Podcast appearances and mentions of Kelly Armstrong

ACOFAE Podcast Presents: Bitten: “Never date a guy who's like your father.” ACOFAE realized that it's National Werewolf Day this week and figured, why not?! Why not throw it back to one of Laura Marie's very first werewolf books, very first thrifted book, and first book where everyone is 30+. That's right, everyone here in Kelly Armstrong's Bitten is over 30 and loves being a werewolf. Elena had to come around to it, but she also loves being a werewolf. It's the pack, and her ex fiancé, that are the issue. Instincts are hard to fight though and Elena is finding life away from the pack to be stifling, so when a series of crimes calls her back to her old life how can she resist? Join ACOFAE as they delight in supernatural creatures actually liking themselves while trying to solve a mystery, and cackle at Elena forgetting to call her current boyfriend. Priorities. The call of the wild and all that. Beg. TW / CW: discussions surrounding sexual assault For additional TW/CW information for your future reads, head to this site for more: https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/ Spoilers: Bitten by Kelly Armstrong Mentions: Am Obvious Enchantment, Blood and Chocolate, Heated Rivalry, Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Doctor Who, The Magicians, The Pitt, From Blood and Ash, Arrow of Fortune *Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5-star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks! TikTok: ACOFAELaura : Laura Marie ( https://www.tiktok.com/@acofaelaura) ACOFAEJessica : Jessica Marie (https://www.tiktok.com/@acofaejessica) Instagram: @ACOFAEpodcast https://www.instagram.com/acofaepodcast/ @ACOFAELaura https://www.instagram.com/acofaelaura/

WDAY First News anchors Lisa Budeau, Scott Engen and Robert Poynter break down your regional news and weather for Wednesday, January 21. InForum Minute is produced by Forum Communications and brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. Visit https://www.inforum.com/subscribe to subscribe.

In North Dakota, the 2026 election cycle isn't really going to be about whether our state is governed by Republicans or Democrats. It's going to be about which type of Republicans hold the majority. So far, the state's traditional Republicans have been successful in holding the line against a rising tide of populists invigorated by the Trump era, but the populists have managed to capture control of key leadership positions within the NDGOP. They hold a slim majority of district chairs, which in turn has allowed them to elect one of their own as state party chair. The populists will likely endorse their preferred candidates at the party's local and statewide conventions. The tradional, normie Republicans will mostly take their case to the voters on the June primary ballot. District 3, in Minot, may well be key ground in this battle. The state House incumbents here are Rep. Jeff Hoverson and Rep. Lori VanWinkle, two bible-thumping religious zealots who are notorious for promoting culture war issues and little else. They face a challenge from Tim Mihalick and Blaine DesLauriers, who say they'd like to go to Bismarck to support Gov. Kelly Armstrong's agenda. "I really like what Governor Armstrong has brought to the table," DesLauriers said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I think he needs more allies that think and act like him and that's what I want to do." For his part, Mihalick says he'd like to bring a more collaborative approach to the legislature. Reacting to comments Hoverson made declaring people who disagree with him as "enemies," Mihalick says he doesn't see politics that way. "I don't see [political opponents] as my enemies," he told us. "I spent my life negotiating and recognizing that everybody needs to win when you complete a deal." We asked the two candidates if Armstrong asked them to run. "Yeah, he did," Mihalick said. DesLauier said that while Armstrong hasn't officially backed their candidacies yet, "we're expecting his endorsement." Also on this episode, we discussed the ongoing questions about finances at the F5 Project, a high-profile, Fargo-based nonprofit. Me and co-host Chad Oban also discussed the resgination of Nico Rios, and the upcoming special session. 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

In North Dakota, the 2026 election cycle isn't really going to be about whether our state is governed by Republicans or Democrats. It's going to be about which type of Republicans hold the majority. So far, the state's traditional Republicans have been successful in holding the line against a rising tide of populists invigorated by the Trump era, but the populists have managed to capture control of key leadership positions within the NDGOP. They hold a slim majority of district chairs, which in turn has allowed them to elect one of their own as state party chair. The populists will likely endorse their preferred candidates at the party's local and statewide conventions. The tradional, normie Republicans will mostly take their case to the voters on the June primary ballot. District 3, in Minot, may well be key ground in this battle. The state House incumbents here are Rep. Jeff Hoverson and Rep. Lori VanWinkle, two bible-thumping religious zealots who are notorious for promoting culture war issues and little else. They face a challenge from Tim Mihalick and Blaine DesLauriers, who say they'd like to go to Bismarck to support Gov. Kelly Armstrong's agenda. "I really like what Governor Armstrong has brought to the table," DesLauriers said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I think he needs more allies that think and act like him and that's what I want to do." For his part, Mihalick says he'd like to bring a more collaborative approach to the legislature. Reacting to comments Hoverson made declaring people who disagree with him as "enemies," Mihalick says he doesn't see politics that way. "I don't see [political opponents] as my enemies," he told us. "I spent my life negotiating and recognizing that everybody needs to win when you complete a deal." We asked the two candidates if Armstrong asked them to run. "Yeah, he did," Mihalick said. DesLauier said that while Armstrong hasn't officially backed their candidacies yet, "we're expecting his endorsement." Also on this episode, we discussed the ongoing questions about finances at the F5 Project, a high-profile, Fargo-based nonprofit. Me and co-host Chad Oban also discussed the resgination of Nico Rios, and the upcoming special session. 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

01/15/26: Joel Heitkamp is joined by former Congressman and current Governor of North Dakota, Kelly Armstrong, for a conversation on the ICE attacks in Minnesota, the North Dakota special session next week, and he shares his comments on a retirement announcement. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Jay Thomas Show from Tuesday January 13th, 2026.  Guests include Kelly Armstrong and your calls and emails.

