Rob Port

Port: In Minot, an example of how democracy is supposed to work If none are willing to change our minds, if we're obliged to remain loyal to our political teams no matter how egregious the decisions and behaviors of that team, then how can democracy function?

If none are willing to change our minds, if we're obliged to remain loyal to our political teams no matter how egregious the decisions and behaviors of that team, then how can democracy function?

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Port: Vacancy drama not finished in District 42 The District 42 NDGOP appointed Rep. Dustin McNally to fill a vacancy, but now the losing faction in the party wants to force a special election.

The District 42 NDGOP appointed Rep. Dustin McNally to fill a vacancy, but now the losing faction in the party wants to force a special election.

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Port: Xcel expects North Dakotans to pay for its political decisions The company has rushed away from coal, and toward unreliable and expensive alternatives like wind and solar, and now its electricity customers are going to pay for it.

Xcel expects North Dakotans to pay for its political decisions

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Port: We told you so For years real conservatives (distinct from the populist nationalists in the MAGA movement) warned about moving power to Washington D.C., and our liberal friends laughed at us. Who's laughing now?

For years real conservatives (distinct from the populist nationalists in the MAGA movement) warned about moving power to Washington D.C., and our liberal friends laughed at us. Who's laughing now?

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Plain Talk: 'I am deeply frustrated that a judge's decision could undo the will of the voters' On this Plain Talk, a lawmaker who lost her seat after a court imposed a new district map on North Dakota speaks out.

On this Plain Talk, a lawmaker who lost her seat after a court imposed a new district map on North Dakota speaks out.

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Port: In the Davies High School scandal, AG Drew Wrigley has the cart way in front of the horse Why did the attorney general hold a sensational press conference about alleged misconduct by students when he's not the prosecutor and the investigation isn't completed?

Why did the attorney general hold a sensational press conference about alleged misconduct by students when he's not the prosecutor and the investigation isn't completed?

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Plain Talk: 'Republicans should not be in favor of tax increases' On this Plain Talk, Steve Forbes talks health care, the economy and how Trump's unpredictable, sweeping regime of tariffs is hurting farmers in North Dakota and beyond.

On this Plain Talk, Steve Forbes talks health care, the economy and how Trump's unpredictable, sweeping regime of tariffs is hurting farmers in North Dakota and beyond.

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Port: These Republicans aren’t singing from the same songbook Nationally, it’s all rainbows and picnics, but here in North Dakota, some Republican leaders are sounding alarm bells.

Nationally, it’s all rainbows and picnics, but here in North Dakota, some Republican leaders are sounding alarm bells.

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Port: We should care if the laws we pass actually work If politicians make a new law, it should work, and if it doesn't work, it shouldn't be the law.

If politicians make a new law, it should work, and if it doesn't work, it shouldn't be the law.

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Port: Ethics for thee, but none for me A former lawmaker turned populist activist is calling on a newly-appointed Grand Forks lawmaker to resign over a trivial ethics mistake.

A former lawmaker turned populist activist is calling on a newly-appointed Grand Forks lawmaker to resign over a trivial ethics mistake.

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Port: Giving her away Every milestone your child achieves is both a joyous triumph and a painful step toward their independence from you.

Every milestone your child achieves is both a joyous triumph and a painful step toward their independence from you.

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Port: Who could replace North Dakota schools superintendent Kirsten Baesler? President Trump nominated Baesler to serve as an undersecretary at the Department of Education. It appears her confirmation is finally moving forward. Who will replace her?

President Trump nominated Baesler to serve as an undersecretary at the Department of Education. It appears her confirmation is finally moving forward. Who will replace her?

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Plain Talk: A 'clown show' and a 'bad faith effort all around' On this Plain Talk, newly appointed lawmaker Dustin McNally discusses and criticizes the process that led to his appointment.

On this Plain Talk, newly appointed lawmaker Dustin McNally discusses and criticizes the process that led to his appointment.

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Port: Fargo lawmaker Josh Boschee considering campaign for mayor The lawmaker, who was first elected in 2012, says he sees a need for "new, fresh faces" in city government.

The lawmaker, who was first elected in 2012, says he sees a need for "new, fresh faces" in city government.

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Port: Sen. Kevin Cramer helped set the stage for bullying Jimmy Kimmel off the air Kimmel's show ended because a federal bureaucracy headed by a Trump loyalist made a threat, but Cramer was making these threats nearly a decade ago.

