Plain Talk

North Dakotans came in almost last in the nation in a Harvard Study when it comes to optimism about economic mobility (the ability of people to become wealthier over their lifetimes). But, the study also shows that North Dakota was first in the nation when it comes to economic mobility. Why the disconnect between perception and reality? Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong answers listener questions. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

"I'm surprised President Trump cares so much about these congresswomen," Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the President's feud with "the squad." Cramer also takes listener questions. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

"We could be looking at upward of 175 to 179 thousand who have this issue," Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said of new, streamlined process that will allow those with minor marijuana-related convictions to apply for pardons. Also, the Legislature will allow local governments to double their traffic fines. Is that constitutional? And is it a big deal that state lawmakers get paid for absences? This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, 07-15-19, talking about President Trump's recent comments about a group of female Democratic congresswomen among other topics.

President Donald Trump said media speech he doesn't agree with is not free speech because it's dangerous. But isn't the President of the United States saying something like that what's really dangerous? Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Senator Kevin Cramer defended his support for eliminating per-country caps on visas for high-skilled workers in response to listener questions. "I not only supported it I championed it," he said. Also, what happens when it's the news media sowing controversy and division in our country? This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.

A sex worker masquerading as a massage therapist got busted in Minot. Massage therapists want a crack down to protect their industry, but would a better route be to legalize and license sex work? Also, ND University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott talks about his view for how to better manage the finances of the state's public institutions of higher education. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Audio from the Jay Thomas Show, with Jay and Rob discussing the citizenship question on the U.S. Census.

"I think we should all be happy that Democrats are finally acknowledging there's a crisis at the border," Congressman Kelly Armstrong says on this episode of Plain Talk. He also talks about the 4th of July holiday and the upcoming Mueller testimony before Congress. Also, the President of El Salvador blames conditions in his own country for the crisis at America's border. He's right. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

David Owen of Legalize ND talks about his group's new proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota. Also state lawmakers now say they'll abide by a legal opinion from Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem which found their law limiting the powers of the state Auditor was unconstitutional. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.

Talking baseball, the field of Democratic 2020 presidential candidates, and legalizing marijuana.

Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes listener questions on the border, abortion, and the Democratic presidential candidate debate. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Who does Senator Kevin Cramer think could be the toughest challenger to President Donald Trump? Former Vice President Joe Biden he says on this episode of Plain Talk. He also talks about the war over bias in the tech industry and the battle over border funding. Also the Red River Valley Democratic Socialists of America have formed a softball team, and say young people are attracted to socialism because who even remembers what East Germany was like any more? This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Facebook has joined with a coalition of financial industry giants to issue its new currency. UND monetary economist David Flynn talks about what it all means. Also, Senator Bernie Sanders has announced a plan to pay off everyone's student loan debt. Is it really a free lunch? This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.

Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970. Talking about the 2020 elections, Joel Heitkamp suggesting Rob is a danger to his sister, and the Bernie Sanders plan for student loans.

Congressman Kelly Armstrong says on this episode of Plain Talk he'd have a "hard time" supporting a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. He also took questions about Iran, abortion, and federal pensions. Also, the energy industry has created a lot of opportunities for younger Americans as data from the U.S. Census shows. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Dr. Joshua Wynne, the current Dean of the University of North Dakota's medical school, will serve as the interim president for that institution. He says he wants the campus to focus on serving the public. Also, how much can we really do to save rural grocery stores? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Should burning the flag be illegal? Also, state Rep. Scott Louser (R-Minot) talks about the implementation of state ethics regulations that some left-wing commentators have suggested is, in and of itself, unethical. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

In this bonus audio from the Jay Thomas Show 06-17-19, Rob discusses legislation Senator Kevin Cramer is co-sponsoring which would create an exception from the 1st amendment for burning the U.S. flag. Also discussed is whether or not former Senator Heidi Heitkamp might run for governor.

Comedian Jon Stewart threw a fit during a congressional hearing over funding for 9/11 victims, but was it necessary? Also Congressman Kelly Armstrong address that issue and answers listener questions. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions about Social Security, the border wall, trade, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and wind energy. Also, North Dakota Democrats complain about there not being enough women appointed to chair interim committees, but at least two female lawmakers in the Democratic caucus turned down chair roles. This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Mark Friese, a Fargo-based defense attorney with the Vogel Law Firm, talks about the struggles courts are having with defendants who can't afford drug testing mandated by the Legislature. Also, a new study suggests that liberalized marijuana laws does not reduce opioid overdoses. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofND.com.

State Senator Janne Myrdal, a Republican from the Grafton area, talks to Rob about her objections to North Dakota State University partnering with Planned Parenthood. Also, an official from the North Dakota Democratic Party says coal is dead. Is he right? This episode brought to you by Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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.

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 Prosperity of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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.

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.

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 may be ride sharing services. This episode was sponsored by AFP of North Dakota and EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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.

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

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

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 public. This episode bought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com and AFPND.org.

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

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 EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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 he was on leave? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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.

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.

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 EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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 EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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 bought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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.

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.

State Auditor Josh Gallion pushes back on suggestions from North Dakota State College of Science President John Richman that a recent audit contained information that wasn't true. Also, it's time for parking meters in North Dakota. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Jamie Kelly, editor of the Williston Herald, talks about the struggle some western school districts face when it comes to getting funding from the state. He says things are so bad some students are going to class in closets. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.