Cramer Announces Radio Talk Show Host Scott Hennen as State of the Union Guest

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - North Dakota radio listeners tuning into the State of the Union may see a familiar face in the audience Tuesday night. Longtime radio host Scott Hennen, who founded the state's first radio talk show nearly 40 years ago, will attend as U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer's (R-ND) guest. Hennen hosts the statewide program, "What's On Your Mind?," which airs on AM 1100 "The Flag" in Fargo, AM 1090 KTGO "The Flag" in Watford City and Williston, SuperTalk 1270AM of Bismarck-Mandan. Cramer and Hennen hold a talk radio town hall Friday mornings on the show. It is also simulcast statewide on BEK-TV.

"I chose Scott Hennen as my invited guest for the State of the Union because I want to celebrate talk radio. Scott and I have worked together, him as a radio host and me as a fill-in, going all the way back to my days as Tourism Director and Economic Development Director in Ed Schafer's administration," said Cramer. "He and I have been doing talk radio hall since my very first day in Congress. And for over 13 years, I join Scott almost every week for an hour [and] take calls unfiltered."

Cramer added, "Beyond that, I've joined several other talk radio shows throughout North Dakota, and I'm blessed by all of it. It's been a great way for me to communicate with the citizens, a great way for them to call me-or for that matter text or email questions in-and to get an unfiltered answer. I've so much appreciated my relationship with the radio stations throughout North Dakota [and] the broadcasters throughout the Upper Midwest who honored me with an award last year."

Cramer also spoke of the important role AM radio plays in North Dakota keeping voters informed of breaking political news. "It's such a precious thing that is oftentimes overlooked because of our high-tech, clicking, social-media culture. We sometimes forget that when everything else goes out, the AM signal is still the strongest and the best.

"So, we're going to celebrate talk radio, and I think it's appropriate for a State of the Union […] with the President who makes himself accessible to the media every single day. He is transparent, he is authentic, he is sometimes offensive-which is too bad for the person that's offended, quite honestly-because most people appreciate just how accessible he is," Cramer continued.

"It's important to note that it was on Scott's show that I first announced my support for Donald Trump to be our Republican nominee back in 2016 when it wasn't cool to do it. Now, of course, everybody does it, but in those days, it was very unusual. And as the President at that time, not even the nominee, Donald Trump joined me on the show. We did the exact same thing again in 2024. He and I joined Scott on his show to announce my support for Donald Trump to be President of the United States.

"Our relationship has served the people of North Dakota very well. It's a long list of accomplishments and a long list of things that our state has benefited from because of my personal relationship with Donald Trump. I'm really honored that Scott has accepted my invitation to celebrate talk radio together at the State of the Union."

Hennen's "What's On Your Mind" show has hosted myriad political leaders and media figures over the years, including presidents, governors, and members of Congress, underscoring the program's ability to influence North Dakota's media and political landscape.

"I have known Kevin since my radio career in North Dakota began in 1984," said Hennen. "I'll never forget when he brought President Bush 41 and First Lady Barbara Bush to Fargo to campaign for Dr. Ben Clayburgh for Senate in 1994. In true Cramer form, he orchestrated the mother of all photo ops with President Bush and Clayburgh in a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the very plane Bush was shot down in during World War II!

"He was instrumental in getting Ed Schafer elected Governor and for architecting a transformation of North Dakota politics by electing a countless number of Republican statewide offices and our legislature-a dominance that continues today. He was an early advocate for North Dakota's energy revolution as a member of way the Public Service Commission. He campaigned for the U.S. House in 2012 promising unprecedented access to all North Dakotans. It was a promise he kept by launching the talk radio town halls. Since 2013, I have enjoyed hosting a townhall every week with Kevin as he famously takes calls, texts, and emails from listeners across the Midwest, whether they agree with him or not.

"Kevin has brought on many special guests over the years, ranging from Johnny Holm, Dale Brown, countless U.S. Senators, and President Donald Trump on several occasions. I'm proud that we were trailblazers by creating this first-in-the-nation platform, and we strive every week to report on numerous stories that are ignored by old media platforms. Talk radio was the first social media and remains a very effective way to directly connect with voters."

Hennen and his show's reputation for engaging public officials and newsmakers in conversations are built by listeners who tune in through traditional radio broadcasts, online streaming, mobile apps, and live video. The multi-platform access allows the program to maintain a broad reach while preserving the interactive format that has long defined talk radio.