As the debate over the state budget ramps up, a lesser known issue with massive implications centers on something called Opportunity Scholarships. At the heart of the issue — should parents be able to use taxpayer money to send their kids to private schools? A smaller program already exists for low-income families, but Republican leaders who control the legislature are proposing a massive change to essentially allow anyone access to the funds. Tim talks to advocates on either side of the debate to understand the issue and whether it deserves expansion.

Last week a political earthquake shook North Carolina when State Representative Tricia Cotham switch parties from Democrat to Republican. She not only switched parties but lambasted Democrats for how she says they treated her.

Party switching is not as uncommon as you think, but rarely does it draw this much attention. This week, Tim talks with former State Senator Joel Ford, who almost switched parties himself. They talked about why he considered switching, the nature of partisan politics today, and whether he thinks he could have won a race if he followed through.

Growing up, Rob Lee slowly began to understand the gravity of being a descendant of Robert E. Lee. The Statesville pastor rose to fame when he denounced his ancestor, calling for statues to come down. It led to appearances on MTV, the View and in front of Congress. But it also led to hate, gunshots in his yard, and the Washington Post challenging his ancestry. Over five years later, Tim travels to Statesville to visit with Rev. Lee and talk about what’s happened, what he’s doing today and how he feels about the issue of racism in this country.

Rep. Patrick McHenry might be the most powerful member of Congress with the least amount of name recognition. The Republican from North Carolina’s 10th district played a key role in Speaker McCarthy’s election and chairs the powerful House Financial Services Committee. That committee will inspect the collapses of Silicon Valley and Signature banks. Rep. McHenry talks about his early days as a politician, why he keeps a low profile, his plans for investigating the bank collapse, and his rather unique Spotify playlist!

This week Tim spent a lot of time on the road reporting in the western part of the state. So, Tim packed up his equipment and sat down for a beer with a town commissioner, ER doctor and a political science professor to talk about small town politics in the far western part of the state. The result is a conversation about chickens, social districts, medicaid expansion, and Confederate statues!  

Freshman U.S. Representative Jeff Jackson (D) has always made social media a big part of his public persona, but he never guessed it would explode like it has in recent months. He regularly posts brief updates on the big stories with behind-the-scenes details and a focus on explaining issues.

The 14th District representative regularly sees posts with millions of views and hundreds, if not thousands of interactions. Jackson explains why he spends so much time on social media, why it's catching on with a key group of potential voters and where his political future could lead him next.

North Carolina’s top elected educator, Catherine Truitt, joins Tying It Together this week to talk about some of the biggest issues in education the state is facing. The Superintendent of Public Instruction talks in depth about the politics of education, a major proposal to overhaul how teachers are paid and graded, the power structure of education and a look at the future of education in North Carolina. This is a must-listen for parents, educators and anyone interested in the world of education.

In 2018, the largest election fraud case in modern American politics occurred in North Carolina politics in rural Bladen County. Officials charged McCrae Dowless with leading the alleged absentee ballot harvesting program but died last year before he could stand trial. Last fall, we profiled the Democratic candidate who lost that race. Earlier this year, Tim got a phone call from the Republican candidate, Mark Harris, who was ready to talk. So Tim traveled to a Baptist Church in Mooresville. Rev. Harris told Tim his side of the story, and all the behind-the-scenes stories of emotional moments at the board of elections hearing.

25-year-old Anderson Clayton made history when she ousted the current North Carolina Democratic Party Chair, becoming the youngest party chair in state history and currently the youngest in the country. Clayton talks about how she won, how her experience on presidential campaigns will play a role in her attempt to win over rural voters and working with Gov. Cooper and other top Democratic leaders.

This week, Tim heads down to the legislature and into the office of House Speaker Tim Moore for a candid and timely interview as the legislature gets to work on a unique session. With a Democratic governor, a GOP led legislature, and near super majority at the legislature, it promises to be a contentious time. Lawmakers will take up issues like abortion, Medicaid expansion, medical marijuana, and of course a state budget. Speaker Moore also talks some about his political future. If you’re wondering where House leadership stands on the major issues, this is a must listen.