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The state should pay for school meals, but it shouldn’t be enshrined in the constitution. Measure 2 supporters say it must be in the constitution because voters can’t trust the Legislature. But don’t the people elect the Legislature? #northdakota #education

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ND’s constitution bans public funds for sectarian schools. Yet a proposal for teacher retention bonuses includes both public and private educators. Rep. Mike Nathe and Supt. Levi Bachmeier say that doesn’t violate the constitution: it funds teachers, not schools. #northdakota #education

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Some call paying teacher retention bonuses from Common Schools Trust Fund earnings a political stunt. Rep. Mike Nathe, who isn’t up for re-election, says that’s not true. Supt. Levi Bachmeier says he wouldn’t call it politics. He’d call it problem solving. #northdakota #education

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“We have too many empty classrooms,” Superintendent Levi Bachmeier said about a proposal to pay teachers annual retention bonuses out of Common Schools Trust Fund earnings. More pay won’t fix every challenge teachers face, but he says it will keep more on the job. #northdakota #education

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Why does a proposal for retention bonuses for ND teachers include both private and public educators? Superintendent Levi Bachmeier says the goal is to retain good teachers, wherever they teach. Bill sponsor Rep. Mike Nathe says “a teacher is a teacher.” #northdakota #education

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745: 'The main point of this bill is we need teachers'

“The main point of this bill is we need teachers.” On this episode of Plain Talk, we break down the legislative push to recruit and retain educators, the reality facing North Dakota schools, and what’s at stake this session. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRff...

youtube.com

YouTube video by Plain Talk

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The latest Measure 1 ad from StrongND attacks the left-wing group bankrolling the opposition over its progressive agenda. The details are exaggerated, but the larger argument is true. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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The public's perception of what's important is influenced by social media engagement, and what drives social media engagement is often the very stupid musings of a very small number of people. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Superintendent Levi Bachmeier says an annual bonus paid from revenues generated by the Common Schools Trust Fund could grow to as much as $10,000 per year, per teacher. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Prairie Public is doing a separate debate that will have Hammer and the two independents. Our debate will have Hammer and Fedorchak. The article was talking about the two separate events. Thanks for tuning in! This is our YouTube, but we're also on Spotify, Apple, etc. youtube.com/@plaintalknd...

youtube.com

Plain Talk

North Dakota's #1 political podcast. Hosted by Rob Port and Chad Oban. 🎙️🎧

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Just to be clear our debate is not airing on Prairie Public. It will be on the Plain Talk Podcast feed, on the podcast YouTube Page, and on WDAY Xtra across the state.

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

North Dakota has voted for President Donald Trump every time he's been on the ballot, yet our leaders are spending a lot of time cleaning up his messes. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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Rob Port @robport.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Ariston Johnson, a Watford City attorney challenging incumbent Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte, says he's returning the improper contributions. www.inforum.com/opinion/colu...

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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?...

youtu.be

YouTube video by Plain Talk

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

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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