Podcasts about Plain Talk

Summer heat brings a familiar sight to many beekeepers: honey bees clustered outside the hive entrance, hanging from the landing board, and covering the front of the colony. In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew reflects on what beekeepers often call "bearding" and shares memories from decades of working bees in the heat of the Deep South. Jim explains why colonies gather outside during hot weather and why this behavior is often a normal part of colony temperature regulation rather than a sign of trouble. From long days in Alabama bee yards to late-night pollination moves, he recalls the challenges of managing large colonies when temperatures remain high long after sunset. Along the way, Jim shares stories about moving bees for pollination, dealing with protective clothing before modern ventilated suits existed, encountering rattlesnakes and black widow spiders in remote bee yards, and learning valuable lessons from commercial beekeepers about transporting colonies safely. The discussion also turns to the many other creatures attracted to an apiary. Deer, raccoons, skunks, bears, spiders, and countless other animals often become part of the larger ecosystem surrounding honey bee colonies. Part practical beekeeping discussion and part personal reflection, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how honey bees cope with summer heat and how a lifetime of beekeeping experiences can be triggered by something as simple as a cluster of bees gathered outside the hive on a warm evening. ______________________ Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. ______________________ Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics) Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

"The public schools are state-run schools, and the state can certainly impose licensing requirements on the schools that it runs. It can have hiring qualifications for the teachers that it deems fit to teach in the public schools," Michael Bindas said on this episode of Plain Talk. "But private schools are meant to provide an alternative to the public school system. Something different. And this licensing regime makes it very difficult for private schools to do that." Bindas is a senior attorney for the Institute for Justice, which is representing the Capstone Academy, a Fargo-based private school, in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of North dakota's teacher licensing. Though the plaintiff's filings in the case do reference a cost burden, Bindas said that's not the primary argument. The larger issue, he claims, is that state licensing requirements for teachers ultimately restricts how they teach, and even what courses can be taught. As an example of the latter issue, Bindas alleged that a private school in the state couldn't offer a course in logic because the state didn't offer something like that as a subject matter choice teachers seeking a license. "They couldn't do it because the state didn't have a box for logic to be taught. And so therefore, the state says no teacher in the in the school was eligible to teach that course. That is absurd," he said. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban talk about that survey released by the Ethics Commission purporting to show that a strong majority of North Dakotans think their elected officials are unethical, something that clashes with the results of polls conducted with scientific rigor, not to mention the outcomes of recent elections. 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 public schools are state-run schools, and the state can certainly impose licensing requirements on the schools that it runs. It can have hiring qualifications for the teachers that it deems fit to teach in the public schools," Michael Bindas said on this episode of Plain Talk. "But private schools are meant to provide an alternative to the public school system. Something different. And this licensing regime makes it very difficult for private schools to do that." Bindas is a senior attorney for the Institute for Justice, which is representing the Capstone Academy, a Fargo-based private school, in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of North dakota's teacher licensing. Though the plaintiff's filings in the case do reference a cost burden, Bindas said that's not the primary argument. The larger issue, he claims, is that state licensing requirements for teachers ultimately restricts how they teach, and even what courses can be taught. As an example of the latter issue, Bindas alleged that a private school in the state couldn't offer a course in logic because the state didn't offer something like that as a subject matter choice teachers seeking a license. "They couldn't do it because the state didn't have a box for logic to be taught. And so therefore, the state says no teacher in the in the school was eligible to teach that course. That is absurd," he said. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban talk about that survey released by the Ethics Commission purporting to show that a strong majority of North Dakotans think their elected officials are unethical, something that clashes with the results of polls conducted with scientific rigor, not to mention the outcomes of recent elections. 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

