This week, host Tim Boyum takes us inside the world of political opposition research. We’ve all seen the ads, heard about salacious accusations or ready stories about political candidates. And most of that comes from what’s known as opposition research. 

He talks with two North Carolinians involved in some of the more famous opposition research cases in recent times. Republican Charles Hellwig helped dig up information on 2020 U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham, and David Wheeler discovered and released several things about 2022 candidate and U.S. Representative Madison Cawthorn. 

Both candidates ended up losing.

The two argue opposition research is vital for a campaign and not some dark room operation.