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.

690: 'Life's good in North Dakota' (Video) 03/27/2026

690: 'Life's good in North Dakota' (Video) In the world of journalism, it's a truth that we can tend to focus on the negative. "Safe airplane landings aren't news," the adage goes. There's a reason for that. The proverbial airplanes are supposed to land safely. When they don't, and when people and property are hurt, we want to know what happened, and why it happened, and who is responsible. Sometimes, though, it behooves us to talk about the planes that land safely. When we report about economic development programs, we tend to focus on the fails. The marginal companies that gobbled up lots of public dollars and then went out of business, or got preferential treatment because they were owned and operated by someone related to someone else in a position of power in government. We need to tell those stories, but sometimes we also need to tell the success stories. Peter Chamberlain is the founder and CEO of WalkWise, that sells a product that attaches to the walkers and canes of the elderly and infirm, allowing family and medical professionals to track activity, monitor movement, and be alerted when there might be a problem. Chamberlain doesn't have any strong roots in North Dakota. What drew his business and his family here was the opportunities made available by the state's economic development efforts. "This is the world's first and only smart mobility aid attachment," Chamberlain told us of his product on this episode of Plain Talk. "I feel very confident in saying I would not be here today, WalkWise would not exist today, if it weren't for the programs that exist in North Dakota, that frankly don't exist other places," he added. "Life's good in North Dakota." It's not just the direct investment and support he's received through endeavors like the Legacy Fund's in-state investment program. Chamberlain also credits "ecosystem builders" working in the Commerce Department and elsewhere who helped him connect with people and other businesses, including a manufacturer in tiny Cayuga, North Dakota, where the WorkWise product is made. He emphasized how much he likes working with a local manufacturer because he can physically visit the plant and the owners are "invested personally" in the product's success. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban talk about the upcoming NDGOP convention, the party's efforts to keep me from attending to report on the event, and whether political parties ought to continue to have special access to the state ballot. 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/40642060

690: 'Life's good in North Dakota' 03/27/2026

690: 'Life's good in North Dakota' In the world of journalism, it's a truth that we can tend to focus on the negative. "Safe airplane landings aren't news," the adage goes. There's a reason for that. The proverbial airplanes are supposed to land safely. When they don't, and when people and property are hurt, we want to know what happened, and why it happened, and who is responsible. Sometimes, though, it behooves us to talk about the planes that land safely. When we report about economic development programs, we tend to focus on the fails. The marginal companies that gobbled up lots of public dollars and then went out of business, or got preferential treatment because they were owned and operated by someone related to someone else in a position of power in government. We need to tell those stories, but sometimes we also need to tell the success stories. Peter Chamberlain is the founder and CEO of WalkWise, that sells a product that attaches to the walkers and canes of the elderly and infirm, allowing family and medical professionals to track activity, monitor movement, and be alerted when there might be a problem. Chamberlain doesn't have any strong roots in North Dakota. What drew his business and his family here was the opportunities made available by the state's economic development efforts. "This is the world's first and only smart mobility aid attachment," Chamberlain told us of his product on this episode of Plain Talk. "I feel very confident in saying I would not be here today, WalkWise would not exist today, if it weren't for the programs that exist in North Dakota, that frankly don't exist other places," he added. "Life's good in North Dakota." It's not just the direct investment and support he's received through endeavors like the Legacy Fund's in-state investment program. Chamberlain also credits "ecosystem builders" working in the Commerce Department and elsewhere who helped him connect with people and other businesses, including a manufacturer in tiny Cayuga, North Dakota, where the WorkWise product is made. He emphasized how much he likes working with a local manufacturer because he can physically visit the plant and the owners are "invested personally" in the product's success. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban talk about the upcoming NDGOP convention, the party's efforts to keep me from attending to report on the event, and whether political parties ought to continue to have special access to the state ballot. 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/40641995

689: It's opening day of baseball! (Video) 03/25/2026

689: It's opening day of baseball! (Video) Today marks the first official day of the Major League Baseball -- opening day! It's become a tradition on the Plain Talk podcast that Kelly Armstrong, first as a member of Congress, and now as governor of the great state of North Dakota, comes on the show to talk about baseball -- and just baseball -- on opening day. Armstrong is a fan of the Mets, and says that started when he was 10 years old, watching the famous (some might say infamous) 1986 Mets win the World Series. "If you couldn't fall in love with the New York Mets in 1986, you were doing it wrong," he said, "and I didn't even know anything about cocaine then." The game has gone through some big changes in recent years. The governor says most of them have been positive, but he's in wait-and-see mode on this new challenge system for balls and strikes. "The pitch clock was such a huge, great thing for the game. The not letting the relievers switch out five times in an inning, mound visits, throw over, they've speeded the game up," he said." They've got it a little closer to society. If this [pitch challenge system] bogs it back down again, I don't think it's a success." With conflict looming between the MLB owners and the players, Armstrong says he'd be ok with a salary cap, as long as there's also a threshold teams have to meet for investing in their rosters. "I would be okay with a cap if there's also a floor," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the fight in Congress over the SAVE Act, travel delays thanks to dysfunctin in Washington D.C., the looming economic cost of the war in Iran, the importance of access to records from law enforcement investigations pertaining to public officials, and we answered some listner 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/40623010

