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Thanks to soaring prices and big cuts to federal food assistance, hunger is quickly growing worse across North Carolina. The latest conservative estimate is that one out of seven North Carolinians is “food insecure” – a number that's way up in just the last five years and now even higher than during the pandemic. How did we get into this situation, how are food aid organizations trying to respond, and what more should all of us be doing? Recently, as part of Hunger Awareness Month, Newsline explored those questions and more in a special extended conversation with a pair of experts: Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina President Amy Beros and Food Bank of the Albemarle CEO Liz Reasoner. In Part One of our recent extended conversation with North Carolina food bank leaders Amy Beros and Liz Reasoner we explored the remarkable and unhappy fact that – thanks to the toxic combination of rising prices and big cuts to federal funding for food assistance, the scourge of hunger is on the rise in North Carolina, and is now worse even than during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Part Two of our chat, we dug deeper into the scope of the crisis, the huge practical challenges that many struggling households face in acquiring healthy food, the daunting problems that food banks and pantries face in serving the growing number of people in need, and how ultimately, it's incumbent upon all of us to ask and expect more from elected leaders – particularly in Washington – if we're going to see any meaningful improvement in the situation. Click here to listen to the full interview with Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina President Amy Beros and Food Bank of the Albemarle CEO Liz Reasoner.
Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet! Host Peter Pappas and co-host Laura Mussler sit down with Paul Taylor, candidate for North Carolina Senate District 21. In this episode, Paul Taylor shares his journey from military service and government work to his campaign for public office. The conversation dives into issues like education funding, economic development, the impact of minimum wage increases, PFAS water contamination, and the responsibilities of government in supporting communities. Paul Taylor discusses his family legacy of public service, his commitment to representing all constituents, and the challenges facing both Moore and Cumberland counties. With candid discussion and plenty of humor, the team explores both the big policy questions and everyday challenges faced by North Carolinians. Stay tuned for real talk, real opinions, and a closer look at the people behind the politics.
David Joy joins our September Book Club to discuss Those We Thought We Knew, a powerful novel about the fractures and reckonings in contemporary Appalachia.Today, I'm honored to welcome renowned storyteller David Joy to Book Gang for a searching, unflinching conversation about Those We Thought We Knew, our September Book Club selection for the MomAdvice Book Club. David brings sharp honesty and lived experience as he examines the histories, power structures, and personal reckonings that shaped his fifth novel. Together, we explore how the legacy of the South, the responsibilities of storytelling, and the risks of crossing boundaries animate both his work and his life.Those We Thought We Knew plunges us into a North Carolina mountain town wrestling with its past and present after the murder of a young Black artist. Through a chorus of voices—each rendered with nuance and empathy—Joy asks what it means to confront inherited stories, who gets to claim a place, and what's lost or found when we finally face the truth.In this week's thought-provoking episode, we discuss:
Hosts Jonathan Owens, Ardis Watkins, Suzanne Beasley and Samantha Cline rush through a packed episode ahead of the convention, leading with the big WakeMed–Atrium merger story and its financial and cost implications for North Carolinians. They also cover high-paid university staff, a rabies scare at traveling petting goats, tributes to Dolly Parton, local politics, and a lighthearted roundabout question about personal obsessions.
Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Dr. Monty Sullivan, the new president and CEO of the North Carolina Community College System. After leading Louisiana's system for 12 years—doubling graduates and securing half a billion dollars in facility investments—Dr. Sullivan brings his passion for transforming lives to North Carolina's 58 community colleges. He shares his vision for modernizing student onboarding, expanding workforce access, and ensuring every North Carolinian has the opportunity to build a better life. The two also bond over their shared love of Marcus King, Tyler Childers, and the Americana music scene.
Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Dr. Monty Sullivan, the new president and CEO of the North Carolina Community College System. After leading Louisiana's system for 12 years—doubling graduates and securing half a billion dollars in facility investments—Dr. Sullivan brings his passion for transforming lives to North Carolina's 58 community colleges. He shares his vision for modernizing student onboarding, expanding workforce access, and ensuring every North Carolinian has the opportunity to build a better life. The two also bond over their shared love of Marcus King, Tyler Childers, and the Americana music scene.
Reach out to Cody and Buhler to tell them what's up!Bill, Billy, William, and Williamses!On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) went Three Yards and a Cloud of Punt to recap Week 0's thrilling opener between North Carolina and TCU.Although Cody's beloved Tar Heels got the win over the Horned Frogs, he was a bit under the weather, but powered through.With the blessings of a great Bill Belichick defense and the power of Billy Edwards Jr.'s rocket right arm, it was a good day for North Carolinians anywhere.Don't forget to Split the G because this is False Start!Support the show
Judicial races are the ones most people skip and they might be the ones that shape your life the fastest. We sit down with Christine Walczyk, a Wake County trial judge and democratic candidate for the North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 3 race, to translate what the appellate courts actually do, why their decisions set statewide precedent, and how recent changes mean the Court of Appeals often becomes the final word for everyday North Carolinians.We talk candidly about the growing perception that judges rule along party lines, what politicization does to public trust, and why an independent judiciary is supposed to serve as a check on the other branches. Christine explains how appellate judging differs from trial work, why clear and well-reasoned opinions matter, and how she thinks about judicial restraint, precedent, and the rare moments when the law must evolve to meet modern realities like new technology and new forms of surveillance.Then we dig into a practical problem that shows up in eviction, custody, and domestic violence cases every day: access to justice. We unpack “legal deserts,” the high cost of bringing civil cases, and how IOLTA (interest on lawyer trust accounts) funding supports legal aid and pro bono services. When that funding shrinks or eligibility changes, real people lose real help, and the system becomes harder to navigate without a lawyer. We also cover court funding constraints, accountability and ethics, and what voters should expect from judges beyond a party label.If you care about constitutional rights, due process, court transparency, and fair access to legal help, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who could use more info about the judicial races and the upcoming mid-term election.Christine Walczyk: Campaign Finance ReportFacebook/InstagramInfo@JudgeChristine.orgVoter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information) Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation) Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting) Early Voting - October 15-31Closest Early Voting Locations WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly SpringsHilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay VarinaBeech Bluff County ParkWake Tech-Southern CampusELECTION DAY Tuesday, November 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PMSupport the showAs always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email NCDeepDive@gmail.com. Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.Now, let's dive in!
