This weekly podcast will highlight how policy decisions affect North Dakota residents.
Host Craig Blumenshine from Prairie Public will speak with North Dakota Monitor journalists about their reporting, giving listeners a closer look at major topics in the news, from education and state policy to energy and agriculture topics.
New episodes every Friday.
For more information, visit www.northdakotamonitor.com/podcasts
Subscribe to A Closer Look with the Monitor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Candidate questions, power moves and navigating the election
Three Republican Party officials this week filed a petition (https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026/09/29/lawsuit-challenges-legality-of-4-north-dakota-legislative-candidates/) to the North Dakota Supreme Court challenging the eligibility of four legislative candidates.
Reporter Jack Dura joins host Craig Blumenshine to talk about the arguments in the court case and the secretary of state’s position.
Also, Monitor deputy editor Jeff Beach talks about the power demand for a proposed Cass County data center (https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026/09/29/2nd-fargo-area-data-center-would-use-double-the-power-of-harwood-site/), and editor Amy Dalrymple describes the Monitor’s Voter Guide (https://northdakotamonitor.com/voter-guides/2026-general-election/).
A Closer Look with the Monitor (https://northdakotamonitor.com/podcasts/) is a partnership with Prairie Public's Main Street (https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/main-street).
25 Sept 2026
Public trust in focus: North Dakota’s Development Fund and Supreme Court race
Two stories this week put a spotlight on institutions that depend heavily on public trust.
Reporter Jack Dura joins host Craig Blumenshine to discuss a recent audit (https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026/09/22/lawmakers-seek-ag-probe-after-audit-finds-problems-with-north-dakota-business-financing-program/) of the North Dakota Development Fund, a state-backed program that provides loans and investments to businesses.
Dura also talks about his recent reporting (https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026/09/21/north-dakota-supreme-court-races-are-nonpartisan-but-republicans-play-a-big-role/) on a contested North Dakota Supreme Court race that is nonpartisan but has involved endorsements and events from Republicans.
A Closer Look with the Monitor (https://northdakotamonitor.com/podcasts/) is a partnership with Prairie Public's Main Street (https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/main-street).
18 Sept 2026
Farmers feel the squeeze
North Dakota farmers are heading into harvest season facing another major expense – record high diesel prices (https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026/09/16/record-diesel-prices-hit-north-dakota-farmers-at-the-wrong-time/).
Diesel has climbed above $6 a gallon in parts of the state, roughly double what some farmers paid last fall. Monitor Deputy Editor Jeff Beach joins host Craig Blumenshine to discuss the impact of the high prices on North Dakota producers.
Also, Monitor reporter Michael Achterling talks about his recent reporting on a new tribal law enforcement program (https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026/09/14/first-tribal-police-recruits-set-to-graduate-from-basic-training-in-north-dakota/) in North Dakota that gives recruits a basic training option much closer to home.
A Closer Look with the Monitor (https://northdakotamonitor.com/podcasts/) is a partnership with Prairie Public's Main Street (https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/main-street).
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