Sen. Bobby Hanig fights for the underdog, because he is one. Whether it's growing up in poverty in the projects of Philadelphia, fighting county government on a regulation impeding his business, challenging a House incumbent, or just recently, winning a Democratic leaning Senate district. The Outer Banks Republican opens up to Brian about his life, small business, and his impressive political career. He also talks about his love of surfing, a pastime he's hoping to resume now that campaign seaso...
Jan 20, 2023•47 min•Ep. 96
The NC General Assembly opened its 2023-2024 biennium on Wednesday with a day of celebration, optimism, and bipartisanship (for the most part) . This podcast covers the ceremonial day, including a new rule in the House that will allow for easier veto overrides in that chamber , the news that an abortion bill is being negotiated between the House and Senate , and a list of unfinished business from 2021-22 likely to get action this session . Skye and Brian also talk to ACLU of NC Senior Policy Cou...
Jan 13, 2023•48 min•Ep. 95
One might assume the conservative John Locke Foundation gets everything it asks for from a Republican General Assembly. Well, the think-tank gets a lot, but the organization has differences over big legislative issues, including Medicaid expansion. JLF President/Chief Strategy Officer Donald Bryson talks with Skye and Brian about Locke's approach to the General Assembly, his life and career, and how JLF prepares for the 2023 General Assembly session. Skye has a few questions for Brian about the ...
Jan 06, 2023•39 min•Ep. 94
Republican Senator Danny Britt and Democratic Senator Mike Woodard look back at the year in North Carolina politics, including their top stories and surprises of 2022. They also look ahead to the 2023 General Assembly session and share their views on the 2024 elections. Sen. Britt also gives his take on the race for attorney general. Skye and Brian also unpack the latest NC Supreme Court rulings , a 2024 gubernatorial poll, and Governor Cooper has a new lobbying team. Plus, Unsubstantiated Rumor...
Dec 23, 2022•56 min•Ep. 93
Senator-elect Mary Wills Bode was elected to the NC Senate on November 8 after a grueling race that was watched closely by NC political observers. The Granville County Democrat (who also represents part of Wake County) sits down with Skye and Brian to talk about her high profile election, her goals in the General Assembly as a freshman senator serving in the minority, and her life path to elected office. The podcast also unpacks the Sine Die session that wasn't , Republican leadership previews t...
Dec 16, 2022•46 min•Ep. 92
Jeff Tiberii is the Capitol Bureau Chief covering the General Assembly and he hosts WUNC's biweekly Politics Podcast , roles he continues through the end of 2022. In the New Year, he'll co-host a daily radio show on WUNC that will focus on North Carolina news, politics and culture . Before he makes this transition, Jeff sat down with Skye and Brian to talk about his life, family, career, love of sports, and North Carolina politics. He also waves a magic wand and makes an improvement for all who ...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 91
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a live recording of the Do Politics Better Podcast in front of an audience of over 120 people on November 30 . Skye and Brian were joined by Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper . The discussion was focused on western North Carolina politics, including Buncombe County's delegation turnover, the region's need for bipartisanship in a partisan environment, and the continuing drama in the state's 11th Congressional Distric...
Dec 02, 2022•40 min•Ep. 90
Senator-elect Benton Sawrey was elected to the NC Senate on November 8. The Johnston County Republican sits down with Skye and Brian to talk about his election, his goals in the General Assembly as a freshman senator, and his path to elected office. The podcast also dives into the longterm challenges facing the Republican and Democratic parties and the resignation of LT McCrimmon as Governor Roy Cooper's liaison to the General Assembly. We also feature a Tweet of the Week , the podcast visits As...
Nov 18, 2022•53 min•Ep. 89
Sen. Kirk deViere joins Skye and Brian for this special edition of the podcast to unpack the mid-term elections in North Carolina, including the races for U.S. Senate , Congress , the Courts , and the NC General Assembly . The Democrat from Fayetteville, who was ousted in a Democratic primary this past spring for his moderate voting record , also talks about the need for both political parties to welcome middle-of-the-road legislators in their ranks. Plus, Skye and Brian spent Election Day in Ro...
Nov 11, 2022•50 min•Ep. 88
State Board of Elections Chair Damon Circosta talks about his early career in election reform advocacy, including a stint working for the late Sen. John McCain, and his work now to ensure North Carolina elections are secure and accessible. The Arizona native also talks about how the state's diverse politics and coastal surfing vibe were determining factors in his family's decision to locate to North Carolina. In this 2022 mid-term election edition of the podcast, Skye and Brian discuss a Meredit...
