Do Politics Better Podcast

Rep. David Willis was raised by a single mom in Wilson, NC and eventually made his way to Union County, where he became an early childhood education provider.  In between, he had stops in Greensboro, Boone, New York City, and China, where he met his wife at a Christmas party.   The second term Republican talks to Skye and Brian about his life journey, the importance of his family, his decision to...

Rep. Maria Cervania is serving in her first term in the General Assembly after serving her Cary and Morrisville communities on the Wake County Board of Commissioners.  The progressive Democrat talks about growing up in a Republican household with deep military ties and an inspiring and heart-wrenching immigration story from the Philippines.   Plus, Senate maps stand (for now), no congressional map...

Dr. Michael Bitzer is often quoted in the media on all things #ncpol in addition to contributing to political discussions with his engaging and informational social media posts .  The political scientist at Catawba College sits down with Skye and Brian to talk about his career, scholarly work, the 2024 election, and his fascination with North Carolina's ever-changing political landscape.   Plus, m...

Rep. Kelly Hastings has served in the General Assembly since 2011, however his work in NC politics dates back to 1992 when Lt. Governor Jim Gardner ran for Governor against Jim Hunt .  It's also when the Cleveland County Republican met a young campaign volunteer by the name of Tim Moore , and a friendship began.   The 7-term legislator opens up about his life, growing up with a learning disability...

The General Assembly's 2023 long session is adjourned and Sen. Todd Johnson (R-Union) and Rep. Allison Dahle (D-Wake) sit down with Skye and Brian to break it all down, including Medicaid expansion , the party switch , abortion , medical marijuana , LGBTQ+ bills , casinos , budget , redistricting , and more. The podcast also ticks through some campaign announcements , Council of State news , #TOTW...

A deal for NC House Speaker has been reached by Reps. Destin Hall , John Bell , Jason Saine , and Brenden Jones .  The four Republican legislators talk to Skye and Brian about why an agreement was reached, the timing of the announcement, and details of what a House leadership team will look like in 2025.   The podcast also unpacks a week of political news: General Assembly adjournment, redistricti...

Most of the world looked in horror as Hamas attacked Israel with brutal terrorism on October 7.  When General Assembly lobbyist Bruce Mildwurf heard the news, he immediately thought of his daughter who is serving in the Israeli Army.  One day later, Israel formally declared war against Hamas.   The NC School Boards Association lead lobbyist opens up about his daughter's decision to enlist in the I...

Rep. Jarrod Lowery loves Robeson County.  It's where his Lumbee people have lived for thousands of years, it's where he grew up, and it's where he met his wife and is raising a family.   The freshman Republican talks about life in his home county and how he's been working for most of his life to improve it, honor and celebrate it, and now represent it in the General Assembly. Skye and Brian also c...

Dan Crawford has been on all sides of redistricting.  In 2001, he worked for a Democratic Senate Redistricting Committee Chair, who oversaw the gerrymandering of congressional and legislative districts that year.   Two decades later, Dan found himself on the U.S. Supreme Court steps holding a press conference about the lawsuit his organization was bringing against Speaker Tim Moore and the General...

Dr. Chris Cooper is a regular contributor to #ncpol.  His commentary and political insights can be found on X (Twitter) and in NC and national media outlets.   The Madison Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Western Carolina University visited Raleigh to talk about his easy-to-understand public engagement, and his teaching and scholarly work.  Dr. Cooper also gives insightful political...

Rep. Allen Chesser was in the room on Tuesday afternoon when the news came down that casino legislation in the state budget was dead, including the one planned for his Nash County district.    The freshman Republican takes us behind the scenes of this epic political drama, his work over the last nine months to bring casinos to his district, and why he thinks the issue is far from dead.   Skye and...

It was an epic week at the General Assembly as casino politics took center stage and threw a state budget vote off track this week.  In this special edition of the podcast, Skye and Brian give a rundown of what happened (and what's likely to happen)from their vantage point just outside the Senate GOP Caucus room.   They also discuss Mark Harris' re-entry into NC politics , Josh Stein gets a Democr...

