On this episode of Plain Talk, we hosted a debate between the Democratic-NPL's candidates for U.S. House.

Trygve Hammer is a Marine Corps veteran with three previous campaigns under his belt. Vern Thompson is a farmer and truck driver who recorded this debate from the cab of his semi. They each made their case for why they should replace the incumbent, Rep. Julie Fedorchak.

(The third candidate in the race, Helene Neville, was scheduled to participate but had to drop out at the last minute due to illness.)

Thompson told us he's running to protect farmers. "Trump's tariffs have caused the largest farm crisis in 40 years," he said. "That was a self-inflicted wound. And that's one of the reasons I got into this race is because of the tariffs."

"Tariffs are a tax on consumers," Hammer told us, "and it is a regressive tax." He said he'd like to focus on restoring the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch. "Congress will have to take the reigns and be a check on the Trump administration."

Why should Democratic voters choose one candidate over the other?

Thompson answered that question by touting his experience. He's the former mayor of Minnewauken, and a former state lawmaker who worked with Republican Gov. Ed Schafer on flooding in the Devils Lake area.

For his part, Hammer pointed out his more recent track record of campaigning for office, and working over multiple election cycles to help rebuild enthusiasm for the Democratic-NPL which hasn't had a lot of electoral success over the last decade.

The candidates also fielded questions on abortion, Israel's actions in Gaza, the national debt, our nation's hostilities with Iran, and passenger rail service.

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.

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Reed Johson is a West Point graduate, tank commander, and law student who wants to serve in the North Dakota legislature. On this episode of Plain Talk, he told us he's not interested in getting elected to pursue trending topics from social media.

"I do not want to get dragged into the water on some of these more hot button social issues, and I want to focus more on how do we ensure the state of North Dakota is postured for long-term success and growth," he said.

In particular, he wants to serve as a check on far-right populists who promote an unreasoned, uncompromising approach to politics.

"I do really think the reasonable right needs to stay involved, and keep their foot on the gas in the state of North Dakota," he said. "We're very blessed here, and that's because of generations of competent political leadership."

"It takes a couple generations to build it, but it can also take a couple generations for it to go away," he continued. "I want to stay involved and keep up the good work that we're doing in the state of North Dakota"

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the takeover of an NDGOP District 28 delegate convention meeting, which saw a self-proclaimed parliamentarian simply wrest control of the microphone from a district chair.

Also, Sen. Jeff Magrum's bogus views on vaccines and colonoscopies, and listener feedback.

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.

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"I'm a lifelong North Dakotan," Greg Vetter told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "My ancestors moved here in 1888. The entire lineage since then have been North Dakota raised, and we've all lived here."

"This is home," he said, "and I want to be part of taking care of our home."

Vetter is a first-time candidate running for the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 7 alongside Steve Sauter, another newcomer who also joined us on this episode, and incumbent Sen. Michelle Axtman. They're facing off against a slate of populist challengers. Former lawmaker Rick Becker and Gaylynn Becker (no relation) are seeking seats in the House, while Jerri Hopfauf is running for the Senate.

This will be a battleground race in the ongoing schism in the Republican party between traditional conservatives and the populists.

Vetter and Sauter told us that they plan to win over voters by focusing on public service over culture war issues.

"I'm a big believer in you give twice as much as you get, the rest will take care of your care of itself," Sauter said. "And I just think the state, understanding how unique North Dakota is and what makes us specia, I want to be able to continue that and be part of that, continuing that in the future for such an amazing state."

They also said they plan to eschew the negative campaign tactics that were common from populist challengers in recent cycles.

"I've built a career on building trusted relationships, collaborating with people, treating them in a dignified, respectful manner," he said, adding that manners -- simple things like saying "thank you" and "I'm sorry" -- are important. "If those things don't resonate with the people of North Dakota anymore, and they choose not to elect me, I'm absolutely comfortable with that."

Also on this episode, guest co-host Jamie Selzler and I discuss the threat AI poses to political discourse, U.S. House candidate Alex Balazs's odd social media post, and Doug Burgum's disappointing turn away from who he was as governor now that he's serving in President Donald Trump's cabinet.

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.

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Kyle Erickson and Zach Raknerud are two Democratic-NPL candidates running in Minot's District 5, but what's unique about Erickson is that he was born with cerebral palsy. If elected, he would (at least in this observer's memory) be the first lawmaker in North Dakota living with that sort of disability.

But he wants it to be clear that he's not getting elected to be a single-issue leader.

"The people with disabilities isn't this nebulous demographic out there," Erickson said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We're your friends. We're your neighbors. We're your co-workers. I think it would be a great chance to have those voices or to have somebody from the disability community get elected."

Still, Erickson plans to represent all of his constituents if elected. "Disability rights in this state is like the second or third policy that's a priority for me right now, because, I mean, North Dakota is wonderful, but we have a lot of work to do in order to increase the quality of life for it citizens, and that means whether or not you're a single mother or you have a disability or you're white or you're black or purple.

Erickson first made statewide headlines when a disability program he works for at Minot State University saw its federal funding cut abruptly as a part of the Trump administration's chaotic "DOGE" efforts to promote efficiency. "I kind of point to that as my kind of origin story, so to speak," Erickson said adding, "I just want to protect my community members."

