Democracy

Associated Press News: In big states, tiny counties, Trump attacking voting rules

By Alanna Joyner / October 1, 2020 / Comments Off on Associated Press News: In big states, tiny counties, Trump attacking voting rules

Litigation over absentee voting in North Carolina has taken quite a few twists and turns over the past few weeks. The cause? GOP state lawmakers, namely Speaker of the House Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger, and Trump’s campaign, intervening in the voting lawsuit that would have eased absentee voting rules. Through letters, tweets,…

Read More

WRAL: Concocted scandal disrupts Elections Board’s important work

By Alanna Joyner / September 29, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: Concocted scandal disrupts Elections Board’s important work

New revelations lay bare to the false outrage spurred by top NC Republican leaders, including Tim Moore and Phil Berger, over the commonsense decision made by the NC State Board of Elections (SBOE) to ease roadblocks surrounding absentee ballots. In a closed session last week, the SBOE’s five members – including its two Republicans –…

Read More

Citizen-Times: Census fight could have big implications for North Carolina’s political, financial future

By Alanna Joyner / September 28, 2020 / Comments Off on Citizen-Times: Census fight could have big implications for North Carolina’s political, financial future

Last week, a federal judge halted the Trump administration’s efforts to conclude the 2020 Census count a month early, but the Trump Administration quickly appealed the ruling — further complicating what could be the deadline for this year’s census.  While the case continues to play out in court, the Census Bureau and officials continue to…

Read More

WRAL: Make North Carolina count by completing the census

By Alanna Joyner / September 21, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: Make North Carolina count by completing the census

The deadline for the 2020 Census is fast approaching and approximately 4 million North Carolinians still need to fill out the census. There’s roughly $16 billion of federal funding at stake for North Carolina if citizens do not participate by the September 30 deadline — in addition to state funds. Our response is critical as…

Read More

The Washington Post: Republicans prepare to move quickly on Supreme Court opening as Trump weighs top contender

By Alanna Joyner / September 21, 2020 / Comments Off on The Washington Post: Republicans prepare to move quickly on Supreme Court opening as Trump weighs top contender

In a statement hours after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed to call a floor vote on Trump’s nominee to replace the former justice. On Saturday, Trump urged the Republican-led Senate to consider “without delay” his upcoming nomination to fill the seat vacated. Republican Senators’ swift response on…

Read More

Trump Encourages People in North Carolina to Vote Twice, Which Is Illegal

By Alanna Joyner / September 8, 2020 / Comments Off on Trump Encourages People in North Carolina to Vote Twice, Which Is Illegal

In yet another act to spread misinformation, Trump told North Carolina residents on Wednesday to attempt to illegally vote twice as a test of the security of the election process. Trump’s encouragement for North Carolinians to vote twice is an attempt to “sow chaos” in the state’s election, according to the state attorney general. Top…

Read More

NC Attorney General calls for investigation into US postmaster for alleged campaign contribution fraud

By Alanna Joyner / September 8, 2020 / Comments Off on NC Attorney General calls for investigation into US postmaster for alleged campaign contribution fraud

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is calling for an investigation into Trump’s U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, following a report from the Washington Post alleging that DeJoy used bonuses to reimburse employees for donations to Republican campaigns. According to the Washington Post, five people who worked for DeJoy’s former N.C. business, New Breed Logistics,…

Read More

N.C. Policy Watch: GOP COVID-19 relief bill fails to help people in need

By Alanna Joyner / September 8, 2020 / Comments Off on N.C. Policy Watch: GOP COVID-19 relief bill fails to help people in need

On Friday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed a $1 billion coronavirus relief bill into law. The COVID-19 relief bill seeks to spend more than $900 million in funding left over from the $4 billion sent by Congress as part of the CARES Act. The bill, proposed by Republican leaders in the North Carolina General…

Read More

Ex-lawmaker David Lewis becomes the state’s latest prominent Republican to be a convicted felon

By Alanna Joyner / September 4, 2020 / Comments Off on Ex-lawmaker David Lewis becomes the state’s latest prominent Republican to be a convicted felon

Last week, a federal judge accepted the guilty plea of former State Rep. David Lewis who funneled campaign dollars to his family farm. Lewis pleaded guilty to making false statements to a bank and for failing to file a 2018 federal tax return. Following Greg Lindberg and Robin Hayes, Lewis becomes the state’s latest prominent…

Read More

As Trump Downplayed Coronavirus, His Task Force Warned Of ‘Red Zone’ States Like NC

By Alanna Joyner / September 1, 2020 / Comments Off on As Trump Downplayed Coronavirus, His Task Force Warned Of ‘Red Zone’ States Like NC

New White House documents released today show that in June, top Trump administration officials privately warned seven states about dangerous coronavirus outbreaks that put them in the highest risk “red zone” while the administration publicly downplayed the virus’ risk. According to House Democrats, the reports obtained from the White House coronavirus task force indicates that…

Read More