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When we asked Mike Thiesen why he's seeking a state Senate seat in Minot-area District 3, he told us that it stems back to being a "glutton for punishment." Thiesen is an electrician by trade -- he did his interview with us from a work trailer on a job site -- and currently serves as the mayor of Surrey, a community on the periphery of Minot. He's a candidate for the Democrat-NPL (he stressed the NPL part when I mentioned his partisan affiliation) and like most Democrats in North Dakota he's campaigning in a heavily Republican area. He says he can overcome that by bringing issues home. "I feel in Bismarck they get caught up in the national politics thing," he said. "I want to bring it closer to home and just make sure everything works." "I thoroughly enjoy being part of a community and I got this weird thing where I think I can help people," he said in another part of the interview. "I work really good as a team and I just think I can help. That's the gist of it." Thiesen is young, by political standards, and he thinks the perspective of someone who has school-age children, and is in the prime of their career, is missing in the legislature. If elected, he said school issues are one thing he'd like to take on. "We currently have $180 million worth of deferred maintenance in our schools across the state," he said. "That is an issue that's kind of near and dear to my heart, because living in Surrey, we're having issues with our school right now with some maintenance issues." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I respond to reader feedback, and talk about whether Matthew Simon, current chair of the North Dakota Republican Party, should resign after the populist faction that gave him that just got wiped out in the June primary. 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 we asked Mike Thiesen why he's seeking a state Senate seat in Minot-area District 3, he told us that it stems back to being a "glutton for punishment." Thiesen is an electrician by trade -- he did his interview with us from a work trailer on a job site -- and currently serves as the mayor of Surrey, a community on the periphery of Minot. He's a candidate for the Democrat-NPL (he stressed the NPL part when I mentioned his partisan affiliation) and like most Democrats in North Dakota he's campaigning in a heavily Republican area. He says he can overcome that by bringing issues home. "I feel in Bismarck they get caught up in the national politics thing," he said. "I want to bring it closer to home and just make sure everything works." "I thoroughly enjoy being part of a community and I got this weird thing where I think I can help people," he said in another part of the interview. "I work really good as a team and I just think I can help. That's the gist of it." Thiesen is young, by political standards, and he thinks the perspective of someone who has school-age children, and is in the prime of their career, is missing in the legislature. If elected, he said school issues are one thing he'd like to take on. "We currently have $180 million worth of deferred maintenance in our schools across the state," he said. "That is an issue that's kind of near and dear to my heart, because living in Surrey, we're having issues with our school right now with some maintenance issues." Thiesen is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Bob Paulson. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I respond to reader feedback, and talk about whether Matthew Simon, current chair of the North Dakota Republican Party, should resign after the populist faction that gave him that just got wiped out in the June primary. 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.

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If there were a throughline for North Dakota's recent primary vote that ran from the top-of-the-ticket statewide races to local competitions like the Fargo mayoral race, it would be the rejection of belligerent ideologues in favor of pragmatic public servants. That's the argument Fargo's mayor-elect Josh Boschee made on this episode of Plain Talk. "North Dakotans want people who are going to get to work," Boschee said, as opposed to candidates who are "hung up on ideology." Voters want public servants, not talk radio hosts and influencers, it seems. Boschee, a long-time Democratic state Senator, won the nonpartisan race over City Commissioner Michelle Turnberg, a self-described "conservative" who has adopted a belligerent approach to elected office and remains in her current office. How will the new mayor contend with that sort of friction, which, in recent years, has become routine in Fargo's city government? He says he's ready for it. "I think some people want to frame it as, because we were two opponents, and we'll be working together, that there might be a lot of conflict, and that certainly may end up being true. But as you guys have seen me in the legislature, I mean, there are plenty of legislators that use a similar leadership style as Commissioner Turnberg, and I've been able to work with them, especially when we focus on the issues that we share." Boschee says he's focused on being a mayor for everyone in Fargo, including those who voted against him. "I've been in a lot of elections, and what I've learned, for one thing, is elections are about addition and not subtraction," he said. "And when you only focus on your base, you only focus on the people who are cheerleading you or pat you on the back every time you say something  or comment on Facebook, you're not going to grow your coalition." In his victory speech after the election, Boschee made reference to a recent Facebook post made by Fargo-area Rep. Desiree Morton, objecting to volunteers of Somali heritage volunteering to help the campaigns of Republican U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak and local legislative candidates. He told us he thought it was something important to highlight. "20% of Fargo are people of color. A good number of them are folks who come from other parts of the world," he said. "I've stood up to my legislative colleagues when they've said inappropriate things about other North Dotans, and that's not going to change in the mayor's office." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the similarities between Boschee and Gov. Kelly Armstrong, despite their obvious ideological differences, as well as the decline of North Dakota's populist movement. 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

