PODCAST · news
Do Politics Better Podcast
by New Frame
A weekly look at North Carolina politics and the North Carolina General Assembly from two lobbyists’ perspectives. Hosted by lobbyists Brian Lewis and Skye David.
Episodes
-
Politics, Civility, and the College Classroom
Dr. Robert Taber is a History professor at Fayetteville State University and the Chair of the UNC System Faculty Taskforce on Civil Discourse, which just released a report addressing challenges of fostering respectful political dialogue on college campuses. How can universities encourage students...
-
Ray Martin, The Differentiators’ Other Half
Before he became one half of The Differentiators, political operative Ray Martin was a journalist with a knack for covering the people and institutions that shape our local communities in NC. Ray got his start as a high school sports stringer for his hometown newspaper in Oklahoma. After college,...
-
NC FREE's Take on the 2026 Race for General Assembly Control
Election Day is less than four weeks away, and the balance of power in the North Carolina General Assembly is on the ballot. Skye and Brian talk with Alex Baltzegar of NCFREE, whose new 2026 General Election Report takes a district-by-district look at the legislative races most likely to…
more -
The Assembly's John Drescher Looks Back on a Life in Newspapers
John Drescher has spent a career telling the stories of North Carolina and American politics through journalism, with stops along the way at The Daily Tar Heel, The News & Observer, The Charlotte Observer, The Washington Post and more. As he prepares to retire from The Assembly on October 2, John...
-
A Democratic Consultant & Homebuilder Lobbyist Walk Into an #NCPOL Podcast
Steven Webb is Director of Legislative Affairs at the NC Home Builders Association, and Kimberly Reynolds is a Partner at Maven Strategies, a Democratic political consulting firm. Both have been around North Carolina politics for decades, and while they certainly have their political…
more -
In the Room (Again) with Neal Inman, Speaker Hall's Chief of Staff
Neal Inman, Chief of Staff to House Speaker Destin Hall, rejoins Do Politics Better for an inside look at the session, including a look back at the major issues that shaped the General Assembly and gives an insider’s perspective on the negotiations that ultimately produced a budget agreement with...
-
Getting a Second Opinion from Rep. Tim Reeder, M.D.
Dr. Tim Reeder is finishing up his second term representing Pitt County in the NC House, and a lot has changed since his first podcast appearance right after he took office in 2023. Not only does he co-chair the House Health Committee, but he's authored major legislation that is now law. But the...
-
Labor Day Conversation with Labor Commish Luke Farley
NC Labor Commissioner Luke Farley looks back on a remarkable two years in statewide politics, from his victorious primary upset to his decisive win in the general election and his transition from candidate to North Carolina’s Labor Commissioner. The first term Republican talks about what it took…
more -
Gov. Pat McCrory and 'The Change Agent' Author Andrew Dunn
In this special edition of the podcast, former Gov. Pat McCrory and Andrew Dunn, author of The Change Agent, sit for an expansive conversation about the state's 74th governor, his political career, including his time as governor, and the controversies that defined his tenure. And in this...
-
Is the NC Forward Party the Future — or Another Flash in the Pan?
Pat Newton is Chair of the North Carolina Forward Party and he talks about the upstart party’s strategy for the 2026 election cycle and its very different approach to breaking into North Carolina politics. Newton explains the thinking behind that strategy, what the Forward Party hopes to…
more -
House Democratic Whip Terry Brown Has a Message for Lobbyists
So much has changed for Rep. Terry Brown since our visit with him in 2021 on the podcast. The Charlotte Democrat is a father and he's a House Whip. We get an inside scoop on all that. Rep. Brown also has a message for many lobbyists (including us), who he thinks are getting it wrong when it comes...
-
Professor Chris Cooper's Short Session Review Before the November Final Exam
As the General Assembly heads into its extended break until November, one of the state's leading political scientists joins us to put the short session into a broader perspective. Dr. Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University, a listener favorite, returns to argue that Senate President Pro Tem...
-
Sen. Michael Lee on the '26 Session & the Senate's Future in '27
Since his last appearance on the podcast, Sen. Michael Lee has become one of the most influential lawmakers in the General Assembly, serving as both Senate Majority Leader and Senior Appropriations Chair. Now, the New Hanover County Republican is seeking to become the Senate's next President Pro...
