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Donald Trump is using millions in taxpayer funds to run political ads for himself. We know they’re political ads because his campaign has used them before, and we all have eyeballs and earholes and can see that they’re campaign ads. #northdakota #donaldtrump

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Criticize Donald Trump, and his supporters will say “what about Joe Biden.” Criticize Joe Biden, and his supporters will say “what about Donald Trump?” How about when something is wrong, it’s just wrong? #northdakota

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Many perceive North Dakota’s economic development as rich people giving loans to other rich people. ND Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken says he wants to refocus away from direct company aid and toward preparing communities for new investment. #northdakota #economicdevelopment

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Economic development can't just be turned on and off, warns ND Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken: “It’s all fun until your school starts losing kids... you lose your grocery store, and the only thing left is a gas station that, if you’re lucky, is open until noon.” #northdakota

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Fargo City Commissioner Michelle Turnberg claims a proposed ward system could let someone with "un-American values" get elected to city government. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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744: 'We do have a lot of programs and it's confusing for us'

New episode of Plain Talk is up featuring ND Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken. He talks about the ND Development Fund controversy and his efforts to simplify things at his state agency. Click to listen: youtu.be/PGZJZgrGopA?...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

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Ending fees for school meals is the right thing to do and would bring significant relief to families across the state. Putting it in the state constitution is the wrong thing to do. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Gov. Kelly Armstrong backs Measure 1 to require 60% voter approval for constitutional amendments. Since school bonds already require 60%, he called the disparity “misaligned priorities” and said he’d also sign legislation lowering the threshold for school bonds. #northdakota

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Gov. Armstrong is opposing Measure 1, which would require that future constitutional amendments get 60% of the vote. He says mandating spending in state constitutions is a big “consultant’s game” across the country, and that ND is a “cheap date” for getting ballot measures passed. #northdakota

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Full episode: youtu.be/_yMRSzVsPuY?... Gov. Kelly Armstrong says a lawsuit championed by Brandon Prichard and Citizens Alliance of North Dakota is “garbage” and anti-democratic. #northdakota

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Sen. John Hoeven attempted to deflect critcism of President Trump's use of taxpayer dollars for a campaign ad by invoking Presidents Obama and Biden. Two wrongs don't make a right. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

We will be hosting debates on Measures 1 and 2, as well as the U.S. House, Agriculture Commissioner and Superintendent races on the Plain Talk podcast. Submit your questions at PlainTalkND.com. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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The petition is backed by a former lawmaker who has made misleading statements about his legal education and a Minnesota lawyer deeply involved in the legal fight to overturn the 2020 election. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Even as the nonprofit faced deep deficits and froze staff pay, F5 Project leaders enjoyed luxury perks, side-deal profits and soaring salaries. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Problems at the North Dakota Development Fund demonstrate a need for more review of the programs and initiatives the Legislature creates. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Social Security wasn’t supposed to be a retirement plan. The retirement programs most Americans have access to are through an employer, at a time when we’re switching jobs more than ever. #northdakota #retirement #socialsecurity

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In South Dakota, Sec. of State Monae Johnson has endorsed the Democratic candidate to replace her over the Republican. She campaigned catering to far-right election conspiracy theorists, but then realized the truth, and decided that truth had to matter more than party. #northdakota #southdakota

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Americans are facing a sharp reduction in Social Security benefits without reforms. One solution is raising more revenue, says John Hishta from AARP. Currently there is no Social Security tax on earnings over $184,500 per year, he says. Raising that would help.

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Full episode: youtu.be/dnc4x8TeY5A?... More than 40% don’t have access to an employer-based retirement plan, says John Histha from AARP, and Social Security wasn’t intended to be a total retirement benefit. We need to look at programs to help Americans save, he says. #northdakota #socialsecurity

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742: 'There are a lot of folks who can't wait until 70 years old to retire'

On this Plain Talk, AARP’s John Hishta discusses Social Security reform and saving for retirement. Plus, Chad Oban and I break down South Dakota bipartisanship making national headlines. Click to watch and subscribe 👇

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Watch: youtu.be/oPuXeU4WnoY?... Plain Talk will be hosting debates for North Dakota’s U.S. House, agriculture commissioner, superintendent races, as well as the school meals ballot measure. We made the decision to exclude two independent candidates from the U.S. House debate. #northdakota

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Watch the full episode: youtu.be/oPuXeU4WnoY?... North Dakota has well over 100 boards and commissions consisting of hundreds of political appointees. They need to be reviewed frequently for relevance, and the people who serve on them need to serve at the pleasure of the governor. #northdakota

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Watch the full episode: youtu.be/oPuXeU4WnoY?... Sen. Majority Leader David Hogue says voters should approve Measure 1 on North Dakota’s 2026 ballot, because the state constitution should be about protecting minority points of view. They should be protected by a supermajority, he says #northdakota

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Watch the full episode: youtu.be/oPuXeU4WnoY?... A scathing audit revealed serious problems with documentation at the North Dakota Development Fund. Senate Majority Leader David Hogue says it’s time to re-evaluate whether the fund is even needed. #northdakota

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Despite agreeing to substantial sanctions in an agreement with Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office, the group continues to insist that there was no wrongdoing. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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741: 'Is that still a worthy objective for the state to be pursuing?'

