Federal funding cuts are putting pressure on key institutions in North Dakota. In this episode, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with NDNC reporter Michael Standaert about how these cuts could impact the state library and major research universities. Programs like interlibrary loans, online databases, and services for people with reading impairments are at risk. At UND and NDSU, canceled CDC and NIH grants threaten ongoing and future research. This episode explores the growing uncertainty, the financial fallout, and how communities are responding.

Listen to the Backstory, then read the full article here.

In this episode, hosts Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert delve into the anxieties local veterans are facing regarding proposed staffing cuts at the VA, which could potentially affect as many as 72,000 positions nationwide. The discussion includes insights from various veterans, who express fears about longer wait times and diminished care quality. Despite reassurances from the VA, veterans remain skeptical about how these cuts will affect their care.

In this episode, hosts Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert unpack what it means to be a “humanitarian parolee” in the U.S.—specifically focusing on Ukrainian immigrants in North Dakota under the “United for Ukraine” program. They break down how humanitarian parole differs from refugee status, why these distinctions matter, and what’s at stake as parolees face an uncertain legal future. The conversation also looks at how national attitudes toward Ukraine are shifting and what it could mean economically for local communities if these newcomers are forced to leave.