The Middle American

Biden pardoned his son Hunter, which should come as no surprise except to those who believed he and Democrats were above what they accused of Trump and Republicans.  Nope.  They are one and the same.  Rep. Erin Pare is looking to introduce a bill that should get unanimous bipartisan support in North Carolina to avoid a surprising tax bill on sports betting.  And what we can learn regarding letting...

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  A holiday that we often do not appreciate, coupled with a team that most did not appreciate, provides the context of today's podcast episode: learning to appreciate and be thankful for where you are in life regardless of your circumstances and your surroundings.  Because when things turnaround and when you are in the place you want to be, you will be more appreci...

The Trump Administration is off to a quick start in its effort to take the momentum from Election Day and hit the ground running on Day 1.  They have rolled out a number of nominees for the Cabinet (and non-Cabinet) positions - some of whom are considered as controversial from both sides of the aisle.  I'll discuss how Trump plans on getting these nominees into office, how the Senate and Hous...

So what happened in the swing state of North Carolina?  Trump won, but so did the Democrats in the three main statewide races.  How much of drag was Mark Robinson on down-the-ballot Republicans?  Did the GOP maintain a super majority in the legislature?  And what can both parties learn for future elections?  Let's discuss.   And please vote for this podcast as Podcast of the Year in the WRAL...

Trump won - by the biggest margins for a Republican since 1988.  I predicted it and I'll discuss why it happened, what the Democrats failed to do, and how to react to the reality of a Trump Administration 2.0.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

Election Day is here.  Early Voting is over.  Ads are over.  It's time for results.  My official prediction:  Trump will win North Carolina and will win the Presidency.  Why?  Let's discuss.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

We are one week away from Election Day.  Where do we stand now?  As of the moment, Trump will not only win North Carolina, but likely come close to sweeping all of the swing states.  Surprised?  Tune in to find out why.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

We have made it to voting, at least here in North Carolina.  Many other states have also started or are about to start the early voting process as well.  Contrary to what many people believe, the majority of ballots are cast during the early voting process.  So how the electorate feels today and over these next few days/weeks may determine the results before a ballot is cast on Election Day.  I&ap...

Mary joins to the pod to talk about her campaign for NC House after spending years as a teacher and journalist.  She discusses what she would do to address issues with the economy, infrastructure, energy, education and community safety if elected to serve in Raleigh.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

Elizabeth joins the pod to talk about her prior experience as a public school teacher and why that has prompted her to run for School Board.  She discusses proficiency rates, teacher attrition, funding and allotment, school safety, redistricting and curriculum and what she hopes to do on the Board to address these issues.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

In the midst of a contentious election season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the acts of Americans supporting other Americans over the past week that I have witnessed on a macro and micro level.  From the rush to support those devasted by the apocalyptic scene left behind by Hurricane Helene in the North Carolina mountains to the empathy and compassion shown to a close friend of mine as...

Josh joins the pod to talk about running for the School Board of one of the largest school districts in the county.  Opting to run as a concerned parent, he discusses the 20-year downward trajectory of proficiency ratings despite increased graduation rates, safety in schools and how he hopes to improve learning in the classroom.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

Phil joins the pod to talk about his decision to enter politics as a moderate and run for NC House.  Growing up on the coast and moving to Raleigh in college, he has seen the area grow and along with it issues with infrastructure.  He discusses education, abortion and the economy, including how it has impacted running his small business.    Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support...

Becki Allen returns to the pod to discuss her campaign for the NC House.  She delves into her thoughts on the economy, safety, and education and how her conversations with constituents in her district have shaped her views on other issues.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

JD Vance and Tim Walz faced off last night in what is likely the last debate of the election cycle.  And it was refreshingly civil and substantive.  Vance won it, but Walz held his own, especially later in the debate.  Did either move the needle?  Did either effectively address their targeted audience?  Let's discuss.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

The Vice Presidential Debate is tonight at 9 on CBS.  Although VP debates tend not to move the overall needle, this debate will have a focus on one particular voter: the moderate/undecided white male voter living in Wisconsin, Michigan or Pennsylvania.  That voter is why these two were added to the ticket and is who they will be targeting tonight.  Let's discuss what to watch.   Like the show...

Michael joins the pod to talk about his campaign running as a third party for a seat in the NC House.  He discusses why he opted to run for office in his 20s, what issues he sees affecting his peers, an outline of his platform and how he plans to secure votes from those disenfranchised or dissatisfied with the two main parties.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

Scott is back on the pod after emerging from the primary to talk about his general election campaign.  He discusses running as a moderate, dealing with the Mark Robinson fallout, the balance between positive and negative campaigning, and the issues he sees as important for his district heading into Election Day.  Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

Mike Ross is running for Governor against Josh Stein and Mark Robinson as the Libertarian candidate.  He joins the pod to discuss what it means to be a Libertarian, why he decided to run as a third party, his viewpoint on major issues, and why he and his party can be an alternative for those who are not happy with their choice on either candidate.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thought...

Erin joins the podcast to talk about her campaign for a third term in the NC House.  She discusses her background moving around the country as a military wife before settling in Holly Springs and opening a small business.  She covers her accomplishments in office, including negotiating Senate Bill 20 (the abortion bill).  And she spells out her vision on addressing issues for a new term, including...

In the latest edition of the Candidate Conversation Series, Frank Pierce joins the pod to discuss his campaign for the US House of Representatives out of the 13th District.  With a background of working in restaurants, as a teacher and a small business owner, Frank discusses how his experiences outside of politics has led him to run for a congressional seat.  We discuss the economy, border, immigr...

Judge Griffin joins the pod to discuss his race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court.  We delve into partisanship with judges, what makes a conservative and liberal judge, his experience as a district court judge and on the Court of Appeals and what he hopes to bring to the highest court in the state.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

CNN dropped a political bomb on North Carolina politics with an article on Republican candidate for governor Mark Robinson's purported past comments on a porn website that are abhorrent and disgraceful.  I say "purported" because Robinson has denied that they were made by him.  If so, Robinson should commission an immediate investigation into criminal election interference, amongst...

Detroit News Politics Editor and Columnist Chad Livengood joins the podcast to discuss the relationship between the media and politics.  Chad has covered politics for nearly 20 years and interviewed Obama, Biden, Romney, McCain and Trump, amongst others.  We cover a wide range of topics including media bias, the biggest issues facing voters in the all-important swing state of Michigan, what he wou...

Eric re-joins the podcast for a general election interview discussing his race for a seat in the House of Representatives.  He talks about what he learned from the primary election, his three top issues (economy, immigration, foreign policy) and how he compares to his opponent when appealing to independent voters.   Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show