"I think sometimes we forget that every community in the country has a whole bunch of people that wake up every morning, and the baseball bat that is called life cracks them across the head," Gov. Kelly Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk. "They're the people serving food in a diner, working behind a gas station counter. Sometimes they're sitting in your office right now, anywhere you're at. And if you don't recognize that, then you're not really the governor for everybody. And I want to be the governor for everybody." Armstrong was responding to a question about his administration's efforts to address homelessness and addiction, as well as his family's individual efforts on the same front. He also responded to a question about President Donald Trump's recent comments denigrating people of Somali heritage. He called Rep. Ilhan Omar "garbage" and called on Somalis to "go back to where they came from." "I think kind of a pox on everybody's houses in this space," Armstrong said. "We've conflated legal immigration and illegal immigration in a way that has made this stuff...I don't like all of it." Ther governor spoke at length about controversy surrounding bonuses at the state's Retirement and Investment Office. The governor says he "doesn't love" the way the bonuses are structured, but also doesn't want the state to go back on whatever commitments it made to those employees. But upstream from that issue, Armstrong said he'd like to see structural reforms to the way the state's investments (which he notes have grown substantially over the last decades) are managed. Also, Armstrong spoke about the special session he'll be calling in January next year and said his administration has begun the budgeting process for the next regular legislative session to commence in January 2027. He aid this will be the first time he's "really got to show off my fiscal conservative chops." "I've told my agencies that you guys have had 20 years of real substantial growth and I wouldn't think you're going to have 21 years of real substantial growth," he said. 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

12/10/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined on this icy day by the former Congressman and current Governor of North Dakota, Kelly Armstrong. They talk about the financial relief for farmers, AI data centers, and more on "News and Views." (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I think sometimes we forget that every community in the country has a whole bunch of people that wake up every morning, and the baseball bat that is called life cracks them across the head," Gov. Kelly Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk. "They're the people serving food in a diner, working behind a gas station counter. Sometimes they're sitting in your office right now, anywhere you're at. And if you don't recognize that, then you're not really the governor for everybody. And I want to be the governor for everybody." Armstrong was responding to a question about his administration's efforts to address homelessness and addiction, as well as his family's individual efforts on the same front. He also responded to a question about President Donald Trump's recent comments denigrating people of Somali heritage. He called Rep. Ilhan Omar "garbage" and called on Somalis to "go back to where they came from." "I think kind of a pox on everybody's houses in this space," Armstrong said. "We've conflated legal immigration and illegal immigration in a way that has made this stuff...I don't like all of it." Ther governor spoke at length about controversy surrounding bonuses at the state's Retirement and Investment Office. The governor says he "doesn't love" the way the bonuses are structured, but also doesn't want the state to go back on whatever commitments it made to those employees. But upstream from that issue, Armstrong said he'd like to see structural reforms to the way the state's investments (which he notes have grown substantially over the last decades) are managed. Also, Armstrong spoke about the special session he'll be calling in January next year and said his administration has begun the budgeting process for the next regular legislative session to commence in January 2027. He aid this will be the first time he's "really got to show off my fiscal conservative chops." "I've told my agencies that you guys have had 20 years of real substantial growth and I wouldn't think you're going to have 21 years of real substantial growth," he said. 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

It's our monthly chat with North Dakota's Governor Kelly Armstrong on Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness. Today we chat about a Bank of ND program to help farmer, the ethics commission, and a push for an initiated measure to provide universal school meals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11/26/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by Governor Armstrong ahead of Thanksgiving to talk about tariffs, school lunches, our farmers, and more. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam speaks to Kathryn Carey from Impact Institute about their recent Melbourne Disability Expo which wrapped up on Saturday 22 November, as well as the other work Impact is doing in the disability space. You'll also hear from Moonee Valley City Council's Kelly Armstrong, she tells us about an upcoming event in Flemington to mark the lead up to International Day of People with Disability on December 3.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WDAY First News anchors Scott Engen and Lydia Blume break down your regional news and weather for Friday, October 31. InForum Minute is produced by Forum Communications and brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. Visit https://www.inforum.com/subscribe to subscribe.

"Imagine you're someone a family who is working a job or two or even three, and then all of a sudden, with a week before the end of the month, you learn that the money you had been counting on to purchase food for you and your family isn't going to be there on Saturday, November 1st," Karen Ehrens said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Probably you have rent due or you're a senior on a fixed income scraping by till the end of the month, looking forward to when you might get some help so you can buy groceries," she continued. "And then you learn a few days before Saturday that that money won't be there." "It's beyond frustrating," she added. It's also unprecedented. "It's a never-before-seen event that's coming," she said. Ehrens is the U.S. Policy Manager for the Alliance to End Hunger, and she's referring to funding for food stamps running out due to the shutdown of the federal government. She is predicting a lot of suffering for vulnerable people. "Nationally, on average, four out of five households that receive SNAP benefits have a child, an elderly person, a person with disabilities," she said. "So, that's who gets SNAP first and foremost." But it doesn't have to be like this, she argued. "They could end this with a decision to release funds that are in an account, and transfer some money over that way, put enough money out around $8 billion to keep SNAP going through the month of November." This interview with Ehrens was recorded before Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced $1.5 million in state assistance to food banks and other programs to help mitigate the blow of halted funding, but she said that while it helps, it's nowhere near enough. "For every meal that's provided through the food bank network across the US, there are eight meals provided by SNAP. So, it's a big gap to fill." 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

"Imagine you're someone a family who is working a job or two or even three, and then all of a sudden, with a week before the end of the month, you learn that the money you had been counting on to purchase food for you and your family isn't going to be there on Saturday, November 1st," Karen Ehrens said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Probably you have rent due or you're a senior on a fixed income scraping by till the end of the month, looking forward to when you might get some help so you can buy groceries. And then you learn a few days before Saturday that that money won't be there." "It's beyond frustrating," she added. It's also unprecedented. "It's a never-before-seen event that's coming," she said. Ehrens is the U.S. Policy Manager for the Alliance to End Hunger, and she's referring to funding for food stamps running out due to the shutdown of the federal government. She is predicting a lot of suffering for vulnerable people. "Nationally, on average, four out of five households that receive SNAP benefits have a child, an elderly person, a person with disabilities," she said. "So, that's who gets SNAP first and foremost." But it doesn't have to be like this, she argued. "They could end this with a decision to release funds that are in an account, and transfer some money over that way, put enough money out around $8 billion to keep SNAP going through the month of November." This interview with Ehrens was recorded before Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced $1.5 million in state assistance to food banks and other programs to help mitigate the blow of halted funding, but she said that while it helps, it's nowhere near enough. "For every meal that's provided through the food bank network across the US, there are eight meals provided by SNAP. So, it's a big gap to fill." 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

