Very exciting news for the Plain Talk podcast. Starting tonight at 5:30pm central we'll be broadcasting our episodes on WDAY Xtra. See below for details on how to tune in over the air or through your cable provider.

Ariston Johnson, a Watford City attorney who is seeking election to North Dakota’s Supreme Court, says judges shouldn’t decide policy and they shouldn’t decide law. #northdakota #courts #politics

Judges need to be at a remove from the public in some ways, says ND Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte, but that doesn’t mean they’re totally isolated. They do need to read some public feedback, though reading comments on social media isn’t all that helpful. #northdakota #courts #politics

The court isn’t a representative body, says North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte. It’s not the job of a judge or a justice to represent any point of view. It’s the court job to represent “the deal that was legislated” and made law. #northdakota #courts #politics

When it comes to reacting to court decisions, many people focus on results rather than the method says ND Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte. He says that when he talks to the public, he reminds them that the job of the courts is to apply the law without regard. #northdakota #courts #politics

Tempestuous politics around issues like carbon pipelines, transmission lines, and data centers are a departure from North Dakota’s long-held reputation as a place that’s “open for business.” Can the state’s business community adapt? #northdakota #politics #datacenters

This is U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer’s third time on the statewide ballot in North Dakota, and his vote share isn’t moving much. He seems to be making an outreach to the populist faction of a divided Republican party. Could that strategy work? #northdakota #politics

Dave Berger is a former commissioner in Oliver County who was driven out of office by an ugly backlash to a proposed data center. What’s his advice to people thinking about running for local office but are afraid when they read about stories like his? #datacenters #northdakota #politics

Dave Berger is a former Olive County commissioner who was driven out of office amid ugly backlash from opponents to a data center project. Berger says he believes that faction represents a small but noisy minority.But how do we figure out if that’s true or not? #datacenters #northdakota #politics

Sen. Kevin Cramer says there hasn’t been enough attention on tax reform that’s increases the tax refunds of Americans because people are too distracted by President Donald Trump. #donaldtrump #politics #northdakota

President Donald Trump has angered many Canadians with his comments about the country being our 51st state. Sen. Kevin Cramer says those harsh words are about giving trade negotiators working with Canada a stronger position. #canada #donaldtrump #northdakota #politics #kevincramer

Does President Donald Trump need congressional approval for war in Iran? Sen. Kevin Cramer points out that many past presidents have gone it alone, but says that Trump should want Congress’s backing. #northdakota #politics #iran #donaldtrump

Corey Johnson is the chief of the Williston FD and a R candidate for the state House in District 23. He wants to be a positive image of what Williston is today, contrasting with some of its past political leadership. #northdakota #williston #politics

John Bitzan, director of the Challey Institute at North Dakota State University, says President Donald Trump’s tariffs regime is creating a massive amount of uncertainty that is hurting all Americans. #northdakota #donaldtrump #tariffs #ndsu #politics

John Bitzan, director of the Challey Institute at North Dakota State University, says President Donald Trump’s tariffs regime is not helping farmers. They’re “imposing damage to ourselves.” #northdakota #donaldtrump #tariffs #ndsu #politics

Filmmaker Patrick Reasonover, producer of ‘When Cops Become Robbers,’ talks about the bizarre reality that is civil asset forfeiture. Law enforcement seizes billions in property every year, often without a criminal conviction. #northdakota #politics #civilassetforfeiture #lawenforcement #crime

The problem isn’t that Byron Noem, likes to entertain himself by dressing like a woman. It's that he does so while the people he associates with make trans people feel like they don’t belong in our society. That’s rank hypocrisy. #byronnoem #kristinoem #southdakota #northdakota #politics

The committee behind a ballot measure to have the state cover the cost of school meals has had amazing success gathering signatures. With passage at the ballot box likely, North Dakota OMB Director Joe Morrissette says they’re planning on building that cost into the budget. #northdakota #politics

Six months ago, everyone was expecting North Dakota to face budget cuts over slower oil activity. But now, with war in Iran, oil prices have skyrocketed. Does that mean North Dakota’s budget outlook has changed? Not much, says OMB director Joe Morrissette. #northdakota #oil #oilprices #politics

Joe Morrissette, director of the North Dakota OMB, says his office, which must create new revenue forecasts for the state which is heavily dependent on revenues from energy and agriculture, is assuming that the spike in oil prices is temporary. #northdakota #oil #gasprices #politics #oilprices

The populist faction that controls the @NDGOP insists on Christian morals from its candidates, but they have also invited a speaker, Royce White, who spent campaign dollars at strip clubs exhibits all kinds of disgusting behavior in public. They hypocrisy is a bit rich. #northdakota #politics

Using taxpayer dollars to invest in startups somes comes under criticism from people who don’t see the benefit for taxpayers, but it’s there says WalkWise founder and CEO Peter Chamberlain. “It all cycles back.” #northdakota #politics

Watch the full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzn8... Should the State of North Dakota buy the Minnesota Twins? Governor @kelly.armstrong.1291 has shot the idea down. “Not in the next seven years, I can promise you that.” #northdakota #politics #baseball #openingday

America is one of the most prosperous countries in the world, but we can’t keep our government functioning or air travel moving. #northdakota #politics #tsa

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, a big baseball fan, will serve as honorary manager of the Bismarck Larks for a game this summer. Unfortunately, he won’t let the Plain Talk podcast hosts be on his coaching staff. #northdakota #politics #bismarck #baseball #openingday

We love baseball, but the games are broadcast on so many different streaming services, it can be hard to follow. Gov. Kelly Armstrong says it doesn’t bother him. He’ll watch whatever game is on television, like it’s still 1989. #northdakota #politics #baseball #mlb #openingday

ND Gov. Kelly Armstrong talks about how he became a fan of the Mets. It was when he was a child, watching the famous (infamous) 1986 world championship team, and before he knew about some of the more unseemly habits of some members of that team. #northdakota #politics #baseball #mlb #openingday

There’s a belief among a populist faction that has captured control of the North Dakota Republican party that Republican candidates are winning elections because they’re Republicans. That’s wrong. They’re winning because they’re good candidates and leaders who happen to be Republican.

Congress is debating the SAVE Act, which would push tough new election regulations on the state, including a requirement to prove citizenship. Sec. of State Michael Howe says in #NorthDakota - the only state in the nation without registration - proof of citizenship is already required.