Charlotte will host a major national political convention for the second time in a decade. Republicans chose the Queen City to host their 2020 convention. That decision came despite Charlotte City Council’s 6-5 split to endorse the deal. Rick Henderson, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, analyzes the potential impact of the RNC for Charlotte, the state, and 2020 politics. More and more elected leaders treat politics as a type of performance. That approach has helped transform American politics. Yuval Levin, editor of National Affairs, is working on a book that explores the transformation. He shared insights from his research during a recent visit to Raleigh. The recent furor over President Trump’s Helsinki summit with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin has prompted one N.C. congressman to renew his push for bipartisan legislation tackling election security. During a recent news briefing, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-11th District, chairman of the Freedom Caucus, highlighted details of his proposed PAPER Act. Meadows explained why he believes Congress should act on the measure before the fall election. A Fayetteville man will lead the federal government department charged with handling veterans affairs. The U.S. Senate confirmed Robert Wilkie to serve as secretary of the department that oversees veterans’ services. You’ll hear highlights from Wilkie’s confirmation hearing. New Mexico is taking new steps to reform its system of occupational licensing. Jon Sanders, John Locke Foundation director of regulatory studies, analyzes the western state’s actions. He discusses possible implications for occupational licensing in North Carolina.