Civitalk

This week, we bid Civitalk farewell as we prepare for the exciting transition ahead: Civitas and John Locke Foundation’s new union! Ray and Brooke reflect on the lessons they’ve learned during their time at Civitas, as well as consider the lessons that giving to private charity can teach us during this time. They open up the...

This episode, Ray and Brooke get into the Christmas cheer by discussing “Woke Santa” and his dalliance with political correctness at the expense of a child, as well as the changing demographics across the state and our nation, and reflect on the best of 2020. Have a question or comment? Send us an email at radio@nccivitas.org....

Ray is joined by Bob Luebke, director of policy for the Civitas Institute. They talk the good and bad of Christmas, the current political realignment going on in the nation, the 2022 U.S. Senate race in North Carolina, education, and voter ID. Ray kicks it off by complaining about the cold but Bob helps take the Christmas...

Thanksgiving is on the horizon and Ray and Brooke sit down to discuss cherished Thanksgiving traditions and edibles, as well as venture into the uncertainty and disruption COVID and government shutdowns have created during this special time of year. They also lament the return of the toilet paper shortages we all so viscerally experienced the...

“Even though Cooper won, a lot of the issues he ran on lost.” – Ray Nothstine On this episode of Civitalk, Ray and Brooke discuss the dynamics of the election results. Does Trump continue to remain a force of influence on the political Right? How did Gov. Roy Cooper (D) win when so many Republicans...

This week, Ray and Brooke are joined by election policy analyst Andy Jackson to dive deep into the Election Day results. They discuss the impact President Trump has had on the GOP’s ability to expand its base and what the future might hold. They also consider ticket splitters who are those voters that split their...

What went wrong with the polls in 2016? This week, Joseph Campbell, author of Lost in a Gallup, joins Ray and Brooke to examine this question that has perplexed many voters and experts. They discuss lessons learned, as well as consider what role public opinion polling should play in political forecasts. Have a question or...

This week, Ray and Brooke discuss unscientific political prognostications based on which homes decide to observe Halloween and which cars they drive, Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden’s visits to North Carolina and who appears to be winning the state. Have a question or comment? Send us an...

This week, Ray is joined by Leah Byers to discuss the recent gubernatorial debate between Gov. Roy Cooper and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, sharing what they believe were the evening’s hits and misses. They also examine the special Civitas Action Freedom Rankings and consider the top scorers (including a surprise or two!) in this unique...

This week, Ray and Brooke examine the substance of the Vice Presidential debate and issue a definitive ruling on the accusations that Vice President Mike Pence was Mansplainer in Chief. They also discuss the latest developments in the Cal Cunningham scandal, what this might mean for his race, and how it impacts public perception of...

This week, Corey DeAngelis director of school choice at Reason Foundation and Bob Luebke, Civitas’ director of policy, join the show as we discuss the release of a brand new Civitas-Reason study titled, “Funding Students Instead of Systems: The Economic Impacts of Statewide Education Savings Accounts in North Carolina, authored by DeAngelis. The necessity for education choice and...

Was there collusion between the Democrats and Gov. Cooper’s North Carolina State Board of Elections that led to administrative changes, effectively overturning significant election integrity protections enacted by the legislature? Andy Jackson, election policy analyst here at Civitas joins us to discuss. We are also digging into the latest Civitas Poll results, including Tillis/Cunningham and...

Joe Catenacci, host of Mornings with Joe Catenacci on Big Talker FM, joins the program to give our audience a taste of what Wilmington’s political climate is like, from the increasing “Northernization” of Wilmington’s voting population and the growing civil unrest. The increasing politicization of sports struck closer to home as a Spanish-speaking broadcaster was...

This week, Ray and Brooke discuss their favorite food trucks (Redneck BBQ Lab, for the win!), the mass exodus out of cities, making predictions about life after COVID, declining voter confidence in the election, and the justifiable controversy surrounding the recently released Netflix series, Cuties, and Disney’s new live action version of Mulan. Have a...

Ray and Brooke are joined by Gil Pagan, the leader of Hispanos Del Sur (Southern Hispanics) to discuss how Latin culture and faith play into voting patterns among Hispanics. They touch on a variety of issues, from the differences between first generation Hispanic Americans and their children and grandchildren to the importance of work and...

This week, Ray and Brooke talk the Republican and Democratic national conventions, scan Gov. Cooper’s budget, and camp on how rising crime and civil unrest might play into how voters cast their ballots this November. Of course, they kick off the episode with an essential conversation on best breakfast spots and whether whiskey is an...

The electorate wants more education options, not fewer. So, why is Governor Cooper trying to limit options for lower-income families? And what’s going on with the North Carolina Association of Educator’s highly political platform and how does it impact students? Civitas’ director of policy, Dr. Bob Luebke, joins Ray and Brooke to talk about our...

What do we make of Kamala Harris’ decision to run with Joe Biden, someone she suggested was guilty of championing racist policies and harassing women? And what does the latest Civitas Poll tell us about where the North Carolina electorate currently stands? Will Senator Thom Tillis retain his seat or will our state send Cal...

Ray is joined by North Carolina writer Andrew Donaldson this week. They discuss the politics surrounding Gov. Roy Cooper’s extension of Phase Two and then jump into the governor’s race in North Carolina and the presidential race. Ray and Andrew also focus on the tremendous advantages Gov. Cooper has in the governor’s race right now...

