Rob Port

Very exciting news for the Plain Talk podcast. Starting tonight at 5:30pm central we'll be broadcasting our episodes on WDAY Xtra. See below for details on how to tune in over the air or through your cable provider.

Ariston Johnson, a Watford City attorney who is seeking election to North Dakota’s Supreme Court, says judges shouldn’t decide policy and they shouldn’t decide law. #northdakota #courts #politics

Judges need to be at a remove from the public in some ways, says ND Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte, but that doesn’t mean they’re totally isolated. They do need to read some public feedback, though reading comments on social media isn’t all that helpful. #northdakota #courts #politics

The court isn’t a representative body, says North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte. It’s not the job of a judge or a justice to represent any point of view. It’s the court job to represent “the deal that was legislated” and made law. #northdakota #courts #politics

When it comes to reacting to court decisions, many people focus on results rather than the method says ND Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte. He says that when he talks to the public, he reminds them that the job of the courts is to apply the law without regard. #northdakota #courts #politics

Tempestuous politics around issues like carbon pipelines, transmission lines, and data centers are a departure from North Dakota’s long-held reputation as a place that’s “open for business.” Can the state’s business community adapt? #northdakota #politics #datacenters

This is U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer’s third time on the statewide ballot in North Dakota, and his vote share isn’t moving much. He seems to be making an outreach to the populist faction of a divided Republican party. Could that strategy work? #northdakota #politics

Dave Berger is a former commissioner in Oliver County who was driven out of office by an ugly backlash to a proposed data center. What’s his advice to people thinking about running for local office but are afraid when they read about stories like his? #datacenters #northdakota #politics

Dave Berger is a former Olive County commissioner who was driven out of office amid ugly backlash from opponents to a data center project. Berger says he believes that faction represents a small but noisy minority.But how do we figure out if that’s true or not? #datacenters #northdakota #politics

Sen. Kevin Cramer says there hasn’t been enough attention on tax reform that’s increases the tax refunds of Americans because people are too distracted by President Donald Trump. #donaldtrump #politics #northdakota

President Donald Trump has angered many Canadians with his comments about the country being our 51st state. Sen. Kevin Cramer says those harsh words are about giving trade negotiators working with Canada a stronger position. #canada #donaldtrump #northdakota #politics #kevincramer

Does President Donald Trump need congressional approval for war in Iran? Sen. Kevin Cramer points out that many past presidents have gone it alone, but says that Trump should want Congress’s backing. #northdakota #politics #iran #donaldtrump

Corey Johnson is the chief of the Williston FD and a R candidate for the state House in District 23. He wants to be a positive image of what Williston is today, contrasting with some of its past political leadership. #northdakota #williston #politics

John Bitzan, director of the Challey Institute at North Dakota State University, says President Donald Trump’s tariffs regime is creating a massive amount of uncertainty that is hurting all Americans. #northdakota #donaldtrump #tariffs #ndsu #politics

John Bitzan, director of the Challey Institute at North Dakota State University, says President Donald Trump’s tariffs regime is not helping farmers. They’re “imposing damage to ourselves.” #northdakota #donaldtrump #tariffs #ndsu #politics

Filmmaker Patrick Reasonover, producer of ‘When Cops Become Robbers,’ talks about the bizarre reality that is civil asset forfeiture. Law enforcement seizes billions in property every year, often without a criminal conviction. #northdakota #politics #civilassetforfeiture #lawenforcement #crime

The problem isn’t that Byron Noem, likes to entertain himself by dressing like a woman. It's that he does so while the people he associates with make trans people feel like they don’t belong in our society. That’s rank hypocrisy. #byronnoem #kristinoem #southdakota #northdakota #politics

The committee behind a ballot measure to have the state cover the cost of school meals has had amazing success gathering signatures. With passage at the ballot box likely, North Dakota OMB Director Joe Morrissette says they’re planning on building that cost into the budget. #northdakota #politics

Six months ago, everyone was expecting North Dakota to face budget cuts over slower oil activity. But now, with war in Iran, oil prices have skyrocketed. Does that mean North Dakota’s budget outlook has changed? Not much, says OMB director Joe Morrissette. #northdakota #oil #oilprices #politics

