimir Putin's regime. Most recently, Ondrasik has weighed in on the war between Israel and Hamas. Called "OK," it juxtaposes images of the Hamas terror attack on Israelis, and Hamas sympathizers here in America supporting it, with a call for moral clarity on the issue. Ondrasik joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the song, and the dangers of artists taking on touchy political issues. "I think it's the right thing to do," he said when I asked him why he would take the risk of releasing these songs. "If I was 22 years old and trying to have a career in the music industry would I still be writing these songs? I don't know," he said. "I hope so." He noted that these issues -- Ukraine, Israel, Afghanistan -- are not necessarily partisan. Actor Debra Messing, an outspoken liberal, and right-wing talk radio host Mark Levine agree on Israel, he pointed out. The positions on Ukraine don't break down neatly along ideological or partisan lines either. Ondrasik said he doesn't consider the politics of these situations when he chooses to write about them. "OK" is a moral message, not a political one, he claims. But he did say there is an overall leftward bias in his industry. "If Donald Trump had been responsible for that Afghanistan disaster I'd probably have a Grammy in my hand." If you interested in attending Ondrasik's show in Fargo, you can purchase tickets at FiveforFighting.com or on the website for the Fargo Theatre. Also on this episode, my co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss Gov. Doug Burgum's refusal to say whether he'd certify the 2020 election, and the recent NDGOP presidential caucus vote. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
482: The Stenehjem email saga continues
As someone who has worked as a reporter in this state for more than two decades, who has broken a very large number of stories based on records requested from various government entities, I know a thing or two about North Dakota open records laws. When a prosecutor says that criminal charges can't be brought in a case where a staffer ordered the deletion of the emails of a deceased state official -- explicitly stating that the deletion was so that members of the public couldn't request them -- because it's not clear that emails are considered a government record in state law, I can't help but feel there are shenanigans afoot. My co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the matter on this episode of Plain Talk. Also on this episode, David Banks, a climate policy advisor to former President Donald Trump joined to discuss the Prove It Act. This bipartisan legislation, sponsored by North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, would begin to collect data on the environmental impacts of American-made products. The goal is to develop trade policy that takes into account the difference in environmental standards between America and the countries it trades with. It's one thing to set environmental standards for American companies making goods and providing services from within our borders, but what good are those standards when companies operating in other countries, like China or India, who do not meet our standards, can undercut American companies? American companies should absolutely have to compete with companies in other countries. That's good for Americans, and good for the world. But American companies shouldn't have to compete against companies can abuse the environment, and their labor forces, in aways that are proscribed by our laws. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
481: Standing up for what's right
We talk a lot about political leaders and activists who do stupid things. Ugly things. Cynical and self-serving things. But what about those who are standing up for what's right? On this episode of Plain Talk, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed Sec. of State Michael Howe, North Dakota's top election official who has, despite the partisan pressures coming from his office, has maintained that the 2020 election was not stolen, and has consistently defended the integrity of North Dakota's voting process. Also, on this episode, we discuss the chair of the North Dakota Republican Party is slamming Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller for not bringing her gubernatorial campaign to the party's state convention, the politicians on the North Dakota Industrial Commission approving a controversial contract to market carbon capture that pays a talk radio host who also covers said politicians, the upcoming presidential primary vote, and what it will take for the depressing political trends we're all living through to change. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
480: What kind of a strategy is avoiding voters?
Rep. Scott Louser, a Republican from Minot who also recently announced a campaign for the local school board, has a big proposal aimed at school funding and North Dakota's seemingly intractable property tax problem. He has organized it into a draft bill for the 2025 legislative session. But does that mean he thinks a proposed ballot measure to abolish property taxes won't pass? "Dr. Becker is leading the charge and also running for Congress," Louser told my co-host Chad Oban and I on this episode of Plain Talk. He's referring to former state lawmaker Rick Becker, a Bismarck plastic surgeon organizing the petition drive behind that measure who has also announced a campaign for the U.S. House. Louser seems skeptical about Becker keeping his eye on the ball. "I don't know if it gets on the ballot," Louser, who has endorsed Becker's House campaign, told us. "I don't know if it passes." Louser says his proposal, which would increase state-level funding for schools in exchange for caps on mill levies, is not intended to "derail" Becker's proposal. Louser's draft bill, which you can read below, also includes new funding for private schools. Also on this episode, we discuss gubernatorial candidate Tammy Miller's decision to skip local NDGOP party events in the early days of her campaign -- we're not sure we understand the strategy -- as well as the controversy surrounding the departure of a prominent supporter of Miller's rival in that race from Gov. Doug Burgum's administration. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
479: Previewing North Dakota's presidential caucus
No, the Republican presidential primary is not over yet. And yes, North Dakotans, you will have a chance to vote in it and make a difference. Bob Harms, who is running the NDGOP's presidential caucuses, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the process. He talked about how to vote, and where to vote, and how those votes will be counted and reported. You can click here for more information. Joining me as co-host on this episode is Michael Bell, host of Dakota Talk, which airs out of Bismarck on KFYR AM550 from 9-11 am on weekdays. Michael and I talked about the national presidential primary, the Republican gubernatorial primary between Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, and the Republican House primary between Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, former state Rep. Rick Becker, and former state Sen. Tom Campbell. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk are published? Search for the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for a full listing of episodes, and information on how to subscribe on specific platforms.
478: 'I don't like the state of our country'
Why did Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak opt to run for the United States Hosue of Representatives? "I don't like the state of our country," she told me and my co-host Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. Fedorchak is a long-time member of the policy-intensive PSC, and thinks she can take what she learned from administering the complicated to the point of being arcane regulatory process around things like pipelines and transmission lines to Congress. "This is what we do," she said of her work on the commission. "We work through controversial issues." She said her energy expertise, in particular, could be useful in Washington were she said there is a "fundamental lack of understanding" of that policy area. "We're basically committing energy suicide in our country," she said, noting America's abundant resources. "There is no reason we should ever run short." Fedorchak said she'd also like to help move the nation's budgeting process out of the grips of two-year election cycles toward a longer-term commitment to an 8 to 10 year plan. She also said there needs to be a "return to order" on the border, and a focus in general on "policy" instead of "personalities." As for other hot-button policy areas, Fedorchak declined to say whether she would have voted for the recent bipartisan budget bill that was tanked by Republicans at the behest of former President Donald Trump -- she said she didn't know enough about it -- and added that while she's pro-life, she thinks the federal government should leave the abortion issue to the states, and that Congress should focus more on policies that "help women choose life." Also on this episode, incumbent state Rep. Jon Nelson, a Republican, joined to discuss why he and his fellow District 14 incumbents opted to skip their party's local endorsing convention. He decried an "eat your own" mentality in the NDGOP today. "We don't have a discussion," he said. "We're preached to." He also had some sharp words for some of his fellow Republican lawmakers, like Minot Rep. Dan Ruby and Bismarck Rep. Brandon Prichard, who funding and managing efforts to target Republican incumbents like himself. He accused Prichard, specifically, of spreading false information about his votes. "Unlike Rep. Prichard, I actually care about being accurate," he said. Nelson added that he's choosing to seek another term in the House because "as long as I'm able to make a difference, I want to try." To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
477: On lies, and the people who tell them
Me and my co-host Chad Oban took a break from guests on this episode of Plain Talk to spend some to talk through some of the headlines in North Dakota. We discussed the Republican primary races. With Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller in the gubernatorial race with U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, and Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak in the U.S. House race with former state lawmakers Rick Becker and Tom Campbell, the stage seems set. It doesn't seem like we're likely to get any more candidates in those races. But how will they play out? We made some predictions, one being that we're all about to be inundated with political advertising, particularly from candidates in the gubernatorial race. Also on this episode, we spent some time talking about the death of Russian political dissident Alexei Navalny, the antics of Putin apologist Tucker Carlson, the inability of 2020 election conspiracy theorists to make their case in court, the legal battle over the costs of responding to the violent protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, and how that all ties in to this ignoble moment in North Dakota politics. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information. Also, if you listen to the show on platforms like Apple Podcasts or Spotify which allow you to leave a rating or review, please give us an honest one. We appreciate it.
476: Tammy Miller joins North Dakota's gubernatorial race
Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller has announced her campaign for governor. She'll be taking on U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong in the Republican primary. Asked, on this episode of Plain Tal, how she's different from Armstrong, she touted her business background. "I'm a proven business leader," she said, referencing the 14 years she spent leading Border States Electric, the Fargo-based electrical distributor and one of the largest companies in the country in that category. This was perhaps telegraphing what will be an early talking point deployed by Miller's campaign against Armstrong, who has served in elected office -- first the state Legislature, then Congress -- since 2013. Miller seems eager to contrast that time in politics with her private sector experience. Asked by my co-host Chad Oban why she wants to be governor, Miller said she'd like to "continue the great momentum" of Gov. Doug Burgum's administration. Miller talked about growing up in small town North Dakota (she's from Brocket, population 34), and working at her family's retail business. Sometimes defending it, too. "We were often robbed," she said. "We would protect our store with shotguns until the Ramsey County Sheriff showed up." Her early campaign messaging leans heavily into culture war topics with the candidate vowing to fight "woke" left-wing activists and the "socialist" administration of President Joe Biden. But, as governor, Burgum was more moderate than that on social issues. When asked about that, Miller said that while she was glad the Legislature took up some of those issues during previous campaigns, she was hoping to see a focus more on economic policy areas in coming sessions. But she is leaning hard on her support for former President Donald Trump and his bid for a second term in the White House. A campaign ad released along with her announcement touts Trump heavily. Asked why she felt it was important for her to endorse Trump for president hours after Burgum announced he wasn't seeking a third term, she said it's because "Donald is the best person to lead our country." To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
475: 'I am frustrated by Biden' on border security says Democratic U.S. Senate candidate
"Republicans understandably and rightly believe that border security is important for our national security," U.S. Senate candidate Katrina Christiansen told me and co-host Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. Wanting a secure border is "absolutely paramount if you're going to be a real leader," she added. I want to stress, at this juncture, that Christiansen is a Democrat. She's challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer. You don't normally hear Democrats talk about the border this way -- acknowledging that it's a crisis, calling for a crackdown on illegal crossings -- but Christiansen is going there. She says she's "frustrated" by President Joe Biden who, she argues, "had an opportunity in the first two years" to address the border but didn't. Christiansen understands that she's a Democrat challenging a Republican incumbent in a Republican leaning state, but, pointing to Republicans tanking a get-tough border bill seemingly at the behest of former President Donald Trump and his short-term political interests, she says "our current leadership isn't working." "Kevin Cramer is very good at identifying problems -- and I mean this sincerely -- and he's good at assigning blame," Christiansen said. But where he's lacking is taking the next step, and getting to solutions. Christiansen also talked about what she learned from her losing campaign for the U.S. Senate from last cycle, where she got nearly 25% of the vote in a three-way race against incumbent Sen. John Hoeven. Also on this episode, Oban and I talk about President Joe Biden's age issues, which are making headlines thanks to a special counsel's report on his handling of classified information, as well as some of the weirdness around U.S. House candidate Rick Becker's campaign, whether another Republican is going to join that race, and whether Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller will eventually announce a run for governor against Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who is already in that race. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
474: Former Valley News Live host Chris Berg has some regrets
Chris Berg says that he once had a boss, when he was a talk radio host for AM1100 "The Flag" in Fargo, who told him that he was supposed to be infuriating his audience. "You gotta get people angry," Berg says he was told (he said people will think he was talking about host Scott Hennen, but that it was someone else). In addition to talk radio, Berg was the host of the politically-themed 6:30 Point of View on Valley News Live in Fargo for nearly a decade, and he often succeeded in making his audience angry. Berg has moved on from the media industry — he is now working in commercial real estate in California — and he has some regrets. "Turn off the TV and talk radio," he now says, despite working in those media for more than a decade. "Take off the red or blue glasses and challenge yourself," he added. "I felt like I was dragging myself to the microphone," Berg told me on this episode of Plain Talk. He said that shortly after he moved to California, news broke of a school shooting in Tennessee, and despite the awful news, he felt a sense of relief that he wouldn't have to spend hours having the same old shout fest about it without anything meaningful getting done. "The sad thing about the media business is the more anger and hate you sow, the more money you make," he said. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
473: 'He's taking more crap for this than we are'
MINOT — Sen. Kevin Cramer is vexed by some of his fellow Republicans who want to kill a tax bill, and an immigration deal, lest they be seen accomplishing anything that might be perceived by voters as an accomplishment for incumbent Republican Joe Biden. "That frustrates me," told me and my co-host Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. On the immigration bill, specifically, Cramer said Biden is under more fire from his left flank than Republicans are from the left. "He's taking more crap for this than we are," he said. We also asked Cramer about the competitive primaries North Dakota Republicans have for open gubernatorial and U.S. House races. "My political action committee, my leadership PAC, will be participating," Cramer said, though he made it clear he isn't picking a side just yet. He said he didn't run for office "so I can be neutral." He praised Armstrong for getting into the gubernatorial race quickly after Burgum announced he wouldn't be seeking a third term. "He could lock out the crowd," he said, adding that Armstrong's early advantages in the race "may be weighing" on Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller's own decision on whether or not to seek that office. As for the House race? Cramer said he "loves" both former state Rep. Rick Becker, and former state Sen. Tom Campbell, but also said, "I don't think that field is filled yet." "I think there's room in our party for another candidate in that race," he added. He said the chaos in the Republican House caucus may be giving some potential candidates pause. "I'm starting to wonder why anyone wants the job." Also on this episode, Scott Schofield, an Air Force veteran from Grand Forks, talks about his campaign for the state House in District 18, where he's taking on Democratic-NPL incumbent Rep. Corey Mock. In his campaign announcement, Schofield said there are "many of our elected leaders are more focused on fighting culture wars than in working together to address the problems facing our state." "I also think there are a lot of Republican voters who don't want to hear that," he said when we asked him about the statement. He said he considered running for the Legislature as a Democrat, but ultimately chose to campaign as a Republican because he feels he more consistently lines up with the NDGOP's platform. "I'm fiscally conservative," he said, though he added that not everything in that platform is to his liking. "The part that really chapped me is there is an entire chapter that is against the LGBTQ community," he said. "That hurts my heart," he added. Schofield also described himself as "pro-choice" and said he opposes North Dakota's near-total ban on abortions, which is currently being litigated in the courts, though he said he would consider certain a ban on abortion after a certain number of weeks. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
472: 'Does he want to bankrupt our small towns with no farm program?'
Former state Sen. Tom Campbell has a plan for getting the nation's finances in order should he be elected to Congress. "No new hiring," he said. "Let's use artificial intelligence." He argued that many government jobs could be automated, resulting in dramatic reductions in the federal workforce, and savings for taxpayers. Campbell is seeking the NDGOP's nomination for the U.S. House, and he had some sharp words for his opponent in that race, former state Rep. Rick Becker. He accused Becker of opposing the farm bill. "Does he want to bankrupt our small towns with no farm program?" he asked, going on to say that Becker is "just too radical far right." Also on this episode, state Rep. Mike Nathe of Bismarck discusses why he and his fellow incumbents in District 30 skipped their own party's endorsing convention, something for which they were censured. "Our [district] party was taken over a few years ago," he said, adding that district events had become so "ugly" that a police presence was necessary. "A lot of good Republicans don't want to go because it is so disgusting," he said, adding that he and his fellow incumbents struggle to find delegates to attend the local convention because "a lot of them have PTSD" from bad experiences in the past. He argued that other NDGOP district committees have similar problems across the state. Nathe and the other incumbents skipped the endorsing convention, which was organized by a district chair who was also a candidate for the endorsement, and instead collected signatures to place their names on the June ballot. Nathe says that if he's elected to another term in the House, he plans to introduce legislation to do away with the endorsing convention process. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
471: 'The expansion of state government is not going to solve problems'
MINOT — "I think our personalities are different," Rep. Kelly Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk, responding to my question about how he's different from outgoing Gov. Doug Burgum. Armstrong immediately launched a campaign to be North Dakota's next governor when Burgum announced that he wouldn't seek a third term in that office. "Given the current dynamic change in the political environment, North Dakota is going to need a lot of leadership," he told my co-host Chad Oban and I. But how is he different from the governor who has presided over North Dakota's affairs for most of the last decade? "He's one of the smartest people in North Dakota if not the country," Armstrong said of Burgum, "but I grew up in smaller businesses." But he said the differences may be more style than substance. He said he also admires former governors Ed Schafer, John Hoeven, and Jack Dalrymple, but argued few would see them as sharing similar styles and personalities. Burgum frequently clashed with the Republican-controlled Legislature. Even during the 2023 legislative session, which we now know was Burgum's last as governor, it wasn't unusual to hear members of Burgum's own party bemoan his vetoes. Armstrong said he would likely have his conflicts with lawmakers too, as all governors do, but said his philosophy in politics is to not "make it personal." One area where lawmakers and Burgum frequently failed to see eye to eye were on social or so-called "culture war" bills that dealt with things like book bans pronouns and LGTBQ+ issues. Burgum signed a couple of those bills, but vetoed more. Asked how he would handle those issues, Armstrong said he'd use the approach he uses for all policy proposals. "First of all, is it a problem? Second, does the solution have unintended or unforeseen consequences? Third, is it something for the state or federal government to handle?" "The expansion of the state government is not going to solve problems" he added. Asked how he has navigated an era where American politics is not just divided between Republicans and Democrats, but also Republicans and Republicans, Armstrong said that he seeks to work with the other side, but also understands that unity, while "a great buzzword," is not necessary "to be effective." To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
470: A wild week in North Dakota politics
It's been a wild week in North Dakota politics. Former state Rep. Rick Becker announced a primary challenge to U.S. House incumbent Kelly Armstrong. But then, Armstrong left the race to run for governor because the incumbent there, Doug Burgum, opted not to seek a third term. Many pieces are moving around the chess board of North Dakota politics. On this episode of Plain Talk, me and my co-host Chad Oban dig into them. Can former state Sen. Tom Campbell, who is also running for governor, overcome the early advantages in terms of fundraising Armstrong has as a congressional incumbent? Will Lt. Governor Tammy Miller join the governor's race? And if she does, to what extent will outgoing Gov. Doug Burgum support her financially? Will Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak get in the race? Becker is currently the only Republican running for North Dakota's at-large seat in the House. Will others join that race? We don't have answers to all those questions, but we certainly have some informed thoughts. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
469: Law enforcement spokesman says it's 'angering' and 'frustrating' that Rep. Rios hasn't resigned
"Yeah, I think that's a fair conclusion," Aaron Moss, a former member of the Minot Police Department, and the Sgt. at Arms of the North Dakota Fraternal Order of Police, told me and co-host Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. Moss was asked if his group feels state Rep. Nico Rios, who so far hasn't stepped down after an incident in which he berated two Williston Police Department officers with racist and homophobic diatribes during an arrest for DUI. He called the situation "extraordinarily frustrating." "We rely on these folks to come up with the police we enforce," Moss said. When an elected official who makes the laws behaves this way, "It cuts the legs out from under us." Moss applauded House Majority Leader Mike Lefor for calling on Rios to resign, and for removing the Williston lawmaker from the House Judiciary Committee, where he would have been a "distraction" for law enforcement officials obliged to work with that committee. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss a political attack by state Rep. Brandon Prichard on nearly three dozen of his Republican colleagues, and Gov. Doug Burgum's endorsement of former President Donald Trump for a second term. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
468: North Dakota has a carbon shortage?
When we talk about carbon dioxide, it's usually in the context of having too much of it. Which is to say, that we're putting too much carbon into our atmosphere though human activity. But according to Ron Ness, the president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, who joined me and co-host Ben Hanson on Plain Talk today, our state's oil industry is going to need more carbon to keep itself sustainable into the future. The industry needs the carbon to inject down into oil wells for enhanced oil recovery. "It's absolutely critical," he told us. Ness's comments come at a time when there is a brawling political debate over carbon pipelines. The Summit Carbon Pipeline, specifically, has drawn a lot of attention, facing as it does outspoken opposition from a coalition of strange bed fellows, including left-wing environmentalists and right-wing populists. That project doesn't have anything to do with what Ness is talking about -- it's backed by the ethanol industry, aiming to bring carbon produced at ethanol plants to North Dakota for storage -- but he says his industry is watching it carefully. Because they're going to need carbon in the future, and pipelines are the best way to bring it here. Also on this episode, Ben and I discuss and analyze the possibility that Gov. Doug Burgum could join a second Trump administration in some official way. Maybe as a cabinet official? Maybe as Trump's running mate? To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
467: Trygve Hammer talks U.S. House campaign
"It's one thing to think about Democrats in the abstract," U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer, himself a Democrat, told co-host Chad Oban and I on this episode of Plain Talk. "It's another thing to meet a Democrat. Hammer has a strong military and labor background, and when he said that, he was responding to a question about how he, as a member of a party that in many ways has lost touch with blue-collar voters, can reconnect with that constituency. He also spoke about some of the recent scandals North Dakota Republicans have found themselves mired in, and suggested Democrats have some culpability as well. Not for the scandals themselves, but for not being more competitive with Republicans. "There is a little bit of Democratic responsibility for this," he said, adding that "it would be political malpractice in this cycle for Democrats not to bring this stuff up." As for his opponent, incumbent Congressman Kelly Armstrong, Hammer says he feels some empathy. "I sympathize with him," Hammer said. "He's been put in a pickle by a lot of the bad actors in his party." Also on this episode, Oban and I analyze the case former state Sen. Tom Campbell is making for his gubernatorial ambitions, and whether or not state Rep. Jason Dockter, a Bismarck Republican who is facing a misdemeanor criminal charge over a sweetheart office lease deal, should resign. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
466: 'I'm not here to bash Doug'
One of the first things former state Senator Tom Campbell said as he began his interview on this episode of Plain Talk with co-host Chad Oban and I was this: "I'm not here to bash Doug," referring to incumbent Governor Doug Burgum. Campbell, who is considering a run for governor himself, then spent the next six minutes or so bashing Doug. "He's been an ok governor," Campbell said, damning the incumbent with faint praise. "I think eight years is probably enough," he said. "I think everyone realized right from the get go that it was going nowhere," Campbell said of Burgum's presidential campaign. He also said that campaign didn't reflect well on North Dakota, saying it was "making us look like a small hick state." Campbell quoted an unnamed friend who told him, "I don't think I want someone controlling the nuclear buttons that just comes from a small town and rides horses." Those are some sharp jabs for someone not out to "bash" their potential opponent. Campbell, who says he hasn't yet decided on a gubernatorial run, addressed some potential areas of criticism for his potential campaign, including his family's decision to sell land to tech industry mogul Bill Gates, a bete noire of the populist right. "Our family decided to sell the land to him and we leased it back long term," he said, adding that the money from the transaction "allows us to keep farming." "That was a very positive thing I did," he added. Asked about his priorities, should he run for and win the governor's seat, Campbell said he'd sign a bill to cap property taxes, and focus on workforce shortages, particularly in the areas of teachers, medical professionals, and lawyers. Oban asked Campbell whether he feels incumbent President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, and Campbell wouldn't commit. "I don't know," he said. "There's a lot of information that's still coming out," he added. Michael Bell, a new talk radio host on KFYR AM550 in Bismarck, also joined this show to talk about starting a gig like that in these divisive political times. "It's been an interesting tome to help break through to the masses," he said. He's critical of Donald Trump. "He's not really a Republican and certainly not a conservative," Bell said. He also said that many on the right today "yell and shout and think that's conservatism." To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
465: 'I'm on a never-ending quest to prove you don't have to be crazy to be conservative'
If you own property in North Dakota right now, and you live at that property as your primary residence, you are probably eligible for a $500 property tax credit from the State of North Dakota. You can fill out an online form on the Tax Commissioner's website right now and claim that credit. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss that process. He says some 35,000 North Dakotans have claimed it already, and he expects the number to be well above 50,000 by next week. He said he expects about 90% of eligible citizens to claim the credit. Congressman Kelly Armstrong also joined this episode and addressed the scandal around state Rep. Nico Rios, saying he agrees with the calls on the Williston lawmaker to resign. Armstrong, a former defense attorney who says he's represented clients in DUI cases, says Rios "hit the trifecta of what not to do" during an arrest, pointing out that he refused a sobriety test, he verbally abused the officers, and he invoked his status as an elected official to try and get out of the arrest. Armstrong also suggested that a lack of competition from Democrats — Rios and the other Republicans from District 23 ran unopposed for their positions — has hurt Republicans by allowing them to endorse some unvetted candidates. "Everyone would be better served if we had more competition," he said. He was also critical of NDGOP Chair Sandi Sanford, who has flip-flopped on her call for Rios to resign. "This should be easy. This should be an easy thing to do," Armstrong said. "You either say he should resign, or not resign, or no comment. Everything else is just parsing." "I often think in politics we don't do a good job of holding our own side accountable," he added. When asked about the number of North Dakota Republicans in the headlines for various scandals over the last year, he said he's focused on the job he's doing. "I'm on a never-ending quest to prove you don't have to be crazy to be a conservative," he said. Speaking of competition, Armstrong, who has said he will be seeking re-election to his current office this year, has a challenger from Democratic-NPL candidate Trygve Hammer, who filed a statement of candidacy with the FEC this week. Armstrong called Hammer "impressive," citing his military background, but said, "I'm going to run on my record. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Click here for information, or search for the show wherever you get your podcasts.
464: 'I watched the video. I was deeply disappointed.'
House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, a Republican from Bismarck, says that shortly after Rep. Nico Rios was arrested for driving under the influence, he got a call from the Williston lawmaker. Rios acknowledged the arrest during that conversation, but according to Lefor, he left out the verbal abuse and bigoted slurs he hurled at members of the Williston Police Department involved in the arrest. "At no time did he let me know about any videos," Lefor said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I watched the video. I was deeply disappointed," he added. Lefor and other North Dakota Republican leaders, including those in Rios's legislative district, have called for the lawmaker to resign. "I don't think there's a place in the Legislature, or the party, for someone who talks like that to a police officer," he said. Rios, so far, hasn't resigned. Asked what the next steps would be if the lawmaker clings to office, Lefor raised the possibility of a recall. "I wouldn't be surprised if there was a movement to remove him from that office," Lefor said. He didn't mention the possibility of expelling Rios. That would require a vote of the full House of Representatives, and as things stand now, the Legislature won't convene again until January of 2025. But, in the mean time, Lefor says he's working on what he can do to remove Rios from the House Judiciary Committee, which handles law enforcement matters among other topics. Lefor says he wouldn't want a member of law enforcement to have to testify in front of Rios. Lefor also commented on the legal controversy around redistricting. A federal judge struck down a map drawn by lawmakers, saying it is out of compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act. The judge set a deadline for lawmakers to draw a new map, but that has come and gone as the state has appealed the ruling. The judge said he could choose a map himself if lawmakers don't act, but so far that hasn't happened. Lefor says the Legislature continues the process of developing a new map, but said at any point the judge could rule again, at which point lawmakers would have to respond. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
463: Republicans silent on Nico Rios scandal, Treasurer Beadle talks re-election
In 2020, Donald Trump was still in office, and made the decision to reach down to a state-level executive branch race of the sort you don't normally see American presidents intervening in. In the NDGOP's primary that year, Trump endorsed former state Rep. Daniel Johnston to be North Dakota's Treasurer. Pillow salesman and MAGA-world celebrity Mike Lindell endorsed Johnston too, as did U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer. But another lawmaker, Thomas Beadle, won the Republican primary with support from Gov. Doug Burgum. Now he's up for re-election, and joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. Beadle described the 2020 competition as a "proxy battle" between Cramer and Burgum. He said his personal style isn't showy. "I was never the show horse," he said, adding that he didn't get involved in politics to "just own the libs." Asked if he feels he will face a primary challenge from the populist, Trump-aligned faction of the party, Beadle said he wasn't sure, but that he's not "afraid of it." He didn't commit to attending the NDGOP's statewide convention, where the populist faction has gotten the most traction in state politics. "It's an open conversation," he said. "I love the convention process," he added, but said he plans to campaign "all the way to November," suggesting he'd likely stay in the race even if he doesn't receive the party's convention endorsement. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the scandal involving state Rep. Nico Rios, and why Republicans have, so far, been reticent to condemn a man who used vile slurs and bigoted language on two members of the Williston Police Department.
462: Getting RFK Jr. on North Dakota's ballot
MINOT — When you go into the voting booth on election day you have on hand a ballot that has a bunch of names on it. How do those names get there? Most of them are the nominated candidate of one party or another, but if you're an independent, there's a process you have to go through before you can be an option on election day. On this episode of Plain Talk, a Jamestown volunteer by the name of Christian Cairy joined co-host Ben Handon and me to discuss his efforts to get independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on North Dakota's statewide ballot. Cairy said his group, People 4 Kennedy, can begin collecting signatures in January, and have to get 4,000 turned in by September. Those interested in volunteering can email people4kennedynd@gmail.com. Also on this episode, Fargo-based defense Tanya Martinez talks about the Ian Cramer case. Cramer, the son of U.S. Sentator Kevin Cramer, led police on a high-speed chase that resulted in the death of a Mercer County deputy. Some social media commentators have suggested that Ian Cramer may get special treatment because of who his dad is. Martinez says she's seen no evidence in that case. She also answered questions about the charges he's facing, and what the process will look like going forward. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
461: Sec. of State Howe says he's 'extremely concerned' about harassment of election workers
This week we got news that the elected auditor of Eddy County, an office that counts local election administration among its various duties, has resigned amid a push by election-denying Republican activists. On this episode of Plain Talk, Sec. of State Michael Howe talked about the harassment and aggressive conspiracy mongering many local election officials are facing around the state. "I'm extremely concerned," he said. "Whether it's an auditor in a small county or people running for the Legislature." He said there seems to be a movement to "push good people out." Howe also answered questions about North Dakota's election process, saying it's "extremely secure." Also on this episode, Friday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss former state Sen. Tom Campbell's aggressive push keep incumbent Gov. Doug Burgum from seeking a third term. We also covered the Williston Shool Board, which survived a recall election pushed by far-right populist activists, voting to keep controversial library books on the shelves. To subscribe to Plain Talk, so you can listen on your favorite device, and be alerted when new episodes publish, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts. Or click here for more information.
460: A new news source for North Dakota
North Dakota can sometimes have a reputation as being a sleepy state, but believe it or not, there are a lot of things going on. Trust me. As someone whose job it is to write about what's happening in state an local government, there just aren't enough hours in the day for me to cover all the things I'd like to write or talk about. That being said, a new source for news in the state can't be a bad thing, right? The North Dakota Monitor is a new state-based iteration of a nonprofit news organization called the States Newsroom. They fund reporters in some 38 states who cover politics, courts, government, and other matters. They don't charge for subscriptions, and they don't run ads. Their reporting is funded by donors. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Amy Dalrymple, the former editor of the Bismarck Tribune who is now heading up the Monitor, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. She answered questions about what her organization will be covering, and criticism the States Newsroom organization has taken from media watchdogs like NewsGuard over their nonprofit model. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss the NDGOP hiring a new executive director, Andrew Nyhus, and the most recent court ruling about North Dakota's legislative map. District Court Judge Peter Welte is refusing to move a December 22 deadline for lawmakers to introduce a new map. Will the Legislature have to rush into their second special session of this year? Or will an appeal to the 8th Circuit, at the very least, move the deadline? To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
459: Armstrong says he hasn't endorsed Trump
Congressman Kelly Armstrong is leading a high-profile congressional delegation to an international climate summit in Dubai. It's a really big deal for North Dakota, for American, and for Armstrong, who in a still-young career in the House, has accumulated a not-small amount of clout. He spoke about it on this episode of Plain Talk. "Republicans were late to the game on this," he said of efforts by his party to engage on climate change issues. Armstrong, who is from an oil, gas, and coal-producing state, who has a professional background in the oil and gas industry, says he's looking forward to that perspective being included in climate debates. Why should pro-oil people be a part of that conversation? "Because ten years from now we're going to be using more oil than we're using today," he said. Armstrong also talked about an impeachment inquiry resolution he's introduced which he says will help House Republicans continue their investigation into President Joe Biden and his family's business activities. "It puts us in the best position before the courts to exercise our Article I authority," he said. With Gov. Doug Burgum having ended his presidential campaign, North Dakota's Senators, Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, have both announced endorsements of President Donald Trump. Asked if he, also, has endorsed Trump, Armstrong said, "I have not." Though, it should be noted, in previous interviews Armstrong has made it clear that if given a choice between Trump and the incumbent, President Joe Biden, he'd vote for Trump. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the implications of the tragedy involving Sen. Kevin Cramer's son, who, amid a mental health crisis, led police on a chase that resulted in the death of Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
458: 'We're going down a slippery slope'
MINOT — Grants appropriated by state lawmakers have been making headlines recently. They may have funded the travel of a former state Senator now accused of heinous sex crimes. A group of North Dakota filmmakers recently staged a protest in the state capitol over a grant process they say was unfair. On this episode of Plain Talk, state Senator Tim Mathern, a Democrat from Fargo, joined to discuss the issue. "We're going down a slippery slope," he said. Mathern has drafted legislation that would put more reporting requirements on grants funded by the Legislature. He feels like more transparency and accountability would help, though he also argues that part of the problem is Republican dominance in Bismarck. "When you don't have a strong two-party system...we get lax and begin to do things that are edgy," he said. "This has sort of evolved through the years to the point where it's above and beyond where it should be," he added. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
457: Redistricting lawsuit, property taxes, lawmaker emails, and policy pledges
Redistricting, and in particular, the ways in which federal law and jurisprudence govern redistricting, can be a complicated and nuanced thing. Unfortunately, political debates, particularly these days, are not known for their thoroughness and nuance. Which is why it was disappointing when so much of the reaction to a federal court finding North Dakota's legislative map was illegal under the Voting Rights Act was born of rote partisanship and odious ideological bomb throwing. What the judge ruled in an opinion that is currently being appealed is that while North Dakota lawmakers made an effort to draw a map that was more beneficial for Native American communities, they didn't go far enough. Co-host Chad Oban and I discussed it on this episode of Plain Talk. We also discussed: The debate over a ballot measure to eliminate property taxes. Can the campaign get the signatures? Is yoking that effort to unrelated political causes, such as opposition to vaccines, a good idea? A 2019 law which exempted lawmaker emails with state officials from open records requests. That has hindered media inquiries into the situation around former Sen. Ray Holmberg, who is charged with federal crimes related to sexual misconduct with children. Should the law be changed? A new federal political action committee which will be asking North Dakota elected officials to sign a pledge. A similar group in Idaho punished lawmakers who wouldn't by funding primary challenges against them. Should North Dakota's leaders be signing these pledges? Is there any pledge they make more important than the one to their constituents? If you want to subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
456: Filmmaker describes problems with grant process
This week a group of filmmakers representing the bulk of North Dakota's film industry gathered outside of Gov. Doug Burgum's office, in the Memorial Hall of the state capitol building, to make a point about the process surrounding $700,000 in grants made to one Bismarck-based production company. Matt Fern, who is also based in Bismarck, points out that $100,000 of the grants was awarded without being advertised at all. Another $600,000 was awarded after an abbreviated application process that seemed design to serve the interests of just one company. He joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss why that process was unfair, and why, if North Dakota hopes to build a solid film industry in the state, officials need to do better. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
455: How do filthy rich politicians get so filthy rich?
Sometimes politicians are rich when they go into politics. Sometimes they get rich, somehow, while collecting the relatively modest salary that comes with even some of the highest-level elected offices. How does that happen? And why is there such a disconnect between the ardent, eat-the-rich populism of this moment and the success filthy rich politicians have at the ballot box? Matt Lewis, a senior columnist for the Daily Beast and a regular guest on more national programs than I can conveniently list here, is the author of "Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals, and Ruling-Class Elites Cashing in on America," and he joined this episode of Plain Talk to those questions, his book, and the state of play in American politics. Also on this episode, my co-host Chad Oban and I discuss polling on property taxes, abortion, and a federal court ruling that North Dakota lawmakers most hold another special session to address redistricting.
454: Are North Dakota lawmakers really out of step with voters?
New results from the North Dakota poll were characterized by the sponsor of the poll, the North Dakota News Cooperative, as well as many media outlets covering those results, as showing that state lawmakers are out of step with voters on issues like abortion and ballot measures. Of course, in the coming elections, most legislative incumbents will likely be re-elected, so are they really all that out of step? We talked about it on this episode of Plain Talk. We also covered some tough political headwinds the proponents of abolishing property taxes face, and some of the on-going weirdness emanating from Gov. Doug Burgum's campaign for the White House. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Please search for the show and subscribe wherever you get our podcasts, or click here for more information.
453: About Doug Burgum's poll numbers
I don't think many people were surprised that Gov. Doug Burgum did not take first place in the North Dakota Poll's presidential preference survey. Like it or not, Donald Trump is a singular political figure among Republicans in this moment in history. He makes his own gravity. Of course he was going to be the first choice for president among Republicans. He's also the first choice in Florida and South Carolina, despite the presence of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott in the race. But did you expect Burgum to come in third place? Behind DeSantis? And just a couple of points ahead of Haley? I expected him to do better. We talked about that on this episode of Plain Talk. We also discussed some of the recent off-year elections around the nation, where Trump's populist movement took it on the chin, and what that means for the durability of that movement. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.
452: Ethanol executive says carbon capture is a must
Thanks to the widely-reported consternation over carbon pipelines, carbon capture has become a hot-button issue. But political kerfuffles tend to obscure that North Dakota is on the bleeding edge of carbon capture and storage technology. On this episode of Plain Talk, Jeff Zueger, the CEO of Harvestone, joined us to talk about the new carbon capture and storage project they've launched at their Blue Flint Ethanol facility near Underwood. At that facility, they're capturing 100% of their emissions from the fermentation process, and since October, they've been injecting 600 metric tons of CO2 about a mile-deep underground daily. As significant as that is, the project's provenance may be even more critical. North Dakota was the first state in the nation to be granted primacy over carbon injection wells by the federal government. Blue Flint Ethanol is now the second project launched in North Dakota under that primacy through a process that, per Zueger, took just months as opposed to the years you might expect from federal regulators. Zueger said capturing carbon is of huge important to the ethanol industry, from the farmers who grow fuel crops to companies like his that turn them into fuels. Carbon capture is "one of the single biggest things we can do to step down our carbon intensity," and that matters, because increasingly the fuels market is demanding lower carbon intensities. Zueger pointed out that, thanks to the emergence of electric vehicles, the liquid fuels markets are already contracting, and the demand that's left wants lower-emission fuels. "We have to respond to those markets," he said.
451: Attorney General Wrigley says predecessor didn't recuse himself from Holmberg investigation
When I first invited Attorney General Drew Wrigley on to this episode of Plain Talk, our intention was to speak about the lawsuit against Facebook company Meta that North Dakota is now a part of. And we did eventually get around to talking about that, but in between my invitation and today, when we actually recorded the interview, former state Sen. Ray Holmberg was indicted on criminal charges related to international travel to procure sex with minors and child pornography. Wrigley's, whose office handled much of the inquiry into Holmberg's alleged crimes, sent out a press release saying that investigation was one of the first things he was briefed on after being sworn in last year. Something in that release caught my eye. Specifically, this passage: "In early February 2022, within hours of my taking the Oath of Office as Attorney General, the US Attorney’s Office and the leadership of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) briefed me on the early stages of this joint federal and state investigation. I immediately instructed the BCI to move this case to priority status where it remains today, due to the on-going nature of this investigation." Why didn't that investigation already have priority status prior to Wrigley taking office? And did Wrigley's predecessor, Wayne Stenehjem, who passed away last year prompting Gov. Doug Burgum to appoint Wrigley, recuse himself? The answer to that last question is no. "He had not recused himself from the case," Wrigley said. I asked Wrigley if he felt Stenehjem should have recused himself, and he was reticent to say yes. After a long pause, Wrigley said, "Everyone has to make their own assessment on that." "They were such good friends," he added, referring to Holmberg and Stenehjem, both of whom were from Grand Forks and represented that community in the Legislature. Wrigley also said Stenehjem's deputy, Troy Seibel, "didn't have a good answer" when asked about why Stenehjem didn't recuse. Wrigley also pointed out that the currently U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider, whose office is handling the prosecution of Holmberg, has recused himself because he served in the state Senate alongside Holmberg representing Grand Forks. As for why the case wasn't a priority? It "remained in the queue," Wrigley said, adding that it had "evidence that hadn't been analyzed." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss long political shadow the Holmberg investigation has, and will, cast across North Dakota politics. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get our podcasts, or click here for more information.
450: 'It really didn't sit well with me'
There has been turmoil in the North Dakota Republican Party this year, and it most recently manifested itself in the disastrous and hire of a South Dakota man, David Roetman, with a proclivity for misogyny and racism on social media. Levi Bachmeier, the chair of the NDGOP's District 13 committee, and one of the outspoken critics of Mr. Roetman's hire, joined this episode to discuss what's going on in North Dakota's dominant political organization. "It really didn't sit well with me," Bachmeier said of Roetman's hire. We also discussed the growing disconnect between the priorities of some NDGOP officials and North Dakota voters, as well as the attitude from some party leaders that the NDGOP should be enforcing ideological discipline on its candidates.
449: 'The biggest self-own in the history of partisan politics'
Congressman Kelly Armstrong hasn't been able to get back home to North Dakota for nearly two months thanks to chaos in Washington D.C. Chaos that included a pitched battle within the Republican caucus over who the Speaker of the House would be. Now that the House has a Speaker again, Armstrong is home in North Dakota again, and on this episode of Plain Talk, called that protracted imbroglio "the biggest self-own in the history of partisan politics. And, he added, if in-fighting among House Republicans walks them into another government shutdown in the coming weeks, "that will also be the biggest self-own in the history of partisan politics." To subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast, search for it on platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
448: Special session comes to a close
North Dakota lawmakers are wrapping up their work at a special session that was convened thanks to the state Supreme Court striking down a catch-all budget bill that violated the state constitution. Some surprise topics came up during the closing hours, including an effort to kill a major audit review of State Auditor Josh Gallin's office, as well as an effort to put stiff enforcement behind a ban on accommodating trans students in public schools. On this episode of Plain Talk, Wednesday co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss.
447: Josh Boschee talks special session
Next week North Dakota's lawmakers will convene in a special session, and it's hard to know what's going to happen. Gov. Doug Burgum called lawmakers into special session with an executive order asking that they limit themselves to five days, but lawmakers aren't obliged to follow that order. Once they're in session, they're in session. Could we see a situation where legislative leaders can't get the special session closed? State Rep. Josh Boschee, a Fargo Democrat, joined this episode to discuss that question and other issues surrounding the special session. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on your favorite podcast service, like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
446: Sen. Cramer talks House dysfunction, Israel, the SAFE Banking Act, and more
You wouldn't normally expect to use an interview with a United States Senator to talk about what's going on in the House of Representatives, but that's what we did on today's episode of Plain Talk. Even though Sen. Kevin Cramer is a former member of the House, and knows a thing or two about how that chamber operates, he isn't currently a member. Still, the drama in the House, which is currently paralyzed for want of the leadership of an elected Speaker, is impacting his job as a Senator. Congress can't do anything if one of its component houses cannot do its work. Cramer also talked about the ugly new war between Israel and Hamas, how America should respond to it, as well as to criticism he's received from an anti-marijuana group over his support for the SAFE Banking Act. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the most recent Supreme Court ruling on a major spending and policy bill which has been declared unconstitutional. The court has refused to give lawmakers more time for a special session to address the situation. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show on your favorite podcast service, or click here for more information.
445: 'I've been tremendously disappointed in the actions of the PERS board'
"My opinion is there will be no delayed bills introduced," House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, a Dickinson Republican, said of the upcoming legislative session on this episode of Plain Talk. "Get in and get out," he added. The special session is necessitated by a state Supreme Court ruling which found that the Legislature violated the state constitution's prohibition on multi-issue bills. Now, lawmakers must come back into session and split a massive catch-all bill passed at the end of the legislative session into separate, single-issue bills. But the larger context is a running feud between lawmakers and Gov. Doug Burgum, who have passed pension reform, and the leaders of the Public Employees Retirement System, who are hostile to that reform. It was PERS that filed the lawsuit creating the need for the special session. "I've been tremendously disappointed in the actions of the PERS board," Lefor said, referring to efforts to marginalize legislative appointees to that board. He also said that he supports Burgum's request that the chair of the board, Mona Tedford Rindy, who lobbied lawmakers to defeat pension reform during the legislative session earlier this year, resign. "I think the governor was absolutely correct to call for her resignation," Lefor said. Tedford Rindy refused to resign when asked by Burgum, and that's something Lefor would like to see changed during the upcoming session. "I believe the governor should have the authority to remove those he's appointed," he said. Lefor also answered questions about the recent controversy around a member of his caucus. Rep. Brandon Prichard, a Republican from the Bismarck area, has been making bigoted and homophobic posts on social media, and has been caught lying about his attendance at the University of Minnesota's law school. "He's on his own," Lefor said. "He's an adult. He has to answer to his constituents." Lefor said he does plan to sit down with Prichard to try and understand better what's motivating his recent behavior, but he also said he's admonished his legislative colleagues to stay off of social media. "I no longer have a Facebook account," Lefor said. "Id on't know of anything positive or constructive coming out of Facebook."
444: 'Just the same clown car with a different driver'
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy has been sent packing by a vote initiated by a minority of his own Republican caucus. Now the House of Representatives is tasked with picking a new Speaker, and Rep. Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota's at-large Congressman, says the price of his vote is a rule change to ensure the next Speaker won't suffer the same fate. Otherwise, the House of Representatives risks becoming "just the same clown car with a different driver." Armstrong, who was an outspoken supporter of McCarthy and voted to keep him as Speaker, said he's not interested in the job, saying he doesn't believe he has enough tenure in the House yet to lead it, and that he has young children at home. Although he didn't name names, he did say there were two candidates running to be Speaker, and perhaps a third he believes will run. But whoever is elected will have to contend with a noisy minority of Republicans who aren't motivated by a desire to govern the country, Armstrong said, adding that "far too many members of our caucus" have "no incentive" to make serious policy. Armstrong was also critical of Democrats, saying he doesn't want to hear them complain about extremism in the Republican caucus. "You just voted with the eight most extreme members of our caucus. You can pound sand," he said. As to rumors that Rep. Matt Gaetz, the MAGA Republican from Florida who led the charge to take down McCarthy, could be expelled from Congress based on an upcoming ethics report about his activities at the heart of a now-concluded federal sex trafficking investigation, Armstrong said that sort of talk was inappropriate. All the more so because the House Ethics Committee hasn't even issued a report. He believes people like Gaetz, and Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman who is also facing calls for expulsion after he pulled a fire alarm during a vote to keep the government open, have a right to be in Congress even if he doesn't personally like or support either of them. "They got elected by 750,000 people," Armstrong said. "Those 750,000 people have a right to a voice in Congress." Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss the recent controversy over bigoted social media messages posted by state Rep. Brandon Prichard, a Bismarck Republican, as well as the death of Sen. Doug Larsen, a Republican from Mandan.
443: The special session fiasco, and the 'North Dakota Poll'
A ruling from the North Dakota Supreme Court, part of an on-going spat between lawmakers, Gov. Doug Burgum, and the Public Employees Retirement System, has created the need for a new legislative session. State Rep. Corey Mock, a Democrat from Grand Forks and former leader of the minority caucus, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. He estimates that lawmakers will meet again sometime in mid-November to take on the job of disassembling an ominbus budget bill that the court ruled unconstitutional and pass it as individual, single-subject pieces of legislation. Though looming over that process is a seemingly unquenchable thirst among some lawmakers for culture war battles. Mock said that if lawmakers are "disciplined" they could complete their work in a week, but that if things get chaotic it could take much longer. Also on this episode, Brian Lunde, a long-time political advisor now working with the North Dakota News Cooperative, talked about what that organization is doing to address the shortage of public polling in our state. The co-op is launching what they're calling the 'North Dakota Poll' which will cover everything from issue and consumer opinions to candidate polling and job approval ratings for elected officials. He said the plan is for the results to be released quarterly, starting next year.
442: Out of state petitioners and the GOP's second presidential debate
Should people who aren't from North Dakota be allowed to help put proposed laws on North Dakota's ballot? That's the question asked in a lawsuit filed by proponents of a constitutional amendment implementing age limits for North Dakota's congressional delegation. That measure, if passed, was probably already headed for litigation as U.S. Supreme Court precedent has held that state-level requirements for service in Congress are unconstitutional. But, apparently, the proponents want to use their measure to try and remove North Dakota's limitations on who can circulate petitions for signatures. Sec. of State Michael Howe, whose office oversees the ballot measure process, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss. Also on this episode, co-hosts Chad Oban and Ben Hanson join me to analyze and react to the GOP's second presidential debate, where Gov. Doug Burgum had a tough time getting a word in edgewise.