During their regular session earlier this year, North Dakota lawmakers formed its own version of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. It's a task force, as opposed to a department, and state Auditor Josh Gallion, who is participating in the meetings, said they've been calling it TOGE to avoid confusion with the federal efforts. But it's been making good progress, including reviewing a big problem the state has when it comes to implementing policy. Namely, that nobody bothers to define what the success of that policy might look like. "I think what we learned a lot was we don't have performance measures," Gallion said on this episode of Plain Talk. He pointed out that the state often creates things, like economic development programs aimed at creating jobs or drawing workers to the state, without any sort of a mechanism for measuring how many jobs were created, or how many workers were inspired to move here. "Is the money that we're putting into these programs, are they achieving desirable results? You know, if we're going to put a million dollars into a workforce program, is it affecting change? Is it moving the needle? Are we bringing workforce in? And how do we calculate some of that?" he asked. Gallion also addressed controversy over an audit of Stark County. The report from his office concluded that the county government was breaking state law capping general fund carry-over balances at no more than 75% of the previous year's revenues. That report also included a response from the county that said "we agree" with the finding, only the county says that Gallion's office added those words, and they didn't agree to it. "We wanted them to state we agree or disagree," Gallion said. "That should be the beginning of every response." He also claimed that the change was made only after consultation with Stark County, though a quote from the county auditor indicated that she didn't expect her county's comments to be modified. "I wrote our responses to the audit for Stark County and I don't think they should have changed them," Stark County Auditor/Treasurer Karen Richard told the Dickinson Press, "but I do appreciate them clarifying why they changed the language." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the standoff between Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, and Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan over new appointments to the state Ethics Committee. 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

During their regular session earlier this year, North Dakota lawmakers formed its own version of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. It's a task force, as opposed to a department, and state Auditor Josh Gallion, who is participating in the meetings, said they've been calling it TOGE to avoid confusion with the federal efforts. But it's been making good progress, including reviewing a big problem the state has when it comes to implementing policy. Namely, that nobody bothers to define what the success of that policy might look like. "I think what we learned a lot was we don't have performance measures," Gallion said on this episode of Plain Talk. He pointed out that the state often creates things, like economic development programs aimed at creating jobs or drawing workers to the state, without any sort of a mechanism for measuring how many jobs were created, or how many workers were inspired to move here. "Is the money that we're putting into these programs, are they achieving desirable results? You know, if we're going to put a million dollars into a workforce program, is it affecting change? Is it moving the needle? Are we bringing workforce in? And how do we calculate some of that?" he asked. Gallion also addressed controversy over an audit of Stark County. The report from his office concluded that the county government was breaking state law capping general fund carry-over balances at no more than 75% of the previous year's revenues. That report also included a response from the county that said "we agree" with the finding, only the county says that Gallion's office added those words, and they didn't agree to it. "We wanted them to state we agree or disagree," Gallion said. "That should be the beginning of every response." He also claimed that the change was made only after consultation with Stark County, though a quote from the county auditor indicated that she didn't expect her county's comments to be modified. "I wrote our responses to the audit for Stark County and I don't think they should have changed them," Stark County Auditor/Treasurer Karen Richard told the Dickinson Press, "but I do appreciate them clarifying why they changed the language." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the standoff between Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, and Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan over new appointments to the state Ethics Committee. 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 Jay Thomas Show from Tuesday October 28th, 2025.  Guests include US Senator from N.D. Kevin Cramer, N.D. Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Fargo City Comm. Dave Piepkorn.

North Dakota's Governor Kelly Armstrong is on Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness. Today we chat about the Ethics Commission in North Dakota, trade worries amongst farmers, and a possible pause in SNAP funds for North Dakotans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced his appointment to replace Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, who has been confirmed for a position in President Donald Trump's administration, but it's a somewhat unusual situation. Levi Bachmeier can't take office yet, because Baesler can't officially take her position in the federal government, because the government is shut down. But eventually the rancor in Washington D.C. will subside enough for Baesler to move up, and for Bachmeier to move in. In the mean time, the new appointee says he has resigned his seat on the State Board of Higher Education — "I submitted a resignation letter to the governor right after the press conference," he said on this episode of Plain Talk — and will be helping his replacement transition into his job as business manager for West Fargo Public Schools. As for his new job? "I have a responsibility to ensure that that the focus is on what's best for students," he said. The superintendent job is an elected one, and even though the four-year term he's taking over from Baesler just started this year, state law requires Bachmeier to appear on next year's ballot to have his appointment confirmed. The office is officially nonpartisan, but traditionally the candidates for it have sought endorsements from their political parties. The North Dakota Republican Party, which had endorsed Baesler in her three previous campaigns, has been taken over by a populist faction of Republicans and denied Baesler the party's endorsement at last year's state convention. How will Bachmeier, who, like Baesler, is a political moderate, handle that situation? "I'm a Republican. I'm a conservative," Bachmeier, a former district chairman for the NDGOP, told us. "I won't be seeking, you know, the the Democratic convention support." But he's not sure about seeking the NDGOP's endorsement either, saying he needs to "think really hard about what I do as a Republican when it comes to running for a nonpartisan seat." "I've been really focused on just thinking through how do I do the job well, and hope that if that's done well, the the politics will take care of itself," he said. 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

