News

JLF’s Becki Gray discusses the politics surrounding a North Carolina election lawsuit

Becki Gray, John Locke Foundation vice president for outreach, discusses the political nature of the U.S. Justice Department’s suit challenging North Carolina’s new election law. Gray offered these comments during an interview with Donna Martinez for Carolina Journal Radio (Program No. 545).

AFP launches $1.6 million TV ad campaign targeting Hagan on Obamacare

Americans for Prosperity president Tim Phillips and North Carolina state director Chris Farr announce on Oct. 29, 2013, a three-week, $1.6 million television ad campaign targeting U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan’s continuing support for Obamacare.

JLF’s John Hood discusses proposed privatization of N.C. economic recruitment efforts

John Locke Foundation President John Hood answers host Tim Boyum’s question about proposals to privatize portions of the N.C. Commerce Department’s economic recruitment efforts. This exchange took place during the Oct. 29, 2013, edition of News 14 Carolina’s “Capital Tonight.”

Current N.C. Medicaid Program Fails to Meet Health, Cost Goals

RALEIGH — Medicaid spending has grown dramatically, while patient health outcomes have declined, as North Carolina has relied on Community Care of North Carolina to serve most Medicaid patients. A new Policy Report from the John Locke Foundation and Florida-based Foundation for Government Accountability highlights five "design flaws" in the CCNC model.

CJ Staff

Economist Richard McKenzie discusses N.C.’s Crossnore School, a modern-day orphanage

Dr. Richard McKenzie, professor emeritus of economics at the University of California at Irvine, discusses the Crossnore School, a modern-day orphanage located in Avery County, N.C. McKenzie offered these comments during an interview for Carolina Journal Radio (Program No. 545).

AI in college should aid not replace academic skills

College is a rare chance to struggle, to think critically, and to build the habits that define a career. If we hand that process over to AI, we are not just cheating the system. We are cheating ourselves.

Savannah Cade

Au pair program brings much-needed childcare to NC families

The program is 100% funded by participants and designated sponsor organizations — with the latter facilitating the program, screening participants, and ensuring the regulations are followed — and does not rely on any taxpayer subsidies or government funding.

Julie McGhee

NC Republicans are in trouble, but there’s still plenty of time to fix it

NC Republicans have time to regain some ground. But if the numbers stick, or slip more, it could signal major 2026 losses.

David Larson

Why consumers should feel better headed into the holidays

Costs for food and everyday goods, which hit NC households the hardest, are showing signs of stabilization, as are energy costs, which often set the pace for consumer prices.

With legislative action, NC poised to become stablecoin capital

The GENIUS Act didn’t just set federal policy; it ignited the next great wave of American financial innovation. And that wave is breaking first on North Carolina’s shores. On July 15, 2025, just two days before the US House passed the bill and three days before President Trump signed it into law, I met with...

Dan Spuller

Should NC reform its primary system? The case to return to 40% threshold

In a Carolina Journal poll conducted shortly after the November elections, 43% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the 2024 primaries, stating that they did not produce the best candidates for the general election. While 46% were satisfied and 10% were unsure, the significant level of dissatisfaction highlights potential issues within North Carolina’s primary system.

Boliek sworn in as state auditor, says he’ll start with audit of DMV

On Wednesday, Dave Boliek was sworn in as the new state auditor of North Carolina and announced his hires for senior staff and says he will start work with an audit of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Katherine Zehnder

2024 in review: A year of civic engagement in NC

The year 2024 was marked by significant developments across politics, the economy, education, and energy in North Carolina. As one of the nation’s most dynamic and closely watched states, it played a pivotal role in shaping regional and national conversations.

Trump nominates Bishop to be deputy director for budget at OMB

"Dan has been a tireless fighter for our MAGA Movement in the House of Representatives on the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees," Trump said in a press release issued Tuesday night. "Dan will implement my cost-cutting and deregulatory agenda across all Agencies, and root out the Weaponized Deep State."

Theresa Opeka

Democrats want federal court to address GOP challenge of 60,000 NC ballots

The North Carolina Democratic Party filed a lawsuit Friday to ensure challenges of 60,000 ballots in the state's latest election are addressed in federal court. Republicans filed the challenges with the State Board of Elections. The challenges could affect the outcome of the state Supreme Court race between Democrat Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin, along with a handful of state legislative contests.