If there's a branch of North Carolina state government that's undergone the largest transformation in recent decades – both in its role and its make-up – it's likely the state courts. Thanks in large part to an aggressive effort spearheaded by Republican legislators and funders, a combination of law changes and the dedication of millions of dollars in campaign spending have combined to make the state's judiciary vastly more partisan and our judges more ideologically divided. That said, it's also true that even as this transformation has proceeded, the courts remain an institution about which many, many North Carolinians have only the most rudimentary understanding. And it's in light of this fact that Newsline recently sat down with one of our state's most knowledgeable experts on the courts – attorney, scholar and former appellate court judge Chris Brook. And as you'll hear in the following two-part conversation with Brook, people who care about the state's current situation and its future would do well to learn more about the make-up of our appellate courts and the upcoming elections that will shape their memberships. Click here for the full interview with former NC Court of Appeals Judge Chris Brook
If there's a branch of North Carolina state government that's undergone the largest transformation in recent decades – both in its role and its make-up – it's likely the state courts. Thanks in large part to an aggressive effort spearheaded by Republican legislators and funders, a combination of law changes and the dedication of millions of dollars in campaign spending have combined to make the state's judiciary vastly more partisan and our judges more ideologically divided. That said, it's also true that even as this transformation has proceeded, the courts remain an institution about which many, many North Carolinians have only the most rudimentary understanding. And it's in light of this fact that Newsline recently sat down with one of our state's most knowledgeable experts on the courts – attorney, scholar and former appellate court judge Chris Brook. And as you'll hear in the following two-part conversation with Brook, people who care about the state's current situation and its future would do well to learn more about the make-up of our appellate courts and the upcoming elections that will shape their memberships. Click here for the full interview with former NC Court of Appeals Judge Chris Brook
If you pay any attention to politics and elections you know that the coming weeks will feature an avalanche of so-called horse race polls that test and report on the strength of various candidates as we head toward the fall midterm election. At such a time it becomes easy to think of North Carolinians as being sharply divided into two political camps based on their partisan affiliation or candidates of choice. However the director of the Elon University Poll, Jason Husser, said the truth is that most North Carolinians don't fall neatly into opposing camps that disagree on most or all issues. Indeed, as he discovered in his new poll – the 2026 North Carolina Political Landscape report – the truth is much more nuanced, and there are a host of important issues and ways of self-identifying in which we North Carolinians have in a lot – maybe even surprising amounts — in common. Click here for the full interview with Elon University Poll director Jason Husser.
Wildfire approaches Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands of evacuations; New federal soot air standards could help North Carolinians; Colorado ranks near bottom for homegrown educational attainment; the Trump administration appointed chemical lobbyists to key oversight positions.
Listen to the podcast version of this above.I could have made this post a part two on Audre Lorde's influence on why I'm moving in this direction. After all, she was the one who said our silence wouldn't protect us.But in meditating on said silence and learning more about my Black queer feminist foreparents, I came across a The New Yorker article from 2020 that detailed how June Jordan was a noted scholar of what she called “environmental design” despite being lauded in most writings about her as just a poet.June Jordan, The OG Black Queer Feminist UrbanistRecently, the Black radical publication Hammer and Hope dug even deeper into the journey of her not publishing what they and she called a “land reform” novel called “Okay Now”.It was right on time for this Black August series.The New Yorker article details how she reached out to Buckminster Fuller, the designer of the architectural geodesic dome, of which the most prominent example is the blue golf ball-looking building at Epcot Center, among other housing, transportation, and spiritual inventions.She'd spent several months studying architects on the weekends at a Manhattan library and taking a trip to Greece, despite struggling to make ends meet and living in a Queens housing project. Her husband left her and her toddler during this time, and she sent her toddler to his parents because of her poverty.However, she did have the ear of folks like Fuller and writers at publications such as Esquire and the New York Times.But, when writing about a joint-conceived project with Fuller for “urban renewal” in Harlem for Esquire, she omitted her role in it in print. Then the editors at Esquire turned around and turned the article into the case for getting rid of the Black folks that Jordan had reached out to Fuller to create the project for.In the Hammer and Hope article, it mentions that she visited Mississippi for the New York Times and had become a housing researcher, espousing many of Jane Jacobs' tenets of housing and street design, helping people be better humans at the same time as Jacobs.However, Jacobs was able to get her nonfiction urbanist manifesto published, multiple to be exact, even though she was not without criticisms of her own, just for being a woman.While