Plain Talk

Alex Balazs, the out-of-nowhere candidate who won the North Dakota Republican Party's convention endorsement last week, ended his interview on this episode of Plain Talk by joking about the tough questions we asked him. We did run him through the ringer, on everything from abortion, to Trump's claims about the 2020 election and January 6, to the farm bill, Ukraine, and Social Security. One question I thought was important to get him on the record about was how he'd handle the dysfunction that has roiled the Republican caucus in the United States House of Representatives. One of his opponents, former lawmaker Rick Becker, has promised to go to Washington D.C. and contribute to the chaos by being a "bull in a china shop." "If you just want to stir things up you're not doing your job," Balazs told us of that approach. Balazs says he was "very humbled" to receive the convention endorsement. He said he made his decision to run for Congress "at the kitchen table." "I guess you could call me a Trump Republican, he said when asked about his support for the former president, "but I'm also the first one in the kitchen to say 'why did he have to say that?'" Did Trump win the 2020 election? "We went through a process that elected Joe Biden," he said, though he also said there was some fraud in the voting, and that Democrats should acknowledge it. As for January 6? "There was no insurrection," he said. "I'm never going to support anyone who broke a window or something," he added, but said he felt there have been many people put in jail for merely walking into the capitol that day. He added that what happened on January 6 was "less wrong than what happened after." On abortion, Balazs says "the answer is no on a federal abortion ban" but that he's a "conception to death kind of person" who wants to put "more teeth in the law." Balazs also said his campaign is mostly self-funded. He claims to have raised only $2,035 from contributors so far. So far in his campaign, he's leaned heavily on his resume in the military. When asked if he could offer documentation to substantiate that record, he said he doesn't want personal information made public --"they're very sensitive documents," he said -- but would be willing to make arrangements to have them reviewed. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.

Former Miss America Cara Mund's potential entry into North Dakota's primary election adds intrigue to the Republican House race. The conventions endorsed unconventional candidates like James Bartlett for Superintendent of Public Schools. The Democratic-NPL convention showcased energy with gubernatorial, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate candidates. The podcast discusses the relevance of party conventions, candidate performances, party dynamics, abortion debates, and challenges faced by female candidates.

When state Sen. Merrill Piepkorn, gubernatorial candidate for the Democratic-NPL, joined this episode of Plain Talk with me and my co-host Chad Oban, the first question I wanted to ask him was how he plans to unite North Dakota voters at a time when even Republicans here seem deeply divided against themselves. Piepkorn accused me of not "pussy footing around." Joking aside, he thinks the right approach is "making the effort" to get to know people and understand their issues. The candidate says one of the challenges Democrats running in North Dakota have is that they get lumped in with the national Democratic brand. Which, he argues, isn't nearly so moderate as the North Dakota iteration of the party. "I don't even know what AOC stands for," he said, referring to the oft-used initials of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most visible national figures representing the progressive wing of the Democratic party. Piepkorn also took questions about what his agenda would be for North Dakota, if elected, how he feels about the ballot measure to abolish property taxes (he's against it), and how he might try to appeal to Republican voters who are feeling disillusioned. His answer to that last was candidate. He says he doesn't know, and that he'd rather say that than "make stuff up." "I have stuff to do," he said. "We're going to talk to people and find out," he added. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss Gov. Doug Burgum's trip to Mar-a-Lago to schmooze Donald Trump, and the controversy over District 37's delegates to the NDGOP's state convention. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.

Rep. Jim Jonas, Republican lawmaker from West Fargo, discusses controversial resolutions in North Dakota GOP, expressing concerns of authoritarianism. He advocates for making North Dakota better for its citizens. The podcast also touches on Tom Campbell's decision to withdraw from the U.S. House race.

In this episode, U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong discusses his decision to go negative in the North Dakota Republican gubernatorial primary. He admits to being nervous about losing and brands his opponent as 'Tall Tale Tammy'. The episode explores the role of criminal defense attorneys in legal services funding and the challenges in North Dakota's criminal justice system. Additionally, it touches on campaign strategy, political ad analysis, the influence of evangelical churches on Republican politics, and the importance of religious freedom in a diverse society.

The podcast delves into the challenges faced by public defenders in North Dakota, highlighting issues of insufficient funding and understaffing. It also covers the intense pressure on a U.S. House candidate to drop out of the race due to alleged threats. Additionally, the episode discusses negative campaign tactics in a heated gubernatorial primary race.

The North Dakota Republican Party will be holding what will be a very interesting event on April 5. Interesting in the conventional way in that it will be a showcase of (most) of the party's statewide candidates. Interesting also in that there is a divide among Republicans between those who think the party's most ardent activists, the one who fill up the seats at the party's conventions, are increasingly out of touch with not only the larger electorate, but rank-and-file Republican voters as well. I don't know that this convention will be the answer to that debate, but it will be informative. Talking about that issue on this episode of Plain Talk is NDGOP executive director Andrew Nyhus. "Rob, sometimes you make us money," he told me and my co-host Chad Oban, referencing my frequent criticisms of the party. "The checks come in," he claims. He also spoke to rumors that there may be an attempt to set aside rules at the convention to allow U.S. House candidate Rick Becker to seek the convention endorsement. Becker is from the MAGA wing of the NDGOP, and the conventions are his base of political power. In 2022, after losing the convention endorsement to U.S. Senate incumbent John Hoeven, he then challenged Hoeven in the general election as an independent. The NDGOP has a rule stating that any candidate who seeks office as an independent, or the candidate for another party, cannot seek the Republican endorsement for three political cycles. "If you say you believe in the rule of law, and you have rules...you can't really suspend the rules," he said of potential efforts to get Becker before the delegates. "Suspending the rules is not possible," he added, and defended the rule barring Becker from the endorsement. His challenge to Hoeven in the general election "could have cost us a win," he said. "A U.S. Senate seat." Nyhus also discussed divides in the party over the platform, and the role of the party in activism. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss the recent polling in North Dakota U.S. House race released by Becker's campaign. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.