441: Gender lawsuit and Sen. Kevin Cramer
Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a bill to outlaw gender care — both surgeries and medicinal treatments — for minor children who are transitioning. Now, a group of North Dakota parents are working with a group called Gender Justice to sue over the legislation, arguing that it's illegal. Devon Dolney, a Fargo parent to a trans son, and Brittany Stewart, an attorney for Gender Justice, joined this Plain Talk episode to discuss their case. Stewart said the legislation presents equal protection issues, as well as constitutional protections for life, liberty, and parental rights. Also, on this episode, Sen. Kevin Cramer joined to discuss the Senate dress code and a potential federal shutdown. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk are published? Search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
440: NDGOP executive director resigns
The North Dakota Republican Party, without quesiton the dominant political organization in state politics, is currently charting its way through some choppy waters. Controversial new leadership has alienated some of the party's donors. Local NDGOP district leaders are targeting their own incumbent Republican lawmakers. The party's fundraising is showing signs of cratering. Now the party's executive director, Samantha Holly, who has only served in that position since January, has resigned. "I've always prided myself on being fair to everyone," she said on this episode of Plain Talk, telling me and my co-host Ben Hanson that she didn't see it as her job to be involved in ideological debates. "I am happy to work with whoever," she said. But things under new party chair Sandi Sanford, who was narrowly elected with support from the aforementioned populists, became untenable. "You can call for unity all you want," Holly said, referencing Sanford's calls to unite the party even as her supporters work against elected Republicans. "They only want it when it works in their favor." One of the trends under Sanford's leadership has been struggles with fundraising. She's only been in charge of the party for a few months, and Holly pointed out that it isn't unusual for political parties to run in the red for short periods, particularly in non-election years. Still, she said, there are troubling signs. "It worries me that it's September and not of the major donors have been contacted," she said. Adding to the party's financial challenges were contribution refunds requested by several large-dollar donors shortly after Sanford's election. "Even knowing that they probably won't give," Holly said in the context of those refunds, "they should still be contacted," she said. The implication being that the party isn't even bothering to ask for support from donors who aren't perceived as being on Sanford's team. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on podcast platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
439: Congressman Armstrong talks impeachment and government shutdown
"I'm not interested in doing this simply to make our base happy," Congressman Kelly Armstrong said of new efforts to impeach President Joe Biden over his involvement with his son's business deals and other matters. Armstrong talked at length about the dichotomy among Republicans in their push for accountability for Biden, while simultaneously attacking efforts to bring the same to former President Donald Trump. He acknowledged that much of it is caught up in partisan politics, with people evaluating the legitimacy of an inquiry based on how they feel about its subject. When will that end? "No side is going to unilaterally disarm," he said. "That's just not how partisan politics works. Armstrong also spoke about his work on a deal to avoid a government shutdown. He noted that he's one of the few members of the House of Representatives who have remained in Washington D.C. to get something done, though he was tight-lipped about what's being discussed. Speaking out about it now could make a deal more difficult. "Everybody wants to see their names in a Politico story or a Punchbowl story," he said. "I just don't care about that." How likely is a deal to get done? "I'm more optimistic this morning than I was yesterday morning," he said, though he tempered optimism later in the interview with this: "I'm not confident we don't end up in some sort of a shutdown." Armstrong was also asked about Gov. Doug Burgum's campaign for the presidency, which hasn't gained much traction since he announced it. Should the governor pull out? "The longer his voice is in this conversation the better it is for the country," Armstrong said. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show on podcast services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
438: Lawmaker says Summit Carbon pipeline controversy is driving down corn prices
If constructed, the Midwest Carbon Express, a carbon pipeline project pursued by Summit Carbon Solutions, would gather carbon emissions from ethanol plants across the upper midwest and bring it to North Dakota for storage. Controversy around the pipeline, particularly from some landowners and farmers who say their land will be stolen through eminent domain, or that the pipeline itself is dangerous, has made headlines. But two North Dakota lawmakers with deep ties to agriculture in the state are pushing back. Sen. Terry Wanzek and Rep. Mike Brandenburg, both Republican members of the North Dakota legislature, recently wrote a letter to the editor arguing that "the future is here, and it demands that we incorporate innovative solutions like carbon capture and storage to ensure the continued prosperity of our leading industries." Rep. Brandenburg joined this episode of Plain Talk to explain his argument. "It's time we start talking about the positive things with this pipeline," he said. Brandenburg says 100 miles of Summit's pipeline run through his legislative district, where he also farms. He initially didn't like the way Summit approached landowners. He said they hired contractors who bullied landowners. "We had a meeting with them and told them they have a bunch of crooks out here," Brandenburg said. Summit has since fired those contractors and fixed the problems, he continued. Meanwhile, he argued, new economic realities are setting in. Canada, a major importer of American ethanol, has implemented new emissions standards, and without carbon capture, American farmers and ethanol producers will be at a disadvantage. "A year ago this time, corn was $2 higher," he said, attributing to fall to competition from farmers in places like Brazil which he says are ahead of the curb on capturing carbon. Brandenburg also said that North Dakota farmers are being misled by people such as Darryl Lies, the president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau who uses his Bismarck-based talk radio show to inveigh against carbon capture and Summit's pipeline. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
437: North Dakota at the cutting edge of using data in our prisons
When it comes to criminal justice policy, and more specifically, the sort of policy that deals with incarcerating people, the most important thing for us to remember is that most people who are put in prison will eventually get out. According to a public-facing data dashboard from the North Dakota Department of Corrections, about 64% of people incarcerated in our state spend less than a year there. About 92% spend 3 years or less behind bars. If those folks are eventually going to be in our communities again, if they're going to be our neighbors and customers and coworkers, then shouldn't we want to make sure we're doing everything we can to ensure they're ready to be out of prison again? That's what we talked about on this episode of Plain Talk. The data dashboard I just used to bring you those statistics was developed by a nonprofit called Recidiviz. They were founded by Google engineers, and developed for North Dakota a criminal justice data system that allows our state to better organize our corrections resources. In fact, North Dakota was the first state the organization worked with. Dave Krabbenhoft, the director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and Lily Fielding, a state engagement director for Recidiviz, joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about the cutting-edge work they're doing. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I talk about how North Dakota taxes are always going up, and never down, and what that might mean for our debate about eliminating property taxes. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Click here for more information.
436: Mayor Brandon Bochenski, Sen. Kevin Cramer
MINOT — As North Dakota braces itself for another debate about abolishing property taxes - a new ballot measure to do so is being circulated for signatures, and it will likely be on the ballot next year - local governments are busy raising property taxes. It almost seem like the locals want to get rid of property taxes. One local leader, Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. Bochenski pointed out that his jurisdiction has been cutting taxes, not raising them. He said his city has just completed its fourth straight cut in property taxes mills, but that's also one of the most confounding things about property taxes. Even if one local government is keeping taxes down, that can be overshadowed by other local governments. When people in Grand Forks get a property tax bill, they aren't just paying the City of Grand Forks. They're also paying Grand Forks County, and their school district, and the park district, etc. It's that way all over the state. But would Bochenski vote to abolish property taxes? He says he's undecided - "I don't think there's enough information" - but on the whole he seems largely against it. He doesn't like the idea of putting local governments relying so much more on state lawmakers in Bismarck to fund their needs, especially with a new term limits amendment ensuring that the folks serving in Bismarck aren't very experienced. Also joining this episode was U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, who talked with co-host Chad Oban and I about everything from Donald Trump's legal problems to Gov. Doug Burgum's presidential campaign Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's health struggles. Asked if he feels Burgum, who has struggled to gain traction in national polls, should drop out of the race, Cramer said, "Doug maybe along with some others." Cramer said that consolidating the non-Trump candidates is going to be "important" for those looking to move on from the former president. Still, that doesn't mean Cramer isn't behind Burgum. "I'm with him until he makes the decision himself," Cramer said.
435: Grand things at Grand Farm, and an utterly silly ballot measure
Grand Farms is an agriculture research site west of Fargo, and on today's episode of Plain Talk, we talked about what a big deal it is with Grand Farms board chair Greg Tehven and state Rep. Cindy Schreiber-Beck. It's a big deal, because I'm not sure how many non-farming citizens understand how much bleeding-edge technology is involved in modern farming. From drones and autonomous machinery to planting techniques, human ingenuity is pushing to keep farmers in a position to feed the world even as the world's population gets bigger. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Ben Hanson and I break down a new ballot measure that would do a lot of harm to North Dakota's political process, from opening up elections to endless audits and objections to turning the initiated measure process into a completely unaccountable process through which anyone with some money can put their issue on the ballot. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show on platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
434: Former NDGOP chair says Burgum needs to think about dropping out of presidential race
Perrie Schafer likes Gov. Doug Burgum. He says they worked together in recent years "hand in hand" during his stint as chair of the North Dakota Republican Party. But on this episode of Plain Talk, he said Burgum didn't make a big impression during the first presidential debate. "I think Doug is going to have to make a decision," Schafer said during the show with co-hosts Chad Oban and Ben Hanson chiming in as well. "There's a point where there's good money after bad," he added, saying the candidate has to ask himself of saying in a crowded GOP field, "Is it worth doing?" He said Burgum's recent injury, playing basketball the day before the debate, isn't helpful. "He's got an Achilles problem as well," Schafer said. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show on popular podcast apps like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
433: Sen. John Hoeven and pipelines, West Fargo parking travails, and Gov. Doug Burgum's injury
Gov. Doug Burgum was injured in a pick-up basketball game just hours ahead of a pivotal national debate where he desperately needs to make a good impression with a national audience that, for the most part, doesn't know him. So of course we spent this episode of Plain Talk discussing a parking dispute in West Fargo. I'm kidding. Sort of. We talked about Burgum's injury, but we also interviewed West Fargo City Commissioner Mark Simmons about the controversy around the city's West Fargo Events non-profit and the parking dispute between two of the city's major developers. We were also joined by Sen. John Hoeven for an update about the potential for the Dakota Access Pipeline being shutdown, and the struggle to build pipeline infrastructure. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show on podcast services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
432: Wrigley says 'we can't find anything' about Fargo shooter's motivations
A shooter who opened fire on police officers in Fargo had mass casualties on his mind. Attorney General Drew Wrigley, who joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the release of harrowing police-worn body camera footage of the terrible incident, said we may never find out much more than that about the shooter's motivations. "I'm going to lower people's expectations on that," he said, noting that more information from the shooter's computers and other devices would be made public in the future. "We can't find anything." Wrigley also covered the controversy over the binary trigger the shooter used to accelerate his rate of fire toward the officers. State lawmakers have passed specific protections for that trigger, and Wrigley said he's received some blowback from critics for bringing the issue up. Wrigley said he's talked about it because it's a central part of the Fargo incident, and because he even he, a gun rights supporter, thinks the triggers should be illegal. "We don't see automatic weapons fire as part of the 2nd amendment protections," he said. "Wouldn't it be nice if [binary triggers] weren't established in North Dakota law?" he added. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the impact culture warrior leadership has had on fundraising for the North Dakota Republican Party, as well as next week's GOP presidential debate, where Gov. Doug Burgum will be competing. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show on podcast services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
431: 'There are no good solutions to this problem'
Is a government-backed nonprofit called West Fargo Events too close to a developer, property management, and event-booking company called EPIC Companies? That's a philosophical question, but it manifests itself in a practical way in the relationship between West Fargo Events and another developer, Jim Bullis. "How can you trust West Fargo when they're playing favorites with developers?" he asked on this episode of Plain Talk, where we discussed the years-long dispute he's had with EPIC Companies and West Fargo Events over parking. "It's three years this has been going on," Bullis said, adding that the relationship between EPIC Companies and West Fargo Events "seems to be a conflict they do not have a way to get around." Also, on this episode, my co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss the property tax hikes that are taking place in local government jurisdictions around the state, and what impact that might have on a new ballot measure campaign to eliminate property taxes entirely. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show on your favorite podcast service, like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
430: Presidential politics on a park bench
Toward the end of my two days covering Gov. Doug Burgum's presidential campaign at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines I was able to get some one-on-one time with the candidate. This isn't to say that I didn't get plenty of time with the candidate before that. He had a sweaty, sunburned press scrum surrounding him everywhere he went at the fair, and it was easy enough to ask him questions when they occured, but the governor was gracious enough to make a half hour available for me for an uninterrupted conversation. I chose, as the venue, a park bench in the middle of the fairgrounds, just around the corner from the famous "soap box" stage sponsored by the Des Moines Register. With people walking by -- including another Republican candidate, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who greeted Burgum warmly -- I interviewed the governor of North Dakota, who aspires to be leader of the free world. We covered everything from how Burgum entertains himself on the campaign trail to what he's hoping to accomplish at the GOP's first presidential debate later this month in Wisconsin. If you want to subscribe to Plain Talk, so you're notified when new episodes drop, search for the show on your favorite service, like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
429: Live (sort of) from Iowa
On this episode of Plain Talk, recorded by your sweaty and sunburned correspondent in his hotel room at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines, Iowa, my co-host Ben Hanson and I interviewed Sen. Kevin Cramer. Cramer had some unique insights into the peculiar role Iowa plays in presidential politics, his having been a former chair of the North Dakota Republican Party. He also weighed in on Gov. Doug Burgum's issue platform and other issues around his campaign from a congressional perspective. In the second half of the show Ben and I were joined by my other co-host, Chad Oban, to talk about Burgum's performance in Iowa. We discussed everything from the candidate's taxpayer-subsidized security detail to his substantive policy arguments to his annoyance about constantly being asked about Donald Trump. Want to subscribe to the podcast? Search for the show on platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information on how to get the show on the podcast service of your choice.
428: Our teacher shortage needs more than a band-aid fix
"This is not going to solve the problem," Rebecca Pitkin, the executive director of North Dakota's Education Standards and Practices Board, said on this episode of Plain Talk. She was talking about her board's recent request of Gov. Doug Burgum to issue an emergency order setting aside some teacher licensing requirements so that student teachers can run classrooms without supervision. "This is a band-aid," she told me and my co-host Chad Oban (full disclosure, his day job is at North Dakota United, the state teacher and public worker union). Pitkin answered questions about how student teachers might react to being asked to run classrooms without oversight, and why more hasn't been done prior to this immediate crisis to address what is a long-standing problem in our state. I also asked Pitkin about this tweet from Rep. Zac Ista, a Democrat from Grand Forks, who complained in a post on X that the ESPB board opposed his proposal to remove relicensing requirements from long-term teachers. Also on this episode, we discussed the latest from Burgum's presidential campaign, including the mystery donor to a Burgum-aligned super PAC, and some fake news from Fargo television station Valley News Live about a Trump attack on Burgum that never actually happened. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
427: 'I didn't have any idea who the hell he was'
Collin Peterson represented western Minnesota's 7th Congressional District for 30 years, and during that time got a reputation for blunt talk. He hasn't changed much. As we discussed Peterson's efforts to develop an agriculture policy at North Dakota State University, an entity that will help inform and guide politicians, he shared an anecdote from a recent trip to Iowa. He said he found himself among the Republican presidential candidates when "this Vivek guy" came up to him. "I didn't have any idea who the hell he was," Peterson said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I thought he was running for Congress." That "Vivek guy" was Vivek Ramaswamy, a tech industry multi-millionaire who, as I write this, is currently in third place in the GOP primary according to the RealClearPolitics.com polling average. Can we blame Peterson for not recognizing him? There are currently 13 Republicans officially running for President, a field that runs the gamut from former President Donald Trump to former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton (no, really). How does someone like Peterson keep a hugely important but, we must admit, somewhat prosaic topic like agriculture from becoming collateral damage to our nation's dumpster fire politics? He says he works to keep it "low profile" and "bipartisan." Peterson talked about how agriculture is home to some of America's most bleeding-edge technology, including carbon capture, which he described as the most important issue for ethanol and farming going forward. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discussed the likelihood that Doug Burgum will qualify for the GOP's second presidential debate, and my upcoming trip to Iowa to cover the governor's campaign there.
426: Carbon capture opponents are "ignorant" and "uninformed" says coal industry spokesman
North Dakota is on the bleeding edge of carbon capture and storage technology, but when the news media reports this, we're often treated to a litany of pessimism from environmental activists. Case in point, a recent news article produced by North Dakota News Cooperative reporter Michael Standaert which was long on nay-saying and short on affirmative arguments in favor of using carbon capture and storage technology to keep our state's coal industry relevant. Jason Bohrer, president of the Lignite Energy Council, which represents our state's coal interests, says knee-jerk opponents of this nascent technology are "ignorant" and "uninformed." "Either it's coming from a place of igorance or it's disingenuous opposition," he said on this episode of Plain Talk, arguing that much of the antagonism is rooted in the belief that there is no place for coal power in future energy production. Bohrer, as you might expect, doesn't see it that way. He acknowledges that humanity, and in particular carbon-heavy industries like coal, oil and gas, ethanol production, and concrete manufacturing, have an impact on our climate. As we read news reports about record-setting temperatures, he thinks humanity needs to act in ways that go beyond trying to make us dependent on energy sources like wind and solar which, so far, have not proven that they can carry the load. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss a controversial political raffle, North Dakota's too-lax campaign finance laws, and a new ballot measure aimed at setting an age limit on serving in Congress, and by extension challenging U.S. Supreme Court precedent holding that such state-based prerequisites are unconstitutional. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here to learn about other ways to subscribe.
425: This group handled 53 suicide calls a day in North Dakota and western Minnesota in 2022
Do you know with FirstLink was? If you'd asked me that question before our interview on this episode of Plain Talk with Jennifer Illich, the executive director of the group, my answer would have been...sort of? I knew FirstLink existed. I knew it handled calls from people in distress. I mostly thought of it as a suicide hotline. What I learned during our interview is that this group is doing profound work. In 2022, they handled 85,681 contacts to their 211 and 988 hotlines from people in crisis in various ways, from needing to be connected with assistance programs because they can't pay their heating bill to people who need emergency intervention because they're on the verge of suicide. That's an average of 234 calls per day. Astoundingly, they handled almost 54 calls per day just relating to suicide. FirstLink got a big boost in funding from the North Dakota legislature this year, and it's money well spent, not just because of the work the organization is already doing, but also the work they will be doing. One of the new initiatives Illich told me they're working on is coordinating with the 911 call centers to transfer calls about suicide to them. Currently 911 operators almost always dispatch law enforcement to these calls, but many times that's not necessary or even helpful. The folks at FirstLink are trained to handle those calls and can take work off the backs of law enforcement officials who can then use those resources elsewhere. As you listen to our interview, remember that if you need help, whether it's with thoughts of suicide, or financial problems, or employment problems, you can call or text 211 or 988 (it doesn't matter which) and get help. Also on this episode, we talk about some rank hypocrisy with broadband funding in North Dakota, as well as Gov. Doug Burgum qualifying for the RNC's first presidential debate in August.
424: Doug Burgum's gift cards, pension board fight, NDGOP fundraising, and Minnesota's tuition program
Doug Burgum is selling $20 gift cards for $1 each. Is that legal? Is it ethical? As a campaign tactic, will it work? My co-host Ben Hanson and I discussed it on this episode of Plain Talk. Also, there's a fight between lawmakers and the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement System. The Legislature changed the makeup of the PERS board, adding more legislative appointments, and they begun a transition away from a defined-benefit pension to a defined-contribution model. Scott Miller, the executive director of PERS, doesn't like either of these changes. Meanwhile, the change in leadership of the North Dakota Republican Party - recently-elected Chair Sandi Sanford is an ardent culture warrior elected by the MAGA-faction of the party - continues to have ramifications for fundraising. The party's fundraising was in the red after big refunds to major donors. Finally, Minnesota has passed a free tuition program to address flagging enrollment numbers at that state's institutions. Should North Dakota emulate them? To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
423: How can North Dakota compete with Minnesota's free tuition program?
Lawmakers in Minnesota have created a new tuition program, called North Star Promise, which will give an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 students from households with income levels at $80,000 or less free tuition at the state's institutions of higher education. North Dakota State University President David Cook said that situation has "catastrophic" potential for our state's campuses. He joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss why, and what can be done about it. "The Legislature was very good to us," he said, adding that the universities are "working hard, doing our do diligence" to put a proposal they feel will keep North Dakota competitive with Minnesota. Cook answered questions about whether North Dakota should consolidate some of its 11 campuses or take other steps to find efficiencies that might, in turn, allow the state to be more generous with admissions. Also on this episode Christopher Dodson, who for 28 years has been the voice of the Catholic Church in North Dakota's halls of government, talks about his decision to step down amid health challenges. He has stage-4 prostate cancer, and he opened up about it on the show. He also spoke about some of his successes in policy areas, some of the issues where the Cahtholic Church doesn't get enough credit, how politics in our state has changed over the nearly three decades he's worked here, and what it was like to help guide his church through the challenges of sex scandals. "The clergy abuse crisis hit us hard," he said. "It's been very hard to be the face of the church after this evil," he added. He said politics in North Dakota, like the rest of the nation, has become less civil in recent years, though he argued that our state is much more optimistic than it was in the 1990s when he began. To subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast, search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information. "
422: Book ban update and honoring public service
Earlier this year North Dakota lawmakers tried to pass two - yes, two - book bans. One, House Bill 1205, was slightly less odious than the other, Senate Bill 2360, in that it didn't seek criminal penalties for librarians and educators. Both bills did pass the Legislature, though Gov. Doug Burgum only signed the House bill into law, He vetoed SB2360, and lawmakers failed to override the veto. So now that HB1205 is law, how will it impact our state's libraries? Kerrianne Boetcher, the administrator of the Ward County Public Library and the current president of the North Dakota Library Association, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss. She talked about what it was like to go through an ugly debate that featured completely stupid and unfounded claims about librarians and educators exposing children to pornography - "It was very hard not to take a lot of it personally," Boetcher told us - as well as what librarians will have to do to comply with the new law. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Ben Hanson and I talk about the cynical attitude many Americans have about public service, and what impact that's having on the way in which we're governed. To subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast, search for the show on popular podcast services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
421: Sen. Cramer talks Supreme Court rulings, carbon capture, Burgum campaign, and more
The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down some significant rulings recently, and Sen. Kevin Cramer likes what he's saying. "The decision was a strong one, and a good one," he said on this episode of Plain Talk, discussing the recent opinion striking down President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness program. He also acknowledged that student loan debt is a real problem that members of Congress and state leaders should address. "We're going to have a border war with Minnesota over tuition," he said, referring to North Dakota University System officials firing up the klaxons over a free tuition program implemented by our eastern neighbor's lawmakers. "I'm glad I'm not in charge of making those decisions," he added. "I'm sure the college presidents are glad I'm not as well." On this episode Cramer also discussed Gov. Doug Burgum's presidential campaign, which Cramer said he supports wholeheartedly. Asked about what advice he'd give Burgum to break through in a crowded field of candidates where he's consistently in last place, Cramer said he'd advise Burgum to do what he's doing, which is focus on the early voting states. And how should Burgum take on Donald Trump, who enjoys a prohibitive lead in the polls despite a swamp of legal problems? "You're really not running against him until you're #2 in the polls," Cramer said. But when the time comes, he thinks Trump's handling of classified documents would be an important issue for Burgum to note. "Can we all admit that taking classified documents when you leave the presidency...you don't do it," he said. Burgum's current term as governor is up next year. If he doesn't run, would Cramer be interested in the job? "There was a time when I would have loved to be governor," he said, and while he warned that "smart politicians never say what they're never going to do," he thinks there will be good candidates who seek that office, "and they aren't me." Cramer also took questions about the political attacks on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court as well as the Project Tundra carbon capture project entering its final stage. To subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast, search for the show on services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
420: Does it make sense to abolish property taxes?
Earlier this year a long-simmering feud between Auditor Josh Gallion, members of the Legislature, and local government officials burst into the public's eye. The dispute is over what the latter two groups say are sensationalized audits and skyrocketing audit costs. That situation prompted lawmakers to put in place some new accountability measures for Gallion, including new legislative oversight, and an extensive performance audit of his office. Rep. Emily O'Brien, a Grand Forks Republican and one of Gallion's sharpest critics in the legislature, is now the chair of the legislative committee overseeing those initiatives. She joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss her expectations of Gallion, and the audit of his office. Also on this episode, Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus discussed the potential implications of a ballot measure aimed at abolishing property taxes. "It's a big decision," he said. "It's a big bite out of the apple." One facet of the debate that Kroshus flagged is that North Dakota has "one of the highest rental rates in the country," he said, which also means that our state has one of the lowest rates of home ownership. People who rent are less impacted, at least directly, by property taxes. How will that impact how the state votes if, and almost certainly when, this measure is put on the ballot? Subcribe to the Plain Talk podcast by searching for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here for more information.
419: Doug Burgum, public service, cryptocurrency, and other stuff
Allow me to pull back the curtain, for a moment, to give you a look behind the scenes at what it's like to be a podcaster and political columnist in North Dakota at this time, in the political cycle. When the legislative session is over. And election season is still months away from starting. And it's summer time. And Friday. It's kind of hard to book a guest. This is why, on this episode of Plain Talk, it's just me and my co-host, Chad Oban, talking politics. Which isn't to say that we didn't cover a lot of interesting stuff. We went from Congressman Kelly Armstrong and his struggles to follow his conscience under intense pressure from the far-right to Doug Burgum's presidential campaign to cryptocurrency. That last may have been ill-advised since neither of us knows a whole lot about it, but we do know that it seems to be a less-than-stable industry at the moment, and the struggles a crypto business - one touted by Burgum - is having in Williams County are very interesting. And you don't really have to be a crypto expert to understand that. To subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast, search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here to find out how to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice.
418: Long-time Republican strategist weighs in on changes to the NDGOP
Minot, N.D. — "The history of this in other states hasn't been good," Pat Finken said on this episode of Plain Talk. Finken is a long-time Republican strategist who has consulted and managed campaigns for candidates like Sen. John Hoeven, and Sen. Kevin Cramer and worked before for and against ballot measures. He joined this episode to discuss the recent takeover of the North Dakota Republican Party by populists, or culture warriors, or the MAGA movement, depending on your preferred nomenclature. He argues that similar takeovers of Republican politics in places like Arizona, and Minnesota, have resulted in the states moving farther left. The same could happen in North Dakota, depending on how the new party leaders conduct themselves. If they start to censure sitting Republican incumbents, if they recruit extreme candidates for the ballot, we could start to see Republicans lose ground in elections. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss the recent controversy at North Dakota Right To Life, and a voting analysis of the North Dakota legislature from a Minnesota-based group that is premised on the idea that a Republican ever, under any circumstance, voting with a Democrat is a bad thing. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here.
417: Congressman Kelly Armstrong regrets nothing
The new chair of the North Dakota Republican Party, Sandi Sanford, doesn't like Republican Congressman Kelly Armstrong very much. She has called for a primary challenger for the incumbent over his vote to codify same-sex marriage in federal law. Does Armstrong now regret that vote? "I do not," he said when asked on this episode of Plain Talk. As for the potential for his own party to become an obstacle to his own re-election, he didn't sound seem concerned. "I'm on the ballot every year," he said. "We'll either get help from the party or we won't," he continued. Armstrong also expressed his support for Gov. Doug Burgum's presidential campaign, saying he's 100 percent behind him, and has donated to his campaign. Burgum's term ends next year, and if he's running for president, he may not seek a third term as governor. Would Armstrong be interested in that office? "Yes, I would certainly look at it," he said. Armstrong also addressed his vote against censuring Rep. Adam Schiff, which earned him the ire of some far-right activists on social media, and commented on the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump. "You have to be thoughtful about this stuff," Armstrong said. "You can't be raging toward whatever gets you the most clicks." Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the platform of your choice.
416: Can Democrats take advantage of NDGOP infighting?
The North Dakota Republican Party is fractured. Whatever happens at their upcoming reorganization meeting, where leadership from traditional Republicans is under a challenge from populist culture war activists, there's no question that the party has shifted away from what it's been during the last three decades that it has stood astride state politics. Can the Democratic-NPL, which holds no statewide offices, which has withered to superminority status in the state Legislature, take advantage? Adam Goldwyn, the newly-elected chairman of the party, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss the latest from the presidential campaign trail. Gov. Doug Burgum's entry to the race has gone pretty well, so far, but he's still at the bottom of the barrel according to the most recent national polls. What does he need to do to distinguish himself? If you want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish, search for the show and subscribe on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the platform of your choice.
415: Doug Burgum is running for president, but what's happening to his political party?
There are two big stories in North Dakota politics. One you know about. Doug Burgum is running for president of the United States. He's just the second North Dakota resident to do so in the country's history. The other is flying under the radar of all but the wonkiest of state political observers, and it's what's happening to NDGOP. While Burgum seeks the White House, his state political party may well be taken over by people who don't like him very much. Current party chair Perrie Schafer, a Republican in the traditional mold, is facing a challenge from Sandi Sanford, who is not only an ardent culture warrior, but an outspoken critic of Burgum. And, to add an extra layer of intrigue, she's also the wife of his former Lt. Governor Brent Sanford, who left office late last year. Robert Harms, a long-time leader in the NDGOP, having served as treasurer and party chairman in the past, joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss this turn of events with co-host Chad Oban and I. Also on this episode, state Sen. Sean Cleary, a Republican from District 35 and a former staffer for Burgum weighs in on his former boss's national campaign. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to find out how to subscribe on the platform of your choice.
414: What must Doug Burgum do to become a presidential contender?
In 2016, I covered the North Dakota Republican Party's state convention alongside reporter Dave Weigel, then of the Washington Post, who currently works for Semafor. Weigel and I watched a gubernatorial candidate and political newbie named Doug Burgum take third in the vote of convention delegates behind his fellow Republicans Rick Becker and Wayne Stenehjem. Burgum, of course, went on to shock North Dakota politics by upsetting Stenehjem in the June primary vote. On this episode of Plain Talk, Weigel recalled that convention, saying it proved to him that you don't bet against Doug Burgum, even when he's the underdog. Weigel and I discuss what Burgum has to do to move from being a little-known governor to a true contender in the GOP's increasingly crowded 2024 presidential field. "It's all about Iowa," Weigel said, noting that he also, at the very least, needs to qualify for the GOP's first presidential debate to be held in Milwaukee in August. Also on this episode, my co-host Ben Hanson, who attended Burgum's announcement in Fargo today, discuss the event. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the service of your choice.
413: The history of clickbait
You've all heard the term "clickbait" before, uttered derisively, and not always deservedly, toward online content designed to prioritize earning a click or view or listen, over everything else, including the truth. But how did things get this way? What's the history of clickbait? Ben Smith, one of the founders of a new news venture called Semafor, joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about it. He's a pioneer of early blogging, a veteran of Politico and the New York Times, and he was the editor-in-chief of Buzzfeed News, a position from which he made the decision to publish the now-infamous Steele Dossier. Smith is also the author of a book called 'Traffic: Genius, rivalry, and delusion in the billion-dollar race to go viral.' It's a history book, of sources, spanning roughly the last two decades of internet journalism, from the Drudge Report to the Huffington Post, from Breitbart to Gawker, and how it was all shaped by a relentless drive for traffic. Attention. Clicks. If you want to buy Ben's book, you can do so here. If you want to subscribe to Semafor (I do), click here. If you want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish, search for the show and subscribe on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to find out how to subscribe on the podcast service of your choice.
412: Bismarck citizen says she was humiliated by North Dakota's legislative process
When Andrea Rebson, a Bismarck citizen, came to the most recent session of the North Dakota Legislature, she had a deeply personal story to tell. She was sexually assaulted as a teenager and suffered years of harrowing mental health challenges afterward. Her issue, which she pursued at the Legislature, was with the statute of limitations for criminal and civil cases. She wanted the law to give victims like her more time to come forward. And she made some progress on that issue, but on this episode of Plain Talk, she talks about her experiences in the legislative process, which weren't positive. She says one lawmaker demeaned her, and misrepresented her arguments, and she's got the video and committee transcripts to prove it. She's even gone so far as to file an ethics complaint against a specific lawmaker. She argues that, while the democratic process is going to create disagreements, naturally, the citizens shouldn't have to fear humiliation for engaging in the process. Also on this episode, my co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss the on-going fight over control of the North Dakota Republican Party, which will come to a head next month, in June, when the party elects new leadership. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show, and subscribe, on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the podcast service of your choice.
411: Sen. Cramer talks debt ceiling, carbon capture, and Bugrum for president
"I just think it's cool," Sen. Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk when asked about the possibility that Gov. Doug Burgum might run for the White House. Would he support Burgum? Cramer demurred when asked. He said he's been courted by some of the GOP's 2024 players. "I haven't jumped on anyone's bandwagon yet," he said. "Doug gives me another reason to keep my powder dry." "It would be hard not to back the hometown guy," Cramer added, though later in the interview he made it clear that his Senate colleague, Tim Scott from South Carolina, has inspired him. "The guy who could heal the nation is Tim Scott," Cramer said. We also discussed the debate over carbon capture, which has created some strange bedfellows. Pro-fossil fuel advocates, who see carbon capture as a savior, are making common cause with environmentalists who want to decarbonize our economy, and they're facing off against climate change skeptics who don't see the need to capture carbon who are aligned with green energy advocates who want to see energy sources like coal driven from the marketplace. It's "one bias versus another bias" Cramer told me. He says that while he's backed tax credits for carbon capture, he's worried about federal and state governments creating conflicting incentives. We subsidize green energy, and we subsidize carbon capture so that it can compete with green energy. Cramer says he'd rather see source-neutral policies. "Set whatever your standards he," he said, and then let the various energy producers compete. Cramer also touched on some of Donald Trump's ongoing scandals, what possible outcomes we could see from debt ceiling negotiations, and what role permitting reform may play in that deal. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the podcast service of your choice.
410: Legislative leader says Fargo's stand against pronouns and bathrooms bill is "arrogance"
Rupak Gandhi, the superintendent of Fargo's public school system, has said recently that his schools will ignore a new law governing pronoun policies and bathroom use by trans students. So far, North Dakota's other school districts aren't following his lead, and his stand isn't sitting well with the two leaders of North Dakota's legislature. "What concerned me the most about his presentation...is there was an underlying sort of arrogance," Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, a Minot Republican, said on this episode of Plain Talk. He compared Gandhi to "educational leaders who think they can arm themselves with this compassion and this data and ignore the wishes of the parents." For his part, House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, a Republican from Dickinson, referred to Gandhi's claims that the North Dakota law may violate federal statutes. He said he'd be interested in a conversation with Gandhi about that. "I'm not really sure what the major concerns are," he said. Also, on this episode, Lefor and Hogue answered questions about the criticism this Legislature received (including from your humble correspondent) over a seeming obsession with transgender legislation and book bans, with Hogue specifically pushing back by arguing that the news media was a lot more focused on so-called culture war legislation than the Legislature was. "Every session, there is a hot-button issue," he said, citing past legislative sessions when gun laws would take up much legislative time. "We can walk and chew gum at the same time," he added. Lefor said that when he was touring the state, campaigning to be elected majority leader, he didn't hear a lot about bills dealing with transgender issues. It "wasn't even in our top 10," he said. Lefor says he met with some of the freshman lawmakers who were pushing the bulk of the legislation to tell them, "we have too many bills." He also said that "working groups" aimed at finding ways to combine bills covering the same topics "will be a focus" for him going forward. Speaking of which, in addition to covering topics such as the massive tax cuts bill lawmakers passed, both Hogue and Lefor said they would be seeking re-election to their leadership posts in the next legislative session, and that they would back every member of their respective caucus for re-election, despite a trend toward challenging incumbents with censures and primaries in some areas of the state. Senator Karen Krebsbach, who has been in office since 1988, and is one of the most influential lawmakers in Bismarck, was recently censured by her local NDGOP district, with her district chairman denouncing her as a Democrat. "We need to have more conversations than censures," Lefor said. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the podcast service of your choice.
409: You're not leading if you're following the mob
Rep. Claire Cory led the charge for a school choice bill that ultimately passed both houses of the legislature. In its final form, it would have appropriated $10 million toward providing up to a $3,000 per-child subsidy for parents choosing private schools, as long as they were below 500 percent of the federal poverty level. But Gov. Doug Burgum, despite having expressed support in the past for school choice legislation, vetoed the bill. On this episode of Plain Talk, Cory said she was "kind of disappointed in the governor's decision," though she added that she's "excited to work with the governor's office...to create a better bill" for future legislative sessions. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I talk about the nature of leadership in this populist age where many connotate public service as doing whatever the loudest voices say. From national politics, where Republican politicians and right-wing media outlets like Fox News are terrified of Donald Trump's movement, to local governments, where part-time elected leaders get bullied by angry crowds, can you really say you're leading if you're just following the mob? If you want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish, search for the show on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to find out how to subscribe on the podcast service of your choice.
408: Gov. Burgum says he's still considering a presidential run
"We haven't made any decisions yet about 2024," Gov. Doug Burgum said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We did have a great time in Iowa." His answer was in response to my question about whether Burgum is going to join the race for the White House next year. Back in March, I was the first to report that Burgum had been visiting Iowa, and apparently running polling there, but Burgum hasn't said yet whether he's running. There are two things to take away from his answer on today's podcast. The first, obviously, is that Burgum hasn't made a decision yet. Or, at least, not one he's going to share publicly. The other is that there is a possibility that he could launch a national campaign. Though, if he doesn't, would he run for a third term as governor? Despite expressing support for term limits in the past? "I think term limits work best when they work uniformly," he said. He pointed out that the term limits amendment which passed on the November ballot last year doesn't apply to state to other executive branch offices. "Governors can get termed out but other people can stay forever," he said, adding that certain "powerful lawmakers" can also stay in office for another eight years, as the amendment only started the clock ticking for current officeholders in January. "I support it," he said of the state's term limits amendment. "I don't think there's any value in applying it retroactively." As for the just-completed legislative session, Burgum said he's still not sure how to handle a drafting error in the Office of Management and Budget bill that led to lawmakers passing the wrong version of the bill. He did say there will be at least one more veto from his office coming concerning a bump in the formula for spending Legacy Fund revenues from the 7 percent he approved in a bill passed earlier in the session to 8 percent passed in "the wee hours of the last morning without any hearings or actuarial work." Burgum also expressed some frustration with lawmakers over the number of duplicative "culture war" bills they sent him that made "national news about things that may or may not be important to most North Dakotans." "They have 80 days and they have 81," he said, referring to the use this year of "fake" legislative days, "and still most of the most important business came at the end." But Burgum also touted a laundry list of accomplishments from this session he's proud of, including a new women's prison, progress on a new state hospital, a massive tax relief package, and end to the state's defined-benefit pension for public workers, and more. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the service of your choice.
407: AG Drew Wrigley is still fired up, and Rep. Josh Boschee reflects on the legislative session
Attorney General Drew Wrigley is still fired up about a bill to implement mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes - that was later amended to "presumptive minimums" - which was defeated in the state House of Representatives. There was controversy over how the bill was handled in committee and Wrigley's involvement in advocating for it, but on this episode of Plain Talk, Wrigley made it clear he is not backing down. "I'm going to talk about this stuff publicly," he said, committing to a campaign during the interim before the next legislative session to promote this issue. Wrigley said he wasn't intending to take a "personal swipe" at Rep. Shannon Roers Jones when he said her experience as a lawyer was strictly on the civil side of the law, though he added that the comment "was factual." He also took aim at some of his other legislative critics, including Rep. Landon Bahl, who he described as inexperienced - "it shows," Wrigley quipped - and Rep. Bernie Satrom, who he said was "slanderous" in his characterization of discussions about the bill. Former House Minority Leader Josh Boschee also joined the program, and answered questions about why he's suddenly the former minority leader at the end of this legislative session when typically that sort of change in leadership happens at the beginning of the session. Boschee said he felt it was time for his replacement, Rep. Zac Ista, to get experience in the role. Boschee is up for re-election next year, and when asked if he'll seek another term, gave an answer that leaves some wiggle room. "I have every intention of running, but we'll see how things play out over the next year," he said, though he also joked that it was a poor question to ask a lawmaker just after the end of a grueling session. Speaking of which, Boschee also gave some reflections on the just-concluded session, arguing that the Republican majority in the House didn't have good leadership. He said former Rep. Al Carlson, the majority leader when Boschee was first elected, would tell his caucus that they could only introduce so many controversial bills per session. "He had control of his caucus," Boschee said. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Search for the show on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to find out how to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice.
406: 'I'm not interested in a feud with the attorney general'
A debate over a bill to implement what supporters call "presumptive minimum" sentences for certain crimes like fleeing or assaulting an officer, or possessing a gun during a grime, has grown surprisingly contentious in the legislature. There has been some bizarre procedural moves around the bill, including the chairman of the judiciary committee undermining his own committee's vote on the bill, and a war of words between state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones, a Fargo Republican, and Attorney General Drew Wrigley. Wrigley has questioned Roers Jones' knowledge on criminal justice matters, while Roers Jones has accused Wrigley of inappropriately injecting a recent Bismarck case involving fleeing, and an officer-involved shooting, into a political debate. "I'm not interested in a feud with the attorney general," Rep. Roers Jones said on this episode of Plain Talk. My co-host Ben Hanson and I also questioned Roers Jones on her feelings about this legislative session. "I feel the least satisfied over all about this session," she said. "On the whole I feel like we have spent entirely too much time and too much political capital on bills that impact tens of North Dakotans," she added, addressing legislation dealing with things like book bans and pronouns. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to learn how to find it and subscribe on the podcast service of your choice.
405: The fight over Bison World, and fake legislative days
Did you know there's such a thing as a fake legislative day? Ok, maybe that's not the official term, but that colloquialism has grown up around a practice at the Legislature in Bismarck which sees lawmakers protracting their session despite the 80-day limit that's in Article IV of the state constitution. You see, if the lawmakers don't gavel in for a floor session, they can still meet in their various committees, and still get paid, without the day counting against their limit. Why are they doing this? And should they be allowed to? My co-host Ben Hanson and I discussed it on this episode of Plain Talk. Also on this episode, Brian Lundeen, a Jamestown resident who is one of the organizers behind the effort to build the Bison World attraction in that city, talks about what the project needs from state lawmakers to make it happen. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice.
404: A workforce program that's also a humanitarian program
Russia's bloody invasion of Ukraine has displaced millions of Ukranians, most of whom need a place to go. Meanwhile, North Dakota has a long-enduring workforce shortage that is felt most acutely in the state's oil fields. Now, those two problems are coming together to form what is, if not a solution, is at least a way to mitigate some suffering while simultaneously creating some new opportunities. Former Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford, who stepped down from Gov. Doug Burgum's administration late last year, is now the project manager of what North Dakota's oil industry has dubbed Bakken GROW. The acronym stands for Global Recruitment of Oilfield Workers, and it's precisely what it sounds like. A concerted effort to match Ukranians, who need an escape from their homelands, with jobs in North Dakota's oil industry. "It's not only a workforce recruitment effort, it's a humanitarian effort too," Sanford said on this episode of Plain Talk. "The United States is not good at legal immigration," he added, but hopes this program can make a difference. He says it will begin with Ukranians - there is already a sizable Ukranian community in western North Dakota, and he says they're reaching out to organizations like the Ukranian Catholic Church to help with the effort - but the hope is to target potential refugees and immigrants from other countries and ethnic backgrounds as well. Also on this episode, state Rep. Corey Mock joined co-host Ben Hanson and I to talk about the ongoing debate over North Dakota's public worker pension. We disagreed a lot, but we did find some common ground around the idea that there are no easy solutions to this mess, and that a lot of the lawmakers in Bismarck on both sides of the debate are ignoring some pretty brutal fiscal realities. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice.
403: Mother of a trans child speaks out
"When I'm in committee, when I'm speaking, nobody ever asks me any questions." That's what Kristie Miller had to say on this episode of Plain Talk. She's the mother of a trans person and has become active in North Dakota politics opposing a legislative agenda in Bismarck she characterizes as an attack on the trans community. The most frustrating aspect of that activism? How hard it is to even get some lawmakers to talk to her. "My experience is...when they found out I'm the mother of a trans child, they won't speak to me." That experience isn't universal. Some lawmakers do speak with her. She credited House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, a Republican from Dickinson, with engaging, though she said that other lawmakers have been something less than pleasant to deal with. She described what she said was a rude interaction with Sen. Keith Boehm, a Republican from District 33 who primaried a Republican incumbent, Jessica Bell, over her vote to sustain Gov. Doug Burgum's veto of a transgender sports bill during the 2021 session. She said that many Republican lawmakers are afraid of opposing the 21 bills dealing with transgender issues at the legislature. "There's a small group out there...when they found out a GOP member voted a certain way they verbally attack them," she said. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice.
402: Commerce Commissioner defends hiring "Mr. Wonderful"
Drawing capital to North Dakota has been a problem for our state since, well, statehood. Our economy is heavily dependent on commodity-driven industries - energy and agriculture. Generations of political leaders have tried to find a way to diversify, but not much has changed. Which would argue, I think, for some outside-the-box thinking. And that's what Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen was doing when he invited Kevin O'Leary, the Shark Tank star also known as Mr. Wonderful, to manage a $45 million investment fund for the state of North Dakota. On this episode of Plain Talk, Teigen talked about how that relationship came to be, and responded to criticism of the bidding process around it, as well as recent comments O'Leary made comparing Moorhead, Minnesota, to Cuba. "I think the comments are less about Fargo and Moorhead and more about North Dakota and Minnesota," Teigen said, also describing it as "more of a Bismarck versus St. Paul conversation." "We know the people in Moorhead aren't necessarily driving he policy in Minnesota. That's happening in St. Paul," he added. Asked if he felt O'Leary's comments were helpful to the cause of bringing capital to North Dakota, Teigen didn't defend them, but he wasn't critical either. "We don't get to control every bit of the narrative," he said, adding that having someone like O'Leary, with a national platform, "tell North Dakota's story" has "a lot of upside." Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss Gov. Doug Burgum's apparent interest in running for president, as well as the Legislature falling just one vote short of passing a bill to expand the state's school lunch program.
401: School lunches and the Legacy Fund
What's the right legacy for North Dakota's Legacy Fund? It's a perennial question, all the more so when lawmakers are in session in Bismarck, and the answer is seemingly different for everyone. And that's the problem. The Legacy Fund was created two decades ago to store a big chunk of oil tax revenues for the future. Now the fund has billions in principal, and produces hundreds of millions in revenues of its own every cycle from its investments, and we're still debating what to do with it. Former Gov. Ed Schafer, who was a part of the campaign that created the fund, joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about it. He says our current lawmakers are too spend-happy with the fund, and are foolishly, in his estimation, tying up its revenues, sometimes decades into the future. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the debate over school lunch. Should the state be picking up the tab? It would end the headaches schools have with trying to collect past-due lunch payments. It would also make it so that no student would be shamed when they don't get the same school lunch as everyone else because their parents didn't pay. Also, school lunch bills can cost $1,000 or more over the course of the school year. If the state picks up the tab, that's a burden off families with young children. But some lawmakers say it's a handout. A new sort of entitlement. Are they right? If you want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish, search for it on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcast, or Stitcher, or click here to learn how to subscribe on the podcast service of your choice.
400: Protecting patient choice, and a North Dakota Democrat switches sides
The American system for insurance and health care is broken. There's no two ways about it. We pay too much, and get too few choices. How much can North Dakota's lawmakers do about it? Not a whole lot, but there are things they can do to keep it from getting worse. House Bill 1416 would stop insurers from using price pressure convince North Dakotans to opt-in to health insurance plans that freeze out independent health care proviers. Dr. Duncan Ackerman, an orthopedic surgeon and a spokesman for North Dakotans for Open Access Health Care, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the issue. Also on this episode, guest co-host Jamie Selzer and I discuss the push in the Legislature to put another term limits option before voters, one that alters the term limits amendment they just approved last year. We also talk about former U.S. House candidate Mark Haugen's decision to leave the Democratic-NPL and join the NDGOP. Haugen's House campaign ended after party big-wigs pressured him to bow out in favor of former Miss America Cara Mund, an independent candidate who was a late entrant to the race. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk Publish? Search for the show on services like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher, or click here to find out how to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice.
399: 'It's not a book ban' says state lawmaker promoting bills targeting libraries and bookstores
Minot, N.D. — I have been an outspoken critic of legislation before lawmakers in Bismarck that seeks to implement new content regulations on libraries and private stores open to the general public. So when Sen. Janne Myrdal agreed to come on this episode of Plain Talk, she knew what she was getting into. Kudos to her for coming on anyway to face questioning from myself and guest co-host Chad Oban (who makes a triumphant return to the podcast and predicts that surge in listens will crash our servers. That remains to be seen. As you might imagine, we three didn't find much to agree on, at least when it comes to the book bills. Myrdal, who says she supports librarians, nevertheless alleged that there is a concerted effort to make explicit content, and even pornography, available to children. She also denied that Senate Bill 2360, which has passed the Senate with her vote among those in favor, which she spoke in support of on the Senate floor, would ban books at private bookstores. This despite language that makes a person, "guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the person willfully displays at newsstands or any other business establishment frequented by minors, or where minors are or may be invited as a part of the general public any photograph, book, paperback book, pamphlet, or magazine, the exposed cover or available content of which...contains depictions or written descriptions of nude or partially denuded human figures posed or presented in a manner to exploit sex, lust, or perversion." By my reading, that means romance novels, and even great works of literature by people like Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck, would have to be either shrink-wrapped or squirreled away from the public. But Myrdal says that's not so. She says the intent is to protect children. Also on this episode, we asked Myrdal about a recent report noting that she turned her back on a pastor delivering an invocation about "differing colors, genders, races, ethnicities and language." She said she feels the pastor had a political agenda, and that she would have similarly turned her back if an invocation backed a political interest like credit unions. "Prayer should be vertical, not horizontal," she said.
398: Sports betting is already happening in North Dakota, and we can't stop it, says state lawmaker
Minot, N.D. — "It's happening," Sen. Scott Meyer, a Republican from Grand Forks, said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We're not stopping it." He's referring to sports gambling, which is one of the topics he says his constituents talk to him about the most. "It's becoming more and more common. It's everywhere," he says. Meyer is backing House Concurrent Resolution 3002, which, if passed, would put the question of sports gambling to voters on the statewide ballot. If they approve it, the lawmakers would be authorized to enact enabling legislation dictating regulation, consumer protection, and taxation. At least for professional sports. The constitutional amendment would leave out other types of sports betting on collegiate or even high school competitions, though Meyer insists that sort of thing is already happening too. "There are already betting lines on those games" available from sports betting services based off-shore that can be accessed online. Meyer says that's a big part of why this resolution should pass. Because these services are offshore, the North Dakotans who are already using them have no protection from fraud, and there is no way to generate revenue from the bets to offset the social impacts of gambling. A similar resolution proposed in the 2021 legislative session passed in the state House, but failed, narrowly, in the state Senate. So far, HCR3002 has followed a similar trajectory, having passed already in the House. Now it's before the Senate, where Meyer hopes his colleagues will let North Dakota voters have a say. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe, or search for the show on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, or any of the other podcast services.
397: Wouldn't it be weird if North Dakotans had to buy their bibles in a porn shop?
