Longleaf Podcast

Longleaf Politics

North Carolina’s top political news podcast. Every day, we bring you news and commentary from the reasonable right of center. The Longleaf Podcast is a production of Longleaf Politics, the smartest way to follow North Carolina political news and information.

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Episodes

Episode 016: Breaking down N.C.'s extraordinary early voting totals

We speak with Michael Bitzer, political science professor at Catawba College, about this year's early voting. Bitzer is doing a phenomenal job breaking down the wealth of data emerging on early voting — which is coming in at levels more similar to presidential contests than the midterm election we're in this year. Topics include the suburban battle lines being drawn and whether Democrats or Republicans can claim the title of most enthusiastic.

Oct 25, 2018•13 min

Episode 015: Do local electeds need longer terms?

Charlotte's City Council is again proposing increasing the length of their terms from two years to four years, saying that they are not able to be effective when they're campaigning so much. We speak with Mecklenburg County commissioner Matthew Ridenhour about whether local government officials really need longer terms.

Oct 12, 2018•20 min

Episode 014: Running for judge in a new era

We speak with Paulina Havelka, a Republican in Mecklenburg County, on her race for District Court judge, how new districts created by the General Assembly this year impact the campaign, and how incorporating judges' partisan affiliation changes the landscape.

Oct 03, 2018•12 min

Episode 013: How young people will shape the GOP

We spend this episode with Catherine Whiteford, national committeewoman of the North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans and a candidate for North Carolina House in Wake County. We go deep on how young people are changing the makeup of the party and how conservatives can approach higher education policy.

Sep 26, 2018•14 min

Episode 012: How to get off the fence and run for office

We speak with Susan Harden, a Democratic candidate for a district seat on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. She's one of a groundswell of first-time female candidates motivated by the 2016 elections to get more involved in public affairs. We chat about how America can help people get past cynicism to be a part of the political system, and how to learn campaigning as you go along.

Sep 18, 2018•17 min

Episode 011: N.C.'s boldest education experiment

We talk with two of the leaders of the Innovative School District effort to turn around chronically underperforming schools just a few days after their first school — Southside Ashpole Elementary in Robeson County — welcomed students in the door for the first time under new leadership.

Sep 11, 2018•20 min•Ep. 11

Episode 010: On the road with Sen. Jeff Jackson

We catch Sen. Jeff Jackson in between campaign stops as he works to help Democrats break the Republican majority in the General Assembly. We talk about the growing discontent among North Carolina voters and the conversations we as a state should be having but aren't.

Sep 06, 2018•15 min•Ep. 10

Episode 009: The "bombshell" congressional district ruling

We unpack the federal court decision that's thrown the 2018 elections into disarray with Professor Michael Bitzer of Catawba College and Republican political consultant Lawrence Shaheen. We talk about what the court is seeking to achieve, what the likely outcome will be and whether this could come back to bite N.C. Democrats.

Aug 29, 2018•20 min

Episode 008: Toll lanes a "dead end," says Sen. Jeff Tarte

We go in-depth on the I-77 toll lane contract debate with Sen. Jeff Tarte, a Cornelius Republican and outspoken opponent of the "managed lanes" concept. Even if you're not in the Charlotte area, you'll learn a lot about how the Cooper administration has interacted with the General Assembly.

Aug 22, 2018•17 min

Episode 007: How Indivisible NC is working in Southport

We speak with Martha Johnson, who created the Indivisible NC affiliate in Southport — called Southport Indivisible - Stepping Forward. We go under the hood of the left-leaning grassroots organization that's seeking greater political participation in 2018 and beyond.

Aug 16, 2018•16 min

Episode 006: Campaign strategy with Jim Burton

We speak with Jim Burton, owner of Burton Research and Strategies and former N.C. House caucus director, about how candidates can effectively communicate on important issues, how 2018 messaging will differ from 2016, and how candidates can break out of the generic partisan mold.

Aug 10, 2018•15 min

Episode 005: Politics and law with Brent Woodcox

We speak with Brent Woodcox, special counsel to the North Carolina General Assembly, about how things are done differently under Republican control, whether the court system is unusually prominent in today's political landscape, and how #ncpol Twitter can be useful.

Aug 01, 2018•14 min

Episode 004: On the campaign trail with Chad Stachowicz

We talk with Chad Stachowicz, a Charlotte tech company founder and CEO and the Democratic candidate for N.C. Senate District 39, about why he decided to run for office and what he's hearing as he knocks on doors around the district.

Jul 24, 2018•17 min

Episode 003: Can Charlotte become a political town?

Charlotte was just awarded the 2020 Republican National Convention, but the city is much better known for business than politics. Longleaf Politics publisher Andrew Dunn talks with Charlotte political consultant Lawrence Shaheen about why Charlotte seems to be so inept at politics and how that could change.

Jul 20, 2018•20 min

Episode 002: What a 2020 RNC in Charlotte would be like

Longleaf Politics publisher Andrew Dunn speaks with Matthew Ridenhour, a Republican county commissioner in Mecklenburg County and a two-time delegate to the Republican National Convention, about what it would mean for Charlotte if the city is selected to host the 2020 RNC.

Jul 17, 2018•16 min•Ep. 2

Episode 001: Things to watch as 2018 elections heat up

Longleaf Politics publisher Andrew Dunn is joined by Charlotte Republican political consultant Lawrence Shaheen and Democratic campaign manager Tonya Jameson to talk about the 9th Congressional District race, grassroots efforts on the left, and whether education will be the top issue in the 2018 General Assembly elections.

Jul 13, 2018•20 min

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