There is a shift happening in North Dakota politics. Republicans are divided between Trump-style populists, and more traditional conservatives. The legislative primary in District 8 may well be a bellwether for the future of both North Dakota's dominant political party, and the way in which our state is governed. That jurisdiction is home to state Rep. Brandon Prichard, one of the most polarizing figures in state politics today, a young man just a few years removed from high school who has made a name for himself with vile and bigoted social media antics and professional activism aimed at defeating many of his fellow Republican lawmakers. Now, he's got primary challengers of his own. Mike Berg, the co-founder of an engineering firm in Bismarck, and Ken Rensch, who has a background in emergency medical response, have announced campaigns for the state House of Representatives in District 8. They'll be seeking the Republican nomination on the June primary, challenging Prichard and his fellow incumbent Rep. SuAnn Olson. "The people of District 8 could have people in the House of Representatives who represent them better," Berg said on this episode of Plain Talk. Also on this episode, we discuss politicians who say they aren't politicians, U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong's recent comments about double standards at a high-profile House Judiciary hearing this week, and Democrats making President Joe Biden apologize for saying "illegal immigrant." To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.

"It's strategically dumb," says Sen. Kevin Cramer, referring to those who heckled President Joe Biden during the State of the Union address, and otherwise made a spectacle of themselves. Cramer joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the president's speech, the Senate's GOP's progress toward picking a new leader, and the prospect for tackling border security during an election year. Cramer had tough words in his assessment of the speech -- "I thought it was the worst State of the Union address I have ever listened to or sat through," he said in his official statement -- but thought those who felt the need to shout at the president during the speech were "giving up the moral high ground." He said those who got up to antics -- such as Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene wearing a Trump campaign hat -- "have to trust the view public more." Cramer also acknowledged that Biden is conceding some points on border security to Republicans, and that he believes Republicans ought to press the issue. He said he'd be in favor of the Senate passing a border security bill through regular order and sending it to the House, even though former President Donald Trump opposes making progress on the issue before he's elected, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has said that any such bill is "dead on arrival" in the House. Why, then, did Cramer vote against the border deal negotiated with Democrats by Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford? He says because it wasn't brought forward through regular order. As for the new leader for Senate Republicans, Cramer says that right now the race is between South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, but that he expects a third name to emerge. He wasn't ready to say who he supports, and added that the election of a new leader will take place after the November election, the results of which will have a big impact on the choice. Want to subscribe to Plain Talk? Search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.

For people of a certain age, who entered adulthood around the turn of the last century, the music of Five for Fighting is a cultural touchstone. The song, "Superman (It's Not Easy)" was an anthem post 9/11. John Ondrasik, the man who is Five for Fighting, performed it at the 2001 Concert for New York. Ondrasik, who will be playing the Fargo Theater in Fargo on March 26, accompanied by a string quartet, has never been shy about tackling controversial issues with his music. He wrote a song critical of the way American troops were ordered to depart Afghanistan. He wrote a song in support of Ukraine in their fight against the bloody, revanchist aggression of Vladimir Putin's regime. Most recently, Ondrasik has weighed in on the war between Israel and Hamas. Called "OK," it juxtaposes images of the Hamas terror attack on Israelis, and Hamas sympathizers here in America supporting it, with a call for moral clarity on the issue. Ondrasik joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the song, and the dangers of artists taking on touchy political issues. "I think it's the right thing to do," he said when I asked him why he would take the risk of releasing these songs. "If I was 22 years old and trying to have a career in the music industry would I still be writing these songs? I don't know," he said. "I hope so." He noted that these issues -- Ukraine, Israel, Afghanistan -- are not necessarily partisan. Actor Debra Messing, an outspoken liberal, and right-wing talk radio host Mark Levine agree on Israel, he pointed out. The positions on Ukraine don't break down neatly along ideological or partisan lines either. Ondrasik said he doesn't consider the politics of these situations when he chooses to write about them. "OK" is a moral message, not a political one, he claims. But he did say there is an overall leftward bias in his industry. "If Donald Trump had been responsible for that Afghanistan disaster I'd probably have a Grammy in my hand." If you interested in attending Ondrasik's show in Fargo, you can purchase tickets at FiveforFighting.com or on the website for the Fargo Theatre. Also on this episode, my co-host Ben Hanson and I discuss Gov. Doug Burgum's refusal to say whether he'd certify the 2020 election, and the recent NDGOP presidential caucus vote. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, or click here for more information.