Jordan was questioned by her publishers at Knopf for her own urbanist nonfiction draft, which diverged from Jacobs' reasoning on what was needed for a better relationship between humans and the Earth. Jordan asserted, based on her Mississippi trip, that Black Southerners held the keys for land reform, on their farms and in their towns and cities.Jordan tried to pivot her manifesto into a novel, Okay Now, that never was completed in her lifetime and she was working on up to her death.Fuller at least wrote her a letter or recommendation for a fellowship in Italy that allowed her to start on Okay Now; other reporters and museum retrospectives continued to allow Jordan to be erased from their Harlem project, which was never built.And she continued to write poetry and speak up for folks in Palestine and the US South!How I'm Changing this Narrative of No Black Woman “armchair” urbanistsJane Jacobs is considered an expert on urbanism, despite having only some college credits from Columbia University, being married to an architect, and writing commentaries, articles, and books. She does not hold a degree, and neither did June Jordan. They both self-studied or took classes that enhanced their writings, but didn't result in a full degree, some of which could be blamed on the sexism and racism around Barnard College and Columbia University at the time.So how does this relate back to me.In this current backlash against DEI and in my first ten years of running my design consultancy and practice, I've been met with more criticism than praise, despite holdiing a Master of Public Affairs where I concentrated on community and economic development, along with my own writings and speeches around the US and Canada.I was used to how we as Southerners can praise and criticise and then go back to praising over a plate of barbecue and sweet tea.June Jordan notes our vibe herself in a line from her New York Times piece on how the Mississippians of 1969 didn't label themselves as rebels or radicals or bohemians; they just did them. There was also immense Black class solidarity.At times I worry we are losing some of that, especially with the pressure we get to be more “Northern” in the South. Now, with the internet and cultural exchange being at the tip of search bar or prompt, I'm seeing breakthroughs in Black folks finding subcultures like goth, but making it our own. Afro-Punk is a key site of this happening, both on and offline. Some will say that hard segregation was why we were in Black class solidarity, but I would counter that even with integration, in the South, we aren't that far apart from each other in the way we are in other regions that have better worker rights and pay equity.And as for me and my street cred…When I put them all together like this, erasure of my life and career is a joke.These photos and pictures stand for myself and themselves on what my career and life have looked like over the past 16 years. I wonder what our feminist foreparents would have done with the kind of access we have! But I am determined to pick up the baton and pass the torch.I need to finalize my The Defying Gentrification Playbook copyright registration, but I own my book, and I made it and published it myself.I own this newsletter space. I'm working on my own political thriller romance trilogy, that I'll design and print, and promote myself if I need to!I journal privately daily, and I have so many ideas for this newsletter and other publications I plan to pitch.Yes, I'm taking the book on tour.And I'm grateful for my Buckminster Fuller figures, who have answered my letters, booked me for speeches, and given me bylines.I will not let myself be erased, and I will not shrink myself anymore! I can open my own gates and I will press past any criticism!AnnouncementsI am going to be traveling to Greensboro next weekend for a panel on my colleague and friend Marrianne LeGrecco's book on food justice in Greensboro, Everybody Eats. We'll be at Scuppernong Books on Elm Street on Sunday 8/30/2026 from 4-6 pm.Next week's newsletter will be a returning classic from my archives that I'm annotating live from Greensboro. Then the following week we launch our next series here. It's the tenth anniversary month of the big cross-country move of my own volition. Get ready for me to revisit my reflections on bouncing between DC, Baltimore, and PG County, along with how I see myself as a North Carolinian and African in the diaspora.Finally, thanks to everyone who came to the inaugural Making New Fantasies: A Defying Gentrification Workshop, which we decided to do on every third Thursday as a virtual journaling workshop around processing these kinds of things. Come join us in September if you want encouragement in writing your own stories and making your own plans to make your community better.Until next time,Kristen Get full access to Defying Gentrification with Kristen Jeffers at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe
As anyone who's watched a college or professional sporting event in recent years is well-aware, the rapid spread of online gambling has brought transformative – and many would say deeply troubling – change to what has long been one of the most important social institutions in our country. In just a very few years, sports gambling has gone from an unlawful underground activity into a huge and ubiquitous business run by giant corporations. So, what do average North Carolinians make of this rapid change in our society and how it's affecting the people – a high percentage of them young men – for whom it has become a big and expensive part of their lives? Recently, veteran pollster David McLennan – the long-time director of the Meredith College Poll – conducted a new survey to examine these issues, and this past week, he joined me for an extended two-part conversation to discuss some of his findings. Click here to listen to the full interview with veteran pollster David McLennan.
