North Carolina voters just elected Gov.-elect Josh Stein by an overwhelming margin but the vast majority of them did not vote for Senate leader Phil Berger or House Speaker Tim Moore. Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped Berger and Moore from hatching a truly outrageous scheme to grab powers from the governor’s office and other statewide offices to w…

In a scathing commentary, veteran journalist Hugh Jackson of the Nevada Current summarized recent developments in Washington this way: quote – “U.S. Congress replaced by an app on Trump’s phone.” Sadly, Jackson’s biting hyperbole isn’t that far off. Since his election, Donald Trump has quickly nominated a slate of remarkably unqualified lackeys to …

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), surrounded by state lawmakers, address reporters ahead of a vote on a first round of Hurricane Helene relief money in October. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) North Carolina voters just elected Gov.-elect Josh Stein by an overwhelming …

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is photographed inside the Rayburn House Office Building Feb. 27, 2019. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) In a scathing commentary, veteran journalist Hugh Jackson of the Nevada Current summarized recent developments in Washington this way: quote – “U.S. Congress replaced by an app on Trump’s phone.” Sadly, Jackson’s biting hyp…

Sen. Danny Britt (File photo) In a legislature that includes plenty of unserious characters, state Senator Danny Britt of Robeson County is not one of them. He’s a leader and a practicing attorney who chairs two important committees. All of which makes the brewing scandal surrounding an email that Britt’s office apparently sent to a constituent tha…

In a legislature that includes plenty of unserious characters, state Senator Danny Britt of Robeson County is not one of them. He’s a leader and a practicing attorney who chairs two important committees. All of which makes the brewing scandal surrounding an email that Britt’s office apparently sent to a constituent that much more outrageous. As mul…

While a tiny handful of races have yet to be officially called, we now know the results of the vast majority of contests in the 2024 election and topping the list in North Carolina, of course, is the governor’s office, where attorney general Josh Stein will soon be sworn in as North Carolina’s 76th chief executive. Earlier this week we sat down wit…

Donald Trump’s second administration is poised to soon do a great deal of damage in several important areas – including health care, education, reproductive freedom, immigration, foreign policy and the economy. That said, when it comes to the damage that will be truly irreparable, no pledge looms darker or more ominous than Trump’s plan to scuttle …

Yet another area in which the recent general election is likely to have major impacts is public education. Here in North Carolina, education advocates are hopeful that the combination of a new governor and a slightly different state legislature could lead to a boost in public school funding – something that’s desperately needed given our state’s bo…

State lawmakers return to Raleigh this week and from the looks of things, it will mark yet another big and wasteful failure for the General Assembly. That’s because the overriding policy issue in our state right now is the massive economic and environmental disaster in the west that was wrought by Hurricane Helene. If ever there was a crisis that d…

Rep. Tricia Cotham voices support for legislation to expand the state's controversial school voucher program. (Photo: ncleg.gov feed) State lawmakers return to Raleigh this week and from the looks of things, it will mark yet another big and wasteful failure for the General Assembly. That’s because the overriding policy issue in our state right now …

Donald Trump’s second administration is poised to soon do a great deal of damage in several important areas. Whether it’s health care, education, the federal courts, reproductive freedom, immigration, foreign policy or the economy, millions of people will suffer needlessly if Trump follows through on all of his campaign promises. That said, when it…

(Getty Images) Donald Trump’s second administration is poised to soon do a great deal of damage in several important areas. Whether it’s health care, education, the federal courts, reproductive freedom, immigration, foreign policy or the economy, millions of people will suffer needlessly if Trump follows through on all of his campaign promises. Tha…

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Sometimes, you just have to shake your head in wonder at the crazy paranoia of North Carolina election conspiracy theorists. Their latest kooky idea: that the recent state election was somehow rigged to prevent victories by Republican candidates for offices like governor and attorney general even as Donald Trump c…

Sometimes, you just have to shake your head in wonder at the crazy paranoia of North Carolina election conspiracy theorists. Their latest kooky idea: that the recent state election was somehow rigged to prevent victories by Republican candidates for offices like governor and attorney general even as Donald Trump claimed the state’s presidential con…

Michele Morrow, Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction, speaks at a campaign event on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 in Elon, North Carolina. After losing the race vowed to "fight harder than ever before to protect our children and save our schools." (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) There will be a parade of extremists and lightly …

There will be a parade of extremists and lightly qualified politicos in the nominations and appointments that President-elect Donald Trump will advance over the coming days. Once again, Americans will have to endure a time in which important government functions are entrusted to individuals who don’t even support the missions of the agencies they’r…

President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House on July 24, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Evan Vucci-Pool/Getty Images) Almost four years later, it still stands as one of the darkest acts of any elected official in American history – a cowardly and criminal act by small and petty man who sought to overturn two-and-a-half cen…

Almost four years later, it still stands as one of the darkest acts of any elected official in American history – a cowardly and criminal act by small and petty man who sought to overturn two-and-a-half centuries of constitutional government. I speak, of course, of then-President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and…

The 2024 election is now mostly in the rear-view mirror, and as we all know by now, huge change is in the offing thanks to the return of Donald Trump. Trump’s election would appear to bode ill for a host of important and successful federal government initiatives of recent years on such matters as health care, environmental protection, education and…

Even though North Carolinians gave the state’s electoral votes to Donald Trump, last Tuesday was, in many ways, a status quo election in our state, in which very little has changed in the way the two major parties are controlling key levers of power. What’s more, as we learned in a conversation the day after the election with Western Carolina Unive…

This year’s election may have come and gone, but one thing that hasn’t gone anywhere in North Carolina this year is hunger. Especially since congressional Republicans blocked the reauthorization of some key social safety net programs that led to great success during the pandemic, food insecurity has expanded to the point at which more than 560,000 …

In the event you thought this year’s election was over and all of the races decided – hold on a minute. It turns out tens of thousands of ballots that North Carolina voters cast are yet to be counted. That’s because there are many circumstances – most notably when people forget their photo ID or show up at the wrong precinct – that voters get to ca…

All five living former North Carolina governors have filed a motion in support of Gov. Roy Cooper's court challenge to the legislature's attempt to overhaul how state and county election boards are appointed. (Photo: Clayton Henkel). In the event you thought this year’s election was over and all of the races decided – hold on a minute. It turns out…

Voters decided the fate of abortion ballot measures in 10 states this week. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) It’s one of the great conundrums of modern American politics. Time and again, voters elect politicians who espouse positions that are contrary to what the majority of the public believes. The list of such issues is a long one: climate chan…

It’s one of the great conundrums of modern American politics. Time and again, voters elect politicians who espouse positions that are contrary to what the majority of the public believes. The list of such issues is a long one: climate change, gun violence, wages, tax fairness, health care. And another classic example of this disconnect occurred in …

Voters file into Chavis Community Center in Raleigh to vote. (Photo: Clayton Henkel) This week’s election in North Carolina was what might be properly termed a “status quo election.” Republicans continued to dominate the presidential contest, and Democrats returned the favor in the governor’s race. Meanwhile, most of the other races for statewide o…

This week’s election in North Carolina was what might be properly termed a “status quo election.” Republicans continued to dominate the presidential contest, and Democrats returned the favor in the governor’s race. Meanwhile, most of the other races for statewide offices were pretty much evenly divided and all decided by a point or two. And thanks …

Well, another Election Day has come and gone, and while the voters in North Carolina and across the nation have made their choices, the time for an even more important set of decisions will come very soon. And that’s because the policy challenges that the candidates have debated so fiercely over the last several months must now be addressed. Come J…

(Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) Well, another Election Day has come and gone, and while the voters in North Carolina and across the nation have made their choices, the time for an even more important set of decisions will come very soon. And that’s because the policy challenges that the candidates have debated so fiercely over the last se…

Today is Election Day and if you’re like most people, you’re probably breathing a sigh of relief. If nothing else, an end to the constant blitz of electronic ads and mailers will be something that just about everyone will celebrate. As overwhelming and mind numbing as these ads have been, however, it’s vitally important not to tune out the election…

(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) Today is Election Day and if you’re like most people, you’re probably breathing a sigh of relief. If nothing else, an end to the constant blitz of electronic ads and mailers will be something that just about everyone will celebrate. As overwhelming and mind numbing as these ads have been, however, it’s vitally im…