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.

621: 'We knew this was coming' 07/18/2025

621: 'We knew this was coming' This episode of Plain Talk is a little unusual, because the guest we interviewed for the show is actually our own producer, Matt Fern. Matt, in addition to producing Plain Talk, is also a filmmaker by trade. A couple of years ago he to object to hundreds of thousands of dollars in film grants being issued by the North Dakota Department of Commerce under former Gov. Doug Burgum by untoward means. The Commerce Department ran for a grant that, per evidence from the legislative record, was always intended to go to a specific Bismarck-based company that, two years later, And this wasn't the first time something like this had happened, either. "Our group of filmmakers did speak out two years ago because we saw this coming because this already happened twice, with $100,000 in 2021 with nothing to show for it, and very little to show for $40,000 in 2017," Matt told us. Matt has produced his own podcast about these called "The $740,000 Question." with the first episode available today, and subsequent episodes to be released in the coming weeks. Why does this story matter? While $740,000 is a lot of money from a personal perspective, it's not much in terms of North Dakota's overall appropriations. Also, North Dakota's film industry isn't exactly large. So why should you care? Because this is a window into how our state government sometimes does business, and it doesn't paint a pretty picture. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss Sen. John Hoeven's interesting maneuvering about the "Big Beautiful Bill" and Trump administration spending decisions, as well as the chaos around the Donald Trump/Jeffrey Epstein situation. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/37458185

Department of Incompetence | The $740,000 Question (Episode 1) 07/18/2025

620: 'This panel has represented George Floyd protesters and they have represented January 6 defendants' 07/16/2025

620: 'This panel has represented George Floyd protesters and they have represented January 6 defendants' Public defenders working in the federal system representing indigent defendants The federal government ran out of money, That's a big problem. Every American accused of a crime has a right to counsel, and while you might think that public defenders are just for poor people, they actually represent most people accused of a crime. In North Dakota, the precentage of criminal defendants represented by a public defender is north of 80%. In the federal system, nationwide, it's around 90% Jason Tupman said on this episode of Plain Talk. Tupman is the top federal public defender for the North Dakota and South Dakota district (full disclosure: my sister works as an investigator for Tupman's office). "There will be consequences," he said of this lack of funding. "I think they are not just short-term, either." The federal employees in Tupman's offices cover about 2/3's of the cases in North and South Dakota, with the rest going to private sector attorneys who participate in what's called the Criminal Justice Act Panel. Right now, those panel lawyers won't be getting a check until October 1, though given the chaos in Washington D.C. right now, there's not a lot that's certain. Tupman, and Mark Friese, a prominent defense attorney from the Vogel Law Firm who is a representative on the CJA Panel, say that lawyers are beginning to turn down these cases. That means delays in the criminal justice process for defendants, which in turn means more costs associated with things like pre-trial detention. Also, it may also mean that they're assigned by lawyers from other areas, who may struggle to provide adequate counsel, which in turn may result in more appeals and procedural delays. We are currently having a rollicking debate about the federal debt and deficits, but delays or cuts in funding for federal public defenders could actually end up costing the taxpayers more. Tupman points out that the work of his office isn't political. "This office and this panel has represented George Floyd protesters and they have represented January 6 defendants," he said. "This is a non-political group...who represent individuals, treat them with dignity, and do so every day pretty quietly. To not pay them for the work they've already done can be crippling. Crippling to them and crippling to our future functioning." Friese, meanwhile, pointed out that even when the feds are paying the bills, they're far below what private sector attorneys can otherwise earn. "A lot of your listeners are going to say, $175 an hour, that's crazy," he said referring to the rate at which panel attorneys are compensated. "That's less than half the market rate. That's less than half the prevailing rate if you were to come to me in my private practice to hire me for representation." "When I take my car in the mechanic shop, the prevailing rate in in North Dakota is 150 bucks an hour," he continued. "So, we're paid $25 more an hour than a mechanic shop, essentially." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa's lawsuit over redistricting (Chad thinks I'm full of it) and we also give some praise to the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce for their If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/37430760

619: 'Conservation sometimes becomes the dog that everybody can get behind kicking' 07/11/2025

