Brandon Medenwald, a candidate for the state House in Fargo’s District 41, joined the radio show today to discus, net neutrality regulations. He also discussed the challenges of applying state sales taxes to online sales. Congressman Kevin Cramer also joined for his weekly open phones segment and took questions from callers. The full audio of…
Senator Heidi Heitkamp Begins Biggest Campaign of Her Political Life…With a Recycled Ad From 2012?
Incumbent Democrat Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s campaign is out with their first ad of the 2018 election cycle, and I think the (mostly out of state) contributors who have put millions in Heitkamp’s campaign hoping she can stop a Republican takeover of a Senate seat the Democrats have held since the Truman administration. It kinda seems…
Video: Discussion of Higher Education at Minot State University Was a Success Despite Protests
Last night I participated in a discussion about the future of higher education at Minot State University alongside Assistant Professor of Education Dan Conn. The event went well – the discussion was lively and fun – and I very much enjoyed myself. Below, courtesy of Dan who posted it on Facebook, is video of the…
Print Column: Sen. Heitkamp Pretends at the Accessibility North Dakotans Demand
MINOT, N.D.—Tessa Gould is not a household name in North Dakota. Most of you readers probably don’t know who she is. But if you work at a media outlet which has published or broadcast something which can be perceived as critical of Sen. Heidi Heitkamp you probably have an intimate knowledge of Gould’s caustic approach…
Podcast: SBHE Chair Says Burgum’s Proposed Cuts to University Budgets Are Achievable, “We Will Live Within the Budget”
Superintendent Don Morton spoke about Governor Doug Burgum’s proposed 10 percent cuts to the North Dakota University System on the radio show today. “Every organization has room to find efficiencies,” Morton told me, acknowledging that the universities “let programs grow” in the past which perhaps shouldn’t have. “I really like Doug’s approach,” Morton continued. “Let’s…
North Dakota Democrats Outraged When the Federal Government Does a Rare Thing: Give Back Power
Yesterday a rare thing happened in our federal government. It gave back some power. Specifically, the FCC’s repeal of Obama-era net neutrality regulations began. It’s not very often we see the federal government voluntarily give up regulatory authority like that, and it’s something to be applauded. Not happy about the move, unfortunately, was a group…
Heitkamp Chief of Staff, Without Irony, Says the Senator’s Key to Success Is to “Get Out and Talk to People”
Politico has made a “power list” of “women to watch” in Washington D.C., and on that list is North Dakota’s own Tessa Gould. Gould is Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s chief of staff, well known the media types in the state as the person who will send you nasty emails and shout at you on the phone…
Podcast: Forum Defends Burgum Travel
I had Fargo Forum editor Matt Von Pinnon on my radio show today to discuss their Sunday editorial defending Governor Doug Burgum’s travel. “We dont want our governor to sit in Bismarck and not leave his office,” the editorial concluded. “The job of the governor requires him to be around the state and Burgum has done…
It Is Inexcusable That the North Dakota Industrial Commission Is 8 Months Behind on Meeting Minutes
According to the Associated Press the North Dakota Industrial Commission – a powerful triumvirate consisting of the Governor, Attorney General, and Agriculture Commissioner which regulates, among other things, oil and gas development – is eight months behind in approving meeting minutes. This is absurd. The excuse from the commission is that an assistant working for…
A Discussion About Higher Education at Minot State University
For those of you readers who might be in the area and able to attend, I’ll be participating in a discussion about higher education at Minot State University tomorrow evening. The campus is hosting Shakespeare-Fest – this week commemorates both the birth and death dates of the famous bard – and part of those events…