This week, Brooke is joined by Leah Byers, Civitas policy analyst and government affairs coordinator. They make guesses as to former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden’s imminent VP announcement, examine the scrutiny Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, is under, and explore the uniqueness of the American Dream. They also delve into how the American...

What is the role of the government in education? How much liberty and freedom should parents have when it comes to how and where their child is schooled? This week, Ray and Brooke explore these questions, as well as share their favorite books and movies of quarantine. Take a listen! Have a question or comment?...

This week, Ray and Brooke celebrate 100 episodes of Civitalk, opening up with what they believe life will be like 100 years from now and their favorite 100-year-old individuals. They also discuss heavier topics such as learning lessons from flawed people throughout history and how the fight to educate children is shaping up in the...

This week, Brooke is joined by Dr. Andy Jackson, Civitas’ elections policy analyst, to discuss the 11th Congressional District Republican primary win of Madison Cawthorn, a 24-year-old political newcomer, over Trump-endorsed Lynda Bennet. They also discuss election safety protocols going into November and examine the ways the North Carolina State Board of Elections can better...

This week, Eric Peterson of Pelican Institute joins Ray and Brooke for a robust debate on online censorship. Should social media platforms be completely content-neutral or should community standards exist? And if community standards should be established, to what degree should the platform police them? We will also delve into Gov. Roy Cooper’s statewide mask...

This week, attorney Daniel Gibson makes his third guest appearance on Civitalk, helping us make sense of the recent Supreme Court decision, Bostock v. Clayton County. After Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered the surprising majority opinion, there has been outcry among some on the Right and celebration by many on the Left. We discuss a few of the...

This week, Ray and Brooke make early (and likely very premature) 2020 electoral predictions for the presidency, making moderately compelling, but highly unscientific, cases for their guesses. They also discuss growing concerns about letting new drivers on the road without taking a DMV road test (see here) because of potential exposure to the coronavirus. Included...

This week, Ray and Brooke discuss the heavy-hearted moment we are in as a state and nation. There are several essential, core functions of government: protecting life, liberty, and property. When they grossly fail at protecting any one of these three inalienable rights, they have failed at fulfilling the mission given to them by the...

This week, Ray and Brooke discuss Phase 2, the education landscape in North Carolina, the politics of reopening, mask wearing, and remember the late Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX). Take a listen and if you like what you hear, please leave us a review on iTunes! You can also listen to Civitalk on Spotify and Google...

This week, Michael Harden, Civitas’ new director of agricultural studies and outreach, joins the conversation to discuss worrisome developments in agriculture during the pandemic, his experience as a farmer and Georgia state legislator, and ways that North Carolina farmers can stay competitive. Take a listen and if you like what you hear, please leave us...

Dr. Andy Jackson joins us this week to discuss a recent lawsuit led by Marc Elias (Hilary Clinton and Dan McCready’s former attorney) that seeks to gut the vital progress the state has made on absentee ballot reform. We also share our favorite state parks and address questions surrounding the costs of the November election, […]

This week, Ray is joined by Leah Byers, policy analyst and government affairs coordinator, to discuss what Gov. Roy Cooper’s Phase 1 entails (and doesn’t), the challenges of opening later than surrounding states, and the tone deafness of many celebrities during a time of isolation and scarcity for a number of Americans. Take a listen […]

This week, Ray and I sit down with Brian Balfour, Civitas’ executive vice president and author of Economics in Action. Brian unpacks the various federal relief programs and delves into the important distinction to be made between economic stimulus and economic relief. We also discuss the best path toward economic recovery and the critical role that […]

On this week’s episode, Ray and I venture into the growing controversy surrounding a recent attack on homeschooling families. In a Harvard Magazine interview, Prof. Elizabeth Bartholet made a case for banning homeschooling in the United States. Harvard intends to host a summit in June to discuss further regulating home instruction. We also address Gov. […]

This week, Ray and I are joined by Dr. Samuel Gregg, research director of Acton Institute and author of Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization (in addition to many other good books). Join us for a discussion on the civilizational challenges the West faces in light of the growing pushback against faith and […]

This week, Ray and I are joined by Eric Peterson, director of policy, at the Pelican Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana. Eric gives us insights into the virus outbreak in New Orleans and details the fight for 5G access. We also touch on a few conspiracy theories and the economic hits Louisiana has taken, from […]

This week Ray and I discuss ways we have grown in thankfulness during this difficult time, as well as the impact social isolation stands to have on mental health. We also examine NC Policy Watch’s Rob Schofield’s suggestion that Gov. Roy Cooper (D) unlawfully appoint someone to take over for State Treasurer Dale Folwell (R) […]

As more of us begin to place faces behind the numbers of those impacted by the coronavirus, whether due to sickness or job loss, the reality of this unprecedented moment begins to hit home. Ray and I will discuss the evolving nature of this virus’ impact on North Carolina, as well as highlight the importance […]

Join a lively and in-depth conversation with Ray, myself, and Andrew Donaldson, an NC-based writer and commentator. We’re sharing how we’re surviving the social distancing mandates (including housefuls of children and pets), the beauty and pain of social media, Governor Roy Cooper’s response to this crisis, and the lack of law and order in Philadelphia. Like what […]

Based on the course this virus has run in other countries, it appears that the United States is still in the earlier stages of the spread of Coronavirus. In an effort to mitigate the rapid transmission of it (since it seems to be considerably more contagious than the flu, but less than the measles), many […]