619: 'Conservation sometimes becomes the dog that everybody can get behind kicking' One proposal in the recently passed "big, beautiful bill" that didn't make it to the finish line was an amendment from Utah Sen. Mike Lee, which would have jump-started a sell-off of federally owned lands. On this episode of Plain Talk, John Bradley, executive director of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation, talked about that victory, and also discussed the place in politics conservation issues often find themselves. "Conservation sometimes becomes the dog that everybody can get behind kicking," he said. Bradley expressed a desire for public lands to become a "third rail" issue that politicians are "terrified to go after," but also acknowledged that there are instances where some sales make sense. He says there is, in existing law, a process for selling or swapping out federal lands, and while he admits that it can be bureaucratic, he also says that it's important that all interested parties are involved in that process. Bradley also discussed his group's recent criticism of North Dakota's congressional delegation's support for using the Congressional Review Act to rewrite federal land use rules that the delegation says are too arduous for the energy industry and other interests. He called the approach "scorched earth," arguing it "wipes that entire process" and assumes D.C. politicians "know better" than local experts. Also on this episode, we discussed the hard feelings between Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office and the North Dakota Ethics Commission, as well as news that millions in federal dollars for after school programs in North Dakota have been frozen. There are "crickets from the congressional delegation in terms of unfreezing this money," my co-host Chad Oban said of the situation. "Crickets from the governor's office to unfreeze this money. Crickets from the superintendent of public instruction." "I understand that [Superintendent Kirsten Baesler] is trying to get a job in Washington, but if our superintendent of public instruction is not screaming and yelling to unfreeze these dollars, I'm not sure she can be doing her job," he added. "Our congressional delegation should be pounding on the door of OMB and the Department of Education getting this money to our kids in North Dakota, but everybody's afraid of Trump," he continued. 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. /episode/index/show/robport/id/37377220

618: Legislature stepped up with funding to move public defenders 'in the right direction' 07/09/2025

618: Legislature stepped up with funding to move public defenders 'in the right direction' The criminal justice system is often where public policy debates, from civil rights to addiction, converge. It's also critical for ensuring accountability when the government oversteps. North Dakota's Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigence, led by Director Travis Finck, headed into this year's legislative session facing a due to a lack of resources, leaving many without legal counsel. But lawmakers stepped up. The Finck and his fellow public defenders received a 20% budget increase, amounting to an additional $4.5 million over their 2023 budget. The budget boost is moving the agency "in the right direction," Finck said on this episode of Plain Talk. This funding has tangible impacts on recruitment and retention. Frink notes the agency can now offer higher salaries, implementing a new compensation plan to put them "on par with places like the attorney general’s office." Previously, they weren't even "in the same stadium," Finck said. The agency is now projected to be fully staffed by September, a stark contrast to the 25-30% vacancy rate prior to the session. Beyond attorneys, the budget also allowed for hiring two new investigator positions, increasing their statewide total from one to three. Legislative support also provides a crucial morale boost. Applicants, even from out of state, recognize that the North Dakota legislature "acknowledges the public defenders exist…and the important role they play," Finck said. This commitment fosters a client-centered culture, attractive to new law school graduates, emphasizing the profound impact public defenders have. Looking forward, Finck emphasizes that while the progress is significant, the job isn't done. Future goals include hiring more investigators for thorough case reviews and developing "holistic approach" models to provide services such as housing and job assistance, to reduce recidivism. The agency also seeks to re-evaluate reliance on user fees and eliminate remaining fines, asserting that constitutional rights should not be funded by those exercising them. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the turmoil in Minot's recent mayoral elections, which included one of the candidates, Rob Fuller, We also talked about the ongoing (and very tiresome) and we react to some listener feedback. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/37350305

