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.

On this week’s episode, host Tim Boyum and his guests discuss a recent study on the state of North Carolina elections. 

Low faith and trust in elections is widespread, but North Carolina’s elections are more successful than many other states, according to a study from cross-partisan organization North Carolina Fair Safe and Secure Elections.

"One big takeaway we have is that early voting is working really well in North Carolina by any metric," Dr. Chris Cooper, from Western Carolina University, said. 

Cooper and Dr. Michael Bitzer, from Catawba College, are members of the group that conducted and released the study. They join Tim to break down everything from the initial registration process, to rallies and challenges following the election.

On this week’s episode, host Tim Boyum talks with author and retired political reporter Rob Christensen. The two discuss Christensen’s newly released book, Southern News, Southern Politics, which tells the fascinating story of the Raleigh News & Observer and its impact on shaping North Carolina’s political history.

With a 45-year career at the newspaper, Christensen is undoubtedly an expert on its modern history. But the stories go back to the 1800s when the publisher was involved heavily in Democratic politics and even white supremacy.

He also gave Tim his take on the future of newspaper and investigative journalism, which require real time, money and resources.

“Influence is diminishing and right now there’s not a good economic model for the News & Observer and other small local newspapers to flourish,” Christensen explained. "Who knows whether it's going to be around another 100 years."

In an exclusive interview five years after Covid, host Tim Boyum speaks with the woman who guided North Carolina through the pandemic. 

Dr. Mandy Cohen reveals the challenges, the successes, and even threats she faced during the challenging time. She highlights working with Gov. Roy Cooper as a key reason for her success in North Carolina during COVID-19.

“I learned so much from him and I’m so grateful that I was able to be on his team. We had a lot of special attributes that made us successful,“ she said.

She and Tim also talk about her time leading the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after leaving North Carolina. And Tim wraps by recounting his time covering COVID-19 as a journalist.

This week’s episode of Tying it Together features an interview with Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, arguably North Carolina’s most influential politician, as a new legislative session begins.

Host Tim Boyum and Sen. Berger openly discuss Helene’s mountain relief efforts, collaboration with new Gov. Josh Stein and house speaker Destin Hall, and other topics in the senator’s office.

“I don’t know that when all is said and done that it’s going to end up any different,” Sen. Berger told Boyum when talking about Gov. Stein and cutting deals. “But I am optimistic that we may find ways to address some things that we may not have in the past.”

The two also touch on the unresolved N.C. Supreme Court election race, tax rates, and facing a primary in next year’s election.

On this week’s episode, host Tim Boyum reconnects with Shelane Etchison. She was North Carolina’s first ever Congressional unaffiliated candidate to make it on the ballot. Independents aren’t a party, they aren’t a third party, they’re exactly as they sound — independent.

Although she lost the election, she significantly outperformed all other non-major party candidates, exceeding expectations. 

“The burden for unaffiliated candidates to get on the ballot, I believe, is too high right now. The bar is too high right now,” Etchison told Boyum. “The amount of money I had to allocate to that, the time and effort, it just already puts you at an impasse.”

So, how does she feel now after running? Can an unaffiliated candidate ever win, and what’s next for her? Listen to find out her experience.