On this episode of Plain Talk, Senator John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) talks about his role on a conference committee which is tasked with finding a compromise on border security to avoid another government shutdown.

Also, Senator Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) is under attack from supporters of Heidi Heitkamp (who he replaced in the Senate) because he is...co-sponsoring a piece of legislation she supports?

On this episode of Plain Talk, state Rep. Tom Beadle talks about his bill - one of two before the Legislature in Bismarck - to legalize sports betting in North Dakota. His would be restricted to professional sports. The other, introduced by Rep. Jason Dockter, would also include amateur sports like collegiate athletics and the Olympics.

Also, two free speech groups have come out in opposition to implementing Measure 1. Should lawmakers do it?

Ag Week publisher Katie Pinke talks about North Dakota's corporate farming ban. A bill before the Legislature would widen the ban to let second cousins farm or ranch together, but should it really take an act of the Legislature for you to farm with your second cousin?

Also, there is an effort to water down North Dakota's food freedom laws, and it seems to be coming from the grocery industry.

RNC National Spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany joins Rob to explain what the government shutdown did and did not accomplish, whether President Trump lost his leverage by re-opening the government, and the politics around the State of the Union address.

Also Rob talks about North Dakota state agencies trying to kill bills they don't like with fiscal notes, and he reacts to Senator Heidi Heitkamp talking about why she lost the 2018 election.

Audio from Rob's weekly appearance on the Jay Thomas Show, airing on WDAY AM970 in Fargo.