Episodes
![The Dark Side of Politics with Political Operative Dan Crawford](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
2 days ago
2 days ago
Independent expenditures and c4s are an increasingly important yet misunderstood part of modern day politics. So what is an IE and a c4, and how do they function in a political ecosystem? Veteran political operative Dan Crawford stops by the podcast to have a conversation about it.
Plus, Skye and Brian unpack a wild week in NC politics, including Gov. Cooper Veepstakes, new members selected, staffing changes, Tweet of the Week, and more.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![House GOP Caucus Director Stephen Wiley is Bullish About 2024](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
House GOP Caucus Director Stephen Wiley is Bullish About 2024
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Stephen Wiley has one job as the NC House Republican Caucus director: Win elections so the GOP maintains control of the House. The one-time Apple store employee talks about how the political landscape looks in 2024, the quality of candidates he's fielding versus those he's facing, and his take on the future of the Republican brand.
Skye and Brian talk about a pair of General Assembly resignations, staff changes in the Senate, quarterly fundraising reports, CNBC's business rankings, Race of the Week, Tweet of the Week, camping, and more.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![NC Democratic Chair Anderson Clayton is the Life of the Party](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
NC Democratic Chair Anderson Clayton is the Life of the Party
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
This podcast episode is the first of two featuring conversations with the elected chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties in NC.
NC Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton is everywhere it seems. Following her on social media can be downright dizzying as she criss-crosses the state (and nation) as she pushes out her party's message.
However, there is another side to the 26-year old Person County native and she opens up to Skye and Brian, including her father's vote for President Trump in 2016, the role her mother and late grandmother played in her life, and why she lets out a F-bomb now and then.
With Skye traveling this week, NC Home Builders Association lobbyist Steven Webb joins Brian in unpacking the news, including the latest vetoes, the pending veto overrides, a rundown of bills that didn't make it, Sen. Jim Perry resigns, and Senate Republicans go big early in election ad-buys. The two also discuss their latest visits to the doctor.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![Sen. Brent Jackson's Take on the Budget Impasse as Session (Kind Of) Wraps](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Sen. Brent Jackson's Take on the Budget Impasse as Session (Kind Of) Wraps
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Senate 'Big Chair' Brent Jackson is a featured guest one week after his House counterpart, Rep. Jason Saine, made his case for the House budget on the podcast.
The Senate budget writer talks about the impasse with the House, the decision to go it alone with the budget after the House submitted its own, the Farm Act, watermelons and cantaloupes, and how he plans to spend the rest of his summer.
Skye and Brian also break down the last days of session before we return in the fall, including veto overrides, constitutional amendments, spending agreements, #TOTW, and more.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![House 'Big Chair' Jason Saine on How We Got Here in the Budget Process](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Wednesday Jun 19, 2024
House 'Big Chair' Jason Saine on How We Got Here in the Budget Process
Wednesday Jun 19, 2024
Wednesday Jun 19, 2024
After weeks of hearing that a budget would be a conference report agreement between the House and Senate, the House pulled the trigger and released its own budget this week. Meanwhile the Senate said it's heading home at the end of June.
Rep. Jason Saine is a senior budget writer in the House and he takes listeners behind-the-scenes on how we got here in the process and what we can expect next.
In other news, some bills are merging, others are collapsing, and all signs point to a General Assembly shut down in July and August.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![Democratic Ad Man Frank Eaton Opens Up About His Craft](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Democratic Ad Man Frank Eaton Opens Up About His Craft
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Listeners may not know Frank Eaton's name, but it's likely they're very familiar with his political ads. They include eye-popping, attention-getting productions for Rep. Charles Graham, Rep. Deb Butler, Sen. Graig Meyer, Sen. Rachel Hunt, and Lt. Governor Walter Dalton. The former UNC School of the Arts student also has clients in other states.
Frank talks about his Emmy-award winning work and his predictions on what kind of ads we'll see during this election cycle in North Carolina.
Skye and Brian also update listeners on the latest budget news, the mask/campaign finance bill gets final votes, a lawsuit in Carteret County over the school calendar law, Race of the Week, #TOTW, baseball fashion, and more.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![Senate Senior Policy Counsel Brent Woodcox: 'I'm a Man of Peace'](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Thursday Jun 06, 2024
Senate Senior Policy Counsel Brent Woodcox: 'I'm a Man of Peace'
Thursday Jun 06, 2024
Thursday Jun 06, 2024
Brent Woodcox serves as the Senior Policy Counsel to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Senate Republicans. Brent also has a presence on X (formerly Twitter) where he weighs in on policy and politics.
Recently, Brent came under fire from a Republican activist who questioned the lifelong Republican's political loyalty. Brent talks about his social media, his work in the Senate, his faith, and more.
Skye and Brian also unpack the drama in the General Assembly today about a compromise mask/campaign finance bill, Stein launches negative ad, medical marijuana bill up in smoke, pair of state constitutional amendments, Race of the Week, #TOTW, and more.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![Why Sen. Mary Wills Bode is Not on the Ballot in 2024](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Thursday May 30, 2024
Why Sen. Mary Wills Bode is Not on the Ballot in 2024
Thursday May 30, 2024
Thursday May 30, 2024
Sen. Mary Wills Bode was Democrats' new hope after the 2022 election in which she won a competitive Senate seat and put up solid numbers in rural part of her Wake-Granville counties district. However, within a year Sen. Bode announced she was not seeking re-election, was rumored to run statewide, but after the candidate filing in December she was undeclared for any elective office.
Sen. Bode talks about her decision, she gives a run-down of the short session, and she responds to a recent appearance on the podcast by a Senate Republican.
Plus, Skye and Brian send condolences to Speaker Tim Moore, Stein-Robinson polling, a budget update, Race of the Week, Tweet of the Week, a recent pilates class, and more.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![Secretary Grier Martin's Mission at the NC Department of Military & Veterans Affairs](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Thursday May 23, 2024
Secretary Grier Martin's Mission at the NC Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Thursday May 23, 2024
Thursday May 23, 2024
NC Department of Military & Veterans Affairs Secretary Grier Martin sits down with Skye and Brian for a conversation as we head into the Memorial Day weekend.
The Afghanistan War veteran recently returned to North Carolina after working at the Pentagon and now leads North Carolina's work advocating for the state's military installations, the active military serving, and veterans living in North Carolina. The former NC House member also talks candidly about the challenges the Department faces.
Plus, the bipartisan mask bill debate, controversial healthcare bill, budget talks stall, NC tourism now ranked #5, staffing news, Race of the Week, Tweet of the Week, and whatever happened to Brian's friend Jake?
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.
![Sen. Danny Earl Britt, Jr.'s Unfiltered Take on Policy, Politics, & Politicians](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11285379/dpb4_300x300.jpeg)
Thursday May 16, 2024
Sen. Danny Earl Britt, Jr.'s Unfiltered Take on Policy, Politics, & Politicians
Thursday May 16, 2024
Thursday May 16, 2024
Sen. Danny Earl Britt, Jr. guest hosts the podcast this week with Skye and Brian as they tick through the latest policy, budget, and process developments inside the General Assembly.
The Robeson County Republican also gives a candid take on many 2024 candidates on both sides of aisle, including his swing Senate district.
The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.