If there were a throughline for North Dakota's recent primary vote that ran from the top-of-the-ticket statewide races to local competitions like the Fargo mayoral race, it would be the rejection of belligerent ideologues in favor of pragmatic public servants. That's the argument Fargo's mayor-elect Josh Boschee made on this episode of Plain Talk. "North Dakotans want people who are going to get to work," Boschee said, as opposed to candidates who are "hung up on ideology." Voters want public servants, not talk radio hosts and influencers, it seems. Boschee, a long-time Democratic state Senator, won the nonpartisan race over City Commissioner Michelle Turnberg, a self-described "conservative" who has adopted a belligerent approach to elected office and remains in her current office. How will the new mayor contend with that sort of friction, which, in recent years, has become routine in Fargo's city government? He says he's ready for it. "I think some people want to frame it as, because we were two opponents, and we'll be working together, that there might be a lot of conflict, and that certainly may end up being true. But as you guys have seen me in the legislature, I mean, there are plenty of legislators that use a similar leadership style as Commissioner Turnberg, and I've been able to work with them, especially when we focus on the issues that we share." Boschee says he's focused on being a mayor for everyone in Fargo, including those who voted against him. "I've been in a lot of elections, and what I've learned, for one thing, is elections are about addition and not subtraction," he said. "And when you only focus on your base, you only focus on the people who are cheerleading you or pat you on the back every time you say something  or comment on Facebook, you're not going to grow your coalition." In his victory speech after the election, Boschee made reference to a recent Facebook post made by Fargo-area Rep. Desiree Morton, objecting to volunteers of Somali heritage volunteering to help the campaigns of Republican U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak and local legislative candidates. He told us he thought it was something important to highlight. "20% of Fargo are people of color. A good number of them are folks who come from other parts of the world," he said. "I've stood up to my legislative colleagues when they've said inappropriate things about other North Dotans, and that's not going to change in the mayor's office." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed the similarities between Boschee and Gov. Kelly Armstrong, despite their obvious ideological differences, as well as the decline of North Dakota's populist movement. 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

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In this reflective episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew walks back to his bee yard after several days of rain and immediately confronts a familiar challenge: grass and weeds that have grown well beyond manageable height. What begins as a discussion about mowing quickly becomes a thoughtful examination of aging, beekeeping alone, and adapting expectations to changing circumstances. Jim candidly shares the realities of maintaining an apiary at seventy-eight years old. Managing thirteen thriving colonies, coping with allergies, operating equipment in summer heat, and maintaining property without assistance all raise practical questions about how beekeeping changes over time. Rather than seeking sympathy, Jim explores the adjustments that many longtime beekeepers eventually face as physical limitations become part of the craft. The discussion turns to vegetation management around the apiary, including his experiences with naturally occurring wildflower growth, the challenges of maintaining access paths, and his decision to avoid herbicides despite their widespread historical use in beekeeping operations. Jim reviews current discussions surrounding glyphosate and reflects on changing attitudes toward chemical weed control. Along the way, he provides updates on two recently captured swarms, discusses the resilience of small colonies, and shares observations about natural comb construction. His curiosity about how bees build and reinforce comb leads to broader thoughts on natural nest architecture, propolis use, and how much traditional beekeeping may have overlooked about honey bee biology. Throughout the episode, Jim offers an honest and personal perspective on continuing to care for bees later in life while balancing practical realities, physical limitations, and a lifelong fascination with honey bees. ______________________ Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. ______________________ Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics) Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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Gov. Kelly Armstrong, by his own admission, went out on a limb when he backed a slate of traditional Republican candidates this primary season against a populist faction that has captured control of the NDGOP and censured him, twice. The gamble paid off. Armstrong-backed candidates made nearly a clean sweep in the primaries, but if you ask the governor about it, all the credit goes to the candidates. "They knocked doors. They handed out palm cards. They didn't cut Facebook videos. They didn't complain," he said. "They went out there. They did the hard work it takes to win an election and they talked about moving North Dakota forward, not how bad they hated North Dakota. That's not what North Dotans want to hear." Armstrong was also critical of the excuses coming from the populist faction about why they lost the election. "Three things I've learned today. One is it's pretty hard to complain about turnout when you think a group of 30 people should decide who your candidate is," he said. "Two, anybody who disagrees with the opposing side is an uneducated voter. And three, anybody who disagrees with them is a is a special interest." "How about quit making excuses, quit being a victim, go win elections," he added. "Go out there and do the work." Armstrong also addressed populists -- particularly activist Brandon Prichard, whose group Citizens Alliance of North Dakota was very active in the primary -- trying to align with him in the last days of the election. "It's too cute by half by somebody who thinks he's smarter than everybody else," the governor said. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban analyze the primary results from around the state, as well as the mayoral and city commission races in Fargo. 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

