“We could be looking at upward of 175 to 179 thousand who have this issue.” That’s what Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to a streamlined process to allow those with minor convictions for marijuana-related crimes to apply for pardons. Stenehjem sits on a constitutionally-established board which makes recommendations…
Plain Talk: Trump Says So-Called “Fake News” Is “Dangerous” and “Not Free Speech” but He’s Absolutely Wrong
“I don’t think that the mainstream media is free speech either, because it’s so crooked, it’s so dishonest. So to me, free speech is not when you see something good and then you purposely write bad, to me that’s very dangerous speech, and you become angry at it,” President Donald Trump said at the recent…
Plain Talk: Senator Cramer Says of HR1044 “I Not Only Supported It I Championed It”
“I not only supported it, I championed it.” That’s what Senator Kevin Cramer said of HR1044, called the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, on this episode of Plain Talk. He was responding questions from listeners upset about his support for the legislation, but Cramer says it’s a good bill. He says it would…
Guest Post: Ethics Commission Front-Runner Has Corporate Ties to Large State Government Contracts
This guest post was submitted by Dustin Gawrylow, executive director of the North Dakota Watchdog Network There has been a lot of debate over the Ethics Commission that is currently being created in North Dakota as a result of the passage of the Measure #1 in 2018. Sixty-eight North Dakotans (including this writer) applied for positions…
Print Column: When Child Rape Becomes Just Another Political Football
MINOT, N.D. — Not quite as horrifying as the most recent news about Jeffrey Epstein, but still entirely nauseating, has been the rush to use the man as a political cudgel. The secretive financier who may or may not be a billionaire — his money management firm is based in the U.S. Virgin Islands and generates no…
Plain Talk: NDUS Chancellor Says It’s Time for Higher Ed to “Get Out of the Ivory Tower”
The North Dakota University System needs funding from taxpayers that is more stable. But also, the university system itself needs to “get out of the ivory tower” and do a better job of serving the labor and career needs of the state. That’s what NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott said on this episode of Plain Talk.…
Plain Talk: “Democrats Are Finally Acknowledging There’s a Crisis at the Border” Says Armstrong
“I think we should all be happy that Democrats are finally acknowledging there’s a crisis at the border.” That’s what Congressman Kelly Armstrong said in response to a question about a group of Congressional Democrats visiting the southern border. Armstrong also answered questions about the 4th of July and Robert Mueller’s upcoming testimony. Also, the…
Print Column: America Is an Idea That’s Greater Than This Ugly Moment
MINOT, N.D. — As we approach the most patriotic of American holidays there are reminders all around us that, for a certain faction of the American public, patriotism isn’t fashionable any more. The evidence is everywhere. Watch all the people using the ‘Murica slur on social media this 4th of July, a neologism invented to…
Plain Talk: Legalize ND Organizer Explains New Proposal to Make Recreational Marijuana Legal
David Owen, one of the organizers behind Legalize ND, discusses his group’s new proposal to make recreational marijuana legal in North Dakota. It’s a very different proposal, with a lot more restrictions, compared to what the group proposed during the 2018 election cycle. Owen also explained why his group is continuing to pursue expungement for…
Guest Post: North Dakota’s Legislature Disregards the People
This guest post was submitted by Riley Kuntz of Dickinson, chairman of Audit the Swamp, a referendum committee set up to refer three laws passed by the Legislature to the statewide ballot The recently released Attorney General Opinion determining the enactment of SB 2004 to be ‘likely to be unconstitutional’ was spot on. Granted, Audit…