This week Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced his appointment to replace Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, who has been confirmed for a position in President Donald Trump's administration, but it's a somewhat unusual situation. Levi Bachmeier can't take office yet, because Baesler can't officially take her position in the federal government, because the government is shut down. But eventually the rancor in Washington D.C. will subside enough for Baesler to move up, and for Bachmeier to move in. In the mean time, the new appointee says he has resigned his seat on the State Board of Higher Education — "I submitted a resignation letter to the governor right after the press conference," he said on this episode of Plain Talk — and will be helping his replacement transition into his job as business manager for West Fargo Public Schools. As for his new job? "I have a responsibility to ensure that that the focus is on what's best for students," he said. The superintendent job is an elected one, and even though the four-year term he's taking over from Baesler just started this year, state law requires Bachmeier to appear on next year's ballot to have his appointment confirmed. The office is officially nonpartisan, but traditionally the candidates for it have sought endorsements from their political parties. The North Dakota Republican Party, which had endorsed Baesler in her three previous campaigns, has been taken over by a populist faction of Republicans and denied Baesler the party's endorsement at last year's state convention. How will Bachmeier, who, like Baesler, is a political moderate, handle that situation? "I'm a Republican. I'm a conservative," Bachmeier, a former district chairman for the NDGOP, told us. "I won't be seeking, you know, the the Democratic convention support." But he's not sure about seeking the NDGOP's endorsement either, saying he needs to "think really hard about what I do as a Republican when it comes to running for a nonpartisan seat." "I've been really focused on just thinking through how do I do the job well, and hope that if that's done well, the the politics will take care of itself," he said. 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

"We've just made it so complex that the average consumer will never understand it." That's what Chris Jones said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the way Americans access and pay for health care. Jones is the former head of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, having served in that role under Gov. Doug Burgum, and he's just finishing up a stint in President Donald Trump's administration where he's advised Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz. He argues that the maze of employer-provided benefits, government programs, premium subsidies, insurance companies, health care companies, and pharmacy companies that Americans must navigate when they're sick or injured just isn't working. "The system is broken," he says, and argues that the root problem for all of this is the cost of care. "It's the price, not the financing mechanisms." What can be done to bring down prices? Transparency is one thing. Americans often have no idea what their care will cost them until they get a bill in the mail, and thanks to the fact that most Americans see their coverage by a third party (an employer-provided insurance policy, or a government program) they have little incentive to find out. Jones also weighed in on the tug of war between Republicans and Democrats over health care during the ongoing government shutdown. He said that claims from Democrats that "nursing homes are going to close, benefits are being cut for kids and individuals with disabilities" culdn't be "further from the truth." He also supported new work requirements for Medicaid recipients scheduled to begin in 2029. These rules require enrollees between 19 and 64 to work, volunteer, or participate in a qualifying activity for at least 80 hours per month. Jones pointed out that we already have work requirements in place for programs like food stamps and welfare. "What I can't understand, morally, is why we think it's okay to work 20 hours a week for food and basic assistance that you need every single day, but to have you work the same amount of time for something you may never use, and that being cruel and unusual, I just can't reconcile in my brain," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed Superintendent Kirsten Baesler's appointment to a position in the Trump administration and Gov. Kelly Armstrong's announced bridge loan program for furloughed workers. 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  

"We've just made it so complex that the average consumer will never understand it." That's what Chris Jones said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to the way Americans access and pay for health care. Jones is the former head of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, having served in that role under Gov. Doug Burgum, and he's just finishing up a stint in President Donald Trump's administration where he's advised Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz. He argues that the maze of employer-provided benefits, government programs, premium subsidies, insurance companies, health care companies, and pharmacy companies that Americans must navigate when they're sick or injured just isn't working. "The system is broken," he says, and argues that the root problem for all of this is the cost of care. "It's the price, not the financing mechanisms." What can be done to bring down prices? Transparency is one thing. Americans often have no idea what their care will cost them until they get a bill in the mail, and thanks to the fact that most Americans see their coverage by a third party (an employer-provided insurance policy, or a government program) they have little incentive to find out. Jones also weighed in on the tug of war between Republicans and Democrats over health care during the ongoing government shutdown. He said that claims from Democrats that "nursing homes are going to close, benefits are being cut for kids and individuals with disabilities" culdn't be "further from the truth." He also supported new work requirements for Medicaid recipients scheduled to begin in 2029. These rules require enrollees between 19 and 64 to work, volunteer, or participate in a qualifying activity for at least 80 hours per month. Jones pointed out that we already have work requirements in place for programs like food stamps and welfare. "What I can't understand, morally, is why we think it's okay to work 20 hours a week for food and basic assistance that you need every single day, but to have you work the same amount of time for something you may never use, and that being cruel and unusual, I just can't reconcile in my brain," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed Superintendent Kirsten Baesler's appointment to a position in the Trump administration and Gov. Kelly Armstrong's announced bridge loan program for furloughed workers. 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  

10/09/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by former Congressman and current Governor of North Dakota, Kelly Armstrong. They talk about the struggle facing soybean farmers and how the government shutdown is impacting North Dakotans. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Jay Thomas Show from Monday September 22nd, 2025.  Guests include Gov. Kelly Armstrong and your calls and emails.