689: It's opening day of baseball! 03/25/2026

689: It's opening day of baseball! Today marks the first official day of the Major League Baseball -- opening day! It's become a tradition on the Plain Talk podcast that Kelly Armstrong, first as a member of Congress, and now as governor of the great state of North Dakota, comes on the show to talk about baseball -- and just baseball -- on opening day. Armstrong is a fan of the Mets, and says that started when he was 10 years old, watching the famous (some might say infamous) 1986 Mets win the World Series. "If you couldn't fall in love with the New York Mets in 1986, you were doing it wrong," he said, "and I didn't even know anything about cocaine then." The game has gone through some big changes in recent years. The governor says most of them have been positive, but he's in wait-and-see mode on this new challenge system for balls and strikes. "The pitch clock was such a huge, great thing for the game. The not letting the relievers switch out five times in an inning, mound visits, throw over, they've speeded the game up," he said." They've got it a little closer to society. If this [pitch challenge system] bogs it back down again, I don't think it's a success." With conflict looming between the MLB owners and the players, Armstrong says he'd be ok with a salary cap, as long as there's also a threshold teams have to meet for investing in their rosters. "I would be okay with a cap if there's also a floor," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the fight in Congress over the SAVE Act, travel delays thanks to dysfunctin in Washington D.C., the looming economic cost of the war in Iran, the importance of access to records from law enforcement investigations pertaining to public officials, and we answered some listner 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/40622735

688: 'We clean our voter rolls every single night in the state of North Dakota' (Video) 03/20/2026

688: 'We clean our voter rolls every single night in the state of North Dakota' (Video) There is a furious national debate about the SAVE Act -- federal legislation backed by Republicans aimed at creating tough new national standards for election security -- and North Dakota occupies a unique role in it. Our state is the only state without voter registration. The SAVE Act, as it is presently amended, contains exemptions to maintain that status, and Sec. of State Michael Howe says that's appropriate, because current North Dakota laws already make our elections very secure. "I like to tell people North Dakota's been dealing with election integrity well before it was cool," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. He pointed out that North Dakota already verifies the citizenship of voters. "If you're getting a North Dakota ID for the very first time, you have to prove your citizenship. We have that in our central voter file. If you're here legally but not a US citizen, it will say on your physical ID card, permanent or temporary." He also said that the state goes through great pains to ensure that the state's voter rolls do not contain the names of ineligible voters. "In North Dakota, we clean our voter roles every single night." "We get information from the Department of Transportation, that's involved in an interstate cross check program. So, if you move from North Dakota to the state of Tennessee and get a Tennessee identification card, state of Tennessee notifies our DOT who notifies the North Dakota Secretary of State's office and we can do that overnight," he continued. "The DOCR, if someone's incarcerated, they notify the Secretary of State's office, this person's incarcerated, they're not a qualified elector anymore. Someone passes away, we get an update from Vital Records every single night that so-and-so has passed away in some place, North Dakota, and they're removed from our central voter file." Howe is up for re-election this year and he, like the other Republican statewide incumbents, has opted not to attend the North Dakota Republican Party's endorsing convention. "I attended as many district conventions as I could um in all four corners of the state. In talking with folks, they just said, 'Hey, look, Michael, we support you 100%. We'll do we'll knock doors. We'll contribute, but we just don't want to go to Minot," he said, referring to the location for the convention. "I fully understand and respect why Republicans in North Dakota have been turned off by this process," he continued. "It makes me sad. I hope it comes back uh to what it was." Also on this episode, me and guest co-host Jessica Bell discussed the debate between endorsing conventions and open primaries, the proper role of public servants, and we responded to critical of my reporting on the state of the NDGOP. 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/40557350

688: 'We clean our voter rolls every single night in the state of North Dakota' 03/20/2026

688: 'We clean our voter rolls every single night in the state of North Dakota' There is a furious national debate about the SAVE Act -- federal legislation backed by Republicans aimed at creating tough new national standards for election security -- and North Dakota occupies a unique role in it. Our state is the only state without voter registration. The SAVE Act, as it is presently amended, contains exemptions to maintain that status, and Sec. of State Michael Howe says that's appropriate, because current North Dakota laws already make our elections very secure. "I like to tell people North Dakota's been dealing with election integrity well before it was cool," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. He pointed out that North Dakota already verifies the citizenship of voters. "If you're getting a North Dakota ID for the very first time, you have to prove your citizenship. We have that in our central voter file. If you're here legally but not a US citizen, it will say on your physical ID card, permanent or temporary." He also said that the state goes through great pains to ensure that the state's voter rolls do not contain the names of ineligible voters. "In North Dakota, we clean our voter roles every single night." "We get information from the Department of Transportation, that's involved in an interstate cross check program. So, if you move from North Dakota to the state of Tennessee and get a Tennessee identification card, state of Tennessee notifies our DOT who notifies the North Dakota Secretary of State's office and we can do that overnight," he continued. "The DOCR, if someone's incarcerated, they notify the Secretary of State's office, this person's incarcerated, they're not a qualified elector anymore. Someone passes away, we get an update from Vital Records every single night that so-and-so has passed away in some place, North Dakota, and they're removed from our central voter file." Howe is up for re-election this year and he, like the other Republican statewide incumbents, has opted not to attend the North Dakota Republican Party's endorsing convention. "I attended as many district conventions as I could um in all four corners of the state. In talking with folks, they just said, 'Hey, look, Michael, we support you 100%. We'll do we'll knock doors. We'll contribute, but we just don't want to go to Minot," he said, referring to the location for the convention. "I fully understand and respect why Republicans in North Dakota have been turned off by this process," he continued. "It makes me sad. I hope it comes back uh to what it was." Also on this episode, me and guest co-host Jessica Bell discussed the debate between endorsing conventions and open primaries, the proper role of public servants, and we responded to critical of my reporting on the state of the NDGOP. 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/40557310

