Plain Talk

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...

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...

The special session is over. It was called to address a growing crisis with kratom, and lawmakers gave Gov. Kelly Armstrong most of what he wanted. They passed a total ban for synthetic kratom, and some big new regulations for the natural variety. But Sen. Janne Myrdal, who, like Armstrong, wanted a total ban on all kratom products, says the regulatory part of it may be unworkable. It will essenti...

The special session is over. It was called to address a growing crisis with kratom, and lawmakers gave Gov. Kelly Armstrong most of what he wanted. They passed a total ban for synthetic kratom, and some big new regulations for the natural variety. But Sen. Janne Myrdal, who, like Armstrong, wanted a total ban on all kratom products, says the regulatory part of it may be unworkable. It will essenti...

When you think about the film industry in North Dakota, it would be understandable if what comes to mind are people making movies. That's what films are, basically, right? But Matt Fern, executive director of Film North Dakota, said on this episode of Plain Talk that it's a lot more than that. There are so many platforms, and so many different types of content, like podcasts, and TikTok videos, an...

When you think about the film industry in North Dakota, it would be understandable if what comes to mind are people making movies. That's what films are, basically, right? But Matt Fern, executive director of Film North Dakota, said on this episode of Plain Talk that it's a lot more than that. There are so many platforms, and so many different types of content, like podcasts, and TikTok videos, an...

Oliver County has become one of the epicenters in the fight over data centers in North Dakota, and county State's Attorney Patrick Waters has become a lightening rod in that fight. His is a fascinating anecdote illustrating how overheated the data center debate has become. "If you look at the data center issue in Oliver County, there are a couple Facebook pages that are solely designed to create a...

Oliver County has become one of the epicenters in the fight over data centers in North Dakota, and county State's Attorney Patrick Waters has become a lightening rod in that fight. His is a fascinating anecdote illustrating how overheated the data center debate has become. "If you look at the data center issue in Oliver County, there are a couple Facebook pages that are solely designed to create a...

Martha Njolomole is an economist with the American Experiment North Dakota and the author of a new report on North Dakota's budget trends called "From Boom to Balance: Smart Spending for an Uncertain Future." Her argument is that North Dakota is spending too much money.  "We've seen in the last couple years that North Dakota is spending more money than it is collecting particularly in the general...

Martha Njolomole is an economist with the American Experiment North Dakota and the author of a new report on North Dakota's budget trends called "From Boom to Balance: Smart Spending for an Uncertain Future." Her argument is that North Dakota is spending too much money.  "We've seen in the last couple years that North Dakota is spending more money than it is collecting particularly in the general...

Gov. Kelly Armstrong was asked recently on a talk radio program about bigoted comments made by state Rep. Desiree Morton, a fellow Republican. "That's dumb," he said of her attacks on Somali immigrants and Muslims. On this episode of Plain Talk, we dive into correspondence Rep. Morton had with one of her constituents in which she continues to stand by those bigoted comments. "They have taken over...

Gov. Kelly Armstrong was asked recently on a talk radio program about bigoted comments made by state Rep. Desiree Morton, a fellow Republican. "That's dumb," he said of her attacks on Somali immigrants and Muslims. On this episode of Plain Talk, we dive into correspondence Rep. Morton had with one of her constituents in which she continues to stand by those bigoted comments. "They have taken over...