Plain Talk

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...

As North Dakota's charitable gaming industry as exploded into what can more fairly be called the casino industry, there's been a trend toward nonprofits buying up for-profit hospitality establishments -- bars and restaurants -- to protect turf for games like electronic pull tab machines and blackjack tables. How does the hospitality industry feel about that? "We have members on both sides of the i...

As North Dakota's charitable gaming industry as exploded into what can more fairly be called the casino industry, there's been a trend toward nonprofits buying up for-profit hospitality establishments -- bars and restaurants -- to protect turf for games like electronic pull tab machines and blackjack tables. How does the hospitality industry feel about that? "We have members on both sides of the i...

"Over 80% of North Dotans who took this think that that we need to do a better job," Superintendent of Public Schools Levi Bachmeier said on this episode of Plain Talk. "And I can't help but agree when I visit schools and we have a critical workforce shortage." He's referring to a recent survey conducted by his department. One way Bachmeier thinks schools can do a better job, and something that's...

"Over 80% of North Dotans who took this think that that we need to do a better job," Superintendent of Public Schools Levi Bachmeier said on this episode of Plain Talk. "And I can't help but agree when I visit schools and we have a critical workforce shortage." He's referring to a recent survey conducted by his department. One way Bachmeier thinks schools can do a better job, and something that's...

Gov. Kelly Armstrong called a special session to address what he and public health officials say is a crisis related to unregulated says of kratom in its natural and synthetic forms. Sen. Tim Mathern, a Fargo Democrat, says the session is unneccessary, but if we're going to have it, he'd rather it be focused on data centers. "S hould we deal with kratom? Yes. Are there people who are hurt by it? Y...

Gov. Kelly Armstrong called a special session to address what he and public health officials say is a crisis related to unregulated says of kratom in its natural and synthetic forms. Sen. Tim Mathern, a Fargo Democrat, says the session is unneccessary, but if we're going to have it, he'd rather it be focused on data centers. "S hould we deal with kratom? Yes. Are there people who are hurt by it? Y...

There's been a lot of talk in North Dakota in recent weeks about kratom after Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued executive orders banning the substance and called lawmakers into a special session in Bismarck with an eye toward making that ban permanent. But what does the kratom industry think about it? "We agree with the governor in part and we disagree in another part," Mac Haddow said on this episode o...

There's been a lot of talk in North Dakota in recent weeks about kratom after Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued executive orders banning the substance and called lawmakers into a special session in Bismarck with an eye toward making that ban permanent. But what does the kratom industry think about it? "We agree with the governor in part and we disagree in another part," Mac Haddow said on this episode o...

On this episode of Plain Talk, recorded on location inside Brewhalla at the TedXFargo event, we talked about a deeply uncomfortable topic. Suicide, namely. Our guest was Haley DeGreve, founder of the Gray Matters Collective, an advocacy group focused on mental health issues which also provides training for the public on how to recognize mental health episodes and health. We think about CPR trainin...

On this episode of Plain Talk, recorded on location inside Brewhalla at the TedXFargo event, we talked about a deeply uncomfortable topic. Suicide, namely. Our guest was Haley DeGreve, founder of the Gray Matters Collective, an advocacy group focused on mental health issues which also provides training for the public on how to recognize mental health episodes and health. We think about CPR trainin...

"W e know of at least 23 deaths in North Dakota where it's listed as a primary cause," Gov. Kelly Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the substance kratom. Armstrong made headlines this week when he announced a temporary executive order banning kratom, and that he was calling lawmakers to Bismarck for a special session to pass more permanent policy. Some claimed that kratom...

"W e know of at least 23 deaths in North Dakota where it's listed as a primary cause," Gov. Kelly Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the substance kratom. Armstrong made headlines this week when he announced a temporary executive order banning kratom, and that he was calling lawmakers to Bismarck for a special session to pass more permanent policy. Some claimed that kratom...

On this Plain Talk, recorded live from TedXFargo, me and co-host Chad Oban talked about the rationalizations and excuses we make for ourselves in politics. Which also just happened to be the subject of my talk at the event. The decisions we're making politically — who we vote for, who we give money to, who we oppose — are what's driving what's happening to our country. But when things go poorly, w...

On this Plain Talk, recorded live from TedXFargo, me and co-host Chad Oban talked about the rationalizations and excuses we make for ourselves in politics. Which also just happened to be the subject of my talk at the event. The decisions we're making politically — who we vote for, who we give money to, who we oppose — are what's driving what's happening to our country. But when things go poorly, w...