Minot, N.D. — If Senate Bill 2360, which has already passed North Dakota's Senate by a 38 - 9 vote, were to become law, would Christians and Muslims and other citizens of faith have to buy their holy books in a porn shop? This bill, introduced by Sen. Keith Boehm, a Republican from Mandan, would require that any material having pictures or even "written descriptions of nude or partially denuded human figures posed or presented in a manner to exploit sex, lust, or perversion" be removed from public spaces accessible by children. That means public libraries. School libraries. It means Walmart, Target, and Barnes & Noble, too. Works of art with sexual content - which includes the Christian bible, which has many stories about sex and rape and incest - could only be made available in cordoned-off areas accessible only by adults. Like adult bookstores, I guess, and wouldn't that be weird? If a state law, pushed in no small part by scripture-quoting Christians, required the bible be sold alongside actual porn? This is the stuff we discussed on today's episode of Plain Talk, where my co-host Ben Hanson and I were joined by Cody Schuler, advocacy manager for the local chapter of the ACLU, and Janet Anderson, the director of the Minot Public Library. I'm being facetious when I lump the Christian bible in with porn. Obviously, the bible is not porn, but SB2360, along with House Bill 1205, which seeks to implement similar content restrictions, doesn't make those distinctions. These bills' definitions of what constitutes objectionable materials are so amorphous that most literature sold today would be censored. That's going to invite lawsuits, Schuler pointed out. Meanwhile, Anderson noted that the bills seem to be in pursuit of a problem that doesn't exist. "I challenge you to find anything in our library that has pornography," she said. She's held her position at the Minot library for nearly a decade, and in all that time her institution's process for challenging material has been used just four times, which hardly speaks to there being a problem the Legislature needs to solve. Though, Anderson notes that plenty of people seem convinced that our librarians and educators (and booksellers, apparently, given the scope of one of these bills) are perverts out to get children. "I've been called a groomer," Anderson said. "I've been accused of wanting to teach teenagers about sex education with pornography." Be sure to listen to the entire episode. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or click here to find out how you can subscribe on the podcast service of your choice.
396: Sen. Cramer praises Biden for trip to Ukraine
Minot, N.D. — There aren't a lot of Republicans in the United States Senate willing to praise President Joe Biden for his trip to Kyiv, in Ukraine, which is a war zone. That's what Senator Kevin Cramer told me on this episode of Plain Talk. But Cramer himself? He thinks the president did good. He called the trip "gutsy" and "appropriate." Staying on the national security topic, we discussed the Chinese spy balloon situation, which is where Cramer did have some criticism for the Biden administration. He said a lack of communication from the public drove an overreaction to the balloons, making many Americans, and people in the international community, feel as though our military and intelligence agencies were less prepared to handle the balloons than they really were. Also on this episode: Why is the Biden administration's EPA so hostile to carbon capture and pipeline projects when the infrastructure bill Congress passed before the midterms, one President Biden himself championed, did a great deal to fund and facilitate those projects? And are we classifying too many documents? Cramer says yes. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or click here to find out how to subscribe on any of the other podcast services. It's free!
395: Former auditor weighs in on controversy
Minot, N.D. — A war of words between state Auditor Josh Gallion, a Republican, and members of his own party in the state legislature has made a lot of headlines of late. Gallion has accused lawmakers of being "corrupt" for allegedly targeting a member of his office for specific termination and for legislation he says undermines his ability to do his job. Lawmakers say it was actually Gallion who requested that the employee be fired, and that they're responding from complaints from local government entities, including a western North Dakota ambulance service which has now filed an ethics complaint against the auditor's office, who say that Gallion isn't doing his job right. On this episode of Plain Talk Gordy Smith, a 36-year veteran of the state auditor's office under Gallion's predecessors, weighs in on the controversy. Was it appropriate for Gallion to write an op-ed for the state's media outlets blasting lawmakers as corrupt? "Absolutely not," Smith said. "When I read the op-ed, the first two words that came to mind were 'unprofessional' and 'disrespectful,'" Smith said. As for the legislature targeting a specific employee in the auditor's office, Smith says he believes the lawmakers and not Gallion. "There's no doubt in my mind," he said, adding that he spoke to both Gallion and legislative leaders about the issue in 2017 when it happened. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Search for it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or click here to subscribe on one of the other podcast services. It's free!
394: North Dakota deserves better than this grandstanding, exaggerating auditor
"She's right." That's what Chris Jones, the director of North Dakota's Department of Human Services, had to say on this episode of Plain Talk about many of the complaints of one of our previous guests. Specifically Robin Nelson, the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley, who said that child care operations like her are "drowning" thanks to difficulties with hiring and red tape. "I don't disagree that they're drowning," Jones said in an interview that addressed everything from delays in the background check process to a new web portal for licensing that hasn't worked as well as it could have. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss state Auditor Josh Gallion's bomb-throwing toward the legislature, accusing them of attacking his office, and of being corrupt, after advancing a bill that would limit what his office can charge for audits and require that someone holding his office be a certified public accounting, something Gallion is not. Gallion's words are unbecoming for someone in his position, we concluded, and even counterproductive to the goal of holding state government accountable. An auditor should be level-headed and trustworthy. Gallion's audits, and the press campaigns he orchestrates around them, have become so exaggerated, so theatrical, that a reasonable observer must take them with a grain of salt. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any of the other podcast platforms available. And remember, subscribing to the podcast is free!
393: 'We're drowning out here' says child care provider frustrated by an inept state bureaucracy
Minot, N.D. — You've heard just about every elected official in the state talk about it. Access to childcare, and as importantly, access to childcare that's affordable, is a real problem in North Dakota. So much so that it's contributing mightily, to our critical workforce shortages. People who can't find a place to send their kids during the day, or who can't afford it, can't go to work. But Robin Nelson, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley, which provides childcare services to some 700 families, says the state is making it difficult for them to operate. "We're drowning out here," she said on this episode of Plain Talk. She says that an online licensing portal to make the hiring process for child care workers easier has, in fact, made things more difficult because the system "continues to crash" when they try to upload documents. "We are receiving late fees because we're missing deadlines," Nelson says. Background checks for those same workers are also a problem. Nelson says there are "major backlogs," particularly in the area of fingerprinting. She says it can take up to three weeks for a prospective hire to get an appointment to have their fingerprints taken, and even once they're sent in, Nelson says state workers have told her that it might take 11 business days for them even begin to process them. All told, Nelson says it can take as long as 4 to 6 weeks to get a childcare worker licensed and ready to work, which is an eternity, all the more so when you consider we're talking about workers taking jobs at what are, quite frankly, entry-level wages. How many of them can afford to wait for a month and a half before they can begin working and collecting a paycheck? Especially when there are so many other job opportunities available? Also on this episode, my co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss my story about the familial connections between a freshman state lawmaker and a racist church in MIssouri, as well as some bills that are advancing to hopefully address North Dakota's workforce shortages. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Consider subscribing - it's free! - through your favorite podcast service.
392: Sen. Cramer criticizes Grand Forks city officials for sticking with Fufeng project for so long
The Fufeng project, a controversial corn milling plant planned for the Grand Forks by the China-based company, is officially defunct now this week. City officials pulled the plug after the Department of the Air Force announced that the plant was a security threat to the nearby Grand Forks Air Force Base. I've long expressed sympathy for Grand Forks city officials who got caught in the crossfire between the economic interests of their region - it's undeniable that a plant like the one Fufeng planned would be beneficial - and concerns over national security that were far beyond their purview to analyze. But when I put it that way to Sen. Kevin Cramer who, along with Sen. John Hoeven was responsible for getting an answer on the national security question from the Air Force, he disagreed with me. He used an analogy about Santa Claus to illustrate his point. "When you're five years old, you believe in Santa because you think he's real. When you're ten you're old, you believe because you want to," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "They kept hoping for someone to tell them this was ok," he continued, arguing that city officials should have gotten out of the project earlier. Cramer did acknowledge that the federal government "let down" local officials by taking so long to answer questions about the national security implications of the plant, but he said the case against it was obvious long before the Air Force finally weighed in. Asked if he was worried about local officials taking it upon themselves to make decisions about national security threats, Cramer said he fears more "is a federal government making local decisions." Still, he sees the process Grand Forks went through, as tortured as it was," as a "great gift" to the nation as it comes to terms with how it does business with other countries that are often belligerent to our own. "No one else has sounded the alarm like Grand Forks did," he said. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Subscribe - for free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
391: Grand Forks mayor speaks out about conclusion of Fufeng controversy
Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski said his city first asked officials at the Grand Forks Air Force Base about the potential security risks of a corn milling plant to be built by Fufeng, a Chinese company, some 16 months ago. The Air Force has finally given an answer, in the form of a letter to North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, but should it have taken that long? Bochenski joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the Air Force's letter, which indicated that Fufeng's project would represent a significant security threat, thus ending the city's participation in the development. He expressed some frustration with how long it took for his community to get an answer. "We expected more out of the federal government," he said. Mayor Bochenski also spoke about how heated the debate came at times, saying that University of North Dakota President Andrew Armacost had called him to communicate that some of the students and faculty on his campus of Chinese heritage were feeling "uncomfortable" thanks to anti-Chinese blowback against the project. Also joining this episode of Plain Talk was Dr. Charlie Bahnson, a wildlife veterinarian with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, who addressed legislation that would remove his agency's ability to regulate deer baiting. House Bill 1151, introduced by Rep. Paul Thomas, a Republican from Velva, is the legislation in question. Bahnson said his department needs that authority to protect North Dakota's deer herd for future generations of hunters, and to protect animal agriculture. "We use restricting that practice as a way to slow down the spread of disease," he said. Deer baiting restrictions are not in any way intended to be a commentary from the department on the practice itself. "We're not in the business of regulating ethics around hunting." "I'd like nothing more than to never talk about baiting again," he added. "I don't like to stir the pot." Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Subscribe - it's free! - on the podcast service of your choice.
390: Wrigley backs off call to move crime lab under BCI
Minot, N.D. — Drew Wrigley is asking a lot from state lawmakers in his first time before them as Attorney General. He wants a $24 million increase in his office's budget to recruit and retain attorneys, hire more Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents, oversee the exploding growth in North Dakota's charitable gaming industry, and address backlogs at the state crime lab. He wants new mandatory minimum sentencing requirements for gun-related crimes. One thing he's giving up, though, is his call to re-arrange his office's organization chart and put the crime lab under the administration of law enforcement officials. "You were wrong," Wrigley told me on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to my past reporting on the proposal, "and you won." In support of his push for new mandatory minimums, Wrigley pushed back against a massive fiscal note attached to the bill prepared by state corrections officials. They're estimating that Wrigley's bill would cost the state an additional $28 million per biennium, something Wrigley said is "completely false and ignoring the situation." "I'm not going to be backed off on this with some phony fiscal note," he said. Asked if his office had done a fiscal analysis of the bill's impact, he said no. "Our analysis is this is just a re-prioritization," he said, arguing that state corrections officials can offset the cost of keeping more violent offenders in prison by reducing incarceration rates among non-violent offenders. Also on this episode, state Senator Sean Cleary, a Republican from Bismarck, weighs in on the competing proposals to address North Dakota's pension fund for public workers. A proposal backed by Gov. Doug Burgum, and House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, seeks to transition the state away from a defined-benefit pension. Cleary argues in favor of keeping the defined-benefit pension. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice. It's free!
389: 'If we want to be a food desert let's keep doing what we're doing'
For about a century, North Dakota has had a ban on corporate farming. This is to say that if you want to run a farming or ranching business in our state, you can only do it with family members who are no more distant in relation to you than first cousins. But there has been a push, in recent years, to ease up on the ban, particularly in the area of animal agriculture. The argument is that allowing business structures that aren't just between family members would open up new worlds of capital for investment in agriculture businesses here. Rep. Paul Thomas, a Republican from Velva who is a fourth-generation farmer, is backing House Bill 1371 in the current legislative session in Bismarck, and it would corporate farming in animal agriculture such as swine, dairy, and poultry. Yet in 2015, the legislature passed a similar bill. The North Dakota Farmer's Union successfully referred it to the ballot where it died with more than 75 percent of North Dakotans voting it down. What's changed between now and then to make Thomas think his bill has a chance? "The biggest landscape change is the development of soybean crush plants," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. Thomas says. Soybean plants will be a big source of animal feed, which will increase interest in animal agriculture in our state. He also argues that the current corporate farming ban isn't doing much to protect farming in North Dakota. "If we want to be a food desert let's keep doing what we're doing," he said. Responding to criticism of his bill coming from NDFU President Mark Watne, who argues HB1371 would hurt family farms, Thomas says the decline in the number of dairy farms in North Dakota is "the only argument I need to make." He notes that in 2009 there were 193 dairy farms operating in th e state. Today, he claims, there are only 37. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk are published? Subscribe - it's free! - on the podcast service of your choice.
388: Income tax cuts and prescription drug prices
Two state officials joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss a couple of the more complicated and political thorny issues North Dakota's legislature is taking up this session. Rep. Zac Ista, a Democrat from Grand Forks, talked about his opposition to an income tax plan being touted by Gov. Doug Burgum and Republican lawmakers. He said the plan may pull revenues away from needed spending areas, like child care and mental health, and also argued that the cut is a "giveaway" to the wealthy. It's that last point I wanted to debate with him and my co-host Ben Hanson. Also, a bill under consideration would start a pilot program aimed at capping prescription drug prices in North Dakota, using prices set in Canada as a reference point. The bill would put this program under the administration of the Insurance Commissioner's office. Jon Godfread, a Republican and our current commissioner, said that would be like trying to "force a square peg into a round hole." He expressed skepticism that this bill would be effective, and he's also concerned about the tax dollars the state would spend defending it in court. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Subscribe - it's free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
387: Can this Republican majority govern?
The Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives is an exceeding slim majority. All the more so because, in many ways, the members of that majority are divide against themselves. Can these House Republicans govern effectively? Congressman Kelly Armstrong joined this episode of Plain Talk to answer that question. "We all have to talk to one another a lot more," he said. He also pointed out that many of the Republicans in the majority are finding themselves in a position they haven't been in before. "Just about half of the Republican majority has never been in the majority," he said. "They've never seen regular order," he added, referring to the traditional way bills were introduced, worked in committee, and then brought to the floor for a vote in years past. Armstrong also answered questions about his priorities in the new Congress, how the House can fulfill its oversight role without it getting lost in salacious politics, and his potential committee assignements. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe - for free! - by way of your preferred podcast service.
386: Sports betting, school administration bloat, and a conflict of interest
Should sports betting be legal in North Dakota? Should a lawmaker who works for a company that also has a huge health insurance contract with the state also be on a board that approves the contract? And is it a good idea to require that some small school districts share superintendents? We talk about all those issues on this episode of Plain Talk. Rep. Matt Ruby, a Republican from Minot, talks about the superintendent issue. It's his bill that would require districts with low enrollments to share superintendents. He says that the small districts make up just 40 percent of total K-12 enrollment, but are paying 90 percent of the superintendent's salaries. In this interview, he responds to some of the common criticisms of the bill. Also. Rep. Greg Stemen, a Republican from Fargo, talks about his proposal to legalize sports wagering in the state. He says he'd like North Dakotans to weigh on this one way or another - his resolution would lead to a statewide vote - at which point the legislature can, if voters approve, work on implementing it. Stemen also responds to criticisms he received from Sen. Kyle Davison, another Fargo Republican, over his appointment to the PERS Board. Stemen works for Sanford Health, which also has a contract to provide health insurance to tens of thousands of state employees that's worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The PERS Board oversees that contract. Stemen says he's talked to Davison about his concerns, and would recuse himself from any vote concerning Sanford, but has confidence he can serve public employees, and his constituents, well on the board. Finally, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss the debate over an income tax proposal that would eliminate the tax for most North Dakotans. Is it a good idea? Or just a handout to the wealthy? If you want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish, please click here to subscribe - it's free! - on your favorite podcast platform.
385: Gambling, state of the state, and new Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller
Tammy Miller went from being the CEO of a major, Fargo-based corporation, to the COO of Governor Doug Burgum's administration, and now to Burgum's Lt. Governor, tasked with presiding over the state senate this legislative session. She joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss that transition, her past asperations for public office, and how she can serve the state of North Dakota and Burgum's administration. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss Burgum's state of the state address from earlier this week, the early intrigues of the legislative session, and the headaches surrounding the rapid growth of charitable gaming in North Dakota. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe - it's free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
384: A new appropriations chair for the first time in decades
For the first time in decades, the North Dakota Senate has a new chairman of its appropriations committee. Why does that matter? The chairs of the appropriations committees in the House and the Senate are in charge of reconciling all the spending the legislature is trying to do in the next two-year budget cycle with the amount of revenue the state expects to collect. The two people who hold those positions are probably the most powerful politicians in North Dakota that you've never heard of. In the Senate, third-term Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, a Republican from the Williston area, is taking over the job from Sen. Ray Holmberg, one of the longest-serving public servants in national history, who opted not to run for re-election this cycle. On this episode of Plain Talk, Bekkedahl spoke with co-host Ben Hanson and me about taking over that job. One of the most pressing issues before this session is a choice lawmakers will have between yet another property tax reduction plan, and a big income tax cut - an elimination of the tax for most North Dakotans - that has been touted by Governor Doug Burgum. Burgum "makes a very compelling case" that his tax plan is "a better way to get relief into the hands of the taxpayers," Bekkedahl said, though he added that most taxpayers probably feel more burdened by their property tax bills than the income tax. What his committee makes of those proposals will be up to the committee. Bekkedahl is also taking over this job after voters approved eight-year term limits for state lawmakers. "We'll live through this," Bekkedahl said, though he added t hat he doesn't "think it's going to be good for the state." He praised Holmberg and other long-time lawmakers for the institutional knowledge they brought to the legislature, and he also pointed out that the voters were already doing a pretty good job of sending new people to the legislative chambers every election cycle. What does Bekkedahl make of North Dakota getting a new lieutenant governor just as a new legislative session is going to begin? "I was surprised by the timing of the announcement," he said, noting that outgoing Lt. Governor Brent Sanford worked well with the legislature, but he was very positive about incoming Lt. Governor Tammy Miller too, noting that she's "proved herself well' both as a member of Burgum's cabinet and a businesswoman. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe - it's free! - on your favorite podcast platform.
383: Gender-altering surgery for children?
Should children in North Dakota have access to surgery and other types of treatment that can change their birth gender? If a bill that will be introduced in the 2023 session of the legislature is passed, such treatments would be prohibited. State Rep. Brandon Prichard, a Republican from District 8 who is sponsoring that bill, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. The bill doesn't make these treatments a crime. Rather, it allows civil lawsuits from children or their parents who feel the law was violated. Prichard said a separate bill he hopes to co-sponsor, which he expects will be introduced by Rep. Lori Vanwinkle of District 3, would provide a criminal penalty. Why both? A criminal penalty is "very reliant on the state's attorney prosecuting it." He said that "bias among prosecutors" may lead to the law not being enforced, so he wanted to provide a civil remedy. Why the need to prohibit this sort of gender-affirming treatment for children at all? Prichard spoke of a drive to "corrode the innocence of children," though he wasn't clear about how often this sort of thing is happening in North Dakota. The "ability to access those records is very limited," but said the information is irrelevant to him. "Even if there isn't a single example of the surgeries happening in North Dakota, it wouldn't change my strategy," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss the on-going controversy over the Fufeng corn milling plant in Grand Forks, and the recent efforts (or, more accurately, lack there of) by the federal government to bring clarity to the matter. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Click here to subscribe on your favorite podcast service. It's free!
382: Gov. Doug Burgum talks budget and upcoming legislative session
North Dakota legislators begin writing budgets and making law in January, but first the meet in December for an organizational session. New lawmakers get sworn in, committee assignments are doled out, and lawmakers get some training on how the legislative process works. Part of the organizational session is also a budget address from Governor Doug Burgum. On this episode of Plain Talk, Burgum joined me, and my new Wednesday co-host Ben Hanson, a former lawmaker himself, to discuss the executive budget he just delivered to lawmakers. Burgum answered questions about a flat-tax proposal he's made for the state's income taxes, which would eliminate the tax entirely for most North Dakotans, and discussed why he didn't propose a total elimination. Also discussed were ways his budget seeks to address one of the state's most chronic economic challenges, which is workforce shortages. Burgum is proposing to address that, in part, with investments in increasing access to child care, an expense that keeps many North Dakotans at home with their kids instead of seeking a career in the labor markets. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Consider subscribing - it's free! - on your favorite podcast service.
381: UND president discusses 'NODAK' trademark controversy
Retro hockey jerseys featuring "NODAK" emblazoned on the front have become a hot item for the University of North Dakota's hockey team. Fans love it when head coach Brad Berry tells his players to wear them, and they've been buying related merchandise at a brisk pace. But it turned out that UND didn't own the trademark to 'NODAK." A business entity associated with Coach Berry's daughter did, and that created the appearance of a conflict of interest. The business entity has since transferred ownership of the trademark to the school, but is that really the end of this issue? UND President Andrew Armacost joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the situation. He said that the trademark was transferred to UND, and that no money or other inducements were part of the deal. He said he first learned about the issue through a fraud hotline tip to the North Dakota University System head office, though the issue gained public notoriety after I wrote about it earlier this week. Armacost said he hasn't spoken to Coach Berry about his involvement, if any, in the formation of the business entity or the registration of the trademark. Asked if UND planned any further review of the matter to ensure that policies promoting ethics, and prohibiting conflicts of interest, had been followed, Armacost said the matter was "resolved" by transferring the trademark. That ended the conflict, he argued. He also said that he wouldn't call on Coach Berry to address the public about what participation he had, if any, saying that he would do the same with any other university employee in similar circumstances. "That'll be for Coach Berry to make a determination," he said. As for why the university didn't trademark "NODAK" previously, Armacost said it was the opinion of their legal counsel that the schools prior use of "NODAK" established their rights to it, but admitted that in "hindsight" the school should have acted. "We could have protected it and avoided this altogether," he said. If you'd like to be alerted when new episodes of Plain Talk, click here to subscribe (it's free!) or search for Plain Talk on your favorite podcast service.
380: What will North Dakota's legislature do on abortion?
In 2007, a bipartisan majority of North Dakota lawmakers passed a near-total ban on abortions that was introduced by two Democratic legislators. It was written so that it would only take effect should the courts overturn Roe v. Wade and other legal precedents that created a right to an abortion. Those precedents have been overturned, and while there's still legal wrangling around the law in North Dakota courts - our state Supreme court held oral arguments about an injunction currently blocking it this week - it's clear that the legislature, in its upcoming session, will have some clean-up to do on the abortion issue. State Senator Janne Myrdal, a Republican who has worked as an activist in the pro-life movement for more than 30 years, joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about what that debate might look like. Myrdal told co-host Chad Oban and I that while she intends to "stand behind" North Dakota's existing laws, she does see the need for some tweaks, such as the "affirmative defense" exceptions in the law which would allow medical professionals to defend themselves against felony charges should they perform an abortion in the instance of something like rape or incest. Myrdal said she's not interested in hauling doctors into court. She also said she's not interested in, nor has she heard of any bills coming forward, that would put restrictions on things like storing embryos, but she did say she believes Republicans can't just focus on banning abortion. Myrdal said she plans to support laws to make the adoption process easier, and to provide better care for mothers and children around a pregnancy. The new legislative session begins in January. If you'd like to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish, click here to subscribe - it's free! - or search for Plain Talk on your favorite podcast platform.
379: "There are a big number of legislators who are tired of politics"
Election day has come and gone, and in North Dakota, that means a new session of the state legislature is looming. There will be an organizational meeting and a budget address from Gov. Doug Burgum in December, and then the regular session commences in January, tasked with tackling issues ranging from income tax and property tax relief to child care and water needs. And the legislature will go about its business with new leaders. Two long-time chairs of the House and Senate appropriations committees are no longer in the legislature. Two long-serving lawmakers who served as majority leaders last session have retired. Their replacements - Sen. David Hogue of Minot and Rep. Mike Lefor of Dickinson, now the Senate and House majority leaders, respectively - joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the upcoming session. They talked about the challenges a newly-approved term limits amendment to the state constitution poses when it comes to recruiting competent lawmakers and mentoring legislative leadership. They also discussed how they'll approach their relationship with Gov. Burgum, who had a sometimes rocky tenure with their predecessors, and how they'll manage sprawling caucus that make up almost the entirety of the chambers they serve in. Lefor, specifically, said he's focused on taking "the wind out of politics" in the House. "There are a big number of legislators who are tired of the politics," he continued, saying he'd like to tamp down the theatrics and get focused on policy debates. Hogue agreed, saying he'd like members of his caucus to take up "portfolios" of policy areas where they can serve as experts for their fellow lawmakers, though time will tell how well that works in a Republican supermajority that, in many ways, is divided against itself. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe - for free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
378: Armstrong on winning re-election, the new Congress, and Trump
Nationally, Republicans didn't perform as well in the midterm elections as expected. The "red wave" was more of a "red mist." North Dakota Republicans bucked that trend, though, and Congressman Kelly Armstrong's re-election was a part of that. On this episode of Plain Talk, he argued that, despite Republicans not living up to "red wave" expectations, they've gained ground in the legislative chamber he serves in for three straight election cycles. As for why the NDGOP did better than Republicans nationally? Armstrong said a part of it is because our state's chief industries, agriculture and energy, were a bigger priority than some of the hot-button issues, like abortion, that dominated campaign messaging. Also, he argued, it didn't help Democratic turnout that the party axed their own House candidate in the middle of the election year. Armstrong also discussed why he supported Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House for what will presumably be a narrow GOP majority, what Republicans need to do in the next two years to expand on those majorities, and how Congress should handle the war between Ukraine and Russia. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe - it's free! - on the platform of your choice.
377: Republicans can blame Trump for election night losses
Is there any question that disgraced former President Donald Trump had a big hand in the failure of Republicans to fulfill expectations in last night's midterms? In Pennsylvania Doug Mastriano, a Trump-endorsed MAGA candidate who fully embraced 2020 election conspiracy theories, lost big in the gubernatorial race. In that state's Senate race, Dr. Mehemet Oz lost to John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate who had a stroke and is, by an objective measure, not fit to serve in office. In George, Trump-backed Senate candidate Herschel Walker is currently behind the Democratic candidate, and headed for a runoff, even though the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Brian Kemp, a Trump enemy, won his election handily. In Arizona, Trump-backed Senate candidate Blake Masters lost, and Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake appears to be losing a very close race. But perhaps the best example is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Republicans chose a Trump-backed candidate, John Gibbs, over the incumbent, Peter Meijer, who had voted to impeach Trump. Now Gibbs has lost that race, allowing a Democrat to hold that seat for the first time in 50 years. On this episode of Plain Talk, Chad Oban and I discuss all of these national election results, and we get very local too. Rick Becker lost big in North Dakota's Senate race. What will he do next? Former Miss America Cara Mund also lost in a landslide to Republican U.S. House incumbent Kelly Armstrong, though she outperformed the Democratic candidates on the ballot by about 10 points. Will she run again? And the North Dakota Democratic-NPL has lost ground in the legislature, again, turning a super-minority in the state assembly into, what, a super-super-minority? Click to listen, and if you'd like to be alerted when new episodes of Plain Talk drop, be sure to subscribe - it's free! - on the podcast service of your choice.
376: Lawmaker involved in AG's office space scandal rips auditor for "gotcha audit"
Minot, N.D. — A controversial decision to move departments of North Dakota's Attorney General's office to a new building started with an informal discussion between a state lawmaker and the director of the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation. An audit report has found multiple red flags in that transaction, from questions about billing to licensing to whether the taxpayers really came out on top in the deal. Now the lawmaker who made the deal in the first place, state Rep. Jason Dockter, a Republican from Bismarck, is blasting the auditor's office for what he says was an incomplete and inaccurate report. "I think we have a trust issue with the state auditor's office," Dockter said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the report auditor Josh Gallion presented to lawmakers last month as a "gotcha audit." Dockter repeatedly made references to controversial audit reports of the State Library and the Commerce Department which drew criticism for Gallion. Still, Dockter admits there are reasons for raised eyebrows on this deal. For one, the more than 800-page report (see below) his attorney sent to state officials and the news media in response to the audit indicates that the "informal conversation" between Dockter and an official from the Attorney General's office happened in the state capitol building during the legislative session in which Dockter was serving. "I have to make a living," Dockter said when asked if he felt it was appropriate for a lawmaker to do business that way. He also downplayed the access to state government that being an elected legislator gives him, saying that he often does business with people he knows personally. "I'm a lifelong resident of Bismarck," he said. Another red flag was the nearly $250,000 in overpayments made by the State of North Dakota to Dockter's companies. Dockter, who admits that this was not a typical way of doing business, now says his companies will reimburse the taxpayers for those payments, which he said were based on estimates that came in too high. Asked if what he would do differently if he could go back to the beginning of this deal, he said he would ensure that the invoicing from his companies to the state was less confusing. He also said he was open to legislation that would require that lawmakers recuse themselves from votes that impact their private business dealings. "I have no problem" with that sort of legislation, he said. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss our predictions for next week's midterm elections. Will ballot measures implementing term limits and legal marijuana pass or fail? Can independent candidates Rick Becker and Cara Mund win in the Senate and House races, respectively? Listen to find out our thoughts. If you'd like to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish, click here to subscribe - it's free! - on the podcast service of your choice.
375: Former California cop speaks in favor of North Dakota marijuana legalization
A national anti-marijuana group that is organizing the opposition to Measure 2, which, if passed by North Dakota voters, would legalize recreational marijuana, has been touting support from several law enforcement groups. These organizations say legalizing marijuana will hurt public safety. There will be more crime. More inebriated driving. But that's not so says Diane Goldstein. She's a 21-year veteran of the Redondo Beach Police Department, who retired as a lieutenant, and has spent her post-law enforcement career researching drug policy and advocating for reforms. She joined this episode of Plain Talk, along with pro-Measure 2 campaigner and Fargo-based defense attorney Mark Friese, to rebut the argument coming from some in North Dakota law enforcement. Goldstein says it's a mistake to compare North Dakota's measure to what happened in California, which decided to open the legal marijuana market up with little in the way of regulation. She said North Dakota's measure contains prudent protections that California didn't contemplate when that state first legalized marijuana more than two decades ago. Both Friese and Goldstein also pointed out that legalizing marijuana isn't some social experiment anymore. Many states have legalized marijuana now, and have lived with legalization for years, and the evidence shows little in the way of a crime surge. That's not to say that legalizing marijuana in North Dakota will be a panacea for public safety, Goldstein warned. "We'll never get rid of the black market," she said. But, legalization can mitigate the public safety threat that comes from the marijuana black market and the criminal gangs who serve it. To be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop, subscribe - it's free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
374: North Dakota Senate candidates debate
North Dakota has three candidates running for the United States Senate. Incumbent Senator John Hoeven, who was first elected to that office in 2010, is facing a challenge from Democratic-NPL candidate Katrina Christiansen and independent candidate Rick Becker. On this episode of Plain Talk, all three candidates met for the first time to debate issues ranging from spending and abortion to carbon capture and support for Ukraine. My Wednesday co-host, former Democratic-NPL executive director Chad Oban, moderated the debate along with me. The candidates differed sharply on the issues. Christiansen accused Becker and Hoeven of belittling the importance of the abortion issue for women. Becker accused both Hoeven and Christiansen of being supporters of big government and big spending. Hoeven, for his part, defended his track record in the Senate and argued that both Becker and Christiansen have distorted it. Click above to listen to the full debate, or subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcast platform to listen on another device.
373: PSC candidates Sheri Haugen-Hoffart and Trygve Hammer debate
Minot, N.D. — Members of North Dakota's Public Service Commission serve staggered six-year terms, meaning that one of the three members of the commission is on the ballot every two years. This year, however, there are two PSC seats up for grabs. Commissioner Julie Fedorchak is running for re-election at the end of her six-year term, while Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, a Republican who was appointed by Gov. Doug Burgum to finish an unexpired term, is running per state law to have that appointment confirmed by the voters. Challenging Haugen-Hoffart is Democratic-NPL candidate Trygve Hammer. Both Hammer and Haugen-Hoffart joined this episode of Plain Talk to debate the issues in their race, from grid reliability and climate change to rail safety and pipelines. I moderated the debate, and asked the questions, along with my co-host Chad Oban, a former executive director of the Democratic-NPL. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe - it's free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
372: Pro-marijuana campaign responds to emergence of opposition group
An opposition group has formed with the mission to defeat a ballot measure on North Dakota's ballot which would legalize recreational marijuana. This group is making a number of claims about the ill that would befall our state if legal pot is the law of the land. They're talking about increased crime. Increased addiction. Easy access to the drug for children. On this episode of Plain Talk, Fargo-based defense attorney Mark Friese, who is the treasurer for the pro-marijuana campaign, and who had a hand in drafting the measure itself, spoke to some of those criticisms. Also, guest co-host Jamie Selzler and I talk about a recent incident where Bismarck School Board member Emily Eckroth allegedly urinated in the back of a police car, and what that incident says about how willing the public is to tolerate bad behavior from elected officials. We also discussed the controversy around U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker, and the emerging opposition to a term limits ballot measure that's also on the statewide ballot. Want to be alerted when new episodes of Plain Talk are published? Click here to subscribe listen - for free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
371: Farmer's Union president opposes term limits for North Dakota
Last week North Dakota's two largest agriculture groups, the North Dakota Farm Bureau and the North Dakota Farmer's Union, came out against a term limits proposal that's on the statewide ballot. On this episode of Plain Talk the president of one of those groups, Mark Watne from the North Dakota Farm Bureau, joined to discuss why his group is opposed to the proposal. Watne argued that it would diminish the amount of experience and seniority in the legislature, leaving the state's law-writing body more susceptible to influence from lobbyists and the bureaucracy. He also noted that, in some complex areas of policy making, arriving at the right decision for the state can be the work of multiple legislative sessions. An example he cited was the tension between farmers and ranchers and the hunters who want to access their lands. State officials have grappled with that divide between hunting interests and property rights for years, with several key lawmakers working closely with both sides to find an accord. If we had term limits, some of the lawmakers working on the issue may have left office before they had a chance to see the issue through to the end. Watne also said his organization has opposed term limits for some time, and that the position comes from the group's rank-and-file membership which includes farmers from around the state. Click above to listen to the full interview! Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Subscribe - for free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
370: Pioneer in North Dakota term limits policy says term limits measure is "anti-North Dakota"
You can't really talk about the history of North Dakota's initiated measure process without talking about Kent French. The Bismarck-based businessman was legendary in the 1980s and 1990s for his many initiated measures and referenda targeting issues like taxes. And, yes, term limits. We're debating term limits again this election cycle - there's a ballot measure that would prohibit lawmakers and governors from serving more than 8 years - but you may not realize that North Dakota already has term limits law on the books. That's thanks to Mr. French, who backed an initiated measure to limit the amount of time North Dakota's congressional delegation could serve in office. That law isn't in force, because the Supreme Court ruled that state-based term limits for members of Congress aren't constitutional, but it was supported by a strong majority of North Dakota voters at the time. But it may surprise you to learn that French doesn't back this current term limits proposal for state-level elected officials. He joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss his objections. "You always want to be on the right side of an issue," he told me. "Not just the winning side, the right side." He mentioned polling, released by the term limits campaign, which shows a strong majority of North Dakotans backing their proposal, but French thinks the more voters learn about it the less they like it. "They have that until the people of North Dakota learn what this does." French says he sees a distinction between people who hold state-level elected office, and those who serve in Congress. "We have the right of referral" in North Dakota, French noted, referencing a law that allows voters to collect signatures to put a law the legislature doesn't like on the ballot for a possible veto by the people. He also noted that voters could recall to the ballot any state-level elected official voters don't like. "I think that's the route people should take," as opposed to term limits. He described this term limits proposal as "anti-North Dakota" and promoted by people who are just seeking chaos. "I don't know that this gives the state the stability it has had in the past," French said. Listen to the full interview. If you'd like to be notified of future episodes of Plain Talk consider subscribing - it's free! - on the podcast platform of your choice.
369: Lawmaker talks property tax proposal, attorney general office space scandal
We're all in campaign mode right now, but just a couple of months after election day North Dakota will have a new legislative session. Lawmakers at that session will be hearing about two competing tax cut plans. One would flatten the state's income tax brackets, and eliminate the tax for most of the state's filers. The other would leverage interest revenues from the state's Legacy Fund to buy down the portion of your property taxes that goes for schools. Rep. Craig Headland, and Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus, appeared on a previous episode of Plain Talk to make the case for the income tax proposal. On this episode, Rep. Mike Nathe joined to make the case for the property tax plan. Nathe, who serves on the legislature's audit committee, also responded to questions about the scandal over a lease for office space for departments within the attorney general's office that went to a building owned by a state lawmaker. Nathe said he wants to hear the lawmaker's side of the story - that's Rep. Jason Dockter, a Republican from the Bismarck area - but his view of how that deal went down is far from positive. Asked if he could describe what benefit accrued to the taxpayers from moving parts of the AG's office to that office space, he said he couldn't. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the congressional races. We talked about the four polls that have been released in the House race between incumbent Republican Kelly Armstrong and independent challenger Cara Mund, as well as the dynamics in the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent John Hoeven, Democratic challenger Katrina Christiansen, and independent Rick Becker. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Subscribe - it's free! - on your favorite podcasting platform.
368: A local candidate sounds off, and Cramer talks Jan. 6 texts
In North Dakota, we elect a lot of people. That's not a bad thing, but sometimes once you get down to the bottom of your ballot, past higher-profile candidates for state and federal office, you begin to see some names you might not be very familiar with. Names that are often all alone in their races, representing candidates are facing no opposition. One of those names this cycle is Ben Hanson. He's a former state lawmaker, and a Democrat, though he's now seeking a non-partisan office on the Cass County Commisison. He is facing some opposition - former Republican state Senator Tony Grindberg is running against him - but he has an interesting story to tell about the struggle to get the public interested local races. It's a paradox, given popular ideas like "local control" are. Local officials handle policy and appropriations that intersect with many of the electorate's top priorities - from the economy and jobs to mental health and crime - yet these races are often not competitive and overlooked. Also on this episode, Sen. Kevin Cramer joined to talk about the recent headlines over text messages sent to him about the 2020 election from current Attorney General, and then U.S. Attorney, Drew Wrigley. He also talked about the Senate passing a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown, the importance of permitting reform here in America in the context of Russia using its energy market share to bully the rest of the world, and the financial industry's efforts to try and track gun purchases. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Click here to subscribe.
367: Sec. of State candidates debate election integrity, voting, and transparency
Election integrity is a hot-button issue. Rancor continues around the outcome of the 2020 election, with many claiming that, at least nationally, former President Donald Trump was cheated out of another term in the White House by fraud. North Dakota election officials have been flooded with open records requests from people seeking information to prove conspiracy theories about the election. As it happens, North Dakota's top election official is on the ballot this cycle. Long-serving incumbent Republican Al Jaeger isn't running for another seat. State Rep. Michael Howe, a Republican, and Mayville State University administration Jeffrey Powell, a Democrat, are running to replace him. They joined this episode of Plain Talk for a debate about the issues in this campaign, along with my co-host, former Democratic-NPL executive director Chad Oban. An independent candidate, Charles Tuttle, has filed signatures to be on the ballot in this race. I made the decision not to include him in this discussion because it's my feeling, given his long history of erratic behavior, and the probability that he'll draw a very low number of votes, his participation wouldn't have been a productive use of our time. "We haven't seen any problems with the integrity of our elections" in North Dakota, Howe said during the debate, though he said that whoever wins this election needs to "gain the public's trust back." "People get caught up in the cable news cycle. They see things that aren't related to North Dakota," Howe added. Powell agreed though he pressed Howe on the fact that much of the questioning of election outcomes is coming from the right. Howe responded by pointing out that Democrats have questioned election results in the past as well. Both candidates agreed that many aspects of the Secretary of State's online services - from accessing campaign finance reports to making business filings - need to be modernized and made more user-friendly. Powell said that while much of the information on things like voting and running for office on the Secretary of State's website currently was accurate, it's presented in an out-dated way. Asked if they would support more rigorous reporting requirements for candidates, Powell said he would require that candidates leverage online tools to make reports almost real-time. "I want it to be live and accurate," he said. Howe was more non-committal. "I don't know if it's going to solve any problems or if we're going to glean any new information, but sure," he said. The candidates also discussed what it's like to campaign in a very angry, divided political environment, the controversy over a term limits ballot measure that was dismissed from the ballot by the incumbent before being restored by the state Supreme Court, and some of the Secretary of State's other duties, such as serving on the Land Board and the Emergency Commission. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Consider subscribing on the podcast platform of your choice.
366: Are term limits really what's right for North Dakota?
Minot, N.D. — It's been a circuitous route to the ballot for a ballot measure implementing term limits for North Dakota's lawmakers and governor. State officials maintain that the signature collection process behind it was riddled with fraud, but the state Supreme Court put it on the ballot on a legal technicality, finding that the Secretary of State lacked the authority to disqualify it. However you or I might feel about how the measure got there, North Dakota's voters will be confronted with a decision about it. Should lawmakers be limited to no more than eight years in a legislative chamber? Should the governor be prohibited from running for more than two four-year terms? Does limiting the amount of time lawmakers can serve create a disparity in balance of power between branches of the state government? And why shouldn't voters get to keep voting for the same candidates over and over again if that's what they really want? We talked about those questions and more on this episode of Plain Talk. Mike Motschenbacher and Dustin Gawrylow, two long-time conservative activists in state politics (the former is currently campaigning for a seat in the state House in District 47 as a Republican), joined to discuss the issue. Gawrylow is for term limits, while Motschenbacher, like me, is against. Want to be notified of new Plain Talk episodes as they're published? Subscribe, for free, on the podcast platform of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
365: Democratic-NPL ag commissioner candidate says vote for the Republican
Work around politics long enough, and you'll hear everything. Including a Democratic candidate for statewide office saying you ought to vote for the Republican. Fintan Dooley, who was endorsed by the North Dakota Democratic-NPL this spring to take on three-term Republican incumbent Doug Goehring for Agriculture Commissioner, says you ought to vote for the incumbent. "I'm not smoking any pot," Dooley said on this episode of Plain Talk, which featured a debate between the two candidates. "He's actually accomplished what he says he's accomplished," adding that he's even gotten permission from Goehring to hunt on his land. But that's not to say that the candidates don't have areas of disagreement. Dooley, who has worked as an attorney in North Dakota since 1976, has been a passionate activist for lands impacted by oil and gas development, including so-called "salted lands" that have been harmed by brine spills. Goehring argued that the spills happened in the past, under old EPA regulations that were predicated on now-outdated science, but Dooley rejected that argument, saying the state has to do a better job of protecting the land going forward, restoring land already harmed. But in many other areas, the two candidates were very much in alignment. Goehring weighed on the controversial sale of farm land to tech industry billionaire Bill Gates, saying he understands some of the consternation given Gates' sometimes hostile attitudes toward production agriculture, but that ultimately private land owners have a the right to sell to who they wish. Goehring says the bigger problem is the number of North Dakota landowners who are selling out to out-of-state buyers who only want to use that land for recreation and take it out of agriculture industry entirely, something Dooley agreed with. Both candidates want North Dakota's corporate farming ban rolled back. At least for animal agriculture. Dooley said he's aware of family-owned dairy operations that may have to close down because the latest generation of the family isn't interested in the business, and it's illegal to bring in outsiders. "They should be able to incorporate" and get investment from non-family members, Dooley said. Both are skeptical of high-profile efforts to bring carbon capture and sequestration to the state. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Subscribe, for free, on the podcast platform of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
364: Gov. Burgum says baby boom is driving North Dakota's child care problems
When I began my writing career twenty years ago, North Dakota had an aging, shrinking population. Our young people were leaving. New people weren't moving here. When we debated education, much of it was focused on what to do about declining enrollment. School closures and consolidation were a sad reality. Things have improved. Where once our state was among the oldest in the nation, it now consistently ranks among the youngest (our media age of 35.2 years is good for fourth youngest, currently). But there are challenges associated with that turnaround, and among them is how to ensure that North Dakota's child care businesses can keep up with demand for their services. Governor Doug Burgum, who along with a coalition of other state leaders recently announced a policy package to address that issue, spoke about the conundrum on this episode of Plain Talk. Here's one mind-blowing statistic he shared: Of North Dakota's more than 760,000 residents, more than 64,000 are age 5 and under. These children live in more than 42,000 North Dakota households. The high cost, and slim availability, of child care is impacting an enormous chunk of our population. Burgum talked about the need for the state, and the private sector, to step in to help child care businesses start and stay open, to help child care workers find good careers in their industry, and to help North Dakota families pay for childcare services. And this isn't just about helping families with kids. It's about helping North Dakota's entire economy, Burgum says. "We have a trained workforce in North Dakota that we've invested in over their lifetime...and they have to stay home" to take care of kids, he argued. Freeing those workers up by making child care accessible can also help address North Dakota's workforce shortages. What challenges does the governor see in getting this policy passed? He noted that many of North Dakota's elected leaders are from a generation that may not understand that this is a problem. "The state's average age is 35," he said. "That is not the average age of the Legislature." Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk? Subscribe, for free, on the podcast platform of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
363: Attorney General candidates clash over crime, marijuana, and more
If there's one thing we learned from the first debate between North Dakota's candidates for attorney general, it's that they disagree on a lot. Drew Wrigley, a Republican, is the incumbent attorney general, having been appointed to finish his predecessor Wayne Stenehjem's term by Governor Doug Burgum. Wrigley is now running to be elected to a term of his own, and he's being challenged by Democratic-NPL candidate Tim Lamb. One area where the candidates disagree sharply is on crime. Wrigley's office released the most recent iteration of the state's crime report. It illustrated a 10 percent year-over-year increase in violent crime, and a 20 percent increase since 2017. Wrigley says that's significant and invites a response in the form of tougher penalties for violent crimes, tempered with perhaps a lighter touch for non-violent offense. Lamb disagrees with Wrigley that the state has a crime problem. Lamb, meanwhile, is for a measure on the November ballot that would legalize recreational marijuana. Wrigley, for his part, wouldn't say how he'll vote on the measure, but said from a personal perspective that using marijuana is "not healthy." Whether voters pass the measure or not, Wrigley says "we will have issues going forward" with how to handle marijuana in the criminal justice system. The two candidates also were at loggerheads over the handling of the deletion of official state email accounts for Stenehjem, after his death, and former deputy Attorney General Troy Seibel, after his departure from the office. Wrigley said the deletions, ordered by Stenehjem's former executive assistant, were wrong, but didn't rise to the level of a crime. Lamb disagreed, saying they did. Lamb also accused North Dakota's Industrial Commission of mishandling monetary penalties levied against oil industry companies involved in spills. Wrigley accused Lamb of a "false and slanderous statement." The two candidates did agree in one area. Wrigley said that he has no interest in his office enforcing penalties against educators for teaching critical race theory, despite the comments of state Rep. Jim Kasper, a Republican from Fargo, at a recent Department of Public Instruction meeting. Lamb, a long-time member of the Grand Forks School Board, largely agreed with Wrigley's sentiments. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk? Click here to subscribe, for free, on the podcast platform of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
362: Cramer talks Russia, student loan forgiveness, Mund, and Becker
Prominent North Dakota Democrats made a real "mess of things" when they took the extraordinary step of jettisoning their U.S. House candidate, Mark Haugen, in favor of independent candidate Cara Mund. "They were very presumptuous about Cara," Cramer added, arguing that they don't know much about her outside of her views on abortion. He also argued that the move may inhibit future efforts to recruit candidates to the Democratic-NPL ticket. "Now all they have to offer is disloyalty," Cramer said. Mund's entrance into North Dakota's U.S. House race against incumbent Republican Kelly Armstrong was just one topic Cramer and I covered on this episode of Plain Talk. We also discussed another independent candidate, Rick Becker, who is challenging incumbent John Hoeven, Cramer's colleague in the Senate. Cramer praised Becker as representing an important part of the NDGOP, but took a dim view of his chances. "I don't think he's going to do as well as he thinks he does," Cramer said. Becker had promised to respect the vote of delegates at the NDGOP convention, where Hoeven won the party's endorsement, but has gone back on that promise to challenge Hoeven in the general election. Cramer said that move has hurt Becker. "I've talked to a number of Republican supporters of Rick Becker and they're disappointed," he said. Cramer also spoke about getting banned by the Russian government, the European energy crisis brought on in no small part by the war in Ukraine and what Americans can do to help, President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness. Want to get every episode of Plain Talk delivered directly to you? Consider subscribing, for free, on the podcast platform of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
361: Cara Mund, Rep. Kelly Armstrong square off in first U.S. House debate
For the first time, incumbent Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong and independent challenge Cara Mund faced off in a debate. On this episode of Plain Talk, with questions coming from former Democratic-NPL executive director Chad Oban and myself, the two candidates found areas where they agree, and areas where they disagree. Both Armstrong and Mund oppose President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness. They also seem to be generally on the same page on energy, outside of Mund's criticism of the Trump-era decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord. In other areas, the two candidates are quite different. Mund was sharply critical of former President Donald Trump, while Armstrong said he'd put Trump in the White House again if the choice were between him and current President Joe Biden. Abortion was also a flashpoint between the candidates. Mund argues that the U.S. Supreme Court, by overturning legal precedent that had been in place for five decades, had taken away an important right from women. Mund also answered questions about her ideology. Asked which party she would caucus with should she be elected to Congress, she said she had initially thought she's caucus with Republicans but that now, "I don't think I have a choice," referring to an NDGOP rule which prohibits candidates who have run as independents from seeking the party's endorsement for six years. She also defended her independence - under admittedly sharp questioning from me - despite the Democratic-NPL taking the extraordinary step of pushing their House candidate out of the race. What voters are left with, after this first debate, is a view of two candidates who differ profoundly on some of the stormiest issues in politics. This was the second in a series of Plain Talk debates between North Dakota's statewide candidates. To be notified of new episodes, including the future debates, subscribe, for free, on the podcasting platform of your choice. Forum Communications Compoany is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
360: Candidate conversation with Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak
What does the Public Service Commission do in North Dakota? The PSC makes the most headlines over utility rates. They regulate how much utilities can charge us for our power. But the PSC does so much more. They site wind farms. They run a rail safety program. They make sure that the pumps and the scales that measure how much we pay for everything from gasoline to steaks at the butcher shop are fair. Julie Fedorchak, a Republican, has served on the PSC since she was appointed by former Gov. Jack Dalrymple in 2012. She had that appointment confirmed by voters in 2014, and successfully ran for a six-year term in 2016. She's now up for re-election, and joined this episode of Plain Talk for a wide-ranging conversation about her campaign. This is part of a series of hosted conversations we'll be doing on Plain Talk with all of the statewide candidates. Fedorchak's opponent in this race, Democratic-NPL candidate Melanie Moniz, declined to participate. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the controversy around President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness program, and independent candidate Cara Mund's event with Democrats. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Including the debates with the other statewide candidates? Subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice. It's free! Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
359: Under this proposal, most in North Dakota wouldn't pay income tax
Last week a group of Republican leaders from the state's legislative and executive branches got together and announced a new plan to flatten North Dakota's income taxes. The state currently has five tax brackets that obligate every North Dakotan earning income to pay a progressively higher rate based on how large that income is. This new plan would create just two tax brackets, with about 60 percent of North Dakota households paying no income tax at all, and the rest paying a flat rate of just 1.5 percent. Would those paying no tax still have to file a return? How would the state adjust its revenues and spending to account for this tax cut? What of claims from Democratic leaders that this is just another handout for the wealthy? Republican Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus, and state Rep. Craig Headland, a Republican from Montpelier, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk are published? Subscribe! It's free! Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
358: NDGOP Chairman says party may pull support for candidates in slurs controversy
Minot, N.D. — NDGOP party chairman Perrie Schafer says he's looking into the controversy around the use of homophobic slurs and other bigoted language in a messaging group organized by the North Dakota Young Republicans, and there may be consequences for Republican candidates who were a part of it. "This is an organization," he said of his party on this episode of Plain Talk. "We get to choose who we're associated with." He said he wants to be fair to the members of the group, which is affiliated with the NDGOP and has a non-voting seat on the party's governing committee, but that some of the people who participated in the group may find themselves out in the cold. "We have a right to choose who is in our group," Schafer said. "Personal responsibility and accountability are apparently not what these people want," he added, noting that some members of the group, including Carter Eisenberger, a Republican candidate for the state House in District 11, indicated that they were proud of the slurs being used. Schafer also weighed in on outgoing state Rep. Rick Becker choosing to launch an independent U.S. Senate campaign against endorsed Republican incumbent John Hoeven. "He gave up his right to run as a Republican," Schafer said of Becker's decision. "The man can't be trusted," he added, noting that Becker had previously promised to respect the vote of Republican delegates to the NDGOP's state convention. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the NDYR controversy, Cara Mund's independent bid for the House of Representatives, and more. To be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish, consider subscribing. Plain Talk is available on all major podcast services, and subscribing is free! Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
357: Cass County prosecutor candidate talks conflict of interest and campaign, ACLU talks abortion
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned its precedents finding a right to an abortion in the U.S. Constitution, the nature of the debate over abortion has changed. On this episode of Plain Talk Cody Schuler, the advocacy manager for the ACLU of North Dakota, talks about how that debate has changed, and how pro-life and pro-choice Americans are going to have to work together to figure out what our policies on abortion will be going forward. Also on this episode Kim Hegvik, an assistant state's attorney in Cass County who is running to be elected to replace current state's attorney Birch Burdick, talks about her campaign. "My vision for the office is not centered around the courtroom," she said, which is an odd thing to hear from a lawyer running to be the top prosecutor in our state's most populous county, but she says she sees her job as beginning before matters reach the courtroom. She talked about criminal justice reform, the perception of rising crime in Cass County, as well as some controversy over one of her fellow Cass County prosecutors beginning a romantic relationship with a member of the Fargo Police Department. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Subscribe, for free! Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
356: Kevin Cramer talks about Becker's independent run and more
Minot, N.D. — When outgoing state Rep. Rick Becker announced that he would be challenging incumbent U.S. Senator John Hoeven in the general election as an independent, after having the NDGOP's endorsement to Hoeven this spring, state Republican party chairman Perrie Schafer described Becker as having "left the party." "I think he's got a point," Senator Kevin Cramer said of Schafer's remark on this episode of Plain Talk. Becker is the founder of the Bastiat Caucus of Trump-aligned state lawmakers and activists, though has disputed the idea that he is anything but a member of the NDGOP. "This move to run as an independent...it surprised me," Cramer continued, referring to Becker's announcement. He noted that Becker had spoken about respecting the vote of Republican delegates at the state party's convention. "This really is a violation of that." "If he's the leader of a party, it's a third party," Cramer continued. "I think it isolates him." Cramer and I also discussed Rep. Liz Cheney's primary loss in Wyoming - Cramer accused her of "myopia" - as well as some elements controversial Inflation Reduction Act that he likes and feels may be beneficial to North Dakota. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Consider subscribing, for free! Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
355: Marijuana and independent candidates
North Dakota's general election got a lot more interesting over the last couple of weeks. First, Cara Mund, a former Miss America, jumped into the U.S. House race as an independent to take on Republican incumbent Kelly Armstrong and Democratic-NPL challenger Mark Haugen. Then state Rep. Rick Becker went back on his statements in support of the decision of Republican delegates at the NDGOP state convention, which chose incumbent Senator John Hoeven over him, and re-entered the U.S. Senate race. Then the Secretary of State approved the signatures for a ballot measure legalizing medical marijuana. That's a lot of things to talk about, but on this episode of Plain Talk, fill-in co-host Jamie Selzler and I tackle them all. David Owen, a representative of New Approach North Dakota, the group backing the marijuana measure, joined to talk about how they were able to run a successful petition campaign, and they'll win over North Dakota voters to their cause. Also, Jamie and I discuss Mund, Becker, and Rep. Liz Cheney's defeat in the Wyoming primary. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk? Subscribe, for free! Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
354: PACT Act, Kansas abortion vote, and more
Kansas, a very red, very Republican state, just voted, in a landslide, to maintain status quo protections for abortion. Meanwhile, in Congress, there was a vicious debate over the last week over who hates veterans. In Michigan, Democrats backed a pro-Trump, election conspiracy Republican in a primary against a GOP incumbent that voted to impeach Trump. Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss these topics, and more, on this episode of Plain Talk.