Table of Contents: ALERT TEXAS – HOUSTON UNDER ISLAMIC SIEGE–The latest Arbaeen procession stormed the city: men marching in lockstep, little children and their fathers pounding their chests, black flags raised high, loudspeakers blasting chants of domination. This wasn't “prayer.” It was a military-style operation on American soil. Muslim Chest-beating–Self-flagellation–Screaming in a foreign language at the top of their lungs while black flags whipped in the wind–A deliberate display of force–The message: We own this space now. You will stop. You will watch…This is the new Texas they are building in real time! Full documentary on the Islamic takeover of Michigan–We are likely to see our first Muslim senator in the United States of America–You want to know what Dearborn is actually like? Watch this video Muslim mosque opens in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Polish politician warns illegal invaders: “Our soldiers can use live bullets now. So do not come to the Polish border. Do not harm our soldiers because you will be dead. Shot dead.” Hundreds of North Carolinians have shown up to a town council meeting to protest a proposed 5,000 square foot mosque in Mooresville NC that they were NOT told about–Multiple women got up to say that Islam was: “an evil ideology” and “I personally say NO to Sharia Law” Top Headlines Read: MUSLIM ABDUL EL-SAYED WINS!–PROGRESSIVE MUSLIM ROCKS MICHIGAN–BIG WIN FOR LEFT–MUSLIM-AMERICANS CELEBRATE “We’re Here To Destroy The White Race”: Muslim Democratic Socialist Of America Hero Openly Declares War On West & He's actively campaigning with Democrat senate and gubernatorial candidates! Let Islam take over but throw these good samaritans in jail for rescuing these precious beagles!!! Along with over 50 other activists she is facing up to 12 years in prison for rescuing a beagle from an animal experimentation facility! The SURVEILLANCE GRID IS HERE With AI FLOCK CAMERAS – And It’s WORSE THAN YOU THINK Big Brother Warning — Smart TV's – Flock Cameras – License Plate Readers Flock Camera systems now actively refusing to remove or disconnect systems on business properties claiming the entities are under “contractual obligation to keep them in place” Police in Brookfield, Wisconsin held two people at gun point, shut down the highway and boxed in a car after Flock safety LABELED THE CAR “connected to a homicide.” But the Alert was OUTDATED & INCORRECT Surveillance Cameras Now Track Phones, Smartwatches, And Pet Microchips Alongside License Plates: THE TRACKING OF LICENSE PLATES, SMART RINGS AND WATCHES, YOUR SMART APPLIANCES WAS NEVER ABOUT THE PIECE OF TECH, IT WAS ABOUT YOU! “7 Police surrounded the house GUNS DRAWN!” Flock Cameras strikes again Flock Camera's Wicked Agenda Find Nearby ALPRs Automated License Plate Readers | Learn more at: NoALPRs.com & https://deflock.org The Flock Camera Company Doesn’t Like Being Surveilled Inside the growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras Flock Is Losing Dozens Of Contracts As Citizens Push Back LAWYER: When Police Want to Preform a “Safety Check” — Say THESE Words: “With all due respect officer, I assert my 4th amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches. I do not consent. I am not trying to be difficult; I simply choose to exercise my rights.” PDF: Emergency Freedom Alerts 8-10-26 Click Here To Play The Part 2 Audio Source
Ever parked somewhere for a couple of hours, came back, and your car had a boot on it? Then they hit you with a $450 fee, plus a card fee, plus an after hours fee? It sounds made up, but for many North Carolinians, it's reality. Today we're looking at why towing and booting has become such a hot topic, what the law actually says, and why state leaders are trying to change it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tune in here to this Wednesday's edition of the Brett Winterble Show! We're joined by Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, to talk about the direction of the Democratic Party and the issues shaping the state's upcoming Senate race. Whatley argues that progressive policies promoted by national Democratic leaders are increasingly influencing North Carolina politics, and he criticizes former Governor Roy Cooper's record on taxes, education, public safety, and transgender-related legislation. He also discusses economic issues, including manufacturing, inflation, healthcare costs, and energy prices, while outlining his support for expanding domestic manufacturing and extending tax cuts. Throughout the conversation, Whatley contrasts his policy priorities with Cooper's, saying he plans to focus on lowering taxes, reducing costs for working families, and strengthening the state's economy. He closes by encouraging North Carolinians to get involved with his campaign and emphasizing the importance of voter outreach ahead of the election Listen here for all of this and more on The Brett Winterble Show! For more from Brett Winterble check out his YouTub See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Grammy-nominated North Carolinian singer/songwriter Tift Merritt returns to our podcast to discuss Sugar (One Riot records), her first new album of original material in nearly a decade, but of course the conversation always goes much deeper than the record, which is why "T-Bird" is one of our favorite guests. The Record Store Day Podcast is a weekly music chat show written, produced, engineered, and hosted by Paul Myers, who also composed the theme music and selected interstitial music. Executive Producers (for Record Store Day) Michael Kurtz and Carrie Colliton. Please consider subscribing to our podcast wherever you get podcasts, and tell your friends, we're here every week and we love making new friends!
Sheila Mikhail did everything right. She stayed healthy, saw her doctor regularly, and got her annual mammograms at Duke Cancer Center. Despite all of it, her breast cancer went undetected for seven years. The culprit: dense breast tissue, a common condition that can cause mammograms to miss up to half of all tumors. Now cancer-free, Sheila is on a mission to ensure all North Carolinians have access to the screening that could have caught her cancer years earlier. Having built a billion-dollar biotech company, she joins the Holler to share how she turned personal tragedy into a political fight and why she took on North Carolina's most powerful politician to win it. Join the Holler today and help us build a better North Carolina, one conversation at a time.
We take a political vibe check on North Carolina by examining what the latest Catawba-YouGov poll shows. We'll separate signal from noise while discussing what these polls really tell us about the state's electorate as another consequential election season gets underway.