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, by his own admission, went out on a limb when he backed a slate of traditional Republican candidates this primary season against a populist faction that has captured control of the NDGOP and censured him, twice. The gamble paid off. Armstrong-backed candidates made nearly a clean sweep in the primaries, but if you ask the governor about it, all the credit goes to the candidates. "They knocked doors. They handed out palm cards. They didn't cut Facebook videos. They didn't complain," he said. "They went out there. They did the hard work it takes to win an election and they talked about moving North Dakota forward, not how bad they hated North Dakota. That's not what North Dotans want to hear." Armstrong was also critical of the excuses coming from the populist faction about why they lost the election. "Three things I've learned today. One is it's pretty hard to complain about turnout when you think a group of 30 people should decide who your candidate is," he said. "Two, anybody who disagrees with the opposing side is an uneducated voter. And three, anybody who disagrees with them is a is a special interest." "How about quit making excuses, quit being a victim, go win elections," he added. "Go out there and do the work." Armstrong also addressed populists -- particularly activist Brandon Prichard, whose group Citizens Alliance of North Dakota was very active in the primary -- trying to align with him in the last days of the election. "It's too cute by half by somebody who thinks he's smarter than everybody else," the governor said. Also on this episode, me and co-host Chad Oban analyze the primary results from around the state, as well as the mayoral and city commission races in Fargo. 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

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North Dakota is in the midst of a heated, divisive primary between traditional Republicans and populists. Who will win in key legislative races around the state? Who will advance to the general election in some of the competitive statewide races? Who will be the next mayor of Fargo, and will that ballot measure implementing a single-subject rule for proposed constitutional amendments pass? Me and co-host Chad Oban make our predictions. Also on this episode, Sen. Michelle Axtman, who is in the midst of one of those heated primaries in Bismarck-area District 7, talks about a new survey about technology in schools. Lawmakers passed legislation to ban cell phone use in schools by students, but what about technology that's provided by the schools? Are students on Chromebooks and tablets too much? Axtman and a coalition of other state leaders -- including Superintendent Levi Bachmeier, Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden, and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong -- have commissioned a study asking for input from educators, administrators, parents, and the public. "I'm a STEM person as a pilot. Technology is a big part of learning that industry as well," she said. "None of us want to get rid of technology, wipe it out of the classrooms." But they are trying to find out what the right balance is. As for her primary race, Axtman admitted to being "nervous" about it, but added that nobody running for elected office should take it for granted. She says she's happy with the race she's running. "I'm really proud of the fact that we've focused on what things we are going to do if elected rather than slamming our opponents or doing anything like that," she 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

North Dakota is in the midst of a heated, divisive primary between traditional Republicans and populists. Who will win in key legislative races around the state? Who will advance to the general election in some of the competitive statewide races? Who will be the next mayor of Fargo, and will that ballot measure implementing a single-subject rule for proposed constitutional amendments pass? Me and co-host Chad Oban make our predictions. Also on this episode, Sen. Michelle Axtman, who is in the midst of one of those heated primaries in Bismarck-area District 7, talks about a new survey about technology in schools. Lawmakers passed legislation to ban cell phone use in schools by students, but what about technology that's provided by the schools? Are students on Chromebooks and tablets too much? Axtman and a coalition of other state leaders -- including Superintendent Levi Bachmeier, Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden, and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong -- have commissioned a study asking for input from educators, administrators, parents, and the public. "I'm a STEM person as a pilot. Technology is a big part of learning that industry as well," she said. "None of us want to get rid of technology, wipe it out of the classrooms." But they are trying to find out what the right balance is. As for her primary race, Axtman admitted to being "nervous" about it, but added that nobody running for elected office should take it for granted. She says she's happy with the race she's running. "I'm really proud of the fact that we've focused on what things we are going to do if elected rather than slamming our opponents or doing anything like that," she 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

