Rep. Grier Martin announced last week he was resigning his legislative seat in July to take a job at the Pentagon. The Raleigh Democrat, who is a Afghanistan War veteran, talks about his life, reflects on his service in the General Assembly since 2005, and makes a bold announcement about his future in North Carolina politics. Skye and Brian also talk about another busy week at the General Assembly, including the latest on the budget, a fun idea on future lobby days, seersucker suit season, and l...
Jun 10, 2022•50 min•Ep. 66
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. Military Academy at West Point , and even talks about what his political future may, or may not, hold. Skye a...
Jun 03, 2022•43 min•Ep. 65
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. Skye and Brian also talk about a week full of action in the General Assembly, including a divisive bill wit...
May 27, 2022•45 min•Ep. 64
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 tire incident on Tuesday driving through Harnett County , Tweet of the Week , and more. The Do Politics ...
May 20, 2022•42 min•Ep. 63
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 Tuesday night, and The Growler returns on May 24. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New F...
May 13, 2022•43 min•Ep. 62
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 legislator whose start in life was unlike many of those he grew up with in the middle of the 20th century in D...
May 06, 2022•47 min•Ep. 61
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 Skye's camping trip to McDowell County last weekend. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by Ne...
Apr 29, 2022•43 min•Ep. 60
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 inside a month before the primary election and the opening day of the short session. Skye and Brian upda...
Apr 22, 2022•47 min•Ep. 59
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 chief lobbyist for a Democratic governor who doesn't always see eye-to-eye with a Republican-controlled Ge...
Apr 15, 2022•42 min•Ep. 58
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 Trump , and we answer the question, “what do lobbyists do out of session?” The Do Politics Better podc...
Apr 08, 2022•51 min•Ep. 57
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 political career began. Skye and Brian also rundown another news filled week, including Congressman Madi...
Apr 01, 2022•50 min•Ep. 56
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 NC Supreme Court and Brian talks about Lt. Governor Mark Robinson’s latest controversy , its timing, and...
Mar 25, 2022•47 min•Ep. 55
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 virtual visit to a Medicaid expansion committee , review the John Locke Foundation's Civitas Partisan Inde...
Mar 18, 2022•45 min•Ep. 54
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 showdown in Cumberland County , a veto override vote , the General Assembly adjourns until spring, Congr...
Mar 11, 2022•49 min•Ep. 53
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 that bill with former Rep. Paul (Skip) Stam , a conservative stalwart, and how they worked past their dif...
Mar 04, 2022•48 min•Ep. 52
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 approved by the state courts on Wednesday night and the decisions a few candidates are facing in the afterm...
Feb 25, 2022•47 min•Ep. 51
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. We also learn about John's life growing up in Mecklenburg County, his love of books and tap-dancing, an...
Feb 18, 2022•48 min•Ep. 50
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 the NC Supreme Court's redistricting decision and lays out the General Assembly's timeline in the coming ...
Feb 11, 2022•53 min•Ep. 49
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 a North Carolina Senator and now co-chairs the powerful Senate Education Committee . Brian and Skye br...
Feb 04, 2022•47 min•Ep. 48
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 her policy work in North Carolina. Brian and Skye also talk about a low-key week at the General Assembly...
Jan 28, 2022•46 min•Ep. 47
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 he had a home in the Republican Party. André talks about his political journey and how he found a home i...
Jan 21, 2022•52 min•Ep. 46
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 work as the Chief Health Officer at SAS Institute , and her centrist politics that puts her in the middle o...
Jan 14, 2022•46 min•Ep. 45
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 county commissioner and state senator. She even talks about Tomato Sandwich Day at the General Assembly, and...
Jan 07, 2022•49 min•Ep. 44
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 toll on their family lives, careers, and waistline. In this special holiday episode, Brian and Skye are ...
Dec 24, 2021•52 min•Ep. 43
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 optimistic conservatism, and his openness to run for political office in the future . Plus, a Democrat d...
Dec 17, 2021•46 min•Ep. 42
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 childhood working and living on a farm, her early career as a dental hygienist, and the decision she ...
Dec 10, 2021•40 min•Ep. 41
Rep. John Bradford is all energy, all optimism, all the time. It's how he runs two businesses he founded , prioritizes time with his family, chairs the powerful House Finance Committee , and sponsors an impressive number of successful bills each session to help small businesses in North Carolina as well as the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) community . However, the Mecklenburg County Republican has faced adversity. He discusses the hurt of his 2018 re-election loss and an alar...
Dec 03, 2021•51 min•Ep. 40
Author, podcaster , and media pro Stephen Kent sits down with Brian to talk about his newly released book, How the Force Can Fix the World . In these divisive times, the North Carolina native (who now lives outside of Washington, DC) uses Star Wars as a framework for how we can improve civility, understanding, and our political discourse. Stephen also discusses his connection to North Carolina politics, the role religion and spirituality plays in his life, and his evolving conservative political...
Nov 26, 2021•47 min•Ep. 39
Rep. Matthew Winslow wasn't just raised by a teenage mom, he grew up with her, and they even attended college together. The freshman Republican also talks about the importance of his faith and how it's led his family, career, politics, and how he sees those who do not share his values. Brian and Skye also celebrate a state budget and review the ongoing shakeup in NC's congressional delegation and General Assembly as moves are made in the aftermath of redistricting. Brian also shares his thoughts...
Nov 19, 2021•46 min•Ep. 38
Rep. Joe John is a rare legislator with high level experience in all three branches of government. Before his election to the NC House in 2016, Rep. John presided over court rooms as a judge, including service on the NC Court of Appeals from 1992-2000 . The Wake County Democrat also worked as the director of the NC State Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab. Brian and Skye also review a non-voting week that was full of political drama, including plans for a final budget vote next week , Congressman...
Nov 12, 2021•39 min•Ep. 37
