It’s a great tragedy of our time that the global climate change crisis is not something that emerged suddenly or as a surprise. Not only have scientists predicted how it would play out for decades, so too have many of the polluters whose CO2 emissions have done so much to cause it. A powerful new report from the nonprofit Energy and Policy Institut…

Duke Energy and other utilities, particularly in the South, are pushing to add new natural gas plants like this Florida facility. (Photo by Glen Richard/iStock Images Getty Images) It’s a great tragedy of our time that the global climate change crisis is not something that emerged suddenly or as a surprise. Not only have scientists predicted how it…

For many decades, Americans have celebrated the notion that the first Thanksgiving represented a warm and solemn celebration in which kind-hearted Native people broke bread with and welcomed European immigrants to the New World. As historians have documented in recent years, however, the truth was more complex and not nearly as inspiring. In truth,…

Thanksgiving dinner. (Drazen Zigic | Getty Images Plus) For many decades, Americans have celebrated the notion that the first Thanksgiving represented a warm and solemn celebration in which kind-hearted Native people broke bread with and welcomed European immigrants to the New World. As historians have documented in recent years, however, the truth…

Imagine for a moment that state leaders decided to implement a change in how North Carolina provides core public services. Instead of everyone in a community relying on the same police and fire departments, people would instead choose private vendors and receive a check from the government to partially underwrite the cost. And the vendors would be …

Photo: Getty Images Imagine for a moment that state leaders decided to implement a change in how North Carolina provides core public services. Instead of everyone in a community relying on the same police and fire departments, people would instead choose private vendors and receive a check from the government to partially underwrite the cost. And t…

Senate President Phil Berger and NC State Board of Elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell. (File photos) North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger is a smart lawyer and has long been one of our state’s most powerful elected officials. And unlike some conservatives who are prone to promoting crazy conspiracy theories, Berger has t…

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger is a smart lawyer and has long been one of our state’s most powerful elected officials. And unlike some conservatives who are prone to promoting crazy conspiracy theories, Berger has traditionally been more responsible than that. Unfortunately, that seems to be changing. Last week, Berger made the…

The election of Donald Trump to a second term in the White House has caused a great deal of consternation for many Americans. While all caring and thinking people cling to hope that Trump will concentrate on governing and refrain from the acts of political vengeance and ideological extremism that he forecast during his campaign, the early signs – p…

Across the United States, elected leaders, analysts, pundits, and millions of average Americans are reflecting on and trying to make sense of Donald Trump’s victory in the recent presidential election. This is especially the case in North Carolina, where despite Trump’s win in the state presidential contest, Democrats fared well in statewide and le…

One group of North Carolinians for whom the election is likely to have a significant impact is the immigrant community. With President-elect Trump promising a wave of mass deportations and our state legislature plowing ahead with legislation to force local sheriffs to partner with federal immigration control officials, a new period of uncertainty a…

In case you ever wondered, here’s a sure indicator that a politician has been caught doing something shady and underhanded. When the only explanation they have for an action they’re taking is to mumble that it’s “business as usual” or something their political adversaries once did, you know they’re up to no good. North Carolinians were reminded of …

House Speaker Tim Moore presides over the November legislative session. (Photo: NCGA video stream) In case you ever wondered, here’s a sure indicator that a politician has been caught doing something shady and underhanded. When the only explanation they have for an action they’re taking is to mumble that it’s “business as usual” or something their …

Gerrymandering – the corrupt rigging of districts to elect candidates of certain parties – is a cancer afflicting modern American politics. And sadly, North Carolina is its poster child. For years now, Republicans have gerrymandered their way to large legislative majorities in a state in which Democrats often receive more votes. And now thanks to t…

(Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) Gerrymandering – the corrupt rigging of districts to elect candidates of certain parties – is a cancer afflicting modern American politics. And sadly, North Carolina is its poster child. For years now, Republicans have gerrymandered their way to large legislative majorities in a state in which Democrats often …

North Carolina voters just elected Gov.-elect Josh Stein by an overwhelming margin but the vast majority of them did not vote for Senate leader Phil Berger or House Speaker Tim Moore. Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped Berger and Moore from hatching a truly outrageous scheme to grab powers from the governor’s office and other statewide offices to w…

