NC SPIN Podcasts

This week Tom Campbell discusses his plans for Thanksgiving and how we can all get things back to normal sooner.

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – A number of our state’s colleges are announcing big layoffs because of revenue shortfalls. Are these just temporary or do you think there will be a shrinking of college professors, support personnel and administrators? How will this affect higher education going forward?

Question to Bev Perdue and Rick Henderson – We are about to conclude one of the most divisive and bitter elections in history. Research indicates our millennial generation is losing confidence in our government and conspiracy theories have become an art form. How would you describe the state of the political climate in North Carolina? How about the state of government? What changes need making to make government work again?

NC SPIN episode #1148 Air Date 11/13/2020

Topics:

We know who won, but why?

Virus once again raging

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Bev Perdue, former Governor of North Carolina

Rick Henderson, Executive Editor of Carolina Journal

John Hood, Syndicated columnist and author

Chris Fitzsimon, Director States Newsroom

Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell discusses bias in the media and what people can do about it.

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – Infectious disease expert Dr. Toni Fauci warned the nation that even with vaccines it would likely be late next year or even into 2022 before we got back to some semblance of order. If true how will North Carolina cope? What changes do we need to make? Everyone is weary of this virus. Do you think we are willing to do the things it will take to protect ourselves and our neighbors?

Question to Brad Crone and Becki Gray – North Carolina citizens are alarmed when local businesses don’t take the requirement for face masks and social distancing seriously and many have filed complaints about particular businesses. Last week the Department of DHHS started making phone calls to those who have had complaints, warning them to get in line in observing the governor’s executive order. They were warned that it is a class two misdemeanor to fail to enforce these guidelines or else there will be further action. What do you think of this? Will it help to increase the use of face masks and social distancing? If not, should there be penalties or fines?

NC SPIN episode #1147 Air Date 11/6/2020

Topics:

Election Outcomes

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Michael Bitzer, Political Science Professor at Catawba College

Brad Crone, political and communications consultant

John Hood, syndicated columnist and author

Chris Fitzsimon, Director States Newsroom

Becki Gray, VP of the John Locke Foundation

This week Tom Campbell discusses how the lockdown must have made people forget safe driving skills.

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – We learned this week that the number of students enrolled in district schools has declined 4 percent or 71,000 students from last year. 8,500 enrolled in charter schools so the net decline is actually 62,000 students. What’s your reaction to this news? Is this a one-time event? What are the implictaions for state supported traditional district schools?