Plain Talk

Robin Nelson, a member of the Fargo School Board who is chairing a ballot measure committee aimed at universal school lunches, says her group tried to get their goal accomplished through the legislative process. It didn't work, so now they're taking their case to the voters. "We went through two legislative sessions, and we're thankful. There was some movement, but that is not what our goal was,"...

There is an increasingly intense debate among state lawmakers and leaders in the North Dakota University System about the impact online education is having on the state's public campuses. "M y concern is about this conversation becoming so toxic," university system Commissioner Brent Sanford said on this episode of Plain Talk. Sanford -- who is now using the title "commissioner" instead of "chance...

There is an increasingly intense debate among state lawmakers and leaders in the North Dakota University System about the impact online education is having on the state's public campuses. "M y concern is about this conversation becoming so toxic," university system Commissioner Brent Sanford said on this episode of Plain Talk. Sanford -- who is now using the title "commissioner" instead of "chance...

Artificial intelligence is much on the minds of North Dakotans. Well, not just North Dakotans. It's on the minds of Americans, but here in North Dakota we're having debates about the construction of massive, power-hungry data centers that will serve AI companies, not to mention discussions about the appropriate role for AI in academic and business settings. One question in this debate that's on a...

Artificial intelligence is much on the minds of North Dakotans. Well, not just North Dakotans. It's on the minds of Americans, but here in North Dakota we're having debates about the construction of massive, power-hungry data centers that will serve AI companies, not to mention discussions about the appropriate role for AI in academic and business settings. One question in this debate that's on a...

Now that the government shutdown is over, Congress will need to figure out what to do about an impending spike in health insurance premiums for Americans (including tens of thousands of North Dakotans) who purchase individual plans through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Those premiums currently enjoy heavy subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress renews them, whi...

Now that the government shutdown is over, Congress will need to figure out what to do about an impending spike in health insurance premiums for Americans (including tens of thousands of North Dakotans) who purchase individual plans through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Those premiums currently enjoy heavy subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress renews them, whi...

North Dakotans like to get a lot of work out of their public servants. Perhaps, in particularly, those working in the judiciary. The "judicial system has somewhere between 160,000 and 180,000 cases each year," Chief Justice Jon Jensen said on this episode of Plain Talk. Given that the state only has "55 district court judges," this creates "a pretty large case load that each one of our district co...

North Dakotans like to get a lot of work out of their public servants. Perhaps, in particularly, those working in the judiciary. The "judicial system has somewhere between 160,000 and 180,000 cases each year," Chief Justice Jon Jensen said on this episode of Plain Talk. Given that the state only has "55 district court judges," this creates "a pretty large case load that each one of our district co...

"I'm optimistic that they're going to do it," North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to Congress approving an extension to enhanced subsidies for health insurance policies sold on the individual marketplace exchanges. "I'm hopeful that they do it because I think it's the it is the right thing to do." The subsidies are central to the ongoing s...

"I'm optimistic that they're going to do it," North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to Congress approving an extension to enhanced subsidies for health insurance policies sold on the individual marketplace exchanges. "I'm hopeful that they do it because I think it's the it is the right thing to do." The subsidies are central to the ongoing s...

This has not been a good week for President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement. Elections in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, California, and beyond seemed to see voters sending a message to Trump and his allies about the government shutdown and more. "Well, the first thing I think the president came out and said, 'Oh, the only reason that this happened is I wasn't on the ballot,'" former...

This has not been a good week for President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement. Elections in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, California, and beyond seemed to see voters sending a message to Trump and his allies about the government shutdown and more. "Well, the first thing I think the president came out and said, 'Oh, the only reason that this happened is I wasn't on the ballot,'" former...

"Imagine you're someone a family who is working a job or two or even three, and then all of a sudden, with a week before the end of the month, you learn that the money you had been counting on to purchase food for you and your family isn't going to be there on Saturday, November 1st," Karen Ehrens said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Probably you have rent due or you're a senior on a fixed income...

"Imagine you're someone a family who is working a job or two or even three, and then all of a sudden, with a week before the end of the month, you learn that the money you had been counting on to purchase food for you and your family isn't going to be there on Saturday, November 1st," Karen Ehrens said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Probably you have rent due or you're a senior on a fixed income...

During their regular session earlier this year, North Dakota lawmakers formed its own version of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. It's a task force, as opposed to a department, and state Auditor Josh Gallion, who is participating in the meetings, said they've been calling it TOGE to avoid confusion with the federal efforts. But it's been making good progress,...

During their regular session earlier this year, North Dakota lawmakers formed its own version of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. It's a task force, as opposed to a department, and state Auditor Josh Gallion, who is participating in the meetings, said they've been calling it TOGE to avoid confusion with the federal efforts. But it's been making good progress,...

Farmers and ranchers are in a particularly vulnerable spot amid this protracted shutdown of the federal government. President Donald Trump's erratic trade policies have driven up the cost of doing business, and complicated access to international markets, even as crop prices have come in below profitable levels. Trump's push prop up Argentinian President Javier Milei, an admirer and populist ally,...

Farmers and ranchers are in a particularly vulnerable spot amid this protracted shutdown of the federal government. President Donald Trump's erratic trade policies have driven up the cost of doing business, and complicated access to international markets, even as crop prices have come in below profitable levels. Trump's push prop up Argentinian President Javier Milei, an admirer and populist ally,...

This week Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced his appointment to replace Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, who has been confirmed for a position in President Donald Trump's administration, but it's a somewhat unusual situation. Levi Bachmeier can't take office yet, because Baesler can't officially take her position in the federal government, because the government is shut down. But eventually the rancor...

This week Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced his appointment to replace Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, who has been confirmed for a position in President Donald Trump's administration, but it's a somewhat unusual situation. Levi Bachmeier can't take office yet, because Baesler can't officially take her position in the federal government, because the government is shut down. But eventually the rancor...

On previous episodes of Plain Talk, North Dakota Insurance Commisisoner Jon Godfread and Chris Jones, the former head of the state Department of Health and Human Services who is just wrapping up a stint as an adviser in President Donald Trump's administration, argued that health care pricing is opaque. They said that lack of transparency contributes to spiraling health care costs, and thus the ris...

On previous episodes of Plain Talk, North Dakota Insurance Commisisoner Jon Godfread and Chris Jones, the former head of the state Department of Health and Human Services who is just wrapping up a stint as an adviser in President Donald Trump's administration, argued that health care pricing is opaque. They said that lack of transparency contributes to spiraling health care costs, and thus the ris...

"Banking has been on payment rails that are old and traditional," Don Morgan said on this episode of Plain Talk. "They were built in 1970. They're antiquated." Morgan is the president of the Bank of North Dakota, which recently announced a new blockchain currency called the Roughrider Coin — a "stablecoin," in the parlance of the industry. He came on the show to talk about how that will serve the...

"Banking has been on payment rails that are old and traditional," Don Morgan said on this episode of Plain Talk. "They were built in 1970. They're antiquated." Morgan is the president of the Bank of North Dakota, which recently announced a new blockchain currency called the Roughrider Coin — a "stablecoin," in the parlance of the industry. He came on the show to talk about how that will serve the...