North Dakota's Governor Kelly Armstrong joins Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness monthly. Today we talk about turmoil in the ag markets, eminent domain, and mineral rights owners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dustin McNally was chosen by Republicans in District 42 to replace former state Rep. Emily O'Brien, who resigned her seat to take a position in Gov. Kelly Armstrong's administration. But despite emerging from that process the winner, he called it a "clown show" and a "bad faith effort all around" on this episode of Plain Talk, describe it as something that doesn't serve the people well. Under North Dakota law, legislative vacancies are filled by the local committee for the political party the vacating lawmaker belonged to. This means the new lawmaker is picked in a small room where the populist faction of the NDGOP has shown it can win, often by controlling who gets to participate. That was the case in District 42, according to McNally, though the tactic backfired. An attempt to block participants who had paid their dues and paid their residency upon entering the meeting "pissed off some voters they brought to the meeting" and swung their votes to him. McNally, who makes no pretense about being a moderate Republican, said even though he won, he would have liked to have seen the party get far more participants. The final vote was just 20-17 in McNally's favor, meaning less than 40 votes were cast to elect someone to the Legislature. Even though O'Brien was just re-elected last year, the law requires that McNally's appointment be confirmed by the voters on the next general election ballot, which will happen before the next regular meeting of the legislature. McNally says he plans to run, and expects to face a primary challenger from the populist faction. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the City of Minot's decision to withdraw from the League of Cities over the organization's support for Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax plan, and the somewhat odd spectacle of activists who say voter ID laws are voter suppression encouraging voters to get IDs. 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

Dustin McNally was chosen by Republicans in District 42 to replace former state Rep. Emily O'Brien, who resigned her seat to take a position in Gov. Kelly Armstrong's administration. But despite emerging from that process the winner, he called it a "clown show" and a "bad faith effort all around" on this episode of Plain Talk, describe it as something that doesn't serve the people well. Under North Dakota law, legislative vacancies are filled by the local committee for the political party the vacating lawmaker belonged to. This means the new lawmaker is picked in a small room where the populist faction of the NDGOP has shown it can win, often by controlling who gets to participate. That was the case in District 42, according to McNally, though the tactic backfired. An attempt to block participants who had paid their dues and paid their residency upon entering the meeting "pissed off some voters they brought to the meeting" and swung their votes to him. McNally, who makes no pretense about being a moderate Republican, said even though he won, he would have liked to have seen the party get far more participants. The final vote was just 20-17 in McNally's favor, meaning less than 40 votes were cast to elect someone to the Legislature. Even though O'Brien was just re-elected last year, the law requires that McNally's appointment be confirmed by the voters on the next general election ballot, which will happen before the next regular meeting of the legislature. McNally says he plans to run, and expects to face a primary challenger from the populist faction. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the City of Minot's decision to withdraw from the League of Cities over the organization's support for Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax plan, and the somewhat odd spectacle of activists who say voter ID laws are voter suppression encouraging voters to get IDs. 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

In late June, terrible storms destroyed millions of dollars worth of property, and took lives in parts of the state around Enderlin, Spiritwood, and beyond. In late July, Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued a disaster declaration, asking President Donald Trump administration to release aid to the state. Weeks and weeks went by, until North Dakota's Federal delegation -- Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, and Rep. Julie Fedorchak -- sent their own letter to the Trump administration, indicating that state emergency funds had been depleted, and urging the president to act both on Armstrong's declaration for the June storms, and a more recent one from Sept. 2 related to tornadic storms in August. The Trump administration has been very slow in responding to these sorts of request, taking over a month on average compared to just a couple of weeks for previous administrations. And the declaration for the Enderlin/Spiritwood storm, in particular, took over 50 days before finally being acknowledged by Trump this week. "Look, it's absolutely shameful. You have a lot of Republican politicians failing a lot of Republican voters," state Rep. Zac Isa, the Minority Leader for the Democratic-NPL, said on this episode of Plain Talk (which was recorded before Trump finally acquiesced to Gov. Armstrong's request). "I take the back roads home from Bismarck and I drove through Page ,and Hunter, and the Arthur area. I saw the damage that windstorm did and and I can also look at electoral map," he continued. "I know there's a whole lot of Republican voters in that region. They expect Julie Fedorchak and John Hoeven and and Kevin Cramer to deliver, but those those guys are just rubber stamps for Trump. I mean, do they know there's ways to influence a president beyond kissing his ass all the time?" Ista argues the delegation could not"rubber stamp his policies until he authorizes a disaster relief for North Dakota." "It's just an absolute failure of any influence they might have," he continued. 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.

In late June, terrible storms destroyed millions of dollars worth of property, and took lives in parts of the state around Enderlin, Spiritwood, and beyond. In late July, Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued a disaster declaration, asking President Donald Trump administration to release aid to the state. Weeks and weeks went by, until North Dakota's Federal delegation -- Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, and Rep. Julie Fedorchak -- sent their own letter to the Trump administration, indicating that state emergency funds had been depleted, and urging the president to act both on Armstrong's declaration for the June storms, and a more recent one from Sept. 2 related to tornadic storms in August. The Trump administration has been very slow in responding to these sorts of request, taking over a month on average compared to just a couple of weeks for previous administrations. And the declaration for the Enderlin/Spiritwood storm, in particular, took over 50 days before finally being acknowledged by Trump this week. "Look, it's absolutely shameful. You have a lot of Republican politicians failing a lot of Republican voters," state Rep. Zac Isa, the Minority Leader for the Democratic-NPL, said on this episode of Plain Talk (which was recorded before Trump finally acquiesced to Gov. Armstrong's request). "I take the back roads home from Bismarck and I drove through Page ,and Hunter, and the Arthur area. I saw the damage that windstorm did and and I can also look at electoral map," he continued. "I know there's a whole lot of Republican voters in that region. They expect Julie Fedorchak and John Hoeven and and Kevin Cramer to deliver, but those those guys are just rubber stamps for Trump. I mean, do they know there's ways to influence a president beyond kissing his ass all the time?" Ista argues the delegation could not"rubber stamp his policies until he authorizes a disaster relief for North Dakota." "It's just an absolute failure of any influence they might have," he continued. 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 Pat Traynor, Gov. Kelly Armstrong's interim Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, said that excessive use of cell phones and other digital devices is "probably the biggest public health threat that we have," I wrote that he was wrong, and accused him of stoking a moral panic. Traynor came on today's episode of the Plain Talk podcast to talk about it, and said that our devices leave us "continuously distracted." Referring to North Dakota's law law circumscribing cell phone use in public schools, he wondered how studens can be effectively educated when in a "constant distractive state." Since cell phones aren't going away in our society any time soon, does a ban on their presence in schools help or hinder our ability to teach kids how to deal with them responsibly? Traynor says that part is up to families. "Remember there's 24 hours in a day. Just from a standpoint of, parents still control the environment within which their kids grow up. Values. Norms," he said. "For instance, when you have a family meal together, are you present? And that goes for us, goes for me, with my kids and everything of the sort. But you're in charge of your family structure, as a parent or with guardians and others that take care of children." Also on this episode, me and guest co-host Kyler Collom, from The Dakotan, discussed the use of a religious litmus test in appointing state Rep. Kathy Skroch to replace former Rep. Cindy Schreiber-Beck in District 25, and the mounting controversy around a similar appointment process playing out in District 42, where Rep. Emily O'Brien resigned her seat to take a position in Armstrong's administration. 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 Pat Traynor, Gov. Kelly Armstrong's interim Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, said that excessive use of cell phones and other digital devices is "probably the biggest public health threat that we have," I wrote that he was wrong, and accused him of stoking a moral panic. Traynor came on today's episode of the Plain Talk podcast to talk about it, and said that our devices leave us "continuously distracted." Referring to North Dakota's law law circumscribing cell phone use in public schools, he wondered how studens can be effectively educated when in a "constant distractive state." Since cell phones aren't going away in our society any time soon, does a ban on their presence in schools help or hinder our ability to teach kids how to deal with them responsibly? Traynor says that part is up to families. "Remember there's 24 hours in a day. Just from a standpoint of, parents still control the environment within which their kids grow up. Values. Norms," he said. "For instance, when you have a family meal together, are you present? And that goes for us, goes for me, with my kids and everything of the sort. But you're in charge of your family structure, as a parent or with guardians and others that take care of children." Also on this episode, me and guest co-host Kyler Collom, from The Dakotan, discussed the use of a religious litmus test in appointing state Rep. Kathy Skroch to replace former Rep. Cindy Schreiber-Beck in District 25, and the mounting controversy around a similar appointment process playing out in District 42, where Rep. Emily O'Brien resigned her seat to take a position in Armstrong's administration. 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