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In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew heads into the bee yard to check on five package colonies installed earlier in the spring. What begins as a routine inspection quickly becomes a reminder of how rapidly healthy colonies can develop during a favorable season. Each colony is thriving, filling its equipment and signaling that additional space will soon be needed to prevent overcrowding and potential swarming. Jim also revisits a topic familiar to many beekeepers: heavily propolized colonies. After several challenging years that limited regular hive inspections, he discusses the realities of managing frames that have become firmly glued in place. This leads to a field test of an oscillating multi-tool as a possible aid for cutting through propolis and freeing stuck frames. Working directly in the apiary, Jim evaluates whether the tool offers practical value or is simply another interesting beekeeping experiment. Along the way, he shares observations about package colony growth, the effects of warm weather on propolis consistency, the challenges of working with plastic frames in heavily propolized colonies, and his continuing curiosity about beekeepers who successfully manage colonies in a single deep brood chamber. As always, Jim combines practical observations, honest field notes, and thoughtful questions from a lifetime of beekeeping experience. ______________________ Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. ______________________ Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics) Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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How does Sen. John Hoeven defined sucess? Before he recorded this interview with us at the Blue Rider Bar in downtown Minot, he'd been touring projects in the city, including what he described as a nearly culminated, decades-long effort to turn a former landfill and Superfund site into something useful for the community. "We're up here today talking about how we basically, this summer now, are going to get approval after 30 years for that landfill and we're going to turn it into a recreation site and it's going to start this summer,"He said. "But that was 30 years in the making and it didn't just happen on its own." "To me, that's that's what this business is all about," he continued. He sees the "Crack the Code 2.0" effort similarly. The original "crack the code" initiative began back when he was governor, and it was aimed at fostering horizontal drilling and fracking technology to unlock North Dakota's oil reserves. That preciptated the Bakken oil boom. The 2.0 initiative is about enhanced oil recovery, to unlock the 80 to 85% of oil in a typical well in North Dakota that's left behind. This is vital, because currently North Dakota's oil fields are in their decline phase. "We've already declined 400,000 barrels a day," Hoeven said. "And we can't punch enough holes anymore to stay at that level. We're going to continue to decline unless we use enhanced oil recovery techniques." But that's going to require carbon, and carbon pipelines, and right now those things are deeply unpopular with many landowners who need to sign on to make them possible. The opposition been so fierce, that a long-planned carbon pipeline from Summit Carbon Solutions that was to bring carbon to North Dakota is now going to Wyoming. "You got to win the hearts and minds, guys," Hoeven said of the Summit project, "and that's what didn't happen there." Speaking of which, Hoeven, a former governor, also weighed in on the accusations against current Gov. Kelly Armstrong which suggest he's doing something illegal by supporting his preferred legislative candidates. Hoeven says Armstrong is "doing what he's entitled to do." Sen. Hoeven also discussed the ongoing war in Iran, his efforts to stablize the agriculture economy amid trade wars and soaring input costs, and his reaction to President Donald Trump essentially ending Texas Sen. John Cornyn's career in Congress by endorsing his opponent Ken Paxton (Hoeven had been backing Cornyn). Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about next week's June primary. 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