Kimmel's show ended because a federal bureaucracy headed by a Trump loyalist made a threat, but Cramer was making these threats nearly a decade ago.

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Plain Talk: 'We have to be concerned about people not even liking or wanting to read' "If people don't like to read, newspapers don't have anything for them," Cecile Wehrman, executive director of the North Dakota Newspaper Association, said on this episode of Plain Talk.

"If people don't like to read, newspapers don't have anything for them," Cecile Wehrman, executive director of the North Dakota Newspaper Association, said on this episode of Plain Talk.

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Port: The cycle of violence Americans should be uniting against acts of political violence and extremism. Instead, each side uses them as justification for more of the same.

Do we feel, now, years removed from Floyd’s death, that the riots perpetrated by activists in its aftermath have resulted in the political outcomes our liberal friends prefer?

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Port: Voter ID opponents now encouraging people to comply with the law "Groups that previously promoted claims that ID requirements suppressed voters are now helping those voters comply," Rob Port writes. "This is a positive development."

Groups that previously promoted claims that ID requirements suppressed voters are now helping those voters comply. This is a positive development.

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Port: City of Minot withdraws from North Dakota League of Cities over property tax bill A group of self-styled conservatives on the Minot City Council voted to withdraw the membership because of the League's support for property tax relief that included a cap on local spending.

A group of self-styled conservatives on the Minot City Council voted to withdraw the membership because of the League's support for property tax relief that included a cap on local spending.

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I'll admit it. This comment left under my most recent column made me lol.

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Port: Cancel culture and the apotheosis of Charlie Kirk There's irony in canceling someone for saying something incendiary about the death of someone who was incendiary for a living.

A city employee in Fargo is under fire for a social media post about Charlie Kirk. There's irony in canceling someone for saying something incendiary about the death of someone who was incendiary for a living.

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Port: North Dakota's MAGA faction fails to lock out moderate voters An ascendant faction within the North Dakota Republican Party has found success in seizing party leadership position by locking out voters they don't like. In Grand Forks, recently, they failed.

An ascendant faction within the North Dakota Republican Party has found success in seizing party leadership position by locking out voters they don't like. In Grand Forks, recently, they failed.

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Port: Our nihilism, our disgrace The right blames the left, the left blames the right, and the only concrete thing to emerge from this fetid swamp are the profits for the social media industry.

The right blames the left, the left blames the right, and the only concrete thing to emerge from this fetid swamp are the profits for the social media industry.

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Plain Talk: 'Look, it's absolutely shameful.' On this episode, state Rep. Zac Ista talks about President Donald Trump's delays in delivering disaster relief to North Dakota.

"Do they know there are ways to influence a president beyond kissing his *** all the time?" asks Rep. Zac Ista on this episode of the Plain Talk Podcast.

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Port: This is how representative government is supposed to work Elected leaders owe us their judgment and betray us when they instead bow down to the whims of public opinion.

Elected leaders owe us their judgment and betray us when they instead bow down to the whims of public opinion.

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Plain Talk: 'Constant distractive state' Are cellphones the "biggest public health threat" facing Americans? Pat Traynor, the head of North Dakota's Department of Health, says so. We talked about it on this Plain Talk.

Are cellphones the "biggest public health threat" facing Americans? Pat Traynor, the head of North Dakota's Department of Health, says so. We talked about it on this Plain Talk.

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Port: It's been 81 days with no answer from Trump on deadly North Dakota storms We live in a world where the men and women elected by North Daktoans to represent them in public office must toady to the president of the United States to get something as routine as disaster aid.

We live in a world where the men and women elected by North Daktoans to represent them in public office must toady to the president of the United States to get something as routine as disaster aid.

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Port: Give the voters what they voted for Even when it’s stupid.

Even when it’s stupid.

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Port: We do not have Fourth Amendment rights if the government can punish us for exercising them "Are our rights inalienable, or merely privileges that can be revoked when the government finds our exercise of them inconvenient?" Rob Port asks.

Are our rights inalienable, or merely privileges that can be revoked when the government finds our exercise of them inconvenient? Are these rights ephemeral, or concrete?

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Port: District 25 Republicans applied a religious litmus test to legislative appointment It's one thing for a political party to consider religious beliefs while endorsing candidates. It's quite another when religion becomes a factor in making an appointment.

The District 25 NDGOP asked candidates for a legislative vacancy to answer a list of questions that included a question about which church they attend, and a recommendation that they read Christian scripture.

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