Video

JLF’s Michael Lowrey discusses the Charlotte impact from the American/US Airways merger

Michael Lowrey, economics and regulatory policy analyst for the John Locke Foundation, explains how interest in boosting Midwestern airline business could impact North Carolina air travelers once US Airways and American Airlines merge. Lowrey offered these comments during an April 8, 2013, speech for the John Locke Foundation’s Shaftesbury Society. To watch full-length presentations of...

Video

JLF’s Mitch Kokai responds to a privatization plan for state Commerce Department functions

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation director of communications, reacts to Gov. Pat McCrory’s plan to privatize some functions of the N.C. Commerce Department. Kokai offered these comments during the April 8, 2013, edition of News 14 Carolina’s “Capital Tonight.”

Podcast

CJ Investigation: Tax Fraud Scheme Underway In NC?

Rick Henderson on potential tax fraud in N.C.; legislators debate pros & cons of death tax; Thom Goolsby on consequences for violating open meeting/public records laws; John Staddon on science & religion; JLF's Jon Sanders on renewable energy mandate

Rick Henderson, John Staddon, Jon Sanders
News

Voter ID Legislation Introduced in House

RALEIGH — While the current version has some resemblance to the one vetoed in the previous legislative session by former Gov. Bev Pedue, it also has a significant number of differences. It would expand the allowable forms of identification and allow those older than 70 to use the ID cards that were valid on their 70th birthdays.

Barry Smith
Video

Carolina Journal’s Rick Henderson discusses details of a possible Durham tax fraud scheme

Rick Henderson, Carolina Journal managing editor, discusses details of a potential tax fraud scheme discovered in Durham. Henderson offered these comments during an interview with Donna Martinez for Carolina Journal Radio (Program No. 516).

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Opinion

Opinion

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
Opinion

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
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Elections

Opinion

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.

Donna King
News

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
News

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
News

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
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Videos

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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
Video

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...

Video

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
Video

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
Video

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.”

Donna King
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Culture

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Civil Society

Opinion

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
Opinion

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
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