617: Rep. Nico Rios didn't show up (REPLAY) 07/04/2025

616: 'We have...lifelong Republicans saying I'm done.' (REPLAY) 07/02/2025

615: 'Donald Trump likes people who like him' 06/26/2025

615: 'Donald Trump likes people who like him' President Donald Trump joined Israel's attacks against Iran's nuclear program, and so far the operation seems to have been a success. That's certainly Sen. Kevin Cramer's view of it, as he explained on this episode of Plain Talk. He also praised Trump's willingness to repudiate some of the isolationists in the MAGA movement. "I've often said, and people have quoted me saying, 'Donald Trump likes people who like him.' The problem is when the body of people who like you range, you know, so greatly, you at some point are going to disappoint somebody," he said. "I was very proud of this decision. And you don't even have to love the decision to recognize...that this is a bit of a repudiation to the Tucker Carlson isolationist crowd." "He probably made peace more than he made war with the strike. Now, we'll see how it all turns out," Cramer continued. The Senator also discussed his "golden dome" legislative proposal for protecting America from drone and missile strikes. He noted that North Dakota has historically been an essential part of America's air defense systems, and he sees that remaining the case going forward. He also had tough words for the new leadership of the North Dakota Republican Party, which censured Gov. Kelly Armstrong over property tax policy and his veto of a book ban bill. "If the state Republican party wants to make itself less relevant, just censure your duly elected governor," he said. "It's absurd." Cramer is a former chair of the NDGOP himself, but said some in charge of the party now have a skewed view of its role. "Too many people, I think, have confused the role of a state party with the role of governing," he said. "The role of state parties are to elect republicans not to govern the not to govern the state." If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/37163810

614: 'When someone on your own side is referring to them as cuts, you're losing that war' 06/25/2025

614: 'When someone on your own side is referring to them as cuts, you're losing that war' Recently, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak sent out an email seeking to debunk what she describes as myths when it comes to proposed changes to the Medicaid program. She argues that the program isn't being cut, but rather just being slowed in its growth. But wherever you come down on that debate, the fact that she's prompted to make these arguments is politically significant. On this episode of Plain Talk, my co-host Chad Oban and I talked about that, in the context of one of Fedorchak's predecessors, former Rep. Earl Pomeroy, trying to explain his vote in favor of Obamacare. Oban pointed out that while Fedorchak is disputing the claims that Medicaid is being cut, some Republicans, including Mehmet Oz, the Trump administration's administrator for Medicare and Medicaid services, "The problem that she has is it's not just people like me who are saying it's Medicaid cuts," Oban said. "You're like, well, these aren't cuts, but when someone on your own side is referring to them as cuts, you're losing that war," he continued. We also discussed the NDGOP's on-going District 25 debacle, and what the proposed sell-off of federal lands means for Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's political trajectory. Also on this episode, Matt Briney, chief communications officer for the Theodore Roosevelt President Library, talks about the progress on the project. "We're looking forward to welcoming everybody July 4th, 2026 when we will open to the public." Public funding for the project has drawn some criticism, but Briney pointed out that only "about 11% of the project is funded from state funds" and that the library organizqation hasn't had to touch a $70 million line of credit made available by the state. He also detailed some of the features visitors will be able to explore next year. "We're going to take you into the White House. TR's White House. Not the White House that we know today, but TR's White House. So, it's going to have the full kind of look and feel replica of being in there," he said, adding that the library will leverage artificial intelligence technology to make simulated conversations with Roosevelt possible. "You're actually going to be able to talk to TR and TR is going to talk back to you," Briney said. "And that's where we're we're leveraging new technologies from Microsoft...where you can have actual conversations in a group setting with him." If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/37150405

613: 'We're not providing a grant. We do expect a return to come back to us.' 06/19/2025

613: 'We're not providing a grant. We do expect a return to come back to us.' In I argued that the concept of "baby bonds" — a verison of which is included in "big beautiful bill" President Donald Trump is backing in Congress — is something North Dakotans should implement whatever the federal government might do. We have hundreds of millions in revenue from the Legacy Fund's investments, and we have the Bank of North Dakota to administer the program. A rough estimate based on the average number of live births in our state every year is that this would cost the state about $20 million or so per biennium. After I published my column, Treasurer Thomas Beadle reached out, saying it's a topic that intrigues him as well. "I think that you get a little bit of a a stakeholder society," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Children are being set up with these accounts, and the parents are managing these accounts on behalf of their kids, so they will be vested. They might have a stakeholder interest in making sure that programs like this are viable." Speaking of investments, also joining this episode was Jodi Smith, executive director of the state Retirement and Investment Board, and Kodee Furst, a director 50 South Capital. They discussed the ongoing efforts to implement the Legacy Fund's in-state investment program. The goal is to have the Legacy Fund at $1.3 billion invested inside of the state by 2030. Some of the challenges in getting there early on were negotiating the producer-investor rules. State investment officials have a responsibilty to maximize returns, but with the in-state investment program, the idea is that some of those returns aren't in the form of interest on investments but rather economic development. This balance is important. "We're not providing a grant," Smith said. "We do expect a return to come back to us." If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/37079465

