Plain Talk

"The United States Supreme Court needed to hear from North Dakota," Sec. of State Michael Howe said on this episode of Plain Talk.

Howe is referring to his decision to sign onto an amicus brief with other Republican election officials from the states urging the U.S. Supreme Court to block implementation of President Donald Trump's mail voting rules. "In the last general election in 2024, we had 91,000 people vote by mail in the state of North Dakota. That's 25% of the overall vote came through the vote by mail process."

He said that once he reviewed the requirements which would have been imposed in that rule, which the court has now blocked, he became convinced that they simply couldn't be implemented.

"There's a portal where the states were supposed to provide the United States Postal Service a list of eligible voters. That portal hadn't been tested," he said. "We don't know how accurate it would be. So things like that is what drew me to signing on to the amicus brief. We're 6 weeks away from election day. There's no way we can follow this. It's impossible."

Howe added that North Dakota voters can have full confidence in the efficacy of the state's current election process.

"Voters can be 100% confident that only North Dakotans that are United States citizens are participating in our elections, whether that's in person, whether that's in person early, and yes, whether that's vote by mail," he said. "The North Dakota state legislature has set forth a very secure process for North Dakota's vote by mail. You must first apply to vote by mail. You're never mailed the ballot without first applying for it. We have that verification process and the ballots must be in possession of the county election official by the time the polls close on election day and voter ID laws still apply."

What made Howe's decision remarkable is that not only is he a Republican official pushing back on something from the Trump administration at a time when Republicans are expected to be absolutely loyal to the president, but he did so even as he runs for re-election.

We asked him why voters should give him another four years in office. He touted initiatives ranging from promoting civic education to school children to modernizing customer service, including an appointment system that allows people in rural areas, for whom an office visit would be difficult, to make a virtual appointment.

"You can schedule an appointment with the Secretary of State's office. So whether you're in Bismarck, whether you're in Beulah, whether you're in Walhalla, it doesn't matter. If you need some assistance in getting those filings done, you can schedule an online appointment," he said. "That's something I'm very proud of, is just the upgrades we've done in this office to bring it into the 21st century and have government responsive to the people's needs."

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the controversy around Oliver County State's Attorney Patrick Waters and some frustration from lawmakers over a push to dramatically increase licensing fees for medical marijuana dispensaries and growers.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

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"The United States Supreme Court needed to hear from North Dakota," Sec. of State Michael Howe said on this episode of Plain Talk.

Howe is referring to his decision to sign onto an amicus brief with other Republican election officials from the states urging the U.S. Supreme Court to block implementation of President Donald Trump's mail voting rules. "In the last general election in 2024, we had 91,000 people vote by mail in the state of North Dakota. That's 25% of the overall vote came through the vote by mail process."

He said that once he reviewed the requirements which would have been imposed in that rule, which the court has now blocked, he became convinced that they simply couldn't be implemented.

"There's a portal where the states were supposed to provide the United States Postal Service a list of eligible voters. That portal hadn't been tested," he said. "We don't know how accurate it would be. So things like that is what drew me to signing on to the amicus brief. We're 6 weeks away from election day. There's no way we can follow this. It's impossible."

Howe added that North Dakota voters can have full confidence in the efficacy of the state's current election process.

"Voters can be 100% confident that only North Dakotans that are United States citizens are participating in our elections, whether that's in person, whether that's in person early, and yes, whether that's vote by mail," he said. "The North Dakota state legislature has set forth a very secure process for North Dakota's vote by mail. You must first apply to vote by mail. You're never mailed the ballot without first applying for it. We have that verification process and the ballots must be in possession of the county election official by the time the polls close on election day and voter ID laws still apply."

What made Howe's decision remarkable is that not only is he a Republican official pushing back on something from the Trump administration at a time when Republicans are expected to be absolutely loyal to the president, but he did so even as he runs for re-election.

We asked him why voters should give him another four years in office. He touted initiatives ranging from promoting civic education to school children to modernizing customer service, including an appointment system that allows people in rural areas, for whom an office visit would be difficult, to make a virtual appointment.

"You can schedule an appointment with the Secretary of State's office. So whether you're in Bismarck, whether you're in Beulah, whether you're in Walhalla, it doesn't matter. If you need some assistance in getting those filings done, you can schedule an online appointment," he said. "That's something I'm very proud of, is just the upgrades we've done in this office to bring it into the 21st century and have government responsive to the people's needs."