353: ESG could downgrade North Dakota's credit rating
The ESG movement in venture capitalism - the acronym stands for "environment, social, and governance" - is a threat to North Dakota's economic well-being, but not just in the way you might be imagining. Our state's primary industries - energy and agriculture - are also carbon-heavy industries, which is why our state runs afoul of the "environment" part of ESG. Our state is investing big money into improving the environmental impact of our industries - we created, for example, the clean and sustainable energy fund which is driving money into things like carbon capture projects - but the ESG movement isn't terribly pragmatic. It's very ideological, viewing only certain types of renewable energy as satisfying the "environmental" component of it the platform. Which is why the credit rating energy Standard & Poor just gave North Dakota a "moderately negative" (their term) rating, tabbing our state as a "climate transaction risk." That's bad for North Dakota, and in more ways than one, as Treasurer Thomas Beadle explained on this episode of Plain Talk. He points out that this sort of rating doesn't just deter capital investment into our biggest and most important industries, it can also drive up the cost of bonding for the state. It works like this: since our primary industries are rated a risk, and our state government gets most of its revenues, directly or indirectly, from those industries, then our bonds to build things like highways are seen as a riskier investment. Thus, we have to pay more to borrow that money. What can our state do about it? Beadle points to things like the state-owned Bank of North Dakota, and the aforementioned sustainable energy fund (other states are calling this sort of thing a "green bank"), as factors that help, but until national, and international, banks and governments come to realize that market manipulations do not obviate our need for baseload energy, we're stuck with things as they are. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Subscribe on your favorite podcast service. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
352: Sen. Cramer talks PACT Act, same sex marriage, and more
As the controversy over a corn milling plant near Grand Forks, and the Grand Forks Air Force Base, to be built by a Chinese company whose leader is a member of the Chinese Communist Party, continues to unfold, Sen. Kevin Cramer sees the need for legislation to address the matter. Federal officials are in the process of reviewing the land purchase and potential development for national security threats, but on this episode of Plain Talk, Cramer said more needs to be done. "Agricultural investments are largely exempt. That needs to change," he said. Cramer also addressed the controversy over the PACT Act, which would provide medical benefits for soldiers exposed to toxic burn pits while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Supporters of the bill, including comedian Jon Stewart, ripped Republican Senators who changed their vote from "yes" to "no" after the bill came back from the House. Cramer says the reason he changed his vote is because House Democrats added a "technical glitch" that turns almost a half-trillion dollars of spending into non-discretionary spending. "Democrats have played politics with the lives of veterans, Cramer says. "At the end of the day, the bill will pass," he said, calling his "no" vote "procedural." Cramer also addressed the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify same-sex marriage in federal law. He says he doesn't begrudge his colleague, Republican Congressman Kelly Armstrong, for voting for the bill in the House, but he doesn't believe it goes far enough to protect religious liberty. And even if it's tweaked, Cramer said it would be unlikely he'd vote for it. As for the Inflation Reduction Act, which just came out of negotiations between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, Cramer called it "a disaster." He said the permitting reforms that Manchin won as a concession from Schumer are unlikely to accomplish much. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk are published? Subscribe, for free, on the podcast platform of your choice. Forum Communications Compoany is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
351: Democratic-NPL Patrick Hart talks about pro-life candidate controversy, 2022 cycle
Minot, N.D. — Last week the North Dakota Democratic-NPL saw some internecine conflict over their U.S. House candidate, Mark Haugen, who is pro-life and supports the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Patrick Hart, the chairman of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the challenges of managing the disparate points of view in his party. We also spoke about what his party is do to find its way in a state where Republicans are seeing historic levels of dominance, and where he sees some opportunities for Democratic-NPL candidates in the 2022 election and beyond. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the strategy of Democrats promoting extreme Republican candidates in primaries with the hope of defeating that candidate in the general. Given the fraught times we're living in, should anyone be supporting extremism, even if the calculation is to defeat it? We also discussed Congressman Kelly Armstrong's vote to codify same-sex marriage in federal law, and Attorney General Drew Wrigley's decision not to seek an external investigation of a scandal over deleted email accounts in his office. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Subscribe, for free, by way of your favorite podcast platform. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
350: North Dakota has slashed the time it takes to permit a carbon capture project
I suspect that many in the general public, when they hear about carbon capture, think of it as some pie-in-the-sky thing. Something that's being developed. That's in the work. Not really something that is, as yet, a practical part of modern industry. Except, the State of North Dakota just permitted its first carbon capture project under state primacy. Which is to say, that state officials reviewed and permitted the project, not the feds. It's the first time that's ever happened in the United States. That state control made all the difference. That's what Gerald Bachmeier, the chief executive officer of Red Trail Energy, said on this episode of Plain Talk. His company just added carbon capture to their ethanol facility near Richardton, North Dakota. It officially began capturing carbon on June 16, 2022, and they expect to store underground 100 percent of the 180,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually from its fermentation process. That's a big deal, but the regulatory process leading up to it may be the bigger deal. According to Bachmeier, it took North Dakota officials less than a year to permit their project. He compared that to the experience of another ethanol plant in Iowa which waited more than six years to get their permit from the feds at the EPA. He expects North Dakota will be able to permit future projects even faster. "Ours took a little longer because we were the first one," he said. Going forward, his company expects to add to their capture operations. He says the next phase is to capture the carbon coming off their heating systems, at which point their facility will be nearly carbon zero. He also said a part of their business in the future may be selling access to their storage well to other carbon-emitting businesses. And that's a key factor in all of this. For Red Trail, capturing this carbon wasn't just a good environmental decision, but a good business decision as well. While the cost of developing this project was around $38 million, he expects his company will bring in upwards of $9 million per year in revenues from 45Q tax credits from the federal government, as well as commanding $0.15 cents per gallon more for their ethanol thanks to a better carbon rating. Bachmeier sees a bright future for carbon capture. "For North Dakota's industries, I think we have a huge opportunity." Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
349: Attorney General speaks out on rogue employee who deleted emails
Last week, in response to an open record request filed by myself and others for emails, Attorney General Drew Wrigley announced that his office wouldn't be able to satisfy those requests in full. An employee, who was not a supervisor or attorney in his office and who had no authority to do so, ordered the deletion of former Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem's email account. Stenehjem passed away earlier this year. Wrigley, who had already announced a campaign for the office, was appointed his replacement by Governor Doug Burgum. Subsequent to the deletion of Stenehjem's account, the employee also ordered the deletion of Deputy Attorney General Troy Seibel's account. Seibel left the office earlier this year after Wrigley informed him that he would be bringing in his own personnel for that position. The original records requests were part of investigations into controversy over a cost overrun for newly-constructed office space for employees of the AG's office, but these deletions have become a controversy in their own right. Wrigley addressed the matter on this episode of Plain Talk. He declined to name the employee during our interview, but indicated that afterward his office would be releasing the communication in which the account deletions were ordered, and that this would identify the employee. He also declined to discuss what disciplinary actions his office would take with regard to this employee, saying they're an "internal personnel" matter. He added that he'd received at least one "plea" not to identify this person publicly, but said he had no legal authority to keep that information from the public. There is "no way to ascertain" the number of emails that were deleted. Wrigley also said that while he wasn't aware of any situation where records that needed to be retained for on-going matters of litigation, "the timeline was very rapid" for the removal of the accounts. Wrigley said that he assumes a "vast" number of the emails in those accounts were also sent to other state employees, and so are maintained as records in those accounts, but with the accounts now gone, and with the state's IT personnel assuring him there's no way to get them back, there's also no way to measure how much information is now lost. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
348: Addressing North Dakota's child care crisis
Governor Doug Burgum's administration is on the path to proposing some very significant policy to address North Dakota's child care process in the upcoming legislative session. It will be "something different from what you usually see from our administration," Lt. Governor Brent Sanford said on this issue of Plain Talk. Child care has been talked about as an urgent public policy need for, well, about a generation now, most recently at a Chamber of Commerce event in Fargo, yet there hasn't been much in the way of substantial progress on the issue. Part of the problem is politics. "Our legislator's eyes glass over" when this issue gets brought up in the context of early childhood education. "They'll say 'we don't want to back the school bus up to the maternity ward'," Sanford says. He thinks a more persuasive approach will be to talk about the need for childcare policy in the context of the economy. Ensuring access to affordable child care "is what we have to do to retain and recruit," Sanford says, especially because the private sector can't seem to provide that. "The daycare model is uneconomic," Sanford argues. "It doesn't work." In fact, he says, it only works to the extent it is now because of low-wage workers. He pointed out that ratio policies, which dictate the number of children per daycare worker a facility can have, were "built when we still had minimum wage workers. Who still has minimum wage workers?" Sanford says the administration is still working on a policy proposal, but that it may include revenue from the state's Legacy fund to make things work.
347: Gas station owner responds to Joe Biden
President Joe Biden is putting the blame for high gas prices on gas station owners. "My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril," he wrote in a tweet posted before Independence Day. "Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you’re paying for the product. And do it now." How does an actual gas station owner feel about that? "He seem to think we can drop the price twenty cents to be patriotic," Kent Satrang said on this episode of Plain Talk. Satrang is the owner of Petroserve USA, which has several locations in North Dakota and Minnesota. He said doesn't really get to choose his prices. They're set by a very competitive market. A station that is selling fuel at a price that's significantly higher than competing stations simply won't see business. And besides, Satrang argues, companies like his don't make much on the fuel anyway. Satrang says his margin amounts to a "few cents a gallon." "The actual credit card company makes more off our fuel for their fees than we do," he said, adding that most of his profits come from the food, drinks, and other items sold in his convenience stores. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the unhappy state of America as another Independence Day comes and goes.
346: Emissions governed by policy makers not lawsuits
America's industry, from power production to agriculture to manufacturing, needs "to be governed by policymakers not lawsuits." That's what Jason Boherer, president of the North Dakota Lignite Energy Council, said on this episode of Plain Talk. He sees the recent Supreme Court decision in North Dakota v. EPA as a boon not just for his industry, but for American democracy in that it will require Congress and other legislative bodies to actually make a decision on what it wants emissions policy to be, instead of punting the question to regulators and judges. That's a more transparent process, he argues. A more predictable one. That, in the end, will serve America better. And while some are arguing that the Supreme Court's finding that the EPA didn't have authority from Congress to regulate emissions in the way it was will endanger the environment, Bohrer sees it as helping. He argues that projects such as carbon capture, of which there are many here in North Dakota, will be more viable now that they don't have to match pace with a timeline from the EPA that seemed calculated, on a political basis, to be "impossible to meet," according to Bohrer. This ruling "increases the odds that you're going to see carbon capture on some of our projects," he claims, and that seems likely. Which is good news for North Dakota. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Subscribe, for free, on the podcast platform of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
345: A pro-life Democrat on North Dakota's statewide ballot speaks out
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a pro-life Democrat. There are pro-choice Republicans too, of course, but on this episode of Plain Talk, it was Mark Haugen, the Democratic-NPL candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, who is staunchly pro-life, who we were speaking to. Haugen's party leaders have described the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade as "evil," but Haugen isn't too worried about that. "Pat's a good friend of mine," he said, referring to party chairman Patrick Hart, and adding that they'd discussed the matter. Still, Haugen feels it's important to remember that pro-life Democrats are a part of the party. "Are we the minority? Absolutely. But that's democracy," he said. "I have to work hard at explaining my position. Haugen describes that position as being "whole life," arguing that Democrats should focus on social assistance policies to help mothers and children. Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I also discussed the political ramifications of overturning Roe v. Wade, both locally and nationally, as well as the latest revelations of the January 6 committee. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk? Subscribe, for free, on the podcast platform of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org
344: Wrigley will certify ND's bipartisan (you read that right) abortion ban "in a matter of hours"
Minot, N.D. — You couldn't possibly have missed the news that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the Roe v. Wade precedent which held that it was unconstitutional for state governments to ban abortion. The ruling was unambiguous. "The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion," the court ruled. "Roe and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives." North Dakota, like many other states, has legislation regulating abortion which was written so that it would take effect should the Roe precedent be overturned. On this episode of Plain Talk, the state official responsible for making that determination, Attorney General Drew Wrigley, says we can expect his decision imminently. "I expect to be announcing that decision in a matter...of hours not days," he said, adding that he doesn't expect to make the announcement today, but it's coming soon. That's not surprising given how clear the Supreme Court was in their opinion. Wrigley noted that while researching the issue, he was surprised to see that the 2007 "trigger bill" banning abortion was bipartisan. It was "even sponsored by a Democrat," he noticed. The bill in question was House Bill 1466, and its primary sponsor was former Rep. James Kerzman, a Democrat. The other House co-sponsor was Rep. Ralph Metcalf, who was also a Democrat. Rep. Merle Boucher (a gubernatorial candidate in 2004), Rep. Bill Amerman, Sen. Joan Heckaman (the current Minority Leader), Sen. Richard Marcellais, and Sen. Tim Mathern were other notable Democrats who voted to pass the bill. In addition to the 2007 law, there is also a 2019 trigger bill that banned the most common type of surgical abortion, though Wrigley said that bill was largely moot given the 2007 law. Once these certifications are completed, Wrigley's office will focus on other bills regulating abortion that haven't been enforced because they've been enjoined by the courts based on the Roe decision. Among these are a ban on abortions after a heartbeat is detected, regulation of the disposal of aborted babies, and a bill regulating hospital admissions for abortions. Wrigley also addressed the status of his inquiry into a land purchase made by a trust associated with billionaire Bill Gates. His office has sought information on the transaction, and the trust. If it's found to be in violation of a state prohibition on corporate farming, Wrigley says the trust will be required to divest itself of the property.
343: Sen. Kevin Cramer on gas prices, gun control, and the January 6 commission
Sen. Kevin Cramer and I will never agree about former President Donald Trump. I think the man was a disgrace to his office. Cramer would be fine if we elected him president again. But one thing we agree on, as we discussed the on-going hearings of the congressional committee investigating the January 6 riot, is that Vice President Mike Pence was the hero of that story. He held his oath to the constitution higher than his loyalty to Trump, and that was a heroic act. Though I still can't fathom why Cramer, who sees Pence as the hero, can't recognize that Trump is the villain. But you'll have to listen to this episode of Plain Talk to hear him explain that. As to gas prices, the roots of our problems lay in the unwillingness of the American left to recognize that we still need oil, Our world runs on it. It's unavoidable. The efforts to put the oil industry out of business have only hamstrung its ability to deliver us a product that is vital to our economy and our quality of life. Gas prices are higher than they need to be because they're fighting a Sisyphean struggle against anti-oil politics. Cramer also discussed the gun control issue, which is much on the minds of Americans after shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. Cramer's not a fan of red flag laws - he responded to some recent criticism of his argument that Republicans are more interested in winning "red wave" elections than in passing red flag laws - but he is open to steps that can be taken to address the potential for violent shooters. One idea he supports is allowing juvenile records to be used as disqualifiers in background checks for gun purchases. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk? Subscribe on the platform of your choice.
342: Recapping North Dakota's primary night
The North Dakota Republican Party, the dominant force in our state's politics, is deeply divided. If anyone was hoping that primary night, which saw that divide driving the debate in legislative competitions across the state, was going to resolve things they're in for a disappointment. Republicans across the state voted, and the NDGOP remains about as divided as ever. We talked about it on this episode of Plain Talk. First Jim Poolman, former insurance commissioner and former vice chairman of the NDGOP, joined Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I, then Pat Finken, a long-time veteran of state politics and head of the Brighter Future Alliance, chimed in. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Subscribe, for free, on the podcasting platform of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
341: Fargo mayoral candidate decries "media bias" in race
Minot, N.D. — Shannon Roers Jones is a state lawmaker who is currently halfway through her second term representing Fargo-area District 46. She's also a candidate for mayor of Fargo, and she has been, arguably, the most visible candidate thanks in no small part to a political mugging her father got from the Fargo's city commissioners, including two of her opponents in the mayoral race. On this episode of Plain Talk, Roers Jones talks about what it would be like serving as a mayor and lawmaker (she hasn't decided if she'd do both if elected mayor), the claims that her mayoral duties, if elected, would clash with her career duties (she works for the family business, Roers Construction, as her day job), and what she describes as "media bias" in the local coverage of this race. "The Forum has chosen to publish only negative stories and only negative letters," Roers Jones claims, referring to the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the flagship newspaper for Forum Communications, my employers. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Click here to subscribe, for free, on your favorite podcasting service. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
340: What's causing inflation, and what can we do about it
Inflation is a real problem. It's making us poorer. Your wages aren't being cut, but the cost of living your life is growing faster than what you earn. Fuel prices are up. Utility bills are going higher. Groceries cost more. Hell, everything costs more. But the subject of inflation is a lot more complicated than what's presented by the politicians and the pundits. On this episode of Plain Talk, Dr. David Flynn, a professor of economics at the University of North Dakota, discussed what's causing inflation, and what can do about it. One of the hardest parts of talking about this subject is that there's many different causes that necessitate many solutions. Interest rates are part of the solution, but then so is trade policy. How can we ease supply line snaggles? How can we shorten supply lines? How can we make our economy more nimble so that it can respond to change without necessarily driving up prices? And how do we drive the wage-price spiral? Where higher cost wages drive higher-cost goods and services which in turn creates demand for higher wages again? Earning more money is good, except it doesn't mean much when the cost of living is growing about as fast. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Subscribe, for free, on just about any podcast service you can think of. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
339: Can Republicans and Democrats find a way to agree on guns?
In 2019, state Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, a Democrat from Fargo, introduced a red flag bill. It would have created a judicial process through which guns could be taken away from people exhibiting troubling behavior. I was among the many critics of the bill, and it failed decisively, early in the session, in the House. But is there merit to the idea, if not Hanson's specific bill? She joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it with me along with Wednesday co-host Chad Oban. We talked about how we can set up a process to get guns out of the hands of dangerous people while simultaneously ensuring the process isn't abused, or that it doesn't deny responsible gun owners their rights. We also had a lengthy discussion about gun politics, which like so many hot-button political issues are another front in America's endless culture wars. Chad and I also discussed the threats made against myself and my family recently, which I've written about, and our predictions for the outcome of the state's upcoming June primary vote. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk drop? Subscribe, for free, on any podcast service you choose. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
338: "People want to know more about their elections. And rightfully so."
We live in a political environment where it seems everyone is trying to undermine the public's trust in our election laws. From the right are baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. From the left are claims, such as the one made by Democratic Sec. of State candidate Jeffre Powell, that when politicians talk about election integrity it's a "code word for voter suppression." State Rep. Michael Howe is seeking the NDGOP's nomination for Secretary of State, and he argues that he way through this food fight is transparency. "People want to know more about their elections. And rightfully so," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. There is "a lot of misinformation out there," and the way to combat it is to be "open and transparency." Asked about the election conspiracies promoted by former President Donald Trump, Howe, who said he voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2020, said that Joe Biden won the election and that he's confident votes in North Dakota were counted accurately, though he said he couldn't speak for what happened in other states. Howe also discussed claims from his primary opponent, Marvin Lepp, that North Dakota's voting machines are outdated and insecure. He expressed support for enhancing reporting requirements for political candidates and committees in North Dakota. He talked about improving the aspects of the Secretary of State's job that have to do with business filings and land management. Want to be notified with new episodes of Plain Talk release? Subscribe, for free, on your favorite podcast service. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
337: What we can do about gun violence, and an exciting hydrogen project
"We can't get enough school counselors." That's what Congressman Kelly Armstrong had to say on this episode of Plain Talk. We've all be talking about how we can make our school after in the wake of another horrific tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, and much of that has been focused on proposals that would make our schools seem like prisons, with more law enforcement on campus and more restrictions on building access. Armstrong mentioned that he recently had the opportunity to spend some time in Israel. "I don't want our children to have to go to school like they have to," he said. While saying he wouldn't support any new restrictions on gun sales or ownership, he said there are things we can do to help. Like hiring more school counselors. Or making some reforms to the juvenile court system that continue to protect the privacy of juvenile criminal records but don't restrict their utility in background checks for gun transactions. Also on this episode, Mike Hopkins, the CEO of Bakken Energy, gives an update on his company's hydrogen hub project. They're in the process of obtaining asserts from the Dakota Synfuels Plant, which processed coal into fuel, and once they have possession they're going to get to work using North Dakota natural gas to make hydrogen while using the state's advantageous geology to store the carbon that process produces. Bakken Energy has entered into an agreement with the tribal government of the MHA Nation to get gas from oil development on their lands, which would help mitigate North Dakota's lingering problems with flaring, an issue that's been particularly acute on tribal lands. In addition to the supply side of his business, Hopkins also spoke about the emerging markets for hydrogen, and how his business will serve them. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk when they're released? Subscribe - for free! - on the podcast service of your choice. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
336: Let's talk about big money in politics
Governor Doug Burgum is spending big to influence the North Dakota Republican Party's legislative primaries. The people on the pointy end of that stick, namely the Bastiat Caucus wing of Trumpy populist candidates, don't like that so much, and they've even come up with some dubious legal arguments claiming it may be illegal. Are they right? Almost certainly not. But even beyond the legalities, is what Burgum doing kosher from just an ethical point of view? I discussed it on this episode of Plain Talk with my Wednesday co-host Chad Oban. We also hit on the state of some of those legislative races around the state - it's not looking so good for the Bastiats but District 8 is still a battleground - and touched on some upcoming conversations about gun control we're going to have on the show. Also on this episode, Cody Schuler, the new advocacy manager for the ACLU of North Dakota, joins to talk about his job and what issues his organization will be prioritizing going forward, with abortion being a big one given that the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to overturn the Roe v. Wade precedent. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk? Consider subscribing, for free, on the podcasting platform of your choice! Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
335: This North Dakotan got a 2021 World Series ring
Minot, N.D. — In 2021 the Atlanta Braves won the World Series. Among those receiving a ring? Scott Davis from right here in North Dakota. Davis spent years serving our state as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He's in the private sector now, helping private organizations with their outreach to Native American communities, and some of that work has been for the Atlanta Braves. That team has a Native American-themed nickname, and those have been controversial. Davis has been working with the team to find common ground and support from Indian Country, and for that work the team gave him a ring. Davis talked about what it was like to receive that honor on this episode of Plain Talk. He also spoke about a major new initiative he helped broker between the Braves and the 7G Foundation, an organization that works to mold the next "seven generations" (that's where the name comes from) of Native American leaders through education and sports. The Braves will be hosting the Native American All-Star Baseball Showcase at Truist Park from July 16 - 17. High school baseball players of Native American descent from around the country will participate. Davis says it's a way for baseball to find new talent, and fun opportunity for Native American players. He thinks the major league teams, including the Braves, are going to find some prospects at the game. Players interested in participating can register at the 7G Foundation website. You can read the full press release for the game here. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk? Click here to subscribe, for free, on your favorite podcasting platform. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
334: The Uvalde shooting, and a proposal to cut ND property taxes in half
MINOT, N.D. — Terrible news from Texas. Another mass shooting, this one taking the lives of 21 people, 19 of them school children. My Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the shooting, the reaction, and the exhausting debate we have after every one of these incidents on this episode of Plain Talk. Also, Roscoe Streyle, a Republican primary candidate for the state House in District 3, discusses an idea he has to cut the state's property taxes in half. Would it be permanent relief? How do we keep local governments from back-filling the state's relief with new tax hikes? How do we ensure that our schools and other local services continue to be adequately funded? Streyle answers those questions, and also discusses what it's like to be running in a contested legislative primary in a divided North Dakota Republican Party. Want to be notified about new episodes of Plain Talk? Subscribe, for free, on your favorite podcasting platform. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org
333: This Republican Sec. of State candidate says he's "not sure" about 2020 election outcome
Minot, N.D. — Marvin Lepp would like to be North Dakota's next secretary of state. He's running as a Republican, though he said on this episode of Plain Talk that the office "really ought to be nonpartisan, and he's running on election integrity. He said he got more involved in politics in recent years during the debates over pandemic-era policies like business closings and mask mandates, and when he was thinking about running for office, decided secretary of state seemed like a good fit. He didn't seek the NDGOP's endorsement at the party's state convention earlier this year because he said his is a single-family home - he works in auto service and his wife is a homemaker - and it was a decision that was a difficult one to make. How can our elections be better? Lepp says North Dakota's election machines are running on antiquated software. He said there are questions about the mobile hotspots election workers use. He also said he's spoken to poll workers who told him that the company which manages North Dakota's election machines was able to remotely log into them to fix a firmware issue, something he feels raises security concerns, though he admitted he hadn't verified this claim. Does he think President Joe Biden won the 2020 election? Former President Donald Trump and his movement have made that a litmus test question for Republicans nationally. "He won in North Dakota," Lepp told me, referring to Trump. As for elsewhere, Lepp said he's "not sure" because there are "too many" questions lingering. Lepp also spoke about the non-election portions of the secretary of state job, including managing business filings and serving on important state boards such as the State Industrial Commission and the Land Board. Want to be alerted to new episodes of Plain Talk? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite pocasting platform.
332: Dem Sec. of State candidate says "election integrity" is Republican code for "voter suppression"
Jeffrey Powell is an administrator at Mayville State University and the Democratic-NPL candidate for Secretary of State. He was endorsed by the party's executive committee (he made a late decision to run so didn't attend the party's state convention in Minot) and in November will be facing off against one of two potential Republican candidates. State Rep. Michael Howe is squaring off with Bismarck mechanic Marvin Lepp in the NDGOP primary. Powell has been watching that race, and on this episode of Plain Talk, said it frustrates him when the Republican candidates talk about "election integrity," arguing that's a "code word for voter suppression." He said the primary job of a Secretary of State is to protect the right of the people to vote, and accused Republican lawmakers of enacting laws to suppress votes in past legislative sessions. Powell also spoke about running as a Democrat in a state that has become deeply Republican over the last couple of decades. He said there is a "sense of fear" among Democrats who think about running for office in North Dakota. He acknowledged that both Republicans and Democrats have become more extreme in recent years, but that the alleged danger is "more keenly felt by people who are more likely to be Democrats." Powell said he hasn't personally felt any danger in running for office. Also on this episode, Dickinson-based oil worker Riley Kuntz, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Senator John Hoeven for the NDGOP's primary nomination, spoke about why he decided to mount what he admits is a long-shot bid to defeat one of North Dakota's most popular political figures. He said he was disappointed state Rep. Rick Becker, who challenged Hoeven at the NDGOP's state convention, wasn't successful and felt he had to continue the challenge to Hoeven. Want to be notified when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Consider subscribing on your favorite podcast platform. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
331: On the midterms, and North Dakota's legislative primaries
This year's primaries, from local legislative races to the national midterms, are in many ways a referendum on the influence of disgraced former President Donald Trump and his movement's on-going influence on the GOP. What did we learn after this week's primary elections? And the fundraising numbers we're seeing in North Dakota's Republican legislative primaries so far? We talked about it on this episode of Plain Talk. Matt Lewis, senior columnist for the Daily Beast and host of the Matt Lewis and the News podcast, joined to discuss the national races. Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the more local races, where traditional or "establishment" legislative candidates seem to have an edge. Want to be notified of new episodes? Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting service. Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org.
330: North Dakota's regional haze debate and a Fargo City Commission candidate
When it comes to regulating air quality - both in terms of health and cosmetic measures like visibility - North Dakota does an excellent job. We have some of the cleanest air in the nation. Ours is one of only four states to have never violated a federal air quality standard protecting health or the environment. We've been building on that excellent record too. "Since 2002, total emissions from coal-powered electricity generation plants in North Dakota were reduced by 102,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, or 72%, and 41,600 tons of nitrogen oxide, down 55%," Patrick Springer reported last month. Despite this, the Biden administration argues that North Dakota's state-level management of regional haze isn't good enough. They want to layer more federal regulations on top through the EPA's Regional Haze Program. Mack McGuffey, an attorney who specializes in this area of environmental policy and is representing North Dakota's Lignite Energy Council, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the issue. He and his client are encouraging the public to provide public comment to the EPA, something you can do through CleanAirND.com, a website set up by the LEC to inform and facilitate that process. Matour Alier, who is running for the Fargo City Commission, also joined this episode. We talked about his objections to a recent column of mine that was critical of him, how a local candidate can stand out in a field of 15 contenders, and his experiences as a refugee who went from living in a camp for a decade to being a home owner in North Dakota. Click here to subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting service. "Forum Communications Company is proud to be a part of the Trust Project. Learn more at thetrustproject.org."
329: Sen. Cramer talks Roe v. Wade, January 6, food shortages, and Ukraine
Minot, N.D. — Will the U.S. Supreme Court strike down the Roe v. Wade precedent and make bans on abortions constitutional again? Will the federal government create new law regarding abortion, either codifying it as legal or creating national restrictions? And what are the political ramifications for all this? Sen. Kevin Cramer discussed these issues on this episode of Plain Talk. He also reacted to my recent interview with New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin whose new book contains an anecdote about January 6 which includes Cramer. We also discussed the situation in Ukraine, from the potential for food shortages as war ravages one of the world's great agriculture producers, to the increasingly assertive role America is playing in the conflict. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk when the publish? Subscribe to the podcast via your favorite podcasting app.
328: NY Times reporter previews new book, and a discussion of the political implications of ending Roe
On January 6, as rioters were infiltrating the U.S. Capitol building, New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin was in the building with many of our national leaders like Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Kevin Cramer. He and co-author Alexander Burns tell that story in a new book, just released this week, called "This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future." Martin spoke with co-host Chad Oban and I about what it was like to watch some of our nation's most recognizable political figures react to the riot in real-time as part of a larger narrative about the transition from the Trump era to Biden's current presidency. I wrote about an excerpt from Martin's book, describing Cramer's response to the riots, in a column earlier this week. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss the political implications over the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Roe v. Wade precedent. The debate over abortion is one thing, but the shift of that debate from the judiciary and back into the arena of democracy, where it would be settled by governors and state legislatures across the country has the potential to be one of the most profound turn of events in a generation or two of American politics. Want to follow Plain Talk? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform.
327: Nobel laureate says Biden canceling Keystone pipeline was "symbol" that led to higher gas prices
When President Joe Biden, as one of his first moves in office, canceled the Keystone XL pipeline it was "a symbol" for the oil and gas industry that the political situation would be hostile to them in the coming years. That lead them to curtail their investments in new production capacity, something that, per Smith, speaking on this episode of Plain Talk, is now contributing to higher fuel prices and a higher cost of living for Americans. Cheap energy is of enormous interest, not just to Americans but to the whole world, Dr. Smith says. "Cheap energy is the solution to poverty," he said, casting the debates on energy issues as a "conflict between the reduction of poverty and the interest in reducing carbon emissions." Though he says the world can't ignore climate issues, he has a hard time ranking them above the goal of lifting people out of poverty. Dr. Smith has also done extensive research in the role of trust, love, and empathy in a society, and spoke about those issues in the context of our low-trust society and political environment. He will be speaking about these topics more at a Tuesday, May 3, talk sponsored by North Dakota State University's Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth. If you want to participate in Dr. Smith's lecture, which will be part of the Menard Family Distinguished Speakers Series, visit the Challey Institute's page on the NDSU website.
326: Landowners want a better deal on the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline
Carbon capture and storage is a big deal for North Dakota. Not just because our state's economy is dominated by commodity-based industries - energy and agriculture - that emit a lot of carbon, but because the geology under our feet lends itself to storing captured carbon. There are billions in investments lined across several projects to not only capture and store carbon emitted in our state, but to bring carbon from other parts of the world here for storage as well. One of the first major projects is the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline, proposed by Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions, which would bring carbon emitted by ethanol plants across the upper midwest to our state for storage. Only, some landowners say the company hasn't been doing a good job at winning them over. On this episode of Plain Talk, Daryl Lies, the president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, said some landowners had Summit Carbon representatives poking around on their land without permission. Kurt Swenson, himself a landowner who is in the process of negotiating with Summit, says the deals the company wants, and which North Dakota law allows, takes too much from landowners and doesn't compensate nearly high enough. These are important things, both men argue, because the future of the emerging carbon capture and storage industry in North Dakota hinges on how these first deals play out.
325: A conservative North Dakota lawmaker talks about her struggles with the culture warriors
Minot, N.D. — Sen. Jessica Bell, a Republican from District 33, has a lengthy track record of reliably conservative policy making in the North Dakota Senate, which includes her consequential work to save a coal-fired power plant that employs, directly and indirectly, thousands of her constituents. Yet the delegates at the NDGOP's local district convention didn't endorse her for re-election. Instead they endorsed a man named Keith Boehm, who campaigned against Bell based on her votes against a bill regulating transgender participation in North Dakota school activities. How did a culture war issue come to be so much more important than jobs and taxes and sound governance? Sen. Bell talked about it on this episode of Plain Talk. "It was a bad bill," she said in explanation of her vote on the transgender activities issue. "It was poorly written." She said North Dakota's elected officials ought to be focused on issues important to North Dakota, and not national culture war issues. "Just because we saw it on Fox News doesn't mean it's appropriate," she said. She added that she does appreciate the challenge, however, in that it gives her the opportunity to talk about her work in the Senate. It is "pushing me to be better," she said. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the roots of the controversy around the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline, Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, and Sen. Ray Holmberg resigning from the Senate amid controversy.
324: Shouldn't a constitutional amendment require 60 percent of the vote?
North Dakota's initiated measure process has become a venue for deep-pocketed special interests to hire local fronts, pay mercenaries to collect signatures, and then pound their issues into the heads of voters with big-money marketing campaigns. What was intended to empower grassroots activists to keep state government honest has turned into a shortcut for political professionals to pretty much bypass the rigors and scrutiny of the legislative process. It is in this context that a new ballot measure, which seeks to reform the initiated measure process, enters the debate. The organizers have just submitted their signatures to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office, and they're waiting on approval, but if passed by voters this measure would require that constitutional amendments get 60 percent of the statewide vote instead of a mere simple majority. It would also require that proposed amendments be limited to just one subject. It's an idea that "resonates with North Dakotans," Jeff Zarling from Protect North Dakota's Constitution, the group behind the measure, said on this episode of Plain Talk. Zarling, along with former North Dakota Adj. General Mike Haugen, is leading the group. He's spent the last year gathering signatures for his group's measure. "People were appalled that it takes a simple majority to amend the constitution," he told me. "Why should the constitution not have more respect than statutory law?" Zarling also made the point that, in these polarized times, a requirement that a proposed amendment to our state constitution garner a greater degree of consensus before becoming law isn't such a bad idea. "This isn't a partisan issue. This is a North Dakota issue. People want more moderation," he said.
323: Fargo commission candidate says mayor's emails to detectives crossed "ethical boundaries"
Minot, N.D. — Ves Marinov serves the state of North Dakota as a member of the Highway Patrol. He's also a citizen of Fargo who is running for a city on the city's commission. He's campaigning on a platform of addressing crime, eliminating special assessments, moving the city to a ward system for its elected leaders, and making the city more efficient. But it's that first issue, given his day job, that Marinov, a new American from Bulgaria who immigrated in 2003, is most passionate about. "Crime has been rising," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We can't solve that by turning our police departments into another social services department." Recently I wrote a story about Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, who holds the portfolio for policing issues for the city commission, emailing with Fargo Police Department detectives regarding what authorities describe as a robbery incident in which the mayor's son was the victim. In his emails, Mahoney told detectives not to follow a particular lead and suggested other leads to follow as if he were a member of the investigation team. Mahoney defended his actions to me, and Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski didn't see a problem either, but Marinov says that crossed a line. He said it's a "clear example" of one person having too much power over the city's law enforcement. "All the oversight is coming from the mayor," Marinov said. With regard to the investigation involving the mayor's son, "I feel that some ethical boundaries were crossed." Also on this episode, Fahad Nazer, the spokesman for the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington D.C., joins to talk about something North Dakota, America, and Saudi Arabia all care about, which is promoting stable oil markets.
322: A new campaign to legalize marijuana in North Dakota
Medical marijuana is legal in North Dakota, having been approved by voters by way of a ballot measure. Recreational marijuana, however, has taken a rockier road. Multiple ballot measure campaigns have failed in the past. House Bill 1420, considered during the last legislative session, and which would have also implemented legalization of non-medical use of marijuana, also failed. But the proponents of legalization are giving it another shot, and this time they're perhaps more organized than they have been before. On this episode of Plain Talk, state Rep. Matt Ruby (R-Minot) as well as Fargo-based attorney Mark Friese of the Vogel Law Firm, join to talk about their proposed measure. Their campaign is called New Approach North Dakota, and they have until July to get the requisite number of signatures to put it on the ballot. Also on this episode, my Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss a draft bill that would prohibit lawmakers from leading property to the state, as well as the intrigues of the upcoming June primaries, particularly in the legislative races.
321: Is approval voting drawing out more candidates?
Ben Hanson made an interesting point on this episode of Plain Talk. He's a former state lawmaker and candidate for the Cass County Commission, facing off against Tony Grindberg, who is another former state lawmaker. His race won't be settled by approval voting, but he lives in Fargo where approval voting is used for local races. Fargo has a lot of candidates running for mayor and the city commission, and Hanson wonders if approval voting, where voters cast a ballot for multiple preferred candidates, might have drawn more people into those races. He compares Fargo to West Fargo, where there are far fewer competitive races. Does he have a point? Maybe, though, as we talked about during his interview, Fargo isn't the only place where there are a lot of candidates for local offices. In Grand Forks, which doesn't use approval voting, there are something like 23 candidates for the school board. Whatever is happening, there is a lot for voters to pay attention to in local races this cycle. Hanson talked about his own races, and the challenges attendant to running for local office in general. Also on this episode, Sen. John Hoeven talks about winning the NDGOP's endorsement at the recent state convention, what's driving the rancor in politics both in the Republican party and across the political spectrum, and what he'll focus on as he begins his general election campaign.
320: "Innovation over regulation"
"We all take it for granted," says Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, talking about energy that's reliably available and cost effective. She's running for the Public Service Commission, and she's the incumbent, only not really. She was appointed to the PSC by Gov. Doug Burgum a couple of months ago to replace Brian Kroshus who is now the Tax Commissioner. She's new to the job, in other words, though not to the area of public policy the PSC deals with. She was the first female board chair in history for both Capital Electric Co-Op and Central Power Co-Op. She's been on the Capital Electric board for about a decade. What will she bring to the PSC? "Innovation over regulation," she said on this episode of Plain Talk.
319: No politics, just baseball, because it's opening day!
I'm a baseball nerd. And a political nerd. And as a person with a foot in both of those worlds, I can say that there's a lot of overlap between the two. There's just something about baseball that appeals to people who are also deeply interested in politics. Anyway, today is opening day for baseball, so on this episode of Plain Talk, three political nerds - Congressman Kelly Armstrong, my frequent co-host Chad Oban, and me, of course - take off their political hats and put on their baseball hats. We talk about our favorite teams (the Mets, the Dodgers, and the Yankees, respectively), our favorite baseball moments, and how we feel about the ways the game is changing. If you're a baseball nerd, or aspire to be one, this episode is for you.
318: 'We can't win as the old Democratic party of the past'
Minot, N.D. — "I would not vote for Nancy Pelosi" to be Speaker of the House. So says Mark Haugen, who received the North Dakota Democratic-NPL's endorsement at their state convention in Minot last month, and is currently running unopposed in the primary. He's far from a cookie-cutter progressive candidate for the Dems. He's pro-life, for one, at a time when it's hard to find any Democrats anywhere who aren't categorically in favor of abortion. He's also like to see more moderate and pragmatic Democratic leadership. "We can't win as the old Democratic party of the past," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. Also on this episode, Chad and I talk more about the aftermath of the NDGOP's state convention, as well as some surprises in a couple of local district conventions that have happened since, including one in District 3 (Minot) where newcomers were locked out, and one in District 13 (West Fargo) where long-time lawmaker, and current Speaker of the House, Rep. Kim Koppelman, didn't receive the convention endorsement.
317: Wrapping up the NDGOP convention
After all the Sturm und Drang, all the attack ads and recriminations, incumbent Senator John Hoeven bested Rick Becker in the North Dakota Republican Party's Senate primary. On this Plain Talk, Chad Oban and I wrap up what happened, and talked about what it might mean for the NDGOP and North Dakota politics going forward.
316: Can Ed Schafer reunite North Dakota Republicans?
"The problem we've gotten into are the tactics being used," says former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer. Schafer will be delivering a speech at what is expected to be an NDGOP state convention marked by factionalism and resentments, and his hope is to inspire delegates to find a sense of unity. This year marks the 30 year anniversary of Schafer's election, which ushered in the era of Republican dominance that thousands and thousands of North Dakotans grew up with. On this episode of Plain Talk, Schafer says he intends to tell that story, and talk about how Republicans found so much success in North Dakota. It was about optimism, he says, and competent policymaking, which is distinct from the "incendiary things" modern politicians say and do to "get on Facebook and Tiktok." "It gives Republicans a black eye," Schafer says. "I think it creates a shallowness." One cause of the infighting in the NDGOP is a lot of new people getting involved in party politics. They're angry and they want change, Schafer says, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, but he argues that some "have been able to take advantage of that" and point the energy toward some unproductive initiatives.
315: Not your typical Democratic candidate in North Dakota
"There are some problems within the Democratic party in North Dakota that we need to fix." That's according to Trygve Hammer, a Marine veteran from Velva who just accepted the Democratic-NPL's endorsement to campaign for a seat on the Public Service Commission. He spoke about his candidacy on this episode of Plain Talk - he'll be running against Republican Sheri Haugen-Hoffart who was just appointed by Gov. Doug Burgum - and he doesn't sound like your typical Democratic candidate. He's pro-oil, pro-coal, and he's not afraid to be critical of his own party, which he says needs to "get over" the years of dominance the NDGOP has accrued and start "showing up." Why is he running for the PSC? "The party asked me. The party needed me," he said, noting that he was first recruited for a 2022 campaign in February. But it wasn't until this month that he decided to campaign for the PSC specifically. He said he wished he had more time to prepare for the campaign, and he admitted, when I asked him if there were specific policies the PSC has implemented that he could cite as reasons for a change in leadership, that he still has to get up to speed. Still, Hammer has the skills and the personality to connect with North Dakota voters in ways that Democratic candidates in the recent past have struggled to achieve. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the upcoming NDGOP convention, and some of the potential shenanigans which may play out there.
314: North Dakota's Sierra Club is not against carbon capture pipeline
The Sierra Club in other states, such as Iowa, is opposed to the Carbon Express pipeline, but not in North Dakota. They're not against it. They're also not for it. "If we voted, we would probably vote to oppose it," Dr. Dexter Perkins, a member of the North Dakota chapter of the high-profile environmental activist group, told me on this Plain Talk. Perkins, who is also a geologist at the University of North Dakota, says he's skeptical that the pipeline will work, but he and his group are hoping it does. "We're hoping we're wrong," he said, noting that the clubs refusal to condemn the project "puts us in the minority among environmental groups." That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of the pipeline, which would bring carbon emissions from ethanol plants across the upper midwest to North Dakota where they would be pumped underground, but given the intensity of environmental politics, but given the polarizing nature of environmental politics in America, the reticence to be opposed seems like a breakthrough for pragmatism. Perkins agrees. "We're a pretty practical bunch of people," he said of his Sierra Club chapter. Want more Plain Talk? Consider subscribing via your favorite podcasting service: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Want to support Plain Talk? Get a subscription, for a low introductory rate of just $0.99 per month, which also buys you access to great news, sports, and analysis across our dozens of publications: https://inforum.news/port
313: Wrapping up the 2022 Democratic-NPL state convention
It's over folks. The North Dakota Democrats have selected candidates for two Public Service Commission seats, Attorney General, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. They left campaigns for Tax Commissioner and Secretary of State unfilled. On this episode of Plain Talk, I talk with my regular co-host Chad Oban, a former executive director of the party, about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
312: Cramer says he's undecided on Judge Jackson for Supreme Court, talks Ukraine and energy
Minot, N.D. — It was a busy episode of Plain Talk today. Sen. Kevin Cramer joined to discuss everything from the reason why he endorsed incumbent Sen. John Hoeven over challenger Rick Becker (he said Hoeven was not only his colleague but also his "mentor), the war in Ukraine (he says Biden is doing many of the right things, only he's doing them too late), energy (there's "nothing moral" about exporting our climate guilt), and the Supreme Court nomination battle. On that last issue, Cramer said he hasn't made up his mind yet. He said he's reviewed the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearings, but still has a meeting coming up with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson which he'd like to honor. "If I make a hard decision before that I'll probably cut her loose," he said, but as of now he intends to talk with her privately first. He said one thing he'd like to discuss with her, which hasn't gotten a lot of attention, are her views on the right of states and what Cramer calls "cooperative federalism."
