Plain Talk

We began this debate over Constitutional Measure 1 between Grafton businessman James Kerian and North Dakota Watchdog Network director Dustin Gawrylow by asking why voters should—or shouldn't—raise the threshold required to amend the state constitution. "The whole point of having a constitution in our form of government is to have something that is a little more stable, a little more firm at the f...

We began this debate over Constitutional Measure 1 between Grafton businessman James Kerian and North Dakota Watchdog Network director Dustin Gawrylow by asking why voters should—or shouldn't—raise the threshold required to amend the state constitution. "The whole point of having a constitution in our form of government is to have something that is a little more stable, a little more firm at the f...

We began this debate between Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and his challenger, Democratic-NPL candidate Vern Thompson, by asking about the controversial spread of hyperscale data centers across North Dakota and the Agriculture Commissioner's role on the state's Industrial Commission.   "The issue with data centers is a local issue, and it's a private property rights issue," Goehring, the...

We began this debate between Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and his challenger, Democratic-NPL candidate Vern Thompson, by asking about the controversial spread of hyperscale data centers across North Dakota and the Agriculture Commissioner's role on the state's Industrial Commission.   "The issue with data centers is a local issue, and it's a private property rights issue," Goehring, the...

We began this debate between Superintendent of Public Instruction Levi Bachmeier and his opponent Tracy Foss by asking about the teacher bonuses initiative — the Support Teachers and Youth Succeed or "STAYS" legislation — Bachmeier recently announced alongside Rep. Mike Nathe and others.   "When I talk to high school kids all across our state and ask them what would it take for you to consider goi...

We began this debate between Superintendent of Public Instruction Levi Bachmeier and his opponent Tracy Foss by asking about the teacher bonuses initiative — the Support Teachers and Youth Succeed or "STAYS" legislation — Bachmeier recently announced alongside Rep. Mike Nathe and others.   "When I talk to high school kids all across our state and ask them what would it take for you to consider goi...

Rep. Julie Fedorchak, a Republican, and her Democratic-NPL challenger Trygve Hammer didn't agree on very much when they squared off for a debate on the Plain Talk podcast. My co-host Chad Oban and I asked them if they feel North Dakotans are better off today than they were two years ago. Fedorchak said yes, arguing that on border security alone, North Dakotans are better off thanks to tougher enfo...

Rep. Julie Fedorchak, a Republican, and her Democratic-NPL challenger Trygve Hammer didn't agree on very much when they squared off for a debate on the Plain Talk podcast.   My co-host Chad Oban and I asked them if they feel North Dakotans are better off today than they were two years ago. Fedorchak said yes, arguing that on border security alone, North Dakotans are better off thanks to tougher en...

"We were started 20 years ago by a Minnesota farmer," Blake Nixon said on this episode of Plain Talk. Nixon is the CEO of Geronimo Power, a renewable energy and data center company that's planning a data center facility in Harmony Township, west of Fargo in Cass County.  "Our founder was approached to put wind turbines on his land," Nixon continued, "and he said, 'I don't like how you're approachi...

" We were started 20 years ago by a Minnesota farmer," Blake Nixon said on this episode of Plain Talk. Nixon is the CEO of Geronimo Power, a renewable energy and data center company that's planning a data center facility in Harmony Township, west of Fargo in Cass County.  "Our founder was approached to put wind turbines on his land," Nixon continued, "and he said, 'I don't like how you're approach...

State Rep. Mike Nathe, in partnership with Superintendent Levi Bachmeier and Gov. Kelly Armstrong's administration, has announced legislation aimed at paying North Dakota teachers annual retention bonuses funded by the earnings from the Common Schools Trust Fund. That fund's balance is currently more than $9 billion and growing. For the next two-year budget cycle, it's projected to generate $718 m...

State Rep. Mike Nathe, in partnership with Superintendent Levi Bachmeier and Gov. Kelly Armstrong's administration, has announced legislation aimed at paying North Dakota teachers annual retention bonuses funded by the earnings from the Common Schools Trust Fund. That fund's balance is currently more than $9 billion and growing. For the next two-year budget cycle, it's projected to generate $718 m...

