It is called the “Clean Power Plan,” a set of regulations the federal Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to impose on the states. But 27 states – including North Carolina – are challenging the plan in court. And now the John Locke Foundation is joining with other policy think tanks in submitting a list of objections to the EPA. JLF Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray details the many negative impacts that will come if the plan is implemented, including higher electricity costs.  Then we turn to the 2016 political cycle. The recent success of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on the election campaign trail has revived interest in the concept of “socialism.” Wake Forest University professor Jim Otteson recently offered an in-depth critique of socialism during a lecture at Duke. You’ll learn why Otteson believes socialism falls short of its promises. Next, he has just a year of experience on Capitol Hill, but freshman U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina is already playing an oversight role in national security issues. You’ll hear Tillis’ questioning of Defense Secretary Ash Carter about ISIS and radical Islamist terrorism. That’s followed by a look at state energy policy. A recent report suggests North Carolina taxpayers could be forced to give nearly $1 billion in tax breaks connected with the end of a special credit for renewable energy projects. State legislators recently debated the impact of the so-called “safe harbor” law for renewable energy tax credits.  You’ll hear their concerns. Next, we delve into North Carolina’s historic tax reforms of the past four years with Patrick Gleason of Americans for Tax Reform. He discusses where North Carolina fits in to the national picture and why other states are looking at our state’s reforms.