Forum Communications Co.

Plain Talk

News EN ↓ 985 episodes

Plain Talk is a podcast hosted by Rob Port and Chad Oban focusing on political news and current events in North Dakota. Port is a columnist for the Forum News Service published in papers including the Fargo Forum, Grand Forks Herald, Jamestown Sun, and the Dickinson Press. Oban is a long-time political consultant.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.inforum.com

Author

Forum Communications Co.

Category

News

Podcast website

www.inforum.com

Latest episode

Oct 23, 2026

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Episodes

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 06-10-19 10.06.2019

On their weekly segment on WDAY AM970 Jay and Rob talk about the recent state audit concerning bus inspections, the controversy over removing the auditor's powers, and the North Dakota Democratic Party's opposition to coal power.

Ep. 89: White men have no standing to be critical? 30.05.2019

On this episode of Plain Talk, Senator Kevin Cramer takes questions from listeners and talks about impeachment, Robert Mueller's press conference, and what President Donald Trump asked him to investigate in terms of the bidding process for the border wall. Also, should your skin color or gender matter when it comes to questioning elected officials? This episode brought to you by Americans for Pros...

Ep. 88: Addressing ND's flaring problem 29.05.2019

Ron Ness from the North Dakota Petroleum Council talks about how to address flaring in North Dakota. Also, there's a line at the top of Mt. Everest to get to the summit, and that tells us a lot about our society today. This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05-28-19 28.05.2019

Is there a better way to get drunk drivers off the road? What laws are the subject of referendum campaigns this election cycle? Should cops wear uniforms when going about political advocacy? All this and more on this segment on the Jay Thomas Show.

Ep. 87: "I don't apologize for advocating for them" 28.05.2019

President Trump's preference for using North Dakota company Fisher Industries on the border wall has created national headlines, with some suggesting there were some untoward quid-pro-quo politics involved. "I don't apologize for advocating for them," Senator Kevin Cramer said when asked about the situation. Also, one city has seen DUI arrests plummet, and the local police chief thinks the reason...

Ep. 86: Cops shouldn't use uniforms for politics 24.05.2019

On this episode of Plain Talk, Rob responds to a union boss upset over his criticism of cops using their uniforms for politics. Also, David Owen from Legalize ND talks about what his group's new recreational ballot measure might look like and competition from a rival constitutional measure. This show brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Ep. 85: Democrats just trying to keep Trump from winning 23.05.2019

Congressman Kelly Armstrong is on for his weekly segment, and says Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is just trying to keep Donald Trump from winning. Also, a loophole will let lobbyists sit on an ethics commission created by an anti-lobbyist initiated measure campaign. Sponsors for this episode: http://afpnd.org http://EnergyofNorthDakota.com

Ep. 84: A local government's war on art 22.05.2019

Is it appropriate for cops to use their uniforms to influence politics? Also a Mandan bar owner talks about his legal fight with city government over a mural he painted on the side of his building. Turns out that business owners can't just do art without the government's permission. This episode's sponsors: http://afpnd.org http://EnergyofNorthDakota.com

Ep. 83: Lawmaker wants to get paid for suing the state 21.05.2019

State Rep. Marvin Nelson, a Democrat from Rolla, is asking a judge to award himself and his fellow plaintiffs $150,000 each for suing the State of North Dakota to deny mineral rights owners retroactive royalty payments. His attorneys also want $62 million in attorneys fees. Also, Dawson Schefter from the NDGOP responds to criticism that the Republican majority might not be responsive enough to the...

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05-20-19 20.05.2019

Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, talking about the problems with social media, the search for a new UND president, and higher education debt.

Ep. 82: Can you be an elected official and a reporter? 17.05.2019

Democratic state Rep. Matt Eidson talks about how he's going to pull off being a straight news reporter and a partisan elected official. Also, U.S. Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions, including his questioning in committee hearings about the subpoena of Attorney General William Barr and the on-going trade war with China. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNor...

Ep. 81: Maybe the Chinese trade war is about more than soybeans 15.05.2019

Have we made a mistake tying our national economy so closely to China's? Also, state Auditor Josh Gallion talks about a meeting he had with Legislative leaders. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Ep. 81: Maybe the Chinese trade war is about more than soybeans 15.05.2019

Have we made a mistake tying our national economy so closely to China's? Also, state Auditor Josh Gallion talks about a meeting he had with Legislative leaders. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Ep. 80: Has Governor Burgum joined the good old boys club? 14.05.2019

Riley Kuntz talks about his volunteer effort to refer legislation limiting the authority of the state Auditor. Also, why does anyone think raising the tobacco age to 21 will solve anything?

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05/13/19 13.05.2019

Audio from the Jay Thomas Show talking about student loans, raising the smoking age to 21, the on-going controversies with the state auditor's office, and other topics.

Ep. 79: Should banks be the arbiters of political and social behavior? 10.05.2019

On this episode of Plain Talk, a credit card company CEO pushes back against the idea that the financial sector should be pressured into regulating political and social activity. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Ep. 78: It is the auditor's job to embarrass people 09.05.2019

On this episode of Plain Talk, a state lawmaker has finally confessed the true motivation behind gutting the authority of North Dakota's Auditor. Also, Senator Kevin Cramer answers listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Ep. 77: Who was using the director's signature? 08.05.2019

On this episode of Plain Talk Dave Diebel, a producer who lives in Bismarck who is also a board member for the North Dakota Film and Media Association, talks about what he says is a need for production incentives in the state. Something to entice more commercials, TV shows, and movies to be filmed here. Also, how is it the signature of a DOT director was still be used to certify records even when...

Ep. 76: We trust the people except when we don't 07.05.2019

On this episode Dustin Gawrylow talks about an initiated measure campaign he's chairing which would prohibit the Legislature from initiating a vote of the people on amending the portion of the constitution dealing with initiated measures. Yeah, it's a little confusing. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05/06/19 06.05.2019

Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, talking about the removal of power from the state auditor's office, student loan debt, and the romance novels of North Dakota's former director of the drivers license division.

Ep. 75: What's scarier, hate speech or censorship? 06.05.2019

We live in an era where the 1st amendment doesn't really apply to the venues in which most of our speech takes place. As more and more people push hard to ban controversial speech online, which should we fear more? Hate speech? Or the push to silence it? Also, state Auditor Josh Gallion responds to the Legislature putting limits on his office. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Energy...

Ep. 74: "They're not interested in the truth, they're interested in the fight" 03.05.2019

On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions and talks about the fight over the Mueller report in Congress. "They're not interested in the truth," he says of his Democratic colleagues. "They're interested in the fight." Also, Governor Doug Burgum declines to veto a bill gutting the powers of the state auditor. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakot...

Ep. 73: Can the space force protect us from an asteroid? 02.05.2019

Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions on this episode of Plain Talk, and also answers Rob's question about whether or not President Donald Trump's proposed Space Force could protect us from an asteroid. Also, why is a construction company in Dickinson printing campaign signs for the local school district? The answer reveals something which ought to be of statewide concern. This episode is...

Ep. 72: Legislature guts the Auditor's office 26.04.2019

On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions about the REINS Act, the national debt, illegal immigration, and bipartisanship. Also, state lawmakers included language in the budget for the state Auditor's Office which essentially guts that office's powers. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Ep. 71: Not sure these lawmakers know what "decriminalization" means 25.04.2019

On this episode of Plain Talk, state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones talks about how her efforts to decriminalize marijuana got turned into legislation which actually increases penalties. Also, a recent debate over fixing a chemistry lab at North Dakota State University revealed some ugly priorities in higher education. This episode is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

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