We invited North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken on this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the problems at the state's Development Fund, which run the gamut from poor accounting and record-keeping to practically nonexistent policies concerning things like conflicts of interest. What he brought us was the announcement of a new initiative, called ReadyND, and while it's not intended to ad...

We invited North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken on this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the problems at the state's Development Fund, which run the gamut from poor accounting and record-keeping to practically nonexistent policies concerning things like conflicts of interest. What he brought us was the announcement of a new initiative, called ReadyND, and while it's not intended to ad...

It's time for playoff baseball, and we had Gov. Kelly Armstrong, a notorious baseball addict on par with us hosts of the Plain Talk podcast, on this episode to make some predictions about the path to the World Series. But before we talked about that stuff, we asked Armstrong about a lawsuit announced by former lawmaker Brandon Prichard and Citizens Alliance accusing several legislative candidates...

It's time for playoff baseball, and we had Gov. Kelly Armstrong, a notorious baseball addict on par with us hosts of the Plain Talk podcast, on this episode to make some predictions about the path to the World Series. But before we talked about that stuff, we asked Armstrong about a lawsuit announced by former lawmaker Brandon Prichard and Citizens Alliance accusing several legislative candidates...

Social Security is a government program that touches all of our lives. Every American who earns a wage or a salary pays into it, and come retirement age, or if we find ourselves disabled, it serves as a vital lifeline to help make ends meet. But the program is facing headwinds. John Hishta, a senior vice president with AARP, said on this episode of Plain Talk that the program isn't going broke, bu...

Social Security is a government program that touches all of our lives. Every American who earns a wage or a salary pays into it, and come retirement age, or if we find ourselves disabled, it serves as a vital lifeline to help make ends meet. But the program is facing headwinds. John Hishta, a senior vice president with AARP, said on this episode of Plain Talk that the program isn't going broke, bu...

This week lawmakers on the Legislature's Audit and Fiscal Review Committee heard remarkable testimony on a review of the North Dakota Development Fund. That fund was created in 1991 to provide capital, or "gap financing," to more risky projects in the state that can't get access to more traditional financing. An audit of the fund found woeful documentation for things like performance, investments,...

This week lawmakers on the Legislature's Audit and Fiscal Review Committee heard remarkable testimony on a review of the North Dakota Development Fund. That fund was created in 1991 to provide capital, or "gap financing," to more risky projects in the state that can't get access to more traditional financing. An audit of the fund found woeful documentation for things like performance, investments,...

In many ways, Tyler York's path to candidacy for the North Dakota House of Representatives in Grand Forks-area District 43 is a classic one. "I was active with voting. I would keep up with local and national events, politics, but I wasn't really super engaged," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. But then he became aware of a big shortfall in the Grand Forks School District's budget. York, who...

In many ways, Tyler York's path to candidacy for the North Dakota House of Representatives in Grand Forks-area District 43 is a classic one. "I was active with voting. I would keep up with local and national events, politics, but I wasn't really super engaged," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. But then he became aware of a big shortfall in the Grand Forks School District's budget. York, who...

"The United States Supreme Court needed to hear from North Dakota," Sec. of State Michael Howe said on this episode of Plain Talk. Howe is referring to his decision to sign onto an amicus brief with other Republican election officials from the states urging the U.S. Supreme Court to block implementation of President Donald Trump's mail voting rules. "In the last general election in 2024, we had 91...

"The United States Supreme Court needed to hear from North Dakota," Sec. of State Michael Howe said on this episode of Plain Talk. Howe is referring to his decision to sign onto an amicus brief with other Republican election officials from the states urging the U.S. Supreme Court to block implementation of President Donald Trump's mail voting rules. "In the last general election in 2024, we had 91...

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services -- the largest line item in our state's budget -- has seen a lot of change in recent years. The newest leader of that agency recognizes it, and wants to change the trajectory. "I am the sixth person in three years to be sitting in this job," Conner Swanson, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on August 13, told us on th...