311: How in the world did they screw up term limits?
A ballot measure aimed at implementing term limits in North Dakota for the governor and members of the legislature hit the skids when the Secretary of State's office disqualified tens of thousands of signatures. How did a political campaign screw up an issue that, all else aside, is almost certainly popular with most North Dakotans? My co-host Chad Oban and I talked about it on this episode of Plain Talk with House Minority Leader Josh Boschee, a Democrat from Fargo. Boschee said he's against term limits, but is more disappointed in what this ballot measure campaign has done to the credibility of the initiated measure process. Boschee also talked about his party's upcoming state convention and what the next legislative session might look like. Boschee is the only one of the legislature's four leaders who is returning. House Majority Leader Chet Pollert, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, and Senate Minority Leader Joan Heckaman are all retiring. "I don't know who I'll be working with," Boschee said. He gave credit to past Republican leadership in the legislature, noting that they were pragmatic and often willing to work with the Democratic minority, but expressed concerns over that sort of approach to legislating taking a back seat as the NDGOP grows more extreme. Want to support this podcast? Consider a subscription to access all of the great Forum Communications news, sports, and opinion content at a low introductory rate of just $0.99 per month: https://inforum.news/port
310: "The cleanest barrel of oil in the world"
Thanks to Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, and politics that are largely hostile to oil and gas development here in America, our energy prices are skyrocketing. You know it. You've been to a fuel pump lately. You've seen the prices at the grocery store. Oil touches nearly every part of our lives, and when its price goes up, our lives get more expensive a lot faster than most of us can make more money. On this episode of Plain Talk the president of North Dakota's oil industry group argues that American energy policies have had been "exporting our guilt" to other parts of the world. From political activism to litigation to government regulation, we've made producing oil and gas in America harder even as demand for those products has continued to climb. This has been great for countries like Russia and Venezuela even as it drives up prices for Americans. Even worse, Ness notes, this trend is bad for the environment. Russia's regulation of oil and gas development is not as responsible as America's. Oil and gas produced in America is going to be cleaner oil and gas. North Dakota oil, specifically, can be "the cleanest barrel of oil in the world," Ness says, but points out that domestic policies, such as the Biden administration's moratorium on leases on federal lands as well as its insistence on running up the price of production by tacking on so-called "social costs," are making it harder to produce that barrel. Ness also discusses North Dakota's oil tax policy, saying a trigger that kicks in a higher tax rate at high oil prices should go away in favor of a flat tax.
309: Can an independent candidate in North Dakota win?
In 2020, Shelley Lenz ran for governor, and received the endorsement of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL to do so. But in 2022, Lenz is running for the state Senate, only she's doing so as an independent. Why the switch? Neither party is doing right by the people, Lenz argued on this episode of Plain Talk. Lenz is hoping to be elected to the legislature in Dickinson-area District 37, where Republican Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner is retiring. She says the issues around the Legacy Fund's investments, some of which have gone to not-so-great places like Russia and China, is an example of what she's talking about. Though lawmakers have already created a program to divert as much as 20 percent of the Legacy Fund's investments to North Dakota, Lenz says she wants more, as much as 50 or 60 percent. Will that message resonate with voters? And can someone who isn't a Republican win in western North Dakota? That's why we hold the elections, folks.
308: What to do about harassment in the Legislature?
During their 2021 regular session, North Dakota's lawmakers did something they hadn't ever done before in state history. They expelled one of their own. Luke Simons, then an elected member of the House from Dickinson, was expelled after my reporting exposed documents detailing years of harassment of people who work in and around the Legislature, including two of his fellow lawmakers, Rep. Emily O'Brien from Grand Forks and Rep. Brandy Pyle of Casselton. Now, during their interim between sessions, lawmakers are looking at how their harassment policies might be strengthened. O'Brien joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss just how tall an order that is. She noted that implementing these policies is difficult because they apply to elected officials who aren't really anyone's employees outside of the voters. Also complicating the work is that many in the public are fine with this sort of behavior from their elected officials. Simons, a member of the controversial Bastiat Caucus of Trump-aligned Republican lawmakers, still enjoys support to this day. Several lawmakers who voted for his expulsion have been censured over it at meetings of their district party committees. It's very possible that Simons could run for, and win, a seat in the Legislature in the future. What then? There don't seem to be any good answers. Also on this episode, Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the Democratic-NPL denying me media credentials for their upcoming state party as well as the debate over energy policy that's erupted in America since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting disruptions it provoked in international energy markets. Want to know when new episodes of Plain Talk come out? Subscribe, for free, on your favorite podcasting platform. Want to support Plain Talk and get access to a lot of other great local news content? Consider subscribing for a low introductory rate of just $0.99 per month.
307: When China looms over local politics
The politics around local development were already a fraught exercise before the cloud of geopolitical issues cast a shadow over them. Things like economic incentives, zoning ordinances, traffic, smells, noise, and infrastructure loads have never been easy to navigate. But add in growing concerns over the presence, in our local economies, of businesses based in places like China? The process becomes positively byzantine. The Fufeng Group would like to build a corn milling plant near Grand Forks, North Dakota, and all the usual concerns are around it. Are they getting too much taxpayer support? Is the project palatable to those who have to live or work near it? But then there's also the fact that Fufeng is based in China which is ruled by an oppressive Communist government that, among other sins against basic human decency, has millions of ethnic minorities confined in forced labor camps. Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the Fufeng project debate which has roiled his community so much that one person tried to make a citizen's arrest of the city council at a recent meeting. Bochenski acknowledges that concerns about China are valid, all the more so after Russia's invasion of Ukraine elevated the question of our nation's economic ties to these regimes, but argued that a local city council is ill-prepared to take the lead on them. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting platform: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Support Plain Talk with a subscription that unlocks great content from news outlets across the region: https://inforum.news/port
306:After serving almost 50 years, Sen. Holmberg talks about the challenges ahead for North Dakota
In 1977, Jimmy Carter was taking over the White House. Art Link was governor of North Dakota. "You Light Up My Life" by Debbie Boon was at the top of the charts, and movies like "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and "Smokey and the Bandit" were drawing audiences to theaters. Also, Sen. Ray Holmberg also took his seat in North Dakota's legislature for the first time. Now, 46 years later, this constant in our state's politics is calling it a career. On this episode of Plain Talk, he reflects on his proudest accomplishment (promoting the UAV industry in his hometown of Grand Forks), his favorite governor (Jack Dalrymple), and the biggest challenges facing North Dakota in the future, including the growing acrimony in the NDGOP, its dominant political party, and the uncertainty of the oil, gas, and coal industries. About the rancor in the NDGOP, Holmberg said many voters are turned off by local meetings where attendees "listen to people scream 'point of order, point of order, point of order' for an hour." He said he expects incumbent Senator John Hoeven to win on the June ballot, but that the Donald Trump-aligned wing of the party is "very skilled" at organizing for the convention process, and more moderate Republicans need to get better at it. What's changed from the beginning of his almost five decades in the legislature to the end? Holmberg says more people than ever are engaged in a process that's also more open and accessible than before. When he started, he said the only way most North Dakotans could reach their lawmakers during the session, other than traveling to Bismarck, was by sending a letter or calling a toll-free telephone number and leaving them a message. Now the public can watch floor sessions and committee hearings and email or even text their lawmakers in real-time. Something that's both good and bad, Holmberg says. Want to know when new episodes of Plain Talk publish? Consider subscribing on your favorite podcast app. Want to support Plain Talk? Get a subscription for all of the great Forum Communications content for a low introductory rate of just $0.99 per month: https://inforum.news/port
305: Fargo Forum editor talks about reporting the political news
How do you report the news, and in particular political news, fairly and faithfully in an environment where so many people can find sources on social media and talk radio and cable news who are willing to tell them only what they want to hear? Matthew von Pinnon, the editor of the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, talks about that on this issue of Plain Talk. He says the bias many imagine, where newspaper editors and publishers sit around a table in a smoky room to decide what the news will be, simply doesn't happen. Von Pinnon also weighs in on North Dakota's interesting 2022 election cycle, including the in-fighting in the North Dakota Republican Party, and why the Democratic-NPL can't seem to find the energy to take advantage. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting platform: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Want to support Plain Talk and other great news and opinion content? Consider subscribing for a low introductory rate of just $0.99 per month: https://inforum.news/port
304: Becker's "nasty" campaign prompts Schafer to endorse Hoeven
The North Dakota Republican Party has had a dominant, three-decades-long run in state politics, but former Governor Ed Schafer, whose election in 1992 was the dawn of that era of success, says the sunset could be upon us. It doesn't have to be, he said on this episode of Plain Talk. Things can still be corrected. But the path the party is on right now isn't one that leads to sustained success, he argues. That was part of the reason why he endorsed incumbent U.S. Senator John Hoeven. "A lot of it was the nastiness," he said. Hoeven is facing a challenge for the NDGOP nomination from state Rep. Rick Becker, who has burnished appeal to a very Trumpy, very online faction of Republicans who have no problem being confrontational, disruptive, and often just plain mean. "It's distributing to me," Schafer said. He's worried that if Becker's approach to politics becomes the norm in the NDGOP, North Dakota voters will lose faith in a party whose candidates they've been consistently voting for over generations.
303: After divesting from Russia, thinking about investments "has to change" says SIB member
The officials overseeing North Dakota's investments are acting quickly to divest from investments in Russia in the wake of the terrible invasion of Ukraine. Already about 37 percent of the investments overseen by the State Investment Board have been pulled. It will take some time to pull the rest out - the investments are complicated, and officials are trying to limit the financial hit North Dakotans will take - but there's a plan in place to make it happen. But should our strategy about investing in countries with not-so-great political leadership change going forward? "I think it has to," Thomas Beadle said on this episode of Plain Talk. Beadle was elected as North Dakota's Treasurer last year, and by law is a member of the SIB. He said officials at the SIB, as well as other state boards, such as the Land Board, which oversees the investment of North Dakota's funds, are having a debate about that shift in policy now. But it can be complicated. Investing in state-owned companies is one thing, but what about American companies that do businesses in places like China or Russia? Also, is there danger in setting a precedent for reactionary investing? Do we want to open the door to pulling investments in companies based in other states because North Dakotans don't like the politics there? Beadle says we have to find a balance, and state investment officials are working to find out what looks like. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting platform: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Support Plain Talk with a subscription to the Forum Communications network of publications for an introductory rate of just $0.99 per month: https://inforum.news/port
302: Democratic Senate candidate rips incumbent Hoeven for being out of touch with voters
Is U.S. Senator John Hoeven too wealthy to be in touch with North Dakota voters? Katrina Christiansen, a candidate for the Democratic-NPL's endorsement in North Dakota's Senate race, made that argument on this episode of Plain Talk. Joining Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I, Christiansen said Hoeven is too busy living up to Republican talking points from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to focus on North Dakota's values. On this episode Oban and I also talk about the theatrics at President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. Is it a good thing for members of Congress to heckle the President of the United States? No, it's not. Is it a savvy move for a politician who wants to get attention and raise money? Yes, sadly, it is. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting platform: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Support the podcast and get access to a lot of great content by subscribing to the Fargo Forum at an introductory price of just $0.99 per month: https://inforum.news/port/
301: The case for building this controversial soybean plant in Casselton
If there is any lesson to be learned from the last few years of tumultuous international politics, and the crippling pandemic, it's that we need our supply lines to get shorter. For a long time, Americans have been content to see industry, from value-added agriculture to mining and manufacturing - move out of sight and out of mind. It's clear that we need to bring that stuff back to the United States. That's not always as easy as it seems. There is a local political fight in Cass County over a soybean crushing facility. It's exactly the sort of project we need built in America, and in North Dakota, which grows some of the best soybeans in the world, but some critics, adopting a not-in-my-back-yard attitude, don't want it. Rep. Jared Hagrit, a Republican from District 20, a soybean grower himself, and a past chairman of the United States Soybean Board, joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about the Casselton project and why it's important.
300: Should Sen. John Hoeven skip the convention?
In an development I wouldn't have predicted a year ago, popular incumbent Senator John Hoeven, facing a primary challenge from state Rep. Rick Becker, may skip the NDGOP's endorsing convention. Why? Because it's not a sure thing that he'll win the endorsement, despite never receiving less than 70 percent in any statewide election since 2000. He also may be afraid that the turbulence within the NDGOP could manifest itself at the convention in embarrassing ways. Can you imagine the headlines if Hoeven were to be booed while addressing his own state party? Would Hoeven skipping the convention be a good idea? Chad Oban and I play political consultant on this episode of Plain Talk. Also, Superintendent Kirsten Baesler stops by to chat about the on-going challenges the state is facing when it comes to not just recruiting new teachers, but keeping existing teachers on the job. In a society where respect for so many of our cultural institutions - from the news media to law enforcement, government and education - is eroding our educators are taking it on the chin. How can we fix that?
299: North Dakota's golden goose still has plenty of eggs
North Dakota's oil production has "matured." Another term for it might be "plateaued." That's the estimate of Lynn Helms, who is the director of the oil and gas division of North Dakota's Department of Mineral Resources. On this episode of Plain Talk, he said the state has about a decade of steady production driving plenty of revenue - "this is a great time" for tax revenues from oil production, Helms says - but that we shouldn't expect a lot of growth. That might sound like sobering news in a state where oil activity drives an outsized portion of state tax revenues and commerce, but Helms isn't striking a dour note. Oil production may be plateauing, but gas production is not. The state is still very much in a growth phase when it comes to that commodity, and it can create a lot of other opportunities. Also, the state's emerging carbon capture industry could be key in the development of enhanced oil production techniques that could put the state's oil production back into the growth column.
298: The last bastion of the American dream?
Since Governor Doug Burgum announced a goal of making North Dakota's economy carbon neutral by the year 2030, the state has seen about $30 billion worth of investment in things like carbon capture project. James Leiman, who serves in Burgum's administration as commerce commissioner, said on this episode of Plain Talk that these investments can "add to every single sector of our economy." "We are going to grow every single one of these things," Leiman said, referring to agriculture, coal, oil, gas, wind power, and more. Plus, carbon capture has the very real chance to become a burgeoning industry in the state in its own right. Leiman says North Dakota is a special place that can make it happen. "This is one of the last places in the world where the American dream still exists," he said. Also on this episode, Attorney General Drew Wrigley talks about what it's been like to take over that office since the passing of Wayne Stenehjem, as well as how he plans to campaign for a term of his own.
298: The last bastion of the American dream?
Since Governor Doug Burgum announced a goal of making North Dakota's economy carbon neutral by the year 2030, the state has seen about $30 billion worth of investment in things like carbon capture project. James Leiman, who serves in Burgum's administration as commerce commissioner, said on this episode of Plain Talk that these investments can "add to every single sector of our economy." "We are going to grow every single one of these things," Leiman said, referring to agriculture, coal, oil, gas, wind power, and more. Plus, carbon capture has the very real chance to become a burgeoning industry in the state in its own right. Leiman says North Dakota is a special place that can make it happen. "This is one of the last places in the world where the American dream still exists," he said. Also on this episode, Attorney General Drew Wrigley talks about what it's been like to take over that office since the passing of Wayne Stenehjem, as well as how he plans to campaign for a term of his own.
297: A lot of hot talk about cold gazpacho
On this episode of Plain Talk, we spent more time talking about gazpacho than I ever imagined I would on an episode of a politically-themed podcast. Columnist Tony Bender joined Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I talking about the struggle North Dakota's Democrats have recruiting candidates, the term limits ballot measure which will almost certainly be on the November ballot, the initiated measure process, and the U.S. Senate primary race between state Rep. Rick Becker and incumbent Senator John Hoeven. Oh, and lots and lots of jokes about gazpacho. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting network: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Support Plain Talk, and get access to Rob's columns as well as a lot of other great content, with a subscription: https://www.inforum.com/rob-port
296: Senate candidate talks term limits and initiated measures
Minot, N.D. — There is only one Democrat elected to public office in western North Dakota, and she's retiring. State Senator Erin Oban announced last year that she won't be running for another term in office. Two Republican candidates, Ryan Eckroth and Sean Cleary, have announced campaigns for that seat. Tracy Potter, who served a term in that Senate seat previously after getting elected in 2006, has also announced his candidacy as a Democrat. He joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss what he sees as an arrogant legislature, the importance of protecting the initiated measure process, and term limits, among other issues. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting service: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/Plain-Talk-With-Rob-Port Subscribe to Inforum.com to support the podcast and access news content from across our region: https://www.inforum.com/subscribe
295: Are the Canadian trucker protests and blockades legitimate?
What started as a small protest of truckers upset about the Canadian government's vaccine mandates has turned into a full-on international movement. Now demonstrators have blocked multiple crossings between the United States and Canada, and it's having a deleterious impact on commerce between our nations at a time when we hardly need it. Not one of us needs prices to go any higher, do we? On this episode of Plain Talk, Senator Kevin Cramer talks about the protests, why they're happening, and how they could be stopped. "What they're asking for is so simple," Cramer said, noting that all the Canadian government would have to do to end the demonstrations is lift the mandate. He's got a point. Over 251 million Americans, or about 87.4 percent of adults, have at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. In Canada, 88.3 percent of citizens over the age of 5 have been vaccinated. Among the truckers, about 90 percent of those who regularly cross the border are vaccinated according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance. Is this really still about public health? Or is it about different factions with entrenched positions being unwilling to give an inch? Sen. Cramer also talks about trucking regulations taking effect in the United States which have the potential to cause more problems for our national supply lines, and the on-going Olympic Games in China.
294: Sen. John Hoeven talks about primary challenge, RNC resolution on Jan. 6
State Rep. Rick Becker, the founder of the Bastiat Caucus in the North Dakota legislature which claims that they, and not the much larger majority of their Republican colleagues, represent actual Republicanism, has announced a primary challenge to incumbent U.S. Senator John Hoeven. What does Hoeven think about it? He answered questions about that on today's Plain Talk, co-hosted Chad Oban who joins the show on Wednesdays. He said that he'll campaign against Becker the same way he campaigns every time he's on the ballot, which is by focusing on the things he's done in office. "It's a lot more than just voting no all the time," he said, touting his work across the aisle with people like Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. I'm not usually one for meme-based political arguments, but a friend shared this one after Becker announced his candidacy, and it seems apt: Hoeven also talked about the food fight which has erupted within the GOP about the Republican National Committee's decision to censure to sitting House members, Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, over their participation in congressional inquiries into the January 6 riot. "I'm not a fan of censures," Hoeven said of the move. Hoeven also said the January 6 riot was not legitimate political discourse as the RNC resolution claimed. "For people that broke the law, they need to be held accountable," he said. He agreed that the RNC resolution is a distraction. "Clearly we need to focus on winning in 2022," he said.
293: Trent Loos on the 30 by 30 land grab
What is 30 by 30? It's an agreement, pushed by the global environmental movement, that would see participating countries place 30 percent of their land mass and controlled waters into conservation by the year 2030. For some, this is setting off alarm bells. On this episode of Plain Talk, radio host, farming/ranching activist, and 6th generation Nebraska farmer Trent Loos talks about the proposal and what he sees as a risk to food security. To be clear, the government already controls a lot of American land. The feds control over 28 percent, and that increases to well over 30 percent when you include state lands. Loos says further push to take land out of agricultural production would exacerbate a problem that already exists. Every year millions of acres of arable farm land are lost to urbanization as our communities grow.
292: Sen. Cramer doesn't support RNC censure of Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger
Senator Kevin Cramer, one of former President Donald Trump's earliest and most consistent supporters, does not support the RNC's censure of Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger. Trump supporters in the RNC are pushing the censure because Cheney and Kinzinger have been critical of Trump and have participated in the congressional inquiry into the January 6th riot. "We don't have the luxury of kicking people out of our party," Cramer said of the resolution. That doesn't mean he's supportive of the position Cheney and Kinzinger have taken on Trump and the January 6 inquiry. On this episode of Plain Talk, he said he likely agrees with much of what the resolution says, but he doesn't believe the RNC ought to be focusing on this issue. "I think it's unnecessary and unproductive," he said. Cramer also discussed how we're facing our entanglements with China, from the Winter Olympics to the debate over the Fufeng corn milling facility to be built near Grand Forks, as well as the situation in Ukraine, and our evolving debate about energy. Want to be notified of new episodes of Plain Talk? Subscribe for free on your favorite podcasting platform: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Want to read Rob's columns? Subscribe for just $10 per month: HTTP://inforum.com/subscribe
291: Exorcising the crazy from the NDGOP and school choice
In any sufficiently large group of people, you're going to have some undesirables. Whether it's a church congregation or a political party or a sports team fan base, if you look hard enough you'll find some people who just aren't very good people. But what happens when a certain type of behavior becomes the defining characteristic of a group of people? Robert Wheeler as a representative of the very Trumpy Bastiat Caucus faction of North Dakota Republicans, ran for chairman of the NDGOP last year. This week he was involved in what law enforcement alleges was a felony DUI accident, severely injuring his wife. He is also facing charges for disorderly conduct and preventing arrest because officers say he physically resisted them when they tried to arrest him. If these charges are upheld - Mr. Wheeler certainly has a right to his day in court - they're just the latest examples of problematic behavior from people in the Bastiat Caucus movement. Sen. Jason Heitkamp showed up to the special session of the state legislature in a truck with the words "f*** Joe Biden* on them. Prior to that, he was fond of calling for former President Barack Obama to be lynched. Former Rep. Luke Simons was expelled from last year's regular session over accusations of sexual harassment. His local party district chairman, who has since been ousted from that position, decried the expulsion as an "atrocity." Rep. Jeff Hoverson insulted his own majority leader during the special session, and prior to that was barred from a flight after getting into an altercation with a security agent. Rep. Jeff Magrum, who after redistricting will be seeking the District 8 Senate seat in the current election cycle, got so angry with a fellow lawmaker at a public meeting that law enforcement had to intervene and tell him to settle down. I could go on with more examples, but I think you get the point. It's a common political tactic to try and discredit a group of people by focusing on the behavior of a few fringe elements of that group. But how about when a certain type of unacceptable behavior becomes de rigueur for the group? On this episode of Plain Talk, Chad Oban and I talk about how the North Dakota Republican Party is dealing with that very problem, where a not-small faction of its membership regularly participates in behavior that's simply unaccetable. Also on this episode, Dr. Jeremy Jackson, a professor of economics at North Dakota State University, talks about school choice policies.
290: A "Trumpy" K-12 school in Fargo?
When the Capstone Classical Academy project was announced for Fargo, some people immediately looked at it through a political lens. It was called "Trumpy," by some. But is it? On this episode of Plain Talk, headmaster Paul Q. Fisher describes the philosophy behind the school's mission. They're hoping to provide the people of the region with an education rooted in classical education. That means the Greeks. The Romans. And, yes, the kids will be learning Latin. But Fisher stresses that it's not about promoting a certain ideology, but rather helping kids learn how to process information and think with reason and logic. Capstone is accepting enrollments now for the fall 2022 school year for pre-kindergarten through 6th-grade students. Fisher says they're at about 30 enrolled students so far, in the roughly three weeks since they've started, and they'll be holding classes regardless of how may students they get. The long-term goal is to build a campus on property that's already been secured, and begin adding grades to the school in future years. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting app: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Subscribe to read Rob's writing: https://www.inforum.com/subscribe
289: North Dakota bitcoin project overshadowed by criminal record
This week Governor Doug Burgum helped announce a nearly $2 billion investment in developing a datacenter in western North Dakota that would primarily be used to mine cryptocurrency. But that announcement was overshadowed, somewhat, by the extensive criminal record of the man who heads up the construction company that would build it. Jamie Selzler, the former executive director of the North Dakota Democrat Party, who has spent years working in online commerce, joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss whether Burgum deserves criticism for being involved in the announcement, and if cryptocurrency mining is really a viable industry for North Dakota. Also on this episode, Jamie and I talk about the looming fight over a new appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcast service: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Subscribe to read Rob's columns: https://inforum.com/subscribe
288: School choice and North Dakota's teacher retention problem
A new survey from North Dakota United, the state's combined public worker and teacher union, finds strong evidence that teachers are feeling burned out. Why? A lot of the same reasons many of us are feeling burned out. It's politics and the pandemic and shifting attitudes about compensation levels. On this episode of Plain Talk, co-host Chad Oban and I interview Nick Archuleta, the president of North Dakota United, about the survey's findings. And, as Fargo looks to become home to a new private school affiliated with ideologically conservative Hillsdale College, we talk about the push for school choice policy. Should North Dakota taxpayers get to use taxpayer dollars to send their kids to a non-public school? Or even homeschool them? Archuleta joins Chad and I in that discussion as well. (Full disclosure: Oban's day job is at North Dakota United.)
287: Rep. Armstrong talks Biden's first year, Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and China
I'll admit, I wanted to use this interview to push Congressman Kelly Armstrong, a fellow baseball nut, to pass legislation to end Major League Baseball's ongoing lockout. But I controlled myself. After all, what kind of conservative would I be if I was pushing for that sort of federal intervention? Principle must trump emotion. What Armstrong and I did talk about was President Joe Biden's first year in office. As you might expect, this Republican congressman isn't impressed. He's also not impressed with Biden's leadership with Russia. Armstrong told me he hopes Biden is successful in handling the crisis in Ukraine, but he's afraid we're in for another debacle like the one Biden presided over in Afghanistan. We also talked about why it's important for America to counter the influence of countries like China and Russia, even when it's not always economically important to do so.
286: Rick Becker's medical license and a Supreme Court candidate
Why are so many judicial races in North Dakota uncompetitive? And not uncompetitive because the winning candidates dominate, but because they're usually running unopposed? Part of the problem is the pay Justice Daniel Crothers said on this episode of Plain Talk. He's served on the North Dakota Supreme Court since he was appointed in 2005. He ran for election to the unexpired four-year term he was appointed to fill, and for re-election to a new term in 2012, and now he's running for another decade-long term on the 2022 ballot. With history as our guide, he probably won't have an opponent. Since 1990 there have been just five competitive Supreme Court races on the statewide ballot. Crothers says that lawyers make a lot of money but judges, comparatively, do not. North Dakota already has a relatively small legal community, and finding people in that community who want to abandon their private practice, and it's pay, to become a judge. Crothers also talked about the on-going efforts to get court records online, what it's like to campaign for an office like judge, and the process behind how the state Supreme Court works. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the calls to pull the medical license of state Rep. Rick Becker. Becker works as a plastic surgeon outside of his political career, and some of his fellow doctors find his comments about COVID-19 and treatments for it to be unethical. They're calling for him to either stop these statements or face discipline. Subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast on your favorite podcasting service: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Get a Forum Communications subscription to read Rob's columns: https://www.inforum.com/subscribe
285: Grand Forks mayor on wading into the transgender debate
"I've largely stayed out of that stuff," says Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski, speaking about national hot-button issues. He says he's tried to focus on local issues like public safety and infrastructure. But when the University of North Dakota announced they were pursuing a new policy that could punish people for using the wrong pronouns, and would allow access to even sensitive campus facilities like locker rooms based on the gender a given student or university employee identifies with, Bochenski felt he had to speak out. "I felt like there was a lack of transparency" in the way the rule was being developed, Bochenski said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Compelling speech and forcing ideology on our students, our children and our community is abhorrent," he wrote in a Facebook post touting a letter from the North Dakota Catholic Conference objecting to the policy. How have people responded to his public statements? "It's been mean on both sides," he said. Also on this episode, Jim Hobart, a pollster with Public Opinion Strategies, talks about a new survey of North Dakotans showing strong support for coal mining, coal-fired power, and carbon capture. Hobart says that despite the often divisive national debate about energy and carbon capture, North Dakotans show strong consensus support for coal and carbon capture projects, even across partisan lines. Read the polling memo here: https://www.scribd.com/document/553440998/North-Dakota-Energy-Key-Findings-Memo Subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast on your favorite podcasting service: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Get a Forum Communications subscription to read Rob's columns: https://www.inforum.com/subscribe
284: Can Fargo be better under new leadership?
"We have opportunities that are being missed," says Shannon Roers Jones. Roes Jones is currently a state representative, having been elected to the House from District 26 in 2016. She was just re-elected to that seat by a small but comfortable margin in 2020, and now she'd like to be mayor of Fargo. On this episode of Plain Talk, she talks about why she'd be better for that job than incumbent Tim Mahoney, what the biggest challenges facing Fargo are, what it's like to campaign in Fargo's relatively new approval voting process, and what she'll do with her legislative seat if she wins this election. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting platform: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Subscribe to Rob's writing and get all of the great Forum Communications content from news sites across the upper midwest: https://www.inforum.com/subscribe
283: Rep. Pollert says goodbye to legislative leadership, Rep. Howe says hello (maybe) to a Sec. of State run
After more than two decades in the North Dakota legislature, having served in some consequential ways, as an influential appropriator and eventually leader the majority Republican caucus, Rep. Chet Pollert is calling it a career. On this episode of Plain Talk, he talked about that decision, as well as what changed during his tenure in office, and what challenges North Dakota might face in the future. "There was a decorum," Pollert said of politics when he first got started in the legislature. "There was a process...and we seem to have gotten away from that a little more." He said modern politics have become more personal, and more divisive. "I want us to be able to fight like cats and dogs but also be able to respect one another," he said. He has some personal experience with how personal state politics has gotten. Under Pollert's leadership last year, the state House took the extraordinary step of expelling a member for the first time in state history. Luke Simons, at the time a Representative from a Dickinson-area district, was voted out of his seat after being accused by multiple women, including two fellow Republican lawmakers, in a landslide vote that included a 2-1 majority among his fellow Republicans. "I felt it had to be done," Pollert said of the vote, though he added that it was "a very unpleasant time" during which both he and his wife received ugly phone calls and messages from Simons supporters. Pollert said his proudest accomplishment as a lawmaker was showing his children the importance of public service. As for what challenges face North Dakota's leaders going forward? Protecting baseload energy production, and the reliability of the power grid, are at the top of his list as well as managing the Legacy Fund so that it can be a resource for funding the state's needs as oil activity, and thus oil revenues, decline in future decades. Rep. Michael Howe, a Republican from West Fargo, also joined the show to talk about his interest in running for Secretary of State. The incumbent, Al Jaeger, has held that office since 1992. "I was in kindergarten then," Howe said. Now that Jaeger has announced he's retiring, Howe said it's time for some new leadership. He'd like the office to get better at handling business filings, which has been a recurring theme of Secretary of State campaigns for years now. He also spoke about how he'd rebuild trust in elections, at a time when many Americans have lost it. Subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast on your favorite podcasting app: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk-with-rob-port Subscribe to read Rob's columns and other great content from Forum Communications: https://www.inforum.com/subscribe
282: A deeply unsexy conversation that could result in some very sexy political reform
I make a living writing and talking about politics, and I divide the topics I cover up into two categories. First, there's the sexy stuff. The hot-button stuff. Topics that immediately stir up interest from the audience. It's the stuff we spend most of our time talking about. How big should the government be, and how much should it cost us? Stuff like that. Then there's the unsexy stuff. Like blockchain. What is blockchain? North Dakota Chief Information Officer Shawn Riley knows. He's an advocate for it. He tried to explain it to this humble political wonk on this episode of Plain Talk, and what he said makes a lot of sense. Blockchain is a way of recording transactions in a way that's simultaneously secure and transparent. He believes it could be used in everything from recording title histories for property to tracking mineral rights and, yes, even voting. Nerd stuff, I know, but the impact could be very sexy in terms of that thing we all care about, which is how much government is costing us. Riley estimates that North Dakota has something like $1.2 billion in what he calls "tech debt," which is to say investments in dated technology that needs to be upgraded. There's no holding back the rapid advance of technology, but Riley argues that if we implement blockchain for the information our government is built around - all the little transactions and data the state records and keeps - upgrading that technology could be a lot cheaper in the future.
281: Who would want to run for public office right now?
We all know how divided we are as a country. Politics has always been an ugly business, but it's perhaps uglier right now than any time in recent memory. Given that, who would want to run for public office, and expose themselves to the brutal acrimony of an increasingly uncivil process? On this episode of Plain Talk, I spoke with two candidates for the North Dakota legislature about that very topic. Mike Motschenbacher is running for the state House in District 47 in the Bismarck area. Mason Wede is running for the state Senate in District 29. They're both Republicans, and they both say that, as bad as things are, it's a job somebody has to do. Our state, and our communities, has challenges. There are budgets that must be written. And if principled grownups aren't willing to do those jobs, who will? Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting service: https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/Plain-Talk-With-Rob-Port Want to read more of Rob's work? Get a subscription that works for daily newspapers across the upper midwest: https://www.inforum.com/subscribe
280: Jan. 6 riot anniversary, and how businesses can find/keep employees
Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic malaise, America's employers have been in a crunch. Not only are their costs rising due to supply line snaggles, but many of them are having trouble finding and keeping workers. Jonathan Holth is one a North Dakota employer. He is a co-founder of the Toasted Frog restaurant in downtown Grand Forks, and has since opened additional locations in Bismarck and Fargo. He's also the co-owner of the Urban Stampede Coffee Bar in Grand Forks. On this episode of Plain Talk, he discusses what his business has been doing to keep workers on the job, which includes getting creative with leave time and other benefits. Among the creativity is an accepting approach to employees struggling with addiction. Holth himself is nearly 14 years sober, and was appointed by Governor Doug Burgum to serve on the advisory council for North Dakota's Office of Recovery Reinvented. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the upcoming anniversary of the January 6 riot in Washington D.C. and the growing mainstream acceptance of political extremism in America.
279: How worried should you be about education testing decline?
One thing I think about, as our kids return to school from a long holiday break, is how hard it can be to get them back into the education groove. That challenge is perhaps on the minds of parents more so now than before, given the way COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down. In October Kirsten Baesler, the Superintendent of North Dakota's public school system, released data from testing showing significant pandemic-era declines among the state's students in proficiency levels for English and mathematics. How worried should that make you? Perhaps not as worried as you think you should be says Dr. Dann Conn. Conn is a professor of teacher education and kinesiology at Minot State University. He's also the co-author of a book, Unraveling the Assessment Industrial Complex, which calls into question the purpose and efficacies of the very testing regime being used to measure educational declines. "Kids are resilient," Conn said on this episode of Plain Talk. "They'll bounce back." He argues that parents, educators, and policymakers ought to be more focused on what we might call real-world outcomes than testing scores. Subscribe to Plain Talk on your favorite podcasting platform by clicking here.
278: North Dakota's next attorney general?
Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota's long-time Attorney General, announced recently that he'll end a more than four-decades-long career in elected office once his term is up next year. Who will replace him? The name you'll hear most often in those conversations is Drew Wrigley, who served two stints as North Dakota's U.S. Attorney, one under former President George W. Bush, and another under former President Donald Trump, and between them served six years as Lt. Governor under former Governor Jack Dalrymple. Wrigley joined this episode of Plain Talk to say nothing definitive about if he's running, though it sure seems like he is. In addition to speaking about what his approach to the office would be, what priorities he'd focus on, and his philosophy about the job of Attorney General, Wrigley hinted that those interested in whether he's running or not might want to check the candidate filings at the Secretary of State's office in the first week of 2022. This seems to me like a pretty good confirmation that he's running.
277: What's behind, and what's ahead, in North Dakota politics
It's been a wild year in North Dakota politics, from a lawmaker getting expelled from the Legislature for the first time in state history to a small group of NDGOP leaders walking out of their own party's meeting just last week. On this episode of Plain Talk I was joined by Chad Oban and Jamie Selzler, both former executive directors of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL, to talk about the year that was in North Dakota. We also talk about what next year, an election year, has in store.
276: Wayne Stenehjem calls it a career, Julie Fedorchak talks ethics
Wayne Stenehjem has served the State of North Dakota in elected office for more than 40 years, from his stint in the Legislature starting in the mid-1970s to two decades serving as Attorney General. Now, he's calling it a career, announcing that he'll step down once his current four-year term is up. Stenehjem joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. To say that his career was consequential for our state would be an understatement. In the Legislature, where he served with two of his brothers, Alan and Bob, something he believes to be unprecedented in America's legislative bodies, he had a hand in creating the open records and meetings law state government operates under today. He pushed for a uniform court system, moving it beyond an antiquated system that saw different areas of North Dakota served by different sorts of courts. When he became Attorney General in 2000, the State of North Dakota didn't even have a crime lab to handle evidence like fingerprints and DNA. But it wasn't all serious business. Stenehjem also recounts how he reacted with his brother Bob, then the Senate Majority Leader, would steal his parking space at the capitol during a legislative session. Also on this episode, North Dakota has had an ongoing debate about ethics for years now, well before voters approved an ethics amendment for the state constitution. Some of the people behind that push have notions about what constitutes ethics, as far as campaign finance go, that are hard to square with how Americans have traditionally viewed free speech and participatory democracy. Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, whose office has become ground zero for this argument, joined Plain Talk to discuss.
275: Sen. Kevin Cramer
North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer joined this episode of Plain Talk and discussed all sorts of stuff. The January 6 committee, and what it's revealed about the way former President Donald Trump handled the riot at the U.S. capitol. The Build Back Better plan. The state of inflation. The retrenchment going on in the Republican party. Carbon capture. Also, the divides in the national Republican party are impacted the NDGOP as well. Cramer, a former chairman of the NDGOP, weighs in on some of the rule changes being discussed by his state party relating to how the party does its business around state conventions and endorsing candidates.
274: How about we don't call each other enemy any more?
Politics in North Dakota are about as divisive these days as they are anywhere else. In our state, the divide in the Republican party is between traditional Republicans and a faction of conservatives, in-step with former President Donald Trump, who feel the state's Republicans haven't been conservative enough. I've been writing and talking about this divide a lot, and recently state Rep. Jeff Hoverson, a Republican from Minot and a member of the Bastiat Caucus of lawmakers who align with this faction, asked to come on the podcast to talk it out. So Hoverson joined my Wednesday co-host Chad Oban and I and we talked about Hoverson calling people who disagree with him "enemy" and the other things that are dividing us. I'm not sure we changed anybody's mind, but it was good conversation. Also, Oban and I discuss some of the changes the NDGOP is making to their state convention and candidate endorsement process. I wrote about the proposed rule change for the timing of the convention in recent column, and we talked about that, but we also discussed another potential rule change that would make it harder for candidates to seek the NDGOP's endorsement. It would even require the candidates to pay the party for the privilege of being considered. Good idea or bad? We talked it out.
273: Is America's religious decline good or bad?
Religion has always been at the center of American life, but in recent years many Americans are turning away from faith. The polling firm Gallup has been tracking trends in religion since the 1930s when church membership among Americans hovered in the 70 percent region. It stayed that high through the late 1990s, but in the last couple of decades, it has plunged. In 2020, the percentage of Americans who said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque plunged to 47 percent. Is this a good thing? A bad thing? And why is it happening? Roxanne Salonen and Devyln Brooks are both Christians. The former is a Catholic; the latter a Lutheran pastor. They both write columns on spirituality, and they joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the decline of religion in America with the host, yours truly, who is an atheist.
272: Is carbon capture North Dakota's next big industry?
North Dakota has industries that produce a lot of carbon. Oil. Natural gas. Coal. Agriculture. But North Dakota's newest industry could be taking that carbon and putting it someplace where it can't harm the environment. Wade Boeschans, a vice president with a company called Summit Carbon Solutions, joined this episode of Plain Talk to answer questions about one of the first, and biggest, projects of this burgeoning industry. The Midwest Carbon Express is a pipeline that will gather carbon emitted by ethanol plants across Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota, and bring them to a spot in North Dakota where it will be stored underground. What are the challenges attendant to building such a project? Is it safe? Who will be responsible for all this stored carbon long-term? Wade answers those questions and more.
271: Studying online misinformation, and Rep. Rick Becker going full snowflake
Misinformation. Fake news. These are terms we hear a lot in America in 2021, but what do they mean? How do they happen? Dr. Dan Pemstein is an associate professor of political science at North Dakota State University. He joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about his research into online misinformation both here in America and across the globe. Also, state Rep. Rick Becker, a Republican from Bismarck, flew off the handle recently when asked about a quarter-million dollars in Paycheck Protection Program loans he took for his businesses, the bulk of which have reportedly been forgiven. Becker has refused to answer questions about those loans, choosing instead to engage in what is almost a borderline homophobic attack on me, the one asking the questions. For the record, I don't consider being called gay to be an insult. Co-host Chad Oban and I discuss.
270: Can we make oil production greener?
Earlier this year Governor Doug Burgum raised a lot of eyebrows in the political world by announcing a goal for North Dakota's carbon-based industries, including oil and coal, to become carbon neutral. Can we do it? There are no magic bullets to achieving that goal, but there are some promising endeavors. On this episode of Plain Talk I discussed one of those with Kevin Black, CEO of Creedence Energy Services, and Marty Shumway, the technical services director of Locus Bio-Energy Solutions. Shumway's company has developed a biosurfactant, that could be made from agricultural products like canola and sugar from right here in North Dakota, that, in some instances, has improved the output of older oil wells by as much as 70 percent. That's a big deal for the oil industry, where more oil from any given well means more profits, but it's a big deal from the perspective of lowering the environmental footprint of the oil industry as well. More from any one well means fewer wells are needed. It also means Again, there is no one thing we can do to achieve Gov. Burgum's goal of carbon-neutral oil and gas industries, but there are many small things, and this endeavor seems to be one of them.
269: Replacing the only Democrat in western North Dakota
Sen. Erin Oban is the only member of the Democratic-NPL to be elected in western North Dakota. To the extent that you can consider her Bismarck-area district to be "western North Dakota," anyway. Oban announced recently that she will not be running for another term in that office. Hot on the heels of that announcement, Republican Sean Clearly made one of his own, saying he'd like to take over the Senate seat in District 35. Cleary talks about that decision on this episode of Plain Talk. We cover North Dakota's workforce needs, our economy's needs, how to defeat some of the negative perceptions of our state held by people in other parts of the world, and the looming issue of abortion which may be very much an issue for state Legislature should the U.S. Supreme Court strike down the Roe v. Wade decision. Also, fun fact: Oban was Cleary's middle school math teacher. For the record, Cleary says math wasn't his favorite subject, but he hopes Oban doesn't hold his behavior as a 12-year-old against him.
268: How are ND businesses coping with vaccine policies?
Vaccine mandate policies are a fluid situation right now. They're being challenged in the courts. The federal government is tweaking its policies. In North Dakota, during the recent special session of the Legislature, a bill passed that doesn't ban businesses from implementing vaccine mandates, but did implement a lot of policies dictating what those mandates should look like. The Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce opposed that bill. Arik Spencer, president and CEO of that organization, joined this episode of Plain Talk to talk about how the state's businesses are handling all of this uncertainty. Also, Rob and co-host Chad Oban talk about Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's recent comments about electric cars.
Jay Thomas Show: 11/29/21
Rob and Jay talk about the North Dakota Democratic-NPL and their relationship to a man who attacked Sen. John Hoeven's office with an ax. They also discuss political extremism in America.
267: Kelby Krabbenhoft's golden parachute
Kelby Krabbenhoft, the long-time CEO of South Dakota-based health care giant Sanford abruptly left his job last year after making some controversial comments about masking during the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, news broke that Krabbenhoft left with a big, fat golden parachute strapped to his back. He got a $49.5 million payout, and that prompted North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread to blow the whistle. On this episode of Plain Talk, Godfread talks about the connection between what hospitals spend and what health care, and health insurance, cost you. He says hospitals are always wanting more from insurers, and the taxpayers, even as pay to executives goes up. If this keeps up, Godfread, a Republican, argues, we're going to end up with the sort of single-payer health care system Democrats want.
266: The coal industry is promoting electric cars, reactions to the special session
North Dakota's coal industry is promoting electric cars. The Lignite Energy Council owns a Tesla, emblazoned it with pro-coal messaging, and has been driving it around. It's an image so incongruous to some that the Washington Post recently featured the marketing effort in a national news article. Jason Bohrer, president of the LEC, joined this episode of Plain Talk with co-host Chad Oban to discuss why he feels it's important for the debate over coal and energy not to be seen through the lenses of partisan politics or the culture war. Also discussed is the just-completed special session as well as the resignation of Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger as his struggles with sobriety continue.
Jay Thomas Show 11-15-21
On this episode of the Jay Thomas Show, a state lawmaker upset with Rob calls into the show and yells at him.
265: Lawmaker who resigned due to "toxic" political environment speaks out
Sen. Nicole Poolman has served in the North Dakota Senate since 2012. During last week's special session, she announced her retirement, saying she won't be running for another term. Some of her reasons were personal, she wants to spend more time with family, and some were professional, she wants to focus on her job as a teacher, but part of the reason is what she cited as a "toxic" political environment. Sen. Poolman joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss that toxicity.
264: Dot's Pretzels, redistricting, and the special session
North Dakota snack food startup Dot's Pretzels has been acquired for $1.2 billion. The special session of the legislature continues with fights over redistricting and culture war bills dominate. Rob Port and Chad Oban talk about these issues and more.
263: With Tony Bender on NDGOP divide, redistricting, special session
A return for the Plain Talk Podcast. On this episode, Rob talks to fellow columnist Tony Bender about the divides in the North Dakota Republican Party, the tribalism of American politics in 2021, redistricting, and the special session of the legislature in Bismarck.
Jay Thomas Show 11-08-21
Rob and Jay talk about the special session in Bismarck, as well as vaccine mandates.
262: Simone Biles outrage, end of the eviction moratorium
Simone Biles has had some trouble competing at the Tokyo Olympics, and that has certain political commentators steaming. Charlie Kirk called Biles a "sociopath," as one example, and you've probably seen worse on social media. But why do people care so much? Does everything have to be culture war? Also, a federal moratorium on evictions is set to expire soon, and many are upset about it, but at what point do we give property owners back their right to legal recourse against people who aren't paying their rent? Or who are in other ways violating the terms of their lease? Jay Thomas, host of the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in Fargo, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss.
261: Are concerns about critical race theory valid?
Is critical race theory an attempt to take over our education system and indoctrinate students with left-wing orthodoxies about race and culture? Or is it controversy ginned up as a "lucrative side hustle" by various pundits and activists, as Nick Archuleta argues in a recent column? https://www.inforum.com/opinion/lette... Archuleta, the president of North Dakota United, which represents teachers and public workers, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss. The audio of every episode of Plain Talk Live is available on the Plain Talk podcast, which you can find through your favorite podcasting service.
260: Rep. Armstrong on Jan. 6 commission
Congressman Kelly Armstrong, a Republican from North Dakota, was all set to serve on the high-profile House commission aimed at investigating the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Then, suddenly, he wasn't. Armstrong joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to talk about the politics in selecting who sits on that commission, and the work the commission has done so far. Also, Armstrong has recently introduced a bill that will be part of a package of legislation aimed at accountability for the tech industry, and he'll talk about why that initiative is important.
259: Former Gov. Ed Schafer on North Dakota term limits proposal
Does North Dakota need term limits? A ballot measure currently being circulated would implement limits for the Governor, and the Legislature, but no other statewide elected offices. Is it a good idea? Former Governor Ed Schafer says he's come around to the idea of term limits after previously opposing them. He joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss.
248: Should we be scorning the unvaxxed?
"We are not supposed to insult these people for their decision to not get vaccinated. We are supposed to understand their position," columnist Mike McFeely writes. "But should we be empathetic toward those with no good reason for not getting vaxxed?" "Most are supporters of Donald Trump and to call their decision-making deplorable is worse than insulting their grandmother," he continued in a recent column, choosing to see the vaccination debate through a partisan political lens. Is this fair? There's evidence to suggest that vaccine hesitancy is far less political than commentators like McFreely would like to believe. "For example, as of this weekend, 41 percent of New York City residents were not vaccinated. Trump won 22 percent of the vote in NYC," National Review columnist Jim Geraghty notes. "In Chicago, 43 percent of residents are not vaccinated. Trump carried 24 percent of the vote in Cook County," he continues. "In Multnomah County, which includes Portland, Ore., just under 63 percent have at least one dose, meaning that 37 percent are unvaccinated. Trump won under 18 percent in that county in 2020. Detroit has vaccinated just under 40 percent of its residents; Trump carried 5 percent of the vote in that city." Even if every single Trump voter opted against the vaccine, which certainly isn't the case, we'd still be left with a lot of people who voted for Joe Biden and are, so far, refusing to get the vaccine. Many in the news media have worked very hard to shoehorn the vaccine issue into a political narrative. The New York Times, as one example, published a statistical analysis in April which seems to show that vaccine hesitancy is generally higher in Trump-voting areas, and that the rate of vaccination is generally lower there. Yet per the Times' own data, Hawaii was, at the time, well below a 40 percent vaccination rate. Pennsylvania, Oregon, Nevada, and Michigan all had relatively low vaccination rates as well at that time. All of those states went to Joe Biden in 2020. Perhaps a political narrative isn't appropriate for the vaccination debate? Perhaps the efforts to frame the issue as another front in partisan politics does more harm than good? If the answer to that last question is "yes" it's a particularly egregious sin for members of the news media who claim to value vaccination. After all, if we want people to get vaccinated, is writing them off as deplorables the best way to go about it? Jay Thomas, host of the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss.
