Rephonic
Artwork for Plain Talk
North Dakota
Republican Party
North Dakota Ethics Commission
Property Taxes
Ethics Complaints
Democratic Party
Donald Trump
Carbon Capture
Kamala Harris
Political Campaigns
Transparency In Government
Joe Biden
Dickinson State University
Politics
Summit Carbon Pipeline
Voter Engagement
Government Accountability
Political Ethics
Doug Burgum
Elections

Plain Talk is a podcast hosted by Rob Port and Chad Oban focusing on political news and current events in North Dakota. Port is a columnist for the Forum News Service published in papers including the Fargo Forum, Grand Forks Herald, Jamestown Sun, and the Dickinson Press. Oban is a long-time political consultant.

PublishesDailyEpisodes757Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Plain Talk

Latest Episodes

Guest host Chad Oban and guest co-host Pat Finken sit down with Governor Kelly Armstrong for a wide-ranging conversation on politics, policy, and free speech. Governor Armstrong explains why the cure for bad speech is always more speech, why governme... more

Guest host Chad Oban and co-host Pat Finken sit down with Governor Kelly Armstrong for a wide-ranging conversation on politics, policy, and free speech. Governor Armstrong explains why the cure for bad speech is always more speech, why government cra... more

Dustin McNally was chosen by Republicans in District 42 to replace former state Rep. Emily O'Brien, who resigned her seat to take a position in Gov. Kelly Armstrong's administration. But despite emerging from that process the winner, he called it a ... more

Dustin McNally was chosen by Republicans in District 42 to replace former state Rep. Emily O'Brien, who resigned her seat to take a position in Gov. Kelly Armstrong's administration. But despite emerging from that process the winner, he called it a ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Cecile Wehrman
Executive Director of the North Dakota Newspaper Association
North Dakota Newspaper Association
Episode: 638: 'We have to be concerned about people not even liking or wanting to read'
Kyler Colum
Columnist and podcaster for Decoding
Decoding
Episode: 637: 'Do they know there's ways to influence a president beyond kissing his ass all the time?' (Video)
Zac Ista
House Minority Leader and representative Democrat from Grand Forks
Episode: 637: 'Do they know there's ways to influence a president beyond kissing his ass all the time?' (Video)
Kyler Callum
Columnist and podcaster for the Decoding
mydecoding.com
Episode: 637: 'Do they know there's ways to influence a president beyond kissing his ass all the time?' (Audio)
Kyler Collom
Columnist for the Decodin
Decodin
Episode: 636: 'Constant distractive state' (Video)
Pat Traynor
Interim Commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
Episode: 636: 'Constant distractive state' (Video)
Amy De Kok
Executive Director of the North Dakota School Boards Association
North Dakota School Boards Association
Episode: 635: 'Definitely calmed down since the pandemic' (Audio)
Wes Cummins
CEO of Applied Digital
Applied Digital
Episode: 634: Applied Digital CEO talks about Harwood, AI, jobs, and nondisclosure agreements (Video)
Bob Martinson
Representative in the North Dakota House of Representatives
North Dakota House of Representatives
Episode: Bob & Dan | The $740,000 Question (Episode 3)

Hosts

Rob Port
Host of Plain Talk, a columnist associated with major North Dakota newspapers, known for his commentary on political issues and local governance.
Chad Oban
Co-host and long-time political consultant, providing insights into North Dakota's political climate and engaging in discourse with various guests.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 114 ratings
  • Recommend!