My conversation with Jarvis starts at 26 minutes and Allison Jaslow and I begin at 1:06 Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Get Jeff's new book The Web We Weave Why We Must Reclaim the Internet from Moguls, Misanthropes, and Moral Panic Jeff Jarvis is a national leader in the development of online news, blogging, the investigation of new business models for news, and the teaching of entrepreneurial journalism. He writes an influential media blog, Buzzmachine.com. He is author of "Geeks Bearing Gifts: Imagining New Futures for News" (CUNY Journalism Press, 2014); "Public Parts: How Sharing in the Digital Age Improves the Way We Work and Live" (Simon & Schuster, 2011); "What Would Google Do?" (HarperCollins 2009), and the Kindle Single "Gutenberg the Geek." He has consulted for media companies including The Guardian, Digital First Media, Postmedia, Sky.com, Burda, Advance Publications, and The New York Times company at About.com. Prior to joining the Newmark J-School, Jarvis was president of Advance.net, the online arm of Advance Publications, which includes Condé Nast magazines and newspapers across America. He was the creator and founding managing editor of Entertainment Weekly magazine and has worked as a columnist, associate publisher, editor, and writer for a number of publications, including TV Guide, People, the San Francisco Examiner, the Chicago Tribune, and the New York Daily News. His freelance articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country, including the Guardian, The New York Times, the New York Post, The Nation, Rolling Stone, and BusinessWeek. Jarvis holds a B.S.J. from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He was named one of the 100 most influential media leaders by the World Economic Forum at Davos. Allison Jaslow grew up in a working class, union household and much of her early days were defined by her father's alcoholism that ultimately claimed his life when she was a teenager. Around the time of his death she also felt a call to service, and while visiting a military base on a recruiting trip she was inspired to first serve her country in uniform in the United States Army. Alllison ended up earning an ROTC scholarship to college and joined active duty during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars in 2004. She served two combat tours in Iraq, including a deployment during the surge, and achieved the rank of Captain. She served honorably and earned a Bronze Star Medal for service, and also earned an Army Commendation Medal with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster before leaving active duty. She then continued her service on Capitol Hill, in the White House and in leadership roles in the nation's leading post-9/11 veterans advocacy organization. In her role as CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, she drove conversations about the issues that the nation's newest generation of war veterans care about, including the need to modernize the VA, put an end to the veteran suicide crisis, and for Congress to reclaim it's War Powers' authority. Now, Allison is running for Congress so that everyday North Carolinians have a voice they can count on in Congress to represent them in Washington. She knows what it's like to live on the edge and is ready to fight to help make life a little bit easier for families like hers that continue to be squeezed by the cost of basic needs like healthcare and housing. Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo
There's a longstanding pattern in American politics that in most off-year elections, the party of the president tends to lose support and right now, that's looking more and more like what we'll see this fall in North Carolina. According to new polling from the Catawba College YouGov Survey, support for President Trump, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee Michael Whatley, and other GOP candidates generally has waned significantly – especially among unaffiliated voters. So, what's driving this shift and how significant is it? Recently NC Newsline sat down to discuss these questions and more with Catawba College political scientist and pollster, Michael Bitzer. And as our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, we also got a chance to ask Bitzer about his recent poll that gauged what North Carolinians think about one of the country's most important founding documents and the principles it espoused. Click here to listen to our full interview with Catawba College political scientist and pollster, Michael Bitzer.
A heat dome will send extreme heat to as many as 18 states this week; 3 firefighters are killed in wildfires on the Colorado-Utah border; Intense scrutiny of poll workers could impact numbers in Mississippi; Rideshare companies use AI to tap Colorado riders and drivers; North Carolinians drop Obamacare in record numbers as the cost soars.
The Death toll rises from that pair of Earthquakes that hammered Venezuela, and is expected to increase; North Carolinians can soon use grants to pay for non-degree programs; Connecticut and education leaders across the nation warn Democratic governors against a voucher plan; Despite capacity, Arizona lawmakers balk on solar energy.
Guest: Brad Panovich, WCNC CharlotteIf you've lived in North Carolina for any length of time, chances are you've turned to one familiar face when the weather turns serious. But being a trusted meteorologist today isn't just about what happens on TV—it's about showing up wherever your audience is, whether that's on-air, online, or in the middle of a rapidly evolving storm. Today on Weather Geeks, we're joined by Brad Panovich, Chief Meteorologist at WCNC Charlotte. For decades, Brad has helped guide North Carolinians through everything from day-to-day forecasts to high-impact events—including more recent storms like Hurricane Helene—building a level of trust that goes far beyond the forecast itself. We'll talk about how his approach to communication has evolved in the age of social media, what it takes to cut through misinformation, and how you balance urgency, clarity, and calm when people are depending on you the most.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Brad Panovich and His Journey02:55 The Evolution of Weather Communication05:54 The Importance of Credentialing in Meteorology08:56 The Role of Trust in Weather Forecasting12:05 Break 112:08 Navigating Social Media as a Meteorologist15:13 Handling Negativity and Criticism in the Digital Age20:13 Understanding Public Perception of Weather Forecasts23:40 Break 224:12 The Role of Social Media in Weather Communication26:28 The Impact of AI on Meteorology30:11 Personal Reflections on the Impact of Meteorology34:26 The Educator's Role in Meteorology ResourcesOhio State University Meteorology Program - https://meteo.osu.edu/UNC Charlotte Weather Communication Course - https://physics.charlotte.edu/ Guest linksBrad Panovich on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WXBradWebsite - https://www.wcnc.com/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wxbradSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When a utility company like Duke Energy plans for the future, it tries to predict how much electricity its customers will need a decade from now. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, much of that process amounts to a guessing game in which utility company profits often play a much bigger role than keeping ratepayer bills low or protecting our natural environment. And right now, this appears to be very much the case at the state Utilities Commission as it reviews Duke's latest carbon plan for the years to come. As NC Newsline learned in a recent conversation with the Environmental Defense Fund's North Carolina Policy Director, Will Scott, while Duke's current proposal calls for building a fleet of new gas power plants by 2033, expert testimony indicates that North Carolinians should be deeply skeptical and supportive of alternative proposals that would emphasize improvements to the electric transmission grid and continued rapid development of less expensive and sustainable energy sources like wind and solar power. Click here to listen to the full interview with the Environmental Defense Fund's North Carolina Policy Director Will Scott.
