MINOT, N.D. — Articles giving you tips on how to handle political discussions with your family have become a holiday season cliche in the news media. The proverbial “crazy uncle” has become a stock character in these annual tip-sheets, and the advice on offer can usually be summed up with “don’t bother.” Except, we do…
Give It Up, Republicans. Trump Lost
MINOT, N.D. — It’s hard to lose. It’s hard to be lectured about losing gracefully by people who did anything but in 2016, when it was clear that Donald Trump had won the election and the Democrats were already plotting ways to derail his administration, up to and including impeachment. Many of them the same…
LIVE: Watch the Panel Discussion ‘Statues of Dead White Men: Do They Matter?’ at 7 P.m. Tonight
MINOT — Watch a livestream of tonight’s Minot State University panel discussion “Statues of Dead White Men: Do They Matter?” right here at 7 p.m. Forum News Service columnist Rob Port is among the panelists. MSU History Professor Bethany Andreasen and State Historical Society of North Dakota Director Bill Peterson will also take part. You…
Months Into the Pandemic, Do Our Mayors and Governors Still Need Emergency Powers?
MINOT, N.D. — Earlier this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic descended on us, various executive branch leaders like mayors and governors began to invoke executive powers so that they could make policy to deal with what was, at the time, an emergent situation. The thing about emergency powers is that they’re supposed to be for…
Law Enforcement Officials Who Won’t Enforce North Dakota’s Mask Mandate Should Resign
MINOT, N.D. — The law, even laws that are very stupid, should be enforced. Vigorously. That’s a philosophy I’ve believed in for some time now, and there are two excellent reasons for believing it. First, we should be governed by laws, not people. This is the idea upon which the American system of government is…
There’s Personal Responsibility, and Then There’s Obstinance
MINOT, N.D. — What first attracted me, as a young man, to a generally conservative ideology was the notion of personal responsibility. The idea that overweening, busybody government wasn’t necessary because we are pretty damn good at taking care of ourselves and our communities when left to our own devices. I still believe this to…
Working for Pipeline Company Is Like Manning ‘Gas Chambers’ at Auschwitz, Says Minnesota Activist
MINOT, N.D. — Winona LaDuke is a Native American activist whose group, Honor the Earth, has been very active in opposing energy development projects, typically pipelines, across our region. Her group fought against the Dakota Access Pipeline here in North Dakota, in addition to the Line 3 replacement project in Minnesota. Recently the folks behind…
How Can Journalists and Academics Serve the Public if the Public Doesn’t Trust Them?
MINOT, N.D. — Academia. Entertainment, including the various sports leagues. The news media. These are America’s dominant cultural institutions. They’re also not terribly welcoming places when it comes to right-of-center thinking. More than unwelcoming, they’re often actively hostile. Earlier this year a high-profile football coach almost lost his job because he wore a conservative T-shirt. The newsroom…
Whatever Happens in Court, District 8 Cannot Appoint Someone the Voters Rejected
MINOT, N.D. — The battle over District 8 is going to get its day in court. Thursday, Gov. Doug Burgum asked the state Supreme Court to step in and rule on the legality of his appointment to a state House seat won by Dave Andahl, who died in early October. If you haven’t been paying attention…
Academic Study With North Dakota Connection Concludes That Republicans Promote Violence and Reject Democratic Norms
MINOT, N.D. — I wish it were less true, but the reality of politics is that most people are fine with authoritarianism as long as it’s the right kind of authoritarianism. I was thinking about that truth while reading this Washington Post article about a study from an international team of academics (including North Dakota State University…