NC SPIN Podcasts

Question to Howard Lee and Anna Beavon Gravely – The legislature has passed the Second Chance Act to make it easier for young people to expunge nonviolent crimes from their records. Is this a good bill? Should the Govenor sign it into law? What took it so long to pass?

NC SPIN episode #1126 Air Date 6/12/2020

Topic:

A bad turn

School reopening guidelines

Racial Justice

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Chris Fitzsimon, Director, States Newsroom

Anna Beavon Gravely, Executive Director of NC Free

Howard Lee, former Senator and Board of Education

John Hood, Syndicated columnist and author

Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell asks is state government spending too much, too little or just enough?

Question to Chris Fitzsimon and John Hood – On June 23 the 11th Congressional District will have a runoff election between Lynda Bennett and Madison Cawthorn. Election officials are warning of potential problems. What’s it looking like and what are the potential problems?

Question to Cash Michaels and Joe Mavretic – As we hear that our state budget might have a $4 billion dollar deficit several legislators are suggesting that now might be the time to be a $3.1 billion bond referendum on the ballot in November for roads, schools, UNC, and community colleges. What’s your reaction to this proposed legislation?

NC SPIN episode #1125 Air Date 06/05/2020

Topics:

The Republican convention

Protests, riots and looting

The Pandemic is still with us

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Former House Speaker Joe Mavretic

Chris Fitzsimon, Director, States Newsroom

John Hood, syndicated columnist and author

Cash Michaels, Journalist and Filmmaker

Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell discusses our current the George Floyd protests amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – Judicial Watch, a conservative leaning think tank organization based in Washington DC has filed suit against the SBOE alleging the state has violated federal law by not maintaining their voter files to current standards. Is this about maintaining the voter files or is it an effort to keep people from voting?

Meanwhile the liberal-leaning Southern Coalition are suing in federal court saying the state hasn’t done enough to open up the voter registration process. This lawsuit is technical in nature but does it have merit?

Question to Anna Beavon Gravely and Rufus Edmisten - There is bi-partisan legislation moving forward on a number of measures supported by the State Board of Elections. Rep. David Lewis and Rep. Pricey Harrison have co-sponsored the legislation – much of dealing with COVID-19 related matters / one top issue is absentee ballots by mail. What changes are needed in absentee ballots and what type of demand will we be looking at in the General Election?

NC SPIN episode # 1124 Air Date 05/29/2020

Topics:

Covid-19 Update

Shakeup at Employment Security Commission

The Investigation of Senator Burr

Gubernatorial Leadership

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Anna Beavon Gravely, Executive Director of NC FREE

Chris Fitzsimon, Director States Newsroom

Rufus Edmisten, former Secretary of State and Attorney General and

John Hood, Syndicated columnist and author

Brad Crone, sitting in for Tom Campbell this week.