Plain Talk

Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show 03/25/2019, talking about the recently released Mueller report.

The Mueller report is out, kind of, and so far the reactions to it are predictable. Think what you want of the report, but the way the national news media went about covering it has damaged our Republic. Also Fargo businessman Don Schilling talks about North Dakota's workforce shortages and what the Legislature ought to be doing to address them. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Ener...

The North Dakota Legislature has opened the door to local governments assessing fines for things like traffic violations above state levels. That's fine, but unlike state fines, local fines flow to local government creating a financial incentive to police for profit. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong answers questions during his weekly segment. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Energ...

Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions on this episode of Plain Talk, including questions about the Electoral College and funding for the border wall possibly pulling money away from North Dakota military projects. Also, a bar painted a mural in Mandan, and then local government freaked out. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Rep. Corey Mock (R-Grand Forks) talks about the Legacy Fund, including his amendment to make spending its earnings harder, what we ought to do with the billions of dollars in the fund, and a little bit on initiated measure reform. Also, some thoughts on the Legislature ending North Dakota's Sunday close law. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Should the Christchurch shooting video be censored on the internet? Do we want the government and tech companies getting comfortable blocking controversial content? Also Vicki Granado from Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, talks about the project's impact on taxes and the economy in North Dakota nearly three years later. This episode of Plain Talk is sponsore...

Audio from Rob's 03/18/19 appearance on the Jay Thomas Show, talking about the Legacy Fund and anti-discrimination legislation in Bismarck.

A New York Times Magazine columnist says it's ok for people to treat other people differently based on skin color...as long as they belong to a minority group. White can't get away with it. Or maybe we shouldn't treat anyone differently based on skin color? Also, North Dakota Lt. Governor Brent Sanford joins to talk about the executive branch's dispute with the Legislature over revenue forecasts....

Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions, and says the amount of anti-capitalist thinking in Washington D.C. is "very, very scary." Also, are lawmakers being honest with their revenue forecasts? Governor Burgum doesn't think so, and he's probably right. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Senator Kevin Cramer takes reader questions on this episode of Plain Talk, responding to one by suggesting that socialist media darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez might actually be a plant...by Republicans. Speaking of AOC, some of her comments chastising Wells Fargo for financing the Dakota Access Pipeline recently were downright Orwellian. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Energ...

Could the State of North Dakota be sued over a mistake in transferring oil tax revenues to state funds? Nich Archuleta of North Dakota United, an organization representing the state's public workers and teachers, says his group would like to avoid it but they're keep their options open. Also Senator Ray Holmberg, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, talks about revenue forecasts and finalizin...

Rob talks about socialism and the debate over the state's prisons during a segment on the Jay Thomas Show 03-11-19.

ND House Minority Leader Josh Boschee (D-Fargo) joins to talk about the 2019 legislative session so far, including his sense that this session has been less partisan than past sessions. Also, why has victimhood become political currency? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

It seems like many are willing to give Rep. Ilhan Omar a pass for her comments about Jews and Israel that someone of another gender/race/religious background might not get. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong gives an update from Washington D.C. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions this week on the green new deal, immigration policy, President Trump's emergency declaration, and other topics. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, in full excuse mode after her 2018 election loss, blames being branded a "Democrat" for her election loss. Also Jodi Smith, head of North Dakota's Department of Trust Lands, talks about what her office sees as a mistake in how state oil tax revenues were distributed. This episode of Plain Talk was brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Rob responds to some recent letters to the editor about the podcast and his articles. Also, former Grand Forks Herald publisher Mike Jacobs weighs in on the controversies at the University of North Dakota. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

Kris Engelstad McGarry, a trustee of the Engelstad Foundation and spokesperson for the Englestad family, says they'll be withholding their donations from the University of North Dakota until embattled President Mark Kennedy is gone. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about his questioning of Michael Cohen and takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNo...

According to Senator Kevin Cramer, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's testimony before the House was "a lot to do about nothing." The Senator also took listener emails. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

A New York Times columnist says a proposed bill in North Dakota to ban gun buyback programs is one of the dumbest pieces of legislation, like, ever. The sponsor of that bill, Rep. Luke Simons, joins to discuss. This episode of the Plain Talk Podcast is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

State Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo) is frustrated about the way her bill to decriminalize marijuana was handled in the state House. She talks about it on this episode of Plain Talk. Also, UND has decided to nix a controversial employment relationship with its chief of staff. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

People are upset that their tax refunds aren't as large this year as they were in previous years, and they're blaming the Trump tax cuts. Even though most of them probably paid less in taxes. Wouldn't it be better if we junked withholding and sent everyone a bill for government? Also, marijuana activist David Owen talks about the failure of decriminalization in the Legislature and the possibility...

Congressman Kelly Armstrong is on this episode of Plain Talk taking questions from listeners. You can submit questions for future segments to rob@sayanythingblog.com . This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .

On this Plain Talk, North Dakota corrections head Leann Bertsch talks about the debate over a women's facility where, according to Bertsch, things are so bad one prisoner had to resort to doing her own dental work. Bertsch says conditions violate the prisoner's 8th amendment rights, and leave North Dakota open to a lawsuit. Also, state lawmakers may want to note what the U.S. Supreme Court has to...

On this episode of Plain Talk, state Senator David Hogue (R-Minot) talks about his proposed constitutional amendment, which passed the Senate this week, which gives the Legislature a veto over constitutional ballot measures. Also, a recent story about Bakken oil patch crimes illustrates the need for newsroom diversity. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com .