Nov 04, 2022•55 min•Ep. 87
Demi Dowdy is the Communications Director for House Speaker Tim Moore , a job that often has her in the room where it happens and working with journalists in the NC Capitol Press Corps to get the story told to the public. The first generation Cuban-American also talks about her career advocating for conservative causes, including her work for the Civitas Institute (now merged with the John Locke Foundation) , and her hopes and aspirations for the Republican Party. Skye and Brian unpack a pair of...
Oct 28, 2022•49 min•Ep. 86
NC political operatives have access to a voter file that indexes every voter on a scale from 0-100. Your Facebook likes, Instagram shares, iTunes purchases, grocery store purchases, and more, constantly update your file and informs political candidates and PACs on what kind of messages will get you to the polls. Dan Crawford leads the political work for the NC League of Conservation Voters and he sits down with Skye and Brian to explain how the voter index works. Dan is married to Democratic Sen...
Oct 21, 2022•51 min•Ep. 85
Opposition (or "oppo") research is the most secretive and underground facet of North Carolina politics, but it's the foundation of most successful political campaigns. NC-based GOP political operative Darren Eustance at Malleus Political Strategies talks about his misunderstood, required, and often maligned industry. Skye and Brian also break down the Beasley/Budd U.S. Senate debate , discuss crime as an emerging campaign issue in political races , Unsubstantiated Rumors , Tweet of the Week , th...
Oct 14, 2022•57 min•Ep. 84
Nathan Babcock is a political consultant for Republican state Senate candidates and part of Morgan Jackson's job is to direct Governor Roy Cooper's political investments in key General Assembly races. Both veteran political operatives are guests on the podcast this week and help Skye and Brian understand the state of play in key NC House and Senate races one month from Election Day. As to legislative races, it's heating up in swing districts as a lawsuit is filed in a New Hanover County Senate r...
Oct 07, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 83
Wayne Goodwin grew up poor and with a father with debilitating mental health challenges. These two experiences shaped the Hamlet native and his politics. In 1996, Wayne was 28-years old when he was elected to represent Richmond County in the NC House, a seat he held for 8 years before running for statewide office. Wayne's life has been marked by incredible success and heart-wrenching loss, including the 2020 death of his beloved wife and political partner Melanie . Wayne shares their love story ...
Sep 30, 2022•52 min•Ep. 82
Sen. Jim Burgin is a leader in the General Assembly on health care and mental health policy. The Harnett County Republican talks about his passion for the issue, especially mental health, as well as his friendship and partnership with NC Health & Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley , a Democrat, in making the state healthier. A press gaggle this week at the General Assembly included news from Sen. Phil Berger about a possible December lame-duck session, the latest on Medicaid , and more. S...
Sep 23, 2022•53 min•Ep. 81
Kyle Villemain founded The Assembly , a digital magazine about North Carolina and its complex politics, in 2021. Skye and Brian sits down with Kyle to talk about the online magazine, his life and career, and his vision for a publication that is digging deeper in our politics at a time when much of journalism is contracting. Skye and Brian also talk about the week in politics, including an October 7 US Senate debate between Ted Budd and Cheri Beasley , negative ads , unsubstantiated rumors, Tweet...
Sep 16, 2022•56 min•Ep. 80
Judge Jefferson Griffin has served on the NC State Court of Appeals since 2021. The Nash County native talks about his service in the state's court system, his active military career, and his work after college as a charter fisherman. Judge Griffin, a Republican, also announces his intentions in the 2024 election. Skye and Brian also kickoff the post Labor Day election season with new polling , attack ads launched, unsubstantiated prefers, the final NCSBE decision on Hanig v Jordan , Tweet of th...
Sep 09, 2022•47 min•Ep. 79
Just about everyone knows about the infamous "bathroom bill" of 2016 , however many don't know that Rep. John Autry was then a Charlotte City Councilman who successfully pushed for the city's non-discrimination ordinance that prompted HB2 that year. The Mecklenburg County Democrat talks about why pushing for the ordinance was so important to him. He also takes listeners on a life journey that began in Fayetteville and took him across the country through multiple military posts, careers, and expe...
Sep 02, 2022•44 min•Ep. 78
Sen. Steve Jarvis is a builder by trade and is recognized as a legislative leader on homebuilding and construction issues. However, he is also just as passionate about improving foster care and the adoption process in North Carolina . The Davidson County Republican talks about his life and family, a nearly tragic construction accident that still negatively affects him today, and he explains how a nice guy can succeed in North Carolina politics. Skye and Brian unpack a full week of news, includin...
Aug 26, 2022•44 min•Ep. 77
Sen. Amy Galey is an Alamance County Republican and Leonardo Williams is a Durham City Council Democrat. However, the two found friendship and leadership growth from the NC Institute of Political Leadership . They are joined by NC IOPL Executive Director Brad Young to talk about the political training program, its preparation for candidates for elected office, and why it's designed to throw all political philosophies into one cohort to produce NC's future political leaders. Applications for the ...
Aug 19, 2022•52 min•Ep. 76
Sen. Jim Perry returns as the podcast interview host for a second week to talk with lobbyist Brian Lewis about his transient mobile home life in eastern North Carolina, his start in NC politics in 1994, and how a lobbying mistake in 2011 led him down a path to #DoPoliticsBetter . House Majority Leader John Bell also returns to the podcast as Skye David's guest co-host this week. They cover the latest from the Attorney General Josh Stein criminal investigation , Medicaid expansion talks, and the ...
Aug 12, 2022•51 min•Ep. 75
Lobbyist and podcast co-host Skye David is interviewed by Sen. Jim Perry , and she talks about her life, education, career, and work in North Carolina as a lobbyist. And while Skye is on vacation, Sen. Mike Woodard steps into the co-host role of the podcast with Brian and breaks down this week's news, including the latest on Medicaid expansion , Kansas and abortion politics , the Green Party's recognition , and the rise of unaffiliated voters in the state . The Do Politics Better podcast is spon...
Aug 05, 2022•53 min•Ep. 74
WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain covers the General Assembly. The Georgia native talks about his career in journalism and his thoughts on the state of journalism and North Carolina politics. Skye and Brian also talk about the criminal investigation into Attorney General Josh Stein's 2020 campaign , the General Assembly asks the courts to implement a 20-week abortion ban , and a redistricting case is slated for a NC Supreme Court hearing this fall . Plus, Brian's inspiration found in Ti...
Jul 29, 2022•54 min•Ep. 73
Brent Woodcox is Senior Policy Counsel to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Donald Bryson is President of the John Locke Foundation . Both are conservatives, active in North Carolina politics, and open to share their political opinions. The two got tangled in a T witter discussion about a General Assembly line-item in the closing days of session that got the attention of many. Brent and Donald discuss their Twitter "dust-up", the General Assembly budget process, the role of think tanks, a...
Jul 22, 2022•54 min•Ep. 72
Neal Inman , age 32, started his political career as an intern in 2012 for Rep. Julia Howard . A decade later he is the Chief of Staff to House Speaker Tim Moore . The Wilmington, NC native walks listeners through his career path, his day-to-day work, and talks about his 2 1/2 day stint working for Governor Roy Cooper. Former President George W. Bush also stops by at the end of the podcast and shares his thoughts about Inman, who he refers to as "Boy Wonder". The podcast also unpacks a full week...
Jul 15, 2022•44 min•Ep. 71
Before Senator Sarah Crawford arrived in the General Assembly in 2020, she was already a star. She was a guest on Late Night with David Letterman in 1989 as she helped showcase a new dog sport called Fly Ball. The freshman Democrat also talks about her early life, her work for Congressman David Price, and how a kickball game (and Fly Ball ) introduced her to her husband Dan. Skye and Brian also run down the very last day of session, how the adjournment resolution has the General Assembly returni...
Jul 08, 2022•47 min•Ep. 70
The last days of the 2022 NC legislative short session, including bills moving, dying, and legislative maneuvering, from the viewpoint of lobbyists Skye David and Brian Lewis. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame , the NC Travel Industry Association , and the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association .
Jul 01, 2022•39 min•Ep. 69
Before arriving in the General Assembly in 2021, Sen. DeAndrea Salvador was already a star. The TED Talk fellow's 2018 TED Talk on energy policy has over 1.5 million views. The Mecklenburg County Democrat talks (13:37) about her life's journey, including being born to a teenage mother and having a father who was incarcerated when she was young. Skye and Brian also cover a wild week at the General Assembly, including a dramatic loss for sports gambling , medical marijuana goes up in smoke , Medic...
Jun 24, 2022•46 min•Ep. 68
Sen. Jim Perry has a beautiful family, is a successful businessman, and is a powerful state senator. However, his childhood is a different story. On this Father's Day edition of the podcast, the Lenoir County Republican opens up about growing up without a father, in economic hardship, and how both motivated him to want more in life. Sen. Perry also talks about rumors circulating about him in the General Assembly, gives insight into what drives him, and explains how his challenging childhood shap...
Jun 17, 2022•47 min•Ep. 67