612: 'I'm a North Dakotan first. I'm the governor second and a Republican third.' 06/18/2025

612: 'I'm a North Dakotan first. I'm the governor second and a Republican third.' The North Dakota Republican Party censured Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong at a recent meeting. And yes, despite what some party leaders are now saying, Armstrong does see it that way. "It was a censure," he said on this episode of Plain Talk, going on to expand on his immediate reaction to the censures which was The censures expressed disapproval in Armstrong's property tax plan, along with his veto of book ban legislation, but he says that serving the party isn't his top priority. "I just view it this way: I'm a North Dakotan first. I'm the governor second and a Republican third." He accused some in NDGOP leadership of being obsessed with "microniche" issues and wanting to control Republican elected leaders with party rules and censures. "I mean, one of the problems I think you're running into in this is...this was always 'we hate the smoke-filled back room,' right? That was always the argument forever. That's not really true. What they want to do is control the smoke-filled back room," he said. "I don't think they spend near enough time talking about how to win elections, which is what people rely on the party for," he added, further arguing that party leadership is elected by small groups of people. "Matt Simon got elected with 24 votes," Armstrong said "I hope he does great. I hope he brings unity." Also on this episode, we discuss Rep. Scott Louser's decision to forgo a property tax ballot measure challenging the relief lawmakers passed earlier this year, as well as the recent No Kings protests and how their momentum compares to the 2009 "tea party" movement that changed the shape of North Dakota politics. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/37059935

611: 'The escalation is 100% the point' 06/13/2025

611: 'The escalation is 100% the point' Andrew Loftesnes is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Specifically, he served with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, which is the same unit that President Donald Trump has, controversially, deployed to Los Angeles to, as Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem put it recently, "liberate this city from the socialist and burdensome leadership" elected by local citizens. The deployment was "not only a direct threat to democracy and in my opinion a significant step towards autocracy, but also a direct betrayal of the young men and women who serve in the Marine Corps and other branches of the US military," Loftesnes said on this episode of Plain Talk. "The escalation 100% is the point," he added when asked if Trump's motive was to inflame an already delecate situation further. "Anyone who calls themselves a conservative politically, I think, should be horrified by this federal overreach," he said. Also on this episode, Attorney General Drew Wrigley explains his legal opinion concluding that Gov. Kelly Armstrong's line-item veto should stand, and that a special session isn't necessary. He points to Article V of the North Dakota constitution which states that the governor need send two things back to the Legislature when issuing a veto: A veto message, and the original bill, with the latter requirement being an anachronism from the pre-digital, pre-copy machine era when there would be only one copy of a given piece of legislation. Wrigley says that the veto message issued by Armstrong was accurate, and that whatever mistakes were made up the marked-up version of the bill Armstrong sent back alongside the message are irrelevant. "This isn't a hieroglyphics contest," he said. Armstrong's office is proceeding following Wrigley's opinion, but the Legislature, and specifically the Legislative Management Committee which Senate Majority Leader David Hogue chairs, has yet to decide whether they'll litigate or call themselves back into session to take further action. In public statements, Hogue was dismissive of Wrigley's opinion, saying his "understanding of the English language" and "respect for the rule of law" prevented him from going along with it. Wrigley says he's since spoken to Hogue, and that they laughed the matter off. "We had a conversation that afternoon," he said. "In fact, I had seen the quote that you just mentioned, and when he called me later in the afternoon, I asked him if he was calling to discuss the English language, at which point he started speaking Spanish. We started off with a pretty good laugh." If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/37000630

610: 'There's going to be an election day reckoning' 06/11/2025

610: 'There's going to be an election day reckoning' When former Congressman Earl Pomeroy looks at the protests today against the Trump administration and the so-called "big, beautiful bill" in Congress, he sees echoes of the 2009 protests that ended his tenure in elected office. "There's going to be an election day reckoning," Pomeroy, a Democrat who represented North Dakota in the U.S. House from 1993 to 2010, said on this episode of Plain Talk. What was interesting about this discussion is that many of the 2009-era "tea party" protests in North Dakota were organized, in part, by me. Pomeroy said that in 2009, there were times when voters would be "mad as hell out there" but Democratic leaders in Washington D.C. were dismissive. "The leadership would say to the nervous members not to worry. They'll get over it. Or, as has been said with the more recent demonstrations, or the passionate town halls, oh, these are paid agitators." He says he still thinks the 2009 protesters were operating on bad information, but that they should have been taken seriously. "What I found is the the concern, the anxiety, the anger was very real." North Dakota's political dynamics are different in 2025 than they were in 2009. At that time, our state was politically mixed, with an all-Democratic congressional delegation. Today, North Dakota's political landscape is more ideologically homogenous, and the protests against Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, as well as Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, have quite reached the critical mass that the 2009 demonstrations achieved. Still, Pomeroy has a warning for those Republicans: "I think these protests are real and I think that there's some people going to lose their seats over it." Also on this episode, Zachary Taylor and former Fargo City Commissioner Arlette Preston, representing joined to discuss my recent column about sprawl in North Dakota cities, its impact on property taxes, and how property tax reform recently passed by the Legislature may force local governments to have some meaningful debate about it. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36956255

609: Remembering Rep. Josh Christy on AI (REPLAY) 06/06/2025

608: 'That is a blatant falsehood’ (REPLAY) 06/04/2025

608: 'That is a blatant falsehood’ (REPLAY) 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 Wrigley, 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. 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. /episode/index/show/robport/id/36851855

607: How do we do politics in the classroom? (REPLAY) 05/30/2025

607: How do we do politics in the classroom? (REPLAY) 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." 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 /episode/index/show/robport/id/36791530

606: ‘We can disagree and still respect each other’ 05/28/2025

605: ‘It just doesn’t work for me’ 05/23/2025

604: 'Our partners in the Republican Party' 05/21/2025

604: 'Our partners in the Republican Party' On this episode of Plain Talk, Sen. Josh Boschee, a Democrat from Fargo, characterized the just-completed legislative session as marked by crucial victories but also "too many missed opportunities" and numerous "close calls on bad Republican bills." He emphasized how Republicans and Democrats worked together to achieve both. Among the victories? Passing Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax plan, which implements $1,600 primary residence property tax credits and 3% caps on growth in property tax bills. Noting his day job in real estate, Boschee extolled "how much this is going to help make housing more affordable throughout our state." He highlighted that the reform could potentially "completely wipe out" property taxes for lower-priced or rural homes or those in smaller communities, allowing residents to invest that money in home repairs, buy a larger home, or open up more affordable housing stock for others. And the bad bills? Boschee said those included "book bans, what teachers are teaching in the classroom, which bathrooms people are using," and issues related to "abortion and gay marriage." Most of those initiatives failed, and Boschee said that's because "a faction of the Republican party worked with Democrats to defeat a lot of those bills." Boschee also praised former Rep. Cynthia Schreiber Beck, who passed away recently. She was someone who "got things done for Richland County or District 25," he said. "Someone that we could all depend on and trust" and who "told you like it was." "If she wasn't going to support your idea, you knew it," he said, but if she liked your idea, she "would work with you to make it better or to get it across the finish line." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the impact the property tax cap may have on the ways North Dakota communities develop, and how the state's new ban on cell phones in schools will play out. This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota's abundant lignite resouces. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electrcity, syntheitc natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit to connect and learn more. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36659090

603: 'Nobody in the nation is doing what North Dakota is doing' 05/16/2025

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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36595165

602: 'We are horrible at telling our success stories' 05/14/2025

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. 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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36565990

601: 'We found out about it in the newspaper' 05/10/2025

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 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, "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 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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36517570

600: 'We're going to have problems with the caps' 05/07/2025

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, 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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36473115

599: 'We are 100% in a no-win situation with this' 05/02/2025

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 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 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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36412500

598: 'Fodder for just trolling and fishing' 04/30/2025

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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36376825

597: 'We're at the point where we're ready to throw fists here' 04/25/2025

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, and 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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36313675

596: 'I'm kind of a free speech absolutist' 04/24/2025

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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36289695

595: 'I couldn't care less that this comes from Donald Trump' 04/18/2025

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 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 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 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, 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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36222050

594: 'I hope it's not that I'm some kind of junky for chaos' 04/16/2025

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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36190060

593: Ethics process is 'ready for exploitation and weaponization' without good reforms 04/11/2025

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 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. | | | | /episode/index/show/robport/id/36099305

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