Plain Talk

How hard is it to do revenue forecasts for the State of North Dakota, which is heavily dependent on revenues from commodity-driven industries like agriculture and energy? On this Plain Talk, Joe Morrissette, director of the Office of Management and Budget, gave one example: For 1$ that oil prices move, there's a roughly $36 million swing in state revenues. The war in Iran hasn't just driven oil pr...

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 t...

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 t...

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,...

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,...

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 tha...

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 tha...

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...

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...

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, I'm a narcissist with obsessive compulsive disorder  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...

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, I'm a narcissist with obsessive compulsive disorder  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...

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 Democra...

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 Democra...

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 th...

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 th...

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 sh...

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 sh...

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...

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...

Reed Johson is a West Point graduate, tank commander, and law student who wants to serve in the North Dakota legislature. On this episode of Plain Talk, he told us he's not interested in getting elected to pursue trending topics from social media. "I do not want to get dragged into the water on some of these more hot button social issues, and I want to focus more on how do we ensure the state of N...

Reed Johson is a West Point graduate, tank commander, and law student who wants to serve in the North Dakota legislature. On this episode of Plain Talk, he told us he's not interested in getting elected to pursue trending topics from social media. "I do not want to get dragged into the water on some of these more hot button social issues, and I want to focus more on how do we ensure the state of N...

"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 S...

"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 S...

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 peop...

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 peop...