深夜福利

The N.C. House recently passed a bill to allow the state treasurer to invest state pension funds in cryptocurrency and other digital assets. Rep. Mike Schietzelt, the first-term Republican who made the case for the bill on the House floor, speaks with 深夜福利's Colin Campbell about the advantages of cryptocurrency investments and the risk concerns raised by opponents. Schietzelt also discussed his bills to create tax exemptions for retired government employees and an "open enrollment" proposal to let families choose any school in their district. And he explains his approach to winning a competitive Wake County House district last year.

Earlier this month, former Congressman Wiley Nickel became the first Democrat to officially launch a campaign in North Carolina鈥檚 2026 U.S. Senate race. He鈥檚 an attorney and former Barack Obama aide who represented Wake County in the state Senate before being elected to Congress in 2022 from one of the state鈥檚 only swing districts. He spoke with 深夜福利 about how he plans to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, the prospects that former Gov. Roy Cooper could enter the race, and what he thinks Democrats should do differently to fight the Trump administration.

For years, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has been plagued by long wait times and poor service. It鈥檚 a major problem in one of America鈥檚 fastest-growing states. And in the age of DOGE and government efficiency, it's generating talk of some dramatic solutions. This week, we're sharing an episode on the issue from one of 深夜福利's other podcasts, The Broadside.Featuring: Bradley George, reporter at 深夜福利 Larry Higgs, transportation and commuting reporter at NJ.com and the Star-Ledger Senator Michael Lazarra, representing the NC Senate's 6th District Richard Stradling, transportation reporter for The News & Observer

Budget season at the state legislature has officially kicked off with the release of Gov. Josh Stein鈥檚 budget recommendations. He鈥檚 calling on lawmakers to pause scheduled corporate and personal income tax cuts to avoid projected revenue shortfalls starting next year. He says those revenue drops will make it difficult to fund teacher raises and other major investments in state government, but Republican legislative leaders aren鈥檛 eager to change course on tax cuts. Kristin Walker is the state budget director, overseeing the economists who develop the revenue forecast. She joined 深夜福利's Colin Campbell to discuss the details of those projections, and some of the other highlights from the governor's budget recommendations, including public safety funding and free community college tuition.

As North Carolina schools face staffing shortages, both Republicans and Democrats are pushing for bigger raises for starting teacher pay -- but the proposals could face tough odds in a tight budget year.Gov. Josh Stein鈥檚 proposal to increase starting teacher pay above $50,000 is similar to one filed recently by Republicans in the state House. Rep. Erin Par茅, R-Wake and sponsor of that bill, was appointed this year to help lead the budget process. She spoke with Colin Campbell about the teacher pay plan and its prospects in the legislature. Par茅 also discussed her bills to offer tax exemptions on tips and gambling losses, as well as a salary transparency measure for school district administrators.

It鈥檚 been more than 50 years since North Carolina used a racist, Jim Crow-era 鈥渓iteracy test鈥� that was designed to prevent Black people from registering to vote. But that requirement remains in the state鈥檚 constitution, unenforced.Rep. Terry Brown, D-Mecklenburg, is making another attempt this year to get the language removed. He鈥檒l have to persuade both the House and Senate to put the repeal on the November 2026 ballot. Brown spoke with 深夜福利's Colin Campbell about the proposal. He also talked about his new role as chief Democratic whip, a difficult role for House Democrats as they seek to sustain Gov. Josh Stein鈥檚 vetoes this year with narrow margins.

N.C. Sen. Benton Sawrey, R-Johnston, landed an influential role in his second term this session as co-chair of the Senate鈥檚 committees on healthcare. He joined 深夜福利's Colin Campbell to talk about efforts to address the unusually high costs of healthcare in North Carolina, including a recent bill to limit insurance coverage mandates and some other proposals in the works for later this year. Sawrey also discussed the prospects of federal Medicaid cuts, the upcoming state budget process and a new sports caucus.

After a decade of being led by longtime Sen. Dan Blue, Democrats in the state Senate decided to elect a new leader this year. Sen. Sydney Batch became Senate minority leader last month. She鈥檚 a family law attorney who represents western Wake County since she was first elected to the House in 2018.Batch joined the 深夜福利 Politics Podcast to talk about her approach to the leadership role, the potential for Democrats to impact legislation, and the upcoming budget process.

As state lawmakers debate how much money is needed for the latest Helene recovery package, Gov. Josh Stein鈥檚 administration is making the case for $1.07 billion to help western North Carolina rebuild. Matt Calabria, director of the newly created Governor鈥檚 Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), spoke with 深夜福利's Colin Campbell about Stein鈥檚 Helene funding proposal, the state of federal recovery funding, and the biggest needs five months after the storm. Calabria also explained how his new organization will differ from the state's sluggish hurricane recovery programs from past storms.

Raleigh-based Republican consultant Carter Wrenn has had a front-row seat to decades of political history. He鈥檚 worked for the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan starting in the 1970s.He鈥檚 now written a book on his experience that offers an inside look at some key moments and controversial figures in politics. He spoke with 深夜福利's Colin Campbell about the book, 鈥淭he Trail of the Serpent: Stories from the Smoke-Filled Rooms of Politics,鈥� and on some aspects of his political work that he鈥檚 come to regret.