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PODCAST

Plain Talk

Forum Communications Co.

Plain Talk is a podcast hosted by Rob Port and Chad Oban focusing on political news and current events in North Dakota. Port is a columnist for the Forum News Service published in papers including the Fargo Forum, Grand Forks Herald, Jamestown Sun, and the Dickinson Press. Oban is a long-time political consultant.

news politics

All Episodes

58:36

650: 'We don't have performance...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/29

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, including reviewing a big problem the state has when it comes to implementing policy. Namely, that

en

58:35

650: 'We don't have performance...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/29

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, including reviewing a big problem the state has when it comes to implementing policy. Namely, that

en

01:01:57

649: 'The fringe is getting more attention than they...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/24

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, through direct cash bailouts and quadrupling the beef imports from that country have also made life

en

01:01:56

649: 'The fringe is getting more attention than they...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/24

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, through direct cash bailouts and quadrupling the beef imports from that country have also made life

en

54:50

648: 'The politics will take care of itself' (Video)

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/22

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 in Washington D.C. will subside enough for Baesler to move up, and for Bachmeier to move in. In the mean

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54:49

648: 'The politics will take care of itself' (Audio)

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/22

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 in Washington D.C. will subside enough for Baesler to move up, and for Bachmeier to move in. In the mean

en

01:01:38

647: 'We are not collecting what we charge' (Audio)

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/17

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 rising cost of health insurance. Godfread, specifically, pointed to research his office has done in North

en

01:01:39

647: 'We are not collecting what we charge' (Video)

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/17

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 rising cost of health insurance. Godfread, specifically, pointed to research his office has done in North

en

55:03

646: 'These are North Dakota residents living next to...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/15

"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 interests of North Dakotans. The answer? It won't. Not directly. At least not at first. As Morgan's

en

55:03

646: 'These are North Dakota residents living next to...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/15

"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 interests of North Dakotans. The answer? It won't. Not directly. At least not at first. As Morgan's

en

57:54

645: 'We're getting precipitously close to having a...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/10

"We've just made it so complex that the average consumer will never understand it." That's what Chris Jones said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the way Americans access and pay for health care. Jones is the former head of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, having served in that role under Gov. Doug Burgum, and he's just finishing up a stint in President Donald Trump's administration where he's advised Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy and Centers for Medicare

en

57:54

645: 'We're getting precipitously close to having a...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/10

"We've just made it so complex that the average consumer will never understand it." That's what Chris Jones said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the way Americans access and pay for health care. Jones is the former head of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, having served in that role under Gov. Doug Burgum, and he's just finishing up a stint in President Donald Trump's administration where he's advised Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy and Centers for Medicare

en

58:06

644: 'I think he needs to follow the courts' (Video)

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/08

President Donald Trump's deployment of the military domestically over the objections of local leaders has become a flashpoint in our national debate. The Trump has justified these deployments by citing lawlessness in places like Portland and Chicago, but at least one federal judge has found these claims to be "untethered in reality." North Dakota Rep. Julie Fedorchak has said in the past that a line Trump cannot cross is ignoring the courts, yet with these deployments, Trump is now ignoring court

en

58:05

644: 'I think he needs to follow the courts' (Audio)

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/07

President Donald Trump's deployment of the military domestically over the objections of local leaders has become a flashpoint in our national debate. The Trump has justified these deployments by citing lawlessness in places like Portland and Chicago, but at least one federal judge has found these claims to be "untethered in reality." North Dakota Rep. Julie Fedorchak has said in the past that a line Trump cannot cross is ignoring the courts, yet with these deployments, Trump is now ignoring court

en

01:02:30

643: 'I am deeply frustrated that a judge's decision...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/03

After a federal judge imposed a new district map on the State of North Dakota, former Sen. Judy Estenson lost her seat in the state legislature. That's unfair, she argued in a recent letter to the editor of the Minot Daily News, and on this episode of Plain Talk. "I am deeply frustrated that a judge's decision could undo the will of the voters who elected me in 2022," Estenson said. "I am angry that a midcycle court order forced me from from office, deprived district 15 of its chosen senator, and

en

01:02:30

643: 'I am deeply frustrated that a judge's decision...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/03

After a federal judge imposed a new district map on the State of North Dakota, former Sen. Judy Estenson lost her seat in the state legislature. That's unfair, she argued in a recent letter to the editor of the Minot Daily News, and on this episode of Plain Talk. "I am deeply frustrated that a judge's decision could undo the will of the voters who elected me in 2022," Estenson said. "I am angry that a midcycle court order forced me from from office, deprived district 15 of its chosen senator, and

en

57:22

642: 'Republicans should not be in favor of tax...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/01

Steve Forbes, the editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, the host of the "What's Ahead" podcast, and a two-time U.S. Presidential candidate is speaking at North Dakota State University later this month as part of the Challey Institute's Menard Family Distinguished Speaker Series. He dropped by Plain Talk ahead of that speech to talk about some of the economic issues pressing on North Dakotans. Specifically, tariffs, which haven't just made selling crops and livestock harder for farmers and ranchers, but

en

57:22

642: 'Republicans should not be in favor of tax...

Plain Talk ·

2025/10/01

Steve Forbes, the editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, the host of the "What's Ahead" podcast, and a two-time U.S. Presidential candidate is speaking at North Dakota State University later this month as part of the Challey Institute's Menard Family Distinguished Speaker Series. He dropped by Plain Talk ahead of that speech to talk about some of the economic issues pressing on North Dakotans. Specifically, tariffs, which haven't just made selling crops and livestock harder for farmers and ranchers, but

en

52:23

641: ‘You can't drink Diet Coke without the fizz’...

Plain Talk ·

2025/09/26

With Rob out for his daughter’s wedding, Chad Oban hosts alongside longtime ad man and GOP strategist Pat Finken for a discussion on the state’s transformation from a competitive two-party era to a durable GOP majority, what that’s meant for business, and the way national fights over climate and immigration filter down to North Dakota. Then Justin Kringstad, Executive Director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, lays out the nuts and bolts of getting Bakken gas east. Kringstad details the

en

52:22

641: ‘You can't drink Diet Coke without the fizz’...

Plain Talk ·

2025/09/26

With Rob out for his daughter’s wedding, Chad Oban hosts alongside longtime ad man and GOP strategist Pat Finken for a discussion on the state’s transformation from a competitive two-party era to a durable GOP majority, what that’s meant for business, and the way national fights over climate and immigration filter down to North Dakota. Then Justin Kringstad, Executive Director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, lays out the nuts and bolts of getting Bakken gas east. Kringstad details the

en

817 results

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