WPTF Afternoon News

Jeff Hamlin talks with Phil Napoli, Professor of Public Policy at Duke University, about the implications of Donald Trump’s election and his unconventional approach to media engagement. Trump’s decision to bypass traditional news outlets like 60 Minutes and The Washington Post in favor of popular platforms like The Joe Rogan Experience marks a fundamental shift in how presidential candidates conne...

Jeff Hamlin speaks with Steven Greene to break down the results of Election Night, where Donald Trump made history by winning a second nonconsecutive term as the 47th president of the United States. Trump’s victory marks a historic comeback as the first former president to regain power since 1892, and the first convicted felon to hold the office. The episode also discusses Vice President-elect JD...

Jeff Hamlin speaks with Mitch Kokai, Director of Communications for the John Locke Foundation, about Donald Trump’s victory in North Carolina over Kamala Harris in the presidential race. Trump’s win in this key battleground state continues North Carolina's recent history of favoring Republican candidates, with only one Democratic win since 1980. Kokai discusses Trump’s last-minute campaign push in...

Election Day is in full swing. It will be a substantially important day in national and state history. In North Carolina, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein is running against Republican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson for the governor's seat. It's the first time since 2012, Roy Cooper will not be on the ballot because he's hit his term limit. The Secretary of State race is between longtime...

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump made their final pitches to voters in the same parts of Pennsylvania at roughly the same time. They spent the last full day of the presidential campaign in a state that could make or break their chances. In Pittsburgh, Trump delivered what his campaign aides described as his closing argument after his rally at Madison Square Garden was...

In this episode, Kerry Haynie, the Dean of Social Sciences at Duke University, joins Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the presidential election as Americans cast their votes to decide between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Haynie provides an analysis of the historic campaign, marked by upheaval and sharp divisions, and offers insights into voter turnout and potential outcomes. De...

Wake County Representative Abe Jones joins Jon Champion to discuss pressing issues for North Carolina voters as the 2024 election approaches. In a conversation focused on voter engagement, Jones shares his insights on the challenges of fostering unity in a polarized political climate and the potential impact of these divides on North Carolina’s future. Highlighting the importance of informed parti...

In this episode, Greear Webb calls in to share his insights with Jon Champion on the power of the youth vote. They discuss how this demographic's engagement can significantly impact future elections and shape political discourse. Webb emphasizes the importance of bridging divides and finding common ground after the election, highlighting strategies for fostering dialogue and cooperation among diff...

In this episode, Ambassador Susan Rice, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor, joins Jon Champion to share her insights on the upcoming election. With her extensive experience in national and global security, Rice discusses the key issues at stake and what they mean for the future of the country. Her perspective sheds light on the complexities of the curren...

Tammy Fitzgerald from the North Carolina Values Coalition joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to share her perspectives on the upcoming elections and the Republican outlook in North Carolina. Expressing cautious optimism about Mark Robinson’s gubernatorial bid despite polling deficits, Fitzgerald highlighted high early voting turnout among Republicans. She criticized the opposition’s foc...

Former Congressman Joe Walsh joins Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to share his concerns about the future of the Republican Party under Donald Trump’s influence and his support for Kamala Harris. Once a Tea Party member himself, Walsh reflects on the GOP’s shift toward authoritarianism fueled by fear and anger, and he openly acknowledges his role in energizing this base. Now, he sees the mo...

In this episode, host Anthony interviews Bob Butler, chairman of the Morrisville Veterans Foundation and a local councilman, about the ongoing development of a Veterans Memorial in Morrisville, North Carolina. Bob shares the history of this initiative, which began eight years ago when community members recognized the need for a memorial, noting that Morrisville was among the few municipalities wit...

In this episode, Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and Prakash Devepalli, vice chair of the Triangle Area Hindu temples, join Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the significance of Diwali and the community initiatives surrounding it. Prakash shares insights about the mission of the Triangle Area Hindu temples, emphasizing their commitment to uniting the community through humanit...

Lucy Marques

Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and BAPS temple leader Viren Patel join Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss this year’s Diwali celebrations at the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Morrisville, North Carolina. Patel shares the temple's 20th anniversary milestones and BAPS’s legacy of 50 years of service in North America. Highlighting Diwali as a festival celebrating light over darkne...

Latino voters are expected to play a major role in who gets a seat in the White House. There are over 300,000 registered Latino voters in North Carolina. In Raleigh, an event is underway to mobilize the Latino demographic. A grassroots, non-partisan group has conducted phone banking in the final remaining days of early voting. The Latino community is very diverse with Hispanics, Puerto Ricans and...

North Carolina favorites Domani, TiaCorine, and Reuben Vincent will headline the final CAROLINADAZE concert in downtown Greensboro this Sunday, November 3rd, a culmination of a statewide concert series and part of an all-out push to get out the vote for Election Day. Organizers expect more than 1,000 attendees at the Sunday concert, predominantly college students: a sign of the incoming wave of yo...

Congressman Wiley Nickel joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to provide insights into the local impact of Vice President Kamala Harris's recent rally speech. Nickel emphasized her focus on key issues such as housing costs and childcare, which resonate deeply with North Carolina voters. As the election approaches, he highlighted the tight race between Harris and Donald Trump, predicting t...

Jimmy Patel-Nguyen from North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT) joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the expanding influence of Asian American voters in North Carolina and their potential impact in the 2024 elections. With over 235,000 eligible Asian American voters in a key battleground state, the demographic’s civic engagement is on the rise. Patel-Nguyen shared NCAAT...

Jim Carl from the Carolina Theater in Durham joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to share his top horror film recommendations for Halloween. As the curator of Retro film nights, Jim offers a blend of iconic slashers like Halloween and Friday the 13th and lesser-known gems such as Suspiria and Silent Scream. Whether you're a fan of recent hits like Get Out and Five Nights at Freddy's or p...

N.C. State Economics Professor Emeritus Mike Walden joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the recent 2.8% growth rate of the U.S. economy from July through September. Consumer spending surged, accounting for 70% of activity and growing at a strong 3.7% annual pace, reflecting resilience even as high interest rates persist. Walden also highlighted the role of increased exports, w...

Christian Adams, Commissioner of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the upcoming presidential election and the legal safeguards established since the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Adams detailed new election laws and systems implemented by Congress to support the peaceful transfer of power, addressing potential legal challenges and concerns...

Durham Bulls General Manager Mike Berling joined Jon Champion on the WPTF Afternoon News to celebrate the Bulls' recent honor as Minor League Baseball's 2024 Triple-A Organization of the Year. Berling discussed the Bulls' dedication to offering affordable family entertainment and enhancing fan experiences, as well as the renovations made to improve player facilities, including expanded locker room...

Billionaire investor and "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban joined Jon Champion on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss his support for Vice President Kamala Harris’s economic and immigration policies. Cuban praised Harris's commitment to maintaining or lowering taxes for those earning under $400,000 and her plans to address high healthcare costs by reforming pharmacy benefit managers. He contrasted her v...

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, American voters are expressing deep concerns about the nation’s political stability, according to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll reveals widespread unease over potential political violence, threats to election integrity, and the future of democracy itself. Duke University political science profess...