MINOT, N.D. — There’s definitely a theme to the emails I’ve been getting lately, and it’s Trumpism. Also, the Bastiat Caucus, which is perhaps the purest distillation of Trumpism on display in North Dakota politics. It’s starting to feel like it’s all I ever write about, but I’m not sure you can overestimate how important…
Loyalty to Trump Can’t Be the Litmus Test for Republicans
MINOT, N.D. — Rep. Liz Cheney may soon be out of her leadership position in the U.S. House Republican caucus. A growing list of prominent House Republicans are calling for her removal, and Cheney herself doesn’t seem to be fighting it. As you probably know, her great sin is a refusal to stay silent about the lie disgraced former President…
North Dakota’s Daily Vaccination Dose Count Has Slowed to a Trickle
MINOT, N.D. — We’ve all read the headlines about vaccine hesitancy in North Dakota, but how bad is it? It’s bad. Like, really bad. The pace of administered vaccines has slowed to a trickle. According to the state Department of Health’s vaccine data dashboard, so far in May, the average number of vaccine doses delivered has…
Give Me Your Vaccination Selfies, Loud and Proud
MINOT, N.D. — Have you ever run into one of those people who will go to great lengths to tell you that they’re not anti-gay, they just don’t understand why gay people have to shove their gayness in your face? They’re fine with the LGBTQ+ community, as long as they stay in the closet, and…
Friday Mailbag: Tearing Apart Conservatives, Lowering Flags, Threatening Lawsuits and More
MINOT, N.D. — Friday is my favorite day of the week. I like my work, so I like that Friday is a workday, but I also like that after Friday comes two days that are mostly free to have adventures with my family. The weather is getting nice, and I’m looking forward to some Geocaching…
Out-of-State Consultant Recommends Out-of-State Firm to Manage North Dakota’s New in-State Investment Program
MINOT, N.D. — North Dakota’s reliance on consultants, at all levels of government, is an epidemic. From state boards down to local school boards, our state’s leaders can’t seem to even tie their shoes without hiring a consultant. Everybody knows it. People in political circles joke about it. The smartest person in the room, the oft-made…
Controversy Over Lawmaker Expelled for Harassment May Reignite as the End of the Legislative Session Nears
MINOT, N.D. — The debate over expelled former Bastiat Caucus lawmaker Luke Simons has loomed over the 2021 legislative session in Bismarck. Now, with just days left in the session, that debate may be reignited by a Simons ally and fellow member of the Bastiat Caucus. Rep. Jeff Hoverson of Minot — who is officially designated as a Republican though he…
When Legislative Leaders Don’t Respect the Role of the Legislature
MINOT, N.D. — Earlier this month, Gov. Doug Burgum, to his credit, reluctantly signed into law a bill that implements some checks and balances to his office’s emergency powers. No, I’m not talking about that inane legislation banning statewide mask mandates in the name of some perverse notions of liberty (that, ironically enough, doesn’t really ban mask…
Friday Mailbag: Maxine Waters, Extremist Protesters, the Sober Ride Program and Squabbling Inside the NDGOP
MINOT, N.D. — It’s Friday, and we can all now head into the weekend confident that we’ll soon be free of the yoke of statewide mask mandates. Though not, I should note, local mask mandates which are still ok for some reason? We live in strange times, my friends. Interesting, but strange. As always, a…
North Dakota Lawmakers Have Been Siphoning Funding From Firefighters for Decades and It Should Stop
MINOT, N.D. — We all know the threat of fire to our personal safety and our property. Not so long ago, wildfires nearly burned down Medora, the jewel of North Dakota tourism. Thankfully, well-trained and equipped firefighters were able to turn the tide. My point is that fire protection is important, but what if I told…