At best, we have a university president who leaned a bit too heavily on some personal relationships while supervising a sloppy procurement. At worst, we have a significant contract that was deliberately steered toward some friends of the president. Even worse, when asked to provide oversight, the NDUS issued some superficial findings completely out of…
Instead of censoring books, maybe we should try understanding them
MINOT, N.D. — In Fargo, a middle school student has found herself offended to read the term “Indian” in the famed Agatha Christie novel, “And Then There Were None.” Instead of using the situation to educate this child about language and culture and our always-evolving struggle to find comity on issues of race, the child’s mother took…
Pete Buttigieg, electric cars, and why Democrats can’t win in North Dakota
MINOT, N.D. — Recently Pete Buttigieg, erstwhile presidential candidate and current secretary of transportation, appeared on MSNBC to extol the benefits of electric vehicles we rubes in fly-over country will enjoy if we ever become as enlightened as our more urban and coastal counterparts. “The people who stand to benefit most from owning an EV are…
Amid the chaos, something to be thankful for
MINOT, N.D. — As we begin the week that encompasses the Thanksgiving Day celebrations, I know that many of you are feeling anxious about the state of our nation. You’re feeling beat down. Discouraged. I feel it too. So let us turn to history for an analgesic. In 1921, Republican Warren G. Harding was inaugurated…
Secretary of state rescinds recall petition for Valley City lawmaker
MINOT, N.D. — Back in July, a group of Republicans representing a far-right faction of the NDGOP launched a recall petition for Rep. Dwight Kiefert, a Republican lawmaker from Valley City. Among their gripes was Kiefert’s vote to expel former Bastiat Caucus lawmaker Luke Simons amid multiple accusations of long-standing harassment of other lawmakers and legislative staff. Secretary of State Al…
If you get two, and I get three, how in the world is that fair?
MINOT, N.D. — “North Dakota plan for split districts gives Native Americans ‘fairer representation,’ advocates say.” So reads a recent headline from a typically thorough article by Michelle Griffith, but I have to admit that I’m struggling with that word. “Fairer.” Is the redistricting plan, which splits two legislative districts that encompass Native American reservations, really fairer…
Who could be North Dakota’s next tax commissioner?
MINOT, N.D. — Ryan Rauschenberger has served as North Dakota’s tax commissioner since he was appointed to the position by former Gov. Jack Dalrymple in 2013. Today, after hitting another bump on what has been a long road to sobriety, he announced his resignation from the office. He’ll be gone effective Jan. 3. Per chapter 44-02-03 of the North…
Can someone explain to me what conservatives stand for these days?
MINOT, N.D. — I am routinely accused of being a turncoat. A traitor to the conservative movement. I refuse to be a follower of Donald Trump. I believe the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was as despicable as it was Trump’s fault (among many others). I have a belief, driven by empirical data, in the safety…
North Dakota lawmaker seen in pickup with ‘F— Joe Biden’ message
UPDATE: While Sen. Heitkamp didn’t initially respond to inquiries, days after this column was published he did call in to a talk radio show I was appearing on and insisted he hadn’t been driving the truck. He also noted the truck doesn’t belong to him. The column originally said it wasn’t clear who owned the…
Friday Mailbag: Poolman retirement, Legacy Fund controversy, Becker hypocrisy, infrastructure bill shenanigans
MINOT, N.D. — It’s been a busy week for North Dakota political nerds, what with the Legislature in special session. The fractures in the NDGOP were high visibility during at the session this week. There was the big anti-vaccine rally on day one, after which attendees flooded into the capitol building to shout rude things…