Should the voters take their case for covering school lunches for all students to the ballot box with an initiated measure? We discussed the issue on this episode of Plain Talk, and co-host Chad Oban made the case for some populism on this issue. "The legislature has had ample opportunity to pass something that over 70% of North Dakotans support," he said, referring to a North Dakota News Cooperative poll from this spring. "What if school districts start charging parents for books, right? Parents across the state would be up in arms if school districts started charging for books," he continued. "To me, it's a no-brainer today. It was a no-brainer yesterday. It was a no-brainer a year ago." President Donald Trump's early endorsement of Rep. Julie Fedorchak's re-election, which hadn't even been officially announced yet, raised some eyebrows. What drove it? It might have something to do with divisive ."I didn't perceive Julie Fedorchak needing Trump to intervene and try to head off a primary challenge," I argued, but it could be about the North Dakota Republican Party, the leadership of which is now in control of a populist faction that doesn't like traditional Republicans very much. That faction has already censured Gov. Kelly Armstrong twice, and at last cycle's state convention, they had enough clout to deny Fedorchak the endorsement, though she went on to win the primary and the general handily. Trump's early endorsement may have been to "warn off the state party," I contend. North Dakotan Blaize Shiek is a cheerleader for the Minnesota Vikings this year, and not everyone likes it. "This isn't about male cheerleaders. This is about a certain type of male cheerleaders. Ones that are very good dancers and not just holding up the pretty girls," Oban said of the critics. "I don't like it when people take it upon themselves to be gatekeepers and to say we're going to gatekeep football or we're going to gatekeep culture and we're going to say you can only do it our way only the way that we want it," I added. "Being weird in all the different wonderful ways we can be weird is not un-American. That's the most American damn thing in the world. What's un-American is you saying there's only one way to be an American." We also discussed North Dakota Health and Human Services Commissioner Pat Traynor's alarmist comments about cell phones, and state Rep. Emily O'Brien's decision to step down and take a job as deputy commissioner in that same department. 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

Every month Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness is joined by North Dakota's Governor Kelly Armstrong. Today we what about the groundbreaking of a new state hospital in Jamestown, changes to the North Dakota Ethics Commission, concerns form oil and gas royalty owners, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07/11/25: Former Congressman and current Governor of North Dakota, Kelly Armstrong, joins Joel Heitkamp on "News and Views." Joel asks him about sending troops down to Texas after flash flooding, recovery efforts from the tornadoes in June, President Trump's "big, beautiful bill," and more. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the KPL Podcast, we spoke with Maxie Dara about A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer. The story is a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist, following grim reaper Kathy Valence as she investigates a murder within her department. The story blends humor, heart, and a unique premise to explore themes of family, love, and personal growth. Dead and Breakfast by Kate KingsburyA Rip Through Time by Kelly Armstrong

President Donald Trump joined Israel's attacks against Iran's nuclear program, and so far the operation seems to have been a success. That's certainly Sen. Kevin Cramer's view of it, as he explained on this episode of Plain Talk. He also praised Trump's willingness to repudiate some of the isolationists in the MAGA movement. "I've often said, and people have quoted me saying, 'Donald Trump likes people who like him.' The problem is when the body of people who like you range, you know, so greatly, you at some point are going to disappoint somebody," he said. "I was very proud of this decision. And you don't even have to love the decision to recognize...that this is a bit of a repudiation to the Tucker Carlson isolationist crowd." "He probably made peace more than he made war with the strike. Now, we'll see how it all turns out," Cramer continued. The Senator also discussed his "golden dome" legislative proposal for protecting America from drone and missile strikes. He noted that North Dakota has historically been an essential part of America's air defense systems, and he sees that remaining the case going forward. He also had tough words for the new leadership of the North Dakota Republican Party, which censured Gov. Kelly Armstrong over property tax policy and his veto of a book ban bill. "If the state Republican party wants to make itself less relevant, just censure your duly elected governor," he said. "It's absurd." Cramer is a former chair of the NDGOP himself, but said some in charge of the party now have a skewed view of its role. "Too many people, I think, have confused the role of a state party with the role of governing," he said. "The role of state parties are to elect republicans not to govern the not to govern the state." 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

