On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum tackles the debate over North Carolina’s one of a kind Innocence Inquiry Commission. 

Since 2007, it has exonerated 16 people, many serving over 20 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. 

However, the state Senate wants to cut its funding. The commission’s leader Laura Pierro joins Tim to discuss how it works and why she thinks the state must continue funding it.

On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum is joined by former state superintendent of public instruction Dr. June Atkinson. She made history as the first woman elected for the position and held it from 2005 through 2016. This month, after six months of court drama, the nation’s final 2024 race ended with State Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs being sworn in. 

While many people today might think it was one of the longest delayed races ever, think again. It was 20 years ago that Dr. June Atkinson had her own race, but she didn’t take office until August of that following year.

On top of that, it ended up being decided by the General Assembly. 

They were very deliberate because they realized that this could happen again. So they wanted to make sure it was fair,” she said. “In the law, it was stipulated that there would be a paper ballot. You’d have to have a convening of the Senate and the House, and they would declare the winner.”

But, as she explains in the podcast, the bill had to be ratified, or made official, by the Governor first.

The N.C. State alum tells us the incredible story with all kinds of behind-the-scenes details. Later, they discuss the future of education governance and the U.S. Department of Education.

On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum talks with Karen Brinson Bell, the recently removed executive director of the North Carolina Board of Elections. 

A new law passed last week enabled Republicans to select a new board, which then appointed a former Republican attorney general candidate and general counsel to the Republican house speaker, rather than her. 

Brinson discusses that decision, the board denying her the chance to give last remarks, leading state elections through a pandemic and natural disaster, the future of elections, and her own future.

On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum talks with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley. The North Carolina native was just appointed to a FEMA Review Council. 

That council will take a closer look at the future of the often-criticized emergency management agency. President Trump criticized the agency’s response in western North Carolina after Helene devastated the area. 

Instead, he and other leaders believe there should be a new way of funding after natural disasters, whatever acronym it might be called.

“Come up with a formula to send natural disaster funds to states in the form of a block grant and allow states to administer their own recovery,” Rep. Edwards said recently. “But there would be a core group of folks inside of FEMA, or whatever acronym that we wanted to use, that would be there as consultants for those situations where we have states not familiar with those types of disasters.”

Tim and Chairman Whatley also talk about President Trump’s first 100 days in office.

On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum sits down with Congressman Tim Moore. He’s in his first term after breaking a record as the longest serving House Speaker in North Carolina legislative history.

The Republican recently visited the DMZ, separating North and South Korea. He explains his time there, including his reasons for being there and how it affected his foreign policy perspective. 

Later, he discusses tariffs, FEMA and Western North Carolina recovery from Hurricane Helene. 

On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, nationally known journalist from The Atlantic, David Graham, joins host Tim Boyum to discuss his new book. 

The Durham based journalist just released his first, “The Project: How Project 2025 is Reshaping America”. Project 2025 is a 900-page document of policies drawn up by a group of conservative people, some in Trump’s first administration, and the Heritage Foundation.

It includes how to make independent agencies respond to the president, move employees to become political employees and how to challenge things one thinks might be unconstitutional, Graham proposes.

He’s been at The Atlantic since 2011, and covering President Trump since 2015. He says the U.S. is a good “first look.”

“We are a good indicator of where the world is going,” he said.

From the origins of Project 2025 to how it’s potentially playing out, Graham goes in depth into his study of the controversial conservative playbook.

Graham added he could connect about 40 of the executive orders to Project 2025 playbook.

“People didn’t believe Project 2025, but they also didn’t believe Trump would do it, but then he started appointed people within his administration,” Graham said, adding that they’re following the playbook very closely.

Family structure, gender and education are still some of the things in the air with the project and Trump, according to Graham. But he said only time will tell.

Our guest this week is new State Auditor Dave Boliek. His job is to look at state and local entities and audit them to make sure tax dollars are being spent in the way the General Assembly appropriates them.

The state auditor’s primary goals include covering a financial audit, economy and efficiency audit and program result audit.

The Republican joins host Tim Boyum to discuss the position and high-profile issues he plans to tackle, including the DMV, elections and the Department of Government Efficiency.

One of the key questions he’s trying to answer — Where does the money flow?

“You can’t simplify hard data but so much,“ he said. “But also people want the auditor to get in the weeds.”

He’s also been focused on appropriating Helene dollars, with no additional cost to the taxpayer, via a dashboard for North Carolina residents. He told Tim so far, so good on Helene spending.

One area of concern he shared, though, was the DMV. 

“I’m just going to be blunt, it’s going to be a bigger mess than I thought, even I thought,” he said. “We’re moving as quickly as we can.”

He added more solid data is still needed before recommendations can be made, saying he doesn’t want to shoot from the hip. This, as lines are backed up ahead of the Real ID deadline.

Later we get to know him better by discovering his tastes in music, TV and relaxation.

On this week’s episode, Tim asks, where’s the money? Recently, local leaders went to the White House pleading for money from the federal government to help the area recover from Helene. 

The federal government has promised more than $9 billion in a bill passed by Congress, but months later very little of that money has reached western North Carolina. Why?

Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers and Avery County Commissioner Dennis Aldridge were two of the leaders who made the trip and join Tim to talk about the region and their frustration with the federal government. Later, they talk about the future of disaster response.

On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum talks with North Carolina State Senator Jay Chaudhuri. 

The Wake County Democrat discusses his parents’ background as immigrants from India and the impact it had on his life. He also explains the connection between his upbringing and his dedication to public service. 

Later, the two talk about serving as a member of the minority party, a bill he filed in wrestler Ric Flair’s name and another bill that would ban student cell phones in schools. 

In the middle of March Madness, host Tim Boyum brings on an old friend and political journalist who just released a book on the history of the so-called “blue bloods” of college basketball. 

Jeff Tiberii is a host of Due South on WUNC radio, but he also just released the book “The Magnificent Seven: College Basketball’s Blue Bloods.” It’s a fascinating look at the history of these influential teams but also some incredible stories about the people who make it so special. 

We hope you enjoy this time out from politics to learn more about North Carolina’s deep basketball heritage.