Joe Morrissette, director of the North Dakota OMB, says his office, which must create new revenue forecasts for the state which is heavily dependent on revenues from energy and agriculture, is assuming that the spike in oil prices is temporary. #northdakota #oil #gasprices #politics #oilprices

The populist faction that controls the @NDGOP insists on Christian morals from its candidates, but they have also invited a speaker, Royce White, who spent campaign dollars at strip clubs exhibits all kinds of disgusting behavior in public. They hypocrisy is a bit rich. #northdakota #politics

Using taxpayer dollars to invest in startups somes comes under criticism from people who don’t see the benefit for taxpayers, but it’s there says WalkWise founder and CEO Peter Chamberlain. “It all cycles back.” #northdakota #politics

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzn8... Should the State of North Dakota buy the Minnesota Twins? Governor @kelly.armstrong.1291 has shot the idea down. “Not in the next seven years, I can promise you that.” #northdakota #politics #baseball #openingday

America is one of the most prosperous countries in the world, but we can’t keep our government functioning or air travel moving. #northdakota #politics #tsa

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, a big baseball fan, will serve as honorary manager of the Bismarck Larks for a game this summer. Unfortunately, he won’t let the Plain Talk podcast hosts be on his coaching staff. #northdakota #politics #bismarck #baseball #openingday

We love baseball, but the games are broadcast on so many different streaming services, it can be hard to follow. Gov. Kelly Armstrong says it doesn’t bother him. He’ll watch whatever game is on television, like it’s still 1989. #northdakota #politics #baseball #mlb #openingday

ND Gov. Kelly Armstrong talks about how he became a fan of the Mets. It was when he was a child, watching the famous (infamous) 1986 world championship team, and before he knew about some of the more unseemly habits of some members of that team. #northdakota #politics #baseball #mlb #openingday

There’s a belief among a populist faction that has captured control of the North Dakota Republican party that Republican candidates are winning elections because they’re Republicans. That’s wrong. They’re winning because they’re good candidates and leaders who happen to be Republican.

Congress is debating the SAVE Act, which would push tough new election regulations on the state, including a requirement to prove citizenship. Sec. of State Michael Howe says in #NorthDakota - the only state in the nation without registration - proof of citizenship is already required.

Congress is debating the SAVE Act, which would push tough new election regulations on the state. North Dakota Sec. of State Michael Howe says North Dakota already does a good job with its voter rolls. “We clean our voter rolls every single night.” #northdakota #politics #voterID #saveact

Sec. of State Michael Howe talks about his long tradition of attending NDGOP state conventions, but say she completely understands why some Republicans are now turned off by the process. #northdakota #politics

Every one of the NDGOP incumbents on the statewide ballot are skipping their party’s endorsing convention, including Sec. of State Michael Howe. “Some of the things that happened at prior state conventions turned some people off," he says. #northdakota #politics

The only evidence the Fargo Police Department used to put Tennessee grandmother Angela Lipps in jail for months with an AI analysis of a poor quality security camera image. “That was it,” her criminal defense attorney Jay Greenwood says. #northdakota #fargo #artificialintelligence

Angela Lipps was jailed for months using only an artificial intelligence face match. The Fargo PD later released her after her attorney provided evidence that she was in Tennessee during the alleged crimes in North Dakota. #north dakota #fargo #artificialintelligence

“It’s hilarious to me that I’m doing all these interviews,” says Jay Greenwood, criminal defense attorney to Angela Lipps. The AI evidence used to jail her was so thin, he barely had to do any legal work to get her out of jail. #northdakota #fargo #artificialintelligence

Forget the artificial intelligence evidence that was used by the Fargo Police Department to put Angela Lipps in jail for months, eye witness testimony from humans isn’t all that reliable. Sometimes a person can’t even recognize their own wife. #northdakota #fargo #artificialintelligence

Former lawmaker a thrice-failed statewide candidate Rick Becker is upset that he gets too much criticism, but it’s more like he’s a child saying “look at me,” only to turn around and claim that people are obsessed with him when the attention he gets isn’t what he wants. #northdakota #politics