687: 'The best case scenario for the Fargo PD is a nightmare' (Video) 03/18/2026

687: 'The best case scenario for the Fargo PD is a nightmare' (Video) Angela Lipps is a Tennesee grandmother who, through no fault of her own, is making headlines in North Dakota, and the region, and the nation, for something you don't want to make headlines for. She was subjected to arrest at gun point, months of detainment during the extradition process, all because the Fargo Police Department used an artificial intelligence facial recognition tool to match her to security camera footage of a suspect who allegedly defrauded banks in North Dakota. Lipps was quickly released when her Fargo-based defense attorney, Jay Greenwood, submitted finaicial records and other evidence to authorities showing that she was in Tennessee when they allege she was in North Dakota committing fraud. "Imagine what the best case scenario in in this situation for the Fargo PD is," Greenwood said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Let's say they have some new evidence and they discover that Angela Lips was the one that actually did do this. I don't think she did based on what I've seen. But let's say they do that and they say, 'Nope, we're going to recharge her.' So, they have to start this entire process over again, having screwed this entire thing up the first time because they didn't have the evidence that they needed before they charged her." "They brought her to Tennessee. They held her in Tennessee. They flew her on an airplane to North Dakota. They held her in North Dakota. Paid for all of that stuff," he continued. "Then they got some information, dismissed the case instead of, you know, using all this new evidence. And now she's back in Tennessee. And if they find something new, now we start the process all over again. And in addition to that, after all this uproar and the ineffective way that the Fargo police went about this, imagine trying to empanel a 12 person jury in Cass County that is going to listen to any of this. "It's just the best case scenario for the Fargo PD is a nightmare." Also on this episode, me and guest co-host Jessica Bell weigh in on the ongoing debate over data centers -- two central North Dakota counties in coal country have instituted moratoriums against the facilities -- and we respond to 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/40530015

687: 'The best case scenario for the Fargo PD is a nightmare' 03/18/2026

687: 'The best case scenario for the Fargo PD is a nightmare' Angela Lipps is a Tennesee grandmother who, through no fault of her own, is making headlines in North Dakota, and the region, and the nation, for something you don't want to make headlines for. She was subjected to arrest at gun point, months of detainment during the extradition process, all because the Fargo Police Department used an artificial intelligence facial recognition tool to match her to security camera footage of a suspect who allegedly defrauded banks in North Dakota. Lipps was quickly released when her Fargo-based defense attorney, Jay Greenwood, submitted finaicial records and other evidence to authorities showing that she was in Tennessee when they allege she was in North Dakota committing fraud. "Imagine what the best case scenario in in this situation for the Fargo PD is," Greenwood said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Let's say they have some new evidence and they discover that Angela Lips was the one that actually did do this. I don't think she did based on what I've seen. But let's say they do that and they say, 'Nope, we're going to recharge her.' So, they have to start this entire process over again, having screwed this entire thing up the first time because they didn't have the evidence that they needed before they charged her." "They brought her to Tennessee. They held her in Tennessee. They flew her on an airplane to North Dakota. They held her in North Dakota. Paid for all of that stuff," he continued. "Then they got some information, dismissed the case instead of, you know, using all this new evidence. And now she's back in Tennessee. And if they find something new, now we start the process all over again. And in addition to that, after all this uproar and the ineffective way that the Fargo police went about this, imagine trying to empanel a 12 person jury in Cass County that is going to listen to any of this. "It's just the best case scenario for the Fargo PD is a nightmare." Also on this episode, me and guest co-host Jessica Bell weigh in on the ongoing debate over data centers -- two central North Dakota counties in coal country have instituted moratoriums against the facilities -- and we respond to 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/40529260