06/23/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by the Governor of North Dakota and former Congressman, Kelly Armstrong. After the severe weather outbreak over the weekend, which included a tornado outbreak, the Governor joins Joel to talk about the statewide disaster, communities impacted, and more. Joel also asks him about the United States bombing Iran and how he's upped security after the assassination of MN State Representative Melissa Hortman. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The North Dakota Republican Party censured Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong at a recent meeting. And yes, despite what some party leaders are now saying, Armstrong does see it that way. "It was a censure," he said on this episode of Plain Talk, going on to expand on his immediate reaction to the censures which was "I don't care." The censures expressed disapproval in Armstrong's property tax plan, along with his veto of book ban legislation, but he says that serving the party isn't his top priority. "I just view it this way: I'm a North Dakotan first. I'm the governor second and a Republican third." He accused some in NDGOP leadership of being obsessed with "microniche" issues and wanting to control Republican elected leaders with party rules and censures. "I mean, one of the problems I think you're running into in this is...this was always 'we hate the smoke-filled back room,' right? That was always the argument forever. That's not really true. What they want to do is control the smoke-filled back room," he said. "I don't think they spend near enough time talking about how to win elections, which is what people rely on the party for," he added, further arguing that party leadership is elected by small groups of people. "Matt Simon got elected with 24 votes," Armstrong said "I hope he does great. I hope he brings unity." Also on this episode, we discuss Rep. Scott Louser's decision to forgo a property tax ballot measure challenging the relief lawmakers passed earlier this year, as well as the recent No Kings protests and how their momentum compares to the 2009 "tea party" movement that changed the shape of North Dakota politics. 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

Andrew Loftesnes is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Specifically, he served with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, which is the same unit that President Donald Trump has, controversially, deployed to Los Angeles to, as Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem put it recently, "liberate this city from the socialist and burdensome leadership" elected by local citizens. The deployment was "not only a direct threat to democracy and in my opinion a significant step towards autocracy, but also a direct betrayal of the young men and women who serve in the Marine Corps and other branches of the US military," Loftesnes said on this episode of Plain Talk. "The escalation 100% is the point," he added when asked if Trump's motive was to inflame an already delecate situation further. "Anyone who calls themselves a conservative politically, I think, should be horrified by this federal overreach," he said. Also on this episode, Attorney General Drew Wrigley explains his legal opinion concluding that Gov. Kelly Armstrong's line-item veto should stand, and that a special session isn't necessary. He points to Article V of the North Dakota constitution which states that the governor need send two things back to the Legislature when issuing a veto: A veto message, and the original bill, with the latter requirement being an anachronism from the pre-digital, pre-copy machine era when there would be only one copy of a given piece of legislation. Wrigley says that the veto message issued by Armstrong was accurate, and that whatever mistakes were made up the marked-up version of the bill Armstrong sent back alongside the message are irrelevant. "This isn't a hieroglyphics contest," he said. Armstrong's office is proceeding following Wrigley's opinion, but the Legislature, and specifically the Legislative Management Committee which Senate Majority Leader David Hogue chairs, has yet to decide whether they'll litigate or call themselves back into session to take further action. In public statements, Hogue was dismissive of Wrigley's opinion, saying his "understanding of the English language" and "respect for the rule of law" prevented him from going along with it. Wrigley says he's since spoken to Hogue, and that they laughed the matter off. "We had a conversation that afternoon," he said. "In fact, I had seen the quote that you just mentioned, and when he called me later in the afternoon, I asked him if he was calling to discuss the English language, at which point he started speaking Spanish. We started off with a pretty good laugh." 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

06/12/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by Al Carlson, the former Majority Leader of the ND House of Representatives from District 41. North Dakota’s attorney general said Wednesday Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s veto was “sound,” dismissing a differing conclusion by legislative staff that his intent was unclear and the Legislature should hold a special session to fix the error. The opinion by Attorney General Drew Wrigley means $35 million for housing programs Armstrong’s office unintentionally crossed out in a May line-item veto can move forward unless the matter is challenged in court or the Legislature reconvenes. Continue to read the full article at KFGO.com. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the beginning of this episode of Plain Talk, Attorney General Drew Wrigley took exception to my recent reporting suggesting that he and Gov. Kelly Armstrong are at odds over sentencing legislation and the performance of state prison officials. Based on what would follow, I think the conflict between two of North Dakota's top elected officials is positively overt. According to Wrigley, the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, headed by director Colby Braun, is lying to state lawmakers and the public. He took particular issue with a recent fiscal note issued by the DOCR indicating that so-called "truth in sentencing" legislation he supports, which would mean that inmates serve a larger percentage of their sentences, will cost taxpayers as much as $269 million. "Their quest is to make it extraordinarily expensive to turn people away from the bill," he said. "That is a blatant falsehood," a stormy Wrigley told guest-cost Erin Oban and I. "It is not worth the paper it's written on," he continued about the fiscal note. "It would be a joke if it weren't a matter of serious policy debate," he said. Wrigley also said that DOCR officials have been hiding data from the public and lawmakers, and making misleading statements about rising crime rates. "What an absolute abdication of responsibility," concluded. These are serious accusations -- lying, abdication of responsibility, etc. -- but Braun isn't an independent operator. He has a boss. That's Armstrong, who was also scheduled to appear on this episode to discuss the progress of property tax reform, which he has made his primary focus during this legislative session.  I asked Wrigley if he felt Braun should be fired, and he demured, saying it wasn't his place to advise the governor on personnel issues. 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.