Sen. Kevin Cramer is defending former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, despite clear evidence that she did a poor job implementing bad policy and was fired as a scapegoat for the latter. #northdakota #politics #kristinoem #donaldtrump

Sometimes politicians focus on their critics in the media as opposed to making their case to the voters. That never works. You can’t beat someone who isn’t on the ballot. #northdakota #politics

It’s hard for any political party to recruit candidates for the legislature. In North Dakota, where the winds are at the backs of Republicans, it’s especially hard for Democrats. Which makes the success the Dems are having recruiting candidates so remarkable. #NorthDakota #politics

The populist wing of the North Dakota Republican Party has fought for years to drive out traditionally conservative Republicans. Now they’ve got their way, and they’re the only ones left in the room. But is that what they really wanted? #NorthDakota #politics

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEyW... Jason Thoms, a candidate for the North Dakota House of Representatives in Bismarck-area District 7, talks about his wife’s suicide, and the importance of “breaking the silence” on mental health. #NorthDakota #politics #Bismarck

Watch the full episode: youtu.be/mMiHu6a4BpQ The public has a right to access court records, says incoming ND Supreme Court Justice Mark Friese, but that has to be balanced with protecting them from companies who exploit public information to harass and exploit the public. #northdakota #politics

Mark Friese, recently appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court, says elected judges are accountable to the public, but that might also mean they’re unwilling to issue unpopular rulings. #northdakota #politics

State Sen. Jeff Magrum, and state Senate candidate Mary Graner, have promoted some truly ludicrous ideas about screening and treatments for cancer. If they can be taken in by junk science, what does it say about their ability to govern in the legislature? #northdakota #politics

Supt. Levi Bachmeier says one of the first things he did when appointed to his position was take a look at how the state has been spending on schools. “What I saw is we’ve been prioritizing it less,” he says. #northdakota #politics

“One of my biggest priorities is that we reject the politicization of our schools,” Supt. Levi Bachmeier says. “There should not be partisan agendas in our public schools,” he says. #northdakota #politics

Supt. Levi Bachemeir says he’s heard from lawmakers and others who believe that a ballot measure to have the state cover the costs of school meals will result in school funding getting cut, but he thinks that’s “totally a false choice.” #northdakota #politics

“Health insurance premiums will criple so many of these school districts,” North Dakota Superintendent Levi Bachmeier says. When premiums costs are going up by double-digit percentages, and school district revenues are only seeing single-digit percentage increases, that math doesn’t work.

Dem House candidate Vern Thompson says the question of abortion is a cultural, not a kitchen table issue, and isn’t a priority for most voters. He personally doesn’t want to come between a woman and her doctor, but that he respects people who have pro-life views. #northdakota #politics #abortion

U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer points out that his grandfather was a Republican lawmaker who ran as a progressive. What do those labels mean? “They don’t mean anything,” Hammer says. #northdakota #politics

“Yes I do,” U.S. House candidate Vern Thompson said when asked if he supports expanding passenger rail service. He says many people use it, and it would be a great way to expand access to wonderful things in North Dakota and Minnesota. #northdakota #politics #rail

Dem House candidate Vern Thompson says he’d like to prioritize assisting Ukraine over funding Israel and its operations in Gaza. “It is a genocide,” he said of the latter conflict, and Irsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “a crook.” #northdakota #politics #israel #gaza

Democratic U.S. House candidate Tryge Hammer says he’s pro-choice, and doesn’t want to get in between a woman and her doctor. He also says that being pro-life should meaning being pro-whole life. He wants to craft abortion policies that aren’t cruel. #northdakota #politics #abortion

Democratic U.S. House candidate Tryge Hammer says he won’t take money from an Israeli lobbying group, and that Israel’s actions in Gaza definitely amount to genocide. “Those two things are definitely true,” he says. #northdakota #politics #israel #gaza

Rep. Julie Fedorchak has been “too timid” in reigning in a “lawless president,” says Democratic-NPL U.S. House candidate Vern Thompson. If elected to replace her, he says he’d work to have Congress put limits on President Donald Trump. #northdakota #politics #donaldtrump

