Plain Talk - podcast cover

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.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Ep. 132: Marijuana and Satan worship

David Owen, a pro-marijuana activist working to put legalization of recreational pot on North Dakota's 2020 ballot, says a Legislative study into how to handle legalization has gone "off the rails," including testimony from a former prison warden who suggested a tie between pot use and Satan worship. This episode of Plain Talks was brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Feb 05, 202022 min

Ep. 131: "I don't want to use the word duped"

In 2017, North Dakota lawmakers made electronic pull tab machines legal for charitable gaming. That resulted in a 52 percent increase in state gaming revenue, but tribal casinos have taken a hit. North Dakota Indian Affairs Commissioner Scott Davis says that when this legislation was being debated, tribal interests were assured that it wouldn't impact their casinos. Yet it has. Davis says tribal casinos have seen a 30 to 45 percent decline in revenues. "I don't want to use the word duped," Davis...

Feb 04, 202028 min

Ep. 130: Running for an office he kinda voted to eliminate

On this episode of Plain Talk, state Rep. Tom Beadle joins me to talk about the campaign he just announced for Treasurer, an office the existence of which he once voted to put on the office. Beadle says he was voting more to have the debate at the ballot box than out of any real conviction to end the office. He says these days he's convinced it's important to have an independent Treasurer to provide oversight and transparency for the state's finances. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you...

Jan 31, 202022 min

Ep. 129: Rep. Armstrong talks about the economy, the USMCA, impeachment, and fentanyl

On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about his efforts to hold the FBI accountable for their abuse and manipulation of the FISA court. He also talks about President Trump signing the new USMCA trade deal, the state of the nation's economy, the on-going political fight over impeachment, and why Derek Jeter wasn't a unanimous inductee to the Hall of Fame. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota ....

Jan 30, 202031 min

Ep. 128: Dem House candidate says his party misunderstand's Trump's appeal

Zach Raknerud is a Democrat from Minot who has launched a campaign for the U.S. House, challenging incumbent Congressman Kelly Armstrong. On this episode, he talks about why Trump is so popular in North Dakota, how Democrats can win over Republican voters, and what he'd do in Congress if elected. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Jan 29, 202039 min

Ep. 127: How does a Republican win over Democrats?

State Senator Scott Meyer is a Republican from District 18, a Grand Forks-area jurisdiction that is historically pretty left-wing. Up until 2016, it elected nothing but Democrats, but for the three years, it has been represented by two Republicans and a Democrat, among them Meyer. How did a Republican, in the Trump era, win over a Democratic district? Meyer talks to Rob about it. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota ....

Jan 28, 202017 min

Ep. 126: Sen. Cramer talks baseball, impeachment, water rules, and 2020 goals

"The power belongs to the people," Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk during a discussion about the on-going impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. "It's being denied them in this instance." Cramer also talks about the rollback of Obama-era water rules, what it feels like to be in an election year without a campaign to run after moving from the House to the Senate, and his goals for 2020. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North...

Jan 24, 202037 min

Ep. 125: Debating NDSU's "Junk Mail" Birth Control Program

North Dakota State University has begun a program they call "Junk Mail" which sends birth control and other sexual aids and information to students with the hope of preventing disease and unwanted pregnancies. Socially conservative columnist Roxanne Salonen disagrees with the program, and Rob disagrees with Roxane. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Jan 21, 202030 min

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 01-06-20

Jay and Rob discuss the new North Dakota court records system, which has published some personal data such as Rob's social security number, but also information like murder scene photos which some may not know are public record.

Jan 06, 202040 min

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 11/04/19

Rob and Jay discuss Rob's column about North Dakota cops violating the 4th amendment. A caller describes his experience being pulled over and searched.

Nov 04, 201923 min

Ep. 122: The politician who actually lowered insurance rates

North Dakotans who get their insurance through the individual market place will enjoy premiums next year which are, on average, about 20 percent lower. That's thanks in no small part to Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread. He talks about his campaign for re-election, and what he'd like to accomplish next in his office. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Oct 17, 201926 min

Ep. 121: Auditor says things "cordial" with Governor Burgum

North Dakota Auditor Josh Gallion announced his re-election plans and says things are "cordial" with his fellow Republican, Governor Doug Burgum, despite the latter snubbing the former's campaign announcement. This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Oct 15, 201919 min

Ep. 120: North Dakota ACLU Talks Cash Bail, Cops In School

Dane DeKrey of the North Dakota ACLU talks about his group's desire to see cash bail ended in the state. He also talks about the group's recent report on the use of cops in schools. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Oct 14, 201924 min

Ep. 119: Prosperity has left us feeling empty

Americans at living at historically high levels of prosperity, but we also see increasing rates of problems with things like anxiety. Why? Clay Routledge, a professor of psychology and behavioral science researcher from North Dakota State University, discusses ahead of an October 14 presentation he'll be making at the Cato Institute. Details: https://www.cato.org/events/search-for-meaning-in-age-of-abundance This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota ....

Oct 08, 201925 min

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 10-07-19

Rob and Jay talk about Trump's polling in North Dakota, the upcoming Yankees/Twins game, and why Americans are so sad amid so much prosperity.

Oct 07, 201924 min

Ep. 118: "We'll be a mining superpower"

Steven More, economic advisor to President Donald Trump, says on this episode that we need to let the American mining sector compete better globally. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Oct 01, 201914 min

Ep. 117: Armstrong says impeach push is "wasted time"

"I can't tell you how much time we've wasted on this," Congressman Kelly Armstrong says of the latest push from Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Sep 27, 201923 min

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 09-23-19

Rob, the glinty-eyed capitalist, and Jay talk about the controversy over a company buying up mobile home parks. Also, as the cost of the farmer bailouts surpass the cost of the auto bailouts, were they worth it?

Sep 23, 201923 min

Ep. 116: Senator Cramer says he believes Iran was behind Saudi attack

Senator Kevin Cramer talks about how the world better weathered the attacks on Saudi oil production thanks to America's energy renaissance. He also says he believes Iran was behind the attacks, but the question of how the U.S. should respond doesn't have an easy answer. This episode of Plain Talk brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of ND .

Sep 18, 201932 min
Hosted on Libsyn
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android