Danielle Battaglia is the NC Congressional Correspondent for the News & Observer and Charlotte Observer and covers North Carolina's 16 members of Congress and reports on NC news from the White House.     Danielle's reporting career started in Rockingham County in 2011, the year Sen. Phil Berger ascended to the President Pro Tem position.  She talks about her journalism career, falling in love...

Rep. Ken Fontenot is known for his fiery floor speeches, dramatic committee presentations, and his constant reminder to his legislative colleagues that he was elected to bring resources and change to his majority Black district in Wilson.   The first term Black Republican talks about his dynamic legislative and political style, his life and careers, and his decision to run for office in an area of...

Rep. Cecil Brockman is one of a handful of Democrats who is considered a swing vote in the General Assembly.  The 5-term legislator talks about how he balances getting needed resources for his High Point district in the budget while holding to his values as a self-described progressive.   Rep. Brockman also talks about his transition from serving as a legislative assistant to serving as a Represen...

Sen. Brad Overcash started his political journey as Congressional page for the late Rep. Howard Coble before interning in the NC Senate.  He would later go on to serve as an officer in the NC Republican Party.   In 2022, Senate Majority Leader Kathy Harrington announced her retirement and the the Gaston County attorney stepped in to succeed her.  Sen. Overcash talks about his first term in the Sen...

Rep. Ya Liu immigrated to the United States from China two decades ago to pursue higher education and better opportunities.  She had little money, spoke very little English, but went on to earn two doctoral degrees, started a thriving law practice, and is raising three children with her husband in Cary, which she now represents in the House.   The western Wake County Democrat talks about her decis...

If you work on health care policy at the General Assembly, whether as a legislator or lobbyist, there's a good chance you've spoken to health care reporter Rose Hoban , the founder of NC Health News .   However, you probably didn't know she started her career in architecture, and lived and worked in Micronesia, where she was inspired to pursue a career in health care.  Rose talks about her adventu...

Rep. Jeff Zenger is by all accounts a success:  A beautiful family, a thriving business, and a productive political career.  However, life wasn't always so charmed for the two-term legislator.   The Forsyth County Republican talks about a troubled childhood in the outskirts of Baltimore, a toxic family dynamic, and how he continues to take his childhood experience to the General Assembly.   Skye a...

Rep. Allison Dahle is at the top, or near the top, of everyone's list of favorite legislators.  That goes for Republicans, Democrats, staff, and lobbyists.  And the Raleigh Democrat has worked hard to cultivate meaningful relations with everyone, including the most conservative legislators in the General Assembly.   However, a recent debate in the House left Rep. Dahle in tears as she pleaded for...

Rep. Allen Chesser was not likely to earn the high school superlative of "Most Likely to Serve in the General Assembly".  It was also unlikely he would go on to marry his wife Jessica, who he met in high school, but was far from ever catching her fancy at the time.   However, the Nash County Republican has lived a life of overachievement, and it started with a conversation with a high school guida...

Rep. Jeff McNeely asked Rep. Abe Jones a question with racial overtones during a heated House floor debate in May that landed both legislators in national and state news stories.  While the Iredell County Republican immediately apologized and Rep. Jones accepted, Rep. McNeely continues to feel regret for hurting his friend and others.   Rep. McNeely opens up about what he was trying to convey that...

Sen. Paul Lowe has served in the Senate since 2015.  However, his political work and public service started in the fall of 1991 when he was named as pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church.  Sen. Lowe reflects on his abiding faith and political beliefs and the intersection of both in policymaking.   The Winston-Salem Democrat talks about how important relationships with his Republican colleagues produce b...

NC State Treasurer Dale Folwell is known as a fix-what's-broken political leader going back to his days serving in local government in Winston-Salem, his tenure in the General Assembly, and recent service in the executive branch.   Folwell is now focused on the Governor's Mansion in 2024, but he's in a three-person GOP primary with a herculean front-runner known for his fiery speeches and record b...

Rep. Abe Jones is a man of many accomplishments: student leader in high school, a standout runner, double Harvard graduate, attorney, and Superior Court judge.   That's why a question from a House colleague a couple weeks back questioning his achievements was so hurtful . But, it was not the first time the Wake County Democrat, who is black, has been asked such a question.   Skye and Brian also di...