WPTF Afternoon News

Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief of CARFAX, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss CARFAX’s latest report on water-damaged vehicles. North Carolina ranks in the top ten states for the most water-damaged cars, with over 14,300 affected vehicles. After a particularly active hurricane season, CARFAX estimates an additional 89,000 cars have sustained water damage, compounding the 454,0...

Michael Olender, State Director of AARP North Carolina, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the findings from AARP North Carolina's statewide election survey. The survey highlights the significant influence of voters aged 50 and older, who made up 54% of North Carolina voters in the 2020 elections and 64% in the 2022 midterms. With 91% of these voters expressing extreme motiva...

Tom Campbell, the longtime host of NC Spin , joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the current tumultuous state of North Carolina politics. With a particularly eventful week behind them, the conversation centered on speculation about Mark Robinson's viability as the Republican candidate for governor amid ongoing controversies. Campbell drew historical parallels to past political...

Elon University Poll Director Jason Husser joined Jeff Hamlin on WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the latest poll results in North Carolina's gubernatorial race. The survey shows Attorney General Josh Stein leading Republican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson by a significant margin, with Stein at 49% and Robinson at 34%. Husser explained how Robinson’s unpopularity is a key factor in the widening g...

Pastor Mark Rowden of the Savannah Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville joined Jeff Hamlin on WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the growing controversy surrounding North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. Senator Thom Tillis recently stated that if Robinson doesn’t present facts in a lawsuit to discredit the CNN report detailing inflammatory statements attributed to him, then the Republ...

Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Graham joined Jeff Hamlin on WPTF Afternoon News to discuss his concerns about Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson’s nomination. Graham, who competed in the primary, voiced his worries about Robinson being an “unelectable nominee,” potentially jeopardizing the conservative movement from local to national levels. With Robinson now embroiled in controvers...

The streets of Downtown Raleigh are soon to be filled with the sounds of Americana as the IBMA World of Bluegrass is back at the Raleigh Convention Center. The event kicks off Tuesday with the World of Bluegrass Conference. Every year hundreds of thousands of people come to Downtown Raleigh to celebrate the rich history and tune of bluegrass music. Jess Holt with the Greater Raleigh Convention and...

After the departure of nearly his entire staff, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is back on the campaign trial. He delivered a fiery retort following a CNN report that detailed inflammatory comments made on a pornographic website over a decade ago where, among other things, he called himself a "Black Nazi." Speaking in Wilkesboro, Robinson specifically targeted CNN. Following the CNN report, Dona...

One presidential candidate is talking up gun ownership and promising tough new border security measures. The other vows to cap credit card interest rates and force insurance companies to cover in vitro fertilization. Which one is the Democrat and the Republican? The lines that have traditionally defined each party’s policy priorities are blurring as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump fight to expand t...

Nataliia Bondarenko, who immigrated from Ukraine to Chapel Hill after the start of the war, joined Jeff Hamlin on WPTF Afternoon News to discuss an extraordinary event this Thursday. "Cultural Forces of Ukraine: Live Concert and Stories from the Trenches" will feature world-class Ukrainian musicians who are now active-duty soldiers, offering a powerful blend of live performances and personal stori...

WCR Ramesh Vora

WCR Chip Kennedy

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) joined Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon News to respond to the recent CNN report linking North Carolina Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson to inflammatory comments made on an online forum. Kelly criticized Robinson as being too extreme for North Carolina and compared him with former President Donald Trump, whom Kelly also opposed f...

Bryan Anderson, who reported on the bombshell CNN story before it was released, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the future of North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson's gubernatorial campaign. The report details disturbing comments made by Robinson on a pornographic website, casting a shadow over his political prospects. Despite calls for Robinson to drop out of the race, including from form...

Wake County Representative Maria Cervania joined Jeff Hamlin and Steve Rao to discuss the fallout from a recent CNN report revealing disturbing comments made by North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson on a pornographic website. Robinson, who listed his full name and email on a forum called "Nude Africa," has denied the allegations but vowed to remain in the gubernatorial race. Cervania of...

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey joined Jeff Hamlin and Steve Rao to discuss the ongoing recovery efforts in Carolina Beach and Brunswick County after severe flooding. Over 20 inches of rain fell in less than five hours, causing widespread damage to roads, homes, and local landmarks like the entrance to Battleship North Carolina. Floodwaters have left many areas impassable, and th...

Duke University Political Science Professor Mac McCorkle joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss a major controversy in North Carolina's gubernatorial race. CNN released a report revealing that Republican nominee Mark Robinson made disturbing comments on a pornographic website, “Nude Africa,” between 2008 and 2012. Robinson allegedly referred to himself as a “Black Nazi” and a “perv.” Despite denying the cl...

Catawba College Political Science Professor Michael Bitzer joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the controversy surrounding North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson's gubernatorial campaign. Robinson announced his decision to stay in the race despite a damning CNN report revealing inflammatory comments he made on a pornography website over a decade ago, including a refe...

Raleigh City Councilman Jonathan Melton joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the Senate's recent vote blocking legislation to establish a nationwide right to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Republicans have rejected the measure for a second time this year, calling it an election-year ploy by Democrats. Melton shared his perspective on how this vote could influence the ongoing pre...

Bill King, President of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the Raleigh City Council's recent vote to close a portion of South Street, allowing for the relocation of the Red Hat Amphitheater. This decision, celebrated by supporters in council chambers, is set to have a lasting impact on downtown businesses. King provided insight into how the move...

David Glenn of the North Carolina Sports Network joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations between Florida State, Clemson, and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Leaders from the ACC are exploring new ways to divide media rights revenue, potentially resolving legal disputes with Florida State and Clemson. These talks stem from a...

State Climatologist Corey Davis joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the surprising flooding from Potential Tropical Storm Cyclone Eight, which led to Governor Roy Cooper declaring a state of emergency in four counties. Some areas received over 18 inches of rain, causing massive flooding, even though the slow-moving tropical system never received a name. Carolina Beach Mayor Ly...

With less than 50 days until the election, North Carolina’s gubernatorial candidates have yet to face off in a debate. Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee, and Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson have avoided direct confrontation on the campaign trail. Despite Stein's expectation to debate Robinson, no date has been set. Independent journalist Bryan Anderson joined Jeff Hamlin to dis...

Wake County Public Libraries has partnered with Tutor.com to offer free, on-demand online tutoring for all library cardholders. Theresa Theall, the library’s senior manager, joined Jeff Hamlin to talk about the new service, which provides one-on-one assistance in subjects like math, science, and English. The tutoring service supports learners of all ages, offering help with homework, test prep, an...

Steven Greene, a political science professor at N.C. State, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest developments in the 2024 presidential race. As Donald Trump heads to Michigan for a town hall and Kamala Harris answers questions at a Black journalists' forum in Pennsylvania, their campaign activities ramp up amidst investigations into a second assassination attempt against Trump. Greene provided...