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), surrounded by state lawmakers, address reporters ahead of a vote on a first round of Hurricane Helene relief money in October. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) North Carolina voters just elected Gov.-elect Josh Stein by an overwhelming …

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is photographed inside the Rayburn House Office Building Feb. 27, 2019. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) In a scathing commentary, veteran journalist Hugh Jackson of the Nevada Current summarized recent developments in Washington this way: quote – “U.S. Congress replaced by an app on Trump’s phone.” Sadly, Jackson’s biting hyp…

In a scathing commentary, veteran journalist Hugh Jackson of the Nevada Current summarized recent developments in Washington this way: quote – “U.S. Congress replaced by an app on Trump’s phone.” Sadly, Jackson’s biting hyperbole isn’t that far off. Since his election, Donald Trump has quickly nominated a slate of remarkably unqualified lackeys to …

Sen. Danny Britt (File photo) In a legislature that includes plenty of unserious characters, state Senator Danny Britt of Robeson County is not one of them. He’s a leader and a practicing attorney who chairs two important committees. All of which makes the brewing scandal surrounding an email that Britt’s office apparently sent to a constituent tha…

In a legislature that includes plenty of unserious characters, state Senator Danny Britt of Robeson County is not one of them. He’s a leader and a practicing attorney who chairs two important committees. All of which makes the brewing scandal surrounding an email that Britt’s office apparently sent to a constituent that much more outrageous. As mul…

While a tiny handful of races have yet to be officially called, we now know the results of the vast majority of contests in the 2024 election and topping the list in North Carolina, of course, is the governor’s office, where attorney general Josh Stein will soon be sworn in as North Carolina’s 76th chief executive. Earlier this week we sat down wit…

Donald Trump’s second administration is poised to soon do a great deal of damage in several important areas – including health care, education, reproductive freedom, immigration, foreign policy and the economy. That said, when it comes to the damage that will be truly irreparable, no pledge looms darker or more ominous than Trump’s plan to scuttle …

Yet another area in which the recent general election is likely to have major impacts is public education. Here in North Carolina, education advocates are hopeful that the combination of a new governor and a slightly different state legislature could lead to a boost in public school funding – something that’s desperately needed given our state’s bo…

State lawmakers return to Raleigh this week and from the looks of things, it will mark yet another big and wasteful failure for the General Assembly. That’s because the overriding policy issue in our state right now is the massive economic and environmental disaster in the west that was wrought by Hurricane Helene. If ever there was a crisis that d…

Rep. Tricia Cotham voices support for legislation to expand the state's controversial school voucher program. (Photo: ncleg.gov feed) State lawmakers return to Raleigh this week and from the looks of things, it will mark yet another big and wasteful failure for the General Assembly. That’s because the overriding policy issue in our state right now …

(Getty Images) Donald Trump’s second administration is poised to soon do a great deal of damage in several important areas. Whether it’s health care, education, the federal courts, reproductive freedom, immigration, foreign policy or the economy, millions of people will suffer needlessly if Trump follows through on all of his campaign promises. Tha…

Donald Trump’s second administration is poised to soon do a great deal of damage in several important areas. Whether it’s health care, education, the federal courts, reproductive freedom, immigration, foreign policy or the economy, millions of people will suffer needlessly if Trump follows through on all of his campaign promises. That said, when it…

Sometimes, you just have to shake your head in wonder at the crazy paranoia of North Carolina election conspiracy theorists. Their latest kooky idea: that the recent state election was somehow rigged to prevent victories by Republican candidates for offices like governor and attorney general even as Donald Trump claimed the state’s presidential con…

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Sometimes, you just have to shake your head in wonder at the crazy paranoia of North Carolina election conspiracy theorists. Their latest kooky idea: that the recent state election was somehow rigged to prevent victories by Republican candidates for offices like governor and attorney general even as Donald Trump c…

Michele Morrow, Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction, speaks at a campaign event on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 in Elon, North Carolina. After losing the race vowed to "fight harder than ever before to protect our children and save our schools." (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) There will be a parade of extremists and lightly …

There will be a parade of extremists and lightly qualified politicos in the nominations and appointments that President-elect Donald Trump will advance over the coming days. Once again, Americans will have to endure a time in which important government functions are entrusted to individuals who don’t even support the missions of the agencies they’r…