CJ Staff

Griffin asks Appeals Court to order decision on election protests by Tuesday

Republican North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin is turning to North Carolina’s second-highest court for an order that would force state election officials to make a final decision about Griffin’s election protests Tuesday. The State Board of Elections had planned to hear oral arguments about the protests the following day, according to a document Griffin filed Friday with the state Court of Appeals.

CJ Staff

Locke’s Brian Balfour discusses CJ column about need for functional NC General Assembly

Brian Balfour, John Locke Foundation senior vice president for research, discusses his latest Carolina Journal column. It discusses the need for a functional North Carolina General Assembly. Balfour offered these comments during an Oct. 13, 2025, interview for Spectrum News 1’s “Capital Tonight.”

Brian Balfour

Locke’s Donald Bryson discusses NC voter pessimism shown in latest CJ Poll

Donald Bryson, John Locke Foundation CEO and Carolina Journal publisher, discusses a key finding in the November 2025 Carolina Journal Poll. Bryson offered these comments during a Nov. 13, 2025, interview with WCNC.

Donald Bryson

The Debrief: Trump tariffs head to the high court

Voters in many North Carolina cities made their choices this week in municipal elections. We recap the top results and look at some of the major voting decisions across the nation. Then we turn attention to a national story with major North Carolina implications: the future of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The nation’s highest court...

Locke’s Mitch Kokai responds to AG Jackson’s lawsuit over SNAP benefits

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson joining Democratic counterparts in other states in a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration. It focuses on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Kokai offered these comments during the Oct. 31, 2025, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Mitch Kokai

Locke’s Donald Bryson discusses SCOTUS case dealing with Trump’s emergency tariffs

Donald Bryson, John Locke Foundation CEO and Carolina Journal publisher, discusses the US Supreme Court case addressing President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs. Locke filed a joint amicus brief challenging the constitutionality of emergency tariffs. Bryson offered these comments during the Oct. 28, 2025, episode of Spectrum News’ “Capital Tonight.”

Donald Bryson

Carolina Journal’s Donna King analyzes NC congressional redistricting plans

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses the North Carolina General Assembly’s plans to redraw the state’s congressional election map. King offered these comments during the Oct. 17, 2025, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

NC State Fair draws nearly a million for new foods, celebrity buzz

The 2025 NC State Fair drew nearly a million visitors, mixing classic attractions, new food trends, and celebrity buzz over its 11-day run.

Julianna Roseland

Another John Birch moment

If the right fails to police their side and lets it be conquered by white nationalism and conspiracy madness, we will be dragged down the same way the left has been by "woke." And we will have nobody to blame but ourselves.

David Larson

AI in college should aid not replace academic skills

College is a rare chance to struggle, to think critically, and to build the habits that define a career. If we hand that process over to AI, we are not just cheating the system. We are cheating ourselves.

Savannah Cade

Historic discovery rewrites T. rex history

An NC State paleontologist discovered definitive proof that the Nanotyrannus is indeed its own species of dinosaur.

Jacob Emmons

5 years of fighting human trafficking in NC

Despite progress, there is still so much work ahead. NC consistently ranks among the top 10 states in the nation for reported human-trafficking cases.

Simon Arkley

The importance of civic engagement 250 years after the founding

What YMCA's Youth and Government program is doing is remarkable. This year’s conference garnered interest from NC state legislators, mayors, policy analysts, and state officials.

Drew DiMeglio

Institute fosters stronger public leadership

Times change. When we introduce IOPL to potential fellows, partners, and donors, some hear the word “political” and think “toxic,” or at least “partisan.”

John Hood

NC leaders champion post-election unity through ‘Civic Saturdays’

Like a faith gathering, it incorporated music, fellowship, shared meals, and thoughtful discourse — but with democracy as its central theme.

Ashlynn Warta

For healthy civil society, politics needs to stay in its lane

Political and cultural causes are important. They motivate us to make the world around us better and hone our sense of justice. Also, the excitement of fighting the good fight can be, for lack of a better word, fun. But everything has its time and place. And even if we think a particular political issue...

David Larson

Flashback: North Carolina’s Easter Monday tradition forged on the baseball diamond

On Good Friday state offices will be closed in North Carolina for Holy Week, along with 10 other states. However, that has not always been the case in North Carolina. The Monday after Easter — rather than Good Friday — was a legal holiday in North Carolina for 52 years, and for many years before...

Dallas Woodhouse

Carolina Journal’s Donna King discusses Disney going ‘woke’

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses Disney’s controversial programming changes. King offered these comments during the April 8, 2022, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”