Senator Kevin Cramer is very hopeful that an international oil cartel is going to work to help stabilize global oil markets. He talked about that issue as well as America's on-going relationship with China and what more Congress might need to do in terms of coronavirus relief on this episode of Plain Talk.
Dr. Shelley Lenz is a veterinarian based in western North Dakota. She's also running unopposed for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL's gubernatorial nomination. "I would have issued it, yes," she said when asked on this episode of Plain Talk about whether she would have issued a "shelter-in-place" order. North Dakota is one of a few states which haven't seen such an order. Incumbent Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican, has resisted calls to issue one. Lenz says she would have, and that overall if s...
Rob Port and Jay Thomas talk about whether North Dakota should order a shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ACLU of North Dakota, among other organizations, has called on Governor Doug Burgum to issue a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the coronavirus crisis. Dane DeKrey, a spokesman for the ACLU, says it's about protecting renters but not making landlords the bad guys. "We have no interest in trying to screw landlords," DeKrey said on this episode of Plain Talk. What the ACLU would like to see is an executive order which states that individuals can't be evicted, can't be foreclosed...
During their weekly segment, Rob and Jay discuss the push to stop evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
After helping to pass a massive relief bill for a nation afflicted by coronavirus, Congressman Kelly Armstrong says he'll have to quarantine for two weeks after returning to North Dakota from Washington D.C. "The North Dakota Department of Health recommends that people coming in from out of state self-quarantine," Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk while describing the nation's capital as a "petrie dish" right now. "I'm going to do my part to flatten the curve," he added. Armstrong say...
The coronavirus crisis has prompted policy makers in North Dakota, and across the nation, to look at reducing jail and prison populations by letting some low-risk offenders, and some folks in jail pre-trial because they can't make bond, out into the general population. Is that the right move? On this episode of Plain Talk Dane DeKrey from the North Dakota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and Adam Martin from the F5 Project, discuss the issue.
On this episode of Plain Talk, Zach Raknerud pointed out that many North Dakota Democrats are afraid to do interviews with me. "I don't think that's right," he said. Raknerud, who is the candidate North Dakota Democrats endorsed to challenge Republican Congressman Kelly Armstrong this cycle, made that point while arguing that he intends to offer North Dakotans a very distinct alternative to the incumbent. A candidate who doesn't sound like past candidates. Raknerud was critical of congressional ...
Rob and Jay talk about the on-going coronavirus pandemic.
Dan Conn is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Kinesiology at Minot State University. On this episode of Plain Talk, he discusses the challenges related to mobilizing, as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, remote education solutions on the short timeline state leaders like Governor Doug Burgum and Superintendent Kirsten Baesler are asking for. Currently school districts have until April 1 to come up with a plan. Conn says this ask is "very taxing on teachers" and "may be unreas...
Senator Kevin Cramer says Congress is aiming to get stimulus checks, a response to the coronavirus crisis, into the bank accounts of Americans by April 6. That's what he said on this episode of Plain Talk. The legislation isn't finalized yet, but he expects each individual to get in the ballpark of $1,200 each. The cut off for the full amount would start at a $75,000 per-year income for individuals, or $150,000 per year for couples. Cramer says he doesn't like calling this move stimulus. He says...
During their weekly segment Rob and Jay Thomas from WDAY AM970 in Fargo talk about the coronavirus and its impact on the region.
"You need to do what's best for the state not what's best for the party." That's what Mark Haugen, Democratic candidate for North Dakota Treasurer, said on this episode of Plain Talk. He talks about some of the recent problems in the Treasurer's office, what he'd have done about them, what elements of his background commend him to hold this office, and how he'll convince voters in a deeply Republican state to trust a Democratic candidate. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans...
On this episode of Plain Talk, Ron Ness of the North Dakota Petroleum Council talks about the problems the state's oil industry is facing amid a slowing economy, coronavirus fears, and a price war set off by Russia and Saudi Arabia. "The Bakken is one of the best oil resources in the world," Ness says, and it's "still going to produce oil." Still, things are hard right now. "This is a very challenging period," he said. The industry isn't asking for sympathy, but he knows some industry leaders in...