-
Rep. Sarah Crawford on How Authenticity and Grace Get Results
Rep. Sarah Crawford stops by the podcast for a second visit and discusses serving two terms in the House after a biennium in the Senate. Click here to listen to her first visit in 2022. The Wake County Democrat also talks about her relationships with her Republican colleagues and how those...
-
The Most Joyful #NCPOL Operative: NCGOP Executive Director Zach Almond
From organizing as a teenage Republican to managing campaigns out of his college dorm room, serving in elected office, and building a career in government relations, Zach Almond has always known politics was where he belonged. Today, he's living that dream as Executive Director of the North...
-
NC's New Budget! + A Conversation with Rep. Phil Shepard
North Carolina lawmakers finally reached a budget agreement, a bipartisan one at that, and Skye and Brian break down what made it into the spending plan and what's next in the legislative session. Also, Rep. Phil Shepard (R-Onslow) reflects on his 15 years in the legislature, the evolution of…
more -
Secretary Pam Cashwell: America 250, Breaking Barriers, and a Life of Public Service
This week on Do Politics Better, Brian Lewis and Skye David sit down with North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pam Cashwell to discuss her remarkable career in public service and her department's leadership role in commemorating America's 250th anniversary....
-
How Powerful Democratic Sen Ken Royall Shaped His Conservative Son, Lobbyist Jere Royall
NC Family Policy Council Lobbyist Jere Royall sits down for a fascinating conversation about politics, family, and the power of relationships in #ncpol. Jere is the son of the late Sen. Ken Royall, one of the most influential figures in modern North Carolina political history when he became both...
-
How a Senator's Fatal Car Crash Still Echoes Through a Family and #NCPOL Today
Mark Ezzell, Director of the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program, was in his early 20s when his father, Sen. Jim Ezzell, died on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh on the eve of session starting in 1991. That loss not only changed Mark's life forever, it also created an opening in the…
more -
Former Lt. Governor Dan Forest Loves His New Job
Former NC Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest sits down for a candid conversation about the twists and turns that have shaped his life, career, and outlook on the future. The Republican reflects on growing up in a political family, how his parents' divorce affected him and influenced his views on…
more -
A Memorial Day Conversation with Rep. Allen Chesser
Rep. Allen Chesser is a combat veteran who served more than two decades ago, but he says war is still claiming lives today. With veteran suicide continuing to devastate military families, Rep. Chesser joins Skye and Brian for a candid Memorial Day conversation about service, sacrifice, mental...
-
The NC Speaker Who Never Was: Former Rep. Leo Daughtry's Story
Former Rep. Leo Daughtry joins Skye and Brian to reflect on his storied political career, including the dramatic battle for Speaker of the North Carolina House heading into the 2003–2004 biennium. For weeks, the Johnston County Republican was widely viewed as the next Speaker after his party...
-
Rep. Stephen Ross Shares the Family Struggle That Shaped His Life
Rep. Stephen Ross is wrapping up an incredible political career that began in Burlington, where he served on the City Council, led as Mayor, and eventually was persuaded to run for the NC House. The Alamance County Republican shares how he worked alongside a fellow mayor from another county (and...
-
Sen. Phil Berger on Short Session, Budget, and the NC Senate as an Institution
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger sits down for a candid conversation about the legislative short session and the question everyone in #ncpol is asking: Will the House and Senate actually come together on a new budget? Sen. Berger also reflects on his unsuccessful run for the NC House in 1994,...
-
Speaker Hall: Short Session, Budget Battles, & Breaking the Impasse
Speaker Destin Hall previews the short session now underway and breaks down the path forward on the state budget after last year’s budget stalemate. The Speaker walks listeners through his priorities, what’s changed since last year, and whether there’s a realistic path to breaking the impasse. He...
-
From Senate to Governor: How Gov Stein’s Career Prepared Him to Lead
Governor Josh Stein talks about how his time in the NC Senate (2009-2016) shaped the way he leads today. Having served under both Democratic and Republican leadership, Gov. Stein reflects on the lessons he learned working across the aisle, building relationships, and navigating the realities of...
