Do Politics Better Podcast

Rep. Ricky Hurtado talks about his family’s immigration story from El Salvador, growing up in Sanford, and the journey to Alamance County, where he won a NC House seat in 2020.   The freshman Democrat also talks about the national and state notoriety he attracted on the campaign trail, and he even reveals his winning “playbook”.  However, Rep. Hurtado wants more than just winning an election.  He wants to be a bridge-builder, both in his community and across the political aisle in the General Assembly.   Brian and Skye also share their optimism about a final budget agreement between Governor Roy Cooper and the General Assembly, they discuss the one bill that was to be voted on this past week and why it was pulled off the calendar, and explain what happens when the Governor does’t appoint a party-selected legislator to a seat. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, and the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association.

Rep. Tim Moffitt returned to the General Assembly in 2020 after losing a tough re-election campaign in 2014.  The Henderson County Republican talks about his six years out of the legislature, lessons learned, and how it gave him a different perspective on leadership.   Rep. Moffitt also discusses chairing the House Alcohol Beverage Control Committee at a challenging time for the state's liquor distribution system.   Brian and Skye also update listeners on budget talks, report on a bill limiting the Governor's emergency powers, rundown the list of legislators vying to replace a retiring congressman, recap a fun kickball game played at the General Assembly, and much more.   The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, and the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association.    

Rep. Billy Richardson is an accomplished lawyer and legislator, but he was unlikely to be either until he confided in his high school English teacher that he could not read.  The Fayetteville Democrat discusses how a teacher and a novel she gave him changed his life forever. Rep. Richardson also talks about his legislative service in 1992-96 and 2015-present, including his pragmatic political philosophy that makes him one of the most effective and courted Democrats in a Republican General Assembly.     Brian and Skye unpack a volatile week in North Carolina politics after a controversial video featuring Lt. Governor Mark Robinson surfaces, Governor Cooper signs the energy bill, budget talks continue, the NC State Fair begins, the Tweet of the Week, and a second #DoPoliticsBetter Kickball game is announced.   The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, and the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association.  

Rep. Jimmy Dixon was raised by his grandmother on a farm before he went on to play football at Wake Forest on a scholarship and returned to Duplin County to build a farm that processed over 700,000 turkeys a year.   The Duplin County Republican talks of why he got into politics and why he is on a mission to educate his legislative colleagues on where their food comes from.   Brian and Skye also report on the ups and downs of final budget negotiations between General Assembly leaders and Governor Roy Cooper, review of a red-hot political ad, a possible gubernatorial candidacy by a NC congressman, a bipartisan energy bill that is sitting on Governor Cooper's desk, and the death of Rep. Dana Bumbardner.   There's also a recap of the inaugural Do Politics Better Kickball game played on October 5 outside the General Assembly. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, and the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association.  

Sen. Sydney Batch knows that if she's going to positively affect legislation in the Senate she's got to work across the aisle and through back channels.  The Wake County Democrat also compares her one term in the NC House with her current term in the NC Senate.   Brian and Skye also discuss the House and Senate budget agreement and negotiations with Governor Roy Cooper, a predicted veto of an executive power bill, a contentious legislative hearing about liquor, a courageous Tweet of the Week, and the announcement of the Do Politics Better kickball game scheduled for the coming week.   The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, and the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association.   

Rep. Brenden Jones is as plain-spoken and to-the-point as legislators come at the General Assembly.  But, beneath the Columbus/Robeson County Republican's strong personality is someone with a deep and abiding faith, a love of family, and a servant's heart for a legislative district that relies on him to get the job done in Raleigh.   The Deputy Majority Leader also discusses his "odd couple" friendship with House Rules Chairman Destin Hall, how his mother's cancer diagnosis when he was in high school required he take on adult responsibilities, and how he wants to see our political discourse improve.  Brian and Skye also review the week, including a court decision on a voter identification law, a Senate memorial service for former Sen. Marc Basnight, driverless car legislation, another retirement announcement, the Tweet of the Week, and more. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, and the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association.      

While Rep. Terry Brown is a freshman legislator, he's a throwback in many ways as he is known for his preparation and readiness to improve legislation in committees.  The Mecklenburg County Democrat talks about why he believes spending more time and focus on marking-up legislation before a floor vote makes for better policy outcomes and bipartisanship.   Rep. Brown also talks about being raised in Fayetteville by his two public school teacher parents, his political start at UNC Charlotte, and the importance of carving out time in his business law practice to represent domestic violence survivors in court.   Brian and Skye also unpack the legislative week, including a revised budget timeline, two vetos, a bill limiting the Attorney General's powers, a House discharge petition, a retirement announcement, the arrival of Do Politics Better merch', and more.  The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame and the NC Travel Industry Association.

If Rep. Erin Paré makes legislating at the General Assembly look easy it may have something to do with the fact she spent seven years on Capitol Hill as a federal lobbyist.   The freshman Wake County Republican also talks about her stint as a Washington (Redskins) cheerleader, how it led to meeting her military husband in Iraq, and how she now manages to juggle family, running a small business, and her work as an effective state legislator.   Brian and Skye also unpack a week at the General Assembly that looks to be winding down, an emergency powers bill, a liquor bill, a budget update, a contempt-of-court threat by a judge, a Sen. Danny Britt sighting, the Tweet-of-the Week, and more.  The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame and the NC Travel Industry Association.

Rep. Brian Farkas is a moderate Democrat who thrives in a coin-toss Pitt County district that gives him the freedom to work across the political aisle.  The freshman legislator also talks about being one of the younger members in the General Assembly.  This week's podcast also welcomes guest-host Dylan Reel, counsel to House Rules Chairman Destin Hall, who is standing in for Brian Lewis as he takes his daughter to college.     Skye David and Dylan unpack a two-veto week at the General Assembly that includes gun legislation and a hotel bill, which mysteriously caught the disapproval of Governor Roy Cooper.  Other topics covered: the riot bill, a primer on what a concurrence vote is, the responsibilities of committee conferrees, critical race theory, a budget update, and redistricting.  And if that's not enough, legislative staffer Carl Gilmore (of Skye’s kickball team) makes a cameo appearance.   The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame and the NC Travel Industry Association.

Rep. Chris Humphrey is a Republican who knows how to win in a Democratic district, something he's been doing since he was elected as a La Grange town councilman and county commissioner in Lenoir County. The self-described moderate talks of how a Democratic activist convinced him to join the Republican Party in 1990. The former UNC classmate of Speaker Tim Moore also reveals what a failed 2010 primary loss to a now prominent NC state senator taught him about politics.    Brian and Skye also unpack another full week at the General Assembly, including a tense Senate committee meeting debate on critical race theory, budget negotiations, the child marriage bill, anti-riot legislation, high school athletics, the Tweet of the Week, and more.  The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame and the NC Travel Industry Association.