    A great way to learn about North Dakota government. I learn things every episode and recommend it to my friends regularly.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ND4everandever
    United States8 months ago
  • The thoughtfulness we need

    I’m so grateful to have found this podcast last fall during election season. I was tired of the presidential news cycle and wanted to hear about candidates and issues that will affect me in my day-to-day life. I find Chad and Rob to be thoughtful with their questions, knowledgeable about how the government works (or should work) and willing to change their minds. I have also appreciated getting to know public figures who are important in my state. Definitely recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Astrukel
    United States8 months ago
  • 10/10 would recommend

    In a world of civil discourse being almost nonexistent its nice to finally find a podcast where two opposing sides can come together and have a civil discourse about the issues facing not only our country but our state as well. Rob sounds very knowledgeable and keeps the peace very well between two opposing side who normally couldn't talk civilly if their lives depended on it. 10/10 would recommend this podcast to anyone who enjoy politics or simply wants to learn more about the issues we citize... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    truthseekerz69
    United Statesa year ago
  • Appreciate the Discussion

    I enjoy the banter on the program between the hosts, but I most appreciate that they can have a conversation about just about any topic and it doesn’t degenerate into a shouting match about who is right and wrong. I like that there are people of all points of view. Civil discussion is always necessary and important to demonstrate, and I think that is an extremely valuable lesson that the hosts share.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Phantom_FLHS
    United Statesa year ago
  • Institutional knowledge of ND politics adds context to today’s moments

    I really have grown to respect the amount of political knowledge Rob and his co-host bring to flavor our current times. Not always agreeing with Rob’s take but usually pretty good at flavoring tthe context of the moment for those of us somewhat new to ND politics. Love that he has co-hosts from the opposite side of his conservative politics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    North Dakota Veterinarian
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A portion of the audience criticizes perceived biases and echo chamber dynamics, highlighting a need for deeper, more diverse viewpoints.
Many commend the engaging and civil conversations that showcase a range of political views and foster healthy debate.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful discourse and knowledge shared by the hosts, often emphasizing the quality of discussions surrounding local governance.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

636: 'Constant distractive state' (Video)
Q: Do you have any plans to implement any actual workplace policies at the HHS, with something like no phones in meetings?
We want to pursue the healthiest workplace in America and limiting distractions during meetings will be part of that.
634: Applied Digital CEO talks about Harwood, AI, jobs, and nondisclosure agreements (Video)
Q: How can we add so much power consumption without prices going up?
As a net power exporter, using power within the state means exporting less power, which optimizes infrastructure use and can lower prices for residents.
634: Applied Digital CEO talks about Harwood, AI, jobs, and nondisclosure agreements (Video)
Q: What will this facility do and how many jobs will it mean to the community?
The facility will create 200 to 300 full-time jobs, focusing on high-paying, skilled positions, and will utilize local energy resources to benefit the community economically.
634: Applied Digital CEO talks about Harwood, AI, jobs, and nondisclosure agreements (Audio)
Q: Why were the nondisclosure agreements necessary?
They protect insider information to prevent insider trading and to protect competitive information.
635: 'Definitely calmed down since the pandemic' (Audio)
Q: Was this law necessary? Did this solve a problem that we had?
Most local school boards have been providing opportunities for public comment for years, but the law adds necessary guardrails for managing the process.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Plain Talk

What is Plain Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations center around the political landscape in North Dakota, addressing key issues such as public education, property tax legislation, and the dynamics of local governance. The hosts often invite experts and political figures to discuss current events and their implications, such as the impact of new laws on public participation in government meetings or the ethical concerns surrounding state funding practices. Unique to this series is its open discourse, highlighting various perspectives, often blending serious political analysis with lighter discussions on regional sports, reflecting the hosts' engaging styles. The podcast serves as a notable platform for understanding local governance and political controversies, making it appeal... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Plain Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Plain Talk:

1. News & Views with Joel Heitkamp
2. Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness
3. Tangle
4. Ruthless Podcast
5. The Wirecutter Show

How many episodes of Plain Talk are there?

Plain Talk launched 7 years ago and published 757 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Plain Talk?

Recent guests on Plain Talk include:

1. Cecile Wehrman
2. Kyler Colum
3. Zac Ista
4. Kyler Callum
5. Kyler Collom
6. Pat Traynor
7. Amy De Kok
8. Wes Cummins

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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