On this Plain Talk, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue talks about Measure 1 and the controversy around the ND Development Fund. Also, Chad Oban and I discuss Senator John Hoeven's cameo in the Sen. Mitch McConnell controversy, and the upcoming Plain Talk debates. Click to watch and subscribe!

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The problems at the North Dakota Development Fund illustrate a need for consolidation in state government and better chains of command. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Governing is harder than campaigning. Telling the voters want they want to hear is easier than delivering hard truths. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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We vote for entertainment and convenient lies, and our republic, built to be responsive to the demands of the people, is delivering. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Even in these tumultuous times, the state of North Dakota enjoys a high level of trust from the public, as evidenced by public opinion surveys and election results. But that trust can be squandered. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The cast of characters supporting legislation to restrict student athletes tells us a lot about its motivations and goals. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

A left-wing group based in Washington, D.C., is already pouring money into opposing the amendment, so far dwarfing spending by a committee aligned with Gov. Kelly Armstrong. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

Full episode: youtu.be/AqFItUf1Y74 Gov. Kelly Armstrong is pouring money into passing Measure 1 to require 60% approval for constitutional amendments. A D.C. group is spending even more against it. Who knew this would be North Dakota’s most expensive 2026 race? #northdakota

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Full episode: youtu.be/AqFItUf1Y74 The 2026 election began with a fight in the North Dakota Republican Party, where populists pushed to oust traditional conservatives deemed not authentically Republican. Now those populists are backing Democrats in the general election. #northdakota

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Full episode: youtu.be/AqFItUf1Y74 ND lawmakers capped local property tax growth at 3%, but local officials argue it’s too tight. Tyler York, Dem-NPL candidate for House District 43, sees room to loosen the cap. #northdakota #grandforks

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Full episode: youtu.be/AqFItUf1Y74 How does a Democrat in the superminority in a state like North Dakota bridge the gap? Tyler York, candidate for the state House in Grand Forks, says it’s about building rapport and trust. #northdakota #grandforks

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On this Plain Talk, Tyler York, Dem-NPL in District 43, joins us to talk property taxes, childcare, and his path into politics. Also, this "whiplash" election, and what looks to be a very expensive debate over Measure 1. Click to watch and subscribe! --> youtu.be/AqFItUf1Y74

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Watch the episode: youtu.be/AxPWaKP4ySM?... The way we do politics, when an elected or public official screws up, or commits some act of malfeasance, we hold them accountable. But what about when they do good things? Shouldn’t they be accountable for that too? #northdakota

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Watch the episode: youtu.be/AxPWaKP4ySM?... A new law requires Sec. of State Michael Howe to send out explanatory information about measures on the ballot. Howe says the feedback on this has been mixed, with some people suggesting the descriptions can be biased. #northdakota

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Watch the episode: youtu.be/AxPWaKP4ySM?... North Dakota Sec. of State Michael Howe says President Donald Trump’s vote by mail rules would have been impossible to implement had the courts allowed them to go forward this election cycle. #northdakota #votebymail

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Watch the episode: youtu.be/AxPWaKP4ySM?... Amid controversy at the national level over President Donald Trump’s now-blocked efforts to implement new vote by mail rules, North Dakota Sec. of State Michael Howe says the state’s process is effective and secure. #northdakota #votebymail

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739: 'We're six weeks away from election day. There's no way we can follow this.'

On Plain Talk, ND Sec. of State Michael Howe explains opposing Donald Trump's mail ballot rules. Plus: Oliver County State's Attorney controversy, and legislative pushback on medical marijuana fee hikes. Watch & subscribe:

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It turns out the populists, the self-appointed gatekeepers of North Dakota conservatism, never cared about guarding the gate. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

State's Attorney Patrick Waters survived a removal petition. Now colleagues, his opponent and residents say he is using his office vindictively. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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By standing against Donald Trump’s rushed postal voting overhaul, North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe took a real political risk when he didn't have to. That’s what leadership looks like. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The proposal would hike fees for dispensaries and manufacturers by roughly 50%, even as North Dakota already charges some of the highest medical marijuana fees in the nation. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The proposed amendment would require that proposed constitutional amendments get 60% of the vote on the ballot to become law. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Around the state, local officials are blaming the property tax cap imposed by state lawmakers and Gov. Kelly Armstrong for budget hardships. But forcing tough spending decisions was the whole point. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Port: The property tax cap was intended to force hard decisions in local budgets

Around the state, local officials are blaming the property tax cap imposed by state lawmakers and Gov. Kelly Armstrong for budget hardships. But forcing tough spending decisions was the whole point.