247: Another front in the NDGOP's civil war
There are some deep fractures in the North Dakota Republican Party. A faction of the party, loosely affiliated under the banner of the Legislature's supposedly conservative Bastiat Caucus, is attempting to recall Governor Doug Burgum. They're pushing a constitutional ballot measure to implement term limits. They attempted to take over leadership of the North Dakota Republican Party this spring. Now they're attempting a recall of Rep. Dwight Kiefert, a Republican who has represented District 24 since 2013. On this episode of Plain Talk, Kiefert will address the recall campaign and speaks to what he sees as its motivations.
256: Are fleeing lawmakers a valid tactic?
State lawmakers in places like Texas and Tennessee have fled their states in an attempt to block laws backed by the Republican majorities in their legislative chambers. Now, at the national level, Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has urged his colleagues to do something similar to block a massive Democratic spending bill. Are these tactics legitimate? Jay Thomas, host of the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in Fargo, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss.
255: Sen. Cramer on child tax credits, spending bills, and climate change
Starting this month, some qualifying Americans with children will receive monthly money from the government in an amount representing up to $300 per child. The payments come from the child tax credit millions of Americans tax every year. Think of them as a sort of advanced payment on a credit these families would have taken anyway. Is this good policy? Also, the calculus on these payments could get complicated for some Americans who may end up surprised by a tax bill at the end of the year if they don't adjust their withholdings appropriately. Sen. Kevin Cramer joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss this issue, as well as the shift in the way Republicans are talking about the climate debate and the push Democrats are putting behind spending and infrastructure bills in Congress.
254: Space billionaires, runaway Democrats, and term limits
Humanity is pushing its way into space, and some billionaires are leading the charge. Not everyone is happy about this. Jonah Lantto from the Good Talk Network joins this episode of Plain Talk to talk about it. Also, in multiple states, Democratic lawmakers have taken to fleeing their state capitols to deny Republicans the ability to pass laws they don't like. Is this a valid tactic? And in Tennessee, Republicans have fired a public health official over an email encouraging young citizens to get vaccinated. They've also curtailed the state's outreach efforts about vaccines. Why are so many so enraged by vaccines?
253: Does North Dakota need term limits?
A faction of the North Dakota Republican Party which calls itself the Bastiat Caucus is pushing a constitutional ballot measure to implement term limits for the Governor and for the state Legislature. This comes amid deep tensions between the Batiats and the rest of the NDGOP. Does the state need term limits? Is this a wise political move from the Bastiats? Chad Oban, the former executive director of the Democratic-NPL, joins the episode of Plain Talk to discuss.
252: Rep. Armstrong on Coal Creek, infrastructure bill, and more
There is broad bipartisan agreement that America needs to invest in infrastructure. The problem is, there isn't a lot of agreement on what infrastructure is. In Congress, Democrats are pushing an infrastructure bill that includes a raft of progressive policy priorities that have little to do with roads or bridges, or power grids. Congressman Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota talks about that debate on this episode of Plain Talk Live. We'll also talk about Coal Creek Station, North Dakota's largest coal-fired power plant, finding a new buyer. The plant was set to be closed, but now a new company plans on operating it into the future, but what does it need to be a success? Also, the role of big tech in our lives continues to be a pressing political concern, particularly in issue areas like privacy and free speech. Armstrong has been appointed to a task force taking on this issue, and will talk about his work there.
251: Will Jupiter Paulsen's death change things?
Jupiter Paulsen was a 14-year-old girl who was brutally murdered in Fargo by a man with a history of criminal conduct who was out on probation. Some are blaming officials for letting Arthur Prince Kollie, the man arrested for the murder, out of custody. North Dakota, like many other states in America, has made some long strides toward criminal justice reform that includes an emphasis on moving away from incarceration. Was Paulsen's murder evidence of those reforms going too far? Jay Thomas, host of the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in Fargo, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss.
250: Will Gov. Doug Burgum be recalled?
A group of hardcore supporters of Donald Trump have gotten approval to begin circulating a petition to recall North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and his running mate Lt. Governor Brent Sanford. Will they be successful? Chad Oban, former executive director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss it. Also, a federal judge has dismissed the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's lawsuit against the Dakota Access Pipeline, marking the end of an era of North Dakota politics, and at the national level Democrats suffered a defeat in their efforts to implement national election reforms. Is that issue over?
249: Let's talk about critical race theory
Critical race theory. You've no doubt been hearing a lot about it. It's in our headlines. It's grist for the ceaseless mill of cable news outrage. It's a topic of debate in our school districts. Do you know what it is? Is it valid curriculum? A worthy avenue for scholastic endeavor? Or is it an ideology? Political doctrine dressed up as academics? Perhaps it's a bit of both. Dr. Dan Conn, a professor teacher education at Minot State University, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to talk about it.
248: Could Fargo sue the state over gun laws?
Since 2007, the City of Fargo has had an ordinance making it illegal for federal firearms license holders to conduct transactions out of their homes. Only, nobody really paid attention to it until federal officials became aware of it and informed FFL holders in Fargo operating that way that they couldn't renew their licenses. There aren't many people in Fargo who do this. There were just seven in May of last year when then-Fargo Police Chief David Todd said there hadn't been any complaints about them. Still, Fargo's city leaders have refused to back down from this restrictive ordinance, so the Legislature stepped in. During their 2021 session, they passed a state law pre-empting Fargo's ordinance. But at a recent meeting, city commissioners tabled a motion to bring their ordinance into compliance with state law, opting instead to explore a lawsuit against the state over the law. Edward Krystosek, a Fargo resident and past candidate for the city commission who has followed this issue closely, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to talk about the city's actions.
247: Ed Schafer on State Investment Board, separation of powers drama
Earlier this year North Dakota's lawmakers passed a bill requiring full legislative approval of any interim appropriation of federal money that exceeds $50 million in a biennium. Now lawmakers don't want to follow their own law. Former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer weighs in on that situation on this episode of Plain Talk Live. Also, there's drama at the State Investment board, with revelations that a consultant, paid by the state to manage its money managers, has also accepted payments from the managers it recommends for hire. Is this pay for play? What steps can the board take to address this situation?
246: What could this rail merger mean for North Dakota?
If you can name me a North Dakota community that wasn't built around a railroad stop, or at least had rails running through it at one point in its history, I'll buy you lunch. Rail infrastructure has been important to North Dakota for as long as our state has been a state. Longer, really, so when one of the companies providing rail service in our region is seeking out a merger with another American rail line, it matters to us. John Brooks, Chief Marketing Officer for Canadian Pacific Railway, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to talk about his company's efforts to merge with Kansas City Southern, and why that transaction is a better outcome for North Dakota than a rival merger bid from Canadian National.
245: The Line 3 protests
With the vigorous demonstrations against the Line 3 pipeline, the upper midwest is getting another front-and-center look at the often vicious politics of energy infrastructure. Left-wing activists train to be arrested, the plot conflict with law enforcement, all to produce media coverage that is sympathetic to their cause. Meanwhile, every single one of us, including the most ardent and extreme of pipeline protesters, is using the oil moved by pipelines every day. Jay Thomas from WDAY AM970 in Fargo joins this episode of Plain Talk to talk about the Line 3 protests and pipeline politics in general.
244: Hydrogen is coming to North Dakota
A big name in power is coming to North Dakota to invest in hydrogen energy, and it's a big deal for our state in a lot of ways. It's a new industry, for one, in a state that desperately needs economic diversification. The proposed hydrogen hub will be a new customer for North Dakota natural gas, a commodity produced as a byproduct of oil exploration here. We produce so much a lot of it gets burned off as excess in the Bakken oil fields. It will also be a shot in the arm for North Dakota's nascent efforts with carbon capture. The hydrogen plant will be carbon-neutral because what carbon it produces will be captured and stored here in the state. On this episode of Plain Talk Live, Bakken Energy CEO Mike Hopkins will discuss this new project and the specifics of North Dakota, from public policy to geology, that are making it possible.
243: LGBT conversion theraphy, gerrymandering, and filibusters
The Administrative Rules Committee approved a ban on LGBT conversion therapy asked for by the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners, which oversees licensing for social workers. Some Republican lawmakers resisted the change. Was it the right move? I'll talk about it with former Democratic-NPL executive director Chad Oban on this episode of Plain Talk. This episode of Plain Talk will also feature, prominently, two of the most fun political words. Gerrymandering. Filibuster. Now that the census is completed, the task of redistricting lays before North Dakota's lawmakers. Since North Dakotans mostly vote for Republicans, that means the process will be controlled by Republicans Already, some of the state's Democrats are suggesting that the Republican plan will be an exercise in gerrymandering (whee!) which should be referred to the ballot and defeated by voters who would then also vote to approve a Democratic plan which could only be introduced at the ballot box because, again, North Dakotans mostly don't vote for Democrats. Sound convoluted? It is. Also, at the national level, Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, is the lone vote standing in the way of much of the Democratic agenda, including ending the filibuster (whoo!) and advancing sweeping election reforms. Is he taking a stand for the wellbeing of our country? Or is this an exercise in self-serving politics?
242: How many wind turbines do you want in your backyard?
"Rural America gets bad vibrations from Big Wind," Robert Bryce wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal. He notes that President Joe Biden's administration is pushing for "tens of thousands of wind turbines," but asks, "where, exactly, will all those turbines be built?" It's a good question. Many Americans, even those who support the concept of wind energy, may not realize just how thoroughly we will need to carpet-bomb our landscape with wind turbines to reach some of the goals set for wind production. Remember, too, that all those turbines will also need to be serviced by transmission lines to carry that energy to market. While a coal plant or a nuclear plant generally sits in one location, wind turbines are dispersed across the landscape, and the transmission lines that serve them end up covering a lot of ground. Bryce, who has authored a report on this problem for the Center of the American Experiment, a Minnesota-based think tank, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to talk about wind turbines and the challenges of not-in-my-back-yard attitudes. You can read Bryce's WSJ article here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rural-am... You can read his report for the Center of the American Experiment here: https://files.americanexperiment.org/...
241: What could derail the sale of Coal Creek Station?
Coal Creek Station is North Dakota's largest coal-fired power plant and, for a while, it was slated for closure, thanks to a long-running political campaign to tilt the energy markets away from coal, with environmental activists and political partisans cheering its demise. Then, a reprieve. Current owner Great River Energy is close to a deal with a buyer that would continue to operate the plant. Yet there are forces working to undermine that deal - some for political reasons, others because they just don't want to compete with coal-fired power anymore. At the center of this vortex of politics and energy is McLean County and State's Attorney Ladd Erickson who want the power plant to remain open. The closure of Coal Creek Station would be economically and culturally devastating for central North Dakota. McLean County and Erickson have shown a willingness to fight the anti-coal political winds. On this episode of Plain Talk, Erickson joins to discuss the pending deal.
240: Putting the smile back in conservatism?
"I would like us to get the smile back," Sen. Kevin Cramer said in a recent interview. "I mean, we still are the greatest experiment in political world history. Self-governance requires people of virtue, as Os Guinness puts it, and our virtue needs to be demonstrated in our personalities, not just in our ideals. If I grieve anything, it’s that we’ve become too angry," he continued. How does Cramer square that statement with his staunch support for former President Donald Trump, a man famous for his incessant ridicule of his critics? He'll talk about it on this episode of Plain Talk. Also, the Biden administration seems intent on facilitating the fossil fuel aspirations of nations who aren't so friendly with us - lifting sanctions for Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline and Iran's oil exports - even as it works to fight energy development here in the United States. Though, in fairness, Biden's EPA administrator Michael Regan just visited North Dakota and had a lot of encouraging things to say about the state's big bets on carbon capture. Can this administration be worked with on energy?
239: A conversation with Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1980 to 1985, as state Insurance Commissioner from 1985 to 1992, and as the state's at-large member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2010. He knows a thing or two about state politics. And national politics. He joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to talk about the state of national politics, the rise of the Trump movement, the withering of Democratic appeal in rural America, and perhaps some thoughts on unemployment benefits.
238: No vaccines for inmates?
Public health officials and other policymakers have been working hard to persuade people to get a COVID-19 vaccine, but one group of citizens in two North Dakota counties are being denied that opportunity. Williams and Burleigh counties — the former in the heart of North Dakota's oil fields, the latter home to the state capital — are refusing to provide COVID-19 vaccines to their jail inmates citing cost and liability issues. Does this make sense? Dane DeKrey, advocacy director of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota, says this is a human rights issue. He joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss.
237: Is this new North Dakota law a threat to academic freedom?
Earlier this year North Dakota's lawmakers approved a bill that prohibited institutions in the state's university system from working with groups that promote abortion. The bill, as passed, also included a financial penalty, denying matching state fundraising dollars for campuses that ran afoul of the provision. The impetus for the legislation was a long-standing grant relationship between Planned Parenthood, which is involved not only in promoting abortion rights but also in partisan politics on the side of Democrats. Governor Doug Burgum signed the law, though he vetoed the penalty, leaving only the prohibition in place. Many on the state's campuses see the Legislature's actions as an affront to academic freedom. Is it? Dr. Bo Wood, a professor of political science at the University of North Dakota, joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss that as well as the controversy around Rep. Liz Cheney and the splintering of the GOP.
236: Is cryptocurrency worth the risks?
You're probably hearing a lot about cryptocurrency these days. Dogecoin. Bitcoin. The businesses you patronize are telling you they accept it. Heck, here in North Dakota, the City of Williston has begun accepting it as a payment option. But what is it? How do you use it? And given the headlines we see about the rollercoaster values of cryptocurrencies, is it a safe place to put your money? Jack Seaman from MinDak Gold and Silver Exchange is a business owner who accepts cryptocurrencies. He has a crypto ATM in his business. He joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the practical realities of using cryptocurrency.
235: I'm not saying it's aliens, but it's aliens
It used to be, if you started talking about aliens and UFOs, most people would write you off as a crackpot. That's changed. High-ranking military officials, and even a former President of the United States, Barack Obama, are acknowledging that there are things flying around in our skies that even our best scientific and military minds can't explain. What's happening? And why did it become ok, all of a sudden, to acknowledge this stuff? Jay Thomas from WDAY AM970 joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss.
234: Is anyone checking to see if economic incentives work?
A company or organization wants to start some project with economic development assistance from the government. They make applications to state boards or local governments, and in those applications they make promises. They'll create jobs, they say. They'll generate tax revenue. And when the tax breaks or subsidies are approved, the politicians doing the approving typically take a victory lap. But does anyone ever look back to see if the promises made in the process of procuring government largesse are kept? Fargo City Commissioner Tony Gehrig, an outspoken critic of this approach to economic development, says no. At least not in his community. He joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss.
233: Can North Dakota really go carbon neutral?
Some of the biggest investors in the green energy space are major players in the fossil fuel industry. Meanwhile, Ford has announced an electric version of its hugely popular F-150 pickup. In North Dakota, where oil and gas is a huge contributor to the statewide economy, Governor Doug Burgum just announced a goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. What's going on? Rob Port and Jonah Lantto from the Good Talk Network discuss. Also, why are public health officials hassling vapers? And will the checks from the government ever end?
232: Group says they'll sue over 10 commandments law
In April, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed a bill that aims to protect school districts from liability for posting the 10 commandments. “School boards are already required to develop a policy for the proper display of any religious objects or documents," Burgum said in a statement announcing his signature on the bill. "This law supports local control and gives school districts full control over whether to display any religious objects or documents." Opponents of the bill argued that the legislation could invite lawsuits from groups who see displays of the 10 commandments as an affront to religious liberty. Andrew Seidel, a constitutional law attorney for the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation has described the legislation as "un-American" and has said that his group is ready to challenge it in court. "The Freedom From Religion Foundation has successfully sued three times to remove Ten Commandments monuments or posters from public schools, and is prepared to challenge this blatantly unconstitutional law," he wrote in a recent letter to the editor. He joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the issue.
231: When will the checks from the government stop?
First, it was economic stimulus checks. Then it was multiple-round pandemic relief payments and expanded unemployment benefits. Now President Joe Biden's administration, acting on a part of the Democrats' nearly $2 trillion pandemic relief package, is set to send Americans with children hundreds of dollars every month. Kids under 6 are worth $300 each, while kids age 6 to 17 are worth $250. That adds up to thousands of dollars per year, per family, at a time when our national budget deficit is routinely measured in the multiple trillions as our total national debt closes in on $30 trillion. This is supposed to be a temporary program, but once the money starts showing up in bank accounts, does anyone doubt there will be a move to make things permanent? This is money we don't have. Or, think of it another way. These are tax dollars our great-grandchildren will pay one day, and we're just giving it to ourselves. Talk show host Jay Thomas from WDAY AM970 in Fargo will join this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss.
230: Democrats can't win, and Republicans can't get along
The world of North Dakota politics, in the current moment, is one in which Republicans can't get along, and Democrats can't win. A faction of the North Dakota Republican Party, deeply aligned with former President Donald Trump, has launched a largely unsuccessful campaign to take over the state party. Yet though they've fallen short, their actions at local district meetings, including censuring sitting Republican lawmakers, have roiled the NDGOP. Meanwhile, the North Dakota Democratic-NPL has chosen more leadership for a party that hasn't won much of anything for going on three decades. Can the NDGOP's political dominance survive this fraught and divisive moment? Can the Democratic-NPL overcome the toxicity of its brand to take advantage of Republican infighting? Chad Oban, a former executive director of the Democratic-NPL, joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss.
229: Should ND invest the Legacy Fund in a theme park?
Should the State of North Dakota invest Legacy Fund dollars in a theme park venture in Jamestown? The proponents of the Buffalo City Park want the State Investment Board to approve a $60 million investment for the proposal. Lt. Governor Brent Sanford chairs the State Investment Board, and he joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss the amusement park proposal as well as new legislation directing more Legacy Fund investments into North Dakota projects and startups.
Jay Thomas Show 05-10-21
Rob and Jay talk about the impact of expanded unemployment benefits on our economy. People aren't going back to work, and why would they when they can make the equivalent of $15.00 per hour staying at home?
228: Teacher canceled for classroom discussion about George Floyd
Is recreational marijuana inevitable in North Dakota? The Biden administration announced a loan forgiveness program for farmers, but not white farmers. Is that fair? A Wahpeton school teacher has been suspended after a classroom discussion about George Floyd and the Derek Chauvin trial outraged students (or, perhaps more accurately, their parents). Rob Port and Jay Thomas, talk radio host for WDAY AM970 in Fargo, discuss these topics and others.
227: How can rail safety be controvesial?
Rail shipments are hugely important to North Dakota's economy. Framers and ranchers depend on the railroad infrastructure to bring their crops and livestock to market. The state's manufacturers receive shipments of raw materials, and send out finished products, by rail. The energy industry, too, depends on rail. The fraught political debate over pipeline infrastructure has often squeezed the capacity available for North Dakota's oil fields. Rail is a flexible, if not optimal, way to get petroleum to market. Given this importance, shouldn't rail safety be paramount for North Dakota's leaders? After a few firey and explosive derailments of oil-by-rail shipments created a new narrative for anti-oil activists to pounce on, Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, a Republican, sought funding from the Legislature to begin a state-run rail inspection program. The federal bureaucracy is typically in charge of that, but their coverage leaves much to be desired. State inspectors help them cover more rail. But some of North Dakota's lawmakers, even as they've funded the rail inspection program, have been hostile to it. Some of them would rather leave it to the federal government. Others resent the modest cost, which currently stands at just $600,000 for the two-year budget cycle. Every time the program is funded, a sunset provision is put in. Fedorchak joins this episode of Plain Talk to talk about the success of the rail inspection program, and the fight to keep it funded.
226: Does North Dakota need hate crime legislation?
A Fargo/Moorhead mosque was vandalized with racial slurs and Nazi imagery recently. That and other incidents have led for some to call for new hate crime policies in North Dakota. Fargo City Commissioner Arlette Preston is calling for a new ordinance. The editorial board of the Fargo Forum has also called for new statewide policies. But do these policies work? Do they actually deter hate crimes? Wess Philome, an activist with OneFargo and the Black Lives Matter movement, wants new policies enacted. Mark Friese, a practicing defense attorney with the Vogel Law Firm in Fargo, questions both the efficacy of such policies and the necessity. These men join this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss the issue.
225: Ed Schafer on legislative session, Trump divisions, and Legacy Fund
Ed Schafer helped usher in the current era of Republican dominance in North Dakota when he was elected Governor back in the early 1990s. How does he feel about the Trump era, and the strife and faction now dividing his party? We'll talk about it on this episode of Plain Talk Live. Also, the Governor weighs in on the just-completed legislative session, the battles between the legislative branch and the executive branch under current Governor Doug Burgum, as well as his thoughts on the way the Legacy Fund is being used.
224: Is support for Trump a litmus test for Republicans?
Some Republicans in the U.S. House want Rep. Liz Cheney, the GOP's conference chair and the third-ranking Republican in the chamber, to go over her criticism of former President Donald Trump. Trump supporters are even attacking House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, pointing out his living arrangement with prominent consultant Frank Luntz. Is any work getting done in the House amid all this in-fighting? Can Republicans effectively rebut the Democrats' agenda when they're busying throwing pies at one another? Also, the Biden administration has finally conceded that the Dakota Access Pipeline should continue to operate during a court-ordered review, earmark spending is making a comeback, and federal legislation addressing civil asset forfeiture may be on the way. Congressman Kelly Armstrong will discuss the problems in his caucus and these other topics on this episode of Plain Talk.
Jay Thomas Show 05-03-21
Rob and Jay talk headlines including COVID-19 vaccines and what happened at the Legislature
223: Do vaccine selfies bother you?
Do vaccination selfies, or other types of posts people make on social media indicating they've received a COVID-19 vaccine, bother you? Some are irate about them. Some want them to stop. Rob and Jay Thomas, talk show host for WDAY AM970 in Fargo, talk about that and other headlines and issues heading into a new week.
222: The Bastiat Caucus and the fracturing of the NDGOP
The North Dakota Republican Party is, without question, the dominant political organization in the state. The Democrats hold no statewide offices. They haven't held a majority in either of the Legislature's chambers since the Clinton administration. They haven't held a statewide executive branch office since the dawn of the Obama administration. Starting in 2010, the Democrats began losing their control of the state's congressional delegation, culminating in former Senator Heidi Heitkamp losing control of a Senate seat that had been home to a Democrat since the Eisenhower administration. But, despite that dominance, the NDGOP's coalition is showing some cracks. In the Legislature, the secretive and controversial Bastiat Caucus has begun to define itself as the true protectors of the state's conservative movement and the NDGOP platform. Activists aligned with the caucus to one degree or another have, this year, launched a campaign to take over control of NDGOP district organizations, and perhaps ultimately the state party itself. Perhaps one of the most visible members of the Bastiat Caucus, Rep. Jeff Hoverson of Minot, who said he doesn't even belong to the Republican caucus in the state House, joins this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the movement.
221: What's the future of the Democratic-NPL?
The North Dakota Democratic-NPL has been out of power in North Dakota for about two generations. They haven't held the governorship since the early 1990s. They haven't held a statewide executive branch office since 2009, or a majority in either chamber in the Legislature since 1994. Until 2010, the state's entire congressional delegation were members of the Democratic-NPL, as of 2018 those seats are now all held by Republicans. The party holds just 7 seats in the state Senate, and only 14 in the House. How can they turn it around? Zach Raknerud was the unsuccessful Democratic-NPL candidate for U.S. House in 2020, and he's currently running to be a committeeman for the party in 2021. He joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to talk about his party, its past, and what he believes could be its future.
220: Previewing the State of the Union
President Joe Biden is set to deliver his first State of the Union address to a country that is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and deeply divided in just about every way a society can be divided. From environmental issues to infrastructure to immigration, can he map out a policy agenda that brings people together to solve real problems? Rob Port and University of North Dakota professor of political science Bo Wood discuss on this episode of Plain Talk Live. Also, North Dakota's legislative session is due to be wrapped up this week. Governor Doug Burgum has signed a raft of pro-gun bills, and declared North Dakota a 2nd Amendment "sanctuary state." Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up an important gun rights case. What could that mean for guns and self in America?
219: North Dakota vs. Minnesota on law enforcement use of force
Thanks to high-profile cases, including the death of George Floyd, Minnesota has become an epicenter in the political battle over the use of force by law enforcement. As a result, the state has created new use of force laws, and they're not sitting well with some in law enforcement. Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner, whose North Dakota jurisdiction bumps up against Minnesota's border, recently wrote a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz asking him to exempt North Dakota cops from the new law so that they can continue to render assistance across the border. Sheriff Jahner joins this episode of Plain Talk Live to discuss Minnesota's law, the problems he sees it posing to North Dakota law enforcement and the issue of the use of force by law enforcement in general.
Jay Thomas Show 04-26-21
Rob and Jay talk about the end of the Legislative session, including the debate over a Buffalo-themed amusement park in Jamestown.
218: Sober rides, firefighters, and a state-funded amusement park?
In March the State of North Dakota implemented a truly innovative bit of public policy. With some grant money from the AAA Foundation, Governor Doug Burgum's administration launched the Sober Ride program, which provided $10 vouchers for Lyft rides between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. The result? In March, some 800 presumably impaired drivers got rides home, and the total cost was just $8,000. Far less than taxpayers would have paid for one DUI checkpoint, or to put one DUI offender through the criminal justice system. Should this program continue? Should it be expanded? Also, the 2021 legislative session is wrapping up, but there's still a lot of issues to settle and budgets to finalize. Rob and talk radio host Jay Thomas from WDAY 970 AM discuss on this episode of Plain Talk Live.
217: Gov. Burgum explains his vetoes
North Dakota's legislative session is ending, and that always means a flurry of bills getting signed into law, or occasionally vetoed, by the Governor. On this episode of Plain Talk Live, Governor Doug Burgum talks about the bills he's signed, and the bills he's yet to sign. Among the bills already signed is one protecting schools from lawsuits over 10 commandment displays and another providing health benefits for the family of fallen first responders. Burgum has also signed a "stand your ground" bill that removes the "duty to retreat" from the state's self-defense "castle doctrine," new protections for free speech on the state's campuses, and a massive infrastructure bonding package. Among the bills vetoed? One would have restricted the participation of transgendered athletes in K-12 sports, and the other would have stop the state government from implementing mask mandates in the future. Why did he make these decisions? I'll ask.
216: Derek Chauvin is guilty. What next?
Derek Chauvin is guilty, and that's some justice for George Floyd, but are debate over the role of law enforcement in our society is far from over. Can cops accused of inappropriate activity get a fair trial in this environment? What can we do about militant attitudes in the ranks of law enforcement? Rob and podcast entrepreneur Jonah Lantto from the Good Talk Network, a production company that currently produces several podcasts and a late-night show, discuss. Send comments and feedback to rport@forumcomm.com. You can follow Jonah's work here: https://www.facebook.com/thegoodtalknetwork
215: Did North Dakota need campus free speech legislation?
#NorthDakota #FreeSpeech #HigherEducation Recently Governor Doug Burgum signed House Bill 1503 into law. It's aim? To protect free speech on North Dakota's campuses. At the national level, we've all heard many stories about students who, whether it's because of campus administration or harassment from other students, have difficulty expressing controversial points of view. Was that a problem in North Dakota? Was this bill necessary? Tyler Coward, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, discusses the bill and the state of free speech rights on North Dakota's campuses. Send comments and feedback to rport@forumcomm.com.
Jay Thomas Show 04-19-21
Rob and Jay talk about COVID-19 vaccines, face masks, and more.
214: 60 percent to amend the constitution?
A new ballot measure campaign seeks to amend North Dakota's state constitution to make it harder to amend the constitution. Specifically, it would require a 60 percent supermajority for any constitutional amendment on the ballot to pass. It would also limit each proposed amendment to just one topic. Is this good reform? Or a power grab or, as the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead put it in an editorial, a "stunt" aimed at weakening the voices of voters? Rick Gion, head of North Dakota Voters First, a group responsible for multiple constitutional ballot measures in the past, believes it's the latter. He talks it over with me on this episode of Plain Talk Live.
213: Vaccine hesitancy in North Dakota
The rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been paused across the nation. North Dakota is possessed of some of the highest rates of hesitance in the nation when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations in general. What does the pause mean for you? How do we persuade people who are skeptical of any of the vaccines? Molly Howell, the Immunization Program Manager at North Dakota Department of Health, joins Plain Talk Live at 2 p.m. central time to discuss these issues.
212: A discussion with Chad Oban
Chad Oban is a long-time activist in North Dakota politics. He served as the executive director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL and his wife, Erin Oban, is a state Senator from Bismarck. On this episode of Plain Talk Live, Rob and Chad will talk about the rise of the Bastiat Caucus in North Dakota, the fight over mask mandates, campaign finance transparency, and legislative pay. Plus, whatever else might come to mind!
211: Making it harder to amend the state constituiton
A group calling itself Protect North Dakota’s Constitution held a press conference today announcing a ballot measure campaign aimed at making changes to North Dakota's constitution a bit harder. Currently, outside of a greater number of signatures required on petitions for constitutional measures, it's as easy to amend the state constitution at the ballot box as it is to amend statute. This group wants that to change. "PNDC is proposing a constitutional measure proposed by the legislature or as an initiated measure should address a single issue and receive sixty percent or more of the votes cast in a statewide election for it to be approved," they state in a press release. The co-chairs of this campaign are Williston resident Jeff Zarling and retired North Dakota National Guard General Mike Haugen. Zarling will join me on this episode of Plain Talk Live at 1 p.m. to discuss the proposal.
210: Handouts for coal?
Is North Dakota about to give the coal industry a handout? That's what critics of pro-coal legislation in Bismarck are saying, but there's another side of the story. Power sources like wind and solar have enjoyed decades of political favoritism. From heavy production subsidies to outright mandate for their use, the market has been skewed in their favor, to the detriment of baseload power like coal and even nuclear. But recent power outages and utility bill spikes show that we may have gone too far down that road. Now North Dakota lawmakers are considering a package of tax relief and subsidies aimed at helping keep our state's coal plants open, including the largest plant, Coal Creek Station near Underwood. For economic reasons, yes, but also for the sake of keeping our power supply in the region reliable and affordable. Sen. Jim Roers, a Republican from Fargo, joins this episode of Plain Talk Live at 3:30pm central standard time to discuss.
Jay Thomas Show 04-12-21
Rob and Jay talk about the officer-involved shooting in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and the resulting protests.
209: Congressman Armstrong visits the southern border
There is perhaps no political conflagration in America more intractable than our debate over border security and immigration. In the long run, we need policies that facilitate lawful immigration while giving no quarter to illegal entry into our country. In the here and now, we have a crisis at the southern border, with thousands upon thousands captured and detained while trying to make an illegal crossing, and thousands more successfully entering our country outside of our laws. North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong visited the southern border this week and will share what he saw, and what we ought to do about it, on this episode of Plain Talk Live. “When we are talking to local law enforcement and local city officials, it becomes very clear that we have a broken immigration system," he said in a press release about the visit. "These are communities built on immigration. These aren’t partisan issues down here. They are community issues and public safety issues. Because of the Federal government’s failure to act, we are asking more of our local law enforcement agencies. That is taking away from citizens in these communities. It is taking away from deputies and their families and what they do." "We have to do a better job of providing resources to the communities, law enforcement agents, and the people who are dealing with this emergency. We have to do a much better job of talking about this issue and how it affects everybody who lives in border towns and everybody who lives across the country," he continued.
208: Corporate activism
In Georgia, Major League Baseball reacted to the passage of election reform laws with a boycott. The sports league has moved its all-star game from Atlanta to Colorado. In North Dakota, a debate over legislation dealing with transgender athletes was dominated by rumors about what the NCAA might do to punish the state if it passed. Every day, much of America's political debate takes place in venues where corporate giants like Facebook, Twitter, and Google regulate the speech, either through direct human intervention or through filtering algorithms the companies have developed. Is this what we want? On this episode of Plain Talk Live, Rob and University of North Dakota political science professor Bo Wood talk about it. Also, President Joe Biden's administration wants a new infrastructure bill and tax increases, and will Congress, with Democrats in charge, pass gun control legislation? Send comments and feedback to rport@forumcomm.com.
207: What's the future of marijuana legalization in North Dakota?
On this episode of Plain Talk, Rob talks with David Owen of Legalize ND about the future of legalizing recreational marijuana in North Dakota now that the Legislature has shot down legalization efforts.
Jay Thomas Show 04-05-21
Rob and Jay talk about the controversy around the Georgia voting laws.
206: Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford and the future of coal in North Dakota
North Dakota Lt. Governor Brent Sanford talks about his work to find a buyer for Coal Creek Station, the state's largest coal-fired power plant, as well as the future of coal-fired power in the state in general.
205: The "Fighting over Sioux" documentary
Rob talks with filmmaker Matt Fern about his documentary, "Fighting over Sioux," about the years-long controversy over the University of North Dakota's former Fighting Sioux nickname.
204: COVID-19 vaccines, marijuana, and cancel culture
In the very first live streamed episode of Plain Talk, Rob and podcaster Jonah Lantto of the Good Talk Network talk about COVID-19 vaccines, marijuana legalization, and cancel culture.
Jay Thomas Show 03-29-21
Rob and Jay talk about outrage exhaustion, marijuana legalization, and underage drinking.
Jay Thomas Show 03-22-21
Rob and Jay talk about transgender issues and vaccinations.
Jay Thomas Show 03-15-21
Rob and Jay talk about the headlines, including immigration.
203: Lawmaker fundraising on harassment accusations a "slap in the face"
Supporters of Rep. Luke Simons, an embattled Bastiat Caucus lawmaker from Dickinson who has been accused of harassing behavior by numerous women who work in and around the Legislature, have begun raising money for his legal defense. Simons currently faces no criminal or civil charges, though House Majority Leader Chet Pollert and other Republican leaders have called on Simons to resign and have said they'll consider expelling him from the chamber if he doesn't. How does one of the women who says she was harassed by Simons feel about the fundraising? "It's a slap in the face of the people who went through this," Rep. Brandy Pyle (R-Casselton) said on this episode of Plain Talk. Pyle detailed many "very uncomfortable comments" Simons has made to her, including asking her who was taking care of her children while she serves in the Legislature. Simons also told Pyle he had seen older pictures of her where she looked "like a schoolgirl." He told her she shouldn't wear her hair too long or she'd like "Indian" or "Chinese." "It's hard," Pyle told me. "You work very hard to get there and get the job. To be constantly undermined as a woman...it's frustrating." "I sat down with him two Fridays ago to talk about some of his behavior in our caucus meetings," Pyle told me, saying that Simons has been, "shouting and screaming and calling everyone hypocrites." The subject of Simons' ire in the caucus meetings was the Legislature's mask mandate - Pyle said Simons would "threaten to be forcibly removed from the floor for refusing to wear a mask" - but the issue wasn't his objection to masks. Pyle said it was how he was conducting himself. Both Simons and many of his supporters have suggested that the accusations are born of a political vendetta. Simons himself has blamed "liberals" for the scandals around him and has argued for "cleaning house" at Legislative Council where a number of the accusations against him have originated. Pyle says that's just not true. "I used to go to Bastiat Caucus meetings," Pyle told me, noting she quit going when the organization began charging $300 in yearly dues.
Jay Thomas Show 03-01-21
Rob and Jay talk about the scandal surrounding Rep. Luke Simons, as well as the problems with wind energy.
202: Bill would hide North Dakota's presidential vote counts
The fighting over close national elections can be vicious. We saw that last year in the heated battle between Joe Biden and Donald Trump where many of the latter's supporters made claims of vote fraud. But it's not a recent phenomenon. Turn back the clock and you find Democrats in the George W. Bush-era hatching conspiracy theories about Diebold voting machines. Given the reality of that sort of turbulence, does it make any sense to make the election process less transparent? Less open to public scrutiny? A bill before the Legislature in Bismarck would do just that. Senate Bill 2271, introduced by Sen. Robert Erbele, a Republican from Lehr, would hide the vote counts for North Dakota's presidential elections from the public. State officials would still be allowed to release percentage figures representing the share of the vote each candidate got, but the actual vote numbers would be a secret until after the Electoral College votes from each state are cast. Surprised you haven't heard of this bill? Don't be. It hasn't gotten much attention, despite having sailed through the Senate already on a lopsided 43-3 vote. It's "almost a politburo situation from Soviet Russia," Saul Anuzis said on this episode of Plain Talk. Anuzis is a long-time Republican leader - he led the Michigan GOP for years and was twice a candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee - and of late is a proponent of an interstate compact promoting the national popular vote. He says Erbele's bill is being pushed by a lobbyist opposed to the national popular vote, the idea being that North Dakota can't participate in any national popular vote proposals if we don't report our popular vote totals. Anuzis called it "horrible public policy" and a "secret ballot situation" that conflicts with the basic principles of fair and open elections. He also said it conflicts with federal law. This debate isn't really about how you feel about the national popular vote. I'm deeply suspicious of proposals to change the status quo, including Anuzis' proposal. This is about government transparency. Our society has a hard enough time fighting against conspiracy mongers to get the public to focus on facts. That fight will only get harder if we take some of the available facts off the table. Delaying public reports of vote counts for any race on the ballot, up to and including the presidential races, shortens the time window in which potential fraud might be detected. Perhaps even worse, it could create an information vacuum in which conspiracies about vote counts can thrive. Other states, including South Dakota and New Hampshire, have voted down similar proposals. Anuzis' arguments in favor of a compact among the states to promote the national popular vote might not be your cup of tea, but that's not the point. However you feel about this issue, making our elections in North Dakota less transparent is not the answer.
201: "If you want a three-minute Fox hit, it's a great place to be"
"The policies surrounding renewable energies was a huge part of this problem," Congressman Kelly Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk. The "problem" in question are the power outages that have recently plagued Texas and a vast swath of the middle of America. For Armstrong, it illustrates not just the absurdity of the government promoting intermittent forms of energy like wind and solar to the degree it has, but also the need for a renewed commitment to energy infrastructure. It's not just the oil and gas pipelines targeted by frequently violent protests and activist litigators paid to obstruct and delay. "You think building a pipeline is hard, try building a high-voltage power line," Armstrong said. "The United States used to be the best country in the world when it came to infrastructure," he continued. "I don't think anyone believes that anymore." How has it been working in Congress during the Biden era? Armstrong said he was hopeful about some of the things President Joe Biden has said about bipartisanship, but he's not it turn up in the policymaking process so far. "The take is that Biden's willing to cut a deal, but his staff isn't." How much of that intransigence is a product of political bases that demand, with the fury of protests and social media campaigns, absolute loyalty to policy platforms? A great deal, Armstrong says. "If MSNBC came after me for 48-hours, do you think that would help me or hurt me with my voters?" Armstrong asks. It would help him, clearly, given North Dakota's political inclinations. "If you want to do a three-minute Fox News hit, [North Dakota] is a great place to be," he added.
Jay Thomas Show 02-22-21
Rob and Jay talk about summer school and insulin prices.
200: Sen. Cramer on wind power, the electrical grid, Ted Cruz, and Rush Limbaugh
Power outages touched millions of Americans this week, including North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer. "I actually had a 45-minute blackout," he said on this the 200th episode of Plain Talk. What can be done to prevent these sort of blackouts in the future? A lot of energy policy gets made at the state level, for a lot of excellent reasons, but from the federal perspective Cramer sees a two-pronged approach. One, the lavish production tax credit for wind energy, which provides some perverse and truly distortive incentives for energy companies to produce wind energy, needs to end. Two, both the marketplace and government regulators need to draw a distinction between baseload electrons, of the sort produced by coal or nuclear plants, and intermittent electrons which come from sources like wind. Also on this episode, Cramer responds to the controversy surrounding Senator Ted Cruz's trip to Mexico amid the Texas blackouts and the passing of conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh.
199: Could North Dakota get longer school years?
"We have a bit of a crisis in K-12 education right now," North Dakota Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said on this episode of Plain Talk. At issue is the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it's had on the state's schools. While some of the testing and other measurements of academic progress vary from district to district, Baesler said her office estimates that as many as 25 to 28 percent of students currently aren't performing at grade level. The "chaos" of the pandemic "has had an impact on the learning of our students," Baesler said. What can be done about it? State lawmakers had charged Baesler with coming up with a list of proposals, and she's begun presenting the list she produced, with the input of teachers and other education stakeholders, at the on-going legislative session in Bismarck. Some of the top proposals? High-impact tutoring, social and behavioral interventions, and adjustments to the school calendar. That last may be the most provocative in terms of public response, but Baesler said how these proposals are implemented, if they're implemented, would probably look different in each school district. She said it's unlikely that districts would add days to their calendars, but parents and students will likely see some "tweaks" such as academic summer camps or weekend tutoring sessions. Other proposals Baesler's report brings up include creating a credentialed position called "health technician" at schools (think something akin to a school nurse) and hiring school counselors at elementary-level schools as well.
198: "We can't afford to shut down any more coal plants"
State Rep. Dave Nehring is a Republican from District 8, an area which covers what might fairly be described as the heart of North Dakota's coal industry. This gives Nehring an interesting perspective on the recent energy shortages that are turning off lights here in North Dakota and across the nation. "We can't afford to shut down any more coal plants," Nehring said on this episode of Plain Talk. Coal Creek Station, the largest coal-fired power plant in North Dakota, is located in Nehring's district. Its owner, Great River Energy, announced its shutdown last year, responding to political pressure against so-called "black electrons" and a marketplace that has been manipulated by green energy policies. Nehring sees the planned close of not just Coal Creek but coal-fired power plants across the nation as folly. "We're on an unsustainable path to grid unreliability," he said. What can be done about it? At the very least, "we need to keep the status quo," he said.
Jay Thomas Show 02/15/21
Rob and Jay talk about the arctic weather and what it's doing to the power grid.
197: Can North Dakota break the Apple/Google app store monpoly?
In the late 19th century hundreds of small, short-line railroads were being bought up and consolidated into larger companies. Our nation's burgeoning economy was (and still is, in many ways) dependent on those railroad lines which, increasingly, were under the control of a shrinking number of people. Those people began using their monopoly over the transportation of goods to price gouge and manipulate markets. "If we will not endure a king as a political power we should not endure a king over the production, transportation, and sale of any of the necessaries of life," Republican Senator John Sherman said at the time. Sherman would ultimately give his name to the Sherman Antitrust Act, which continues to the basis of American antitrust law to this day. The point is that corporate hegemonies should be allowed to suppress free trade. Some argue that's exactly what's happening in the enormous and growing market of app development. That market is dominated by two companies. Apple, the manufacturer of iPhones, and Google, which operates the Android operating system used on phones from pretty much every single non-Apple manufacturer. Companies that sell digital services through these apps - think a subscription to a fitness app, or an in-app purchase in a game like Candy Crush - have to use Apple and Google's payment services and they have to pay a 30 percent fee for the privilege. "This is exactly the same thing" as the railroad monopolies of the 19th century says Lacee Anderson, spokesperson for the Coalition for App Fairness, said on this episode of Plain Talk. It is in this context that North Dakota's lawmakers take up Senate Bill 2333, which was introduced by Republican Senator Kyle Davison of Fargo. Mark Buse, who is a vice president for dating service Match.com, says his company supports the legislation. "The issue is that all app developers should be treated the same." Anderson suggested that Apple and Google have used their control of the app markets to drive out competitors for their own services. She also noted the recent controversies over the tech industry censoring political content as an argument in favor of breaking up these company's controls over apps. No other state has this sort of law in place, though others are considering it. Why should North Dakota lead the charge? It could encourage app developers to locate here in order to avoid Apple and Google's fees. Could Apple and Google cut North Dakotans off from their stores if this legislation passes? After all, our state is but a fraction of the markets those tech giants serve. Anderson says that would be an extreme and unlikely outcome.
196: "We have to protect businesses from lawsuits"
During the COVID-19 pandemic, business owners and policymakers have had to walk a balancing act between acknowledging the very real dangers of the coronavirus outbreak and the terrible economic realities attendant to shutting down or restricting businesses. Keeping businesses open during the pandemic - a necessity because people still needed many of those businesses, and those businesses needed to survive - was a health risk for business owners, the employees, and the customers. How much of that risk should business owners be liable for? "Businesses need to be protected from lawsuits," Allison Ritter, spokesperson for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said on this episode of Plain Talk. Her group represents more than 2,000 businesses in North Dakota alone, and almost all of them see the need for legislation making it clear what pandemic-era risks business owners are liable for and which they aren't. Ritter's group and other business interests are pushing for legislation that would limit liability for businesses that have opened and will continue to open during the outbreak. Three bills in the state House in Bismarck are addressing this issue. House Bill 1271, introduced by Rep. Marvin Nelson (D-Rolla), was already killed in a floor vote. House Bill 1376, introduced by Rep. Jim Kasper (R-Fargo), just got a "do pass" recommendation in committee and is headed to a floor vote. But the most comprehensive bill, and the one Ritter and her group prefers, is House Bill 1175, introduced by Rep. Michael Howe (R-Fargo), has already been approved by the House on a 77-17 vote and sent to the Senate for consideration. "A person is immune from civil liability for an act or omission resulting in damage or injury sustained from exposure or potential exposure to COVID - 19 if the act or omission was in substantial compliance or was consistent with a federal or state statute, regulation, or order related to COVID - 19 which was applicable to the person or activity at issue at the time of the alleged exposure or potential exposure," that bill reads. Under that language, as long as a business owner took the precautions laid out by the local, state, and/or federal government, they're protected from liability. Bad actors can still be held accountable, but those who operated prudently have a shield. Ritter likened this to the responsibility business owners have for clearing snow from their premises. If they leave the snow and ice and someone gets hurt, their liable, but if they take appropriate steps to clear the snow and remove the ice and someone gets hurt anyway their liability is greatly diminished.
Jay Thomas Show 02-08-21
Rob and Jay talk Super Bowl, social media outrage, and an update on what's going on at the Legislature in Bismarck.
195: "There's no defending the things she's said"
"She didn't violate a rule in Congress," Congressman Kelly Armstrong said, referring to Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene has come under fire for numerous comments she's made on social media and elsewhere supporting conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks and school shootings. "There's no defending the things she's said," Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk, but argued that it's up to the voters in Georgia, not the majority party in the U.S. House, to hold her accountable. Armstrong says he's worried that the actions against Greene - she was stripped of her committee assignments over the objections of most of the Republican minority - are another example of "escalating issues" that have the majority party imposing its will on the minority. The congressman also discussed legislation he's introduced to move the Keystone XL pipeline forward. President Joe Biden has littered his first days in office with a flurry of executive orders, many of them aimed at the oil, gas, and coal industries. One of the most notorious has been the canceling of a permit for the Keystone line to cross the U.S./Canadian border. Armstrong said his bill would remove the necessity for that presidential permit, and he also said our nation needs to create more regulatory certainty around these projects. It's not fair, or good for the nation, he argued, for an already-issued permit to be suddenly rescinded when the political winds blow in a different direction.
194: 'Scrap the current platform'
Shelley Lenz and Cesar Alvarez are two Democratic-NPL candidates who have lost previously on the ballot but think they have ideas that can help Democratic candidates start to win in North Dakota. "Scrap the current platform," Lenz said on this episode of Plain Talk. "It's not resonating." Lenz and Alvarez want to be chair and vice-chair of the Democratic-NPL, and they want to organize the party around a platform of a half-dozen or so policy proposals. The party needs to "simplify our platform" to a more "legislative platform we can campaign on." They also argue that the state party needs to broaden its appeal in North Dakota. "We need to start winning some of these races in western North Dakota," Lenz said. "What do we have, one lawmaker elected west of I29?" she continued. It's actually a few more than that, but not many, and the point is well-made. So how do Lenz and Alvarez plan to help the Dem-NPL make inroads into western North Dakota at a time when, at the national level, the incoming administration of President Joe Biden is already issuing orders that harm the oil and gas industry? Neither offered a lot of specifics during the interview - the tired shibboleth about "all of the above" energy made an appearance - but Lenz did express a willingness push back against the national party's hostility to oil and gas and coal. "Energy and food will always come from rural areas," she said. "That's why we need to shape the national party on energy and food." Alvarez is a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, whose tribal lands make up the heart of western North Dakota's oil fields. "You'll get no anti-oil stuff from me," he said. "Our platform isn't anti-Republican," Lenz said. Alvarez echoed this saying he and Lenz are "not focusing on vilifying the other side." "You can't thrive in rural America without being conservative," Lenz continued.
Jay Thomas Show 02-01-21
Should North Dakotans be allowed to open and patronize cigar bars? Rob and Jay talk about it, also legislation aimed at seat belts.
193: Sen. Cramer talks Trump impeachment, Game Stop craziness, and more
"Even markets can be irrational," Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk. He was talking about activist investing which has ballooned stock prices for companies like video game retailer Game Stop and movie theater chain AMC, hitting bear investors who had placed bets on those prices declining right in the pocketbooks. What should be done about it? Nothing, says Cramer. At least not right now. He says he's waiting to see how things play out. Cramer also spoke about the impending impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump. The Senator has already cast a vote in favor of a motion declaring the trial unconstitutional but says he won't make up his mind on whether to vote guilty until after he sees the evidence. Still, given his vote on the motion, it seems unlikely he'd vote for Trump to be guilty. Cramer acknowledged that while he didn't approve of Trump's actions before, during, and after the riot at the U.S. Capitol, he didn't think it rose to the level warranting conviction. But even if Trump isn't convicted, is he someone Republicans should be following going forward? Trump is working on remaining a relevant force in the Republican party. "He's going to be," Cramer said. "He's going to have as much influence as he wants to have."
192: Is it imprudent to invest in North Dakota?