When a utility company like Duke Energy plans for the future, it tries to predict how much electricity its customers will need a decade from now. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, much of that process amounts to a guessing game in which utility company profits often play a much bigger role than keeping ratepayer bills low or protecting our natural environment. And right now, this appears to be very much the case at the state Utilities Commission as it reviews Duke's latest carbon plan for the years to come. As NC Newsline learned in a recent conversation with the Environmental Defense Fund's North Carolina Policy Director, Will Scott, while Duke's current proposal calls for building a fleet of new gas power plants by 2033, expert testimony indicates that North Carolinians should be deeply skeptical and supportive of alternative proposals that would emphasize improvements to the electric transmission grid and continued rapid development of less expensive and sustainable energy sources like wind and solar power. Click here to listen to the full interview with the Environmental Defense Fund's North Carolina Policy Director Will Scott.
With a new state government fiscal year set to commence on July first, North Carolina state legislators have still yet to pass a budget for the year that's coming to an end on June 30th. We're the only state in the union in which this is the case. While the state has continued to function at a basic level, the lack of funding certainty, and even minimal raises for teachers and other state employees, has caused enormous hardship. Meanwhile, even as the budget and the negotiations around it remain shrouded in secrecy, other important proposals – including more changes to how the state conducts elections – continue to advance. This past week, Newsline caught up with Wake County state Senator Lisa Grafstein to learn what Republican legislative leaders are telling rank and file members, and why from her perspective, average North Carolinians should be deeply concerned. We also discussed legislation that would place new burdens on local government by capping property taxes and limiting their options for dealing with homeless populations, and yet another new effort to alter coastal policy without first hearing from and listening to the science experts. Click here to listen to the full interview with Senator Lisa Grafstein.
With a new state government fiscal year set to commence on July first, North Carolina state legislators have still yet to pass a budget for the year that's coming to an end on June 30th. We're the only state in the union in which this is the case. While the state has continued to function at a basic level, the lack of funding certainty, and even minimal raises for teachers and other state employees, has caused enormous hardship. Meanwhile, even as the budget and the negotiations around it remain shrouded in secrecy, other important proposals – including more changes to how the state conducts elections – continue to advance. This past week, Newsline caught up with Wake County state Senator Lisa Grafstein to learn what Republican legislative leaders are telling rank and file members, and why from her perspective, average North Carolinians should be deeply concerned. We also discussed legislation that would place new burdens on local government by capping property taxes and limiting their options for dealing with homeless populations, and yet another new effort to alter coastal policy without first hearing from and listening to the science experts. Click here to listen to the full interview with Senator Lisa Grafstein.
Trump says Ships are now moving through the Strait of Hormuz;12 people are dead in a skydiving plane crash in Missouri; Some Kentucky counties and cities are hitting the pause button on data centers; Expert urges North Carolinians to keep cool and avoid extreme heat; Critics question the role of a religious pregnancy center in an Idaho care desert.
The three guys are back this week with a discourse about planting your roots. Lest there be any confusion, this isn’t an episode about gardening. Rather, it’s an important conversation about investing yourself in the people of God in every season of life. The gents kick things off with modified Minnesotan and North Carolinian accents. …
Over 12% of North Carolinians were living in poverty in 2024. However, a new report finds a much larger group in North Carolina still struggles to make ends meet. An additional 28% of the state's households earn above the federal poverty threshold but not enough to afford basic expenses. We discuss the study and the affordability crisis impacting families.
Genuine food insecurity in which people don't know where their next meal is coming from is a subject that merits a lot of attention. By any fair assessment the fact that literally millions of North Carolinians – a large percentage of them children – go to bed hungry in the world's richest nation is, or at least ought to be, a gigantic scandal. As grim as some of these numbers are, recent actions in Washington – most notably big cuts to federal food assistance and the rising prices caused by the war in Iran – have conspired to make the situation even more dire. Recently, to take stock of just how desperate things have gotten and some of the things average folks can do to help respond, Newsline recently caught up with the President and CEO of the Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Amy Beros. Click here to listen to the full interview with Amy Beros, President and CEO of the Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Genuine food insecurity in which people don't know where their next meal is coming from is a subject that merits a lot of attention. By any fair assessment the fact that literally millions of North Carolinians – a large percentage of them children – go to bed hungry in the world's richest nation is, or at least ought to be, a gigantic scandal. As grim as some of these numbers are, recent actions in Washington – most notably big cuts to federal food assistance and the rising prices caused by the war in Iran – have conspired to make the situation even more dire. Recently, to take stock of just how desperate things have gotten and some of the things average folks can do to help respond, Newsline recently caught up with the President and CEO of the Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Amy Beros. Click here to listen to the full interview with Amy Beros, President and CEO of the Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Ever since Republicans captured control of the state legislature at the outset of the last decade, North Carolinians have been witness to a steady stream of proposals designed to make voting harder and more complicated and make the day-to-day oversight and regulation of elections more partisan. And now, with yet another national election of great importance just over five months away, new proposals are being introduced. One such measure in the state Senate would reduce the state's early voting period from 17 days to 10 despite the enormous bipartisan popularity of the current system. In addition, a series of proposals at the GOP-controlled state Board of Elections would make it easier to both toss out provisional ballots and mailed ballots on technicalities and restrict nondisruptive demonstrations designed to get voters to the polls. And recently to learn more about these proposals and how average North Carolinians can weigh in on them, Newsline spoke with the Policy Director of Common Cause North Carolina, Brooks Fuller. Click here for the full interview with Brooks Fuller, Policy Director of Common Cause North Carolina.
