NC SPIN Podcasts

Question to Brad Crone and Becki Gray – During a conference call with county health officials last week DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen encouraged leaders to consider levying fines against people who fail to wear face coverings in public. Face coverings are one of the most effective ways we now have to slow the spread of COVID-19. Some local officials opposed passing ordinances to levy fines or penalties. What do you think of the idea? How can we get people to wear masks? How far do personal rights go in helping protect others?

NC SPIN episode #1146 Air Date 10/30/2020

Topics:

The Election Overview

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Becki Gray, VP of the John Locke Foundation

Chris Fitzsimon, Director States Newsroom

John Hood, Syndicated columnist and author

Brad Crone, political and communications consultant

Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell discusses ways North Carolina can improve the way we do elections.

Question to John Hood and Chris – After nine consecutive weeks of decline North Carolina’s initial unemployment claims have risen for two consecutive weeks. The unemployment rate for our state increased from 6.5 percent in August to 7.3 percent in September. What does this tell you about our economy?

Question to Dennis Wicker and Anna Beavon Gravely - North Carolina had more than 14,000 new cases in one week, the highest numbers of death in a single day and the highest number of covid hospitalizations since the virus started. Rather than ease restrictions or even tighten then Governor Cooper announced we were remaining in Phase three. Did he do the right thing?

NC SPIN episode # 1145 Air Date 10/23/2020

Topics:

The overview

The House of Representatives

The Senate

Panelists:

Anna Beavon Gravely, Executive Director NC Free

Dennis Wicker, former Lt. Governor of NC

John Hood, syndicated columnist and author

Chris Fitzsimon, Direct States Newsroom

Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell discusses the financial impact small towns are feeling from lost revenue due to the Coronavirus.

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – The Census ended Thursday after the Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration in halting it. North Carolina’s population is undercounted according to Carolina Demography Center at UNC. An undercount of 3 percent could cost our state $4.9 billion over 10 years. What’s your reaction to this news?

Question to Peg O’Connell and Patrick Sebastian – The State Department of Motor Vehicles is moving its headquarters to Rocky Mount in December. It is part of a movement to decentralize state offices across the state. About one-third of the current emmployees have chosen not to make the move. Whatdo you think of the idea of decentralizing state government from Raleigh?

NC SPIN episode #1144 Air Date 10/16/2020

Topics:

The elections

Appellate court races

Council of State

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Patrick Sebastian, communications consultant

Peg O’Connell, political analyst

Chris Fitzsimon, Director, States Newsroom

John Hood, syndicated columnist and author

Tom Campbell, Moderator