686: 'It was just a weird pitch for Cramer to swing at' (Video) 03/13/2026

686: 'It was just a weird pitch for Cramer to swing at' (Video) According to an AI analysis touted by thrice-failed statewide candidate Rick Becker, who is currently seeking a seat in the state Legislature in District 7, because I write too many articles about him. Is that an accurate diagnosis, or is this a case of yet another whiny politician trying to throw dirt on apt criticisms? We discussed it on this episode of Plain Talk, and whille me and co-host Chad Oban didn't agree with the criticism, we did find Becker's method to be a creative one, if perhaps more reflective of his mental state than mine. Also, Sen. Kevin Cramer recently criticizing me for suggesting that former Sec. of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was scapegoated for the Trump administration's disastrous application of immigration policies in Minnesota and beyond. Oban argues that the rampant fraud in Minnesota's safety net programs which ended Gov. Tim Walz's political career ended up being overshadowed by the too-aggressive tactics engaged in by ICE. "I think the fraud thing would have also killed Penny Flanigan's, his lieutenant governor, race for US Senate if it hadn't been for the ICE thing," Oban said. "And now she's back up in the polls against Angie Craig for that Senate primary, because there's less focus on the fraud and more focus on the ICE piece." "I think it was just a weird pitch for Cramer to swing at here," he continued. Also on this episode, we discuss the war in Iran, and the potential blowback we may face in economic challenges and terrorism, as well as Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth's status as a callow, fragile poseur who has no business in his current job. Plus, North Dakotans are still paying a local price for federal dysfunction as a local domestic violence nonprofit in Grand Forks faces hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue shortfalls due to delays in federal funding. 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/40424600

686: 'It was just a weird pitch for Cramer to swing at' 03/13/2026

686: 'It was just a weird pitch for Cramer to swing at' According to an AI analysis touted by thrice-failed statewide candidate Rick Becker, who is currently seeking a seat in the state Legislature in District 7, because I write too many articles about him. Is that an accurate diagnosis, or is this a case of yet another whiny politician trying to throw dirt on apt criticisms? We discussed it on this episode of Plain Talk, and whille me and co-host Chad Oban didn't agree with the criticism, we did find Becker's method to be a creative one, if perhaps more reflective of his mental state than mine. Also, Sen. Kevin Cramer recently criticizing me for suggesting that former Sec. of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was scapegoated for the Trump administration's disastrous application of immigration policies in Minnesota and beyond. Oban argues that the rampant fraud in Minnesota's safety net programs which ended Gov. Tim Walz's political career ended up being overshadowed by the too-aggressive tactics engaged in by ICE. "I think the fraud thing would have also killed Penny Flanigan's, his lieutenant governor, race for US Senate if it hadn't been for the ICE thing," Oban said. "And now she's back up in the polls against Angie Craig for that Senate primary, because there's less focus on the fraud and more focus on the ICE piece." "I think it was just a weird pitch for Cramer to swing at here," he continued. Also on this episode, we discuss the war in Iran, and the potential blowback we may face in economic challenges and terrorism, as well as Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth's status as a callow, fragile poseur who has no business in his current job. Plus, North Dakotans are still paying a local price for federal dysfunction as a local domestic violence nonprofit in Grand Forks faces hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue shortfalls due to delays in federal funding. 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/40424565

685: 'What the party says needs to happen overrides what the people say' (Video) 03/11/2026

685: 'What the party says needs to happen overrides what the people say' (Video) District 7, in the Bismarck area, will be a battleground in North Dakota's legislative races this cycle. Republicans have two full slates of candidates for the one Senate and two House seats, and once the primary settles that dispute, the Democrats are also fielding their own three candidates. One of those candidates, Jason Thoms, a professional musician who is seeking a House seat for the Democratic-NPL, joined this episode of Plain Talk, and talked about some of the factionalism that he sees across the partisan divide in the NDGOP. "To me, one of the things that I've been noticing a lot is more and more we have this kind of, I guess you call it MAGA, experience in our country. It says that what the leader or what the party says needs to happen overrides what the people say." "Those kind of things, I don't know, they frustrate me quite a bit," he continued. Thoms says his campaign will focus on issues important to him, including mental health, something he has a deeply personal experience with. "My wife died by suicide in 2020, and she had struggled for throughout her entire life, but she was an amazing and wonderful person. We fought we fought hard for her life," he said. "Suicide is one of these words that we kind of try to make a taboo, we hide away from, but I'm 100% against that," he continued. "We need to talk about those things. We need to make sure that we have the resources, the 988 phone lines are working and they're funded. We need to make sure that the opportunity for folks in rural communities, and here in the larger cities, have the ability to get into mental health therapy and things like this on a timely basis." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I respond to listener feedback and discuss the strong candidate recruitment efforts of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. We also talked about the decision by the North Dakota Republican Party's candidates not to seek their party's convention endorsement. "The purpose of a political party is to win elections, and if people who are winning elections don't want to associate with you, what are you doing?" Oban asked. 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/40402355

685: 'What the party says needs to happen overrides what the people say' 03/11/2026