Under threat of a potential chemical explosion, 50,000 people in SoCal have been ordered to evacuate; The Trump administration says U.S. and Iran agree in Principle to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; A new guide tells North Carolinians which waterways are safe for swimming; Tenant town halls across Virginia inform renters of new housing laws.
There are several consitutional amendements North Carolinians will vote on this November. Two of the most notable amendements involve a cap on the state's income tax and a proposal impacting property taxes. WRAL State Government reporter Will Doran breaks down what they include and the politics behind them.
Award-winning author Heather Frese discusses the magic of North Carolina's coastline, her inspiring memories of Hatteras Island, and how her deeply personal characters were brought to life. A message from our sponsor, Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville: Your Next Chapter Beings Here Whether you prefer to spend your days in a kayak, on a mountaintop or simply enjoying the view, Asheville is the place of dream retirements. Your exciting new adventure is calling — and the answer is here at Deerfield. Each month, New York Times best-selling author Wiley Cash handpicks contemporary books by fellow North Carolinian authors (and those writing books set in the state), encouraging listeners to read along and get to know the writers behind the stories. Wiley reviews each book in both the print and digital versions of Our State Magazine - producing one episode per month! Contact Our State Book Club: podcast@ourstate.com https://www.ourstate.com/topics/arts-culture/book-review/book-club/
Good artists borrow, great artists steal. Apparently, Thomas Jefferson got the memo. It turns out some North Carolinians penned their own Declaration of Independence nearly a year before TJ scribed his. So, if Thomas Jefferson stole (borrowed/homaged) the language for the Declaration of Independence, why have we never talked about this? Well, there was one heck of cover up! To get the full story, we call up David Fleming, author of Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Get the book The Leader in Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Student at a Time About This Week's Guest Muriel Summers is an award-winning principal who twice guided her school, A.B. Combs Elementary in Raleigh, North Carolina, to being named the top magnet school of America and the original leadership school featured in FranklinCovey's Leader in Me. She has been recognized as teacher of the year, principal of the year, and with an honorary doctorate, the William and Ida Friday award for Leadership in Innovation, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine given by the Governor of North Carolina (the state's highest honor given to a North Carolinian), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Award for Leadership in Education, and the Ralph Kimmel Award, North Carolina's highest honor for principals. She now serves as the Global Ambassador for the Leader in Me, and is the co-author, with Stephen R. Covey, Sean Covey, and David Hatch, of The Leader in Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Student at a Time.
State lawmakers are homing in on housing expenses as North Carolinians sour on the economy, with rising concerns over the cost of living and broader economic conditions. North Carolina lawmakers are proposing a variety of new initiatives to address the rising cost of living, everything from freezing reappraisals to easing development to boost supply. WRAL state government reporter Paul Specht talks us through some of the ideas lawmakers are putting forward as we get closer to midterm elections in November.
Caleb Horowitz reads his poems "Where is that boat going?" and "We are wearing history heavy like a raincoat" from our Spring 2026 issue.Caleb Horowitz is a North Carolinian poet, teacher, and penguin enthusiast. When he is not chaperoning dozens of students across the country for high school speech and debate tournaments, you can find him reading or writing poems about whales. You can find more of Horowitz's writing with Jewish Book Council, Gashmius, Psaltery & Lyre, Tiger Leaping Review, and Calul Journal.
A recent survey shows that while North Carolinians are pessimistic about the nation's political future, they are strongly united in support of constitutional checks and balances. They also oppose presidential overreach. And they say these feelings would influence their vote in the next election, including among members of both parties.
Award-winning author Halle Hill discusses her short story collection, Good Women. Each month, New York Times best-selling author Wiley Cash handpicks contemporary books by fellow North Carolinian authors (and those writing books set in the state), encouraging listeners to read along and get to know the writers behind the stories. Wiley reviews each book in both the print and digital versions of Our State Magazine - producing one episode per month! Contact Our State Book Club: podcast@ourstate.com https://www.ourstate.com/topics/arts-culture/book-review/book-club/
No world news development of the past few weeks has commanded more attention or spurred greater controversy than President Donald Trump's decision to go to war with Iran. And while, at this point, the ultimate outcome of the war remains very much in question, the war is drawing very high degrees of skepticism from North Carolinians of all political persuasions – especially independents and Democratic voters. Now add to this the largely negative view that most North Carolinians hold right now about the economy and the president's performance in managing it, and it's no surprise that his overall approval ratings have plummeted. So where exactly do things stand, how does this compare to past public attitudes on foreign wars, and what's likely to be the key driver of public opinion during the 2026 election cycle? Recently, Newsline sat down with the director of the Elon University Poll, Prof. Jason Husser, to find out. In Part One of my recent sit down with Elon University pollster and political scientist, Prof. Jason Husser, we discussed his most recent public opinion surveys and what they say about how North Carolinians view the Trump presidency – and why deep-seated skepticism about the war in Iran and the state of the economy are likely to present big problems for the president and his party in the fall elections. In Part Two of our conversation, we turned our attention to North Carolina politics and policy matters, including the fall U.S. Senate race between former Gov. Roy Cooper and challenger Michael Whatley, approval ratings for Gov. Josh Stein, and what North Carolinians are thinking about some high-profile issues, like concealed weapons and the rising costs of health care. Click here to listen to the full interview with Elon University poll director Jason Husser.
Tim and Mike sit down with Antoine Lassiter to talk about what kingdom multiplication really looks like — especially in normative-size churches. Antoine shares his personal story, his heart for reaching the community, and practical insights on how multiplication doesn't have to be reserved for the mega-church down the road. It starts right where you are.Antoine Lassiter is the pastor of Think Kingdom Church in Kannapolis, NC and a Church Planting Strategist for SendNC through the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. A native North Carolinian with over 20 years of ministry experience, Antoine is a disciple maker at heart — passionate about coaching and training church planters across the state. As the founder of the Think Kingdom network, his work includes finding, assessing, and developing planters, sending churches, leaders, and church planting coaches — as well as helping local churches create a reproducing culture that leads to multiplication. Antoine and his wife, Latonia, have been married for 25 years and have two sons, Justin and Christopher.Listen to:Antoine's Story — How God shaped his journey and calling into ministry and multiplication.Reaching Your Community — Practical ways churches can engage the people right around them with the gospel.Multiplication in Normative-Size Churches — Why multiplication isn't just for large churches, and how everyday congregations can embrace a multiplication mindset.About Antoine:Website: antoinelassiter.comAntoine's book - "Beyond the Calling: The Cost of Faithful Leadership"
Major education news in North Carolina as the Leandro case is overturned, NCDOT opens an information center about plans for the I-77 toll lanes, Artemis II opens a new era in American space travel with a North Carolinian on board, and the South Carolina women's basketball team is back in the Final Four for the sixth straight year.
Tornadoes, gendered for a reasonNew Grumors!Meteor game! Which metropolis does Spencer dub "The Tampa of Ohio" and why is that not the meanest thing he's going to say in the next ten minutes?Who is the Chet Hanks of the Mannings?This year's Fullcast mystery brackets ask the important questions, such as: Has cryosleep gotten a bad rap? Is there pizza in the future? Will we never trust North Carolinians to handle snakes properly?Who will join previous bracket champions Mariah Carey and Old-Timey Mine Cart? Everybody be cool and follow the instructions to determine our winner! You did a really good job at this last year, and we're proud of you! Do not make us unproudThe Shutdown Fullcast is on Patreon. This is how we pay our producers, and occasionally ourselves. If you'd like to help with that, give us $4 a month (or a larger, funnier number of your choosing) and we'll give you bonus episodes. As of this recording we have delivered 27 (twenty-seven) bonus episodes since launching in August. We think this is a pretty good deal (for you)Now through March 31, 100% of proceeds from all PTKU merch sales will be donated to TransVisible Montana. Visit preownedairboats.com to purchase BRAND-NEW BLUE SHARKS GEAR #EXCLUSIVEShutdown Fullcast is produced by Michael Ray Surber Fullcast theme variant arranged and performed by Trey McClureDID YOU KNOW: Spencer and Holly write Channel 6, a year-round newsletter that is mostly about football, until it's notBefore the world ends (again), treat yourself to Jason's critically praised novel and other workTravel in your mind palace to Phantom Island, Ryan's new show with Steven Godfrey, which is not a college football show because another simply cannot existCheck out Surber's band, Killer Antz
Last Valentine's Day, listener Lucas from North Carolina wrote in about retiring early and “taking our foot off the gas.” This year, life looks very different. Lucas and his wife recently received a diagnosis for their almost two-year-old daughter that means she may never live independently. That news sent Lucas down a deep research rabbit hole involving wills, trusts, and something called a third-party special needs trust. What started as a plan for early retirement has now become a much bigger question:How do you financially protect a child who may depend on you forever? To help answer that question, Pete and the crew are joined by estate planning attorney Shawn Scott, who specializes in helping families navigate these exact situations. In this episode we discuss: What a special needs trust actually is The difference between first-party and third-party special needs trusts Why leaving money directly to a child with disabilities can create major problems Common mistakes families make with DIY estate planning When online legal tools are okay — and when you really need an attorney How grandparents and other relatives should structure gifts or inheritances Lucas's story reminds us that estate planning isn't just about wealth.Sometimes it's about love, protection, and making sure your child is cared for long after you're gone. Also: Pete attempts a North Carolinian accent (results may vary).
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper just won his Senate primary — and he may be Democrats' best shot at flipping the U.S. Senate. In this video, Gov. Cooper tells Marc Elias why he's running, what's at stake, and why North Carolina is the #1 red-to-blue Senate seat in the country.Cooper breaks down his record as governor — 640,000 new jobs, Medicaid expansion for 715,000 North Carolinians, and a commitment to carbon zero by2050 — and explains why all of it is now at risk. He also takes on his opponent, Michael Watley: a DC insider, big oil lobbyist, and 2020 election denier who served as what Marc Elias calls "the field general of election deniers."Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-friday00:00 The Stakes of the 2026 Elections01:16 Why Roy Cooper Is Running for Senate04:41 Cooper's Record as Governor of North Carolina10:09 Fighting Voter Suppression and Election Denial16:05 The Battle Over North Carolina's Board of Elections22:04 The Moore v. Harper Case and the Fight Over Election Law22:51 Restoring Separation of Powers in Washington28:11 Taking On Michael Whatley and the Election Denial Movement37:21 Cooper's Final Message to Voters