The SEANC View

On this special election edition, we welcome political strategist Flint Benson on break down North Carolina’s surprising results: Democrats won a large majority in the NC House while Republicans held the Senate, and key tax amendments left open major questions about revenue and services. The panel examines likely fights over the state budget, school vouchers, property-tax limits, leadership change...

In this episode, hosts Samantha Cline, Ardis Watkins and Suzanne Beasley sit down with former Representative Paul "Skip" Stam and Senator Graig Meyer to discuss two constitutional amendments on the ballot: a proposed income tax cap and a property tax limit. The guests, a Republican and a Democrat, explain their shared concerns about long-term revenue loss, regressive tax shifts, and threats to sta...

Hosts Jonathan Owens, Ardis Watkins and Samantha Cline are joined this week by Department of Public Safety Interim Secretary Casandra Hoekstra for an in-depth interview. Hoekstra discusses agency leadership after recent reorganizations, staffing and recruitment challenges in juvenile justice and law enforcement, cybersecurity and AI use, and ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. Before t...

Thomas Friedman of the State Health Plan joins us to talk about why some Atrium facilities will be out-of-network for 2027, and how it will affect members and plan costs. The episode also covers the WakeMed–Atrium merger, community concerns, calls for public hearings, and what these developments could mean for state employees, retirees, and local healthcare access.

This week we discuss Atrium’s new “Affordability Protection Program,” which lowers out-of-pocket costs for members who stay with its doctors and hospitals without lowering the prices it charges the State Health Plan. Treasurer Brad Briner says if the program stays in place, it will bankrupt the State Health Plan. Every member will feel the strain through higher premiums, thinner benefits and less...

On this episode, SEANC Political Strategist Flint Benson and EMPAC Statewide Chair Junior Hulen explain how SEANC’s member-driven political arm (EMPAC) makes endorsements, why this year they avoided races with incumbents, and how they support chosen candidates with boots-on-the-ground activity. They also break down key North Carolina legislative races to watch, offer election timelines (registrati...

On Monday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners voted 5–2 to advance parts of the WakeMed–Atrium merger after weeks of secret meetings, a large public rally, and a late statement from the governor. Community groups led by the Patients Union and the Justice Center protested the process and warned the deal will raise prices, reduce charity care, and erode local control. The transfer still faces fe...

Hosts recap the convention highlights, a new agreement allowing select Atrium hospitals into the State Health Plan access tier, and concerns about coverage and costs. The episode also features an in-depth interview with the Patients Union Executive Director Jamila Headley and Ron Stephens about the proposed WakeMed–Atrium merger, public records and transparency issues, and calls to action for a Mo...

The SEANC View team records live from Greensboro at the 42nd Annual Scenic Convention, introducing speakers and previewing the packed agenda, including reports, nominations, and a remembrance for 9/11. The episode covers the controversy over Atrium’s proposed takeover of WakeMed and its potential cost impact on state employees, North Carolina's poor rankings for worker protections and healthcare,...

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 qu...

We open by reacting to Dolly Parton’s death, her impact as a songwriter, and calls to donate to the Imagination Library. Then turn to the WakeMed–Atrium proposal, concerns about rising health costs, the upcoming Wake County commissioners vote, and what the merger could mean for patients and employees. The episode also previews the SEANC convention, highlights state service awards and salary storie...

This week, we sit down with State Human Resources Director Staci Meyer to unpack the Public Workforce Modernization Act, the most comprehensive update of the State Human Resources Act, the law governing how state government hires, pays, and manages its workforce, since the 1960s. SEANC worked hard to make sure it came out favorable to employees. Meyer explains hiring reforms, expanded parental and...

The proposed Atrium–WakeMed merger has sparked serious concern among Raleigh residents and the 748,000 state employees and retirees covered by the State Health Plan, which could see significant premium increases if the deal goes through. This week we spoke with Nathan Foster of the NC Justice Center and Anthony Pope of Men of Southeast Raleigh about what this merger would mean for the people who d...

