Breaking With Brett Jensen

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with WBTV reporter David Hodges about a controversial situation involving the town of Mooresville and Mayor Chris Carney. Hodges provides a chronological overview of the situation, which began in October 2024, when Carney entered Town Hall after midnight with a female companion. Jensen expresses disbelief that Mooresville’s legal team is fighting a request to release surveillance footage, given that the footage comes from a public building and involves public officials. Later, Jensen revisits the statewide shutdown in North Carolina due to the COVID-19 pandemic six years ago. He critiques the state government’s handling of the pandemic, calling the shutdown a pivotal moment and arguing that many missteps followed under Gov. Roy Cooper’s leadership. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by describing his recent trip to Rochester, New York, for his uncle’s memorial service. Jensen explains the trip started with his flight being delayed by about three hours Thursday due to widespread inclement weather along the East Coast. He notes he was surprised by the intense cold and snowy conditions in the region. It snowed nearly every day during his visit, and persistent wind made the cold feel even more severe. Jensen emphasizes that the environment, as well as the culture in that region, are quite different from Charlotte. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing sports gambling on the two-year anniversary of its legalization in North Carolina. Jensen expresses strong approval of the change and argues that sports betting has long been normalized in many places, especially in Europe. Before legalization in many U.S. states, Americans often relied on alternatives such as trips to Las Vegas, offshore gambling websites or local bookmakers. Jensen then provides statistics about sports betting in the Tar Heel State during the first two years of legalization and explains how the $255 million in tax revenue has been allocated. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen discusses the changing significance of the ACC basketball tournament. Having covered the event extensively as a journalist, Jensen argues the tournament has changed dramatically over the years and no longer holds the prestige or excitement it once did. He explains how the ACC Tournament operated when the conference had only nine teams. During that era, getting a ticket to the event was nearly impossible because demand was so high. However, he says expansion altered the structure of the conference and began to dilute the tight-knit regional identity that defined the original ACC. Jensen predicts this year’s tournament will not even be half full for many of the early-round games, possibly only one-third full. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen discusses a situation that occurred during the Los Angeles Marathon. Jensen said the temperature during the race reached about 82°F, which organizers described as hotter than expected. As a result, participants who completed 70% of the full marathon distance could still receive the same medal as those who finished the entire race. Jensen said the decision illustrates a broader cultural and political trend he believes could eventually affect Mecklenburg County. Later, Jensen highlights the ongoing dispute between Silfab Solar and the town of Fort Mill. He criticizes the company’s explanation that the hydrofluoric acid incident was “just a drip.” He argues that even a small amount of such chemicals would be unacceptable in someone’s yard or home, suggesting that minimizing the event does not address legitimate safety concerns. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by talking with Rockingham Co. Sheriff Sam Page about his Republican primary race against Phil Berger for North Carolina Senate District 26. Page describes the emotional experience of waiting for hours while election officials counted provisional ballots in Guilford and Rockingham counties. Later, Jensen talks with state Rep. David Willis of Union County to discuss the potential implications of the District 26 situation for the state legislature and the upcoming legislative session. Willis stresses that it would be premature to declare the race decided. Additionally, he underscores the importance of transparency and trust in the election process so that voters across the state - particularly in Guilford and Rockingham counties - accept the results. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Rockingham Co. Sheriff Sam Page joins Jensen to discuss the extremely close Republican primary race for N.C. Senate District 26. At the time of the interview, provisional ballots had just been counted in Rockingham and Guilford counties, leaving Page with a narrow lead over Berger. After the provisional ballots were counted, Page gained votes in Rockingham Co., but lost ground in Guilford Co., resulting in the small but significant lead. Jensen notes that the vote-counting process had concluded just minutes before the interview began, making this an immediate reaction to a significant political story. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen describes the outcome of a local judicial primary race. The result involves a jail abolitionist who is now a judge in Mecklenburg County. Jensen refers to an article stating that Habekah Cannon, who identifies herself as a jail and prison abolitionist, won the Democratic primary for District Court judge in District 26, which covers all of Mecklenburg County. He explains that Cannon previously worked as a public defender and now runs her own law firm. Additionally, he argues that her background as a public defender aligns with her stance against incarceration. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen analyzes the results from the primary elections in several counties across North Carolina. The discussion begins with the defeat of NC Rep. Carla Cunningham by Rodney Sadler. Sadler had the endorsement of Gov. Josh Stein, which Jensen attributes to Cunningham’s decision to cross party lines on a key vote. Jensen then shifts to the Mecklenburg County sheriff’s race, which he characterizes as more interesting. Incumbent Sheriff Garry McFadden won the race with roughly 34% of the vote, defeating Ricky Robbins by approximately 2,600 to 2,800 votes. He then breaks down the Gaston County sheriff’s race, the Cabarrus County state senate race, as well as Mecklenburg commissioner Vilma Leake’s political fallout. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this Monday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks the show off by talking with Don Brown, candidate for U.S. Senate, who shares his perspectives on both national security and local political priorities. Brown emphasizes his military background, his experience as a criminal prosecutor, and his focus on issues like medical freedom, crime reduction, and economic growth. Later, Jensen is joined by Michael Waltley, Republican U.S. Senate candidate from North Carolina, to discuss the state’s primary elections and recent national security developments. Waltley emphasized concern and prayers for U.S. troops stationed domestically and abroad, noting North Carolina’s significant military presence, including Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. He praised President Trump’s “peace through strength” strategy, highlighting decisive action against threats from Iran and Venezuela while reinforcing America’s global influence. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him o See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TTune in here to this ​Friday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Jensen discusses early voting trends, noting that while Republicans recently surpassed Democrats in registered voters statewide, Democrats are currently leading in early primary turnout. He emphasizes the importance of voting early, sharing a personal story about his car overheating and landing in the shop—proof that unexpected life events can derail Election Day plans. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Thursday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks the show off joined by Congressman Tim Moore, who describes the atmosphere in the room when President Trump recognized Iryna Zarutska mother in attendance during the State of the Union address. Moore recounts the powerful reaction from Republicans and addresses questions about whether Democrats stood during key moments, including discussions on crime, border security, and parental rights. The conversation expands into criticism of what Moore characterizes as soft-on-crime policies and the need for stronger enforcement at both the state and federal levels, including reference to North Carolina’s Iryna's Law. Later Jensen turns his attention to Cabarrus County politics, spotlighting controversy surrounding county commissioner candidate Ian Patrick and past remarks he made while serving on the Harrisburg Town Council. Brett replays audio from a 2023 council meeting in which Patrick opposed a proposed retirement community, arguing that seniors living there might not be “civically engaged” or active in the broader community. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen opens the show talking about how the president called out Charlotte in The State of the Union. He wondered if Representative Alma Adams stood up when the president recognized Anna Zarutska, whose daughter Iryna—a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee was stabbed to death on a CATS train in Charlotte. Brett also talked about the Russian invasion of Ukraine four years ago, and recalled how he was stuck there for several hours during his last visit. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by talking about a detailed website that tracks voting activity in North Carolina almost in real time. The database provides demographic breakdowns, including party affiliation, gender, race and even specific age by individual year. Brett then turns to turnout statistics in Mecklenburg County. Out of approximately 875,000 to 900,000 registered voters, only about 30,000 people had voted in the first 12 days of early voting. That means only a small fraction of eligible voters had participated at that point. He finds this especially striking given the significance of certain races, particularly the sheriff’s primary. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen discusses his opinion regarding political reporters disclosing whom they vote for. He considers himself unusual in this regard, saying most reporters do not reveal their voting choices. He argues that transparency allows audiences to judge potential bias for themselves. Additionally, Jensen urges listeners to participate in primary elections, emphasizing that turnout is often low, even among people who closely follow politics. He explains that if preferred candidates lose in the primaries because of low turnout, they may not even appear on the general election ballot. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen talks about a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department press conference that announced an arrest in a homicide case that had remained unsolved for over 35 years. During the press conference, Deputy Chief Ryan Butler announced that the department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team had arrested Marion Gales. Police confirmed that the case involves the July 27, 1990 homicide of Kim Thomas Friedland. When asked about the relationship between Gales and the victim, Butler acknowledged that the nature of their association had been the subject of various investigations and media coverage over the years. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with North Carolina Senate candidate Don Brown. Brown begins by describing his intense campaign schedule. He emphasizes that his campaign is active statewide and expresses strong confidence that he will win the primary. He explains that during brief encounters, he focuses on three core issues that strongly resonate with Republican voters. Jensen asks Brown about President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, where Trump endorsed Brown's opponent. Brown responds diplomatically but critically in the exclusive interview. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen discusses a major local issue that continues to generate debate: the closure of Jail North, Mecklenburg County’s former juvenile detention center in Huntersville. Jensen explains that the jail received notoriety for being the only facility in the state that allowed incarcerated high school students to continue working toward their GEDs or high school diplomas. In the past three years, North Carolina legislators have expressed interest in reopening Jail North. However, authority over the jail lies solely with Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, not the county manager. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the structure of local elections in Mecklenburg County and the city of Charlotte. He explains that municipal races occur in odd-numbered years, and turnout in those elections tends to be low. He also outlines where primaries are taking place in surrounding counties, including sheriff’s races in Iredell, Gaston and Union counties, and a significant commissioners primary in Cabarrus County. Later, Jensen speaks with U.S. Rep. Tim Moore about his campaign experience and his approach to his re-election bid. Moore says this election cycle differs somewhat from his first congressional race two years ago, though many aspects remain the same. Unlike earlier campaigns, when he had to introduce himself to voters, Moore now focuses more on maintaining relationships and staying connected with constituents. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by talking with North Carolina state Rep. Allen Chesser, who represents part of Nash County. Chesser reflects on the now-viral moment during the House Oversight Committee hearing Monday, when he asked Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden which branch of government he belongs to. He said he was genuinely surprised by the sheriff’s response and did not anticipate getting “caught up” on what he considered a basic civics question. Later, Jensen talks with Matt Smith, a lifelong Union County resident, who is running in for a seat in the NC Court of Appeals. He currently serves as a North Carolina Superior Court judge. In the interview, Smith explains the key differences between judicial elections and legislative or executive races. He said the role is strictly to apply the law, not to create policy or advocate legislative agendas. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.