Video
JLF’s John Hood discusses the new book ‘First In Freedom’
John Locke Foundation President John Hood discusses the new JLF book First In Freedom: Transforming Ideas into Consequences for North Carolina.
News
New JLF Report Urges Overhaul of N.C. Occupational Licensing Rules
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s aggressive approach to occupational licensing raises prices and protects current members of a profession more than it protects consumers. That’s a key finding in a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report, which compares occupational licensing to outdated “medieval guilds.”
Video
JLF’s Becki Gray previews the 2013 N.C. legislative session
Becki Gray, John Locke Foundation vice president for outreach, outlines some key issues N.C. legislators are likely to address during their 2013 session. Gray offered these comments during an interview with Donna Martinez for Carolina Journal Radio (Program No. 506).
Video
N.C. House Speaker Tillis outlines priorities for 2013 legislative session
N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, outlines his priorities for the 2013 legislative session, including education reform, regulatory reform, tax reform, voter ID, and an unemployment debt repayment bill. Tillis offered these comments during a Jan. 29, 2013, news briefing.
News
Legislative Review Pending For State Medicaid Administrator
RALEIGH — Free-market advocates contend Community Care of North Carolina, a nonprofit organization that runs the state’s Medicaid program, has contributed to the $1.17 billion deficits in Medicaid that have occurred over the past three years. They say CCNC is not held accountable for cost overruns.
Video
JLF’s Jon Sanders discusses N.C.’s aggressive approach to occupational licensing
Jon Sanders, John Locke Foundation director of regulatory studies, explains why North Carolina should rethink its “aggressive” approach to occupational licensing. Sanders’ comments are tied to the report Guild By Association: N.C.’s Aggressive Occupational Licensing Hurts Job Creation and Raises Consumer Costs.
Opinion
Opinion
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.
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.
Opinion
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.
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...
Elections
News
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.
News
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.
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."
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.
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.
Videos
Video
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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
Culture
News
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.
Opinion
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.
News
Historic discovery rewrites T. rex history
An NC State paleontologist discovered definitive proof that the Nanotyrannus is indeed its own species of dinosaur.
Opinion
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.
Civil Society
Opinion
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.”
Opinion
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.
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...
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...
Video
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.”