"This bill changes the legal guidelines." That's what former North Dakota Treasurer Kelly Schmidt had to say of a proposal, currently before the Legislature in Bismarck, which would invest 20 percent of the billions in the state's Legacy Fund in North Dakota businesses and infrastructure. Private entrepreneurs could access that capital to start up or expand their businesses. Also, local communities could access the money to finance infrastructure projects cheaper and quicker than they are at present. The Legacy Fund is already invested in these sort of things, just not in North Dakota. Currently, less than 2 percent of the Legacy Fund is invested in North Dakota. Schmidt spent 16 years at Treasurer before declining to run for another term last year, and that means she spent 16 years on the State Investment Board which oversees the Legacy Fund's fiscal management. Her objection to the legislation - it's House Bill 1425, introduced by Rep. Mike Nathe (R-Bismarck) and backed by Insurance Commissioner and SIB member John Godfread - is that it modifies what's called the prudent investor rule. "It's never good to make an exemption to the prudent investor rule," she told me, arguing that the rule is more than North Dakota law but a standard in the investment world. Nathe's legislation modifies it because the goal is to prioritize investment in North Dakota, even if there are better returns available through investments in other parts of the world. Schmidt says she's not against investing in North Dakota, and argues that the State Investment Board hasn't been against it either, but she worries about the Legislature mandating types of investment that might have a too-dramatic impact on the Legacy Fund's earnings. Some in political circles have suggested that Schmidt's opposition to this proposal may be born of a potential job waiting at one of the money management firms the state uses for Legacy Fund investments. Schmidt denied this, calling it a "lie," though she didn't entirely close the door on that sort of gig. She said her plan now is to spend time with her family but added, "if God has a plan for me moving forward I may be open to that, but there are no offers on the table."
191: Native Americans are the "most regulated people in America"
President Joe Biden's brand new administration has already taken swift action, by way of an executive order, on all manner of policy fronts. One notable area is energy, where Biden has already withdrawn an already-issued permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. Now he's expected to sign a new order halting new oil and gas development on federal lands. What could this mean for tribal lands? "It's not good," North Dakota Indian Affairs Commissioner Scott Davis said on this episode of Plain Talk. Davis, who is a member of Governor Doug Burgum's administration with family roots in both the Standing Rock Sioux and Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribes, expressed no small amount of "frustration" with the Biden administration for taking this step. "You can't just turn the light switch on and off on a whim," he said. Oil and gas production is hugely important to the people of the MHA Nation whose lands are located in central and western North Dakota. According to Davis, among America's energy-producing tribes, the MHA Nation is "definitely the top." Development on their lands represents roughly a fifth of North Dakota's total oil output. Davis says the tribe has enjoyed a financial windfall from oil development, the revenues of which have been directed toward building schools, health care facilities, and needed infrastructure. If Biden's moratorium stops oil and gas leasing on the MHA Nation's lands "it would set them back 30 years," according to Davis. "They have a trust responsibility to tribal communities," Davis said of the federal government. I asked Davis if he knew if tribal leadership in North Dakota was consulted by the Biden administration on this order. "Not to my knowledge," he told me. Native Americans are the "most regulated people in America," Davis said, adding that he's afraid this abrupt decision by the Biden administration could set a precedent for other policy areas like education.
Jay Thomas Show 01-25-21
Rob and Jay talk about a bizarre DUI case before the North Dakota Supreme Court as well as a bill that would reimburse lawmakers for meals.
190: Investing the Legacy Fund in North Dakota
North Dakota's Legacy Fund, since it was created by the Legislature and approved by voters in 2010, has turned a slice of the state's oil tax revenues into a nearly $8 billion balance. That balance is invested in stocks and bonds across the nation, and the world, including in some ways that, as a moral matter, we shouldn't be happy about. Almost none of it is invested in North Dakota. Rep. Mike Nathe wants to change that. Or, at least, the part where practically none of these North Dakota tax dollars are invested in North Dakota. He has proposed legislation that, if passed, would require that 20 percent of the Legacy Fund's balance (he pins that number at about $1.4 billion) would be earmarked for investment in North Dakota. It would be available as capital not just for companies and start-ups, but also for infrastructure. He talked about the proposal on this episode of Plain Talk. North Dakota has long been plagued by a shortage of capital. It's hard for companies that want to do business in our companies to find investment. Economic diversification is another long-standing issue dilemma for the state. While our most dominant industries, agriculture and energy, have created no small amount of prosperity here, they're also commodity-based and prone to volatility. The state's leaders have long seen this as having our eggs in too few baskets, but a solution hasn't been obvious. Nathe's bill, which has broad support including from legislative leadership, is aimed squarely at those problems. Not only would companies looking to operate in the state have access to more capital, but the funds could also be invested in cheaper financing for needed infrastructure (think things like sewage plants and bridges). Since the state would essentially be lending money to itself, that process would be faster and less of a financial burden to taxpayers. What better use could there be for the Legacy Fund than to address some of North Dakota's legacy problems?
Jay Thomas Show 01-18-21
Rob and Jay talk about gun control legislation, the Capitol riot, and a bill that would end an exemption for clergy when it comes to mandatory reporting of child abuse.
189: Senator Kevin Cramer on Trump, the riots, and a new Congress
"Trump is the best President of my lifetime," Senator Kevin Cramer told me on this episode of Plain Talk. It's a statement he's made publicly many times, even after the ugly events in Washington D.C. on January 6. But Cramer is also critical of President Donald Trump. He has accused Trump of inciting the crowd before the riot, he criticized the president for his conduct during and after the riot, and he said Trump's recent address, finally conceding the election and calling for peace, was tardy. When asked if Donald Trump, after the riot at the capitol, is an effective messenger for Republicans and his movement Cramer said, "I doubt that he is, quite honestly." Should President Trump be impeached and removed from office? That's "exactly the sort of activity that is not conducive to healing this nation," he said. He also believes that Trump does not meet the requirements for removal by his cabinet under the 25th amendment. The text of that amendment states that the President can be removed from office when the Vice President and a majority of cabinet members feel that he or she is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. What really seems to be frustrating Cramer is that the events at the end of Trump's term in office are going to overshadow the accomplishments on tax policy, energy and agriculture regulation, and foreign policy that he's proud to have helped the President enact. "As Republicans distance themselves from Donald Trump the person we have to hold onto his ideas," Cramer said.
Jay Thomas Show 11-23-20
Rob and Jay talk about the latest coronavirus news.
Jay Thomas Show 11-16-20
Rob and Jay talk about North Dakota's new mask mandate.
Jay Thomas Show 11-09-20
Rob and Jay talk election results, Twitter bans, and District 8 controversy.
188: "I don't blame President Trump for his level of frustration"
As the votes continue to be counted, President Donald Trump, which no real evidence, is making accusations of a fraudulent election. How does North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer, a staunch Trump supporter, feel about it? "I don't think it helps him," Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Do I condone everything President Trump says? No," Cramer also said. But he also said he understands the President's feelings. "I don't blame President Trump for his level of frustration," Cramer said citing what, at this point, seems to have been some wildly inaccurate public polling and some dubious vote-counting procedures in states like Pennsylvania. Cramer also spoke about some state-level politics, weighing in on the controversy in District 8 where Governor Doug Burgum, lawmakers, local party leaders, and the Democrats are all squabbling over who should get to sit in a legislative seat voters elected a dead person to.
Jay Thomas Show 11-02-20
Who will win the election? Rob and Jay discus.
187: Former Governor Ed Schafer talks about Measure 2
Former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer does not support Measure 2. He does not believe the Legislature should get a chance to overturn a ballot-box vote to enact a constitutional amendment. Measure 2 would amend the state constitution to make it so that constitutional measures approved at the ballot box would also have to be approved by both houses of the Legislature. If one or both houses voted against the amendment, it would go back to a second statewide balloting allowing voters to overturn the Legislature's veto. I don't agree with Ed, and on this episode of Plain Talk we debate the issue, but we did find one area of agreement. Whatever happens with Measure 2 next month, it's clear the status quo in North Dakota's initiated measure process is broken. Schafer and I spoke of potential policy curatives ranging from finance reform for initiated measure campaigns to bans on paid signature collectors to limiting measures to one policy change each.
186: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Shelley Lenz
"Trump has brought the rural voice back into play," Shelley Lenz told me on this episode of Plain Talk. Lenz is the Democratic-NPL candidate for governor, challenging Republican incumbent Doug Burgum, and while she clearly doesn't like Trump overall, she is critical of her own party for not paying enough attention to the priorities of rural Americans. "Urban Democrats are misinformed," she told me. Much of our conversation, as you might expect, focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and Burgum's response to it. Lenz says Burgum has "failed" by, among other things, not paying enough attention to the advice from medical experts. "He's not a doctor," Lenz said. She also spoke about her "homegrown prosperity" platform that would seek to promote more investment in North Dakota.
Jay Thomas Show 10-19-20
Is it even worth debating a mask mandate anymore? Rob and Jay discuss.
185: "She thinks that she...has it in the bag."
This episode of Plain Talk was intended to be a conversation with both of North Dakota's candidates for Superintendent. Sadly, the incumbent, Kirsten Baesler, opted not to participate, claiming she didn't have enough time to make it work, though she did offer me a one-on-one interview later in the week. Go figure. The challenger, Brandt Dick, did offer his time, and our conversation covered everything from why Baesler shouldn't get another term to test scores for North Dakota students to school choice. "She thinks that she...has it in the bag," Dick said of Baesler's decision not to participate in our discussion, alluding to other situations where he says Baesler has declined to engage him. "She's concerned to enter into a debate." Dick says one of the biggest challenges facing North Dakota right now is an on-going transition in the way local schools are funded. The new formula was launched under former Governor Doug Burgum, but the state and school districts are still grappling with an equitable distribution of funds. He also criticized Baesler for failing to talk about how to transition North Dakota students back to classrooms in places where that's not happening because of the pandemic. "I have yet to hear her say...that we need to transition to get education back face-to-face," Dick told me. How as North Daktoa's students been performing under Baesler? "As a state we've been going the wrong way" on test scores, Brandt said, though he acknowledged that scores aren't the only metric for student success and that the superintendent's role in them is limited. Dick says he supports the idea of school choice for things like homeschooling and private schools, and that he actually started his education career at a religious school in Bismarck, but he has concerns about sending public dollars to private institutions which don't have an obligation to accept all students, including those with special needs. He also says schools could do better in guiding students into what happens after graduation. "For a while we were pushing too many kids into college," Dick said, adding that he'd like to see students given options like technical schools and other paths to success. What's important for schools to instill in students, in a modern economy where lifetime careers are increasingly not the norm, is "grit" Dick said. An ability to be respectful and resilient.
Jay Thomas Show 10-05-20
Rob and Jay talk about President Trump and the coronavirus, masking, and Measure 1 and 2 on the November ballot.
184: An idea to invest the Legacy Fund in North Dakota
What are we going to do with the Legacy Fund? There are a lot of things, and they generally fall into two broad categories. One is how the fund is invested, the other is what we do with the returns. Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread, who serves, as a part of his official duties, on the State Investment Board which oversees the investments of the Legacy Fund, has an idea for the latter of those categories. Currently, the Legacy Fund has approximately $7 billion, and almost all of those dollars are invested outside of North Dakota. Nearly $1.7 billion of that total is not only invested outside of North Dakota, but outside the borders of the United States, including more than $107 million worth of investments in communist China. Godfread doesn't necessarily want to address that specific issue, but he does want to focus some of the Legacy Fund's investments in North Dakota, and he talked about it on this episode of Plain Talk. Currently, the SIB uses 32 money managers to guide investments. Godfread would like to add a 33rd called the North Dakota Investment Advisory Committee (IAC). The committee would be tasked with identifying good investments within the borders of North Dakota. Those investments would pay returns to the Legacy Fund just like any other investment. This is not a plan to "spend" the Legacy Fund, only a proposed shift in how some of the fund's dollars are invested. In addition to the direct investment returns, Godfread said the state a whole would benefit from the infusion of capital to entrepreneurs and projects that will, in turn, create more jobs and economic activity in our state.
183: Debating Measure 2
Measure 2 is a constitutional amendment, put on the November ballot by the Legislature, which would change the initiated measure process for constitutional measures. Activists would still collect and file signatures the same way, but if a measure amending the constitution is passed by voters, it wouldn't immediately be enacted. It would first go to the Legislature for an up-or-down vote. If the Legislature approves, then the measure is enacted. If the Legislature votes it down, the measure automatically goes on the next general election ballot for another vote of the people. If approved again, then it is enacted. Oh, and Measure 2 would require that constitutional amendments only be placed on November general election ballots, as opposed to June primaries. On this episode of Plain Talk, Measure 2 opponents Ellie Shockley and Dustin Gawrylow try to convince me that the changes are a bad idea. They didn't succeed, but I think our conversation is illuminating, both of the issues around Measure 2 the initiated measure process in general.
Jay Thomas Show 09-28-20
Rob and Jay talk about Rep. Rick Becker wanting to be North Dakota's new state health officer, and the upcoming presidential debate.
182: Senator Kevin Cramer
Cramer talks Supreme Court and other topics during his regular appearance on the podcast.
181: Burgum walks back quarantine order
"I have to own the miscue," Governor Doug Burgum said on this episode of Plain Talk. He was referring to a quarantine order issued by his administration earlier this week which carried with it a misdemeanor criminal charge for anyone who violated it. The order applied to people who came into close contact with someone positive for COVID-19. Burgum said interim State Health Officer Dr. Paul Mariani noticed, upon taking his new position, that in the area of quarantines North Dakota wasn't in compliance with CDC guidelines. "He wanted to align those two things," Burgum said. The result was the now-rescinded order, which included the misdemeanor charge because state law requires that to be the penalty for disobeying orders from the SHO. "We know the government telling people what to do in North Dakota doesn't work," Burgum said, adding that his administration's goal is "compliance" and not punishing people. "It didn't flag for me personally...that we were going to have the storm of reaction we did," Burgum said. He said he'd like to work with the Legislature in the next session to give the SHO position some flexibility to issue orders without a criminal consequence for violating them. "There wasn't a way for us to say that's an infraction instead of a misdemeanor," Burgum said, adding that he'd like to "get people to stop focusing on the penalty."
180: Two rural Democratic legislative candidates talk about campaigning
Jodi Meisch and Will Thompson are two Democrats in North Dakota's 22nd legislative district. They are hoping to unseat to Republican incumbents, Rep. Brandy Pyle and Rep. Michael Howe. On this episode of Plain Talk, they talk about the issues that are important to them, both big and small. We also delve into the complicated policy problems presented by property taxes and local control, as well as the difficulties inherent to campaigning as a Democrat in a state, and legislative district, that has come to view that political party suspiciously.
Guest Hosting: Jay Thomas Show 09-21-20
Democratic-NPL gubernatorial candidate Shelley Lenz takes questions and talks about her campaign. Also state Rep. Scott Louser (R-Minot) makes the pitch for Measure 2.
Jay Thomas Show 09-14-20
Rob and Jay talk about some recent fire at a Minot City Council meeting, and controversy over a Native American statue in Carrington.
Jay Thomas Show 09-08-20
Rob and Jay talk about a report connecting some 250,000 cases of coronavirus to the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota.
179: Sec. of Energy Dan Brouillette
North Dakota has come "dangerously close" to not having the power it needs. That's what Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette said on this episode of Plain Talk. He said that political policies favoring energy sources like wind and solar are "distorting the economic viability" of baseload energy like coal. Secretary Brouillette said he wasn't going to criticize a company like Great River Energy, which announced earlier this year that they would be closing down North Dakota's largest coal-fired power plant because they're reacting rationally to a distorted market place. Still, with baseload energy sources like coal plants shutting down, it's putting Americans, generally, and North Dakotans, specifically, at risk. "If anyone misses the point of why baseload energy is important...look at California," Brouillette said. The Secretary is visiting North Dakota to review the nuclear missions at the Minot Air Force Base and to participate in roundtable discussions about the challenges facing the oil, gas, and coal industries, issues he also addressed in this episode.
Jay Thomas Show: Measure 3 Is Off The Ballot
Jay and Rob talk about the North Dakota Supreme Court kicking Measure 3 off the ballot.
178: CDC Director Robert Redfield
On this episode of Plain Talk Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control in Georgia, talks about the COVID-19 impact and how America, generally, and North Dakota, specifically, is handling it. One point Redfield made is that elected officials need to avoid making sweeping policies, instead tailoring responses to the needs of specific areas. "We need to be more surgical," Redfield said, echoing something Governor Doug Burgum has been saying about responding to the pandemic "using a scalpel not a sledgehammer." Asked how North Dakota is doing in its handling of the outbreak, Redfield offered a risk assessment. He said the CDC considers a state in the "red zone" if it has more than 100 active cases per 100,000 citizens. "North Dakota has about 151 per 100,000," he said, though he added that another measure his agency looks at is the percentage of tests being conducted that are coming back positive. A 10 percent rate puts a state in the red zone, per the CDC. Redfield noted that North Dakota's daily rates are typically coming back under 6 percent. In a recent column, I noted that just about everyone in North Dakota who is testing positive for the virus is recovering with most - around 95 percent - not even needing to be hospitalized. In response, some argued that even those who recover may face long-term health challenges resulting from having the virus. I asked Dr. Redfield about that. "It's unknown territory," he said, noting that the virus has only been with us for a matter of months. It's something the CDC is tracking, but he expects that healthy people without "co-morbidities" (which is to say, other health issues) who get the virus will likely recover and be fine long-term.
Jay Thomas Show 08-24-20
Jay and Rob talk about the Trump vs. Biden race, and the group calling itself North Dakota Voters First which is pushing Measure 3.
177: North Dakota U.S.House Debate
Incumbent Congressman Kelly Armstrong, a Republican, debates Democratic challenger Zach Raknerud on issues ranging from marijuana to criminal justice reform to energy development and the postal service.
Jay Thomas Show 08-17-20
Rob and Jay talk about the election and mail-in voting.
Jay Thomas Show 08-10-20
Rob and Jay talk about North Dakota's cap on state liability, President Donald Trump's attempted suspension of payroll taxes, and coronavirus news.
Jay Thomas Show 08-03-20
Rob and Jay talk about re-opening schools during the pandemic.
Jay Thomas Show 07-27-20
Rob and Jay talk about the coronavirus and masks.
Jay Thomas Show 07-20-20
Rob and Jay talk about coronavirus, mask mandates, and employee bonuses for the state of North Dakota.
176: "I don't know what got into him" Senator Kevin Cramer says of Trump tweet about border wall
In a recent tweet, President Donald Trump criticized a portion of wall built along the American southern border by a private group of his supporters. "I disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of the wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads," Trump wrote, responding to media reports claiming this section of the wall is facing problems from erosion. "It was only done to make me look bad, and perhaps it now doesn't even work. Should have been built like the rest of the Wall, 500 plus miles." This portion of the wall was built by Fisher Industries, a North Dakota company that has also received contracts from the federal government to build hundreds of miles of southern border wall. "I don't know what got into the president," Senator Kevin Cramer said when asked about the situation on this episode of Plain Talk. "It's only mildly interesting to me, to be honest," Cramer added, noting that he hasn't spoken to the President or any White House staff about the situation. He did defend Fisher's wall construction, including the portion the president criticized. "I don't think he said anything about Fisher Industries specifically," Cramer said. "The President is nothing if not spontaneous," Cramer replied when asked if the tweet frustrated him. "I don't get frustrated. He also speaks in hyperbole. A lot of people don't understand that." Cramer also discussed the Pentagon's new policy about which flags can be displayed at military bases that excludes Confederate flags and the roller-coaster legal fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Jay Thomas Show 07-13-20
Rob and Jay talk about re-opening North Dakota's schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Jay Thomas Show 06-22-20
Rob and Jay talk about mobs tearing down statues across the United States.
175: "He liked watching him on the shows"
"He liked watching him on the shows." That's what Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk, responding to a question about why President Donald Trump would have hired John Bolton in the first place. Bolton is currently peddling some salacious stories about his tenure in the Trump administration, and that has earned him quite a bit of condemnation from Republicans, up to and including the President himself. But Bolton is hardly the first member of the Trump administration to depart under stormy circumstances, and while the President doesn't have anything nice to say about them, the fact remains that he hired them in the first place. Per Cramer, Bolton apparently got his job because he had a "bareknuckle" style during his cable news appearances. Cramer also addressed the NDGOP's Treasurer race, which saw state Rep. Thomas Beadle emerge as the winner over the Senator's preferred candidate Dan Johnston. Cramer helped orchestrate an endorsement for Johnston from Trump, but that wasn't enough to put him over the top. "I'm still glad I supported him," Cramer said of Johnston. Asked if Johnston's loss is an indication that Trump has lost popularity in North Dakota, Cramer said "no, not at all." Would Cramer be open to making Juneteenth a national holiday? "I'm not ready to do that, but I'm open to the discussion," he said, adding that he'd like to review all major holidays to ensure that the calendar isn't getting too full of federally-recognized days.
174: Democrats call for a special session
Does North Dakota need a special session? House Minority Leader Josh Boschee, a Democratic lawmaker from Fargo, thinks so. He is one of a group of Democratic lawmakers who are requesting a special session to address the impacts of the coronavirus. One major issue Boschee would like handed is some $1.25 billion in federal funding North Dakota is receiving to help address the COVID-19 situation. As it stands now, the executive branch will decide how that money is spent, specifically, and the Legislature's Budget Section Committee will say "yea" or "nay" to the decision. That committee can't do anything more than that. If they do, it would be unconstitutional, since a mere committee of the Legislature cannot, on its own, legislate. Also, membership on that committee is limited. Many parts of the state have no representation on it. Boschee thinks the whole Legislature should get to weigh in on the issue, as well as other problems facing the state, such as looming budget shortfalls and public health policy.
Jay Thomas Show 06-15-20
Rob and Jay talk about another billionaire-backed initiated measure for North Dakota, though this one is being pitched under false pretenses.
173: Can they be sued for trying to be a good Samaritan?
Both North Dakota and the nation are grappling with the task of returning our society to some semblance of normal while still keeping in place appropriate measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic. On this episode of Plain Talk, Arik Spencer from the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce talks about some protections his organization feels business owners need to help them get back to employing their employees and serving the public. He noted that many businesses, like restaurants as one example, are afraid to re-open out of fear they'll be liable if an outbreak of coronavirus happens in one of their facilities. Similarly, businesses that shifted their work over to producing things needed during the pandemic - breweries, for instance, which started making hand sanitizer - are worried they could be sued if those products, which they don't typically produce, were faulty. "Can they be sued for trying to be a good Samaritan?" Spencer asked. What he'd like to see is legislation, preferably at the federal level but also at the state level if need be, which would protect businesses that acted in good faith from liability. Spencer says he's heard from some of his members in North Dakota that law firms are advertising looking for clients who feel they were impacted by coronavirus. A law making it clear that businesses which followed the government's guidelines are protected from liability would help our state, and the nation, get back to work. "Let's not inhibit them anymore. Let's get people back to work," Spencer said.
172: Insulting to North Dakotans
"To say that money buys elections in North Dakota is a little bit insulting to the people of North Dakota," Governor Doug Burgum said on this episode of Plain Talk. He was addressing a question about the criticism he's faced for spending millions, much of it his own money, on promoting his preferred slate of candidates in the North Dakota Republican Party's recent primary election. "There's so much more than money in politics," he added, arguing that the candidates he backed won because they persuaded voters. "People win in North Dakota when they've got the right message," he continued. Some have suggested there is growing discord between Burgum and Senator Kevin Cramer, a fellow Republican. These suggestions have sometimes come with speculation that Burgum might challenge Cramer for his Senate seat. "I'm trying not to laugh," Burgum said when I asked him about that, saying he would not ever think of challenging Cramer. In fact, he's not interested in a job in Congress under any circumstances. "The last thing in the world I would want to be is a Senator or Congressman," he said.
171: "It definitely got weird"
The political parties didn't hold their traditional biannual state conventions. The candidates were constrained in their ability to campaign in person. All of the voting was done by mail. The President of the United States endorsed in a down-ballot primary race for a sleepy executive branch office with little influence over actual public policy. This primary season was probably the most unusual in North Dakota's history. State Rep. Tom Beadle (R-Fargo) looks to have won the primary for Treasurer over his opponent, Rep. Dan Johnston (R-Kathryn), and on this episode of Plain Talk he spoke out about what it was like to campaign amid coronavirus, and against a candidate who has Donald Trump on his side. "It definitely got weird," Beadle told me. He said at one point, the personal attacks against him - from Johnston's supporters if not the candidate himself - got very ugly and very personal. "They were attacking my wife and I because we haven't been blessed with kids yet," he said. Governor Doug Burgum backed Beadle in a big way, a part of a roughly $2 million effort on his behalf to promote his preferred candidates in the NDGOP primary. "I'm very grateful for the support the governor had for my candidacy," Beadle said. What would he say to those arguing that Burgum bought the election? "I'm a believer that we're the grand old party, a big-tent party," Beadle said, noting that those complaining about the governor's efforts were involved in the Liberty ND PAC. That group, apparently now defunct, was supported by the libertarian-leaning wing of the NDGOP. Beadle also continues to support Trump, despite the president's endorsement of Johnston. "One thing I can say is this administration has been fantastic for North Dakota."
![170: "I think what [Governor Burgum] is doing is crap" thumbnail](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/8/5/3/2/853201541ad83dc2/Plain_Talk-620x.jpg)
170: "I think what [Governor Burgum] is doing is crap"
"If Governor Burgum's people win it will be a huge blow to conservatism," state Rep. Rick Becker said on this episode of Plain Talk. Becker is a Republican lawmaker from Bismarck and a founder of the Bastiat Caucus of conservatives in the Legislature. He was responding to a question about Governor Doug Burgum's involvement in the NDGOP primary season. Burgum has backed a number of candidates in contested legislative primaries across the state, as well a state Rep. Thomas Beadle in the NDGOP's nomination race for Treasurer, and he's put about $2 million of his own money behind the effort. Though Burgum is backing mostly candidates endorsed by the local NDGOP districts - incumbent Rep. Jeff Magrum in District 28 is the lone exception - Becker sees problems if Burgum gets his way. "His remaking of the Legislature in his own image is not good for the Republican party. It's not good for the state," Becker said. "I think it's unseemly," he added. "We know he doesn't care about the local party or the process," Becker said, addressing the fact that Burgum is mostly backing NDGOP-endorsed candidates and pointing to the fact that, in 2016, Burgum himself failed to receive the NDGOP's endorsement but campaigned for and won the gubernatorial nomination on the June ballot anyway. Has Burgum been a good Governor? "I don't think he's been horrible," Becker responded, damning the incumbent with some faint praise. Becker says he's liked Burgum's pursuit of efficiencies in the executive branch, and he also liked that Burgum challenged what he described as the "coronation" of Republican Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem as governor in 2016, but that his leadership during the coronavirus pandemic, as one example, hasn't been to his liking. Given Burgum's use of his personal wealth in the 2020 primary campaigns, does Becker think North Dakota needs more restrictions on political money? "I think what he's doing is crap," Becker responded, "but I don't think we need knee-jerk legislative intervention."
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 06-08-20
Rob and Jay talk about the issues surrounding law enforcement, both locally and nationally.
169: Zach Raknerud
Zach Raknerud is the endorsed candidate of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL for the U.S. House of Representatives. He also acknowledges that he's the underdog, by a country mile, in his race against Republican incumbent Kelly Armstrong. Still, he credits his recent criticism of what he perceived as Armstrong's silence in the aftermath of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis with getting the incumbent to engage. Raknerud also talks about how our nation can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, how we can improve race relations and law enforcement, and his plan to diminish the power of big business in politics.
168: "Good cops know who the bad cops are"
"Good cops know who the bad cops are." That's what Congressman Kelly Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk, addressing a question about what we can do to solve the problems with racism and abuse in America's law enforcement agencies. Armstrong, a formal criminal defense attorney, argues that most law enforcement officers are good people doing their best with a tough job. He'd like to see them given incentive to "weed out" the bad apples in their own midst. He also addressed an accusation from his opponent, presumptive Democratic House candidate Zach Rankerud, that he's been silent and inactive during the George Floyd protests. "I don't think he's been paying attention," Armstrong said. "I'm comfortable with my background talking about this."
167: It's "almost impossible" for cops to be held accountable for abuses
How do we fix our national problem with law enforcement abuse? There's no single silver bullet that will do it, but on this episode of Plain Talk, Fargo defense attorney (and former cop) Mark Friese says one big step in the right direction would be to end to end the qualified immunity America's courts have created for cops. It's a little complicated, but unless the government waives it the police have immunity from lawsuits unless the courts have established that you have the right you're accusing the cops of violating. So unless you can show the court that you have a right not to have a cop kneel on your neck until you are dead, a lawsuit with that complaint is likely to be dismissed. This makes it "almost impossible" for law enforcement to be held accountable in the civil courts. Friese says other steps, such as removing "incentives for police to treat people inappropriately" and generally winnowing the number of crimes on the books, would also help.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 06-01-20
Rob and Jay talk about the riots and protests in Fargo.
166: The violent Fargo protest
On this episode of Plain Talk, Fargo Forum columnist Raheem Williams, who is also a resident of downtown Fargo, talks about living through the violent protests which took place there over the weekend. "I never thought in my life I would have to act as a sentry in my own community," Williams told me. We discussed what he saw and did, how the protests evolved from something peaceful to something ugly, and the frustration which comes from watching a righteous cause get undermined by violent thugs.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05-26-20
Jay and Rob talk about the Fargo Forum reducing its print editions and the controversy surrounding North Dakota's Care19 app.
165: The Care19 app, coronavirus, and privacy
One of the innovative things the State of North Dakota has done during the coronavirus pandemic is work with a Fargo-based developer ProudCrowd to create a contact tracing app. Contract tracing is an epidemiological technique aimed at tracking where an outbreak is happening and who it is happening to so that policies can be targeted. This allows policymakers to better strike a balance between addressing an outbreak while not unduly burdening the public. Tim Brookins is the founder of ProudCrowd, and on this episode of Plain Talk, he talks about how his app has helped during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as recent privacy concerns brought by another app developer. Brookins says his company is not selling data, not only because it would be illegal under his contracts with the states of North and South Dakota, but because "it's completely worthless." The data the Care19 app collects is anonymized, and tech giants like Facebook and Google already collect far more detailed data from many, many more people. Is the Care19 app helping respond to the pandemic? Sort of. "We just have a really a really low usage rate," Brookins said, estimating that about 5 percent of North Dakota's population is using the app. Still, in any given instance of infection, the app can be useful in helping track that person's movements. "If it helps just one person it's worth it," Brookins said. He also said his company is working on a second app which will alert users if they've been near someone who later tests positive for the virus.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05-18-20
Rob and Jay talk about absurd coronavirus restrictions.
164: Former NDGOP chair says Gov. Burgum is "using is wealth" to punish Legislature
Gary Emineth is a long-time activist in North Dakota politics, and at one point was the chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. He was an outspoken supporter of Governor Doug Burgum's 2016 campaign, but he sees problems in Burgum's decision to spend big money defeating other Republicans in primary races. The Governor is "using his wealth as the chief executive to go after the Legislature," Emineth told me, though Burgum has also intervened in a primary competition for the Treasurer's office as well. Emineth has filed the paperwork to form his own political action committee to try and counteract Burgum's efforts.
163: "At what point will the governor give that local control back?"
Brandt Dick is already a superintendent. He works for the public school system in Underwood, North Dakota. He'd like to continue to be a superintendent, albeit of all of North Dakota's public schools. He's asking North Dakota voters to do that this election year. He's one of three candidates for the position on the June primary ballot, along with incumbent Kirsten Baesler and gadfly candidate Charles Tuttle. Asked about Baesler's job performance, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic which prompted statewide school closures, Dick said she's done a "decent job," though he thinks she hasn't been assertive enough. "It seems like there are some times she's allowed the governor to be in control and make decisions," he told me. One area where he's critical is school closures. "Even now two months after we shut down the schools there are still 14 counties that haven't had a case," Dick said. "At what point will the governor give that local control back?" Dick asked. With the school year closing, that may be a moot point now, but more generally Dick says he'd emphasize local control if elected. He became interested in the position of state Superintendent during his work as an advocate for small and rural school districts before the state Legislature. He says he'd like to see fewer decisions made at the state level. Dick also addressed Baesler's recent arrest for driving under the influence. "That's going to be the crux of this race," he told me. "Are [voters] going to say it's time for a change?" "I think I've shown in my career that I am a role model of professionalism," he added. As for his qualifications for the job, he says he's the first acting superintendent to campaign for this job in North Dakota since 1984. He did plan to seek the NDGOP's endorsement for his campaign, though those plans were derailed when the virus caused the party to cancel it's state convention.
162: "A new realm of virtue signalling"
On this episode of the Plain Talk podcast, Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) recounts being lectured about not wearing a mask by a reporter who was wearing a mask, albeit around his neck and not up over his mouth and nose. "All this is turning into a new realm of virtue signaling," he said. Will Congress pass more relief legislation for the COVID-19 pandemic? Armstrong thinks so. "There is going to be more legislation," he said, adding that he hopes it's "targeted" unlike a new proposal being touted by Democrats which has a price tag "north of $2 trillion." "I don't see how that's responsible," Armstrong said. He also addressed the announced closure of the Coal Creek Station power plant, and a federal judge in Montana who created chaos with infrastructure projects across the country with a national injunction he ordered in a suit against the Keystone XL pipeline which is before his court. Will Congress seek to limit the authority of the courts to do that sort of thing? "No," Armstrong said bluntly. "We aren't. I wish we would."
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05-11-20
Rob and Jay talk about the recent story about workers, fearful of coronavirus, walking out of their jobs at a Fargo business. Was that story fairly reported?
161: "The plant is worthless without the power line."
To hear Ladd Erickson tell it, when Coal Creek Station was built the justification for constructing the power transmission line that services it across acres and acres of prime North Dakota farmland (to the consternation of many farmers at the time) was that the coal plant would generate economic activity. Erickson is the State's Attorney for McLean County, and he believes that if Great River Energy wants to shut down and deconstruct their coal power plant, then they ought to take down their power line too and return the land it's using to farmers. "North Dakota has no economic interested in the power line," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. Coal Creek is North Dakota's largest coal-fired power plant. Great River Energy has said they want to find a buyer for the plant, but if they can't they will shut it down in two years. "We hope they're sincere in this effort to sell the plant," Erickson told me, but added that he doesn't believe they can. That transmission line that serves Coal Creek is extremely valuable. It serves the Minnesota market and, if the coal plant is shut down, could be used to transport power generated by wind turbines, but Erickson doesn't believe Great River should get to do that. "The power plant, the mine, and the power line is all one piece of infrastructure," he says, noting the project was regulated that way when it was built and should be treated that way now, too.
160: "Opening up our own economy is not enough"
"Opening up our own economy is not enough," Dr. Jeremy Jackson, head of North Dakota State University's Center for the Study of Public Choice and Private Enterprise, said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We need other places to open up." Jackson is the author of a new forecast for North Dakota's economy which has some grim findings. During the interview, he notes that North Dakota is an export state. Our primary industries produce goods which are then sold outside of the state, and often outside of the country. Without that outside demand, it's going to be hard for North Dakota's economy to recover. What can state policymakers do to address this situation? "I don't know what policy can get us out of this mess we're in," he said. "We need some contingency plans," he added.
159: Saudi Arabia talks to North Dakota
A one-two punch from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as a price war in the international oil markets, has hit North Dakota hard. Thousands are losing their jobs. Oil production in the state is tanking, and tax revenues are sure to follow. The latter of the two just-mentioned causes for this was kicked off, in part, by Saudi Arabia. On this episode of Plain Talk Fahad Nazer, spokesman for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington D.C., talks to North Dakotans about his country's approach the oil markets. "We don't engage in policies to attack other sectors or other country's economies," Nazer said.
158: Cramer on COVID-19 relief, oil, guns, and coal
"I don't know how he could have handled it better." That's what Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk in praise of Governor and fellow Republican Doug Burgum's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in North Dakota. Cramer has also praised President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis. "His actions have demonstrated federalism," the Senator said, referencing Trump's preference that state's take the lead in responding to the virus. Though Cramer acknowledged that Trump's federalism is more apparent in his actions than his words, with the President at times suggesting his office has unlimited power over the country. The Senator also touched on coronavirus relief efforts, his intention to ensure that oil and gun companies in particular are treated fairly by relief policies, as well as the situation around Coal Creek Station in central North Dakota.
157: What people don't know about coal
Jason Bohrer is President of the Lignite Energy Council, an industry group representing coal interests in North Dakota. His group made a move about, you guessed it, coal. "You get 50 miles outside those coal mines, people don't know much about them," he said, referring to the coal operations in central North Dakota. "What they do know they get from flawed sources." On May 1, at CoalMovie.com, the Lignite folks are releasing a roughly 30-minute film about the history of coal in North Dakota. What it meant in the past, and what it means going forward. Jason also talked about the fraught politics around coal power today, especially with the news that North Dakota's large coal-fired power plant may be closing. "It used to be Republicans and Democrats could sit in a room and talk about energy and there would be friends of coal on both sides," Jason said. "It's not like that anymore." "There are very few people talking about long-term," Jason continued. "The future is more in doubt now than it was five years ago."
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 04/27/20
Rob and Jay talk about the news of the day.
156: "The governor does not have the executive authority to be a dictator"
Rep. Luke Simons is a Republican lawmaker from Dickinson, North Dakota. On Friday, May 1, he plans to re-open his barbershop and he doesn't care what coronavirus-inspired executive orders Governor Doug Burgum may or may not have in place when that day comes. "I don't care if he's the governor. I don't care if he's a billionaire. I am going to practice my freedom," Simons told me on this episode of Plain Talk. "One has the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws," Simons added. "The governor does not have the executive authority to be a dictator," Simons also said. "I went along with what I will call tyranny for a long time now." Burgum's Commerce Department has been working with state business and industry leaders on a plan to re-open the economy, but so far there has been no official word on when some of the restrictions put in place might start to ease. In the meantime, Simons says it's his right to re-open his business. "I will not pay the fines," he said.
155: "We are working on the how"
"We are working on the how. We are not working on the when." That's what North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer said on this episode of Plain Talk. She was speaking about her department's efforts to come up with a plan for re-opening North Dakota's economy. Parts of it, anyway, Slowly. Kommer praised Governor Doug Burgum's "extraordinary wisdom in not going to the shelter-in-place order" despite demands from some. She said that will allow North Dakota to be a bit ahead of other areas as we look to get back to business. The Commerce Department is soliciting input from business and industry leaders on how they can safely re-open so that plans can be open when Burgum decides to back off the restrictions he implemented in response to the pandemic. Kommer also addressed the conclusion of an investigation into alleged criminal wrong-doing in her department over the solicitation and implementation of a new state logo. State Auditor Josh Gallion's office had referred audit findings to law enforcement officials for investigation, but that resulted in no criminal findings. Kommer says she objects to the way the report was handled, saying it was "paralyzing" for her office. She said the result brought "a certain amount of relief" but "also a lot of frustration and maybe a touch of anger."
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 04-20-20
Jay and Rob talk headlines on WDAY AM-970.
154: "The governor...is not going to kill people."
A group of Republican lawmakers in North Dakota is urging Governor Doug Burgum to re-open the state's economy, rescinding or at least letting expire many of the executive orders he's put in place in response to the coronavirus. "The governor, if he opens up, is not going to kill people," Rep. Dan Ruby, a Republican from Minot and leader of that effort, said on this episode of Plain Talk. Ruby says the intent of the government was never to stop everyone from getting the virus. Eventually, everyone will be exposed, he told me. "The government wanted to prevent a spike" in hospitalizations, Ruby said, noting that North Dakota has just 13 people current hospitalized from coronavirus. "Mission accomplished." "I'm not saying everybody should be forced to immediately open," Ruby explained but said it's time to let many businesses open when they feel they can protect their employees and customers.
153: Sen. Cramer talks oil fight, China, and coronavirus relief
Senator Kevin Cramer is very hopeful that an international oil cartel is going to work to help stabilize global oil markets. He talked about that issue as well as America's on-going relationship with China and what more Congress might need to do in terms of coronavirus relief on this episode of Plain Talk.
152: Burgum challenger says she would have issued "shelter in place" order
Dr. Shelley Lenz is a veterinarian based in western North Dakota. She's also running unopposed for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL's gubernatorial nomination. "I would have issued it, yes," she said when asked on this episode of Plain Talk about whether she would have issued a "shelter-in-place" order. North Dakota is one of a few states which haven't seen such an order. Incumbent Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican, has resisted calls to issue one. Lenz says she would have, and that overall if she had been in Burgum's place, should have more direct and authoratative orders earlier. Though despite that criticism, Lenz says she's rooting for Burgum, and admits she voted for him in 2016. "All of us want him to do a good job," she said. "None of us want him to fail." Former lawmaker and current farmer Ben Vig, who was recently announced as Lenz's running mate, also joined the interview. He talked about the Legislature's role in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, the challenges North Dakota agriculture is facing, and how Democrats can win back support in rural America.
Bonus Audio: Should North Dakota shelter in place?
Rob Port and Jay Thomas talk about whether North Dakota should order a shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
151: "We have no interest in trying to screw landlords"
The ACLU of North Dakota, among other organizations, has called on Governor Doug Burgum to issue a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the coronavirus crisis. Dane DeKrey, a spokesman for the ACLU, says it's about protecting renters but not making landlords the bad guys. "We have no interest in trying to screw landlords," DeKrey said on this episode of Plain Talk. What the ACLU would like to see is an executive order which states that individuals can't be evicted, can't be foreclosed on, can't be charged late fees or interest for failure to pay, and can't see their credit rating downgraded. DeKrey says he does still wand landlords to be paid what they're owed, just not right now. "We're asking for a pause button," he added. Why should landlords be forced into a situation where they're providing, at their expense, relief from coronavirus? "That's a good question," DeKrey said, adding that it doesn't have an easy answer.
Bonus Audio: Jay and Rob talk about stopping evictions during the pandemic
During their weekly segment, Rob and Jay discuss the push to stop evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
150: Rep. Armstrong says he'll self-quarantine on return from D.C.
After helping to pass a massive relief bill for a nation afflicted by coronavirus, Congressman Kelly Armstrong says he'll have to quarantine for two weeks after returning to North Dakota from Washington D.C. "The North Dakota Department of Health recommends that people coming in from out of state self-quarantine," Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk while describing the nation's capital as a "petrie dish" right now. "I'm going to do my part to flatten the curve," he added. Armstrong says he's currently measuring his temperature twice a day, and will seek testing for the COVID-19 virus if he notices any symptoms. As for the legislation, Armstrong says he expects the IRS will do "everything they can" to get Americans the authorized payments by April 6. He said he was worried about the cost of the bill, and whether all of the policy decisions it implements are sound, but described it as "essentially like eminent domain for our entire economy." Why that comparison? He says the government has asked businesses to isolate themselves from their customers, and that's not unlike a taking. "We've had entire industries have their customer base cut off overnight," he said.
149: Should we be letting people out of jail because of coronavirus?
The coronavirus crisis has prompted policy makers in North Dakota, and across the nation, to look at reducing jail and prison populations by letting some low-risk offenders, and some folks in jail pre-trial because they can't make bond, out into the general population. Is that the right move? On this episode of Plain Talk Dane DeKrey from the North Dakota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and Adam Martin from the F5 Project, discuss the issue.
149: Should we be letting people out of jail because of coronavirus?
The coronavirus crisis has prompted policy makers in North Dakota, and across the nation, to look at reducing jail and prison populations by letting some low-risk offenders, and some folks in jail pre-trial because they can't make bond, out into the general population. Is that the right move? On this episode of Plain Talk Dane DeKrey from the North Dakota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and Adam Martin from the F5 Project, discuss the issue.
148: Zach Raknerud offers North Dakotans a distinct choice for Congress
On this episode of Plain Talk, Zach Raknerud pointed out that many North Dakota Democrats are afraid to do interviews with me. "I don't think that's right," he said. Raknerud, who is the candidate North Dakota Democrats endorsed to challenge Republican Congressman Kelly Armstrong this cycle, made that point while arguing that he intends to offer North Dakotans a very distinct alternative to the incumbent. A candidate who doesn't sound like past candidates. Raknerud was critical of congressional Democrats for trying to insert issues like the minimum wage into coronavirus relief legislation. "We need to get relief to the American people now," he said, though he said Republicans, for their part, are a bit too focused on corporate bailouts. During the interview, Raknerud also called for a universal basic income, a federal program paying for college tuition, and an expanded Social Security program that would provide things like maternity and sick leave.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 03-23-20
Rob and Jay talk about the on-going coronavirus pandemic.
147: Education professor says remote education demands "unreasonable"
Dan Conn is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Kinesiology at Minot State University. On this episode of Plain Talk, he discusses the challenges related to mobilizing, as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, remote education solutions on the short timeline state leaders like Governor Doug Burgum and Superintendent Kirsten Baesler are asking for. Currently school districts have until April 1 to come up with a plan. Conn says this ask is "very taxing on teachers" and "may be unreasonable." "The worst thing schools could do is overcomplicate things," he said, saying that many of the guidelines issued to school districts by Baesler's office are "daunting" and "overly bureaucratic." Conn believes parents worried about keeping their kids learning during times of social distancing and quarantine should focus on engagement more than anything else. "I wonder if it would make better sense for parents to teach children things they already know," he said. Parents who know how to sew could teach that skill to their kids, for example. "I think a lot of that is B.S.," Conn said when asked about concerns with students losing education momentum during what could be an extended break. "In terms of education going backward, I don't think it works that way," he said.
146: Sen. Cramer talks about when those stimulus checks might show up
Senator Kevin Cramer says Congress is aiming to get stimulus checks, a response to the coronavirus crisis, into the bank accounts of Americans by April 6. That's what he said on this episode of Plain Talk. The legislation isn't finalized yet, but he expects each individual to get in the ballpark of $1,200 each. The cut off for the full amount would start at a $75,000 per-year income for individuals, or $150,000 per year for couples. Cramer says he doesn't like calling this move stimulus. He says it's more about "providing a floor for the economy" during a bad time, adding that he's "not a big fan of it" but will support the payments and other stimulus measures. Cramer also talked about a recent phone call he had with the ambassador for Saudi Arabia, calling on them to back down from a price war he says is intended to destroy American oil producers. Also discussed was the impact stimulus efforts will have on the national debt and the possibility of Congress going to remote voting.
Bonus Audio: Jay and Rob talk CORONAVIRUS!
During their weekly segment Rob and Jay Thomas from WDAY AM970 in Fargo talk about the coronavirus and its impact on the region.
145: Democratic Treasurer candidate Mark Haugen
"You need to do what's best for the state not what's best for the party." That's what Mark Haugen, Democratic candidate for North Dakota Treasurer, said on this episode of Plain Talk. He talks about some of the recent problems in the Treasurer's office, what he'd have done about them, what elements of his background commend him to hold this office, and how he'll convince voters in a deeply Republican state to trust a Democratic candidate. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
144: A "very challenging period" for North Dakota oil
On this episode of Plain Talk, Ron Ness of the North Dakota Petroleum Council talks about the problems the state's oil industry is facing amid a slowing economy, coronavirus fears, and a price war set off by Russia and Saudi Arabia. "The Bakken is one of the best oil resources in the world," Ness says, and it's "still going to produce oil." Still, things are hard right now. "This is a very challenging period," he said. The industry isn't asking for sympathy, but he knows some industry leaders in the state are already starting to make decisions regarding on-going investments in the state. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Is coronavirus coverage too sensational?
As a guest on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in Fargo, Rob talks about coronavirus media coverage.
143: Rep. Armstrong talks coronavirus, Supreme Court, Taliban, and fundraising
On this episode of Plain Talk, North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about the coronavirus situation, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's controversial comments about the Supreme Court, the Trump administration's deal with the Taliban, and his 2020 fundraising. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
142: Supt. Baesler talks about DUI arrest
A week ago Superintendent Kirsten Baesler was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. On today's episode of Plain Talk she talks about how she came to be arrested, why she refused to take sobriety tests, what she's seeking in terms of treatment and counseling, and why North Dakota voters should give her another four years in office despite this incident. Baesler said she drank three "craft beers" while at a Bismarck restaurant with a colleague and was talking on her phone when the law enforcement officer stopped her. The officer told her she had crossed the fog line on the road multiple times. "In hindsight that's something I wish I hadn't refused," Baesler said when asked why she didn't take a breathalyzer or blood test (she says she did agree to a field sobriety test). She says she was "confused" about what the officer was asking her to do, and knows little about DUI laws. She denied that the alcohol she consumed contributed to this confusion. She said she has reached out to an organization for input on treatment, and has been told that outpatient therapy is what is needed. She says her desire for help is real and not politically motivated. "I would never use this for a public or political reason," Baesler told me, adding that she doesn't know if she's an alcoholic. Baesler does believe she'll have to work less while she seeks treatment. "I believe I'll be able to come to work Monday through Friday," she said, but added she may need to cut down on her weekly workload to 50 hours or less. Asked if she plans to continue drinking, Baesler said "it's not something that's a part of my life now." What would she tell students who are hearing about her arrest? She would tell them to take responsibility. "You don't shy away," Baesler said. "Don't let yourself get swallowed up in the shame of this." This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay and Rob talk e-tabs, property taxes and 2020 presidential race
Rob makes his weekly appearance on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in Fargo. Rob and Jay talk about e-tab machines and the impact they're having on tribal casinos, a ballot measure to end property taxes, and the 2020 presidential race.
