Politics As Usual

WRAL: Trump must act, not distract, on COVID-19 to move U.S. forward

By Alanna Joyner / May 5, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: Trump must act, not distract, on COVID-19 to move U.S. forward

COVID-19 cases are approaching 12,256 in North Carolina; 1.2 million in the nation and 3.7 million worldwide. Instead of increasing testing and treatment; providing adequate protection for healthcare workers; and reducing the spread of the virus that is taking a toll on lives and the economy — Trump chooses to dodge responsibility and deny the…

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NC legislature passes COVID-19 relief, without expanding jobless benefits or Medicaid

By Alanna Joyner / May 4, 2020 / Comments Off on NC legislature passes COVID-19 relief, without expanding jobless benefits or Medicaid

On May 2, the North Carolina General Assembly approved a $1.57 million COVID-19 relief package. Votes in both the House and the Senate during the Saturday session were unanimous, marking the legislature’s first response to the pandemic.  The $1.57 billion package contains funding for education, health care, small business loans, food banks, medical research, testing…

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Lawmakers falter on Medicaid expansion in the coronavirus relief package

By Alanna Joyner / May 4, 2020 / Comments Off on Lawmakers falter on Medicaid expansion in the coronavirus relief package

With more than one million North Carolinians who have lost their jobs in a system where many workers receive health insurance through their employers and over 49 rural hospitals losing millions per month, the need for Medicaid expansion is paramount.  Yet, state lawmakers moved forward in passing the coronavirus relief package with very limited and…

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Trump’s coronavirus testing failure squandered valuable time

By Alanna Joyner / April 21, 2020 / Comments Off on Trump’s coronavirus testing failure squandered valuable time

The Trump administration’s failure to quickly scale up testing continues to cripple the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic. Three months after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the states, a chronic lack of testing kits remains a burden on states as Trump focuses on reopening the economy rather than increased test kit distribution. …

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Another Burr stock trade from 2018, raises eyebrows amid investigation

By Alanna Joyner / April 13, 2020 / Comments Off on Another Burr stock trade from 2018, raises eyebrows amid investigation

Senator Richard Burr’s illegal stock market trade-offs ahead of the COVID-19 stock market crash, are not the only time the North Carolina senator relied on internal reports for his own personal gains.  In 2018, Burr sold off almost $47,000 dollars worth of shares in a small Dutch fertilizer company, just weeks before its stock began…

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A Right-Wing Billionaire Was Just Convicted of Bribery, and He’s Dragging Republicans Down With Him

By Alanna Joyner / March 9, 2020 / Comments Off on A Right-Wing Billionaire Was Just Convicted of Bribery, and He’s Dragging Republicans Down With Him

On Thursday, Greg Lindberg and John Gray were found guilty of attempting to bribe North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. Lindberg, one of North Carolina’s largest political donors, was convicted of bribing Causey with millions in campaign money.  The federal jury also found Lindberg associates John Gray guilty on two public corruption charges, while John…

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Trump visits North Carolina before Super Tuesday

By Alanna Joyner / March 2, 2020 / Comments Off on Trump visits North Carolina before Super Tuesday

Ahead of Super Tuesday, Trump is holding another rally in Charlotte today in an attempt to gain voters — but let’s not forget a few of his many broken promises to North Carolinians. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that uninsured individuals would be “taken care of”, but since taking office Trump and…

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News & Observer: How the Greg Lindberg bribery trial is playing out in the GOP primary for governor

By Alanna Joyner / February 26, 2020 / Comments Off on News & Observer: How the Greg Lindberg bribery trial is playing out in the GOP primary for governor

The federal bribery trial for political mega-donor Greg Lindberg and former NCGOP leader John Palermo, began last Tuesday in Charlotte.  Lindberg, along with two associates and Palermo, were indicted on numerous federal charges last March, that tied the insurance executive to attempted bribery and corruption. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest has received the most campaign money…

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Trump Touts Economy, Blasts ‘Failed Impeachment Hoax’ In Charlotte Speech

By Alanna Joyner / February 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Trump Touts Economy, Blasts ‘Failed Impeachment Hoax’ In Charlotte Speech

On the heels of the impeachment acquittal, Trump visited Charlotte’s Central Piedmont Community College for the North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit. With no surprise, Trump commented on his impeachment trial, claiming it was an “impeachment hoax” and gave special praise to North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis for choosing party over country, as he voted not…

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Burr, Tillis vote to acquit Trump

By Alanna Joyner / February 6, 2020 /

On Wednesday, the U.S Senate acquitted Trump on the charges that he abused his power by pressuring a foreign government to interfere in a U.S. presidential election and then obstructed a congressional investigation into his actions. The vote was entirely partisan with an exception to Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who voted to convict…

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