Tying It Together with Tim Boyum

In a recent surprise, North Carolina Senate Democrats announced a new leader that was not Dan Blue. Sen. Sydney Batch will take his place next year after a decade of different leadership.

Sen. Batch joined host Tim Boyum to discuss her background in an incredibly successful family, working with her husband at their law firm, surviving breast cancer, and how she plans on leading Democrats much differently than her predecessor, and how she will get along with Sen. Phil Berger.

"I have a lot to learn. I'm grateful to Sen. Blue to help guide me through this, and I have no doubt that Sen. Berger will let me know exactly how the trains stay on track," she told Tim in the interview.

Sen. Batch added she believes the state is much more purple than the legislature is made to believe due to gerrymandering. She believes in respectfully disagreeing and disputing where possible and standing up for her party's values.

On this week's episode, longtime political guru John Hood joins host Tim Boyum to discuss the early days of launching one of North Carolina's first think tanks, and the impact all think tanks have in today's political world.

For over two decades, Hood directed the John Locke Foundation and presently authors a nationally syndicated newspaper column for over 50 newspapers. Recently, he's written seven books, including a historical-fantasy novel.

The pair also have a thorough conversation about redistricting and its influence stemming from the 2020 Census, and the need for non-governmental organizations like John Locke Foundation.

On this week's episode of Tying it Together, top North Carolina Democratic strategist Morgan Jackson joins host Tim Boyum to break down the 2024 election from his perspective.

The two break down North Carolina Governor-elect Josh Stein and other major positions going to Democrats, despite Donald Trump winning the presidency by a decent margin, and what national Democrats might learn from North Carolina.

Jackson, from Nexus Strategies, is a top strategist for current Gov. Roy Cooper and Governor-elect Josh Stein. His firm also regularly works with presidential campaigns.

After months of promises and debate, the 2024 presidential election likely came down to how people felt about the economy. On this week's podcast, host Tim Boyum talks with two economists about the promises made, and what a Trump presidency might mean for the economy in terms of tariffs, product prices, interest rates, immigration and more. Our guests are N.C. State economist emeritus Dr. Michael Walden and UNC Charlotte economist Dr. John Connaughton.

As host Tim Boyum continues to look at the results of the 2024 election, longtime Republican Jim Blaine joins him to offer his perspective on why President-elect Donald Trump won.

Despite Donald Trump's more than 3-percentage point victory in North Carolina, Democrats celebrated Election Day victories in races for governor, attorney general and the legislature.

With the 2026 and 2028 elections in sight, both parties are already maneuvering for position. Blaine breaks down those moving pieces.

Fresh off the campaign trail, Spectrum News political reporters Taylor Popielarz and Cassie Semyon join host Tim Boyum to talk about their time following President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

They reveal the struggles and triumphs of their journey, painting a vivid picture of life on the road, week after week, for months on end.

Their time with both political campaigns and everyday citizens gives them a unique perspective on the country's condition, something they also share during their time on the podcast with Tim. No doubt rare insights you don't want to miss.

Just hours after Donald Trump was declared the winner of the presidential election, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley joins host Tim Boyum to discuss President Trump-elect's win.

The two also touch on topics like whether the election was fair and secure, and what Trump will focus on first in January.

Later on, the discussion covers the North Carolina results and the potential impact of Mark Robinson's candidacy on his fellow Republicans in the election.

Just days before election day, host Tim Boyum talks with two experts about the early voting numbers we are seeing and what it might mean in terms of momentum for one candidate or the other.

Republicans are seeing higher numbers, but are they new voters or just voters that previously voted on election day? Dr. Michael Bitzer, from Catawba College, and Dr. Chris Cooper, from Western Carolina University, have been analyzing the data. They break it all down in these crucial last days of candidates' campaigns.

With early voting underway in North Carolina's crucial battleground election, state elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell joins host Tim Boyum this week to talk about the storm's impact on western North Carolina elections. She'll also discuss what we can expect if races get close. It comes as Gov. Cooper visited Asheville earlier in the week to reiterate to residents that everyone's voice will be heard in this year's election.

Bell tells some incredible stories about the lengths these counties are going to make sure people can vote, county directors losing their own homes, and another gentleman walking four miles just to get to work.

Later, they talk about new photo ID requirements and what might happen if the top races are close. This is a must-listen, especially with the election just two weeks away.

This week, host Tim Boyum returns to the studio after a recent road trip, sitting down with the region's top pollsters to talk about the election as early voting begins and campaigns begin their final push.

Tom Jensen, from Public Policy Polling, and Dr. Scott Huffmon, from Winthrop University, are on hand with the latest trends in the presidential race, explaining why they're spending so much of their time in the Tar Heel state. Both pollsters believe this will be an election where it will take a few days to find out who America's next president will be because of either the thin margins, or the lawsuits because of the thin margins from either candidate.

There's also a conversation about Mark Robinson's numbers following the recent controversy surrounding his campaign, though both agree the governor's race will end up being lopsided based on recent data. The two also crunch some numbers on some of North Carolina's top races.