Hosts Scott Hennen and Kevin Flynn broadcast live from the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber Energy Summit, dedicating the show to energy policy, the fight for educational freedom in North Dakota, and a deep dive into the politically charged debate surrounding health insurance premiums, government subsidies, and rising healthcare costs.
⏱️ Standout Moments
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Energy Workforce: The Graying Grid (0:02:54): Katherine Warren of Otter Tail Power Company highlights a critical workforce challenge: approximately 25% of the utility industry will be eligible for retirement in the next 5–10 years, making recruitment and training essential.
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ND's Poor Education Choice Rank (0:06:04): Headmaster Paul Fisher of Capstone Classical Academy reveals that North Dakota ranks 48th out of 50 states for educational freedom and choice, arguing that excessive state regulation forces private schools to mirror public schools, hindering innovation.
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Democrats' "Treasonous" Military Video (0:13:30): The hosts react to a video where Democratic members of Congress, including former military personnel, explicitly encourage active members of the military to defy orders from the Trump administration if they perceive them as "illegal."
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Insurance Subsidies and Profits (0:23:55): North Dakota Insurance Commissioner John Godfrey addresses President Trump's criticism of subsidized health insurance premiums, noting the subsidies insulate consumers from rising healthcare costs, but delay real reform on the price drivers.
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Xcel's Future Energy Mix: Nuke is Key (0:31:17): Xcel Energy President Bria Shea states that their diverse future energy mix includes a strong nuclear fleet (25% of energy mix) that runs 24/7 and carbon-free, and they are actively looking to build new nuclear plants in North Dakota.
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The AI/Energy National Security Race (0:35:43): Stacey Dahl of Minn Kota Power and the host discuss the top national security priority: winning the AI race, which hinges on building out the energy infrastructure (intelligence factories) in the Midwest.
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Data Centers Do Not Increase Rates (If Done Right) (0:34:04): Xcel Energy affirms that data centers do not increase electricity rates for current consumers if the partnerships are done right, ensuring the data center pays its own way and helps absorb fixed system costs.