North Carolina's pension fund had a strong year. The fund earned an estimated $17 billion and returned 12.4% for the year ending June 30. So why aren't retirees getting COLAs? Hosts Jonathan Owens, Ardis Watkins and Samantha Cline discuss this issue as they break down the week in state politics. They discuss the Atrium–state health plan standoff and its impact on premiums, and rising concerns over...

This episode covers the legislature's return and the 51-page Technical Corrections Bill that restored funding for some departments, extended Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and included incentives for major sporting events, while the House prepares to take up the bill. We also discuss new election bills that shrink early voting, the escalating state health plan conflict with Atrium over pricin...

This episode of The SEANC View podcast discussed the new tier system of the State Health Plan, highlighting the controversy surrounding the exclusion of Atrium and WakeMed from preferred provider status. The plan aims to cap hospital reimbursements, which can sometimes reach over 800% of Medicare rates. Without the tier system, approved by the State Health Plan Board of Trustees, members faced pre...

State Treasurer Brad Briner and Plan Executive Administrator Thomas Friedman join us this week to recap the State Health Plan Board of Trustees meeting and explain major changes: a premium increase, a new three-tier provider network (preferred, access, non-preferred), and the decision to return Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina as the third-party administrator and pharmacy benefit manager i...

Hosts break down the newly signed state budget — what the 3% raise really means, why raises and bonuses are delayed, and how step pay plans affect probation, parole, and correctional staff. They also cover retiree reactions and the controversy over who receives bonuses. The episode previews the State Health Plan Board meeting, reviews the Public Workforce Modernization Act (including extended pare...

This week, we break down the newly passed state budget: modest 3% raises for most state employees, targeted larger increases for law enforcement and corrections, bonuses for workers and retirees, and concerns about cuts and hundreds of vacant positions. The episode discusses rising state health plan costs, the $1 billion left unappropriated (and speculation about public funding for a sports team),...

In this episode, Dr. Brian Miller — hospitalist, policy advisor, and vice chair of the North Carolina State Health Plan Board — explores why health care is so expensive and what can be done about it. We discuss hospital consolidation and the Atrium–WakeMed merger, steering and preferred provider strategies, income‑adjusted premiums, price transparency, drug costs, and practical steps the state hea...

State Treasurer Brad Briner joins the SEANC View podcast to explain how the pension reached a record $148.3 billion, discuss recent investment moves, including AI stakes like Anthropic, and explain why the office passed on buying part of the Carolina Hurricanes. He also covers portfolio changes, timber holdings, and efforts to improve returns for retirees and taxpayers.  The conversation addresses...

This week, we start with Raleigh's Stanley Cup fever before diving into state politics and budget delays that are stalling lawmakers. The episode examines rising healthcare costs for retirees, the controversial Atrium–WakeMed merger and its impact on competition and patient bills. Also covered: disputes over early voting sites at Western Carolina University, community vs. campus tensions, plus lig...

Hosts Jonathan Owens, Ardis Watkins, Suzanne Beasley, and Sammy Cline discuss the latest on the state budget, workforce reforms, and staffing challenges across North Carolina government. Also, we discussed 'Pension Fight Club,' a first-of-its-kind investigative documentary about the threat to public pensions across the country, which features Watkins among dozens of pension leaders, board members,...

Hosts dive into North Carolina’s budget stalemate, including the controversy over large raises for correctional officers and the resulting wage compression and staffing problems, stalled projects like the zoo’s Asia expansion and major hiring delays, and the ongoing debate over hospital consolidations and pension concerns. Then, in an interview, SECU outlines changes to payroll deduction and previ...

Hosts Jonathan Owens and Suzanne Beasley break down the latest at the legislature, including proposed budget raises, a looming income tax constitutional amendment, retiree COLA concerns, and SEANC’s new vacant-jobs dashboard. They discuss the staffing crisis across state agencies and how pay compression is driving vacancies. Guest Tammera Hill, Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Adult Co...