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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 15, 2019 • 27min
Ep. 81: Maybe the Chinese trade war is about more than soybeans
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.
May 15, 2019 • 27min
Ep. 81: Maybe the Chinese trade war is about more than soybeans
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.
May 14, 2019 • 27min
Ep. 80: Has Governor Burgum joined the good old boys club?
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?
May 13, 2019 • 42min
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05/13/19
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.
May 10, 2019 • 29min
Ep. 79: Should banks be the arbiters of political and social behavior?
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.
May 9, 2019 • 39min
Ep. 78: It is the auditor's job to embarrass people
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.
May 8, 2019 • 20min
Ep. 77: Who was using the director's signature?
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.
May 7, 2019 • 30min
Ep. 76: We trust the people except when we don't
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.
May 6, 2019 • 22min
Bonus Audio: Jay Thomas Show 05/06/19
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.
May 6, 2019 • 41min
Ep. 75: What's scarier, hate speech or censorship?
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.
