Do Politics Better Podcast

Sen. Warren Daniel was one of the young guns in the General Assembly in 2011.  His freshman class of Republicans had just ushered in GOP control of the Senate, a chamber controlled by Democrats for over a century.   The Burke County Republican talks about his legislative work over the last decade as well as his childhood in western North Carolina, his decision to attend the prestigious U.S. Milita...

Kody Kinsley serves as Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, a position that puts the 36-year old in the middle of North Carolina politics' most high profile policy debates between Governor Roy Cooper and the General Assembly.   Secretary Kinsley talks about his job, his public service to the Obama and Trump administrations, and his life, which began in Wilmington, NC.   Sky...

Stephen B. Wiley knows what it takes to win legislative races.  As the NC House Republican Caucus Director, he's the campaign manager for 120 House races in the general election.   Stephen shares his take on a surprising primary election night and what it portends for NC legislative candidates in the fall.  Skye and Brian also talk about the start of the legislative short session, recount a blown...

The General Assembly short session begins Wednesday, May 18 and House Majority Leader John Bell and Senate Democratic Whip Jay Chaudhuri preview what we can expect to be accomplished and not accomplished in the next two months by lawmakers.   Skye and Brian also talk about the optimistic revenue forecast , a budget proposal by Governor Roy Cooper , what General Assembly races they are watching on...

Rep. Jimmy Dixon 's mother was unmarried in 1944 when she was living and working in Wilmington, NC.  She was also pregnant.  In 1945, Rep. Dixon was born and an arrangement was made for him to live and grow up with his "Granny" in  Friendship, NC.  While his mother would visit him frequently, Rep. Dixon has never known who his father is.   This is an endearing Mother's Day story of a powerful legi...

Joe Stewart is a fixture in NC politics who is parts lobbyist, politico, historian, and stand-up-comic.  The 35-year political veteran, who wears suspenders and bowties sans coat, talks about his life, his many jobs in politics and policy, and how lobbying is a lot like bowling.   Skye and Brian also discuss the latest debacle from Congressman Madison Cawthorn , a Leandro update , and a debrief on...

If you eat sweet potatoes, there's a good chance that the delicious bounty came from the Nash County farm of Sen. Lisa Stone Barnes and her husband Johnny.   The two-term legislator (one term in both the House and Senate) sat down with Skye and Brian to talk about her love of agriculture, her extensive family, politics, and her work in her community inspired by her Christian faith.   Plus, we are...

L.T. (La'Tanta) McCrimmon has one of the most challenging jobs in North Carolina politics:  She serves as the Legislative Director for Governor Roy Cooper at the General Assembly.  L.T. talks about her life growing up in rural Scotland County, the influence of her mother and great-grandmother, her political work for Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, and how she goes about her work as the chie...

Superintendent Catherine Truitt taught ten years in the classroom before rising to the highest position in education governance in North Carolina.  The veteran English teacher talks of her career journey as well as her personal and professional challenges leading education policy in North Carolina.   Skye and Brian also report on US Senate poll numbers , an upcoming visit to NC by President Donald...

Senate Democratic Leader Dan Blue was arguably the most powerful political leader in North Carolina from 1991 to 1994 when he served as NC Speaker of the House, the first black leader of either chamber in the General Assembly.   The Wake County attorney talks about growing up on a farm in Robeson County, his college years as a math major, his decision to pursue a law degree, and how his storied po...

Sen. Michael Lee  is a powerful Senate Education Committee Chair , a committee he leads with determination and humility.  The New Hanover County Republican talks about his early life in Dunn, NC, his four election losses, and what his son's health challenges have taught him about the education system in North Carolina.   Skye explains what's going on with the voter ID and Leandro cases before the...

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall talks about growing up on a farm, how 4-H changed her life, her decision to go to law school, and run for the NC Senate.  The Harnett County Democrat also talks about her successful 1996 race against racing champion Richard Petty, which made her the first woman elected statewide in North Carolina.    Skye and Brian also talk about  former Governor John Kasich's v...

