Plain Talk

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.

Bonus audio from Rob's segment on the Jay Thomas Show.

On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong talks about his immediate reactions to the Mueller report. He also takes listener questions about term limits and other topics. Also, we should always ask, what is the government protecting us from? In one recent case it was farming with our second cousins. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

On this episode of Plain Talk, state Senator David Hogue (R-Minot) says Democratic lawmakers are "posturing" over ethics legislation they say has too many loopholes. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Should politicians be able to regulate people who can't vote for them? Why can local governments in North Dakota extend their regulatory reach to people who can't vote in that local government's elections? Also incoming North Dakota U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley talks about the lengthy confirmation process he faced before taking that job, as well as his priorities for doing the job now that he has it. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Governor Doug Burgum checks in on this episode of Plain Talk to react to the Legislature overriding his veto of a bill authorizing an interim committee he says has too much power. Also a graduate student and columnist from the University of Colorado says there was a protest against current UND President Mark Kennedy, and there will be more when Kennedy visits the state next week. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Audio from the Jay Thomas Show discussing an audit report revealing inappropriate activity at the North Dakota State College of Science.

A subcommittee from the Democrat-controlled House is in North Dakota this week to talk about the state's voter ID law. The ranking member on the committee - Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, the only Republican on the committee - talks about the politics of it. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

The Legislature wants to put some checks and balances into the process for amending the constitution by way of ballot measures. It's going to be a controversial topic in the next election cycle, I think, but it's the right thing to do. Also, Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes your questions about the national debt, the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act, and other topics. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

As he prepares to exit the University of North Dakota, embattled President Mark Kennedy takes a shot at his critics, suggesting controversy over a very cushy employment arrangement he gave his special assistant was born of racism and gender bigotry. Also, Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions about the space force, tax preparation reform, the national debt, and border security. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

State Rep. Ruth Buffalo says right wing media shouldn't get to question her about her travel expenses. But shouldn't politicians have to face their critics? Also, state Senator Kristin Roers (R-Fargo) talks about her amendment bringing back the issue of decriminalizing marijuana after similar legislation was defeated earlier this session. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

State Rep. Ruth Buffalo won't answer a question about who paid for a trip she took to Tennessee to address a left wing group about, ironically enough, government transparency. Also, North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread talks about a reinsurance program his department is taking public comment on. A state-level effort to fix some of the chaos Obamacare has created. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Rob talked about Stephen King and driver's education on this week's segment on the Jay Thomas Show.

An idea to use Legacy Funding earnings to reduce, and eventually eliminate, state income taxes is back in the Legislature. Some are opposed to it, but what could be more visionary and beneficial to North Dakotans across the state than reducing tax burdens? Also, we spend a lot of time talking about road safety in North Dakota, so why aren't we adequately funding driver's education in our schools? This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Congressman Kelly Armstrong takes audience questions, including one about demands from Democrats to release the full Mueller report, something he says is a "political stunt." Also, Democrats have embraced federalism on marijuana policy. Maybe they should embrace it in other policy areas too? This episode is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Senator Kevin Cramer takes questions from listeners on closing the border, NATO funding, and the Mueller report. Also, should there be consequences for people who refuse to vaccinate? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

A Republican lawmaker from Minot who styles himself a proponent of religious liberty is objecting to an invocation delivered by a Hindu religious leader. You can't make this stuff up. Also state Rep. Luke Simons talks about his bill, which failed in the state Senate, which would have required that cops get a warrant (or at least have probable cause or the justification of an emergency) before coming on private land and searching buildings. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

On this episode of Plain Talk, Troy Coons from the Northwest Landowners Association talks about why his group opposes legislation regarding pore space. Don't worry, he also explains what pore space is. Also, some thoughts on the Legislature rejecting an expanded State Board of Higher Education. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Audio from Rob's appearance on the Jay Thomas Show 04/01/2019, talking about occupational licensing for hair braiders and the Legislature possibly overriding Governor Doug Burgum's veto of a hike to drivers license fees.

On this episode of Plain Talk, a hair braider who tried to start a business in Fargo ended up having to move her business to Minnesota because North Dakota's regulations are too strenuous. Also, Senator Jessica Unruh (R-Beulah) talks about a complicated bill concerning pore space and energy development which some are saying is an affront to property rights. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

On this episode of Plain Talk, state Representative Kim Koppelman (R-West Fargo) backed an amendment which would treat marital rape differently for the purposes of parental rights than just plain old rape. Then he lied about offering the amendment. 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, Senator Kevin Cramer takes listener questions about the filibuster, the USMCA trade agreement, the Green New Deal, and funding for the Special Olympics. Also, John Swanson from Enbridge gives an update on their much-delayed Line 3 pipeline project in Minnesota. He says their company is prepared if Dakota Access-style protests happen. This episode brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

By the strictures of identity politics actor and accused hate crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett is, by dint of his demographic attributes, automatically a victim. Except, judging by what he seems to have gotten away with in Chicago, it sure seems like he has a lot of privilege. Also, state Senator Janne Myrdal talks about her legislation aimed at stopping criminal political acts against infrastructure like pipelines. This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

Reed Hundt, a former head of the FCC who is now heading up an organization called Make Every Vote Count, calls for an end to the Electoral College. But is that what would be best for North Dakota? This episode of Plain Talk is brought to you by EnergyofNorthDakota.com.

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