I’m Ted Budd and I approve this lie

I’m Ted Budd and I approve this lie

When Ted Budd said, “I’m Ted Budd and I approve this message” before his latest attack on Cheri Beasley, he admitted that he’s a liar. There’s virtually nothing true in the ad. I guess that’s not surprising coming from a guy who also spread the Big Lie after the 2020...

Down the stretch, A more normal midterm

Down the stretch, A more normal midterm

Today, I’ve got a lot of thoughts. If you’re a Democrat or progressive, they aren’t encouraging. Some stem from news stories over the past week and others from a poll that I stumbled upon on Wednesday.  Overall, I think the political environment in general has taken a...

The gig is up

The gig is up

Last week, Kevin Williamson, an anti-Trump conservative, blasted the GOP for only running against Democrats. As he said, “I have not heard a case for Republicans worth repeating in years—only a case against Democrats.” Then he added, “Democrats, for their part, are in...

Mississippi Shows Why States Rights Don’t Work

The governor of Mississippi transferred millions if dollars from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to the University of Southern Mississippi for the purpose of funding a volleyball stadium. The funds were moved at the behest of former football star Brett Favre,...

Countering the red wave

Countering the red wave

Yesterday, prominent North Carolina Republican political consultant Paul Shumaker released a memorandum to “Interested Parties” with the subject line “The 2022 Red Wave.” It’s the latest missive from the GOP strategist pushing the narrative that Republicans are on the...

The Trump Rally is A Gathering For Hate

The Trump Rally is A Gathering For Hate

"In the fifties, you just say n-----, n-----, n----," admitted Lee Atwater, South Carolina Republican consultant and architect of George H. W. Bush's 1988 campaign for the presidency. Later, on his deathbed, Atwater expressed remorse for using race hatred in the...

Ode to October

Ode to October

On this last day of September, I have a lot of thoughts as the midterm heads into its final weeks. Here in North Carolina, the Senate race should be getting far more attention than it is. Nationally, after Democrats won the summer, Republicans’ fortunes improve...

Trump and the N-word, part 2: Nobody cares

Trump and the N-word, part 2: Nobody cares

Yesterday, I wrote a piece about Donald Trump baiting his base to yell racial slurs in public. I pointed out that Trump knew the press wouldn’t cover it. Several commenters on the blog asked why. I realized that I missed the biggest punch line of the story: Nobody...

Trump and the N-word

Trump and the N-word

Donald Trump came to North Carolina this weekend to campaign for Ted Budd and other candidates. Of course, much of the event was Trump airing his grievances and touting his victimhood because it’s always all about Donald. Still, the stage was full of Trump sycophants,...

Where I’m Coming From

Where I’m Coming From

Before I plunge into the content of this piece, I want to thank everyone who has read my columns over the years. I have been writing for PoliticsNC for nine years, beginning when Thomas Mills generously allowed me to join his new venture, and with the exception of the...

A good week for democracy and the rule of law

A good week for democracy and the rule of law

Photo by Evan Vucci/AP/Shutterstock There’s no shortage of reasons to feel that our democracy is in peril. A substantial portion of the population seems to believe that our system of government is unable to cope with the pressures placed on it by changing cultural...