President Donald Trump’s trade policies have hurt North Dakota’s economy, and not just fleetingly. U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer says they’ve caused our trading allies to find new allies, moving away from American markets. #northdakota #politics #tariffs

A listener reacting to our commentary about Sec. Doug Burgum taking down a pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument argues that sexuality is a choice. He’s wrong. #northdakota

State Sen. Jeff Magrum claimed during a December committee hearing that colonoscopies cause cancer. This is simply not true, and he puts people in danger by making these claims as a public official. #northdakota

South Dakota’s antipathy to pipelines and other infrastructure projects is giving #NorthDakota an edge says Reed Johnson, a Republican candidate for the state House in District 17. “North Dakota and South Dakota at this point couldn’t be more different,” he says.

A lot of political captial in the legislature is spent on social issues, says #NorthDakota House candidate Reed Johnson. He’s running for the state House in Grand Forks-area District 17 as a Republican. He’d like to keep the focus on policy areas that matter, like infrastructure and education.

Republican legislative candidate Reed Johnson, a candidate for the state House in District 17, is an Army veteran and West Point candidate who commanded tanks. And what’s it like to drive a tank? Pretty awesome, he says. #northdakota

North Dakota state Sen. Jeff Magrum claims, falsely, that colonoscpies cause cancer. #NorthDakota #politics

Steve Sauter is a first-time candidate for the Republican nomination for state House in District 7. Why did he get involved in politics? He wants to be a leader in politics people can relate to.

Greg Vetter, a Republican candidate for the state House in Bismarck’s District 7, says he values independent thinking over party loyalship. He can’t speak to the NDGOP’s leadership. He’s open to a dialogue with anyone who is willing to talk.

The #MAGA movement loves big government, as long as its pushing their cultural preferences on everyone else, and punishing their enemies. Government should stay out of our culture. We’ll raise our kids, and pick what books we want to read. The government should just pave the damn roads.

What does the future of politics look like when easy access to AI tools will let anyone produce genuine looking videos, images, and text? It’s scary to consider how many voters will be fooled.

Even before he was governor, Doug Burgum was in the history books as one of the all-time great North Dakotans, but then he destroyed his legacy by signing up to work with the Trump administration. Was it worth it?

There are lawmakers who you elected to represent you, and there are lawmakers you elect to represent their hobby horse issues. But it’s not enough to just point at them and call them crazy. You have to connect to their voters.

The current leadership of the North Dakota Republican Party exposed how powerless, feckless, and useless they are by censuring Gov. Kelly Armstrong.

While his point of view as a disabled person is important, Kyle Erickson, a candidate for the House in Minot’s District 5 who lives with cerebral palsy, says disability rights is not even his top priority. He intends to be a representative of all people, not just people whose lives look like his.

Kyle Erickson, a Democratic-NPL candidate for the House in Minot’s District 5 who lives with cerebral palsy, talks about the importance of being a voice for the disability community in the legislature.

Melissa Klocke-Joyce with the ND250 Commission says North Dakota’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday won’t just be a one-off event. It will involve a whole year of events across the state.

Melissa Klocke-Joyce with the ND250 Commission talks about North Dakota’s efforts to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a year of events statewide. More information at ND250.com.

When people or organizations purposefully like to the public, they should face legal consequences. It’s one thing to leave out context, or to slant a message a particular way, but clear-cut examples of stating something that is demonstrably untrue should be prosecuted.

When @ndsuofficial.bsky.social had a $10 million budget shortfall, there weren’t private donors coming out of the woodwork to keep the academic programs whole. When the football team wants to move to a bigger conference, the donations roll in. That’s an indictment of our priorities.

Collegiate athletics at schools like @ndsuofficial.bsky.social are already subsidized by tuition dollars and student fees. NDSU’s recent move to the Mountain West conference brings along new burdens for its successful football program. Those burdens shouldn’t fall on the students. #NorthDakota

Watch the full episode: youtu.be/Dt_1GKb_cy0?... Democrats have long maintained that voter ID laws are inherently racist. They call them “Jim Crow 2.0,” but in reality those laws aren’t controversial with voters. Even Democratic voters.

