Tag Archives: podcast

Austin Albrecht, who lives in 220 West Apartments on 10th Street North in Fargo, was laid off from his job because of the coronavirus pandemic. He received this memorandum telling him that rent still needed to be paid despite the difficult times. Special to The Forum

Plain Talk: “We Have No Interest in Trying to Screw Landlords,” ACLU Leader Says of Call for a Moratorium on Evictions

- March 31, 2020 - ,

Plain Talk: “We Have No Interest in Trying to Screw Landlords,” ACLU Leader Says of Call for a Moratorium on Evictions

- March 31, 2020 - ,

The ACLU of North Dakota, among other organizations, has called on Governor Doug Burgum to issue a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the coronavirus crisis. Dane DeKrey, a spokesman for the ACLU, says it’s about protecting renters but not making landlords the bad guys. “We have no interest in trying to screw landlords,” DeKrey…

Plain Talk: Should We Be Letting Prisoners Out of Jail During the Coronavirus Crisis?

- March 25, 2020 - ,

The coronavirus crisis has prompted policy makers in North Dakota, and across the nation, to look at reducing jail and prison populations by letting some low-risk offenders, and some folks in jail pre-trial because they can’t make bond, out into the general population. Is that the right move? On this episode of Plain Talk Dane…

Democratic U.S. House candidate Zach Raknerud

Plain Talk: Democratic House Candidate Criticizes His Party for Delays in Coronavirus Relief Bill

- March 24, 2020 - ,

On this episode of Plain Talk, Zach Raknerud pointed out that many North Dakota Democrats are afraid to do interviews with me. “I don’t think that’s right,” he said. He’s the candidate North Dakota Democrats endorsed to challenge Republican Congressman Kelly Armstrong this cycle. He made that point while arguing that he intends to offer…

The normally crowded and bustling lobby of Moorhead Senior High School is empty and quiet during the shutdown Monday, March 16. W. Scott Olsen / Special to The Forum

Plain Talk: Education Professor Says North Dakota’s Push for Remote Education Has Been “Overly Bureaucratic,” Tells Parents Not to Worry About Kids Losing Ground

- March 23, 2020 - ,

Dan Conn is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Kinesiology at Minot State University. In this episode of Plain Talk, he discusses the challenges related to mobilizing, as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, remote education solutions on the short timeline state leaders like Governor Doug Burgum and Superintendent Kirsten Baesler are asking for.…

Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck Bismarck Tribune photo

Plain Talk: This Year North Dakotans Will Likely Get Another Chance to Abolish Property Taxes at the Ballot Box

- March 2, 2020 - ,

“I plan to raise in excess of $1.5 million for this.” That’s what state Rep. Rick Becker said on this episode of Plain Talk. He was describing a nascent campaign behind a new ballot measure, which would amend the state constitution to end North Dakota property taxes. The plan is to rely on donations from…

Rep. Kevin Cramer answers questions from the Grand Forks Herald editorial board in 2019. (Joshua Komer/Grand Forks Herald)

Plain Talk: Senator Cramer Says There’s Been Much “Distasteful Cheerleading for a Health Disaster” in Coronavirus Response

- February 28, 2020 - ,

Much of the political and news media response to the coronavirus outbreak is “distasteful cheerleading for a health disaster.” That’s what Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk. Condemning a recent New York Times piece referring to coronavirus as “Trump’s virus,” Cramer said, “I don’t there’s any question some of the response…

Steve Vetter, left, and Scott Meyer, center, celebrate with Ben Olson after winning the District 18 House and Senate races, respectively, Tuesday night, Nov. 8, 2016. They joined other Republicans at a victory party at the Hilton Garden Inn in Grand Forks. Photo by Eric Hylden/Forum News Service

Plain Talk: Republican Legislative Incumbent Talks Pragmatism and Policy Versus Politics

- February 26, 2020 - ,

Rep. Steve Vetter is a Republican from District 18 in Grand Forks. He was one of the Republican candidates elected in blue districts in North Dakota during the Trump wave of 2016. On this episode of Plain Talk, Vetter talks about how he won in a traditionally blue district, what he’s done since winning including…

Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction, receives a tour of Freedom Elementary by student self managers Marley Budeau, Esthella Nahimana and Nawal Aden in December. David Samson / The Forum

Plain Talk: Seeking a Third Term, Superintendent Baesler Says She’s Saved Parents Millions on College Tuition

- February 25, 2020 - ,

Why should North Dakota Superintendent Kirsten Baesler get a third term in office? For one thing, she has saved North Dakotans millions on college tuition by expanding access to for high school students to courses that earn them college credit while still enrolled in the K-12 system. Baesler estimates that this policy has saved students…

A sign company employee carries away the letter S from the word Sioux as the signage proclaiming Ralph Engelstad Arena "Home of the Fighting Sioux" is taken down in Grand Forks in 2012. The removal was part of the agreement between the state of North Dakota and the NCAA over the University of North Dakota's use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. John Stennes / Forum Communications

Plain Talk: Seven Years in the Making, Fighting Sioux Documentary to Be in Theaters This Spring

- February 18, 2020 - ,

Bismarck-based filmmaker Matt Fern has been making a documentary about the controversy around the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname for seven years now. This spring, he’s finally ready to put it in front of audiences. The film, now called Fighting Over Sioux, will get a theatrical release in North Dakota this spring, to…

Governor Doug Burgum Forum News Service photo

Plain Talk: Burgum Talks About the Greta Thunberg Mural Controversy, His 2020 Challenger, Energy, Agriculture and Trump

- February 14, 2020 - ,

“Art is art,” Gov. Doug Burgum said of controversy in Bismarck over a mural of activist Greta Thunberg. “Art is free speech.” On this episode of Plain Talk, he also discussed what he described as our “broken energy market,” which is contributing to the financial woes of a major coal-fired power plant owned by Great…

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