On this episode of Plain Talk, co-host Chad Oban takes the reins with guest co-host and former State Senator Jessica Bell for a conversation with Matt Perdue, Government Relations Director at North Dakota Farmers Union. Perdue, who's running to become the next president of NDFU, emphasizes the uncertainty facing many producers amid economic headwinds, fluctuating commodity prices, and ongoing concerns about federal farm policy and trade conflicts. He also shares how farmers are working through complicated relationships with energy developers, the challenges of rising land prices and absentee landowners, and the importance of investing in rural communities to attract and retain young families. Plus, Chad and Jessica dive into the recent veto snafu by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, the implications of growing partisanship, and the upcoming appointment of a new Superintendent of Public Instruction. This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota's abundant lignite resouces. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electrcity, syntheitc natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit www.Lignite.com/Podcast to connect and learn more. 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

On this episode of Plain Talk, Sen. Josh Boschee, a Democrat from Fargo, characterized the just-completed legislative session as marked by crucial victories but also "too many missed opportunities" and numerous "close calls on bad Republican bills." He emphasized how Republicans and Democrats worked together to achieve both. Among the victories? Passing Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax plan, which implements $1,600 primary residence property tax credits and 3% caps on growth in property tax bills. Noting his day job in real estate, Boschee extolled "how much this is going to help make housing more affordable throughout our state." He highlighted that the reform could potentially "completely wipe out" property taxes for lower-priced or rural homes or those in smaller communities, allowing residents to invest that money in home repairs, buy a larger home, or open up more affordable housing stock for others. And the bad bills? Boschee said those included "book bans, what teachers are teaching in the classroom, which bathrooms people are using," and issues related to "abortion and gay marriage." Most of those initiatives failed, and Boschee said that's because "a faction of the Republican party worked with Democrats to defeat a lot of those bills." Boschee also praised former Rep. Cynthia Schreiber Beck, who passed away recently. She was someone who "got things done for Richland County or District 25," he said. "Someone that we could all depend on and trust" and who "told you like it was."  "If she wasn't going to support your idea, you knew it," he said, but if she liked your idea, she "would work with you to make it better or to get it across the finish line." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the impact the property tax cap may have on the ways North Dakota communities develop, and how the state's new ban on cell phones in schools will play out. This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota's abundant lignite resouces. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electrcity, syntheitc natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit www.Lignite.com/Podcast to connect and learn more. 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

05/15/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by the Governor and former Congressman of North Dakota, Kelly Armstrong, on "News and Views." Joel visits with the Governor on a monthly basis, and today chats about the state legislative session and his thoughts on President Trump wanting a luxury plane from Qatar. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Archuleta and North Dakota United, the state's combined teacher and public workers union, are touting a report showing that our state is sliding down the rankings in terms of teacher pay. We're now 40th in the nation, down significantly from roughly a decade ago. But Archuleta admitted during an interview on Plain Talk that educators could be doing a better job of giving the taxpayers some context around the pay issue. "We are horrible at telling our success stories," he said. "We have to do a better job," he added, rattling off some examples of the stories that could be told. "Eighth graders are second in the nation in mathematics. Fourth graders are third in the nation in mathematics. Archuleta said it's also time to "tone down the rhetoric surrounding K12 education" and back off some of the expectations, from the left and the right, that educators be central to the culture wars. "Everybody that I know that has gone into education goes into it because they want to make sure that every child has the best educational outcomes that they can possibly have," he said. "They don't go into it to be part of a political scrum and they shouldn't. That's exactly the wrong reason to get into education." As for teacher pay specifically? Archuleta said that North Dakota is "not increasing salaries very quickly." He also noted that other states like Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico have "done things that actually raise salaries faster." This is impacting North Dakota's ability to recruit new teachers. "We have an acute teacher shortage in North Dakota" that "has gotten to the point, this is particularly true in rural areas but also in our larger areas, where we're depending more and more on foreign based teachers, particularly from the Philippines." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about how on-going chaos in the North Dakota Republican Party and a possible legal fight with the state Ethics Commission may impact the upcoming election cycle. We also take a look at the last bills from the recently-concluded legislative session that are on Gov. Kelly Armstrong's desk and what he might do with them. (Full disclosure: Oban also works for North Dakota United.) This episode is presented by Lignite Energy Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the development of North Dakota's abundant lignite resources. Their goal is to maintain a viable lignite coal industry and support the generation of electricity, synthetic natural gas, and valuable byproducts. Visit www.Lignite.com/Podcast to connect and learn more. 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  

Chas & Dr Dave discuss Father David Smith, JD Vantasy, and The Great Wall Of The Pork0:00 - Introducing: Dr Dave2:26 - Grateful (Aus Elections, Media Watch, Kelly Armstrong)10:12 - Correspondence (Fascism, Supreme Court, North Carolina)19:39 - Updates (PRESS Act, 60 Mins, Jordan Klepper)34:28 - Trump 100 Days Polling1:12:04 - Trade War Update1:45:12 - Stats Nugget (Trump 100 Days Stats)1:49:29 - Immigration (Abrego Garcia, Due Process)2:18:07 - Planet Canada2:38:12 - Unleashed: Toilet Break (Buttigieg)2:48:46 - Unleashed Correspondence (Garcia, Deportations, Murkowski, Medicaid, Daryl Cooper, ASD, RFK Jr, Signal, Stable Chaos, Crusades, New Sting)HOMEWORK: Worst Lawsuit Ever - https://bitly.cx/pfmhThe Carny - https://bitly.cx/zkjlPNathan's ACLU Article - https://bitly.cx/QtpN2Konstantin Kisin Substack on Rogan - https://bitly.cx/NHRFXSHOW LINKS:*Chat with the PEPpers on the Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/WxDD2PPvaW Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tara is joined by Gov. Kelly Armstrong to discuss Donald Trump's tariffs and government cuts. They break down the Republican budget resolution decision that the Democrats passed in December, which is now blindsiding them. She asks Gov. Armstrong about Trump and Musk's DOGE sledgehammer to government agencies, tariffs and how that affects North Dakota's soybean and fertilizer trade—two of their largest exports. Lastly, Gov. Armstrong talks about getting rid of the North Dakota property tax and what that would entail. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Gov. Kelly Armstrong Producer: Olivia Crerie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices