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Plain Talk

Forum Communications Co.www.inforum.com
Plain Talk is a podcast hosted by Rob Port and Chad Oban focusing on political news and current events in North Dakota. Port is a columnist for the Forum News Service published in papers including the Fargo Forum, Grand Forks Herald, Jamestown Sun, and the Dickinson Press. Oban is a long-time political consultant.
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Episodes

Ep. 46: Thoughts on repealing the Sunday close law

Rep. Corey Mock (R-Grand Forks) talks about the Legacy Fund, including his amendment to make spending its earnings harder, what we ought to do with the billions of dollars in the fund, and a little bit on initiated measure reform. Also, some thoughts on the Legislature ending North Dakota's Sunday close law. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 20, 201937 min

Ep. 45: DAPL touts taxes paid, and should Christchurch video be censored?

Should the Christchurch shooting video be censored on the internet? Do we want the government and tech companies getting comfortable blocking controversial content? Also Vicki Granado from Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, talks about the project's impact on taxes and the economy in North Dakota nearly three years later. This episode of Plain Talk is sponsored by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 19, 201930 min

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 03/18/19

Audio from Rob's 03/18/19 appearance on the Jay Thomas Show, talking about the Legacy Fund and anti-discrimination legislation in Bismarck.

Mar 18, 201917 min

Ep. 44: Is it ok to treat people differently based on skin color?

A New York Times Magazine columnist says it's ok for people to treat other people differently based on skin color...as long as they belong to a minority group. White can't get away with it. Or maybe we shouldn't treat anyone differently based on skin color? Also, North Dakota Lt. Governor Brent Sanford joins to talk about the executive branch's dispute with the Legislature over revenue forecasts. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com ....

Mar 18, 201936 min

Ep. 43: Rep. Armstrong says anti-capitalist thinking in Washington is "very, very scary"

Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions, and says the amount of anti-capitalist thinking in Washington D.C. is "very, very scary." Also, are lawmakers being honest with their revenue forecasts? Governor Burgum doesn't think so, and he's probably right. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 15, 201927 min

Ep. 42: Ocazio-Cortez a Republican plant?

Senator Kevin Cramer takes reader questions on this episode of Plain Talk, responding to one by suggesting that socialist media darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez might actually be a plant...by Republicans. Speaking of AOC, some of her comments chastising Wells Fargo for financing the Dakota Access Pipeline recently were downright Orwellian. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 14, 201937 min

Ep. 41: A lawsuit over school funds?

Could the State of North Dakota be sued over a mistake in transferring oil tax revenues to state funds? Nich Archuleta of North Dakota United, an organization representing the state's public workers and teachers, says his group would like to avoid it but they're keep their options open. Also Senator Ray Holmberg, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, talks about revenue forecasts and finalizing the state's budget. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com ....

Mar 13, 201932 min

Ep. 40: Victimhood as political currency, Boschee talks session

ND House Minority Leader Josh Boschee (D-Fargo) joins to talk about the 2019 legislative session so far, including his sense that this session has been less partisan than past sessions. Also, why has victimhood become political currency? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 11, 201938 min

Ep. 39: Why should Rep. Ilhan Omar get a pass for her bigotry?

It seems like many are willing to give Rep. Ilhan Omar a pass for her comments about Jews and Israel that someone of another gender/race/religious background might not get. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong gives an update from Washington D.C. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 08, 201927 min

Ep. 38: Cramer says Gree New Deal is a "socialist's dream"

Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions this week on the green new deal, immigration policy, President Trump's emergency declaration, and other topics. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 07, 201938 min

Ep. 37: Heitkamp complains about being branded a Democrat

Former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, in full excuse mode after her 2018 election loss, blames being branded a "Democrat" for her election loss. Also Jodi Smith, head of North Dakota's Department of Trust Lands, talks about what her office sees as a mistake in how state oil tax revenues were distributed. This episode of Plain Talk was brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 06, 201928 min

Ep. 36: Responding to some letters to the editor

Rob responds to some recent letters to the editor about the podcast and his articles. Also, former Grand Forks Herald publisher Mike Jacobs weighs in on the controversies at the University of North Dakota. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 04, 201938 min

Ep. 35: Engelstad family says they withhold donations

Kris Engelstad McGarry, a trustee of the Engelstad Foundation and spokesperson for the Englestad family, says they'll be withholding their donations from the University of North Dakota until embattled President Mark Kennedy is gone. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about his questioning of Michael Cohen and takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Mar 01, 201934 min

Ep. 34: Sen. Cramer says Cohen hearing "a lot to do about nothing"

According to Senator Kevin Cramer, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's testimony before the House was "a lot to do about nothing." The Senator also took listener emails. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 28, 201933 min

Ep. 33: Is it dumb to ban gun buyback programs?

A New York Times columnist says a proposed bill in North Dakota to ban gun buyback programs is one of the dumbest pieces of legislation, like, ever. The sponsor of that bill, Rep. Luke Simons, joins to discuss. This episode of the Plain Talk Podcast is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 27, 201928 min

Ep. 32: UND caves on chief of staff, lawmaker expresses frustration

State Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo) is frustrated about the way her bill to decriminalize marijuana was handled in the state House. She talks about it on this episode of Plain Talk. Also, UND has decided to nix a controversial employment relationship with its chief of staff. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 26, 201929 min

Ep. 31: Americans don't understand their taxes

People are upset that their tax refunds aren't as large this year as they were in previous years, and they're blaming the Trump tax cuts. Even though most of them probably paid less in taxes. Wouldn't it be better if we junked withholding and sent everyone a bill for government? Also, marijuana activist David Owen talks about the failure of decriminalization in the Legislature and the possibility of a new measure to legalize recreational pot. This episode of Plain Talk brought to you by Energyof...

Feb 25, 201932 min

Ep. 29: Should prisoners have to do their own dental work?

On this Plain Talk, North Dakota corrections head Leann Bertsch talks about the debate over a women's facility where, according to Bertsch, things are so bad one prisoner had to resort to doing her own dental work. Bertsch says conditions violate the prisoner's 8th amendment rights, and leave North Dakota open to a lawsuit. Also, state lawmakers may want to note what the U.S. Supreme Court has to say about civil asset forfeiture. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakot...

Feb 21, 201931 min

Ep. 28: Why the legislature needs a say over initiated measures

On this episode of Plain Talk, state Senator David Hogue (R-Minot) talks about his proposed constitutional amendment, which passed the Senate this week, which gives the Legislature a veto over constitutional ballot measures. Also, a recent story about Bakken oil patch crimes illustrates the need for newsroom diversity. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 20, 201932 min

Ep. 27: Sen. Cramer "has doubts" Trump's emergency order will stand

Will President Donald Trump's emergency declaration over border security stand up to scrutiny from the courts and Congress? Senator Kevin Cramer, taking listener questions, says he has his doubts. Also, what can the Jussie Smollet situation tell us? A lot about the state of journalism in American in 2019. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 19, 201945 min

Ep. 26: Socialism is evil, and a debate over civil asset forfeiture

On this episode of Plain Talk, McLean County State's Attorney Ladd Erickson and Fargo-based defense attorney Mark Friese debate the issue of civil asset forfeiture. Also, there is a rising tide of support for socialism in American politics, but it's an evil ideology which leads to suffering and death. This episode is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 18, 20191 hr 3 min

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 02/15/2019

Discussing the story Rob broke about an employee at the University of North Dakota who will be working from Texas and getting up to $25,000 a year to commute.

Feb 15, 201921 min

Ep. 25: House passes bill to eliminate the income tax

State lawmakers say they don't trust the fiscal notes they're getting from the executive branch. The state House has passed a bill that could, using Legacy Fund earnings, eliminate the income tax. Also Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 15, 201938 min

Ep. 24: Cramer says he likes border deal but doesn't love it

On this episode of Plain Talk, Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions. On the border wall, he says he likes the proposed compromise, but he doesn't love it. Also a spokesman for a company which will be operating medical marijuana dispensaries in North Dakota talks about the difficulty in getting banking services. This episode of Plain Talk is sponsored by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 14, 201955 min

Ep. 23: Are there any Republicans at NDSU?

On this episode of Plain Talk, an analysis of political contributions found not one reported contribution to a Republican from a member of the faculty or administration at NDSU. Is this a problem? Also, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has is dragging out the approval process for the Line 3 pipeline just as his predecessor Mark Dayton did. This episode is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 13, 201935 min

Ep. 22: Are we to be ruled by outrage mobs?

We talk a lot about the power of the people. The wisdom of the masses. But what if the masses are a mob prone to censorship and vigilantism? Also, a dentist makes the case for allowing dental therapists in North Dakota, and state Rep. Craig Headland talks about his bill to use the Legacy Fund to eliminate the income tax. This episode of Plain Tallk brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Feb 12, 201946 min

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 02-11-2019

Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show, broadcasting on WDAY AM970 in Fargo. Jay and Rob talk about legislation defining land as posted by default as well as the controversy surrounding the use of a meme by state Rep. Rick Becker.

Feb 11, 201933 min
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