How does Sen. John Hoeven defined sucess? Before he recorded this interview with us at the Blue Rider Bar in downtown Minot, he'd been touring projects in the city, including what he described as a nearly culminated, decades-long effort to turn a former landfill and Superfund site into something useful for the community. "We're up here today talking about how we basically, this summer now, are going to get approval after 30 years for that landfill and we're going to turn it into a recreation site and it's going to start this summer,"He said. "But that was 30 years in the making and it didn't just happen on its own." "To me, that's that's what this business is all about," he continued. He sees the "Crack the Code 2.0" effort similarly. The original "crack the code" initiative began back when he was governor, and it was aimed at fostering horizontal drilling and fracking technology to unlock North Dakota's oil reserves. That preciptated the Bakken oil boom. The 2.0 initiative is about enhanced oil recovery, to unlock the 80 to 85% of oil in a typical well in North Dakota that's left behind. This is vital, because currently North Dakota's oil fields are in their decline phase. "We've already declined 400,000 barrels a day," Hoeven said. "And we can't punch enough holes anymore to stay at that level. We're going to continue to decline unless we use enhanced oil recovery techniques." But that's going to require carbon, and carbon pipelines, and right now those things are deeply unpopular with many landowners who need to sign on to make them possible. The opposition been so fierce, that a long-planned carbon pipeline from Summit Carbon Solutions that was to bring carbon to North Dakota is now going to Wyoming. "You got to win the hearts and minds, guys," Hoeven said of the Summit project, "and that's what didn't happen there." Speaking of which, Hoeven, a former governor, also weighed in on the accusations against current Gov. Kelly Armstrong which suggest he's doing something illegal by supporting his preferred legislative candidates. Hoeven says Armstrong is "doing what he's entitled to do." Sen. Hoeven also discussed the ongoing war in Iran, his efforts to stablize the agriculture economy amid trade wars and soaring input costs, and his reaction to President Donald Trump essentially ending Texas Sen. John Cornyn's career in Congress by endorsing his opponent Ken Paxton (Hoeven had been backing Cornyn). Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about next week's June primary. 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

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Public Service Commissioner Jill Kringstad didn't attend the North Dakota Republican Party's state convention, alongside every other statewide Republican incumbent. Thus, she doesn't have the party's endorsement, but neither does her opponent, Chris Olson. She was appointed to her job by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, and has his backing, and told us, during a live recording of Plain Talk at the Blue Rider bar in Minot, that beingon the campaign trail for the first time, she's enjoying talking to the voters. "Just to meet them and hear them and hear them talk about how they're saying, you know, we're telling our friends, we're telling our families." Data centers have been a hot topic this election cycle. Kringstad said the PSC is already involved in ensuring that those power-hungry developments don't drive up rates when they pull electricity from utilities regulated by the PSC, but that ultimately she's a regulator. The state probably needs some new laws for data centers, and the PSC doesn't make laws. "We're not here setting policy. What we're doing is we're operating within the confines of the laws and the rules that are passed by the legislature," she said, noting that there's an ongoing interim study about the issue, and that she expects a lot of debate over data centers during legislative session next year. We live in very polarized time, but Kringstad also acknowledged during the interview that she has some bipartisanship in her family. The candidate said she's been involved in Republican politics since she was nine years old, when her parents were helping out with then-Gov. John Hoeven's campaign, but her sister is a district chair for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. "We have different views on politics and that's ok," Kringstad said. "We don't discuss everything, but the things that we do discuss, we have very substantive back and forth discussions that are respectful and we always walk away and say, 'Okay, you have your opinion. I have mine. I just see things differently and I love you anyway.'" Also on this episode, Minot Mayor Mark Jantzer talked with me and co-host Chad Oban about how his community is handling a new budgeting reality after the legislature imposed a 3% cap on spending growth as a part of sweeping property tax reform. He explained that to manage the budget under these constraints, the city of Minot has primarily relied on utilizing its reserves to reduce property taxes over the last two budgets, but he warned that this is "not sustainable," and said that by 2027 the city would have to make cuts and find new revenues. 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