Senate Appropriations Chair Brent Jackson (R-Duplin/Johnston/Sampson) talks about growing up in Sampson County, farming watermelons, his decision to run for the Senate in a Democratic leaning district in 2010, and what he thinks about the rumors that he is running for NC Agriculture Commissioner in the future.   Skye and Brian also unpack the news from this week, including an intra-party Senate sh...

Former Rep. Rick Glazier was once one of the most powerful legislators in the General Assembly.  The Fayetteville Democrat, who now leads the NC Justice Center , made a point to include Republicans on his legislation, including a bill he considers his most important work: the creation of the NC Innocence Inquiry Commission , which continues to make news today.   Rick recounts his partnership on th...

Rep. Ashton Wheeler Clemmons is a bridge-builder at the General Assembly.  The Greensboro Democrat is often in the negotiating room on some of the state's most high profile education debates, works in partnership with her Republican colleagues on meaningful legislation , and is energized about getting more bipartisan work done in the future.  Skye and Brian break down the final election maps appro...

John Hood is an early pioneer in North Carolina’s conservative movement. He helped found found three major conservative institutions — the John Locke Foundation , Carolina Journal , and the Civitas Institute — at a time when NC's politics was dominated by Democrats.  John takes us back to 1989 when he was fresh out of UNC and Art Pope had an idea on building a conservative infrastructure in NC.  W...

Veteran NC political reporter/anchor/podcaster Tim Boyum spends his days (and nights) covering state politics and interviewing political leaders for Spectrum News.   In this podcast, Tim is the interview subject and reveals how he goes about gathering news everyday, how he balances work and family, and gives his thoughts on the state of journalism and state politics.   Skye and Brian also unpack t...

Sen. Deanna Ballard started her political career working for President George W. Bush .  By the age of 30, she had an office in the East Wing of the White House, was advising the President and the First Lady on important policy matters, and traveling the world on Air Force One.   In 2009, the Watauga County Republican returned to North Carolina to work for Samaritan's Purse, and in 2016 she became...

Rep. Marcia Morey was ranked #2 in the world in 1976 in swimming (breaststroke), the year she represented the USA in the Montreal Olympics .  However, systematic doping by the East German swim team denied the future state legislator the opportunity to win an Olympic medal .   The Durham Democrat opens up about how the scandal negatively affected her in the aftermath and how it continues to guide h...

André Béliveau is Senate Policy Advisor to Senator Paul Newton , one of the most powerful legislators in the General Assembly.  In this role, André is involved in some of the most high profile conservative legislation moving in state politics, including a landmark energy bill enacted last session .   While André is decidedly conservative, earlier in his formative years he wasn't always convinced h...

Rep. Gale Adcock  has served in the NC House since 2015, but she was no stranger to the General Assembly when she took office.  As a Family Nurse Practitioner, she walked the legislative halls for decades advocating for the NC nursing profession .   The centrist Democrat from Cary talks about her early life in southwestern Virginia, how she put herself through college and graduate school , her wor...

Sen. Amy Scott Galey is a Republican from Alamance County, the home-place of the storied Scott Family , the very family that produced two North Carolina Governors, an Agriculture Commissioner, and a President Pro Tem of the Senate.   However, they were are all Democrats.    Sen. Galey talks about her upbringing, her decision to register as a Republican, and her impressive political career as a cou...

Republican Senator Jim Perry and Democratic Senator Kirk deViere look back at the 2021 General Assembly session, including budget maneuvers, behind-the-scenes bipartisanship, the art of compromise, and insight on how trust is built with legislators when political and policy disagreements surface.   Sen. Perry and Sen. deViere also talk candidly about how the very long legislative session took a to...

Brent Woodcox is Senior Policy Counsel to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger , a position in which he helps the Senate majority enact conservative policies for North Carolina.  However, Brent's ideas on growing a conservative movement are at odds with some in his Republican Party. Brent sits down with Brian and Skye to talk about his work in the Senate, his proclivity to tweet , his brand of opt...

Auditor Beth Wood is unlike any modern day politician in North Carolina.  She's soft-spoken yet very direct, a CPA with vast knowledge of arcane accounting regulations but just as comfortable talking about priming tobacco, and a proud Democrat who will take on anyone at any level of government, including members of her own party.  The Craven County native chats with Brian and Skye about her humble...