This is Erickson's first time running for office, but for Raknerud, this is his fifth turn on the ballot, including a past run for the U.S. House against former Congressman Kelly Armstrong. "I continue to try because I love North Dakota and I really do believe that the values of North Dakota are not being represented by the North Dakota GOP, especially as they go farther into the extremes."

Also on this episode, guest co-host Jamie Selzler and I discuss what is looking to be a very diminished state convention from the North Dakota Republican Party, Fargo's mayoral race, and listener feedback.

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.

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"This is just really a once in a generation moment and a great time to celebrate," Melissa Klocke-Joyce said on this episode of Plain Talk.

Klocke-Joyce works for the North Dakota State Historical Society, and is the coordinator for our state's celebration of America's 250th birthday. There will be events across the state, throughout the year, from smaller things like baseball games to large productions, like the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora and the Prairie Pyro-Musical in Mandan.

"It's not just a single a single day or a single ceremony," Klocke-Joyce said. "This is really a year-long nationwide effort. And we're trying to create opportunities for ongoing conversations and storytelling and education and community-led events."

Also on this episode, we discuss political troll Brandon Prichard's lawsuit challenging North Dakota laws prohibiting false political speech. With artificial intelligence enabling the mass-production of everything from text, to images, to video, by everyone from talented and scrupulous creators to unscrupulous fraudsters and malefactors, this area of public policy seems more important than ever.

And North Dakota State University's football team is moving to the Mountain West Conference. It's a big step up for the team, but it brings with it major new financial obligations. Is the school up for meeting them? Can it do so without further burdening students and taxpayers? And are we sure that big-time athletics is a healthy thing for campuses overall?

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.

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Heather Neville is a travelling nurse with more than four decades of experience. She's a four-time cancer survivor. She's an accomplished runner, having put in over 17,000 miles running in all 50 states to raise awareness and money for various causes.

She's also, now, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives here in North Dakota, which she's made her home since 2020.

"I just really my whole life I've wanted to serve in a different capacity and go marching for the people," she said on this episode of Plain Talk when asked why she's in the race.

"What I saw out there running 17,000 miles, there's so much more love than we ever expected. And it's out there, happiness, hope, inspiration, and it's our duty and privilege to reach back and help anybody that's underserved," she added.

Neville says she's in favor of a universal health care system, not unlike Canada's. "When we have cancer in this country, what do we do? Set up a GoFundMe," she said. "In Canada, you go to the doctors."

She's also critical of the way President Donald Trump's administration has gone about enforcing federal immigration laws. "I think they should rewind and vet these people that are agents, ICE agents, out there terrorizing our citizens. And they didn't," she said. "It was like a fast track to dress up and get out there and be very mean and angry towards people."

Neville said that if she doesn't win the Democratic-NPL's endorsement at the party's state convention in early March, she'll continue campaigning to the June primary.

Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the debate over nationalizing elections, and we respond to listener feedback.

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.

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We covered a lot of ground on this episode of Plain Talk.

There's reason to believe that North Dakota's Wonder Fund may not be performing all that well, and may not be investing in the sort of North Dakota-centric projects it was intended to. Is it time to audit the program?

In Fargo, there's a controversy over a housing development that got property tax breaks on the assumption that it would increase property value, and thus tax revenues, in the future. But then the property was sold to a nonprofit that won't pay property taxes. Is it time to re-evaluate our policies around these exemptions?

The Trump administration is drawing down the number of ICE personnel deployed to Minnesota, though they are leaving thousands t here. But doesn't that development -- drawing down troops, leaving an occupying force behind -- make it seem like we're at war? Hasn't the way the Trump administration has handled this all along make it seem like we're at war?

Also, the Attorney General's office has confirmed that the F5 Project is under an active investigation related to loans granted to the organization's top officials, the Trump administration wants to nationalize elections and take control away from the states, and the Hostfest, an important bridge in our region to our immigrant past, is no 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.

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"I used to referee a lot of basketball," Vern Thompson said on this episode of Plain Talk. "The people that would sit on the sidelines hollering at the ref, you know, 50% of them usually didn't like what he was calling because it was against our team. Well, the bottom line with that is that I had to get off my butt and get into the game."

That was Thompson's response to a question about why he's running for the U.S. House. He's seeking the Democratic-NPL nomination, running against Trygve Hammer.

Thompson has a colorful resume. He's a former state lawmaker. He's been a farmer, and he worked in talk radio with former left-wing host Ed Schultz. He's currently working as a trucker hauling natural gas out of North Dakota's western oil fields, and he spoke openly about his struggles with alcoholism.

"I was a young farmer and I struggled through the 1980s farm crisis," he said. "I'll be real candid with you, during that time I went in for treatment for alcoholism, and it's the best thing I ever did. I wouldn't be alive talking to you guys today."

"I saw people committing suicide," he continued. "I saw where people were getting foreclosed and they were filing bankruptcy. I don't want to see those people that are the same age today, those young farmers, as I was in the 80s ,because that was hell."

"I just felt that she was in ineffective," Thompson said of the incumbent in the race. "I think that Representative [Julie] Fedorchak has failed her constitutional responsibilities. She's let a president run wild and nobody's going to stop him until people stand up and say enough is enough."

"I respect Julie," he added, "but she's too timid. You have to stand up."

Also on this episode, we respond to some listener feedback, including an email from Greg, who says he used to be a "vile a-hole" Trump supporter but has come to realize that the president's critics are right.

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.

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