John Hood: Freedom is a tool for progress
I’m a conservative without a conversion story. Plenty of others have such a tale — they read a certain book, had a certain teacher, or somehow became disenchanted with their previous, left-leaning views.
politics
Roy Cooper for president? Why he was named a top pick for 2024
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is among the top 10 Democrats named in The Washington Post’s quarterly Democratic presidential candidate ranking for 2024 released on April 16. Cooper came in at 6th place, down from 5th in its last ranking. The paper calls him "one leading contender you hear the least about” and says he is a “Biden-style candidate who checks lots of boxes.”
Voters can still be persuaded
Some partisans I know insist political allegiances are so rigid that elections have become little more than turnout contests. Whichever party gets its base out wins. Persuadable swing voters used to exist in significant numbers, they concede, but are now about as hard to find as Bigfoot.
Conservatives see freedom as progress
Although the definition and priorities of American conservatism have been the subject of much debate among the chattering classes in recent years, most actual American conservatives will readily tell you what unifies their sometimes-raucous ranks: freedom.
Kenneth J. Harper announces candidacy for North Carolina U.S. Senate Seat
High Point native and entrepreneur Kenneth J. Harper has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat that will be made vacant by the retirement of the U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.
OPINION: Mr. President, read the room
Throughout the course of history, we’ve learned that whenever tyranny rears its ugly head, an uprising of freedom will face it down. Our constitutional republic is built upon freedom, and every free nation across the world is as well. Thousands of miles away in Europe, freedom is facing an onslaught, and the whole world is bearing witness.
Senator Berger urges N.C. congressional delegation to end purchases of Russian oil
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) sent a letter to North Carolina's Congressional delegation today calling on them to take immediate action to stop American dollars from being spent on Russian oil.
OPINION: Let parents decide, not politicians.
At some point in time, we have all encountered permission slips in schools. Whether you were signing one for your child or having one signed by your parent, it’s the form that a school requires to send home with students to gain their parents’ permission for a field trip, movie, or event. It’s also likely that at some point, you may have forgotten to have your parent sign your permission slip, rendering you unable to participate in an event with your friends.
John Hood: Why numbers matter in political debate
I promise I’m no math geek. So why do my columns about North Carolina politics and public policy so often feature rankings, economic data, or other statistics?
Ukraine invasion claims voter attention
Over the past couple of weeks, North Carolina politicos have focused intently on the outcome of the state’s latest redistricting saga. After the GOP-majority General Assembly saw its original set of electoral districts thrown out by the courts, lawmakers tried again. Their new legislative maps were accepted. A three-judge panel rejected the Republicans’ newly crafted congressional districts, however, and enacted a “remedial” map for the 2022 cycle.
Cooper sanctions Russia, including ban on vodka made in that country
The N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, through an executive order, has pulled the products from its more than 430 stores across the state.
Governor Cooper announces North Carolina sanctions in response to Russian attack
Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 251 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that directs state government agencies and departments to review all existing contracts and operations and to terminate any agreements or operations that directly benefit Russian entities.