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the controversy around Oliver County State's Attorney Patrick Waters and some frustration from lawmakers over a push to dramatically increase licensing fees for medical marijuana dispensaries and growers.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services -- the largest line item in our state's budget -- has seen a lot of change in recent years. The newest leader of that agency recognizes it, and wants to change the trajectory.

"I am the sixth person in three years to be sitting in this job," Conner Swanson, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on August 13, told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "So, I do understand to your point that there has been some turnover here and it is a big job. But I think the thing that I'm ready to bring is some stability for folks here."

One of the first big hurdles he has to get over is meeting a call for 10% reductions in state budgets from the boss. Swanson said part of that will be a "back to basics" approach. "I think sometimes, in especially with this agency and how large it is, is people want us to be everything to everybody. And if you try to be everything to everybody, you're not good at much," he said. "So what we need to do is really focus on what are the core services that we need to provide."

But even as there's a push to bring budgets down to something sustainable, there's also demand for services. A waitlist for a childcare program, the result of a dramatic underestimation in demand for it, was the subject of some consternation during the recent special legislative session, which ultimately didn't take the issue up.

Swanson points out that the state has nearly quadrupled its outlays for childcare in recent years.

"We have increased childcare funding since 2021. It was gone from about 30 million to now 115 million. So when we talk about this, we have increased the child care funding in the CCAP program by a lot and we have covered a lot of families," he said, referring to the Child Care Assistance Program.

When pressed about the shortfall in meeting demand for child care assistance, Swanson said the shortfall is smaller than what's been reported -- $36 million instead of $100 million -- and that we need to zoom out a bit to consider our approach to the challenge. He argued that solving childcare requires looking beyond government subsidies to examine licensing regulations, ensuring government isn't being overly burdensome on providers while still protecting children and maintaining quality care.

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I assess the outcomes from the special session, discuss some crude comments from Democratic-NPL party chairman Adam Goldwyn, and take some feedback from a listener struggling with gambling addiction.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services -- the largest line item in our state's budget -- has seen a lot of change in recent years. The newest leader of that agency recognizes it, and wants to change the trajectory.

"I am the sixth person in three years to be sitting in this job," Conner Swanson, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on August 13, told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "So, I do understand to your point that there has been some turnover here and it is a big job. But I think the thing that I'm ready to bring is some stability for folks here."

One of the first big hurdles he has to get over is meeting a call for 10% reductions in state budgets from the boss. Swanson said part of that will be a "back to basics" approach. "I think sometimes, in especially with this agency and how large it is, is people want us to be everything to everybody. And if you try to be everything to everybody, you're not good at much," he said. "So what we need to do is really focus on what are the core services that we need to provide."

But even as there's a push to bring budgets down to something sustainable, there's also demand for services. A waitlist for a childcare program, the result of a dramatic underestimation in demand for it, was the subject of some consternation during the recent special legislative session, which ultimately didn't take the issue up.

Swanson points out that the state has nearly quadrupled its outlays for childcare in recent years.

"We have increased childcare funding since 2021. It was gone from about 30 million to now 115 million. So when we talk about this, we have increased the child care funding in the CCAP program by a lot and we have covered a lot of families," he said, referring to the Child Care Assistance Program.

When pressed about the shortfall in meeting demand for child care assistance, Swanson said the shortfall is smaller than what's been reported -- $36 million instead of $100 million -- and that we need to zoom out a bit to consider our approach to the challenge. He argued that solving childcare requires looking beyond government subsidies to examine licensing regulations, ensuring government isn't being overly burdensome on providers while still protecting children and maintaining quality care.

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I assess the outcomes from the special session, discuss some crude comments from Democratic-NPL party chairman Adam Goldwyn, and take some feedback from a listener struggling with gambling addiction.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

The special session is over. It was called to address a growing crisis with kratom, and lawmakers gave Gov. Kelly Armstrong most of what he wanted. They passed a total ban for synthetic kratom, and some big new regulations for the natural variety.

But Sen. Janne Myrdal, who, like Armstrong, wanted a total ban on all kratom products, says the regulatory part of it may be unworkable. It will essentially require Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office to spin up a new regulatory and testing program for a product that is produced and packaged outside of North Dakota's borders, and usually outside of our national borders.

"I don't know how the attorney general is going to do it," she said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I don't know if it's possible."

Myrdal said she'll be expecting another run at totally banning kratom products, at the very least until federal authorities put in place some rules and oversight for the products, during the upcoming regular session.

Also on this episode, Sen. Sean Cleary expressed some dismay with the Legislature's bailout of an embattled military museum which has been stalled on the capitol grounds.