141: Another run at ending North Dakota property taxes
"I plan to raise in excess of $1.5 million for this." That's what state Rep. Rick Becker said on this episode of Plain Talk. He was describing a nascent campaign behind a new initiated measure to end North Dakota property taxes. The plan is to rely on donations from North Dakotans. Becker says he's asking supporters to cut a check for 20 percent of their property tax bill. The campaign has $100,000 in pledges so far. North Dakota voters have considered this before. In 2012 a constitutional amendment ending property taxes went down in flames, with over 76 percent of voters casting a ballot against it. "We had an opportunity in 2012 and we let it go by," Becker said, arguing that the previous iteration of this proposal didn't give lawmakers enough time to adjust to a tax environment in which they cannot rely on property taxes. Becker says that, among other problems, is why a "fear" campaign from opponents was successful. He said the 2012 campaign didn't have enough answers for curious voters. "When you're up against a campaign of fear you have to have answers." Becker's proposal, if passed, wouldn't be implemented until 2022, giving lawmakers time to meet and iron out any issues. Would this mean other taxes would have to go up? Becker says no, that the revenues could largely come from money the state is already spending. He notes that in 2012 an argument against ending property taxes is that it would put the state 100 percent in charge of school funding, forcing local officials to come begging to lawmakers in Bismarck for funding."When we voted on this in 2012 the state paid 50 percent of school funding," he said. Since then, "the state started paying for 80 percent of school funding." This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
140: "Distasteful cheer leading for a health disaster"
Much of the political and news media response to the coronavirus outbreak is "distasteful cheerleading for a health disaster." That's what Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk. Condemning a recent New York Times piece referring to coronavirus as "Trump's virus," Cramer said, "I don't there's any question some of the response is political." He does see a silver lining in the situation. "We're getting to see what the best health care system in the world looks like," he said. "So far there haven't been any deaths in the United States." Cramer also talked about the infighting among Democratic 2020 candidates and President Trump's recent visit to India. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
139: Grand Forks legislative candidate talks pragmatism over politics
Rep. Steve Vetter is a Republican from District 18 in Grand Forks. He was one of the Republican candidates elected in blue districts in North Dakota during the Trump wave of 2016. On this episode of Plain Talk, Vetter talks about how he won in a traditionally blue district, what he's done since winning, and how he'll convince voters to give him another four years in office. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
138: Superintendent says she saved parents $4 million in college tuition
North Dakota Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, a Republican, is seeking re-election to a third term. In this episode, she talks about what she's accomplished, and what she'd still like to accomplish. This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
137: Senator Hoeven says we have to be fair to coal
"We need to make sure that coal is treated fairly," Senator John Hoeven says on this episode of Plain Talk. He talks about the struggles the North Dakota coal industry is facing, and what policies can be put in place to make the energy markets fairer. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Jay Thomas Show 02/24/20: Got your Real ID yet?
Rob and Jay talk about the upcoming deadline to get your Real ID.
Bonus Audio: Talking Greta Thunberg on KFYR
Rob and Todd Mitchell from KFYR AM550 in Bismarck talk about the Greta Thunberg mural controversy. Eventually. After all the stuff about Pauly Shore movies.
136: Fighting Sioux documentary to be released this spring
Bismarck-based filmmaker Matt Fern has been making a documentary about the controversy around the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname for seven years now. This spring, he's finally ready to put it in front of wide audiences. The film, now called Fighting Over Sioux, will get a theatrical release in North Dakota this spring, to be followed by availability in other media such as online streaming. Fern talks about his journey in making this film and why the story is still relevant today. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Rob and Jay discuss North Dakota's Great Thunberg controversy
On the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970, Rob and Jay discuss the controversy over a Great Thunberg mural in Bismarck.
135: Gov. Burgum talks energy, agriculture, Trump, and the Greta Thunberg controversy
"Art is art," Governor Doug Burgum said of a controversy in Bismarck over a mural of activist Greta Thunberg. "Art is free speech." On this episode of Plain Talk, he also discussed what he described as our "broken energy market" which is contributing to the financial woes of a major coal-fired power plant owned by Great River Energy. Burgum responded to the recently-launched campaign of a potential Democratic challenger in 2020. He said he hasn't yet met Dr. Shelley Lenz, but agreed with her calls to promote North Dakota's animal agriculture even as he disagreed with her claims that western North Dakota has been ignored under his administration. Burgum said one way to help animal agriculture, and agriculture, in general, is to end North Dakota's corporate farming ban. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
134: Who is Dr. Shelley Lenz?
Dr. Shelley Lenz is a Veternarian, originally from Ohio but a resident of western North Dakota since 2007 with long-standing familial ties to the region. She's running for governor as a Democrat, though she says she doesn't really have a party. She talks on this episode of Plain Talk about why she feels the state government is ignoring western North Dakota, how she'd address the state's workforce needs, and what her views are when it comes to energy, social issues, taxes, and regulation. This episode of Plain Talk was brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 133: Cramer talks Great River struggles, Trump acquittal, Mitt Romney blow-back, and State of the Union
A company which owns a coal-fired energy plant in North Dakota says they're facing financial struggles. Senator Kevin Cramer says it's because the government has put its finger on the scale in the energy markets, and talks about how the issue could be remedied. He also discusses Trump's acquittal from impeachment charges, the blow-back against fellow Republican Senator Mitt Romney for voting not to acquit, and the President's State of the Union address. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 132: Marijuana and Satan worship
David Owen, a pro-marijuana activist working to put legalization of recreational pot on North Dakota's 2020 ballot, says a Legislative study into how to handle legalization has gone "off the rails," including testimony from a former prison warden who suggested a tie between pot use and Satan worship. This episode of Plain Talks was brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 131: "I don't want to use the word duped"
In 2017, North Dakota lawmakers made electronic pull tab machines legal for charitable gaming. That resulted in a 52 percent increase in state gaming revenue, but tribal casinos have taken a hit. North Dakota Indian Affairs Commissioner Scott Davis says that when this legislation was being debated, tribal interests were assured that it wouldn't impact their casinos. Yet it has. Davis says tribal casinos have seen a 30 to 45 percent decline in revenues. "I don't want to use the word duped," Davis said, but the tribes feel duped.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 02-03-20
Rob and Jay talk about the Super Bowl halftime show, Rush Limbaugh's lung cancer, and tribal gaming.
Ep. 130: Running for an office he kinda voted to eliminate
On this episode of Plain Talk, state Rep. Tom Beadle joins me to talk about the campaign he just announced for Treasurer, an office the existence of which he once voted to put on the office. Beadle says he was voting more to have the debate at the ballot box than out of any real conviction to end the office. He says these days he's convinced it's important to have an independent Treasurer to provide oversight and transparency for the state's finances. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 129: Rep. Armstrong talks about the economy, the USMCA, impeachment, and fentanyl
On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about his efforts to hold the FBI accountable for their abuse and manipulation of the FISA court. He also talks about President Trump signing the new USMCA trade deal, the state of the nation's economy, the on-going political fight over impeachment, and why Derek Jeter wasn't a unanimous inductee to the Hall of Fame. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 128: Dem House candidate says his party misunderstand's Trump's appeal
Zach Raknerud is a Democrat from Minot who has launched a campaign for the U.S. House, challenging incumbent Congressman Kelly Armstrong. On this episode, he talks about why Trump is so popular in North Dakota, how Democrats can win over Republican voters, and what he'd do in Congress if elected. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 127: How does a Republican win over Democrats?
State Senator Scott Meyer is a Republican from District 18, a Grand Forks-area jurisdiction that is historically pretty left-wing. Up until 2016, it elected nothing but Democrats, but for the three years, it has been represented by two Republicans and a Democrat, among them Meyer. How did a Republican, in the Trump era, win over a Democratic district? Meyer talks to Rob about it. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Rob and Jay Talk 2020 Presidential Politics
Going way, way off the topic they planned (as usual) Rob and Jay talk about newspaper endorsements in political races and the 2020 presidential race during Rob's weekly Monday appearance on Jay's show.
Ep. 126: Sen. Cramer talks baseball, impeachment, water rules, and 2020 goals
"The power belongs to the people," Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk during a discussion about the on-going impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. "It's being denied them in this instance." Cramer also talks about the rollback of Obama-era water rules, what it feels like to be in an election year without a campaign to run after moving from the House to the Senate, and his goals for 2020. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 125: Debating NDSU's "Junk Mail" Birth Control Program
North Dakota State University has begun a program they call "Junk Mail" which sends birth control and other sexual aids and information to students with the hope of preventing disease and unwanted pregnancies. Socially conservative columnist Roxanne Salonen disagrees with the program, and Rob disagrees with Roxane. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 01-20-20
Rob and Jay talk about crazy social media posts from local politicians, pay-at-the-pump problems, and sex education.
Ep. 124: Rep. Armstrong On Trade, China, Impeachment, Facial Recognitionand the Astros
Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks to Rob about impeachment, the passage of the USMCA and our on-going trade negotiations with China, the threat to privacy of technology like facial recognition, and the Astros cheating scandal. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 01-13-20
Jay and Rob talk about the impact of the online sales tax on local retail and the recent NDSU Bison championship.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 01-07-20
Jay gets an update from Rob on the North Dakota online court records story.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 01-06-20
Jay and Rob discuss the new North Dakota court records system, which has published some personal data such as Rob's social security number, but also information like murder scene photos which some may not know are public record.
Ep. 123: Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken
As the debate over refugee resettlement in Burleigh County continues, City of Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken weighs in.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 11-11-19
Rob and Jay talk about the school lunch debt issue.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 11/04/19
Rob and Jay discuss Rob's column about North Dakota cops violating the 4th amendment. A caller describes his experience being pulled over and searched.
Ep. 122: The politician who actually lowered insurance rates
North Dakotans who get their insurance through the individual market place will enjoy premiums next year which are, on average, about 20 percent lower. That's thanks in no small part to Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread. He talks about his campaign for re-election, and what he'd like to accomplish next in his office. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 121: Auditor says things "cordial" with Governor Burgum
North Dakota Auditor Josh Gallion announced his re-election plans and says things are "cordial" with his fellow Republican, Governor Doug Burgum, despite the latter snubbing the former's campaign announcement. This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 10-14-19 Do We Need Cops In Schools?
Rob and Jay discuss a recent ACLU report suggesting we need fewer cops in schools and more counselors.
Ep. 120: North Dakota ACLU Talks Cash Bail, Cops In School
Dane DeKrey of the North Dakota ACLU talks about his group's desire to see cash bail ended in the state. He also talks about the group's recent report on the use of cops in schools. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 119: Prosperity has left us feeling empty
Americans at living at historically high levels of prosperity, but we also see increasing rates of problems with things like anxiety. Why? Clay Routledge, a professor of psychology and behavioral science researcher from North Dakota State University, discusses ahead of an October 14 presentation he'll be making at the Cato Institute. Details: https://www.cato.org/events/search-for-meaning-in-age-of-abundance This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 10-07-19
Rob and Jay talk about Trump's polling in North Dakota, the upcoming Yankees/Twins game, and why Americans are so sad amid so much prosperity.
Ep. 118: "We'll be a mining superpower"
Steven More, economic advisor to President Donald Trump, says on this episode that we need to let the American mining sector compete better globally. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 09-30-19
Rob and Jay talk about how Rob makes everybody mad.
Ep. 117: Armstrong says impeach push is "wasted time"
"I can't tell you how much time we've wasted on this," Congressman Kelly Armstrong says of the latest push from Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 09-23-19
Rob, the glinty-eyed capitalist, and Jay talk about the controversy over a company buying up mobile home parks. Also, as the cost of the farmer bailouts surpass the cost of the auto bailouts, were they worth it?
Ep. 116: Senator Cramer says he believes Iran was behind Saudi attack
Senator Kevin Cramer talks about how the world better weathered the attacks on Saudi oil production thanks to America's energy renaissance. He also says he believes Iran was behind the attacks, but the question of how the U.S. should respond doesn't have an easy answer. This episode of Plain Talk brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of ND.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 09-09-19
Can the North Dakota Ethics Commission regulate the speech of elected officials? Rob and Jay Thomas discuss.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 09-03-19
Rob joins Jay Thomas on WDAY AM970 to talk about Walmart's changing gun policies.
Ep. 115: Senator Cramer says border wall has made life easier for customs agents
Senator Kevin Cramer takes questions from listeners and talks about his recent visit to the southern border with Mexico. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 114: CEO Says Oil Refinery Will Put Out Less Pollution Than National Park
Bill Prentice is the CEO of Meridian Energy, the company behind the construction of the Davis Refinery in western North Dakota. He says the new refinery will be so clean it will put out less pollution than the cars visiting nearby Theodore Roosevelt National Park. He talks about the political and legal struggle to build the refinery. This episode of Plain Talk brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 08-26-19
Rob and Jay discuss the cost to taxpayers and students of North Dakota State University Athletics. Also, lawmakers want ideas on how to spend the state's Legacy Funds, what would be the best way?
Ep. 113: Cramer Decries "Pervasive Antisemitism" In Democratic Party
Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions, and discusses what he sees as antisemitism among Democrats, the economy, and the budget. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 08-12-19
Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, with Jay and Rob discussing Jeffrey Epstein, mass shootings, gun control, and red flag legislation.
Ep. 112: Burgum pollster talks 2020, new ND ACLU director talks outreach
Dane DeKrey, the new leader of the ACLU in North Dakota, says he'd like to see if he can find some common ground with conservatives. Also Chip Englander, pollster for Governor Doug Burgum's campaign, talks about the 2020 race. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 111: Democrats hate what North Dakota does
How can Democrats ever hope to win over rural, red state America when their supposedly moderate presidential front runner says he wants to eliminate fossil fuels? Which are important in all kinds of ways for both North Dakota, specifically, and rural American generally? Also Jodi Beauchene's friend was murdered in Fargo recently. Charges are pending in the case, but while they do she says some changes need to be made to North Dakota's domestic violence laws. This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 110: Expanding the Dakota Access Pipeline
Glenn Emery, a Vice President with Energy Transfer Partners, talks about his company's plan to increase capacity in their controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. Also, what can we really do to prevent mass shootings? This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofND.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 08-05-19
Rob and Jay talk about the shootings in Ohio and Texas.
Ep. 109: Racist against North Dakotans?
Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions on this episode, and all of the questions had to do with his recent comments about discrimination against North Dakotans. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Guest Hosting WDAY 07/26/19
Rob guests hosts for Mike Kapel on WDAY AM970. Topics were the death penalty, Alerus Center finances, and Congressman Kelly Armstrong took listener questions.
Bonus Audio: Guest Hosting WDAY 07/25/19
Rob guest hosts for Mike Kapel on WDAY AM970.
Ep. 108: Nobody is fiscally conservative any more?
Rush Limbaugh says fiscal conservatism is old and busted, and nobody ever really cared. If that's true, what does it mean to be a conservative? Is it all just cultural now? Also, Senator Kevin Cramer takes questions on the Mueller hearing, marijuana, the border wall, and other topics. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 107: North Dakotans are too cynical about economic mobility
North Dakotans came in almost last in the nation in a Harvard Study when it comes to optimism about economic mobility (the ability of people to become wealthier over their lifetimes). But, the study also shows that North Dakota was first in the nation when it comes to economic mobility. Why the disconnect between perception and reality? Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong answers listener questions. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 106: Are you surprised Trump cares so much about #TheSquad?
"I'm surprised President Trump cares so much about these congresswomen," Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the President's feud with "the squad." Cramer also takes listener questions. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 105: Over 175,000 could qualify for marijuana pardons
"We could be looking at upward of 175 to 179 thousand who have this issue," Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said of new, streamlined process that will allow those with minor marijuana-related convictions to apply for pardons. Also, the Legislature will allow local governments to double their traffic fines. Is that constitutional? And is it a big deal that state lawmakers get paid for absences? This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 07-15-19
Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, 07-15-19, talking about President Trump's recent comments about a group of female Democratic congresswomen among other topics.
Ep. 104: It's Trump's comments about free speech which are dangerous
President Donald Trump said media speech he doesn't agree with is not free speech because it's dangerous. But isn't the President of the United States saying something like that what's really dangerous? Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 103: Cramer defends support for HB1044
Senator Kevin Cramer defended his support for eliminating per-country caps on visas for high-skilled workers in response to listener questions. "I not only supported it I championed it," he said. Also, what happens when it's the news media sowing controversy and division in our country? This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Ep. 102: Should ND legalize sex work?
A sex worker masquerading as a massage therapist got busted in Minot. Massage therapists want a crack down to protect their industry, but would a better route be to legalize and license sex work? Also, ND University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott talks about his view for how to better manage the finances of the state's public institutions of higher education. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 07-08-19
Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, with Jay and Rob discussing the citizenship question on the U.S. Census.
Ep. 101: "Democrats are finally acknowledging there's a crisis"
"I think we should all be happy that Democrats are finally acknowledging there's a crisis at the border," Congressman Kelly Armstrong says on this episode of Plain Talk. He also talks about the 4th of July holiday and the upcoming Mueller testimony before Congress. Also, the President of El Salvador blames conditions in his own country for the crisis at America's border. He's right. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 100: The new effort to legalize marijuana in North Dakota
David Owen of Legalize ND talks about his group's new proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota. Also state lawmakers now say they'll abide by a legal opinion from Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem which found their law limiting the powers of the state Auditor was unconstitutional. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 07-01-19
Talking baseball, the field of Democratic 2020 presidential candidates, and legalizing marijuana.
Ep. 99: "Everything is not fine" at the border
Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions on the border, abortion, and the Democratic presidential candidate debate. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 98: Cramer says Biden is "greatest threat" to Trump re-election
Who does Senator Kevin Cramer think could be the toughest challenger to President Donald Trump? Former Vice President Joe Biden he says on this episode of Plain Talk. He also talks about the war over bias in the tech industry and the battle over border funding. Also the Red River Valley Democratic Socialists of America have formed a softball team, and say young people are attracted to socialism because who even remembers what East Germany was like any more? This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 97: UND economist talks about Facebook's new currency
Facebook has joined with a coalition of financial industry giants to issue its new currency. UND monetary economist David Flynn talks about what it all means. Also, Senator Bernie Sanders has announced a plan to pay off everyone's student loan debt. Is it really a free lunch? This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 06-24-19
Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970. Talking about the 2020 elections, Joel Heitkamp suggesting Rob is a danger to his sister, and the Bernie Sanders plan for student loans.
Ep. 96: Armstrong talks flag burning, Iran, and federal pensions
Congressman Kelly Armstrong says on this episode of Plain Talk he'd have a "hard time" supporting a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. He also took questions about Iran, abortion, and federal pensions. Also, the energy industry has created a lot of opportunities for younger Americans as data from the U.S. Census shows. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 95: Interim UND president wants campus to focus on public service
Dr. Joshua Wynne, the current Dean of the University of North Dakota's medical school, will serve as the interim president for that institution. He says he wants the campus to focus on serving the public. Also, how much can we really do to save rural grocery stores? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 94: Should burning the flag be illegal?
Should burning the flag be illegal? Also, state Rep. Scott Louser (R-Minot) talks about the implementation of state ethics regulations that some left-wing commentators have suggested is, in and of itself, unethical. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Should burning the flag be illegal?
In this bonus audio from the Jay Thomas Show 06-17-19, Rob discusses legislation Senator Kevin Cramer is co-sponsoring which would create an exception from the 1st amendment for burning the U.S. flag. Also discussed is whether or not former Senator Heidi Heitkamp might run for governor.
Ep. 93: Jon Stewart's dumb moment
Comedian Jon Stewart threw a fit during a congressional hearing over funding for 9/11 victims, but was it necessary? Also Congressman Kelly Armstrong address that issue and answers listener questions. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 92: Cramer takes questions
Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions about Social Security, the border wall, trade, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and wind energy. Also, North Dakota Democrats complain about there not being enough women appointed to chair interim committees, but at least two female lawmakers in the Democratic caucus turned down chair roles. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 91: What if defendants can't afford drug testing?
Mark Friese, a Fargo-based defense attorney with the Vogel Law Firm, talks about the struggles courts are having with defendants who can't afford drug testing mandated by the Legislature. Also, a new study suggests that liberalized marijuana laws does not reduce opioid overdoses. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofND.com.
Ep. 90: Planned Parenthood and North Dakota State
State Senator Janne Myrdal, a Republican from the Grafton area, talks to Rob about her objections to North Dakota State University partnering with Planned Parenthood. Also, an official from the North Dakota Democratic Party says coal is dead. Is he right? This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 06-10-19
On their weekly segment on WDAY AM970 Jay and Rob talk about the recent state audit concerning bus inspections, the controversy over removing the auditor's powers, and the North Dakota Democratic Party's opposition to coal power.
Ep. 89: White men have no standing to be critical?
On this episode of Plain Talk, Senator Kevin Cramer takes questions from listeners and talks about impeachment, Robert Mueller's press conference, and what President Donald Trump asked him to investigate in terms of the bidding process for the border wall. Also, should your skin color or gender matter when it comes to questioning elected officials? This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 88: Addressing ND's flaring problem
Ron Ness from the North Dakota Petroleum Council talks about how to address flaring in North Dakota. Also, there's a line at the top of Mt. Everest to get to the summit, and that tells us a lot about our society today. This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05-28-19
Is there a better way to get drunk drivers off the road? What laws are the subject of referendum campaigns this election cycle? Should cops wear uniforms when going about political advocacy? All this and more on this segment on the Jay Thomas Show.
Ep. 87: "I don't apologize for advocating for them"
President Trump's preference for using North Dakota company Fisher Industries on the border wall has created national headlines, with some suggesting there were some untoward quid-pro-quo politics involved. "I don't apologize for advocating for them," Senator Kevin Cramer said when asked about the situation. Also, one city has seen DUI arrests plummet, and the local police chief thinks the reason may be ride sharing services. This episode was sponsored by AFP of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 86: Cops shouldn't use uniforms for politics
On this episode of Plain Talk, Rob responds to a union boss upset over his criticism of cops using their uniforms for politics. Also, David Owen from Legalize ND talks about what his group's new recreational ballot measure might look like and competition from a rival constitutional measure. This show brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 85: Democrats just trying to keep Trump from winning
Congressman Kelly Armstrong is on for his weekly segment, and says Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is just trying to keep Donald Trump from winning. Also, a loophole will let lobbyists sit on an ethics commission created by an anti-lobbyist initiated measure campaign. Sponsors for this episode: http://afpnd.org http://EnergyofNorthDakota.com
Ep. 84: A local government's war on art
Is it appropriate for cops to use their uniforms to influence politics? Also a Mandan bar owner talks about his legal fight with city government over a mural he painted on the side of his building. Turns out that business owners can't just do art without the government's permission. This episode's sponsors: http://afpnd.org http://EnergyofNorthDakota.com
Ep. 83: Lawmaker wants to get paid for suing the state
State Rep. Marvin Nelson, a Democrat from Rolla, is asking a judge to award himself and his fellow plaintiffs $150,000 each for suing the State of North Dakota to deny mineral rights owners retroactive royalty payments. His attorneys also want $62 million in attorneys fees. Also, Dawson Schefter from the NDGOP responds to criticism that the Republican majority might not be responsive enough to the public. This episode bought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and AFPND.org.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05-20-19
Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, talking about the problems with social media, the search for a new UND president, and higher education debt.
Ep. 82: Can you be an elected official and a reporter?
Democratic state Rep. Matt Eidson talks about how he's going to pull off being a straight news reporter and a partisan elected official. Also, U.S. Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions, including his questioning in committee hearings about the subpoena of Attorney General William Barr and the on-going trade war with China. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 81: Maybe the Chinese trade war is about more than soybeans
Have we made a mistake tying our national economy so closely to China's? Also, state Auditor Josh Gallion talks about a meeting he had with Legislative leaders. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 81: Maybe the Chinese trade war is about more than soybeans
Have we made a mistake tying our national economy so closely to China's? Also, state Auditor Josh Gallion talks about a meeting he had with Legislative leaders. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 80: Has Governor Burgum joined the good old boys club?
Riley Kuntz talks about his volunteer effort to refer legislation limiting the authority of the state Auditor. Also, why does anyone think raising the tobacco age to 21 will solve anything?
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05/13/19
Audio from the Jay Thomas Show talking about student loans, raising the smoking age to 21, the on-going controversies with the state auditor's office, and other topics.
Ep. 79: Should banks be the arbiters of political and social behavior?
On this episode of Plain Talk, a credit card company CEO pushes back against the idea that the financial sector should be pressured into regulating political and social activity. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 78: It is the auditor's job to embarrass people
On this episode of Plain Talk, a state lawmaker has finally confessed the true motivation behind gutting the authority of North Dakota's Auditor. Also, Senator Kevin Cramer answers listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 77: Who was using the director's signature?
On this episode of Plain Talk Dave Diebel, a producer who lives in Bismarck who is also a board member for the North Dakota Film and Media Association, talks about what he says is a need for production incentives in the state. Something to entice more commercials, TV shows, and movies to be filmed here. Also, how is it the signature of a DOT director was still be used to certify records even when he was on leave? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 76: We trust the people except when we don't
On this episode Dustin Gawrylow talks about an initiated measure campaign he's chairing which would prohibit the Legislature from initiating a vote of the people on amending the portion of the constitution dealing with initiated measures. Yeah, it's a little confusing. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05/06/19
Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, talking about the removal of power from the state auditor's office, student loan debt, and the romance novels of North Dakota's former director of the drivers license division.
Ep. 75: What's scarier, hate speech or censorship?
We live in an era where the 1st amendment doesn't really apply to the venues in which most of our speech takes place. As more and more people push hard to ban controversial speech online, which should we fear more? Hate speech? Or the push to silence it? Also, state Auditor Josh Gallion responds to the Legislature putting limits on his office. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 74: "They're not interested in the truth, they're interested in the fight"
On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions and talks about the fight over the Mueller report in Congress. "They're not interested in the truth," he says of his Democratic colleagues. "They're interested in the fight." Also, Governor Doug Burgum declines to veto a bill gutting the powers of the state auditor. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 73: Can the space force protect us from an asteroid?
Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions on this episode of Plain Talk, and also answers Rob's question about whether or not President Donald Trump's proposed Space Force could protect us from an asteroid. Also, why is a construction company in Dickinson printing campaign signs for the local school district? The answer reveals something which ought to be of statewide concern. This episode is bought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 72: Legislature guts the Auditor's office
On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions about the REINS Act, the national debt, illegal immigration, and bipartisanship. Also, state lawmakers included language in the budget for the state Auditor's Office which essentially guts that office's powers. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 71: Not sure these lawmakers know what "decriminalization" means
On this episode of Plain Talk, state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones talks about how her efforts to decriminalize marijuana got turned into legislation which actually increases penalties. Also, a recent debate over fixing a chemistry lab at North Dakota State University revealed some ugly priorities in higher education. This episode is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 70: State auditor says no lies in NDSCS report
State Auditor Josh Gallion pushes back on suggestions from North Dakota State College of Science President John Richman that a recent audit contained information that wasn't true. Also, it's time for parking meters in North Dakota. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 69: Going to class in a closet
Jamie Kelly, editor of the Williston Herald, talks about the struggle some western school districts face when it comes to getting funding from the state. He says things are so bad some students are going to class in closets. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 04/22/19
Bonus audio from Rob's segment on the Jay Thomas Show.
Ep. 68: Armstrong on the Mueller report
On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about his immediate reactions to the Mueller report. He also takes listener questions about term limits and other topics. Also, we should always ask, what is the government protecting us from? In one recent case it was farming with our second cousins. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 67: Republican lawmaker says Democrats posturing over ethics legislation
On this episode of Plain Talk, state Senator David Hogue (R-Minot) says Democratic lawmakers are "posturing" over ethics legislation they say has too many loopholes. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 66: Consent of the governed
Should politicians be able to regulate people who can't vote for them? Why can local governments in North Dakota extend their regulatory reach to people who can't vote in that local government's elections? Also incoming North Dakota U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley talks about the lengthy confirmation process he faced before taking that job, as well as his priorities for doing the job now that he has it. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 65: Burgum says separation of powers fight "not going to go away"
Governor Doug Burgum checks in on this episode of Plain Talk to react to the Legislature overriding his veto of a bill authorizing an interim committee he says has too much power. Also a graduate student and columnist from the University of Colorado says there was a protest against current UND President Mark Kennedy, and there will be more when Kennedy visits the state next week. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 04-15-19
Audio from the Jay Thomas Show discussing an audit report revealing inappropriate activity at the North Dakota State College of Science.
Ep. 64: Democratic field hearing on voter ID is a political stunt
A subcommittee from the Democrat-controlled House is in North Dakota this week to talk about the state's voter ID law. The ranking member on the committee - Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, the only Republican on the committee - talks about the politics of it. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 63: An amendment for how we amend the constitution
The Legislature wants to put some checks and balances into the process for amending the constitution by way of ballot measures. It's going to be a controversial topic in the next election cycle, I think, but it's the right thing to do. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes your questions about the national debt, the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act, and other topics. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 62: Kennedy plays the race card
As he prepares to exit the University of North Dakota, embattled President Mark Kennedy takes a shot at his critics, suggesting controversy over a very cushy employment arrangement he gave his special assistant was born of racism and gender bigotry. Also, Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions about the space force, tax preparation reform, the national debt, and border security. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 61: Politicians should have to answer their critics
State Rep. Ruth Buffalo says right wing media shouldn't get to question her about her travel expenses. But shouldn't politicians have to face their critics? Also, state Senator Kristin Roers (R-Fargo) talks about her amendment bringing back the issue of decriminalizing marijuana after similar legislation was defeated earlier this session. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 60: Transparency advocates not being very transparent
State Rep. Ruth Buffalo won't answer a question about who paid for a trip she took to Tennessee to address a left wing group about, ironically enough, government transparency. Also, North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread talks about a reinsurance program his department is taking public comment on. A state-level effort to fix some of the chaos Obamacare has created. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 04-08-19
Rob talked about Stephen King and driver's education on this week's segment on the Jay Thomas Show.
Ep. 59: What's more visionary than lowering tax burdens?
An idea to use Legacy Funding earnings to reduce, and eventually eliminate, state income taxes is back in the Legislature. Some are opposed to it, but what could be more visionary and beneficial to North Dakotans across the state than reducing tax burdens? Also, we spend a lot of time talking about road safety in North Dakota, so why aren't we adequately funding driver's education in our schools? This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 58: Armstrong says demands for full Mueller report are "political stunt"
Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes audience questions, including one about demands from Democrats to release the full Mueller report, something he says is a "political stunt." Also, Democrats have embraced federalism on marijuana policy. Maybe they should embrace it in other policy areas too? This episode is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 57: There should be consequences for refusing to vaccinate
Senator Kevin Cramer takes questions from listeners on closing the border, NATO funding, and the Mueller report. Also, should there be consequences for people who refuse to vaccinate? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 56: Republican lawmaker objects to Hindu invocation
A Republican lawmaker from Minot who styles himself a proponent of religious liberty is objecting to an invocation delivered by a Hindu religious leader. You can't make this stuff up. Also state Rep. Luke Simons talks about his bill, which failed in the state Senate, which would have required that cops get a warrant (or at least have probable cause or the justification of an emergency) before coming on private land and searching buildings. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 55: What the heck is pore space?
On this episode of Plain Talk, Troy Coons from the Northwest Landowners Association talks about why his group opposes legislation regarding pore space. Don't worry, he also explains what pore space is. Also, some thoughts on the Legislature rejecting an expanded State Board of Higher Education. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 04/01/2019
Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show 04/01/2019, talking about occupational licensing for hair braiders and the Legislature possibly overriding Governor Doug Burgum's veto of a hike to drivers license fees.
Ep. 54: Does a hair braider need more than 1,000 hours of training?
On this episode of Plain Talk, a hair braider who tried to start a business in Fargo ended up having to move her business to Minnesota because North Dakota's regulations are too strenuous. Also, Senator Jessica Unruh (R-Beulah) talks about a complicated bill concerning pore space and energy development which some are saying is an affront to property rights. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 53: Rape is rape
On this episode of Plain Talk, state Representative Kim Koppelman (R-West Fargo) backed an amendment which would treat marital rape differently for the purposes of parental rights than just plain old rape. Then he lied about offering the amendment. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 52: Line 3 pipeline update, Senator Cramer takes questions
On this episode of Plain Talk, Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions about the filibuster, the USMCA trade agreement, the Green New Deal, and funding for the Special Olympics. Also, John Swanson from Enbridge gives an update on their much-delayed Line 3 pipeline project in Minnesota. He says their company is prepared if Dakota Access-style protests happen. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 51: Thoughts on Jussie Smollett and privilege
By the strictures of identity politics actor and accused hate crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett is, by dint of his demographic attributes, automatically a victim. Except, judging by what he seems to have gotten away with in Chicago, it sure seems like he has a lot of privilege. Also, state Senator Janne Myrdal talks about her legislation aimed at stopping criminal political acts against infrastructure like pipelines. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 50: Do we need the Electoral College?
Reed Hundt, a former head of the FCC who is now heading up an organization called Make Every Vote Count, calls for an end to the Electoral College. But is that what would be best for North Dakota? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 03/25/19
Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show 03/25/2019, talking about the recently released Mueller report.
Ep. 49: The Muller report, and why we don't trust the media any more
The Mueller report is out, kind of, and so far the reactions to it are predictable. Think what you want of the report, but the way the national news media went about covering it has damaged our Republic. Also Fargo businessman Don Schilling talks about North Dakota's workforce shortages and what the Legislature ought to be doing to address them. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 48: We must avoid policing for profit
The North Dakota Legislature has opened the door to local governments assessing fines for things like traffic violations above state levels. That's fine, but unlike state fines, local fines flow to local government creating a financial incentive to police for profit. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong answers questions during his weekly segment. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 47: Do you need the government's permission for art?
Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions on this episode of Plain Talk, including questions about the Electoral College and funding for the border wall possibly pulling money away from North Dakota military projects. Also, a bar painted a mural in Mandan, and then local government freaked out. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 46: Thoughts on repealing the Sunday close law
Rep. Corey Mock (R-Grand Forks) talks about the Legacy Fund, including his amendment to make spending its earnings harder, what we ought to do with the billions of dollars in the fund, and a little bit on initiated measure reform. Also, some thoughts on the Legislature ending North Dakota's Sunday close law. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 45: DAPL touts taxes paid, and should Christchurch video be censored?
Should the Christchurch shooting video be censored on the internet? Do we want the government and tech companies getting comfortable blocking controversial content? Also Vicki Granado from Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, talks about the project's impact on taxes and the economy in North Dakota nearly three years later. This episode of Plain Talk is sponsored by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 03/18/19
Audio from Rob's 03/18/19 appearance on the Jay Thomas Show, talking about the Legacy Fund and anti-discrimination legislation in Bismarck.
Ep. 44: Is it ok to treat people differently based on skin color?
A New York Times Magazine columnist says it's ok for people to treat other people differently based on skin color...as long as they belong to a minority group. White can't get away with it. Or maybe we shouldn't treat anyone differently based on skin color? Also, North Dakota Lt. Governor Brent Sanford joins to talk about the executive branch's dispute with the Legislature over revenue forecasts. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 43: Rep. Armstrong says anti-capitalist thinking in Washington is "very, very scary"
Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions, and says the amount of anti-capitalist thinking in Washington D.C. is "very, very scary." Also, are lawmakers being honest with their revenue forecasts? Governor Burgum doesn't think so, and he's probably right. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 42: Ocazio-Cortez a Republican plant?
Senator Kevin Cramer takes reader questions on this episode of Plain Talk, responding to one by suggesting that socialist media darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez might actually be a plant...by Republicans. Speaking of AOC, some of her comments chastising Wells Fargo for financing the Dakota Access Pipeline recently were downright Orwellian. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 41: A lawsuit over school funds?
Could the State of North Dakota be sued over a mistake in transferring oil tax revenues to state funds? Nich Archuleta of North Dakota United, an organization representing the state's public workers and teachers, says his group would like to avoid it but they're keep their options open. Also Senator Ray Holmberg, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, talks about revenue forecasts and finalizing the state's budget. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Talking socialism with Jay Thomas
Rob talks about socialism and the debate over the state's prisons during a segment on the Jay Thomas Show 03-11-19.
Ep. 40: Victimhood as political currency, Boschee talks session
ND House Minority Leader Josh Boschee (D-Fargo) joins to talk about the 2019 legislative session so far, including his sense that this session has been less partisan than past sessions. Also, why has victimhood become political currency? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 39: Why should Rep. Ilhan Omar get a pass for her bigotry?
It seems like many are willing to give Rep. Ilhan Omar a pass for her comments about Jews and Israel that someone of another gender/race/religious background might not get. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong gives an update from Washington D.C. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 38: Cramer says Gree New Deal is a "socialist's dream"
Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions this week on the green new deal, immigration policy, President Trump's emergency declaration, and other topics. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 37: Heitkamp complains about being branded a Democrat
Former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, in full excuse mode after her 2018 election loss, blames being branded a "Democrat" for her election loss. Also Jodi Smith, head of North Dakota's Department of Trust Lands, talks about what her office sees as a mistake in how state oil tax revenues were distributed. This episode of Plain Talk was brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 36: Responding to some letters to the editor
Rob responds to some recent letters to the editor about the podcast and his articles. Also, former Grand Forks Herald publisher Mike Jacobs weighs in on the controversies at the University of North Dakota. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 35: Engelstad family says they withhold donations
Kris Engelstad McGarry, a trustee of the Engelstad Foundation and spokesperson for the Englestad family, says they'll be withholding their donations from the University of North Dakota until embattled President Mark Kennedy is gone. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about his questioning of Michael Cohen and takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 34: Sen. Cramer says Cohen hearing "a lot to do about nothing"
According to Senator Kevin Cramer, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's testimony before the House was "a lot to do about nothing." The Senator also took listener emails. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 33: Is it dumb to ban gun buyback programs?
A New York Times columnist says a proposed bill in North Dakota to ban gun buyback programs is one of the dumbest pieces of legislation, like, ever. The sponsor of that bill, Rep. Luke Simons, joins to discuss. This episode of the Plain Talk Podcast is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 32: UND caves on chief of staff, lawmaker expresses frustration
State Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo) is frustrated about the way her bill to decriminalize marijuana was handled in the state House. She talks about it on this episode of Plain Talk. Also, UND has decided to nix a controversial employment relationship with its chief of staff. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 31: Americans don't understand their taxes
People are upset that their tax refunds aren't as large this year as they were in previous years, and they're blaming the Trump tax cuts. Even though most of them probably paid less in taxes. Wouldn't it be better if we junked withholding and sent everyone a bill for government? Also, marijuana activist David Owen talks about the failure of decriminalization in the Legislature and the possibility of a new measure to legalize recreational pot. This episode of Plain Talk brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 30: Rep. Armstrong says Trump tax cuts contribute to deficits "in the short term"
Congressman Kelly Armstrong is on this episode of Plain Talk taking questions from listeners. You can submit questions for future segments to rob@sayanythingblog.com. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 29: Should prisoners have to do their own dental work?
On this Plain Talk, North Dakota corrections head Leann Bertsch talks about the debate over a women's facility where, according to Bertsch, things are so bad one prisoner had to resort to doing her own dental work. Bertsch says conditions violate the prisoner's 8th amendment rights, and leave North Dakota open to a lawsuit. Also, state lawmakers may want to note what the U.S. Supreme Court has to say about civil asset forfeiture. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 28: Why the legislature needs a say over initiated measures
On this episode of Plain Talk, state Senator David Hogue (R-Minot) talks about his proposed constitutional amendment, which passed the Senate this week, which gives the Legislature a veto over constitutional ballot measures. Also, a recent story about Bakken oil patch crimes illustrates the need for newsroom diversity. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 27: Sen. Cramer "has doubts" Trump's emergency order will stand
Will President Donald Trump's emergency declaration over border security stand up to scrutiny from the courts and Congress? Senator Kevin Cramer, taking listener questions, says he has his doubts. Also, what can the Jussie Smollet situation tell us? A lot about the state of journalism in American in 2019. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Citizenship test on the Jay Thomas Show
Audio from the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in FArgo, 02-18-2019. Jay and Rob take a citizenship test.
Ep. 26: Socialism is evil, and a debate over civil asset forfeiture
On this episode of Plain Talk, McLean County State's Attorney Ladd Erickson and Fargo-based defense attorney Mark Friese debate the issue of civil asset forfeiture. Also, there is a rising tide of support for socialism in American politics, but it's an evil ideology which leads to suffering and death. This episode is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 02/15/2019
Discussing the story Rob broke about an employee at the University of North Dakota who will be working from Texas and getting up to $25,000 a year to commute.
Ep. 25: House passes bill to eliminate the income tax
State lawmakers say they don't trust the fiscal notes they're getting from the executive branch. The state House has passed a bill that could, using Legacy Fund earnings, eliminate the income tax. Also Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 24: Cramer says he likes border deal but doesn't love it
On this episode of Plain Talk, Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions. On the border wall, he says he likes the proposed compromise, but he doesn't love it. Also a spokesman for a company which will be operating medical marijuana dispensaries in North Dakota talks about the difficulty in getting banking services. This episode of Plain Talk is sponsored by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 23: Are there any Republicans at NDSU?
On this episode of Plain Talk, an analysis of political contributions found not one reported contribution to a Republican from a member of the faculty or administration at NDSU. Is this a problem? Also, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has is dragging out the approval process for the Line 3 pipeline just as his predecessor Mark Dayton did. This episode is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Ep. 22: Are we to be ruled by outrage mobs?
We talk a lot about the power of the people. The wisdom of the masses. But what if the masses are a mob prone to censorship and vigilantism? Also, a dentist makes the case for allowing dental therapists in North Dakota, and state Rep. Craig Headland talks about his bill to use the Legacy Fund to eliminate the income tax. This episode of Plain Tallk brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 02-11-2019
Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show, broadcasting on WDAY AM970 in Fargo. Jay and Rob talk about legislation defining land as posted by default as well as the controversy surrounding the use of a meme by state Rep. Rick Becker.
Ep. 21: Does Senator Klobuchar really have a shot to be President?
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar has announced her 2020 presidential campaign, but with her party moving sharply to the left these days, does a self-styled centrist from fly-over country have a chance? Also former Governor Ed Schafer weighs in on the debate around North Dakota's Legacy Fund. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Energy of North Dakota. Learn more at EnergyofNorthDakota.com.
Bonus Audio: State Rep. Rick Becker respsonds to meme controversy
State Rep. Rick Becker (R-Bismarck) caused some controversy when he posted an internet meme showing what some say is a mean-spirited depiction of prison rape. He responds to the controversy, calling his critics "hyper sensitive."
Ep. 20: Do we need to make billionaires illegal?
Congressman Kelly Armstrong joined this episode of Plain Talk for what will be weekly segments taking your questions. Submit them via Facebook or Twitter, or email them to rob@sayanythingblog.com. Also, should billionaires be illegal? That's a popular opinion among left wing activists and politicians these days, but does it make sense?
Ep. 19: Senator Cramer says donating shutdown salary isn't that noble
This episode of Plain Talk features what will be a regular segment with Senator Kevin Cramer answering questions from both you and me. Email your questions in each week to rob@sayanythingblog.com and I'll ask them. This week Cramer talks about donating shutdown salaries - he says it's not very noble - his reaction to Trump's State of the Union address, and his meeting with AG nominee William Barr. Also, North Dakota lawmakers shoot down a hike to the fuel tax, but shouldn't we be willing to pay for good roads?
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 02-06-2019
Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in Fargo/Moorhead talking about civil asset forfeiture legislation.
Ep. 18: Governor Burgum Defends Roosevelt Library Project
Big surprise, law enforcement turned out in force to oppose legislation to crack down on civil asset forfeiture. Why is it such a controversial idea to say the cops can't keep your stuff unless you're convicted of a crime? Also, Governor Doug Burgum has been passionately pitching an appropriation for the Teddy Roosevelt presidential library in Medora, but many are skeptical. He defends his position on this episode.
Ep. 17: Universities should exist because we need them, not because of the law
Legislation proposed in Bismarck would remove mandates for eight of North Dakota's 11 institutions of higher education from the state constitution. The Grand Forks Herald, in an editorial, argues this puts those universities at risk. But shouldn't universities exist because they're needed, and not because they're mandated by law? Also state Senator Nicole Poolman (R-Bismarck) talks about her bill to expand North Dakota's school anti-bullying policies to social media situations outside of school.
Ep. 16: We're censoring ourselves
Is the biggest threat to free speech in America, in 2019, the government? Or us? Also Allan Dickerson, an attorney from the Foundation for the Freedom of Speech, talks about his group's opposition to implementing Measure 1.
Ep. 15: Senator Hoeven talks about avoiding another shutdown
On this episode of Plain Talk, Senator John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) talks about his role on a conference committee which is tasked with finding a compromise on border security to avoid another government shutdown. Also, Senator Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) is under attack from supporters of Heidi Heitkamp (who he replaced in the Senate) because he is...co-sponsoring a piece of legislation she supports?
Ep. 14: Sports betting in North Dakota, and free speech groups oppose Measure 1
On this episode of Plain Talk, state Rep. Tom Beadle talks about his bill - one of two before the Legislature in Bismarck - to legalize sports betting in North Dakota. His would be restricted to professional sports. The other, introduced by Rep. Jason Dockter, would also include amateur sports like collegiate athletics and the Olympics. Also, two free speech groups have come out in opposition to implementing Measure 1. Should lawmakers do it?
Ep. 13: Grocers try to water down North Dakota's food freedom
Ag Week publisher Katie Pinke talks about North Dakota's corporate farming ban. A bill before the Legislature would widen the ban to let second cousins farm or ranch together, but should it really take an act of the Legislature for you to farm with your second cousin? Also, there is an effort to water down North Dakota's food freedom laws, and it seems to be coming from the grocery industry.
Ep. 12: "Death by fiscal note," and what did the shutdown accomplish?
RNC National Spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany joins Rob to explain what the government shutdown did and did not accomplish, whether President Trump lost his leverage by re-opening the government, and the politics around the State of the Union address. Also Rob talks about North Dakota state agencies trying to kill bills they don't like with fiscal notes, and he reacts to Senator Heidi Heitkamp talking about why she lost the 2018 election.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 01/28/19
Audio from Rob's weekly appearance on the Jay Thomas Show, airing on WDAY AM970 in Fargo.
Ep. 11: Proposed "red flag" law doesn't do enough to protect gun rights
If the "red flag" law proposed by state Rep. Karla Rose Hanson (D-Fargo) is used against your gun rights, who pays for your lawyer? Also if such a wide open process can be used to deem people dangerous, and remove their gun rights, do we scare people (like veterans, for instance) from getting treatment for maladies like depression? Or PTSD? Also Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, joins to talk about his group's report showing the oil industry has paid about half of all North Dakota taxes over the last five fiscal years. Do they really need to be taxed more?
Ep. 10: Making local elections partisan
State Rep. Scott Louser (R-Minot) talks about his legislation which would require party identification in local elections like county commission, municipal government, and even in sheriff elections. Candidates would have to affiliate themselves with a political party, or choose to list themselves as independent.
Ep. 9: Democrats want to raise oil taxes (again)
State Senator Merrill Piepkorn talks about his legislation to raise North Dakota's oil extraction tax from 5 percent back up to 6.5 percent. It was lowered during the 2015 legislative session as a part of reform that also eliminated an exemption from the extraction tax triggered by low prices. The net revenue impact from those changes has been more than $1 billion in additional revenues for the State of North Dakota.
Episode 8: A rough week for journalism, and public access to private land
Rob talks about the Buzzfeed and Covington High School stories, and explores why nobody in America's newsrooms was pumping the brakes on them. Also, Julie Ellingson from the North Dakota Stockmen's Association talks about legislation which would close off even unposted private land to public access unless the landowner gives permission.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 01-21-19
Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970. Jay and Rob talk about the controversy over the Covington High School teenagers at the March for Life event in Washington, D.C.
Episode 7: If voters approve bad policy, does that make it good policy?
In this episode Rob talks about the Fargo Forum and others criticizing Republican lawmakers for their bill implementing Measure 1, which was approved in the 2018 election. But the Forum editorialized against Measure 1 during the election. Now they're lashing out at lawmakers for supposedly watering down the measure, and disrespecting the will of voters. But if the voters approved bad policy, are lawmakers obligated to implement it? Also state Rep. Jake Blum talks about his legislation which would raise speed limits on North Dakota's highways and interstates.
Episode 6: God and Ghostbusters
State Auditor Josh Gallion joined Rob to talk about a report his office released detailing nearly $100 million in state funds tied up in state agency funds, despite those agencies getting appropriation increases amid overall budget cuts. Rob also talks about the debate over a bill to end North Dakota's Sunday closing laws. The bill passed, but some of the comments made during the debate were pretty silly.
Episode 5: Rep. Karla Rose Hanson on gun seizure legislation
Should the government be able to take a person's guns because a court finds you dangerous? Is that a reasonable protection for public safety, or something amounting to pre-crime? Denying a person their civil rights based on what they might do? Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, a Democrat from Fargo and sponsor of so-called "red flag" legislation, proposes giving the government that authority. She talks with Rob about it. Also, Rob discusses some on-going headaches with Marsy's Law, and a loophole in state law which allows reserve law enforcement officers to operate like their fully trained and certified counterparts without the certification and training.
Episode 4: Gillette Ad, Smoking Age, Paying Shutdown Workers, And Congressman Armstrong
Rob talks about that Gillette Ad everyone is in a tizzy about. He also discusses legislation in North Dakota which would raise the tobacco age to 19, except for members of the military, as well as paying federal workers who are working during the shutdown. Congressman Kelly Armstrong also chats about what it's like to transition into the U.S. House while the government is shut down, an interesting conversation he had with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and whether Trump is right to stand strong on border wall funding.
Episode 3: Rick Becker
Rob talks about the longest government shutdown in American history, and blames it on a bloated federal government. The states should do more, and the intransigent politicians in Washington D.C. should do less. He also comments on "abortion reversal" legislation proposed in Bismarck for the 2019 session, pointing out that we could probably do more to lower the number of abortions by focusing resources on better sex education and access to contraception. Finally, state Rep. Rick Becker of Bismarck talks about his legislation to reform civil asset forfeiture in North Dakota.
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 01-14-2019
Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970, talking about Legacy Fund spending and legislation regarding the display of license plates on sports cars.
Episode 2: Ethics, Initiated Measures, Blue Law and Sealing Criminal Records
Are initiated measures a good way to make public policy? Rob doesn't think so and points to Measure 1 - a constitutional amendment approved by voters in the 2018 election - as a reason why. Also Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo) talks to Rob about a couple of her bills, including one to let people convicted of crimes petition to have their cases sealed and another to end North Dakota's "blue law" prohibition on Sunday openings.
Episode 1: Governor Doug Burgum
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum joined Rob Port for the first ever episode of the Plain Talk podcast. Burgum talked about the new legislative session and what some have seen as a "frosty" relationship between his administration and lawmakers. He talked about the controversy surrounding his salary, his proposed funding for a Theodore Roosevelt library, and using Legacy Fund earnings to eliminate the income tax.