Plain Talk

Zach Raknerud is a Democrat from Minot who has launched a campaign for the U.S. House, challenging incumbent Congressman Kelly Armstrong. On this episode, he talks about why Trump is so popular in North Dakota, how Democrats can win over Republican voters, and what he'd do in Congress if elected. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

State Senator Scott Meyer is a Republican from District 18, a Grand Forks-area jurisdiction that is historically pretty left-wing. Up until 2016, it elected nothing but Democrats, but for the three years, it has been represented by two Republicans and a Democrat, among them Meyer. How did a Republican, in the Trump era, win over a Democratic district? Meyer talks to Rob about it. This episode of P...

Going way, way off the topic they planned (as usual) Rob and Jay talk about newspaper endorsements in political races and the 2020 presidential race during Rob's weekly Monday appearance on Jay's show.

"The power belongs to the people," Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk during a discussion about the on-going impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. "It's being denied them in this instance." Cramer also talks about the rollback of Obama-era water rules, what it feels like to be in an election year without a campaign to run after moving from the House to the Senate, and h...

North Dakota State University has begun a program they call "Junk Mail" which sends birth control and other sexual aids and information to students with the hope of preventing disease and unwanted pregnancies. Socially conservative columnist Roxanne Salonen disagrees with the program, and Rob disagrees with Roxane. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North D...

Rob and Jay talk about crazy social media posts from local politicians, pay-at-the-pump problems, and sex education.

Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks to Rob about impeachment, the passage of the USMCA and our on-going trade negotiations with China, the threat to privacy of technology like facial recognition, and the Astros cheating scandal. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Jay and Rob talk about the impact of the online sales tax on local retail and the recent NDSU Bison championship.

Jay gets an update from Rob on the North Dakota online court records story.

Jay and Rob discuss the new North Dakota court records system, which has published some personal data such as Rob's social security number, but also information like murder scene photos which some may not know are public record.

As the debate over refugee resettlement in Burleigh County continues, City of Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken weighs in.

Rob and Jay talk about the school lunch debt issue.

Rob and Jay discuss Rob's column about North Dakota cops violating the 4th amendment. A caller describes his experience being pulled over and searched.

North Dakotans who get their insurance through the individual market place will enjoy premiums next year which are, on average, about 20 percent lower. That's thanks in no small part to Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread. He talks about his campaign for re-election, and what he'd like to accomplish next in his office. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

North Dakota Auditor Josh Gallion announced his re-election plans and says things are "cordial" with his fellow Republican, Governor Doug Burgum, despite the latter snubbing the former's campaign announcement. This episode is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Rob and Jay discuss a recent ACLU report suggesting we need fewer cops in schools and more counselors.

Dane DeKrey of the North Dakota ACLU talks about his group's desire to see cash bail ended in the state. He also talks about the group's recent report on the use of cops in schools. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Americans at living at historically high levels of prosperity, but we also see increasing rates of problems with things like anxiety. Why? Clay Routledge, a professor of psychology and behavioral science researcher from North Dakota State University, discusses ahead of an October 14 presentation he'll be making at the Cato Institute. Details:  https://www.cato.org/events/search-for-meaning-in-age-...

Rob and Jay talk about Trump's polling in North Dakota, the upcoming Yankees/Twins game, and why Americans are so sad amid so much prosperity.

Steven More, economic advisor to President Donald Trump, says on this episode that we need to let the American mining sector compete better globally. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Rob and Jay talk about how Rob makes everybody mad.

"I can't tell you how much time we've wasted on this," Congressman Kelly Armstrong says of the latest push from Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota .

Rob, the glinty-eyed capitalist, and Jay talk about the controversy over a company buying up mobile home parks. Also, as the cost of the farmer bailouts surpass the cost of the auto bailouts, were they worth it?

Senator Kevin Cramer talks about how the world better weathered the attacks on Saudi oil production thanks to America's energy renaissance. He also says he believes Iran was behind the attacks, but the question of how the U.S. should respond doesn't have an easy answer. This episode of Plain Talk brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of ND .

Can the North Dakota Ethics Commission regulate the speech of elected officials? Rob and Jay Thomas discuss.