-
From the General Assembly to Congress: Brett Keeter Reflects & Signs Off
Brett Keeter began his political career managing a campaign for a 26-year-old up-and-comer named Patrick McHenry, who won a seat in the General Assembly in 2002, the biennium of co-Speakers. Brett would serve as Rep. McHenry's legislative assistant. Two years later, the college friends mount a...
-
Thomas Mills on the Rise and Fall of NC Democrats in Rural Districts
Politics NC's Thomas Mills, a Democrat, knows about winning in rural areas because he was the consultant for many successful political campaigns, including former Senator and Lt. Governor Walter Dalton from Rutherford County. Thomas breaks down how Democrats once built durable voting blocs as...
-
The Concession Heard Across NC & Sam Hayes Talks State Board of Elections
NC State Board of Election Sam Hayes joins the podcast for an inside look at how elections work, including his role leading and he offers a candid assessment of how the primaries went, what lessons were learned, and what it takes to run secure, accurate, and efficient elections at scale. We also...
-
NC’s Funky Separation of Powers — And Under Which Branch is the Sheriff?
North Carolina’s government structure can be…complicated. And sometimes, that complexity shows up in ways that raise more questions than answers. UNC Law School Professor Rick Su is a leading expert on local government and he breaks down a curious exchange between a state House member and Sheriff...
-
N&O's Danielle Battaglia Returns to Raleigh, Still on the Congressional Beat
Before the primary election, the News & Observer's Danielle Battaglia stopped by to talk about her move back from Washington DC to Raleigh while remaining on the congressional beat. What does this shift mean for political coverage in the state? How might reporting from Raleigh — rather than...
-
NC Primary Election Wrap
Note: The Do Politics Better podcast was recorded and distributed on March 5, but mysteriously was not uploaded to Apple Podcasts. We are resending this podcast. Primary night delivered clarity in most contested races in North Carolina, but not for the most important #ncpol race most of us were...
-
Primary Election Recap with Berger v Page in Overtime
Primary night delivered clarity in most contested races in North Carolina, but not for the most important #ncpol race most of us were watching: Senator Phil Berger v Sheriff Sam Page in Rockingham and Guilford Counties. In this episode, Skye and Brian break down the key results from across the...
-
Toss-Up, Lean, Safe: A Rundown of Primary Races with NC FREE's Alex Baltzegar
Alex Baltzegar, Executive Director of NC FreeEnterprise Foundation, talks with Skye and Brian about Tuesday's #NCPOL primary elections. From US Senate race to key legislative battlegrounds, we break down the races as Toss-Up, Lean, or Safe and explain what the data, fundraising, and political...
-
John Hood on the Future of the GOP: Freedom v National Conservatism
In this episode of Do Politics Better, Brian sits down with John Hood for a candid conversation about the growing divide within conservatism — and what it could mean for the future of American elections. They explore the tension between traditional free-market conservatism and the rise of…
more -
Courtship, Campaigns, & Serving Together: Todd & Amanda Johnson
Sen. Todd Johnson and his wife Amanda join the podcast for a special conversation about love, partnership, and public service. From meeting in high school band to navigating college courtship, a proposal, marriage, and raising two boys, the Johnsons share the story of building a life together —...
-
Rep. Zack Hawkins on His Tragic Loss & Finding a 'Sole' Purpose
Rep. Zack Hawkins is back and a lot has changed since his last visit. The Durham Democrat joins us to catch up on what he’s been working on at the General Assembly, including the pivotal role he played in getting sports gambling over the finish line. Rep. Hawkins also opens up about the…
more -
Rep. Tim Longest with the Shortest #NCPOL Commute + Sen Benton Sawrey Guest Hosts
Guest host Sen. Benton Sawrey, a Johnston Co Republican, and co-host Brian Lewis team up to break down a wintry week in #ncpol. From icy politics to the Governor making yet another budget pitch, the latest John Locke Foundation poll, fresh primary chatter, a heartbreaking tragedy in Cabarrus...
-
What #NCPOL Professors Chris Cooper & Michael Bitzer are Watching in '26
Political science professors Chris Cooper (Western Carolina University) and Michael Bitzer (Catawba College) break down the emerging landscape of 2026, from the Trump factor and how it’s still rearranging political gravity, to affordability as a defining issue for voters. The professors connect...
-
Sens Danny Britt & Mike Woodard's Take on '26 Elections, Session, & More
Sen. Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican, and former Sen. Mike Woodard, a Durham Democrat, look ahead to 2026, breaking down what’s coming with insight, honesty, disagreement, and plenty of laughs. The conversation covers the looming primary elections, the dynamics of the legislative short...
-
Sen Ted Budd: A Life-Changing USSR Trip, Unlikely Friendships, & Listening
U.S. Senator Ted Budd talks about life before Washington, including his family roots in New Jersey and with the New York Knicks. How a trip to the U.S.S.R. while at Appalachian State University changed his life and family forever and informs how he approaches public service today. Sen. Budd also...
-
That’s a Wrap, 2025 — Featuring Lucille Sherman & Bryan Anderson
As 2025 comes to a close, the podcast takes a wide-angle look back at the year in North Carolina politics. Skye and Brian are joined by Lucille Sherman, founder of Birdseye Strategies (and former Axios reporter), and Bryan Anderson, politics reporter at The Assembly, for a insightful and fun...
-
Army-Navy Game Meets #NCPOL with Sens Daniel & Brinson & Rep. Ager
The storied Army–Navy Football Game is Saturday afternoon and Sens. Warren Daniel and Bob Brinson, both West Point graduates, and Rep. Eric Ager, a proud Naval Academy alum, are featured guests on this week's pod. Together, they talk about the traditions of the game, what makes the rivalry and…
more -
Candidate Filing Season Arrives, Sen. Chris Measmer Joins the Pod
In this latest installment of the pod's #MeetTheFreshman series, Skye and Brian sit down with Sen. Chris Measmer, who was appointed to the Senate following former Majority Leader Paul Newton’s resignation earlier this year. A multi-generation Cabarrus County native, Sen. Measmer talks about…
more -
Influence NC's Hannah Preston: Giving #NCPOL the Gen Z Glow-Up
Hannah Preston is using her voice and platform at Influence NC to inspire young voters to get involved in the political process. Hannah talks about what motivated her to found Influence NC, what she's doing to reach young voters through social media, and how she wants to include conservative…
more -
John Locke’s Andy Jackson Maps Assembly Districts & Forecasts a Bumpy 2026
With candidate filing for the 2026 elections just weeks away, Andy Jackson of the John Locke Foundation joins us to unpack the newly updated Civitas Partisan Index — a key measure of how North Carolina’s legislative and congressional districts lean politically. Andy explains how the CPI works…
more -
Inside the '08 Expulsion: Former Reps Rick Glazier & Skip Stam on Process & Duty
With Rep. Cecil Brockman’s recent resignation amid questions of possible expulsion, attention has turned to what that process actually looks like in the NC House, and how rare it is for legislators to remove one of their own. In 2008, the NC House took an extraordinary and historic step — voting...
-
Mayor Janet Cowell's Journey to Senate Floors to Treasurer Corridors to City Doors
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell's political career has taken her from Raleigh City Council, to the North Carolina Senate, to serving as State Treasurer, and now back to leading the Capital City. Janet reflects on her time in the Senate — including her decision to hold out on the state lottery vote as...
-
Leader Batch's Chief of Staff Lisa Stifler on Friendship & Facing Challenges
Lisa Stifler is the Chief of Staff to Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch — who also happens to be her friend since they were 15. Lisa shares how their lifelong friendship shapes their work at the General Assembly and how she helps navigate the challenges of leading the Senate Democratic…
more -
Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler Talks Fried Food, Ferris Wheels, & Farming
We’re on location at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds for a special Do Politics Better episode with NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. From the smell of fried food to the sound of ferris wheels spinning, Commissioner Troxler shares what makes the State Fair one of North Carolina’s…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Do Politics Better Podcast have?
Do Politics Better Podcast currently has 279 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Do Politics Better Podcast about?
A weekly look at North Carolina politics and the North Carolina General Assembly from two lobbyists’ perspectives. Hosted by lobbyists Brian Lewis and Skye David.
How often does Do Politics Better Podcast release new episodes?
Do Politics Better Podcast publishes regularly with 279 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Do Politics Better Podcast?
You can listen to Do Politics Better Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Do Politics Better Podcast?
Do Politics Better Podcast is created and hosted by New Frame.
URL copied to clipboard!