Watch the full episode: youtu.be/Dt_1GKb_cy0?... What kind of racist is President Donald Trump? He may not be the sort who would refuse to hire Black people at his businesses, but he does seem to be the sort who doesn’t mind marketing himself to racist people.

Watch the full episode: youtu.be/Dt_1GKb_cy0?... “I just think that you should show your true self,” U.S. House candidate Helene Neville says. “The race isn’t about right of left. It’s not about opponents or labels. It’s about the lives that we got to serve.”

Watch the full episode: youtu.be/Dt_1GKb_cy0?... “They just don’t understand the climate,” U.S. House candidate Helene Neville says of incumbents who stay in office too long. “They don’t understand what’s going on outside their windows.”

Watch the full episode: youtu.be/Dt_1GKb_cy0?... “I think they should vet these people that…are out there terrorizing our citizens,” U.S. House candidate Helene Neville says. ICE is “just running rampang with guns, and they have more guns than our police force has.”

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUFz... In the debate over ICE’s actions in Minnesota, and beyond, both the right and the left have to stop becoming what the other side accuses them of being. Don’t be a stereotype.

The Wonder Fund is suposed to be celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary investing ND dollars in ND opportunities, but one of its major investments is in a Nebraska company that doesn’t seem to have much to do with North Dakota at all. Should we audit the Wonder Fund?

The demise of the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, one of the largest cultural festivals in our region, means the end of one bridge to our immigrant past at a time of overt nativism. It’s a sad thing, all the more so given how many of us need to be reminded of our immigrant roots.

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUFz... The Norsk Hostfest in Minot is no more, but many have fond memories, including meeting famed political consultant Karl Rove at the event when he was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame.

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUFz... The North Dakota Attorney General’s office has confirmed that there is an active investigation into the F5 Project. That’s good. There needs to be some accountability.

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUFz... The Trump administration is drawing down troops in Minnesota, but doesn’t that sound like we’re dealing with a war zone?

A listener writes in to say he used to be a “vile a-hole” Trump supporter on social media, but that now their eyes are open. “I decided to be a traitor to a broken party than a liar to myself.” #NorthDakota

House candidate Vern Thompson says he’s going to “fight tooth and nail” to “do away with the tariffs” if North Dakotans elect him. ”All the congressional delegation members from North Dakota...they have failed their constitutional responsibility...tariffs are supposed to be approved by Congress.”

“I think Rep. Fedorchak has failed in her constitutional responsibilities,” says Democratic U.S. House candidate Vern Thompson, referring to incumbent Rep. Julie Fedorhcak. “She’s let a president run wild.” #NorthDakota

“I think Julie has love in her heart,” Democratic U.S. House candidate Vern Thompson said, referring to the incumbent, Julie Fedorchak. But he says he thinks she’s “too timid” when it comes to confronting President Donald Trump’s lies. #NorthDakota

“I see right now the largest farm crisis in 40 years,” says House candidate Vern Thompson. “I was a young farmer and I struggled through the 1980s farm crisis." He says he doesn’t want to see today’s young farmers go through that, "because that was hell.”

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZyi... The F5 Project, which is facing controversy over its handling of finances, is a mature organization that ought to be making better decisions.

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZyi... With signs of distress from the oil industry likely to impact North Dakota’s revenues, we have to have “eyes wide open.” We can’t just carry on and do the same things we’ve done for the last couple of decades with taxes and spending.

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZyi... “Be careful” is the message from ND Petroleum Council president Ron Ness. “Free lunches are free lunches until we can’t fund schools,” he argues, referencing the recent special session debate over universal school meals.

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZyi... For the oil and gas industry, the cost of doing business in North Dakota is high and getting higher. “It’s getting harder and harder,” Ron Ness from the ND Petroleum Council says. “It’s just really, really expensive to operate here.”

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZyi... Direct oil taxes make up a big part of North Dakota’s revenues, some $8 million every day. When the drilling stops, North Dakota takes a hit.

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZyi... Why did Harold Hamm lay down his drilling rigs in North Dakota? The math on drilling simply doesn’t work at this price of oil says ND Petroleum Council president Ron Ness.