"My overall frustration with the project is now we're looking at approximately $80 million of public dollars for this project," he said. "$80 million is a lot of money, especially at a time when agencies are being asked—some of the Department of Health and Human Services to submit 10% reductions to the upcoming budget proposal. There's been talk about flat education funding."

"When I think of our work in the legislature, I really like to focus our public spending on things that are serving the public," he continued.

Cleary said he felt like the museum became a "bait and switch." The Legislature probably wouldn't have authorized an $80 million project if they knew the taxpayers would be footing the bill for all of it, but now they're in the position of either keeping the money flowing, or paying a big bill to close it down.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

The special session is over. It was called to address a growing crisis with kratom, and lawmakers gave Gov. Kelly Armstrong most of what he wanted. They passed a total ban for synthetic kratom, and some big new regulations for the natural variety.

But Sen. Janne Myrdal, who, like Armstrong, wanted a total ban on all kratom products, says the regulatory part of it may be unworkable. It will essentially require Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office to spin up a new regulatory and testing program for a product that is produced and packaged outside of North Dakota's borders, and usually outside of our national borders.

"I don't know how the attorney general is going to do it," she said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I don't know if it's possible."

Myrdal said she'll be expecting another run at totally banning kratom products, at the very least until federal authorities put in place some rules and oversight for the products, during the upcoming regular session.

Also on this episode, Sen. Sean Cleary expressed some dismay with the Legislature's bailout of an embattled military museum which has been stalled on the capitol grounds.

"My overall frustration with the project is now we're looking at approximately $80 million of public dollars for this project," he said. "$80 million is a lot of money, especially at a time when agencies are being asked—some of the Department of Health and Human Services to submit 10% reductions to the upcoming budget proposal. There's been talk about flat education funding."

"When I think of our work in the legislature, I really like to focus our public spending on things that are serving the public," he continued.

Cleary said he felt like the museum became a "bait and switch." The Legislature probably wouldn't have authorized an $80 million project if they knew the taxpayers would be footing the bill for all of it, but now they're in the position of either keeping the money flowing, or paying a big bill to close it down.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

When you think about the film industry in North Dakota, it would be understandable if what comes to mind are people making movies. That's what films are, basically, right?

But Matt Fern, executive director of Film North Dakota, said on this episode of Plain Talk that it's a lot more than that. There are so many platforms, and so many different types of content, like podcasts, and TikTok videos, and YouTube documentaries. Fern himself is actually the producer of Plain Talk.

There is a large amount of interest in this field of work. "There's a new study from the University of Wisconsin that over 60% of middle and high school students want to be content creators," he told us. But the problem is that those sort of jobs are thin on the ground in North Dakota.

"I've been part of the industry for 15 years and I've seen all the talent that we have here, but I've also seen a lot of people leave the state thinking that there are no opportunities here to pursue that career," he said.

"We have a really experienced multi-talented workforce here in North Dakota," he continued. "69% have over 5 years of industry experience, but 54% had to leave North Dakota for film and media work. Not saying that they had to move, but to find opportunities for this profession, more than half have to leave the state. And I think that's really concerning."

What can the state do about it?

"I think so many times people have looked at" helping the film industry "as as an act of tourism and marketing for the state," he said. "I think that's a small aspect of it. I think the big thing is workforce development and industry development, economic development. If we look just to our neighbors, and not saying we need to copy Montana or Minnesota, but both of them, even Canada have very lucrative options for film and media professionals and here in North Dakota we are not competing at all."

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the Lake Ontario/Lake America controversy, U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer's quiet campaign (so far), and listener feedback.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

When you think about the film industry in North Dakota, it would be understandable if what comes to mind are people making movies. That's what films are, basically, right?

But Matt Fern, executive director of Film North Dakota, said on this episode of Plain Talk that it's a lot more than that. There are so many platforms, and so many different types of content, like podcasts, and TikTok videos, and YouTube documentaries. Fern himself is actually the producer of Plain Talk.

There is a large amount of interest in this field of work. "There's a new study from the University of Wisconsin that over 60% of middle and high school students want to be content creators," he told us. But the problem is that those sort of jobs are thin on the ground in North Dakota.

"I've been part of the industry for 15 years and I've seen all the talent that we have here, but I've also seen a lot of people leave the state thinking that there are no opportunities here to pursue that career," he said.

"We have a really experienced multi-talented workforce here in North Dakota," he continued. "69% have over 5 years of industry experience, but 54% had to leave North Dakota for film and media work. Not saying that they had to move, but to find opportunities for this profession, more than half have to leave the state. And I think that's really concerning."

What can the state do about it?

"I think so many times people have looked at" helping the film industry "as an act of tourism and marketing for the state," he said. "I think that's a small aspect of it. I think the big thing is workforce development and industry development, economic development. If we look just to our neighbors, and not saying we need to copy Montana or Minnesota, but both of them, even Canada, have very lucrative options for film and media professionals and here in North Dakota we are not competing at all."

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the Lake Ontario/Lake America controversy, U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer's quiet campaign (so far), and listener feedback.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Oliver County has become one of the epicenters in the fight over data centers in North Dakota, and county State's Attorney Patrick Waters has become a lightening rod in that fight.

His is a fascinating anecdote illustrating how overheated the data center debate has become.

"If you look at the data center issue in Oliver County, there are a couple Facebook pages that are solely designed to create a discourse about data centers," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "On these Facebook pages, there is an unbelievable amount of threatening behavior going on."

"I am talking about people that are posting threatening to shoot people, threatening to attack workers who are working on the data center. Posting photos of firearms and of guillotines," he continued. "And these people have become so emboldened that they think that this is appropriate behavior."

Waters denounced these behaviors, and the invective and name-calling in these debates, but has also used some of his own. When controversy came up over his stepson, and employee, operating a purported news website that has published articles about his private practice client, and data centers, he called the critic in an email to the newsmedia a "cowardly, anonymous, unscrupulous, bent, keyboard warrior."

He also called them a "sub-creature" and a "timid and gossip-ridden snake."

Asked about that language, in the context of his own criticism of intemperate behavior, Waters said it was justified by what he perceived as an attack on his stepson, particularly because the critic brought up his stepson's criminal record.

"People are free to have their own opinions about anything. People are free to report things to the media and people are free to ask difficult questions. And I respect that," he said. "What I don't respect is this idea that because I'm unpopular in Oliver County because I advise the county commissioners to follow the law that they can then do everything that I do and say becomes a target of attack. And by bringing my family into this, I thought that that was low."

Waters is also the subject of a removal petition that is currently under investigation by Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office. Wrigley will send a recommendation on removal to Gov. Kelly Armstrong when that process is completed.

"The petition to remove me is full of lies," Waters said. "I fully expect the governor to to clear me, and I suspect that there'll be a decision made this week."

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the beginning of this week's special legislative session, including the debate over banning kratom, banning nondisclosure agreements for data center projects, and unwinding the financial mess around a stalled military museum project.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Oliver County has become one of the epicenters in the fight over data centers in North Dakota, and county State's Attorney Patrick Waters has become a lightening rod in that fight.

His is a fascinating anecdote illustrating how overheated the data center debate has become.

"If you look at the data center issue in Oliver County, there are a couple Facebook pages that are solely designed to create a discourse about data centers," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "On these Facebook pages, there is an unbelievable amount of threatening behavior going on."

"I am talking about people that are posting threatening to shoot people, threatening to attack workers who are working on the data center. Posting photos of firearms and of guillotines," he continued. "And these people have become so emboldened that they think that this is appropriate behavior."

Waters denounced these behaviors, and the invective and name-calling in these debates, but has also used some of his own. When controversy came up over his stepson, and employee, operating a purported news website that has published articles about his private practice client, and data centers, he called the critic in an email to the newsmedia a "cowardly, anonymous, unscrupulous, bent, keyboard warrior."

He also called them a "sub-creature" and a "timid and gossip-ridden snake."

Asked about that language, in the context of his own criticism of intemperate behavior, Waters said it was justified by what he perceived as an attack on his stepson, particularly because the critic brought up his stepson's criminal record.

"People are free to have their own opinions about anything. People are free to report things to the media and people are free to ask difficult questions. And I respect that," he said. "What I don't respect is this idea that because I'm unpopular in Oliver County because I advise the county commissioners to follow the law that they can then do everything that I do and say becomes a target of attack. And by bringing my family into this, I thought that that was low."

Waters is also the subject of a removal petition that is currently under investigation by Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office. Wrigley will send a recommendation on removal to Gov. Kelly Armstrong when that process is completed.

"The petition to remove me is full of lies," Waters said. "I fully expect the governor to to clear me, and I suspect that there'll be a decision made this week."

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the beginning of this week's special legislative session, including the debate over banning kratom, banning nondisclosure agreements for data center projects, and unwinding the financial mess around a stalled military museum project.

If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive