KFGO talk-show host Joel Heitkamp brings his common sense approach to the issues of the day.
For the sake of love
When it comes to the right and wrong side of history, the vote on the infrastructure bill comes to top of mind. The infrastructure bill brings billions of dollars into North Dakota for public works: roads, bridges, water, sewer, and curb just to name a few. It's easy to see why our Congressman would want to vote yes, a...
Apr 22, 2024
Here we go again
The biggest question that's going to come up is, What else? What else is there about the FM Diversion that taxpayers don't know? And the reason that'll be the question is of the Diversion Planning Board's own making. They brought attention back to the engineering of the biggest project this state has seen in years. The...
Apr 19, 2024
The Word of God
What would Donald Trump say about Barack Obama or Joe Biden if they were out selling the Bible for personal gain? He would be calling them every terrible name he could think of, as would Trump supporters. They would be screaming to high heaven how disgusted they are. They'd say how inappropriate and beneath it is of an...
Apr 01, 2024
Table Talk with Ed
We tried something new on News and Views today. We began a segment called, "Table Talk with Ed." Once a month, we'll be having a round-table discussion here on the Mighty 790 KFGO with former Governor Ed Schafer. The format will be simple. It'll be equal time for all three: The Governor, myself, and most impo...
Mar 25, 2024
Capitol Punishment
I've worked in radio now for 19 years, and I've never seen as strong of a response as I have to our podcast series, Capitol Punishment. I'm proud of it for a number of reasons. Short of the area floods, it's one of the best team efforts I think we've had at KFGO. A group of colleagues went the distance by putting in th...
Mar 21, 2024
We knew they were there
Attorney General Drew Wrigley announced today that the emails Deputy Attorney General, Troy Seibel, and Administrative Assistant, Liz Brocker, attempted to delete, have been found. The cell phone of late Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has had the emails the whole time. Why they weren't found earlier is a question for...
Mar 04, 2024
Woke
It's easy to make sure people know who you are. You simply open up your wallet and buy it. You can spend enough money so everyone remembers your face, your name, and your position. Tammy Miller is doing just that. Most of you don't know who Tammy Miller is. You might, and I stress might, know that she's North Dakota's ...
Feb 22, 2024
You deserve to know
This week, KFGO will do something others in media should be doing as well. We've been working on telling the story around the death of former North Dakota Attorney General, Wayne Stenehjem. The deletion of his emails was a crime and deserves future investigation. The type of investigation that allows you to look at the...
Feb 20, 2024
They're all to blame
The one thing the Democrats have to agree with, is there's a crisis on our southern border, and it's getting worse. It doesn't matter if they think it's someone else's fault, because the reality is, it's theirs now. They are in charge, and the administration has had three years to deal with it. But they haven't. Presid...
Feb 05, 2024
It needs to be a priority
Congressman Kelly Armstrong isn't running for a federal office anymore. He's been North Dakota's lone Congressman since 2019, and he recently announced he no longer wanted the job. (I might argue Burgum already showed us he didn't want his job, but that was a conversation we already had.) Then, Congressman Armstrong de...
Feb 02, 2024
The Price of a Soul
Doug Burgum has sold his soul. It was his soul to sell, but nonetheless, he sold it. We don't know what price he charged for it, but hopefully it wasn't as cheap as the chance to stand on a stage with his orange god. Hopefully, it was worth a Cabinet position or Vice Presidency. We just don't know yet. And if Trump los...
Jan 25, 2024
Call him what he is
It didn't take long after the Iowa Caucus for Donald Trump to go on the attack. His biggest threat for the Republican nomination is former South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley. So, in the Trump world, it's now time to punch. And not over policy, but over her as a fellow human. All Trump had to do was go to his old play...
Jan 18, 2024
Created equal
I'm going to begin with one simple question: If President Biden, while being President, ordered the assassination of his top rival, Donald Trump, would he be subject to prosecution for murder? Of course the answer is yes. He should be treated no differently than any other individual in this country, because our Preside...
Jan 10, 2024
Go to the source
We can agree and disagree all day long about the situation on our southern border, but none of that matters until someone actually does something. But before I lay out my ideas, let me buy some insurance. The things the migrants are doing is illegal and shouldn't be allowed to happen. They shouldn't be allowed into the...
Jan 05, 2024
Merry Christmas
I'm done for the year folks. I'm not very good at taking time off, but Abby made it very clear this year that I needed to. I'm not really sure why she was so adamant, but I choose to think it's because of her concern for me, and not for the sake of getting rid of me 'til the new year. It's been a good year on "New...
Dec 21, 2023
A tragedy
There are many things I can criticize Senator Kevin Cramer for, but the tragic action of his son, Ian, isn't one of them. Ian struggles with mental disorders. It isn't his parents' fault that he stole their car and caused the devastating death of Mercer County Deputy, Paul Martin. Some might argue it isn't anyone's fau...
Dec 08, 2023
They helped him do it
It's amazing to me how quiet the NDGOP has been when it comes to a man they promoted and supported for years, but Ray Holmberg is theirs. They chose him to be one of their leaders. They placed him in a position of power that few, if any, had for years. Not only did they give him the pursestrings, but they made North Da...
Nov 29, 2023
Cheap Shots - Nov 24, 2023
STEPHEN- FOR SALE: Great condition 5th wheel B&W champion hitch. Asking $700 or best offer. Call Stephen 218-770-5388. RICK- FOR SALE: Vintage hay elevator, 40 feet long on wheels. Comes with 1 horse electric motor. Rick at 701-388-6296, asking $150 JIM- FOR SALE: electric powered sewer snake, brand new. Sells for ...
Nov 24, 2023
Keep pushing
There is a group of people out there that are members of Ray Holmberg's inner circle. They know him and everything about him, and for sure by now, their i's have been dotted and the t's crossed. So the question is, What happens to that group? Do they get a pass while knowing everything he did, or even worse, possibly h...
Nov 21, 2023
The numbers don't lie
A person saying they'll skip the Republican debate when they're not being invited to the debate, are two separate things. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum states that he was skipping the third Republican presidential debate, when in reality, he wasn't invited to it. There's a big difference between the two. Not being ...
Nov 09, 2023