“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…
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…
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…
Plain Talk: Congressman Armstrong Says Elizabeth Warren May Pose Biggest Threat to Trump’s Re-Election
Now that the Democrats vying for the White House in 2020 have debated, which of the candidates stands out to North Dakota’s at-large Congressman? “Elizabeth Warren probably made up the most ground,” Rep. Kelly Armstrong said. He added that the Democrats, with their very large field of candidates, actually handled their debates “a little better…
Plain Talk: Senator Cramer Says Trump Was First to Call Border Situation a “Humanitarian Crisis”
Which of the large field of Democrats running for President is the biggest threat to incumbent Donald Trump? “Joe Biden presents the greatest threat,” Senator Kevin Cramer says on this episode of Plain Talk. He says Biden appeals to a larger majority of moderate Americans, a faction of voters obscured by some of the extremism…
Plain Talk: UND Economist Talks About Facebook’s New Currency
On this episode of Plain Talk, University of North Dakota economist David Flynn talks about Facebook’s new currency. Is it really a currency? Or is it more of a platform for transferring money? Are cryptocurrencies safe? What do they mean for our economy? Flynn answers all of those questions and more. Also, U.S. Senator Bernie…
Plain Talk: Rep. Armstrong Says He’d “Have a Difficult Time” Supporting a Ban on Flag Burning, Slave Reparations Are a “Non-Starter”
On this episode of Plain Talk, Congressman Kelly Armstrong says he hasn’t yet read the anti-flag burning constitutional amendment co-sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer, but said he “would have a difficult time” supporting any ban on flag desecration. “At a personal level I think burning an American flag is abhorrent,” Armstrong said, but he also…