685: 'What the party says needs to happen overrides what the people say' District 7, in the Bismarck area, will be a battleground in North Dakota's legislative races this cycle. Republicans have two full slates of candidates for the one Senate and two House seats, and once the primary settles that dispute, the Democrats are also fielding their own three candidates. One of those candidates, Jason Thoms, a professional musician who is seeking a House seat for the Democratic-NPL, joined this episode of Plain Talk, and talked about some of the factionalism that he sees across the partisan divide in the NDGOP. "To me, one of the things that I've been noticing a lot is more and more we have this kind of, I guess you call it MAGA, experience in our country. It says that what the leader or what the party says needs to happen overrides what the people say." "Those kind of things, I don't know, they frustrate me quite a bit," he continued. Thoms says his campaign will focus on issues important to him, including mental health, something he has a deeply personal experience with. "My wife died by suicide in 2020, and she had struggled for throughout her entire life, but she was an amazing and wonderful person. We fought we fought hard for her life," he said. "Suicide is one of these words that we kind of try to make a taboo, we hide away from, but I'm 100% against that," he continued. "We need to talk about those things. We need to make sure that we have the resources, the 988 phone lines are working and they're funded. We need to make sure that the opportunity for folks in rural communities, and here in the larger cities, have the ability to get into mental health therapy and things like this on a timely basis." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I respond to listener feedback and discuss the strong candidate recruitment efforts of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. We also talked about the decision by the North Dakota Republican Party's candidates not to seek their party's convention endorsement. "The purpose of a political party is to win elections, and if people who are winning elections don't want to associate with you, what are you doing?" Oban asked. 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/40402160

684: 'Being on the court is going to be isolating' 03/06/2026

684: 'Being on the court is going to be isolating' Mark Friese, a long-time criminal defense attorney who has worked some high-profile cases, including serving as disgraced former lawmaker Ray Holmberg's attorney, has been appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court by Gov. Kelly Armstrong. Why does he want to serve on the court? "It's a lot easier to be critical of the court when you're sitting on the opposite side of the table," he told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "I'm hopeful that I can impact some change and offer a perspective that's, quite frankly, not been held by the court previously." Friese will be the only member of the Supreme Court with a background in criminal defense. He also touted his background as a former police officer, and working in the military courts as a member of the North Dakota National Guard, as unique experiences he can bring to the bench. While expressing deep respect for the current justices, he also had some criticism. "There are instances where the court has not been consistent in its rationale, consistent in its reasoning," he said. "I think practitioners need to be able to rely on those decisions and know how those decisions are going to come down, and we haven't seen that universally from our court." In the past the Supreme Court has pushed toward allowing more digital access to court records, but it's a project that hasn't been completed yet. Friese said he thinks public access is important, but also noted that information contained in court records can be exploited for fraud and other nefarious reasons. "There has to be a careful balance. The public has a right to know. You have a right to sit in the courtroom. You have a right to access the docket," he said. "But the danger exists when those court records are used for improper purposes." He also said that serving on the bench will be "isolating" in a way, as he will no longer be able to serve clients, and he won't be able to speak as freely publicly about issues he's passionate about. "I had a great big box full of cards and letters and thank you notes from clients and their families for helping them through difficult times. I'm really going to miss that aspect of practice," he said. "Being on the court is going to be isolating. I won't be able to speak as openly and publicly as I have in the past on issues." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the upcoming Democratic-NPL and NDGOP conventions, the NDGOP's proposed rule to fine disloyal members, the state of North Dakota's legislative races, and we responded 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/40335240

684: 'Being on the court is going to be isolating' (Video) 03/06/2026

684: 'Being on the court is going to be isolating' (Video) Mark Friese, a long-time criminal defense attorney who has worked some high-profile cases, including serving as disgraced former lawmaker Ray Holmberg's attorney, has been appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court by Gov. Kelly Armstrong. Why does he want to serve on the court? "It's a lot easier to be critical of the court when you're sitting on the opposite side of the table," he told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "I'm hopeful that I can impact some change and offer a perspective that's, quite frankly, not been held by the court previously." Friese will be the only member of the Supreme Court with a background in criminal defense. He also touted his background as a former police officer, and working in the military courts as a member of the North Dakota National Guard, as unique experiences he can bring to the bench. While expressing deep respect for the current justices, he also had some criticism. "There are instances where the court has not been consistent in its rationale, consistent in its reasoning," he said. "I think practitioners need to be able to rely on those decisions and know how those decisions are going to come down, and we haven't seen that universally from our court." In the past the Supreme Court has pushed toward allowing more digital access to court records, but it's a project that hasn't been completed yet. Friese said he thinks public access is important, but also noted that information contained in court records can be exploited for fraud and other nefarious reasons. "There has to be a careful balance. The public has a right to know. You have a right to sit in the courtroom. You have a right to access the docket," he said. "But the danger exists when those court records are used for improper purposes." He also said that serving on the bench will be "isolating" in a way, as he will no longer be able to serve clients, and he won't be able to speak as freely publicly about issues he's passionate about. "I had a great big box full of cards and letters and thank you notes from clients and their families for helping them through difficult times. I'm really going to miss that aspect of practice," he said. "Being on the court is going to be isolating. I won't be able to speak as openly and publicly as I have in the past on issues." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the upcoming Democratic-NPL and NDGOP conventions, the NDGOP's proposed rule to fine disloyal members, the state of North Dakota's legislative races, and we responded 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/40340240

683: 'Going backwards in average teacher pay, that's a problem' (Video) 03/04/2026