As a guest on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in Fargo, Rob talks about coronavirus media coverage.
On this episode of Plain Talk, North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about the coronavirus situation, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's controversial comments about the Supreme Court, the Trump administration's deal with the Taliban, and his 2020 fundraising. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .
A week ago Superintendent Kirsten Baesler was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. On today's episode of Plain Talk she talks about how she came to be arrested, why she refused to take sobriety tests, what she's seeking in terms of treatment and counseling, and why North Dakota voters should give her another four years in office despite this incident. Baesler said she drank three "craft beers" while at a Bismarck restaurant with a colleague and was talking on her phon...
Rob makes his weekly appearance on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970 in Fargo. Rob and Jay talk about e-tab machines and the impact they're having on tribal casinos, a ballot measure to end property taxes, and the 2020 presidential race.
"I plan to raise in excess of $1.5 million for this." That's what state Rep. Rick Becker said on this episode of Plain Talk. He was describing a nascent campaign behind a new initiated measure to end North Dakota property taxes. The plan is to rely on donations from North Dakotans. Becker says he's asking supporters to cut a check for 20 percent of their property tax bill. The campaign has $100,000 in pledges so far. North Dakota voters have considered this before. In 2012 a constitutional amend...
Much of the political and news media response to the coronavirus outbreak is "distasteful cheerleading for a health disaster." That's what Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk. Condemning a recent New York Times piece referring to coronavirus as "Trump's virus," Cramer said, "I don't there's any question some of the response is political." He does see a silver lining in the situation. "We're getting to see what the best health care system in the world looks like," he said. "So...
Rep. Steve Vetter is a Republican from District 18 in Grand Forks. He was one of the Republican candidates elected in blue districts in North Dakota during the Trump wave of 2016. On this episode of Plain Talk, Vetter talks about how he won in a traditionally blue district, what he's done since winning, and how he'll convince voters to give him another four years in office. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota ....
North Dakota Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, a Republican, is seeking re-election to a third term. In this episode, she talks about what she's accomplished, and what she'd still like to accomplish. This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .
"We need to make sure that coal is treated fairly," Senator John Hoeven says on this episode of Plain Talk. He talks about the struggles the North Dakota coal industry is facing, and what policies can be put in place to make the energy markets fairer. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .
Rob and Jay talk about the upcoming deadline to get your Real ID.
Rob and Todd Mitchell from KFYR AM550 in Bismarck talk about the Greta Thunberg mural controversy. Eventually. After all the stuff about Pauly Shore movies.
Bismarck-based filmmaker Matt Fern has been making a documentary about the controversy around the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname for seven years now. This spring, he's finally ready to put it in front of wide audiences. The film, now called Fighting Over Sioux, will get a theatrical release in North Dakota this spring, to be followed by availability in other media such as online streaming. Fern talks about his journey in making this film and why the story is still relevant ...
On the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970, Rob and Jay discuss the controversy over a Great Thunberg mural in Bismarck.
"Art is art," Governor Doug Burgum said of a controversy in Bismarck over a mural of activist Greta Thunberg. "Art is free speech." On this episode of Plain Talk, he also discussed what he described as our "broken energy market" which is contributing to the financial woes of a major coal-fired power plant owned by Great River Energy. Burgum responded to the recently-launched campaign of a potential Democratic challenger in 2020. He said he hasn't yet met Dr. Shelley Lenz, but agreed with her cal...
Dr. Shelley Lenz is a Veternarian, originally from Ohio but a resident of western North Dakota since 2007 with long-standing familial ties to the region. She's running for governor as a Democrat, though she says she doesn't really have a party. She talks on this episode of Plain Talk about why she feels the state government is ignoring western North Dakota, how she'd address the state's workforce needs, and what her views are when it comes to energy, social issues, taxes, and regulation. This ep...
A company which owns a coal-fired energy plant in North Dakota says they're facing financial struggles. Senator Kevin Cramer says it's because the government has put its finger on the scale in the energy markets, and talks about how the issue could be remedied. He also discusses Trump's acquittal from impeachment charges, the blow-back against fellow Republican Senator Mitt Romney for voting not to acquit, and the President's State of the Union address. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to y...