Public Service Commissioner Jill Kringstad didn't attend the North Dakota Republican Party's state convention, alongside every other statewide Republican incumbent. Thus, she doesn't have the party's endorsement, but neither does her opponent, Chris Olson. She was appointed to her job by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, and has his backing, and told us, during a live recording of Plain Talk at the Blue Rider bar in Minot, that being on the campaign trail for the first time, she's enjoying talking to the voters. "Just to meet them and hear them and hear them talk about how they're saying, you know, we're telling our friends, we're telling our families." Data centers have been a hot topic this election cycle. Kringstad said the PSC is already involved in ensuring that those power-hungry developments don't drive up rates when they pull electricity from utilities regulated by the PSC, but that ultimately she's a regulator. The state probably needs some new laws for data centers, and the PSC doesn't make laws. "We're not here setting policy. What we're doing is we're operating within the confines of the laws and the rules that are passed by the legislature," she said, noting that there's an ongoing interim study about the issue, and that she expects a lot of debate over data centers during legislative session next year. We live in very polarized time, but Kringstad also acknowledged during the interview that she has some bipartisanship in her family. The candidate said she's been involved in Republican politics since she was nine years old, when her parents were helping out with then-Gov. John Hoeven's campaign, but her sister is a district chair for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. "We have different views on politics and that's ok," Kringstad said. "We don't discuss everything, but the things that we do discuss, we have very substantive back and forth discussions that are respectful and we always walk away and say, 'Okay, you have your opinion. I have mine. I just see things differently and I love you anyway.'" Also on this episode, Minot Mayor Mark Jantzer talked with me and co-host Chad Oban about how his community is handling a new budgeting reality after the legislature imposed a 3% cap on spending growth as a part of sweeping property tax reform. He explained that to manage the budget under these constraints, the city of Minot has primarily relied on utilizing its reserves to reduce property taxes over the last two budgets, but he warned that this is "not sustainable," and said that by 2027 the city would have to make cuts and find new revenues. 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.

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Rep. Dawson Holle, a Republican from District 31, is involved in a four-way race for two House seats. He, along with fellow House incumbent Rep. Karen Rohr, didn't receive the NDGOP's convention endorsement. Many of the NDGOP's incumbents haven't been endorsed amid a rift in the party between traditionally conservative Republicans and a populist faction that wants to take Nort Dakota in a different direction. Holle says his losing the endorsement had as much to do with gamesmanship and geography as the intent of voters. "I think that there's a lot of things that go on behind the scene that often time people don't see see when it comes to a district as big as mine," Holle told us on this episode of Plain Talk (District 31 encompasses all or parts of four counties). "Our district meeting was on a Wednesday at 7:00 at night," he continued. "The weather was okay, but it was an hour and a half drive from my house, and trying to get supporters there is a hard time." Still Holle, who was, at 18 years old, the youngest person elected to the Legislature in state history, says he's not changing how he approaches the race amid intra party turbulence. "Affordability is hurting everyone," he said. "No matter what aspect or what industry you're in -- from farming where we've seen a lot of the costs have risen astronomically across the board, to it's just a single mom with three kids that just is trying to pay your bills -- affordability is really the breadandbut issue." Also on this episode, Josh Askvig, state director for the AARP, talked with me and guest co-host Megan Indvik about the prevelance of older voters in North Dakota's primary elections, as well as some of the generational friction between so-called "boomers" and younger generations, and the common ground these voters can find with one another. 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

Rep. Dawson Holle, a Republican from District 31, is involved in a four-way race for two House seats. He, along with fellow House incumbent Rep. Karen Rohr, didn't receive the NDGOP's convention endorsement. Many of the NDGOP's incumbents haven't been endorsed amid a rift in the party between traditionally conservative Republicans and a populist faction that wants to take Nort Dakota in a different direction. Holle says his losing the endorsement had as much to do with gamesmanship and geography as the intent of voters. "I think that there's a lot of things that go on behind the scene that often time people don't see see when it comes to a district as big as mine," Holle told us on this episode of Plain Talk (District 31 encompasses all or parts of four counties). "Our district meeting was on a Wednesday at 7:00 at night," he continued. "The weather was okay, but it was an hour and a half drive from my house, and trying to get supporters there is a hard time." Still Holle, who was, at 18 years old, the youngest person elected to the Legislature in state history, says he's not changing how he approaches the race amid intra party turbulence. "Affordability is hurting everyone," he said. "No matter what aspect or what industry you're in -- from farming where we've seen a lot of the costs have risen astronomically across the board, to it's just a single mom with three kids that just is trying to pay your bills -- affordability is really the breadandbut issue." Also on this episode, Josh Askvig, state director for the AARP, talked with me and guest co-host Megan Indvik about the prevelance of older voters in North Dakota's primary elections, as well as some of the generational friction between so-called "boomers" and younger generations, and the common ground these voters can find with one another. 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