683: 'Going backwards in average teacher pay, that's a problem' (Video) Levi Bachmeier, appointed last year as North Dakota's Superintendent of Public Schools, says that it's bogus to suggest that passing a school meals ballot measure means the state will have to reduce funding for K-12 education. "That's a totally a false choice," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Voters should make their decision about what they what they believe is best on the ballot." "We should continue to invest in our public schools," he continued. "Our public schools are an investment in our future, in our state's future. I don't know that this has to be an either-or conversation when we're talking about these two topics." Bachmeier also said that the state is falling behind on teacher pay, and needs to invest more in it, and he doesn't believe that would require any tax increases. "I'm a big believer in it comes down to great teachers, and going backwards in average teacher pay, that's a problem," he said. "School districts getting two applicants when they have two open teaching positions, that's a problem." "I don't believe we need to raise taxes. I want to be abundantly clear, we have the resources that we need," he continue. "It's how do we have a conversation about what are our priorities are, and again...how much would you put into K-12? How much would you put into the pockets of teachers to make sure that they are continuing to choose a really, really hard profession to support kids?" Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss dangerous medical advice being spread by a state lawmaker, and a candidate who would like to be a state lawmaker. 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/40317410

683: 'Going backwards in average teacher pay, that's a problem' 03/04/2026

683: 'Going backwards in average teacher pay, that's a problem' Levi Bachmeier, appointed last year as North Dakota's Superintendent of Public Schools, says that it's bogus to suggest that passing a school meals ballot measure means the state will have to reduce funding for K-12 education. "That's a totally a false choice," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Voters should make their decision about what they what they believe is best on the ballot." "We should continue to invest in our public schools," he continued. "Our public schools are an investment in our future, in our state's future. I don't know that this has to be an either-or conversation when we're talking about these two topics." Bachmeier also said that the state is falling behind on teacher pay, and needs to invest more in it, and he doesn't believe that would require any tax increases. "I'm a big believer in it comes down to great teachers, and going backwards in average teacher pay, that's a problem," he said. "School districts getting two applicants when they have two open teaching positions, that's a problem." "I don't believe we need to raise taxes. I want to be abundantly clear, we have the resources that we need," he continue. "It's how do we have a conversation about what are our priorities are, and again...how much would you put into K-12? How much would you put into the pockets of teachers to make sure that they are continuing to choose a really, really hard profession to support kids?" Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss dangerous medical advice being spread by a state lawmaker, and a candidate who would like to be a state lawmaker. 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/40316410

682: Democratic-NPL candidates for U.S. House debate (Video) 02/27/2026

682: Democratic-NPL candidates for U.S. House debate (Video) On this episode of Plain Talk, we hosted a debate between the Democratic-NPL's candidates for U.S. House. Trygve Hammer is a Marine Corps veteran with three previous campaigns under his belt. Vern Thompson is a farmer and truck driver who recorded this debate from the cab of his semi. They each made their case for why they should replace the incumbent, Rep. Julie Fedorchak. (The third candidate in the race, Helene Neville, was scheduled to participate but had to drop out at the last minute due to illness.) Thompson told us he's running to protect farmers. "Trump's tariffs have caused the largest farm crisis in 40 years," he said. "That was a self-inflicted wound. And that's one of the reasons I got into this race is because of the tariffs." "Tariffs are a tax on consumers," Hammer told us, "and it is a regressive tax." He said he'd like to focus on restoring the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch. "Congress will have to take the reigns and be a check on the Trump administration." Why should Democratic voters choose one candidate over the other? Thompson answered that question by touting his experience. He's the former mayor of Minnewauken, and a former state lawmaker who worked with Republican Gov. Ed Schafer on flooding in the Devils Lake area. For his part, Hammer pointed out his more recent track record of campaigning for office, and working over multiple election cycles to help rebuild enthusiasm for the Democratic-NPL which hasn't had a lot of electoral success over the last decade. The candidates also fielded questions on abortion, Israel's actions in Gaza, the national debt, our nation's hostilities with Iran, and passenger rail service. 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/40257050

682: Democratic-NPL candidates for U.S. House debate 02/27/2026

682: Democratic-NPL candidates for U.S. House debate On this episode of Plain Talk, we hosted a debate between the Democratic-NPL's candidates for U.S. House. Trygve Hammer is a Marine Corps veteran with three previous campaigns under his belt. Vern Thompson is a farmer and truck driver who recorded this debate from the cab of his semi. They each made their case for why they should replace the incumbent, Rep. Julie Fedorchak. (The third candidate in the race, Helene Neville, was scheduled to participate but had to drop out at the last minute due to illness.) Thompson told us he's running to protect farmers. "Trump's tariffs have caused the largest farm crisis in 40 years," he said. "That was a self-inflicted wound. And that's one of the reasons I got into this race is because of the tariffs." "Tariffs are a tax on consumers," Hammer told us, "and it is a regressive tax." He said he'd like to focus on restoring the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch. "Congress will have to take the reigns and be a check on the Trump administration." Why should Democratic voters choose one candidate over the other? Thompson answered that question by touting his experience. He's the former mayor of Minnewauken, and a former state lawmaker who worked with Republican Gov. Ed Schafer on flooding in the Devils Lake area. For his part, Hammer pointed out his more recent track record of campaigning for office, and working over multiple election cycles to help rebuild enthusiasm for the Democratic-NPL which hasn't had a lot of electoral success over the last decade. The candidates also fielded questions on abortion, Israel's actions in Gaza, the national debt, our nation's hostilities with Iran, and passenger rail service. 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/40256675

681: 'The reasonable right needs to stay involved and keep their foot on the gas' (Video) 02/25/2026

681: 'The reasonable right needs to stay involved and keep their foot on the gas' 02/25/2026

680: 'I want to be part of taking care of our home' (Video) 02/20/2026

680: 'I want to be part of taking care of our home' (Video) "I'm a lifelong North Dakotan," Greg Vetter told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "My ancestors moved here in 1888. The entire lineage since then have been North Dakota raised, and we've all lived here." "This is home," he said, "and I want to be part of taking care of our home." Vetter is a first-time candidate running for the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 7 alongside Steve Sauter, another newcomer who also joined us on this episode, and incumbent Sen. Michelle Axtman. They're facing off against a slate of populist challengers. Former lawmaker Rick Becker and Gaylynn Becker (no relation) are seeking seats in the House, while Jerri Hopfauf is running for the Senate. This will be a battleground race in the ongoing schism in the Republican party between traditional conservatives and the populists. Vetter and Sauter told us that they plan to win over voters by focusing on public service over culture war issues. "I'm a big believer in you give twice as much as you get, the rest will take care of your care of itself," Sauter said. "And I just think the state, understanding how unique North Dakota is and what makes us specia, I want to be able to continue that and be part of that, continuing that in the future for such an amazing state." They also said they plan to eschew the negative campaign tactics that were common from populist challengers in recent cycles. "I've built a career on building trusted relationships, collaborating with people, treating them in a dignified, respectful manner," he said, adding that manners -- simple things like saying "thank you" and "I'm sorry" -- are important. "If those things don't resonate with the people of North Dakota anymore, and they choose not to elect me, I'm absolutely comfortable with that." Also on this episode, guest co-host Jamie Selzler and I discuss the threat AI poses to political discourse, U.S. House candidate Alex Balazs's odd social media post, and Doug Burgum's disappointing turn away from who he was as governor now that he's serving in President Donald Trump's cabinet. 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/40175675

680: 'I want to be part of taking care of our home' 02/20/2026

680: 'I want to be part of taking care of our home' "I'm a lifelong North Dakotan," Greg Vetter told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "My ancestors moved here in 1888. The entire lineage since then have been North Dakota raised, and we've all lived here." "This is home," he said, "and I want to be part of taking care of our home." Vetter is a first-time candidate running for the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 7 alongside Steve Sauter, another newcomer who also joined us on this episode, and incumbent Sen. Michelle Axtman. They're facing off against a slate of populist challengers. Former lawmaker Rick Becker and Gaylynn Becker (no relation) are seeking seats in the House, while Jerri Hopfauf is running for the Senate. This will be a battleground race in the ongoing schism in the Republican party between traditional conservatives and the populists. Vetter and Sauter told us that they plan to win over voters by focusing on public service over culture war issues. "I'm a big believer in you give twice as much as you get, the rest will take care of your care of itself," Sauter said. "And I just think the state, understanding how unique North Dakota is and what makes us specia, I want to be able to continue that and be part of that, continuing that in the future for such an amazing state." They also said they plan to eschew the negative campaign tactics that were common from populist challengers in recent cycles. "I've built a career on building trusted relationships, collaborating with people, treating them in a dignified, respectful manner," he said, adding that manners -- simple things like saying "thank you" and "I'm sorry" -- are important. "If those things don't resonate with the people of North Dakota anymore, and they choose not to elect me, I'm absolutely comfortable with that." Also on this episode, guest co-host Jamie Selzler and I discuss the threat AI poses to political discourse, U.S. House candidate Alex Balazs's odd social media post, and Doug Burgum's disappointing turn away from who he was as governor now that he's serving in President Donald Trump's cabinet. 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/40175590

679: 'We're your friends. We're your neighbors. We're your co-workers.' (Video) 02/18/2026

679: 'We're your friends. We're your neighbors. We're your co-workers.' (Video) Kyle Erickson and Zach Raknerud are two Democratic-NPL candidates running in Minot's District 5, but what's unique about Erickson is that he was born with cerebral palsy. If elected, he would (at least in this observer's memory) be the first lawmaker in North Dakota living with that sort of disability. But he wants it to be clear that he's not getting elected to be a single-issue leader. "The people with disabilities isn't this nebulous demographic out there," Erickson said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We're your friends. We're your neighbors. We're your co-workers. I think it would be a great chance to have those voices or to have somebody from the disability community get elected." Still, Erickson plans to represent all of his constituents if elected. "Disability rights in this state is like the second or third policy that's a priority for me right now, because, I mean, North Dakota is wonderful, but we have a lot of work to do in order to increase the quality of life for it citizens, and that means whether or not you're a single mother or you have a disability or you're white or you're black or purple. Erickson first made statewide headlines when a disability program he works for at Minot State University abruptly as a part of the Trump administration's chaotic "DOGE" efforts to promote efficiency. "I kind of point to that as my kind of origin story, so to speak," Erickson said adding, "I just want to protect my community members." This is Erickson's first time running for office, but for Raknerud, this is his fifth turn on the ballot, including a past run for the U.S. House against former Congressman Kelly Armstrong. "I continue to try because I love North Dakota and I really do believe that the values of North Dakota are not being represented by the North Dakota GOP, especially as they go farther into the extremes." Also on this episode, guest co-host Jamie Selzler and I discuss what is looking to be a very diminished state convention from the North Dakota Republican Party, Fargo's mayoral race, and 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/40156640

679: 'We're your friends. We're your neighbors. We're your co-workers.' 02/18/2026

679: 'We're your friends. We're your neighbors. We're your co-workers.' Kyle Erickson and Zach Raknerud are two Democratic-NPL candidates running in Minot's District 5, but what's unique about Erickson is that he was born with cerebral palsy. If elected, he would (at least in this observer's memory) be the first lawmaker in North Dakota living with that sort of disability. But he wants it to be clear that he's not getting elected to be a single-issue leader. "The people with disabilities isn't this nebulous demographic out there," Erickson said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We're your friends. We're your neighbors. We're your co-workers. I think it would be a great chance to have those voices or to have somebody from the disability community get elected." Still, Erickson plans to represent all of his constituents if elected. "Disability rights in this state is like the second or third policy that's a priority for me right now, because, I mean, North Dakota is wonderful, but we have a lot of work to do in order to increase the quality of life for it citizens, and that means whether or not you're a single mother or you have a disability or you're white or you're black or purple. Erickson first made statewide headlines when a disability program he works for at Minot State University abruptly as a part of the Trump administration's chaotic "DOGE" efforts to promote efficiency. "I kind of point to that as my kind of origin story, so to speak," Erickson said adding, "I just want to protect my community members." This is Erickson's first time running for office, but for Raknerud, this is his fifth turn on the ballot, including a past run for the U.S. House against former Congressman Kelly Armstrong. "I continue to try because I love North Dakota and I really do believe that the values of North Dakota are not being represented by the North Dakota GOP, especially as they go farther into the extremes." Also on this episode, guest co-host Jamie Selzler and I discuss what is looking to be a very diminished state convention from the North Dakota Republican Party, Fargo's mayoral race, and 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/40154615

678: '250 years of our freedom' (Video) 02/13/2026

678: '250 years of our freedom' 02/13/2026

677: 'We don't need any more noise' (Video) 02/11/2026

677: 'We don't need any more noise' (Video) Heather Neville is a travelling nurse with more than four decades of experience. She's a four-time cancer survivor. She's an accomplished runner, having put in over 17,000 miles running in all 50 states to raise awareness and money for various causes. She's also, now, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives here in North Dakota, which she's made her home since 2020. "I just really my whole life I've wanted to serve in a different capacity and go marching for the people," she said on this episode of Plain Talk when asked why she's in the race. "There's so much noise coming out of DC. We don't need any more noise." "What I saw out there running 17,000 miles, there's so much more love than we ever expected. And it's out there, happiness, hope, inspiration, and it's our duty and privilege to reach back and help anybody that's underserved," she added. Neville says she's in favor of a universal health care system, not unlike Canada's. "When we have cancer in this country, what do we do? Set up a GoFundMe," she said. "In Canada, you go to the doctors." She's also critical of the way President Donald Trump's administration has gone about enforcing federal immigration laws. "I think they should rewind and vet these people that are agents, ICE agents, out there terrorizing our citizens. And they didn't," she said. "It was like a fast track to dress up and get out there and be very mean and angry towards people." Neville said that if she doesn't win the Democratic-NPL's endorsement at the party's state convention in early March, she'll continue campaigning to the June primary. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the debate over nationalizing elections, and we respond to 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/40082410

677: 'We don't need any more noise' 02/11/2026

677: 'We don't need any more noise' Heather Neville is a travelling nurse with more than four decades of experience. She's a four-time cancer survivor. She's an accomplished runner, having put in over 17,000 miles running in all 50 states to raise awareness and money for various causes. She's also, now, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives here in North Dakota, which she's made her home since 2020. "I just really my whole life I've wanted to serve in a different capacity and go marching for the people," she said on this episode of Plain Talk when asked why she's in the race. "What I saw out there running 17,000 miles, there's so much more love than we ever expected. And it's out there, happiness, hope, inspiration, and it's our duty and privilege to reach back and help anybody that's underserved," she added. Neville says she's in favor of a universal health care system, not unlike Canada's. "When we have cancer in this country, what do we do? Set up a GoFundMe," she said. "In Canada, you go to the doctors." She's also critical of the way President Donald Trump's administration has gone about enforcing federal immigration laws. "I think they should rewind and vet these people that are agents, ICE agents, out there terrorizing our citizens. And they didn't," she said. "It was like a fast track to dress up and get out there and be very mean and angry towards people." Neville said that if she doesn't win the Democratic-NPL's endorsement at the party's state convention in early March, she'll continue campaigning to the June primary. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the debate over nationalizing elections, and we respond to 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/40077995

676: Wonder Fund, Høstfest, F5 Project and ICE's drawdown in Minnesota 02/06/2026

676: The Wonder Fund, the Hostfest, the F5 Project, and ICE's drawdown in Minnesota 02/06/2026

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